Chapter Text
Max laid down in his freshly build nest, frustrated. He had blankets the pack used for cuddle sessions, hoodies he stole from everyone and some fresh worn clothes from Daniel. He built it because he was feeling off but it hadn’t calmed him down in the way it usually would. But he couldn’t understand why it didn’t this time.
There was something buzzing over the pack bond but it wasn’t a clear signal so Max didn’t have any idea who was it or what was needed. It was hardly the best idea to just interrogate all his pups to find out which on it was that was causing the disturbance. Yes, it would’ve calmed his instincts but the pups were already calling him mom in an annoyed tone lately, so asking more would most likely not be appreciated. In the end they’re some form of adults too so Max just had to trust that they would actually go to him when there was anything wrong.
The door opened and he watched as Daniel came closer with a soft smile on his face, but he didn’t enter the nest. Max frowned because why was his mate not entering his nest and actually whined when Daniel kneeled down at the edge of it. His distress lessened at the scent Daniel was producing. There was nothing sharp, bitter or disgusting about it. Max hadn’t disappointed his mate. It actually was calming, a proudness mixed with serene happiness and just the slightest hint of concern, but in the right, positive way one produced the smell when they were with someone they loved.
“Why aren’t you coming into the nest?” Max finally asked when it didn’t seem like his mate was going to explain his own actions. Alpha’s, useless sometimes!
“I wanted to give you a minute to sort out your thoughts,” Daniel explained, “You had the same smell you always have when you’re confused and overthinking.” Max noted that it must’ve been in a way that was little enough to not make Daniel panic, because normally in these situations his alpha would’ve made sure to get him as close as he could, wrapped up in soft pack blankets and sweet smells. But he decided to just fill in Daniel on the situation because the alpha sometimes seemed to know better how to handle these things.
Alpha’s could be useful, at times.
“There has been some buzzing on the pack link all day, I have no idea where it’s coming from or who is causing it and I don’t want to bother the pups about it because they’re fully grown adults,” he ranted, glad he could get it all off his chest.
Daniel chuckled (and what the fuck why would his mate chuckle when he spills something like this) before Daniel slowly eased into the nest. Max had half the idea to push him out, solely because of that reaction and Dan must’ve understood because he immediately released a soothing smell. He would’ve complained because what was he, some omega that could just be played with some scenting? But he knew Dan meant well and he was just overly touchy today.
“I didn’t mean to laugh at you,” Daniel started, “It just came out that way because it’s the other half, and opposite, from the story that I heard earlier this week.”
Max perked up at that because who could’ve told his mate something like that? He let himself be gathered in his alpha’s arms and started scenting Dan, appreciating the physical comfort. “Alex came to me,” Daniel said and it surprised Max. Not because of what he said but rather the fact that he did say it.
They had their own little pack within the grid pack, which meant they kind of were a pack omega and alpha, respectively. Because of that they tried to not share the things other members confided them with unless they had to. Their pups had gone to one of them for a reason and they wouldn’t casually break that trust unless they had to. “Apparently the three of them had a talk since Lando kept acting off to them and I was feeling guilty that I hadn’t noticed it. In the end it had been caused by some comments online that had gotten to him. It caused them to be hesitant about being too dependent on us, afraid that they would be a burden,” Daniel finished explaining.
It was good that they were already so close because the revelation had him kind of in shambles. Why did his pups think they were burdens? Did he do something wrong, had he been too rough with them? Were the comments that bad?
Max whined and revealed his natural scent to Daniel to let his mate know how he was feeling about it, since words didn’t seem to be enough. “Shh, shh,” Dan tried to calm him, “It really isn’t your fault, Alex talked to me about the comments and we already took action.”
But it didn’t convince him and he didn’t even need to tell Dan to let his mate know of his mental state. He watched as Daniel seemed to think for a bit before making a decision. His alpha scented his scent gland in his neck and nipped on the mating bite that was next to it before Max felt himself being nudged to lie down. “Come on sweety, trust me on this,” Daniel said and really, how could Max do anything but?
So he let himself fall deeper into his nest, focused on all the loved scents in it. Dan must’ve been helping with his own scent while he was doing whatever he did because Max actually fell asleep.
There were voices giggling and scents surrounded him that woke him up. Slightly more awake, he could confirm that it were the pups that surrounded him. The collective smell was good, happy even and when he went through each individual bond he had with them, he was a bit surprised but all too happy that none of them seemed distressed or ill.
This was all very satisfying and normally that would’ve been the end to it but it didn’t feel completely in place with what Daniel told him. If it was already figured out earlier this week, why was that buzz there today? And why was it completely gone now?
Wordlessly he pulled Alex to him for a hug. “Sorry I didn’t go to you,” the pup apologized and Max frowned at that. “Dan is your pack alpha, you have all the right to go to him too, I’m just glad you seem okay right now,” he told Alex before adding, “But if there is something wrong and you don’t want to go to Dan you know you can always go to me, right?”
The beta nodded in confirmation and only then it felt okay to move on to the next pup. Lando blushed and whined out of the hug but Max only let him go when he properly scented the pup. “Are you okay now? No more comments online?” He couldn’t help but ask. Lando frantically shook his head, “Daniel helped me get rid of them and I realized that I was being stupid,” the omega admitted and he suddenly looked smaller than he was. “It’s okay,” Max comforted Lando with more scent before he moved on to the last of the three.
“You,” he commented when he saw George, “It was you today, wasn’t it?” George flushed too but Max corrected him when he looked away. “It’s not something to be ashamed of nor do I blame you for anything, I just want to know if I’m right.”
“Yeah, it was me,” George admitted and Max pulled him in a closer hug while he waited for the pup to continue, “I thought we had all the insecurities figured out but more comments kept appearing on my page and I just couldn’t stop worrying. Or well, I didn’t want to admit that it was bothering me so I denied the existence of it and didn’t know I was so stressed until I met up with the rest, that’s when I calmed down too.”
Max did his best to shower George with a peaceful scent and when it seemed enough he pulled all three close, checking once more on all three if there really wasn’t anything he missed. Daniel must’ve been observing his little ‘ritual’ because the moment he settled down, the alpha spoke up.
“I knew words weren’t going to help this so I asked them to come by,” Daniel explained and Max observed his little pack. “Thank you,” he said and made sure Dan knew how he felt through his scent and a little extra through their bond. “Now come lay down with us,” Max commanded.
When everyone seemed to be comfortable, maybe even falling asleep the omega suddenly spoke up again. “Don’t you ever feel like you’re being a burden, to us. Dan and I will always be there for you,” before he added something else that had been on his mind too, “Dan and I will always be there for you, I don’t care what it is. Come to us if you’re stressed, annoyed or just want to spent time together. And please tell us too if we did anything wrong.”
The pack seemed to appreciate his words and Max felt himself tear up because it felt so right at this moment. He had one last thing to say though, “This won’t change when you find your mates or get your own little families or other packs. In the end you will always have a place with me and Daniel and don’t ever forget about that.”