Page 67 of Bound By Song (Evie Quad Omegaverse #1)

EVIANA

T he scent of warm blankets and my alphas surrounds me as I stir beneath the nest’s covers, caught between sleep and waking. Not from a dream – but from something real. Safe. Solid. Soft.

It’s Christmas.

I blink slowly, the glow of fairy lights blinking around the nest making it feel more like magic than morning.

Blaise is sprawled across one end of the nest like he owns it.

He’s snoring so loud it’s a wonder any of us got any sleep at all, but it still makes me smile.

Even if I want to chuck a pillow at his head.

Dane’s breathing is slow and even beside me, his arm heavy around my waist. Fuck, I love this. Waking up like this, held, surrounded by them, sharing my space with them, feeling loved by them…it’s everything.

Xar’s warmth hovers close, and the soft sound of him turning pages tells me he’s already awake.

I shift gently and slide out from beneath the blankets. No one stops me. No one clings or panics or demands my presence. That alone feels beautifully surreal.

The hallway is quiet, the house blanketed in hush. I pad toward the lounge on bare feet and stop.

I can’t breathe.

The room has been transformed.

A tall, real pine tree towers in the corner, strung with fairy lights, tiny candles in glass jars, paper snowflakes, and ornaments that are clearly handmade.

Real garland is wound around the fireplace, which is lit, and the windows which have proper thick curtains hanging now.

There are blankets folded over chairs, cushions scattered on the sofa – fuck it’s a new sofa – flickering tea lights, and a scattering of wrapped gifts in all sorts of paper.

One is wrapped in newspaper, another in tissue paper and string. It’s rustic and quaint and so charming.

But more than that it’s…breathtaking. The time and care that’s gone into transforming this room from a cold parlour to a cosy living room is so moving.

I step closer, fingers brushing the tree. It smells like everything I never let myself want.

My throat tightens.

“You like it?” comes Xar’s voice from the kitchen door.

I turn, and he’s there – mug in hand, shirtless, with bed-wild hair and sleepy, amused eyes.

“Xar…” I manage, voice catching as a lump of emotion swells in my throat.

He smiles softly. “The other two were up half the night hanging things. I tried to talk them out of using wire to get the garland to stay, but…”

My chest aches in the best way. “It’s so beautiful. The tree alone would have been more than enough, you know.”

He shrugs and steps forward, offering me his mug. “Sip. I added gingerbread syrup. I thought you’d like it.”

I take it, hand brushing his, and inhale deeply.

He was right. Of course he was. It tastes like a Hallmark Christmas film and I’ve never had anything like it before.

“Try the sofa, see what you think. We wanted something as cosy as the nest, and big enough for all of us to be together.”

I pass him the mug and sink down into the off white velvet sofa. I don’t even care if the colour is completely impractical, it’s like being cocooned in a giant bear hug – something you sink down into and melt, not like the old one which was made to be perched on.

I groan, closing my eyes in bliss. Between this and my nest, I may never leave the house again.

“Let me show you the surprise,” Xar offers.

I chuckle. “This whole room is a surprise.”

“Well, yeah. But the sofa comes with a surprise too. Here.”

He hands the mug back to me and I take another greedy sip, deciding that now that I’m settled I’m drinking the whole thing, while Xar drops to his knees before me.

He pulls something and the entire bottom half of the sofa slides out.

Like a secret drawer. Another tug and interior footrest pops up essentially turning the sofa into a giant bed.

“Oh wow,” I gasp.

“We thought this would be great for movie nights. What do you think?”

I nod eagerly. “We should wake the others and try it out.”

“First things first, little dew drop,” Xar says with a soft smile, crawling onto the sofa beside me and leaning in carefully. “Merry Christmas, Evie.”

“Merry Christmas, Xar,” I whisper back.

Our lips touch in a tender kiss but I’m too terrified of spilling my drink on the sofa to deepen it, so instead I let out a pitiful whine which makes him laugh.

“Grab a blanket, snuggle in, enjoy your drink. I’m going to wake the others and make some breakfast for us all while they both shower.”

