Chapitre 50: 10. Somewhere Over The Rainbow.
As Damon slowly awakened, a sense of safety washed over him, a feeling of being wonderfully secure and loved. It enveloped him, flooding his consciousness with amazement. He wanted to bask in this comforting sensation, but something had stirred him from his slumber. Remaining still, he began to recollect what had transpired before he fell asleep.
Images of Mimi's sorrow and her tear-stained face flashed in his mind. He remembered her recounting her story, but his fatigue had caused him to drift off, unsure of how long he had slept. He did remember this sound, her purring to him. Gradually, other sensations seeped into his awareness. The sound of multiple heartbeats revealed he was neither alone nor just in the presence of Mimi. The entire pack was in this same space, and he was not sure why. Using his telepathy, he scanned the thoughts of his pack members, discovering that most were blissfully asleep, immersed in pleasant dreams. However, a few were partially awake.
His instincts warned him not to reveal his awakening to Mimi, Mariella, Shadow, and Mimosa, as their minds remained calm. They were the ones who were awake. Slowly, he inhaled the surrounding air, detecting the familiar scent of his pack, intertwined with a heady concoction of pheromones that induced a sense of safety, love, and drowsiness. It took a moment, but he eventually realized the source of the sound that had puzzled him - purring. The females were purring, creating a nest-like environment, ensuring their collective slumber.
He realized he was in the nest. Females had put this on and they were the ones nesting on them. This sense of safety, Love, and security was so encompassing that it was hard for Damon to stay focused and not let himself drift back to blissfully safe sleep. Just hearing that soft, feminine purring, promise of love, safety, and dreams was almost too much for him.
He remembered Mariella had read about nesting. It was a male thing and females nesting was a true rarity. The concept of females nesting was rare, but considering Mimi's exceptional power and her tendency to establish her own rules, it didn't come as a complete surprise.
What he remembered about that book was that females might nest when they had lost someone dear, like a pack member or cub, but in order for the female to begin to nest she would have to be a very strong alpha and get other females on that nesting and then make pheromone strong enough to get males in the nest.
But he felt that this nesting had had a purpose, to offer safety as he had never felt: love as well. Most importantly, Damon felt the lingering pain of losing their cubs gradually healing, thanks to the nurturing presence of the females. They had aided him, providing solace and security in this warm, sheltered nest.
He felt a sudden surge of instinct that jolted him awake. The time had come for him and the others to protect and care for the females in their nest. His own need to nest was getting stronger and, as he had healed, it was now their time to heal and help their females. It was not so easy, though.
He made a plan in his mind, keeping himself not moving at all. His first target was Mimi, the instigator who needed to be subdued before the rest of the females could be calmed down. Her pheromones and purring had the most power here, and she needed to be out cold so other males would awaken then, and put nest as they liked it.
Mimi lay on the other side of the bed, curled around number two, purring softly to him. She also had numbers ten and nine nestled close, ensuring their deep slumber. She was naked, her body tightly wrapped around number two and Damon could feel number two being asleep fully, feeling very safe, very loved, and not wanting to wake up just yet. He remained motionless, patiently waiting for the right moment.
As the pack nest now required their attention, he felt the long-suppressed nesting instinct take hold of him. This was his chance to indulge in this primal urge, to provide comfort and healing to the females. He had so long denied this need, let others nest or told them not to nest, but now was just the right time to nest.
He observed Mimi's movements closely. She got up from the bed, rearranged a few items in the nest, taking one silk curtain, and spreading it over number two. Damon noticed that there were curtains used in this nest too, not too many blankets but much lighter materials, like duvet covers, sheets, or curtains.
Mimi was calm, but she was wide awake. She was the queen of this nest and then approached him. Well, he was ready to take down the queen. Mimi looked no more so sad. She had healed too, but he would mend her fully. She carried a small bottle of feeding liquid and something else, emitting a distinct aroma that he recognized as her pheromones. However, there was something within him that resisted their allure.
Mimi drew closer, and he continued to feign sleep. He could feel the warmth of her body as she climbed over him, wrapping her arm around his shoulders and lifting him slightly. She offered him the drink, and the potent scent of velvet emanated from it. He knew better than to consume it. Swiftly, he summoned the strongest flank syringe he had, reserved for Mimi. In a flash, unnoticed by her, he injected it into her lungs. She groaned and leaned against him, and he gently stroked her, helping her find a more comfortable position. The queen had been taken down.
Simultaneously, he emitted his most calming pheromones, aimed at sedating the other three females to a lesser degree. He then proceeded to wake up number four, and five, who were lying next to him. They were both tired but content, until Damon communicated through their hive mind, revealing what was happening. It was their time to provide the nest. His nesting instinct spread through their hive mind and made every one of Salvatores ready to nest. It was easy to get Adam, Charles, and the boys into nesting, too. Damon's pheromones as pack leader and alpha were more than strong enough to make them nesting, too.
Damon purred at Mimi, keeping her close while communicating with the awakening Salvatores. The flank would not keep her long asleep, but his purring would make her sleep. Number four calmed the other three females, and they drifted back to sleep.
