Page 161 of The Other Omega

Now the boxes were finally gone. Livia had taken away the last of the wrapping, and the room smelled faintly of clean fabric and new wood. Through the dressing-room doorway, I could see the low drawers we’d labelled together, with the cloth nappies and little vests within easy reach, and spare blankets in the cupboard beside them.

I rested my hand over my belly.

Soon I’d open those drawers, with one of the girls waiting to be dressed. I’d learn which cry meant hunger and which meant she wanted to be held, and I’d probably discover within the first week that I’d somehow forgotten to buy something obvious.

“Have we missed anything?” I asked.

Eira looked around the room. “The Masters will ask the same question.”

“I know.” I laughed softly. “We should let them in before I start moving everything again.”

I followed her to the door. All five of my mates waited in the corridor, Darius’s hand already raised as though he’d been about to knock.

“Ready?” I asked.

“Yes, my heart,” Alaric said.

I stayed close to the door as my Alphas entered the nursery. Once all five were inside, Eira gave me a kind smile and quietly slipped out behind them, leaving us together.

Caius went straight to the pink bear and lifted the ear that had folded against the wall. He settled it upright, then ran his hand along the seam at its shoulder.

I went over and touched his wrist. “You were right about the rug strands.”

His gaze lowered to the rug.

“It feels lovely on bare feet.”

I slipped my arms around his waist and rested my cheek against him. He was warm beneath his uniform, and I smiled as I held him.

“Thank you for helping me choose.”

His hand settled between my shoulders. “I wanted to.”

I tilted my face up for a kiss, and he leaned in to meet me. “You can help with the next room too.”

“I would like that.”

Behind him, Leon had stopped in front of the smaller animals. He picked up a snow leopard and pressed its paw between his fingers, checking the exact place we’d asked the maker to change.

“Better?” I asked as I joined him.

“Much, sweetheart.”

I took it from him and tucked it into the crook of his arm. It looked tiny against his chest. He held it there while I arranged one little paw over his wrist, looking just as serious as he had when he commissioned the thing.

“They'll want you to know all their names.”

“Then I shall learn them.”

“And you'll have to listen when they change their minds.”

“I shall listen.”

I kissed his cheek and left the little leopard with him.

He looked around the nursery once more before turning back to me. “You have made a most perfect nursery for them.”

“We all did.”