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Mack’s tongue was poking out as he assessed the two blankets he was torn between. One was a nice shade of blue, one that reminded him of Will, but the other was a soft cashmere, fluffy and the perfect texture for Mack’s nest. It just so happened to also be soft pink, a colour Macklin was too embarrassed to admit he loved. He looked back and forth between the two before he sighed and put them both down.
If he couldn’t decide then he wouldn’t buy any materials for his nest at all.
“Mack? Did you make a decision?” It was Will, and normally Macklin would perk up all eager and sweet whenever his alpha was near, but now he just huffed and crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at the offending bundles of fabric in front of him. “Babe?”
“Not getting one,” Mack grumbled. He was still glaring at them when Will picked them both up and put them in the trolley. “Hey! What are you doing?”
“Let me guess what’s going on here,” Will started. Mack ignored the blush that ignited on his face, already aware that Will was going to hit the nail on the head perfectly. “You couldn’t pick between either blanket so rather than let me buy you both, you decided you wouldn’t get any. Am I right, or am I right?”
“Shut up,” Macklin huffed, arms crossing over his chest even further as he stormed off, sneakers squeaking along the supermarket floor. Will snorted from behind him before his fingers curled around Mack’s bicep, tugging him back into his embrace. Mack didn’t want to admit how easily he melted, soft purrs rumbling from his throat as he let Will’s bitterly sweet scent wash over him.
“I’m getting you both, okay?” Will muttered, lips inches from Mack’s mating bite. Mack shivered and bared his neck, entirely uncaring that they were in public, and anyone could see them. “Is that okay? Do you want both?”
“Yes, but…” Mack trailed off, gnawing at his lower lip. A familiar anxiety washed through him.
“But nothing. Let me treat you, baby,” Will said. Mack sighed. He knew that was just how Will was – even if he wasn’t an alpha, Mack was sure Will would’ve been the same – but he still struggled to accept it most of the time.
“Are you sure?” Mack whispered. He turned around in Will’s hold, a pout already on his lips as he met his alpha’s gaze. Will smiled and pressed their lips together in the quickest of kisses before he nodded.
“Never been surer.”
❅❅❅
Mack was cradling the two new blankets to his chest. He couldn’t bring himself to let go of them. They were his – his – and oh boy, his nest was going to be heavenly now.
A lack of warmer materials was one of Mack’s biggest cruxes. Whenever they went to a colder city, Macklin always struggled due to the lack of blankets in his nest. Usually, Will would try and cuddle him warmer, but it still wasn’t enough. But he had finally gotten some blankets thanks to Will, and he was going to make the best nest out of it that he possibly could.
“You planning on letting the blankets go any time soon, or…?” Will said. Mack startled, a squeak falling from his mouth as the blankets slipped from his grasp, falling to the floor with soft thumps. He’d been so caught up in his head that he’d failed to notice the soft increase in the intensity of Will’s scent – a sure sign that he was getting closer.
“I dropped ‘em,” Mack frowned. He looked down at the discard blankets, making no move to pick them back up. Will huffed out a fond breath of laughter before he crossed over and picked the blankets back up. He held them out towards Mack, shaking his hands when Mack didn’t make a move.
“Babe, come on, you need to make your nest,” Will said. Mack hummed at the truth of that before he gently took the blankets back. He dusted them off before he turned to their bed. It was still unmade from the morning, shirts and hoodies threatening to fall from the mattress. Mack frowned.
“Can you help me?” Mack whispered. Will nodded but made no moves towards the bed. Instead, he gently crossed over to Mack’s body and pulled him in, their lips connecting seconds later. Mack hummed into the kiss, scent sweetening and sharpening in the air around them. He was never the best at controlling his scent, but Will didn’t complain, so Mack didn’t either. Not anymore, at least.
When Will pulled back, Macklin took a few seconds to recover. He was lightheaded and dizzy, like he always was whenever Will kissed him, but he managed a soft and weak smile before he was pushing Will back and away from him. “Stop it. I need to make my nest.”
“I know, I know. Such a good omega for me, huh?” Will teased. Mack glared at him, ignoring the way his nerve endings lit alight, butterflies flickering to life in his stomach. “Sorry, baby, couldn’t stop myself. How do you want me to help?”
