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The sun was almost completely up when Logan, with light, careful movements, began to pick up the remains of the blankets that had become disorganized after the lazy morning in the pack room. He moved with an almost choreographed naturalness, as if each fold and corner had its assigned place in his mind, but without leaving aside a touch of tenderness in each gesture. His fingers gently ran over the fabrics, patiently untangling the lumps formed by the restless sleep of the pups and carefully smoothing out the wrinkles, while he murmured to himself in a low voice, as if he were humming a song that only he knew. Every corner of the space seemed impregnated with his care, his attention converted into a kind of silent balm that sought to envelop everyone in an invisible blanket of calm and normality.
His eyes darted around the room lovingly, noticing the small details others might miss: a forgotten stuffed animal on the edge of the nest, a wrinkled, too-big-for-him sweatshirt in the area where Paul slept, and the faint footprints of bare feet on the carpet. When everyone was out of the nest—a process that was likely to be more complicated than it seemed at first glance—, he would reorganize the space. He would probably call Paul and Ollie over so the three omegas could tidy up the blankets and pillows, a task they enjoyed. Together, they would remake the more deconstructed parts of the nest and get it ready for an afternoon of relaxation and quality pack time.
Oscar watched him from the small kitchen of the apartment, a steaming cup of coffee in his hands and a calm, yet amused expression on his face. His eyes followed his boyfriend as he spoke in a soft voice, almost as if he were calming a group of restless children. Logan had always had that ability, the capacity to know how to treat the pups in just the right way. Never as if they were little children, but also not with the full responsibilities of an adult. He had made sure that they didn’t have to grow up all at once, as they had had to do themselves, along with Jack, when they had been left alone.
“Dino, you can’t just lay around all day. Look, even Kimi’s up now, and that’s saying something,” Logan said, running a quick hand through the young alpha’s messy hair, which was still half-tangled in the nest.
“I move when I want to…” he murmured, burying his face further into his blanket. But when Logan gave him a playful little push, the Swede let out an exaggerated growl, which soon turned into a sleepy laugh.
Ollie, who was sitting on the edge of the nest, watched the interaction with a slight smile, though he seemed a little uneasy. Logan noticed it instantly, and stopped bothering Dino (who was already getting up, not willing to disobey the pack mom) to sit next to him, resting a light hand on his shoulder.
“What’s wrong, little one?” he asked, tilting his head to look him straight in the eyes.
“Nothing… Just…” Ollie fiddled with the hem of his shirt, avoiding Logan’s gaze. “I feel weird. These past few days…” He shook his head, a glint of doubt in his eyes. “I don’t know, maybe it’s the hormones.”
Oscar, leaning against the counter with the still-warm mug in his hands, watched the scene from a distance with a mix of tenderness and concern. Logan was an expert at these small moments; he seemed to have an internal radar to detect when something was wrong, even if the pup himself wasn’t aware of it. It was one of the things he deeply admired about him, that ability to be everyone’s anchor, even when he himself might be exhausted.
As Logan spoke to Ollie, his words soft as velvet, he looked away for a moment, sinking back into his own thoughts. He couldn't help but remember the conversation they'd had a month ago: Ollie would probably experience his first heat sooner than expected.
Watching Logan put an arm around the Brit's shoulders, leaning slightly towards him to listen to his concerns, Oscar sensed that moment was near. Ollie was uneasy, quieter than usual the past few days, and though he hadn't shown any clear signs yet, Oscar knew it couldn't be long.
But they wouldn't say anything for now. They didn't want to overwhelm the boy, and he trusted that Logan would know when to broach the subject.
"It's going to be okay, Ollie," Logan said softly, his tone as calm as a river in summer. "If you want, you and I can cuddle later in my room. Just the two of us. And we'll talk for a while, okay?"
It seemed that moment had already come.
Ollie nodded slowly, though his gaze was still a little lost. Noticing that slight hint of uncertainty in the young man, he put his cup down on the counter and approached the nest. Without saying anything, he sat on the other side of the omega, resting his warm hand on the boy's leg in a reassuring gesture.
“Logan is right. You'll do well to spend some time with him. And remember that we're here with you if you need anything,” he added, his voice low, but transmitting calm.
Ollie looked up, surprised by the sudden closeness of the two. After a few seconds, he seemed to relax a little, his shoulders losing the tension they had built up.
“Thanks, really…” he murmured, his voice barely a whisper.
