"But you've never made me feel that way," I continue, meeting his eyes. "Never made me feel like I'm not enough. When I'm with you, I feel safer and more special than I ever have with any alpha or beta. You make me feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be."
"You are," he says fiercely. "God, Lexie, you're everything. The way you're here now even though I'm a fucking mess... I don't deserve you."
"That's where you're wrong," I say, squeezing his hand back. "We deserve each other. And I want to make sure you feel as safe and special with me as I do with you."
His expression shifts, the shame cracking to reveal the need underneath. "I do," he admits quietly. "Even like this. Especially like this."
"Good," I say simply. "Now, Aidan mentioned you might need help with nesting?"
Darren's cheeks flush, but not from the heat. "I... yeah. The urge is pretty strong. But I don't want to assume..."
"Assume what?"
"That you'd want to help," he says, vulnerability clear in his voice. "Nesting is intimate. It might be weird. And I have no fucking clue what I'm doing."
My heart swells with emotion. "Well, that would make two of us."
"Only if you want to," he says quickly, but I can hear the hope in his voice. The relief that I'm not rejecting him. As if I ever could do that. "No pressure. I know this is all new and?—"
"Yes," I interrupt. "Yes, I want to help. Tell me what you need."
The smile that spreads across his face is like sunshine breaking through storm clouds. "Really?"
"Really," I confirm. "Though you might have to guide me. Beta here, remember? Nesting wasn't exactly covered in health class."
He laughs, a real laugh this time, and stands, pulling me with him. "First, we need supplies. Blankets, pillows, clothes that smell like pack..."
"I'll help gather things," Zayn offers, and I'd almost forgotten he was there, letting Darren and I have this moment. "The others can contribute too."
"Thanks," Darren says, and there's a wealth of meaning in that single word.
We spend the next hour collecting nesting supplies from around the rental. It's fascinating watching Darren work, seeing him evaluate each item with intense focus. Some blankets are rejected immediately, Darren citing the wrong texture, while others are hoarded like treasure.
The pack contributes without being asked. Jax offers a soft henley that makes Darren's eyes dilate. Dmitri provides a blanket that smells like pine and safety even to me. Aidan hands over his own pillow, his cheeks reddening when Darren clutches it like a lifeline. Even Zayn contributes, tossing his prized leather jacket onto the pile.
"What about you?" Darren asks me as we survey our collection. "Can I, uh… have something that smells like you?"
My cheeks flush at the realization that he wants my scent in the nest, too, not just my help.
I'm wearing his jersey still, but underneath... I pull off the jersey, revealing the tank top beneath, and hand it over, leaving me in just my bra. It's warm from my body, scented with my perfume and the adrenaline from earlier.
Darren brings it to his nose, inhaling deeply, and the sound he makes goes straight to my core. "Perfect," he murmurs, his gaze heating up as it travels over me. "You're perfect."
I realize the alphas are staring, too. At both of us.
We work together to build the nest on the bed, a quiet intention behind our work. The energy in the pack has shifted now, and even the air feels electric. The alphas are giving us space, keeping their distance until they're invited in. Darren directs, but he asks for my input too, wanting to know what feels right to me. We’re building a safe space that's ours rather than just an omega’s.
"Here," he says, guiding me to arrange pillows along one side. "Like a wall. Protection."
I can tell he's fully given himself over to the instincts he's been trying so hard to fight, but even though he's afraid it will make him weak, it couldn't be further from the truth.
I follow his instructions, understanding instinctively what he needs. The nest takes shape, a cocoon of softness and safety, scented with pack. With all of us. When we're done, Darren sitsback to survey our work, and the satisfaction on his face makes my chest clench.
"It's good," he says softly. "Really good."
"Yeah?" I ask, suddenly uncertain. "Even with beta hands helping?"
He turns to me, cupping my face in his hands. "Especiallywith beta hands helping.Yourhands. Lexie, I..." He pauses, searching for words. "Thank you. For this. For being here. For not running when things got messy."
