Page 23 of Enticing Little Omega (Twisted Little Tales #5)

Annerly

C hrista stood in the middle of the Omega wing, her fingers curling into the hem of her hoodie like she could shrink herself into the seams. Her bright, colourful hair was such a contrast to the leery expression on her face that I wanted to do nothing more than kiss it off her face.

It was so contrary to the vibrant, bratty personality she’s shown us snippets of.

The room she was standing in had good bones. Large windows for light, thick carpeting that was begging for soft rugs, big bean bags and a warm fire. There was a little alcove perfect for a reading nook, if that was something she enjoyed and the walls were an empty canvas waiting to be filled.

But it was bare. Empty.

I leaned against the doorframe, watching her take a slow turn as if she wasn't sure whether she could really reach out to touch everything.

My heart tugged hard in my chest. As the Beta I've always counted myself lucky that I wasn't overruled by an overbearing Alpha nature, but I wanted nothing more than the ability to be able to pull her against my chest and purr for her so she could relax.

Christa was still carrying so much hesitation and I wanted to wipe it away.

But that wasn't something we could magically do with kisses and hugs in a few short days. It would take time.

"You know," I said lightly, stepping into the room. "it's almost offensive how plain this place is. It's begging for your touch."

She blinked up at me, those big eyes wide, wary. "It's fine. I don't need anything more. Maybe just some more blankets, pillows and an extra dresser for my clothes."

"It's your space," I said, dropping down to sit cross-legged in the middle of the carpet.

"This room and your nest is your safe place.

It's a sacred thing, princess." I tucked a stray hair behind her ear and she blessed me by curling herself around me, tucking her head under my chin.

"We all know you're tough, Christa. Only someone with a crazy backbone could have survived everything you have.

But that doesn't mean you should have to pretend to not like the softer things in life.

You need a room that's yours . You deserve a nest."

She sighed before rubbing her head against the warmth of my sweater, marking me with her scent.

When she looked up at me this time she smiled faintly.

"You've already done so much for me. I can't ask you for any more.

William is helping with Tracy. You're giving me a home. I don't... Annerly, I don't want to..."

"Be spoilt?" I offered, raising a brow when she trailed off, unable to complete her sentence. "Tough luck, princess. It's part of the deal."

Her cheeks flushed a delicious shade of pink. I grinned and patted the carpet beside me. "Come on. Sit with me. We're going to make a list."

She frowned at me, her lips pulling into a pout. "A list?"

"Mmhmm," I said, already pulling out my phone. "Of everything you like. Favourite colours, textures, scents. And then we're going shopping."

She sat slowly, folding herself into the space beside me like she wasn't sure. "Seriously?"

"Yes, ma'am," I said, grinning at her. "We're making it a game now. A type of scavenger hunt if you will. We're going to hunt down every last thing that makes your Omega heart happy, and the person that gets the most of the items on the list at the end of the excursion wins."

Her nose scrunched adorably. "That's ridiculous."

"Ridiculous fun," I corrected. "Come on, princess. Play with me. You get new stuff, I get to spoil you. Everyone wins."

She hesitated. "What does the winner get?"

"Princess," I said gently, "If you win, you get whatever you want."

She looked at me, narrowing her gaze. "And if you win?"

"I get you to myself for an afternoon. Naked."

She shivered at my words and I felt my cock plump up at the smell of her perfume filling the air.

"Fuck, princess." The words were a low growl, pulled from my chest and she practically preened at them.

And then she blushed.

"I'm not used to this, you know," she told me as she looked down, her voice soft.

"I know," I said. "And it hurts me to know that you've not known any kind of care and affection in too long, but we're honoured to be the ones to give it to you. And I'm kind of hoping, you will get used to it from us."

She nodded, a tiny motion. "Okay. But I want violet. For the sheets."

"Violet sheets," I repeated, typing it into my notes. "Excellent choice. A brilliant purple for all the sexual frustration you cause in your pack by being so fucking sexy."

She giggled, the sound lighting me up. "You're a sap."

"Your sap," I said, without thinking, then felt my throat go a little dry at the truth of it, and worried she might think I was going too fast.

But Christa didn't pull away, didn't tease. She just looked at me for a long moment, something soft in her gaze. "Yes," she finally responded after what felt like ages. "Mine."

We spent the rest of the afternoon piecing together her world. She picked fuzzy blankets in dusky rose, a pile of pillows shaped like stars and moons, soft lighting in warm tones.

With each item purchased we made careful note of who found it so we could tally up the winner at the end of our shopping excursion.

No shop was left untouched, and no corner of our small corner of the world went unseen.

And we found something in almost every shop.

In a tiny thrift store there was a quilt that made her gasp when she touched it.

She told me, with tears brimming that it reminded her of something her mother used to have.

Through it all, though, she was true to her nature. Arguing over every price tag, and who would pay for it all. I overruled her every time with the confidence of a man with a pack credit card that had no limit.

By evening, we were back at the house, the car loaded with bags, and so many deliveries scheduled that we might have to just leave the front door open for the foreseeable future. William and Drew helped unload the SUV, but left us alone when we started unpacking all the bags.

And when it came to her nest I stepped back, letting her do her thing.

Our little Omega sat in the middle of her slowly forming nest, surrounded by softness, her own scent slowly starting to infuse the space.

"It's missing something," she told me, her eyes jumping from one corner of the room to the other.

"What, princess?"

"You," she muttered as she got up from the large sunken bed. "I need you in here. Can I have your shirt?" She held her hand out to me, fully expecting me to give it to her, and honestly, I was powerless to resist.

She quickly grabbed it from me, crawling back into her nest, digging my shirt into some of the pillows we'd purchased.

"I need more," she muttered to herself.

"Okay, baby. I'll get you some more."

"The Alphas too!" she called to me as I walked out.

As I stepped out into the hallway, I caught William heading down from the upstairs office, his sleeves rolled to the elbows, reading glasses perched on his nose. He paused when he saw me, then tilted his head, nostrils flaring just slightly.

"You smell that?" he asked, voice low.

I blinked. "No? What?"

He gave me a look. Worried, but laced with something else... something hopeful.

"Her scent," he murmured. "It's stronger."

I paused, turned back toward the door. Her soft, sweet scent still lingered in the air from where I'd just come, and I finally picked up what he was referring to.

It also explained her need for our scents in her nest.

Shit.

My heart did a little stutter. "You think it's..."

William nodded slowly. "I don't understand how, because from what aware she's on suppressants, but yes."

I ran a hand through my hair, feeling like the biggest fucking idiot in the world.

"William, she's been on those things for two years. They're not meant to be taken that long," I told my Alpha, resting my head on his shoulder.

He pulled me into his embrace and tucked me close. "What are you saying, An?"

"I'm saying, big guy, our Omega is going into what we in the medical industry call a 'breakthrough heat'."

"It's fine, we've got this," William told me as he squeezed me again. "You go tell her, in case she's not aware what's going on with her, and I'll go grab the twins."

"She wanted our scents. Bring blankets from the twins’ bedrooms, and maybe some clothes from our bags, okay?"

He nodded before pulling away and walking down the hallway.

I turned around and went straight back into my Omega's nest to tell her what was happening.

And hopefully convince her to let us help her through her first heat.