“It’s nothing, sweetheart,” the American replied. He placed a kiss on his hair before standing up and offering them a hand. “Up.”
With a gentle tug, he was helped to his feet. Logan adjusted the boy’s shirt, a small, almost insignificant gesture, but it spoke of his constant attention to detail. Oscar, meanwhile, gently patted his back and gave him a reassuring smile.
“Why don’t you go wash your face and comb your hair a little?” the older man suggested. “You’ll feel better, I promise.”
Ollie nodded, still a little apathetic, and headed to the bathroom in silence. Logan followed him with his eyes until he disappeared behind the door, letting out a light sigh.
“It’s at that point, isn’t it?” Oscar murmured quietly, crossing his arms as he looked out at the empty hallway.
Logan nodded, his expression a little tired but determined. “Yeah, he is. It’ll do him good if we talk about it.” He turned and stared at him. “He already knows it.” At the Australian’s surprised look, he elaborated. “I think he noticed the first week we were alone, with the nest. He’s way too perceptive about some things. But he hasn’t said anything to me about it. Sometimes I feel like he tries to take on more than his share just because he doesn’t want to be a bother.”
Oscar let out a sound of agreement, placing a hand on Logan’s shoulder and squeezing lightly, in a gesture meant to convey support.
“You know you handle it just fine, right?” he said in a soft tone. “You always do.”
Logan gave him a fleeting smile, before turning back to the nest where a few stragglers still lingered.
“Someone has to do it,” he replied, his voice lighter now. “But I could use a little help, pack dad.”
“I’m here, pack mom,” he replied with a hint of amusement in his voice.
They exchanged a knowing glance before heading over to the other pups. Dino was still lying down, though he had already opened his eyes and was staring at his phone with obvious reluctance. Kimi had managed to get out of the nest earlier, but was slumped on a nearby couch with a blanket still wrapped around his shoulders, as if trying to hold on to the last vestiges of the nest’s comfort.
“Dino, really?” Logan said, standing with his hands on his hips in front of the alpha, who didn’t even look up from his screen.
“I’m awake, right? That counts as progress.”
“Awake, but useless,” Jack chimed in from across the room, picking up a pillow Gabriel had thrown in an attempt to reach Franco, who was laughing loudly from the dining room table. “At least I take care of the earthquakes.”
Logan shot him a warning look.
“Jack, don’t cause chaos or you’ll be helping with the dishes all week.”
“No way,” he replied with a mischievous grin. “I’m better at supervising.”
Oscar let out a low laugh before kneeling down next to the nest and turning his attention to Gabriel and Franco.
“Guys, aren’t you tired of fighting over everything?” he asked with an arched eyebrow. “Look, why don’t we go do something more productive? Like have breakfast, for example.”
Gabriel and Franco exchanged glances, considering the idea for a moment, before nodding in unison and standing up with sudden enthusiasm.
“That was easier than expected,” he muttered to himself as he watched them run towards the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Logan had managed to pry Dino from his blanket, though not without a lot of exaggerated protests.
“What would you do without me?” he commented with a wry smile as he placed the blanket into a neat pile.
“We would fall into complete chaos, clearly,” Oscar replied, leaning against the door frame as he watched the other restore order to the room.
It was true. Logan was the heart of the pack, and though Oscar knew he had his own important role, he couldn’t help but feel grateful to have someone like him by his side.
Logan took advantage of the (rather rare) moment of calm to seek out Ollie, who was in his room, sitting on the edge of his bed, absentmindedly playing with a stuffed animal.
He entered carefully, knocking softly on the door before crossing the threshold.
“Do you have a moment?” he asked, tilting his head with a smile that sought to ease any tension.
Ollie looked up and nodded, stepping aside to let Logan sit next to him on the side closest to the exit. There was a brief silence, during which the Brit seemed to mentally prepare himself for what he knew was coming.
“I think you know what I’m here for,” he began. “Would you rather stay here, or should we go to my room? Whatever you’re more comfortable with.”
The younger boy looked at him for a moment. “Can we… your nest?”
“Sure, sweetheart.” He offered his hand, and they walked to his room.
With their fingers intertwined and the door closed, they settled in between the blankets and pillows. Logan let his pup hide his face against his chest, aware that the conversation was going to be emotional and leave him drained.
“Shall we get started? You can stay there if you want, as long as you want. I know it's scary, but it'll help to talk about it.”