“Together?” I ask hopefully.

Xar laughs, a deep belly laugh this time and shakes his head with a wink. “Probably not, but the request is noted for future reference.”

We unwrap gifts in the lounge. The guys offered us to do it in the nest, but I didn’t see the point in moving everything. Besides, gifts should be opened around the tree, right?

The three of them insist I go first, and the moment I sit down after retrieving their gifts from my studio, Blaise starts passing me boxes with such exaggerated fanfare, I nearly fall over laughing.

The gifts from the three of them are overwhelming in their thoughtfulness.

A Kindle with access to a whole library of books – Dane telling me I can read anything I like – not just the old classics on Grams’ bookshelf.

A thick woolen winter coat with hat, scarf, gloves and beautiful leather boots to go with it.

More fluffy, fuzzy and thermal socks than I know what to do with.

A case full of sweet treats, a machine that makes the smoothest most velvety hot chocolate.

A reading pillow, more blankets, wildflower seeds, art supplies, cashmere jumpers, cable knit sweaters, buttersoft leggings…

lingerie that makes my cheeks heat...it’s so much, and yet every single thing has been selected with love and not just given for the hell of it.

I’m emotionally overwhelmed by the time only three gifts and an envelope remain under the tree.

Blaise passes me the envelope first and inside I discover a handwritten note from him saying that I have one more present to come, but it won’t arrive until after my heat. Something to look forward to.

It’s a nice touch, giving me something positive post heat to focus on. It really helps settle those lingering nerves.

Dane has added a post script that says they intend to renovate every room in the house for me to turn this space into our forever home. If I’ll have them.

Xar has simply signed with an ‘I love you’ and a kiss.

Treasure. Their words, the intent behind their words, is the most precious gift of all. They’re promising us a future.

Then it’s onto the final gifts before I embarrass myself by balling my eyes out.

Dane’s box is first. Inside is a delicate silver locket with a tiny pressed honeysuckle preserved behind glass. His scent lingers on the pale pink satin ribbon. “So you’ll always have something of us near your heart,” he says, voice thick. “No matter where you go.”

Xar’s is next. It’s a hand-carved silver bracelet, smooth and worn and engraved with wildflowers and storm waves. “Made it myself,” he mutters, suddenly shy. “It’s rough, but it’s real.”

“It’s perfect,” I whisper.

Then Blaise hands me a thick, leather-bound book. Inside, the pages are empty, but sheet music lines fill them, waiting. His note inside is scrawled in ink: Write with me. Always. His scent curls off the paper smelling of home. Of mine.

“I love them,” I say, and I mean it, as the tears begin to flow freely.

They wait, eyes expectant, and I fumble for the bundle I’ve hidden under my blanket. My gifts for them feel insignificant now under the weight of everything they’ve given me. Everything they’ve done for me.

I hand out the frames one by one – the sketches I’ve done of them when they weren’t looking.

Blaise tuning his bass in the early morning light.

Xar focused in the kitchen. Dane bent over a book, head in hand.

Each one is paired with a lyric we’ve written together – one that somehow matches the moment.

They’re quiet as they take them in.

And then I speak.

“I want to bond with you.”

Three heads snap up.

I let the silence settle before I continue. “When my heat comes, I want it to be with you. If you still want me. I want it to be my choice. My timing. My trust.”

Blaise’s eyes shimmer. Dane reaches for my hand. Xar presses a kiss to my temple.

Nothing else needs to be said.

Later, I sneak away to call my sisters, deciding to video call Evelyn first.

It almost rings out before she answers and when she does, there’s tears in her eyes. She plasters on a bright smile, but I can tell that she’s been crying. Something in her eyes tells me they’ve not been tears of happiness and joy like mine were.

We don’t talk often – she claims to be busy with work – but she’s pretty cagey about what she does, and I can’t help but wonder if she’s seeing someone who doesn’t treat her as well as she deserves.

I don’t see any bonding marks on her neck though, so I guess I have to just wait until she feels like she can talk to me.