Damon noticed Mimi's frailty and realized they needed to take care of these women, ensuring their well-being once this nesting period was over. A few of the salvatores were starting to inspect the feeding liquids, and soon they were off somewhere else to fetch more. Nourishments in the nest were also very important. They had no concrete plan, but they knew it would naturally run its course, and then they would face the future together. The instinct consumed him more and more, and soon the males began inspecting the nest. They couldn't be certain if it truly belonged to them, but the pack's pheromones filled the air, solidifying their presence.
Damon had never actually smelled them, but the scent of the nesting materials was simply wonderful. It was the first time in history they had a pack like this. The pack had its own pheromone, its own scent, and he was not sure if this scent would remain in them or if it was just part of the nest. Time would tell that to them. Soon, several males were awake, bustling out of the nest to gather more materials and build the perfect nest.
They tirelessly worked, bringing back their selection and wrapping the females warmly, purring in contentment and producing more feeding liquid and nutrition. He found it difficult to let go of Mimi, feeling an overwhelming sense of protectiveness towards her. He didn't want anyone else to touch her, but in the nest, physical contact was necessary for everyone. He gently fed her. She was barely awake, but as he instructed her to swallow; she obeyed. Soon she had gotten enough feeding concoction for a little while. So it was time to rest again.
Soon, the other males joined in, wrapping themselves around their chosen females. The solace of skin-to-skin contact was paramount. Damon witnessed Number Two wrapping himself with Number Five around Mariella, and surprisingly, he didn't feel jealous.
Once the nest was perfect and all the necessities were in place, they all rested, allowing their bodies to heal. The males grew stronger, their purrs becoming rougher, resonating throughout the room. The scent of their pheromones filled the air, creating a calm, healing, and loving atmosphere. Nesting was about love - the whole pack had come together due to tragedy, but their love for each other and for those they had lost helped them heal and move forward.
Damon played a crucial role in this process. They all supported each other, but he focused on Mimi. He entered her mind, gently fading away the painful memory like a soft summer breeze. He didn't erase the memory, just dispelled and muted it, allowing her thoughts to be free from it, granting her the courage to have more cubs. He also fed off her emotions. Her many emotion wells were overflowing, providing him abundance of emotions to consume to strengthen his telepathy.
At one point, Damon was on the verge of sleep, holding Mariella in his arms, while Charles, Adam, and the boys took care of Mimi. He couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy, but he knew it was time to share. He remembered their first litter, recalling how scared Mimi had been and how he, as the barely alpha male, had abandoned her to face it alone.
He acknowledged how much things had changed since then. Although he didn't indulge in the "what if" game, he couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if he had been there for her, checking on her and ensuring Charles was there, too. He remembered the fear in those cubs' eyes, how close he had been to giving up and letting Mimi wake up to care for them.
With a soft sigh, he accepted the past was filled with his mistakes and failures. Drifting off to sleep, he continued to purr, providing comfort and reassurance to his pack. It was time for him to heal, too. Move on and let go of the past and his mistakes. Time to improve and grow.
The pack slumbered in their cozy nest, the males occasionally stirring as they tended to the females, nourishing them and themselves. They diligently refreshed the nest, ensuring everything was perfect. Time held no significance in this sanctuary, for there was nowhere else to be but in the safety of the nest, surrounded by the pack, and finding solace in the healing process.
Each member could feel the gradual easing of the soul's wound, the once searing pain now becoming a distant memory. Of course, there would always be a lingering sense of loss, a perpetual longing that was bittersweet. Yet, life had a way of prevailing, and with time and the comforting embrace of the nest, their souls found solace. Damon would awaken intermittently, soothing his females with gentle purrs and the release of healing pheromones. Love had the power to mend them all.
But now, it was time to rise from their slumber. Slowly, the males awoke, realizing that their time in the nest had come to an end, and it was time to move forward. Each female was carefully carried to their own bed in their respective rooms, allowing them to awaken gradually, cocooned in warmth and comfort.
The nest was dismantled, and the room aired out, erasing any trace of its presence. The unique scent that once permeated the space was now gone, as if it had never existed. Damon couldn't help but wonder if they would ever experience this nesting period again, and he hoped not, at least not under these circumstances.
He knew that at some point; he needed to discuss with Mimi. He yearned to be a part of the study team, to see the samples, and to offer any help they could provide. They needed to prepare themselves for what lay ahead. However, Mimi was known for her stubbornness, and she seemed determined to keep this endeavor to herself. Nevertheless, Damon knew he needed to be involved.
They had nested for six months, and though it had initially been overwhelming, Damon couldn't fathom a better way to heal. No longer were they running away to Ireland or the Azores, attempting to bury their memories in a haze of distractions. No need to fuck their minds blank. Instead, they had found healing within themselves and each other, through the power of love.
Damon began to realize that there was so much more to life than mere lust, and perhaps it was time for them to stop using their desires as an excuse for a prolonged vacation. It was time to start living again, just as they had during those seven years when Mimi had not been a part of their pack. And perhaps, just maybe, they could learn to do it with Mimi too.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone