Page 39 of Mating With My Grumpy Alphas (Hollow Haven #2)

The drive to Wes's cabin felt like such a significant moment.

Like I was being formally escorted to my new life by three alphas who took their responsibility seriously.

My body was starting to respond to the significance of the moment, scent production increasing in a way that filled the truck cab with something that made all three of them sit a little straighter.

"Everything all right?" Elias asked, though his tone suggested he knew exactly what was happening.

"Just feeling a little warm," I said, which was true but incomplete. It wasn't just temperature. It was the way my skin felt more sensitive, the way every casual touch sent sparks through my nervous system.

"Heat symptoms," Wes said, not a question.

"Early ones," I admitted. "Nothing urgent yet, but definitely building."

"Good to know," Rhett said, adjusting the air conditioning. "Timeline helps with planning."

The casual way they discussed my approaching cycle, like it was just another logistical consideration rather than something shameful or inconvenient, still amazed me.

Sterling had always made my heats feel like an imposition, something that disrupted his life rather than something we navigated together.

When we pulled up to Wes's cabin, I felt a shift in my chest that had nothing to do with biology and everything to do with recognition. This was home. Not just because Wes lived here, but because it felt right in a way my omega instincts understood on a cellular level.

The cabin sat in a clearing surrounded by old-growth forest, its log construction and metal roof designed to blend with the natural environment.

Solar panels and a small wind turbine spoke to Wes's commitment to sustainable living.

Gardens in various stages of seasonal transition suggested someone who understood growing cycles and long-term planning.

"It's perfect," I said, meaning it completely.

"It's ours," Wes corrected gently, and the word sent warm shivers down my spine.

Unloading went even faster than packing had, it helped that there were four of us and only enough boxes for us to carry one each.

The cabin's interior was exactly what I'd expected from Wes.

Clean lines, natural materials, everything serving a purpose while still being beautiful.

But it was also clearly a space designed for one person.

"Where should we put your camera equipment?" Rhett asked, hefting my professional gear.

I looked around the living area, trying to imagine where my tripod and lighting equipment would fit without overwhelming the carefully balanced space. Everything felt too presumptuous, too permanent.

"The spare bedroom?" I suggested tentatively. "If that's okay. I could set up a little studio space there."

"More than okay," Wes said immediately. "We should think about adding on a darkroom for you in the new addition."

The way he said it, like my creativity was something he'd been planning for, made my heart clench. When had anyone ever cared about my dreams enough to make space for them?

"It's what you deserve," Rhett said firmly. "What you've always deserved."

"We should definitely figure out a proper studio space," Elias continued. "The spare room is fine for now, but if you're going to be working professionally..."

"There’s an old barn," Wes said suddenly. "It’s a little further set back behind the house next to a clearing that used to be a paddock. We could convert part of it. Natural light, plenty of space, close enough to the house for convenience but separate enough for focus."

They were talking about renovating outbuildings to support my career like it was the most natural thing in the world. Like my success was as important to them as their own.

"You don't have to do that," I said softly.

"We want to," Wes said simply. "We want you to have everything you need to be happy."

The afternoon dissolved into a blur of domestic activity that felt surprisingly natural.

We arranged and rearranged furniture until the living space felt like it belonged to all of us.

My books found homes on Wes's shelves. My few decorative items integrated seamlessly with his more utilitarian aesthetic.

But it was setting up the nest room that felt most significant.

Wes's master bedroom was beautiful in its simplicity, with large windows overlooking the forest and a larger than average king-size bed that would easily accommodate all four of us. But the attached walk-in closet had been transformed into something magical.

"When did you do this?" I asked, staring at the space that had clearly been designed specifically for omega nesting.

"This week," Elias admitted. "We wanted you to have options. A private space that was completely yours if you needed it, but connected to the main bedroom so you wouldn't feel isolated."

The closet had been fitted with soft lighting, temperature controls, and built-in storage for blankets and comfort items. Hooks and shelves allowed for easy rearrangement of fabric walls for privacy adjustment.

A small refrigerator and electric kettle meant I wouldn't have to leave the space for basic needs.

"It's incredible," I said, running my hands over the smooth wood surfaces. "But how did you know what to include?"

"Research," Wes said simply. "Lots of research."

