Page 7 of Claimed By His Omega Dragon’s Fire (Nesting Ever After: Season Two)

7

Aiden

A second wave of rut never comes.

In the morning, I get out of bed, careful not to jostle Brock too much as I go. I stretch my arms over my head, feeling better than I have in a long time. I look down where Brock is sleeping, smiling to myself.

It might be creepy to watch someone sleep, but I can’t seem to pull my eyes away. He looks so peaceful, so pretty like this. There’s no harsh lines to his face, no worried furrow of his brows, no frown curving his lips. He’s beautiful. His chest is covered in marks and bruises which somehow makes me warm all over and feel guilty at the same time.

I quickly chase the guilt away. Brock told me he enjoyed everything we did and I’m not about to be an alphahole that thinks Brock isn’t telling the truth. If he didn’t want to be here, he’s strong enough to leave. I trust him to tell me how he’s feeling.

Even though my rut has seemingly passed, I still feel the need to feed Brock, subtle instincts still lingering at the back of my mind. With one last look, I grab my pajama pants, slide them on, and make my way out to the kitchen area.

There’s a full kitchen, but I didn’t pack much in the way of food. I was planning on eating most of my meals at the main lodge. I open the fridge and pull out some orange juice. I also have the protein bar leftover from yesterday on the counter. It’s not much but it’ll have to do, especially because there’s no way in hell I’m leaving without Brock being awake.

The last thing I want him to think is that I left him the morning after he took such good care of me.

When I walk back into the bedroom, Brock is opening his eyes. He reaches across the bed, finds it empty, and then quickly looks around the room. As soon as his gray eyes land on me, his body relaxes once more.

That does things to my insides.

“Hi,” I say softly. “Sorry. I got up to grab you some food. It’s not much though,” I say, holding up the orange juice and protein bar.

Brock gives me a small smile. He reaches a hand for me and I’m powerless to deny him. I set the food on the table beside the bed before crawling in. Brock immediately latches onto me, resting his face against my chest and his arm around my middle, holding me tight.

Brock hums happily. “My furnace.”

I chuckle softly, running my fingers through his orange hair. He leans into the touch, practically purring from the attention. “I could get used to this.”

“So could I,” I confess, just barely audible. It feels terrifying to admit things like that, like maybe I’m saying something too soon that’ll break the gentle understanding we have going on. I don’t want to scare him with how intense these feelings are but I also don’t want to keep them locked up. I don’t want them to be a secret. How the fuck do I balance that?

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Mhmm. Okay. Let’s get used to it.”

My heart leaps into my throat. Okay, so maybe I’m not the only one feeling these things so intensely. Maybe this isn’t some one sided insta-connection. Maybe this is real.

“Do you want to get up and get to your truck?”

“Yes and no. Yes, because I love being in my truck. But also no, because you’re not there.”

“I could be. If you wanted.”

“Oh yeah? Do you wanna be my coffee helper?”

“I’d be happy to,” I tell him seriously. “I’d love to see how everything works. It sounds fun.”

“It is. Plus, you’re really hot. I bet you’d bring in even more customers.”

I shake my head and snort. “I don’t know if that’s how it works.”

“It is. Trust me.”

“Okay,” I whisper with a grin. “I trust you.”

Brock hums before he sits up on his elbow in order to look down at me. “You trust too easily. What if I’m about to lead you to a back road so I can eat your brains and drop your body in the woods?”

“At least I’ll go out with a smile on my face.”

Brock stares at me for a long moment before we’re both breaking out into a fit of giggles. He leans down and kisses my chin, then my nose, then my lips.

“You’re too sweet for this world, Aiden.”

I wrap my arms around Brock’s back, letting my fingers dance down his spine. “Maybe, but you seem to enjoy that I’m sweet.”

“Yes, because it makes you an easy target. Maybe I just want to use you for free labor in my truck?”

I shrug as best as I can while under Brock. “I’ve spent my time doing much worse things. Call it payback for how much I bit you last night.”

Brock rolls his eyes. “How many times do I have to tell you I enjoyed each and every bite?”

“At least once more.”

Lying here with Brock against my chest, everything feels so easy. This somehow feels like the very first time we’re meeting but also like we’ve been together for centuries. There’s a certainty that runs through my chest, warming me across all my limbs. This is exactly where I’m supposed to be. I don’t know how I know that, only that somehow I do.

“Tell me more about your pack.”

The question surprises me but it really shouldn’t. If Brock is feeling anything like I’m feeling, of course he wants to get to know me. Of course he wants to learn everything he can, the same way I crave to know everything about him.

“They’re wonderful,” I tell him with a fond smile. “My two right hand men are Harry and Alex, a mated couple. They help me with everything that comes with running the pack and our little village. I have no idea what I would do without them, if I’m super honest.”

“They sound great. I know I’ve only known you for like,” Brock pauses and makes a face. “Like a day, but already I can tell you put a lot onto your own shoulders. I’m glad you have people around you to help.”

“I do. We’re a tight-knit community who are always ready to help each other. Our latest addition is Frost. He actually met our pack medic at this very lodge, which is kind of a weird coincidence now that I really think about it. He’s a handyman, so now we finally have someone around who knows what they’re doing when stuff breaks.”

“Have you met the lodge owners?” I nod my head. “I swear they’re matchmaking fae or something.”

I chuckle softly. “I can totally see that.”