“Eviana!” She exclaims brightly.

“Hey sis, safe to talk?” I ask.

“Of course!”

“Merry Christmas, Eve.” We came up with the nicknames when we presented as omegas. Grams may have insisted on calling us all Evie but we wanted a little individuality as we got older. It was our quiet, secret little rebellion.

“Merry Christmas, Evie,” she says with a sniff she can’t quite hide.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

She nods. “I’m great. Okay, no, that’s a lie. I’m…fine. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be okay. You look good,” she says, narrowing her eyes at me. “Different. Happy,” she murmurs, like it’s a miracle.

I nod, swallowing hard. “I am. I found my pack. Three scent matches, Eve. It’s…unbelievable.”

“Wow! Congratulations,” she says brightening slightly. “I’m so happy for you. Tell me everything. How on earth did you meet them – you never leave the house!”

We talk for nearly half an hour – about everything and nothing – and I promise to send her her gifts soon. She vows we’ll meet up in the new year and I decide I’ll hold her to that. I feel like with my alphas by my side I can do anything. Even visit new places.

When the call ends, I just sit in the quiet and let myself miss her, which of course makes me think about Everly.

I think about what I would say to her if I could.

Quietly, I talk to myself, telling ‘her’ about the guys, about how I’ve changed, about how I feel with each of them.

I tell her about the changes to the house, that I know she’d love, and the way I’m learning to embrace my omega – which I know she’d be so proud of me for – I add how much I miss her and how I know she’s still out there somewhere, and that one day we’ll be reunited.

Feeling a bit sad after that, I call Evangeline but she doesn’t answer, so I decide to text her instead.

Hey sis, Merry Christmas! Thank you for your advice. No heat yet, but it’s definitely coming and I have the most amazing nest to experience it from, and three amazing alphas I plan to bond with. Can’t wait to speak to you. Call me anytime. Love you xxx

I miss my sisters, but it doesn’t hurt like it used to.

Because this year, I’m not alone.

Mid-afternoon, the power cuts out. Thankfully after we’ve eaten a beautiful feast prepared by Xar – which explains why he was up so early. He said he meant to prepare everything last night but some hussy distracted and seduced him. I blushed and they all laughed.

There’s a crackle, a pop, and then the room is plunged into grey light.

I freeze.

But Dane doesn’t. He moves with calm precision, tapping something on his phone. Fairy lights blink to life. A soft galaxy of stars spins slowly across the ceiling of the lounge – just like in my nest.

“You planned for this?” I breathe.

“Of course,” he murmurs. “Didn’t want anything to ruin your Christmas.”

I launch myself at him and wrap my arms around his waist.

We curl up on the new sofa, all of us, wrapped in each other and blankets. Blaise produces a half-eaten panettone from somewhere. Xar breaks out spiced nuts and a flask of mulled wine. We eat. We laugh. We touch.

So much touching.

I never knew I could crave the touch of another human being so much. I never knew how touch-starved I was until I met them. I don’t think I could ever get enough of them being in my space.

They tell me their stories.

I knew Blaise grew up on a farm, but he explains that it was with parents who barely noticed he existed.

He left when he presented as an alpha and has had no contact with them ever since.

As far as he knows they could be dead or alive, but he suspects the former because he thinks his fame would have brought them out of the woodwork looking for handouts.

Xar moved around constantly, bouncing from home to home without any family to call his own, presenting as an alpha at sixteen, but thankfully staying with a decent foster family by then, so things got a little easier for him after that, until his foster brother OD’d, which explains his zero tolerance for drugs with Blaise that they’ve both mentioned a time or two.

Dane has never spoken about his past I realise, but today, he shares it. One line. One truth.

“I left the second I could. Music saved me.”

And just like that, I know them better.

I feel known.

“Thank you,” I whisper. “This is the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”

Xar reaches for my hand. Blaise presses a kiss to my cheek. Dane pulls me closer and rests his forehead to mine.

And when the storm howls again, shaking the windows, we don’t flinch.

Because this – this is home.