Mellifuous ✔

Chapter 14: Home

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Santiago could hardly contain himself. The nerves mixed with excitement were bubbling up inside him, making it impossible for him to sit still. He paced back and forth, glancing over at Will, who was quietly watching him with a knowing smile. Will had seen this side of him before—the excited, almost jittery energy that Santiago sometimes couldn't quite keep in check, especially when it came to something as important as this.

"I can't believe today's the day," Santiago muttered, his voice practically vibrating with excitement. His feet practically itched to move, but he was doing his best to keep himself grounded. He couldn't help it. It felt like this was the beginning of something huge. Today, they were taking Eli home, their new little family member, and the idea of showing him around their part of the pack house was filling Santiago with a special kind of joy.

Will looked over at him, his dark eyes twinkling with amusement. "You're like a kid before Christmas," Will teased, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall, watching his partner bounce on his heels. "Just try not to scare him with all that energy, alright?"

"I'm just... I'm so excited. I want him to feel safe. I want him to feel like he belongs here," Santiago said quickly, his words tumbling out in his usual fast-paced manner. "It's just... I've been thinking about this day for so long. And now it's here, and I want everything to be perfect."

Will nodded, his expression softening. "I know. I'm excited, too. But hey, we're doing this together, alright? One step at a time." He smiled reassuringly at Santiago. "And I'm sure Eli's gonna love the tour."

The two of them shared a quiet moment before Santiago's gaze flitted over to the door. They had been in the hospital wing of the pack house, taking extra care of Eli for the past few days. But today—today, they could finally take him to their side of the pack house. It felt like a fresh start, a chance for Eli to really begin settling in with them.

Will's calming presence was the perfect balance to Santiago's nervous energy. "Alright, we're good to go," Will said, his voice steady and warm. "Let's get him out of here."

Santiago nodded eagerly, his heartbeat quickening as they walked together to Eli's room. When they reached the hospital wing, Eli was sitting in the nest. He looked up at them with wide eyes, still unsure but undeniably curious. The past few days had been a lot for him, and there was still so much uncertainty in his gaze.

"Hey, buddy," Santiago greeted softly, his voice gentle as he crouched down beside the bed. "Are you ready to go home?"

Eli blinked at him, his expression hesitant, but then he nodded. Santiago smiled warmly at him, the small shift in Eli's demeanor already bringing him a sense of peace.

Will moved to the other side, picking the omega up. "It's gonna be a big day, little one," Will said, his tone easy and friendly. "But you've got us, okay?"

They moved slowly down the hallway, the soft sound of their footsteps echoing in the stillness of the pack house. Santiago could barely contain his excitement, practically vibrating with it, but he kept his pace steady for Eli's sake. He could sense Will beside him, a grounding presence, his calm energy keeping Santiago anchored. It was a balance—Santiago's excitement and Will's steadying force—guiding them both forward.

When they reached the door to their wing of the house, Will gently pushed it open. Eli's eyes widened at the sight of the room, but he didn't seem eager to take another step. Santiago, who had been anticipating this moment for so long, didn't hesitate. He came to will, scooping Eli up into his own arms from his mate, feeling the weight of him against his chest. Eli didn't resist, though he did let out a soft sigh. Eli had been practicing walking and was getting the hang of it, yes, but it was clear he wasn't yet ready to trust his own legs and preferred them to carry him.