We spend a little more time in bed. Brock listens to me talk about my pack, describing all my neighbors, what everyone does, and how some of them came to join. I tell him about some of my responsibilities. Brock listens intently, asking insightful questions. This might just be hope talking but he sounds interested in seeing it for himself, in meeting the people I’m talking about.

The idea of having Brock in my space makes my entire body light up. I want that more than words can describe. I want him in my house, filling my place with his scent. I want him to interact with my neighbors. I want him as not only my omega but also our pack omega.

I kiss his forehead before gently pulling away. “We should get up and get your truck open. I’m sure everyone is waiting for you to open the window.”

“Today should hopefully be stocking day as well. I’m supposed to be getting some supplies delivered to the lodge address.”

“Then let’s get up and get to work.”

Brock blinks up at me. “You really wanna come work in my truck?”

“There’s quite literally nothing I want more.”

“Huh,” he says under his breath. “Okay.”

It doesn’t take long for us to get out of bed, get dressed, and head out the door of my cabin. The walk across the parking lot to Brock’s truck really shouldn’t be anything special, yet it feels almost magical as Brock tentatively presses his palm against my own. My stomach feels like a current of jellyfish, swimming around joyfully inside of me.

Brock only lets go of my hand in order to unlock his truck, swing the back door open, and guide me inside. It’s more spacious than I thought it would be. The left side is a counter filled with everything he needs to make his coffee and the right side has the opening for the window which is currently shut.

“Sit there,” he says, pointing at a stool on the right side. “I’ll start powering everything on. If you want, you can take a look at the pad by the window and see what my POS looks like.”

I take a seat and pull the pad closer to me. I click the button to turn on the screen but instead of looking through everything, my eyes are drawn back to Brock. He turns on the generator and then gets to work, pulling things out, turning things on, making sure he has everything he’ll need to serve the people here.

Brock pulls out his phone and places it near the front of the truck, plugging it into something. Moments later, soft music begins to play. He swings his hips as he goes, humming to the song that’s on. He’s so carefree in a way I’m almost jealous of. He’s a feisty spirit who’s free to do what he wishes whenever he wants.

I haven’t felt that way since I was a child, long before I became the pack alpha.

I will never wish to be anything but pack alpha, but that doesn’t stop me from missing times when things felt simpler. Brock reminds me of that time. He reminds me it’s okay to live for myself, or at least make time for myself in the midst of everything else expected of me.

“I can tell you’re staring,” Brock says, looking over his shoulder at me with a smirk. “You’re not gonna learn the menu if you’re looking at my ass instead of the screen.”

“In my defense, your ass is far more interesting.”

“How dare you insult my menu like that, Aiden!”

The banter comes easily and makes me warm all over. I would even go so far as to call it downright domestic.

“There. That should be everything. I’m going to make myself a mocha, do you want your usual?”

“My usual?”

“Yeah, a chocolate chip frozen drink. Don’t lie, I know you love it.”

I can’t help but smile. “Okay, sure. I’ll have one, please.”

This time when Brock turns to work, I finally pull the pad closer and take a look. I scan through all the items, only understanding about half of the things on here. Apparently, I have a lot to learn when it comes to coffee. I get the sense that Brock won’t mind being my teacher.

“Here you go, handsome,” Brock says, sliding my drink over. I take it from him, having a sip. I swear it somehow gets better every time I have it.

Brock scoots a stool over to the counter and steps up so he can open the front window. He dangles himself across the counter in order to hang the signs up beside the window.

“I could have done that,” I tell him but he just snorts and shakes his head.

“Don’t be an alphahole.”

“I’m not! I’m just trying to help!”

He gives me a little smirk, letting me know I’m being teased. “If you say so. It’s not like a little omega like me could possibly take care of his own truck, right?”

“It’s not like a little omega like you couldn’t have a big, strong alpha around to help you out,” I say, playfully rolling my eyes.

“I do have a thing or two I could have you do. Maybe keep you under the counter on your knees. Maybe having your mouth stuffed full of my co--”

“Good morning!”

We both turn towards the open window, finding someone standing there, amusement clear on his face. He looks towards Brock and quirks his brow up. “Good for you,” he says with a wink and I have no idea what that even means but for some reason, I find my cheeks flaming with embarrassment.

Brock on the other hand, just smirks as he leans against the counter. “Morning! Your usual latte?”

“Yes, please! Can you add whipped cream and chocolate syrup on the top? I have a sweet tooth this morning.”

“Coming right up. Let’s see if Aiden can figure out how to ring you up,” Brock says, turning towards the opposite counter.

I stare down at the screen in front of me with wide eyes. It takes me far longer than I care to admit to find all the buttons I need to press in order to give this man a total. Even so, I wait for Brock to make sure I’ve done it correctly before exchanging any money.

“Thank you, Brock. I’ll see you boys tomorrow morning.”

“That was so stressful!”

Brock giggles and shakes his head. “Okay, imagine that but also a line behind him and you’re the only one in the truck working. That’s usually what happens when I park at fairs and festivals.”

“How do you manage that all by yourself? I would be pulling my hair out.”

Brock just shrugs. “I don’t know. I just get into a rhythm and focus on the customer in front of me and ignore everything else.”

“You’re incredible. You know that right?”

“You’re that impressed just from me working my truck? Wait til you see what I can do with my tongue.”

A woman clears her throat and I turn towards her with a wince. Okay, we really need to make a rule about no dirty talk in the truck if I’m going to keep helping him. I really, really hope he’ll let me keep helping him.