Page 120 of Knotting the Firefighters

Discuss absurd romantic scenarios instead of addressing actual crises?

Aidric huffs, crossing arms defensively.

"Get some other pack to do that fantasy nonsense. We're not your personal entertainment."

I huff back, matching his defensive posture.

"I've never seen a pack do anything like that. Gregory's pack certainly never?—"

"You could make a safer, more reasonable journey by having a nice cozy nest," Aidric interrupts, suggestion emerging grudging but sincere. "Not requiring fucking sky access or mountain climbing equipment."

Nest.

He mentioned nest.

The word hits different now—carrying weight I hadn't anticipated, touching on longing I've been suppressing for years.

"I've never had a nest," I admit quietly, vulnerability slipping through defensive humor.

The silence that follows is profound—all four Alphas going completely still, their attention laser-focused on me with intensity that makes my skin prickle.

Bear speaks first, confusion evident:

"Wait. Never? As in not even with Gregory's pack?"

Aidric's expression shifts from irritation to something approaching concern, his gaze finding Calder's across the room.

"So you weren't lying?" The question carries surprise, like he'd assumed Calder was exaggerating earlier.

What did Calder tell them?

How much of my pathetic history has been shared while I was unconscious, though I did open up to Bear, which is far easier because he doesn’t seem like the one to judge, so of course he’d tell them…in just a nice non-pathetic way, right?

Calder meets my eyes, expression gentle in ways that make my chest feel tight.

"I told them Gregory's pack didn't do shit for you. That they were roommates at best, exploiters at worst, absolutely failing to provide any of the support or care that pack arrangements are supposed to offer."

He told them.

Shared my shame, my failures, my inability to inspire basic affection from Alphas who claimed me.

"He's not lying," I confirm, voice smaller than intended. "They were pretty much roommates with occasional sex. Never had nest, never experienced the comfort or security that's supposed to come with pack bonding."

Among other things, I've never experienced.

Like feeling valued.

Or wanted.

Or loved.

Aidric, Silas, and Bear are completely speechless—staring at me like I've revealed something fundamentally wrong with the universe, like my admission has shattered their understanding of how pack dynamics function.

Silas recovers first, medical professionalism overriding shock:

"Whatdidthey do? Provide any traditional pack support—financial, emotional, practical assistance of any kind?"

What did they do?