I blink at him, touched by the offer. "That would be perfect, actually. Thank you."
Dakota nods, his usual gruffness softening slightly. "No problem. I can bring them to your room after dinner."
"I have some extra throw pillows too," Lucas adds, surprising me further. "Memory foam. They're good for building a solid nest foundation."
I stare at them, momentarily speechless. Their casual acceptance of my Omega needs, without mockery or discomfort, is so unexpected that I'm not quite sure how to respond.
"Thank you," I manage finally, my voice quieter than intended. "All of you. This is... not what I expected."
"What did you expect?" Theo asks, adjusting his glasses with curious eyes.
I shrug, uncomfortable with admitting my preconceptions. "I don't know. Awkwardness? Most Alphas I've known don't really... understand nesting needs."
"We're not most Alphas," Gabriel says simply, as if that explains everything. And maybe it does.
Lucas grins, leaning back in his chair. "Besides, we've all had to learn about Omega physiology and psychology for our work. Can't be effective investigators if we don't understand half the population."
"Though some of us paid more attention in those classes than others," Theo adds dryly, shooting a pointed look at Dakota.
Dakota rolls his eyes. "I passed, didn't I?"
"Barely," Lucas teases, dodging the napkin Dakota throws at him.
I watch their easy banter, a warmth spreading through me that has nothing to do with the food. There's something about their dynamic—the way they tease and support each other without posturing or dominance displays—that puts me at ease in a way I didn't expect.
I take another bite of food, feeling more comfortable in this home than I thought. I glanced around the table and feel a little more settled with this arrangement than before.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to be around these Alphas.
Chapter Nineteen
Thequietofmyroom is suddenly pierced by a knock at the door, sharp and insistent. I blink from my spot on my bead before calling out for whoever it was to come in.
The door opened to Theo and Lucas, who both had the nesting materials they said they would bring. Their arms laden with soft fabrics in a variety of textures and colors. Lucas carried what looked like an impressive collection of pillows while Theo balanced neatly folded blankets.
"Special delivery," Lucas announced with a grin, setting his pile on the foot of my bed, the sound of the door closing echoing through the room, "Premium nesting materials, as requested."
I stood up, genuinely touched by their thoughtfulness. "You didn't have to bring so much."
"Better to have options," Theo replied practically, arranging his stack of blankets beside Lucas's pillows. "Different textures work better for different emotional states."
My eyebrows rose in surprise. "That's... actually correct. How do you know that?"
Theo adjusted his glasses, a hint of pink touching his cheeks. "Research. I find Omega physiology fascinating from a scientific perspective."
"What he means is he reads textbooks for fun," Lucas translated with a smirk, dodging the elbow Theo aimed at his ribs.
I felt a smile tug at my lips, their casual banter making the situation feel almost normal. "Well, I appreciate it. Truly."
"Dakota's bringing up a few more things," Theo informed me,
As if summoned by his name, a third knock sounded at the door. Dakota entered without waiting for a response, carrying what appeared to be vintage quilts and several thick, plush throws.
"These are from the guest rooms," he explained gruffly, adding his contribution to the growing pile. "Clean, but they've been in storage for a while, so they're not heavily scented."
"Thank you," I said, running my fingers over one of the quilts—a beautiful star pattern in blues and creams that looked handmade. "This is... incredibly thoughtful."
Dakota shrugged, clearly uncomfortable with gratitude. "It's practical. Settled Omegas are easier to protect." Despite his gruff words, there was a gentleness in how he arranged the quilts that belied his tone.