A nod against his shirt. Logan looked at him tenderly, but also with a hint of concern.
“It’s normal that you have questions,” he said, adjusting himself so he could hold him better. “We all do before our first heat. And, well, it’s safe to assume that Max and Charles weren’t very good at explaining things to you, right?”
Ollie let out a small, nervous laugh.
“Is that really noticeable?” he asked, looking up slightly.
“A little,” he admitted with an amused smile. “But it’s okay. I’m here to help you.”
Ollie took a deep breath before speaking again.
“I just… I don’t know what to expect. I’ve heard so many different things, and some of them sound horrible. Max made it sound like something was clouding your mind, and Charles… well, he never wanted to talk about it. Sebastian said it was something we all go through, but that doesn’t help at all to know what to expect,” he continued, his cherry scent turning sour as he spoke. “And I… I don’t want it to be a bad thing, dam. I’m scared,” he admitted, his eyes glazing over a bit.
Logan felt his heart sink at those words. He gently stroked Ollie's hair, letting the boy take his time to breathe. He felt the warmth of the Brit's body pressed against him and he could smell the anguish in his scent, a mix of insecurity and fear that was intertwined with his usual sweetness.
"It's not going to be a bad thing, sweetheart." His voice was low and firm, an anchor for Ollie's jumbled emotions. "It's true that it might be a little confusing at first, but it's not something you should be afraid of. Especially since you're not alone. We'll be with you for whatever you need, okay? It won't be a bad memory, Ollie. I promise you that Paul and I won't let it be."
The younger boy looked up, his eyes shining with a mix of hope and skepticism.
“How… how can you be so sure?”
Logan took a moment before answering, wanting to choose his words carefully.
“The idea is that we do it together, okay? Paul, you and I will be in your room. It’s a familiar space, one that you feel safe in. We’ll stay there for the three days, making sure you have everything you need.”
Ollie nodded slowly, processing the information.
“If you need anything else, Jack will be available to bring us whatever we need,” he explained, gently squeezing his shoulder before continuing. “And if at any point you need to feel even more secure, Oscar can come along. As pack alpha, his presence might help calm you down if things feel too intense.”
The younger boy was silent for a few moments, letting Logan’s words sink in. Finally, he looked at him with a more relaxed expression, though there was still a trace of uncertainty on his face.
“What if I do something wrong? What if… what if I can’t handle it?”
Logan shook his head, smiling reassuringly.
“There’s no right way to go through your first heat, Ollie. It’s a natural process, and we all go through it differently. You’re not alone in this, and we’ll never let you feel like you can’t handle it. Paul and I will be with you every step of the way. Each of us has our own way of living our dynamic, and that’s okay. You don’t have to conform to anyone’s expectations but your own,” he paused, leaning down to nuzzle the top of Ollie’s head. “And I know yours are already high enough. Sometimes too high, pup.”
Ollie's eyes filled with tears, and before Logan could say anything else, the boy hugged him tightly again. For a moment, Logan stood still, but he quickly returned the hug, holding the omega close to his chest as if to protect him from all his doubts.
"Thank you, dam..." he whispered, his voice cracked but filled with relief.
"Always, little one. Always."
When Ollie pulled back a little, his eyes were still wet, but there was a glint of determination in them. Logan noticed this and smiled approvingly.
“Now, how about we talk a little more about what you can expect?” he asked softly. “I want to make sure you have all the information you need to feel safe.”
Ollie nodded slowly, wiping away his tears with the back of his hand. For the first time in days, he allowed himself to relax completely, sinking into his pack mom's embrace.
The kitchen was bustling with activity. Franco was at Oscar's side, helping to cut vegetables under the older man's watchful eye, while Gabriel was handling a frying pan with what seemed like innate skill. Liam and Kimi were in charge of measuring ingredients, although with more laughter than precision.
"You know what? This isn't turning out so bad," Oscar commented, as he poured some sauce into a bowl and left it on the table.
"That's because I'm the best assistant," the Argentinian joked, puffing out his chest with pride.
"Of course, champ," Logan replied, kissing his forehead in a gesture that caused the younger alpha to blush slightly and his caramel smell to fill the kitchen.
Everyone took their places around the table, laughing and chatting as the dishes were served.
Oscar, sitting next to Logan, lifted his coffee cup and looked at everyone with a satisfied expression.
“I could get used to this.”
Logan looked back at him, his smile soft but full of complicity. “You already are.”