"And consultation with some omega friends," Elias added. "Kit gave us a very detailed list of features that make nest rooms feel safe versus claustrophobic."

They'd planned this. While I was still figuring out how to ask for what I needed, they'd been thinking three steps ahead, anticipating needs I hadn't even voiced yet.

"There's something else," Rhett said, looking uncharacteristically nervous. He pulled three t-shirts from a bag I hadn't noticed. "We thought... for comfort. During heat. If you want them."

The shirts smelled like each of them. Rhett's carried the scent of motor oil and sawdust and something fundamentally protective. Wes's smelled like pine and fresh air and steady calm. Elias's was layered with herbs and oils and gentle strength.

"You want me to have your scent," I said, understanding the significance.

"Only if you want it," Elias said quickly. "No pressure. Just options."

I took the shirts, holding them against my chest and breathing in the combined scent of my pack. The omega in me practically purred with satisfaction. This was what safety smelled like. What belonging felt like.

"Thank you," I said softly. "For all of this. For thinking of everything I didn't even know I needed."

"Thank you for letting us," Wes replied.

As evening approached, we fell into a routine that felt like we'd been living together for years instead of hours.

Rhett cooked dinner with the focused attention he gave to everything that mattered.

Elias organized vitamins and supplements, explaining the benefits of each for heat support.

Wes adjusted environmental controls and checked that everything was positioned for optimal comfort.

"How are you feeling?" Elias asked as we finished eating, and I knew he wasn't asking about my general emotional state.

"Different," I admitted. "More aware of everything. Scents are getting stronger."

"Timeline?" Wes asked.

"Tomorrow, maybe tomorrow night," I said, recognizing the signs my body was giving me. "The early symptoms are definitely building."

"Are you nervous?" Rhett asked gently.

I considered the question seriously. "Not nervous exactly. Excited, maybe? For the first time in my life, I'm looking forward to a heat instead of dreading it."

"Good," he said firmly. "That's exactly how it should be."

As we cleaned up dinner and prepared for the evening, I found myself hyperaware of every interaction.

The way Wes's hand lingered on my lower back when he passed behind me.

How Rhett's scent grew richer when I smiled at him.

The way Elias tracked my movements with the focused attention of someone monitoring important data.

They were all responding to the changes in my body chemistry, their alpha instincts recognizing what was coming and preparing accordingly. But instead of feeling observed or pressured, I felt cherished. Protected. Anticipated in the best possible way.

"Oh, no! I can’t believe I didn’t think of it.

I should probably call Hollis tomorrow," I said as we settled in the living room afterward. "Make sure he’s able to get help for my shifts I’ll miss.

" I couldn’t believe I’d gotten so lost in the thoughts of bonding and heats that I’d forgotten about my job.

“It’s already taken care of," Elias said, and an overwhelming sense of relief and gratitude swept through me. "I hope you don’t think we’re pushing our way into places we don’t belong.

Pack support is important in times like these, but if it’s too much just say.

You can set boundaries with us if you need to. "

Pack support. The casual way he said it, like that was just how things worked now, made my chest warm with belonging.

“No. Thank you. Honestly it’s a relief to know that I don’t need to worry about it right now. That I have you all to help. I promise to say if anything ever feels like too much though.”

As the evening wound down, we faced the practical question of sleeping arrangements. The night before at Elias's had been about exploration and discovery. Tonight felt different. More domestic. Like we were establishing patterns that would shape our daily life.

"The nest room is ready if you want privacy," Wes said carefully. "But you're also welcome in the main bed. Whatever feels right."

I looked between all three of them, seeing nothing but patience and acceptance. No pressure, no expectations. Just the quiet offer of comfort in whatever form I needed.

"The main bed," I decided. "I want to wake up with all of you again."

The smiles that spread across their faces were brilliant and warm and full of anticipation for the future we were building together.

As I settled between them in Wes's king-size bed, surrounded by their warmth and scent and the steady sound of their breathing, I realized that home wasn't a place.

It was a feeling. The feeling of being exactly where you belonged, with exactly the right people, building exactly the life you were meant to live.

Tomorrow my heat would probably begin in earnest. But tonight, I was just a woman in love, falling asleep in the arms of three alphas who loved her back.

It was the most ordinary and extraordinary thing in the world.

I never knew home was something you could build with other people until they handed me the blueprints to forever.