Mack hummed before directing Will on what to do. The two quickly got to work – Will picking up the discarded nest materials from the night before, and Mack remaking the bed. It was silent for a while, peaceful as it rarely was for the two of them. Mack almost wanted to stay in that moment forever, just him and Will living in peaceful domesticity.
If only he didn’t love hockey so much.
❅❅❅
The lights were off, phones put to one side. Only the faint traces of moonlight slipping in through the half-open curtains illuminated the room. Mack sighed to himself as he nuzzled further into Will’s hold. His alpha was already fast asleep, the softened state of his scent slowly luring Mack to sleep, but something was holding him back.
A shiver overtook him. Mack whined lowly in his throat and tried to enmesh himself further into Will’s hold. His alpha didn’t respond. Mack continued to shiver until he pulled back from Will and sat up with a huff. He was too cold to sleep, and he hated it.
On careful, quiet feet, Mack stood up and crossed to the window. He nudged the curtains aside even further and sighed softly as he gazed at the moon and stars. They were shining effortlessly bright and Mack couldn’t tear his eyes away, even when he heard Will waking up behind him.
“Mm… Mackie? Where’d you go?” Will asked. Mack giggled and turned to look at his boyfriend over his shoulder. Will’s eyes softened, as did his scent, when he spotted Mack’s moonlight silhouetted form. “What’re you doing out of bed?”
“Too cold to sleep.”
“Mack… did you forget about the blankets?” Will said with a chuckle. Mack hummed in confusion, turning to face Will. His alpha lifted two blankets up – one soft blue, one baby pink – and Mack found himself blushing. He had totally forgotten about the blankets. Could he really be blamed for forgetting, though? It wasn’t like he was used to them.
“Um…” Mack said inelegantly. Will chuckled fondly before he slipped out of the bed, the pink blanket in his hands. He crossed the room to Mack’s form and draped the blanket around his shoulders before tugging him in. “Sorry,” Mack whispered.
“Don’t be sorry, baby. I didn’t expect you to use them right away, to be honest,” Will said. Mack sighed softly and leant into Will’s embrace. Will’s scent clouded his senses and he hummed happily, nuzzling closer and closer. “My silly omega, huh?”
“Yeah… yours.”
❅❅❅
Something was blaring through Mack’s dreams and when he blinked awake, he soon realised what it was. He grumbled and turned to nudge at the sleeping alpha next to him. “Will… Will, your alarm is going off.” Will grumbled before he jolted upright. He looked across at the alarm clock before he cursed and practically flung himself from the bed.
A third of Mack’s nest items flew with him and Mack frowned softly. He knew Will hadn’t done it on purpose, but still. The thought of his alpha destroying his nest… it made Mack feel uneasy and sick. He whined low in his throat before he could stop himself.
“Mack? Baby, what’s wrong?” Will asked. He was struggling to change into his clothes and normally Mack would find himself staring at Will as he changed with his lower lip caught between his teeth, but he was too upset to follow his usual routine. “Mack?”
“You destroyed my nest,” Mack whimpered. Will’s eyes went as wide as saucers before he was rushing over, one knee resting against the bed as he took Mack into his arms. Mack couldn’t stop tears from pricking his eyes and he sniffled, nuzzling into the toned definition of Will’s chest.
“I’m sorry, baby. You were such a good omega for me, made us such a good nest, and I was a big mean alpha who ruined it, huh?” Will said. Mack grumbled lightly and pulled Will in further, the weight of him heavy against Mack as they fall back against the bed. “I really am sorry.”
“I know alpha didn’t do it on purpose, so it’s okay,” Mack sniffled. He pulled back and cupped Will’s face in his hands, ignoring the tears that were still glazed over his eyes and blurring his vision. He smiled boyishly, all teeth and gums, before he pulled Will in for a kiss. “You’re a good alpha, don’t beat yourself up about it.”
“I’ll try, but I feel really bad,” Will said. “Especially as I’m leaving you for a week now. I really want you to know that I do love you and me destroying your nest was entirely an accident. I love you, okay?”
“I know. I love you too, and I’ll miss you. Bring me back something for the nest, maybe?” Mack said. He batted his lashes coyly, but he knew Will wouldn’t buy it. He laughed softly, a fond shake of his head following moments later.
