Absolute Devotion (An Omega’s Preference #3)

32. Nala

thirty-two

NALA

My baby nephews giggle and squirm around me, their little hands reaching out to grab my fingers, my hair, anything within their grasp. Their joy is infectious, and for a moment, I let myself fall into the rhythm of their laughter, the soft warmth of their little bodies snuggled close.

Joel’s on the floor next to me, carefully stacking blocks for the twins before he knocks them over. Every time he does, he lets out an exaggerated gasp, making them squeal with delight. Across the room, Ren is playing peekaboo from behind the couch, his hands popping up with perfect timing, sending the babies into additional fits of laughter.

Their Alpha, Isaias, is sitting on the couch in the middle of the room, his arm wrapped protectively around Kieran, who leans into him with a peaceful smile. The sight of them so close and comfortable makes my heart ache with warmth, and I wonder if I’ll ever get used to feeling safe like this, surrounded by family.

Still, there’s a tension winding through me, a chaotic energy I can’t shake. My mates left so suddenly, called in for an urgent debriefing with Chief Hart and the FBI. I hadn’t wanted to stay in the house alone with the memory of that intruder still fresh in my mind, so I came here, to the comfort of my brother’s pack. But now, hours later, I can’t help glancing at my phone, hoping for an update.

The bond I share with my mates hums with their emotions—hardened resolve, frustration, and the sharp edge of anger.

Leo reaches up at me, his excited squeals causing him to wriggle around. I chuckle, scooping him up and pressing a soft kiss to his cheek, which earns me a delighted giggle.

Joel nudges me with a gentle smile, catching the anxious glance I shoot at my phone. “They’ll be fine, Nala,” he says. “They’re trained for this. They’ve got each other, and they’ll be back at your side before you know it.”

Trying to let his words ease the tightness in my chest isn’t easy, the growing worry gnawing at me. I glance over at Kieran, remembering what he went through just a few weeks ago when Michael had tracked him down. I remember the way Kieran looked then, haunted and tense, and I finally understand. This is how he must have felt, the helplessness of waiting, the fear simmering beneath every thought.

But somehow, this feels even worse.

I close my eyes, focusing on the bond, hoping for anything to ease my mind. And then I feel it—a shift, a softening in their emotions. The tension fades, replaced by something warmer, almost lighthearted. There’s a sudden burst of laughter echoing through the bond, bright and easy, and I cling to it, letting it settle my anxiety.

Joel catches my expression and chuckles. “See? They’re fine, Nala. You’ll have them back before you know it.”

But then a different emotion trickles through the bond, something more mischievous, playful. I frown, confused, and just as I start to wonder what they’re up to, my phone buzzes. I answer it in a heartbeat, my voice breathless with anticipation.

“Nala,” Zahria’s voice comes through, warm and filled with relief. “It’s all over. We’re on our way home.”

A burst of joy overtakes me, and before I can think, I’ve hung up the phone and dumped Leo into Joel’s arms. I rush toward the door, Joel and Ren laughing at my sudden movement.

“Go get ‘em, Nala!” Joel calls after me.

I throw a quick smile over my shoulder before dashing outside and then I see them—my mates, walking toward me, their faces lit with smiles that melt away any lingering worry. I don’t think. I just run, closing the distance between us and flinging myself into their arms. They catch me easily, holding me close, and I feel like I’m finally home.

Montgomery wraps me up in his arms, his face buried in my hair as he whispers, “Let’s go home, princess.”

I nod, pulling back to look at each of them, soaking in their relieved smiles, the love in their eyes. I feel whole again, like every part of me is right here, exactly where it belongs.

“I’ll just grab my bag,” I say, hurrying back inside. I gather my things quickly, throwing Joel and the others a grateful smile. “I’ll come back later,” I promise.

Rejoining my mates outside, we walk back to our house together, and I feel lighter than I have in days.

When we step inside, I pause, surprised by how clean everything is. The shattered door has been replaced, the signs of the earlier chaos are gone, and the house looks pristine, as it first did when Montgomery dragged me inside from an evening run. It’s like the nightmare from earlier never happened, but I can still feel the ghost of it lingering in my mind.

