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"Whatever you're comfortable sharing," I said quietly, my hands twisting in my lap. "I just... I want to be surrounded by all of you."

Christopher made a sound low in his throat that was almost a growl. "Lilianna," he said, my name carrying a weight of reverence that made my chest tight. "You can have anything of ours. Everything of ours."

Nicolaus had gone completely still by the door, his knuckles white where he gripped the doorframe. When he turned back to look at me, his eyes were dark with something primal and possessive. "I'll bring you one of my sweaters," he said, his voice carefully controlled. "The one I wore yesterday."

Within minutes, they had transformed the living room into something magical.

Soft blankets layered over each other, pillows arranged in a perfect circle, and in the center, items that carried each of their scents.

Julian's silk tie, still warm from his neck.

Miles's flannel shirt, soft from countless washings and smelling of earth and pine.

Christopher's wool sweater, rich with his warm, comforting scent.

And Nicolaus's sweater, and he brought an extra button-up shirt with him too. .

I settled into the center of the nest, immediately feeling the tension in my shoulders ease as their combined scents enveloped me.

Julian settled behind me, his strong chest becoming my backrest as Miles stretched out on my left side and Christopher on my right.

Nicolaus hesitated for just a moment before finding his place at my feet, his hand resting on my ankle with gentle possessiveness.

"Better?" Julian murmured against my hair, his arms encircling my waist.

"Perfect," I whispered, letting my eyes close as I sank deeper into the nest. The weight of everything—the photograph, the social media post, the inevitable confrontation with my mother—seemed to lighten, distributed among the four of them like a burden shared.

My phone buzzed on the coffee table, startling me from my moment of peace. Christopher reached for it, glancing at the screen.

"Comments already," he said, his voice carefully neutral. "Do you want to see, or would you rather wait?"

“I’ll wait.” I muttered, feeling myself curl more into Julian.

Julian's arms tightened around me, his warmth a shield against the uncertainty. "Wise choice. Let's give it some time to settle."

"The statement from the pack will go out within the hour," Nicolaus added, his fingers tracing gentle patterns on my ankle. "My contact at the PR firm confirmed they're ready to release it as soon as we give the word."

I nodded, trying to focus on the present moment—the safety of her nest, the comfort of their scents surrounding me—rather than the storm that might be brewing. The gentle weight of Christopher's hand settled on my knee, grounding me further.

"What if she tries to take legal action?" I asked quietly, voicing the fear that had been lurking beneath all others. "Could she force me to return home?"

"Absolutely not," Julian replied immediately, his voice firm with conviction.

"You're a legal adult, Lilianna," Nicolaus added, his analytical mind always ready with facts.

"She has no legal authority over you whatsoever.

The original agreement was for a courtship, not ownership, and even that document only facilitated an introduction.

It cannot compel you to remain with anyone against your will. "

I nodded, trying to absorb his certainty even as anxiety gnawed at my insides. "But she could make things difficult. Publicly, legally..."

"Let her try," Christopher said, his voice carrying a protective edge I rarely heard from him. "We have more resources and better lawyers."

"And the truth on our side," Miles added softly, his fingers finding mine and squeezing gently. "Don't forget that part."

A phone buzzed this time it being Julian’s, he grabbed it from his pocket, shifting me a bit to reach it. He gave a small smile, “Mara said she has it taken care of on her end. I sent her what we wanted the statement to say, and she’ll make sure it’s posted within the next couple hours.”

I felt some of the tension ease from my shoulders at his words. Having Mara handle the official statement meant it would be professional, measured, and perfectly crafted. She had a way of making even the most complex situations sound elegant and straightforward.

"What did you tell her to include?" I asked, curious about how they would frame our relationship to the public.

Julian's thumb traced circles on my hip as he considered his answer. "The basics. That we met through a traditional introduction, that we've been courting properly and that we're very happy together. Nothing about the financial arrangement or your family situation—just the love story."

"Because that's what matters," Miles added, his voice warm with conviction. "Everything else is just noise."

My phone buzzed again, and this time I couldn't resist reaching for it. The notifications were multiplying rapidly—likes, comments, shares, “Can you take this for now. I don’t think I can handle it right now.”

Christopher nodded, taking the phone from my trembling fingers. "I'll keep an eye on it for you," he promised, putting the phone on silent and putting it in his pocket.

"Thank you," I whispered, feeling both relief and guilt at handing over that responsibility.

Julian pressed a gentle kiss to my temple. "Try to rest. We'll handle everything for now."

I nodded, allowing myself to sink deeper into the nest, surrounded by their scents and warmth. The combined effect was like a sedative, my eyelids growing heavy despite the anxiety still humming beneath my skin. I felt safe here, protected in a way I'd never experienced, until my life with them.

"Sleep if you need to," Miles murmured, his fingers gently stroking my hair. "We'll be right here."

I didn't mean to drift off, but the emotional exhaustion of the day caught up with me as I breathed in the scent of the alphas around me, lulling me to sleep.