Page 31 of Packing for Vacation

He searches my face in the fading light. “I think we’re quite compatible, you and I. Sexually, I mean.”

“I think so too, though there’s only one way to truly find out.” I lean forward, and he meets my lips for a slow, lingering kiss. “Take me to my nest, alpha,” I whisper against his lips.

Chapter Eleven

Matiu

Iwake to a peacefully empty house, and I hate it.

Up until three days ago I was perfectly content in my life. Now I feel like I’ll never be happy again unless I have my omega—and her other alpha, and his dog—by my side. It’s unsettling to be missing Scott when we’ve been here before, when we’ve done it all with another scent-matched omega.

Look where that got us.

“I’m fucked,” I say quietly, standing aimlessly in the kitchen while I wait for the jug to boil. It felt easy to be optimistic when Lizzie was here. Her energy is infectious. Now the quiet feels strangely loud.

I sigh as I make my coffee and reach for my phone, bringing up Scott’s contact details as I sip my drink. I’ve been resisting messaging him—things are still weird between us and I don’t see how that’s ever going to change — but I pick up my phone now because I can’t avoid it forever.

I’m leaving in half an hour. Need me to grab anything on the way?

Scott sees the message immediately.

Scott

Na, but we might meet you in Whangārei. She wants to go op shopping for her nest.

Op shopping? For secondhand stuff?

Yeah what other kind of op shopping is there?

That’s not normal omega behaviour.

I’m going to tell her you said that.

Fucking cunt.

You better fucking not

I’m joking.

She showed me pictures of her nest back home, she thrifts all her stuff and makes it as good as new with deodorising products.

That was actually one of the reasons why she’s had NZ on the brain for years.

She has a NZ wool blanket, you know those old ones from when the boomers were kids. Was sad she couldn’t bring it with her.

You should’ve seen her face last night when she told me this and I said ‘wait here’ and went and grabbed the one off my old bed at the bach.

It’s in the nest now

I’ve got one in the cupboard

Bring it.

She all good?

Yeah. Still sleeping.

I think she’s a night owl.