Bear catches my reaction and smiles, resting a hand on my back. “We called in some people to take care of it while we were gone. We didn’t want you coming home to that mess.”

I look around, taking in the faint scents of cleaning products and unfamiliar people. It’s nice, but… not quite right. I wrinkle my nose, frowning. “It feels… different. Like someone else’s house.”

Xylo and Bear share a knowing grin, and Montgomery chuckles, stepping close to me. “I think we know how to fix that.”

Before I can ask what he means, Bear scoops me up into his arms, carrying me to the center of the living room. The others follow, surrounding us as Xylo pulls me into his chest, his voice gentle. “This is our home, Nala. We’ll fill it with our scents, our memories. No one else’s.”

Xylo refuses to let me go, the others gathering pillows and blankets from the dryer to deposit in the living room. I glare at the mess and then sigh, needing to rearrange everything. My mates laugh as they leave me to my task until I’m satisfied and we all pile back in, Montgomery tugging me into my lap as he usually does.

He dips his lips to his bite, gently running his tongue over the healing wound. I settle back against his chest, Bear and Xylo each taking my hand in theirs as they rub their thumbs over their bites. Zahria just grins at me from her perch at the edge of the nest. “I’m going to wait until later, sweetie but don’t worry, I’ll nurse my bite too.”

My cheeks heat at the thought of my Alpha kissing me into oblivion but I shove that down before my scent betrays me. “So, how did the debriefing go?” I ask, interrupting some of the peace that’s settled around us.

Xylo’s face darkens slightly. “Well, the FBI agents did what we expected—they took everything and promptly brushed it under the rug.”

Zahria sighs. “But Chief Hart asked us to keep digging, to continue the investigation, just in a… quieter way.”

I wrinkle my nose, not thrilled with the idea. “Does this mean we’ll have to move?”

Zahria’s face softens, and she gives me a reassuring smile. “Not necessarily. But it might mean we’ll have to travel or spend time in different places. We don’t want to involve you any more than you’re comfortable with.” Her voice is gentle, and I know she means it, but the thought of them leaving still makes my heart twist. She glances at me, her eyes warm. “I know you love your job at the school, and I want you to enjoy everything you’ve missed out on. You deserve that, Nala.”

I pout, looking down. “Are you leaving me, then?”

Bear squeezes my hand, catching my attention. “Hey, you’re allowed to be selfish with what you want. Tell us what you need.”

I take a deep breath and then let it out, deciding to tell them what I truly want. “I don’t want to be alone. I don’t want you to leave me, even if it’s for something important. I want us to be together for all the holidays and birthdays.” My eyes widen as I realize something, and I turn to each of them, my curiosity spilling over. “Wait, I don’t even know your birthdays! Or anything about what you like to do for holidays. Do you even celebrate them?”

Montgomery cuts off my rambling with a soft kiss to my cheek, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he pulls back. “We’ll get there, princess. One thing at a time. But I think we can agree to those conditions.”

I relax, smiling as he wraps his arms tighter around me.

My Alpha glances around the room, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “Now, how about we make this place smell like us again?”

Before I can react, he scoops me up, throwing me over his shoulder, and strides toward the nest, the others laughing and following close behind. I laugh, squealing as I feel the strength of his grip, the love and warmth radiating from all of them.

They pull me down onto the blankets, soft kisses and laughter filling the space between us. When Montgomery reaches for my pants, I pull back, suddenly realizing a conversation we still haven’t had. “Wait!” I blurt, my voice high-pitched with urgency.

They pause, looking at me in confusion. “What’s wrong?” Bear asks, his brow furrowing.

“No babies!” I say, holding up a finger, and Zahria bursts out laughing.

Montgomery blinks, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Oh?”

Zahria catches her breath, still laughing. “You should have seen her with her nephews earlier,” she says, grinning. “There might have been a joke about how good she looked holding a baby.”

My face heats as the realization dawns on me that I’ve just put that image in their minds. They stare at me with a newfound intensity, their eyes darkening with desire, and I know I’ve made a grave mistake. Thank fuck for birth control.

“Well,” I murmur, giving them a playful smile. “Maybe… just one baby?”

They descend on me, laughter and love filling the room as we fall into each other, our home finally feeling like ours again, filled with the warmth and joy of a family of our own making.