“You’re lucky you’re the cutest omega ever, and your nest is the softest place on earth,” Will said. Mack giggled and pulled Will in for another, deeper, kiss before the two parted and Mack reluctantly let go. “You sure you’re gonna be okay without me?”
“Mm… probably not fully okay, but I’ll survive,” Mack said with a shrug and a giggle. Will smiled apologetically at him before he continued to get changed. Mack did stare this time, taking in the physique that his boyfriend had worked so hard for, the one that drove Mack insane, especially during heats.
He really couldn’t ask for a better alpha.
❅❅❅
Mack was half-awake, a lovesickness surging through him that left him dizzy and unable to focus. He’d spent the last week drowsily making it through every day, more than a handful of minor incidents stacking up and leaving him extra sluggish.
It felt pathetic to admit he could barely cope without his alpha, but something about Will left him rejuvenated and strong, ready to face each and every day with a renewed vigour.
Mack sighed and turned to face the window. The curtains were partly open once more and Mack stared out at the moon and stars, wondering if Will was doing the same, was thinking of the omega he’d left behind at home.
Tears pricked Mack’s eyes and he willed them down just as he heard the creak of his front door. Mack sat up, almost possessed in his motions, before he covered his mouth, a whimper slipping out seconds later. He wasn’t too sure what his scent was doing, and he really hoped whoever the intruder was couldn’t sense it.
Footsteps thundered up the stairs, each one louder and quicker than the last. Mack tensed, hands curled around the soft material of his baby pink blanket. His face was half-buried in his knees and when the door to his room slammed open, Mack couldn’t help but let out a sob, his hands tightening their hold on the blanket.
The figure stepped into the moonlight and all of Mack’s previous anxiety melted away. It was Will!
“Alpha!” Mack cried. He struggled across the bed, legs bound up in sheets and blankets. Will crossed almost immediately, one knee coming up to rest on the bed as he took Mack into his arms. He shushed and soothed him, fingers pushing through Mack’s hair as he let his scent wash over him. “Thought someone had broken in.”
“I’m sorry, baby, I wanted to surprise you. What are you doing awake?” Will asked. Mack sniffled softly and pulled back from the hug, peering up at his alpha. Will was frowning in concern, and Mack felt his fears and his anxiety crumble. His alpha was back, and that was all that mattered.
“Can’t sleep without my alpha,” Mack said. He shot Will a gummy smile and Will sighed fondly before he pressed a quick yet firm and reassuring kiss to Mack’s mouth. “Hurry up and get into the nest already, I want cuddles.”
“Okay, my bossy lil omega,” Will said. He kissed Mack once more before pulling back. His sneakers clattered to the floor, followed by the thump of his coat. His shirt and sweatpants went next before he tugged on one of Mack’s hoodies and clambered into the bed next to him. “Happy now?” Will asked.
Mack hummed and nuzzled into Will’s arms before he squeaked and darted backwards, the weight of his body resting atop one elbow. “You’re fucking freezing!”
“It’s snowing outside, can you blame me?” Will said with a chuckle. “Come here and warm me up!” Mack scoffed and snatched up the soft blue blanket, lobbing it into Will’s face. When Will was distracted with plucking the soft sheet away from his body, Mack snuggled closer. Will’s skin was still biting cold, but he wanted to be a good omega and warm his alpha up.
“Did you have fun?” Mack asked, a yawn rippling through him seconds later. Will hummed, but didn’t respond further, prompting Mack to frown up at him. “Alpha?”
“You scared me, you know? I came in and your scent was so bitter. It was the strongest I’d ever smelt it,” Will whispered. Mack whined low in his throat and tried to pull back, but Will tightened his grip on him.
“I didn’t mean to.”
“I know, baby. I’m not mad at you,” Will said. He smiled down at Mack and pressed a handful of kisses to his face before he pulled back and covered his mouth, his own yawn overtaking him. “Fuck, I’m exhausted.”
“Let’s sleep and we can talk in the morning,” Mack said. He pressed a kiss to the hollow of Will’s throat before he sighed contentedly. “I missed you. Missed your kisses and your hugs, and I missed having you in my nest.” His words were slurring together but Macklin was adamant on getting them out. Will chuckled in response.
“Missed you too, baby. More than you can imagine.”