Absolute Devotion (An Omega’s Preference #3)

8. Nala

eight

NALA

The unfamiliar smell of bacon and eggs reaches my nose, drawing me out of the unconscious state I fell into. Montgomery’s scent coats everything in this room, the bed I’m tucked into not the same place I fell asleep last night. I slowly sit up and rub my eyes, mildly confused at the low light filtering through the shades. There were no more nightmares, no suddenly waking up—nothing.

The few times I’ve slept beside Zahria and Xylo, it’s been peaceful as well. It’s a new normal I would love to adopt. I twist around to see Montgomery’s indent in the mattress, a messy handwritten letter on a yellow sticky waiting for me.

Didn’t want to wake you, princess. Come get some breakfast when you’re ready.

My stomach chooses that moment to grumble, Montgomery’s extra care drawing me out of bed. I snatch one of his shirts off the floor and throw it over my head, covering myself up more than I had been last night. It isn’t until I make it down the hallway that I hear Zahria’s muffled laughter and Xylo’s unamused grunt.

They’re all here?

They haven’t noticed me yet, all bent around the kitchen island in various states of frumpy attire. Bear doesn’t look like he slept at all, his long hair wild around his shoulders. Xylo looks nearly as rough and Zahria just looks worried. If I hadn’t just heard her laugh, I’d think it was her permanent expression where I was concerned. Montgomery is clearly intrigued by whatever they’re focused on, but his gaze darting to the hallway tells me that he’s caught me lurking.

The mixture of their scents and their presence has my entire body on fire, a whimper falling from my lips before I can stop it. I slap a hand over my mouth as the movement in the kitchen stops, all four of them straightening up and turning to face me.

My body reacts, slick gathering between my legs, my heartbeat quickening until I’m gasping for air. Confusion flits through my expression as I glance between the four of them, unsure if they’re going to charge as my scent explodes through the room. Montgomery moves swiftly toward me, blocking out everything else except his calming scent.

I stuff my face into his chest, hating the way I react every time I’m around my own mates.

“Princess, it’s just us. Just us four and no one is going to start anything unless you ask for it.” He pinches my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze as his other hand brushes along my shoulder and the patch over my gland. “Come get some breakfast and then I’ll let you disappear in my room, okay?”

“I should go home.”

“To an apartment where you’re all alone? Bear told me just where you live. No. Absolutely not.” My lip turns up in a snarl, Montgomery raising an eyebrow in amusement. “Princess, we can play this game all day but I’ll win. I’m not sending you back to a room to fend for yourself during a heat.”

“I–”

“I’m not asking you for anything more than letting me take care of you. Can you do that? Can you let us take care of you?” Montgomery releases my chin and steps back, the lack of his presence leaving me bereft. My body is still warm with heat, slick threatening to coat my panties again.

“I can do that,” I finally whisper, following behind the Alpha into the kitchen. Xylo steals me for a kiss on my temple as I pass, Bear shifting nervously as if I would ignore him. Instead, I step into his chest, the man melting against me. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to. I really didn’t.”

“I know, angel.”

That only leaves Zahria, my Alpha standing a few feet away. I step into her space, pressing my back against her chest so that I’m squished in between her and the counter. Her arms wrap around my stomach as she kisses my cheek, the peace that comes with these four in the room settling me further.

Then they all start moving, shoving a plateful of eggs and bacon at me, a cup of juice, and toast on an entirely different plate. I just stare, overwhelmed by their gestures, trying to hide in Zahria’s arms and failing.

It isn’t until Bear lifts a triangular piece of toast to my lips and I take a bite that everyone relaxes. My Omega swarms with happiness at being fed, my mouth opening of its own accord for another bite. Bear eagerly complies, Zahria chuckling as the excitement of my presence in the kitchen dies down.

Several moments pass in comfortable silence as Bear fills my belly, Montgomery and Xylo talking in hushed tones in the corner. For another first time in my life, I feel safe and loved. I stop mid-chew when the heat starts creeping through my limbs again and I slowly untangle myself from Zahria, terrified as I feel the bandage over my gland start to peel away. The sweat from last night must have loosened the adhesive, my true scent blasting through the room.

Everyone freezes at the change, focusing on me with those intense stares, nostrils flaring. I brace myself for the growls and possessive shouts of ownership before they lunge. Slapping a hand over my gland changes absolutely nothing as I back away, eyes widening when Montgomery straightens up. I know he won’t lunge but it doesn’t change the fear my Omega feels at possibly being cornered.

“Sweetie, it’s okay,” Zahria offers but I can see her fighting against her primal instincts, every muscle in her neck and shoulders straining beneath that thin sweater.

“It’s not okay. It’s going to be too strong,” I spit back. “It’s always too strong.” Montgomery won’t attack me but the others… they haven’t truly smelled me without the patch on. When Xylo clears his throat, I take off down the hall and slam the door shut, my fingers shaking as I try to lock it. After the third time of failing, I crawl into the corner.

All of my patches are stupidly back in my apartment which means that I can’t even step outside of this room without drenching everything in Montgomery’s new house. I scramble for my phone, hurriedly dialing my brother. He doesn’t answer so I panic dial Kieran, hoping he’ll have a solution.

“Nala?”

“I need my patches!” I bite back a moan as my scent thickens, the heat I’ve been staving off since the last spike growing. I’m going to need one of my mates but without the patch, I can’t trust them or myself not to do something we’ll regret. “Can you… is Ren home or…” It’s Saturday which means that Ren should be but he schedules meetings on the weekend if they spill over from the week.

“Nala, where are you? Are you safe?”

“I think so. They’re all in the kitchen but the patch came off and I don’t have anymore. I need…”

“Nala, I need you to breathe for just a moment and repeat what you said. You’re safe and they’re there?”

“Yes! Oh.”

“Where are you in the house?”

“The bedroom.”

“And no one’s rushing inside to get to you?”

“No, but Zahria was.”

“She’s your Alpha. Isaias was the same way right after I had the boys. An Alpha will always react to your heat scent but a good mate will let you tell them what you need. You’re going to need them, Nala.”

“I know but I just can’t stop seeing…”

“You need to tell them what you need but that doesn’t mean you can’t also tell them what you can handle. I wasn’t always comfortable with Isaias, not after Michael. It took time just like it’ll take you time.”

“I never said…”

“You didn’t have to, Nala. Just because Michael didn’t touch you, doesn’t mean you aren’t working through nightmares of your own. You don’t have to let your mates in all at once but running away won’t solve anything either. If we had more time, I would help you figure out how to ease into it but it seems we’re both stubborn where help is involved. You don’t have time Nala.”

“I know and I fucking hate it. I wish someone could take the demons away.”

“In time, Nala. Just let them in.”

Kieran hangs up after making sure I’m safe one more time and I pull my knees into my chest, resting my head against one of Montgomery’s pillows that fell to the floor. A shiver runs down my spine as a cramp tears through my stomach but I just grit my teeth and squeeze my eyes shut, hoping it’ll pass.