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Ilya still felt like he was dreaming, settled back against the couch in the Hollander's living room, watching the fire that blazed in the hearth. On the television, a muted hockey game was on, a re-run that Ilya was only half paying attention to. Christmas was a quiet affair with the Hollanders, just the four adults taking time to relax together. Ilya had been delighted to make cookies with David and admire Yuna's well-decorated tree.
Now, he was warm with the weight of his sleeping omega, resting half on him.
Shane had curled up on the couch, his head and shoulders on Ilya's lap. He was dressed comfortably, in a t-shirt and flannel pajama pants, though he was now mostly covered by the fleece throw that lived on the couch. Loose with sleep, his body was soft against Ilya, still aside from the gentle movement of his chest. He looked peaceful, his freckled face having lost any tension. One of Ilya's hands carded through Shane's disheveled hair, rubbing his scalp. The other rest over his shoulder, stroking down his bicep.
Any attempt Ilya might have made to watch the game was rendered fruitless as Shane started purring.
Ilya melted. It wasn't the first time he had heard Shane's omega purr, but he doubted he would ever really be over it. The sound soothed Ilya, this low, soft rumble that settled in Shane's chest, evidence he felt safe and content. Ilya would be a fool not to cherish it. It felt like a small, sacred little gift from his omega. The purr mimicked a promise, in Ilya's mind, a reassurance that he was doing well, that he was giving Shane what he needed.
On the loveseat, Yuna and David were curled up together, both reading. Yuna's free hand sat on her omega's thigh, absently tracing patterns, the sort of casual affection from a couple that had lived together for decades and never really fallen out of love.
After a moment, Yuna looked up, eyes falling on her pup, watching Shane with a far-off, sentimental expression. When she spoke, her voice was soft. "I have never heard him purr before."
Ilya nodded, mirroring her volume, not wanting to wake Shane. He kept his hands moving, not breaking the rhythm. "He purred for the first time in September. He told me he has never done it before."
Yuna nodded, eyes still soft. "That makes sense. I mean, he wouldn't have been able to with…" She trailed off, looking a little emotional.
Ilya nodded, not forcing her to say that man's name: George Bergstrom. Ilya knew Shane had gone through hell with the other alpha. He'd had to work so hard to earn Shane's trust after he'd left Bergstrom. He still remembered June, remembered how viciously the assistant coach had beat Shane over nothing. His throat tightened at the thought of what could have happened if Ilya hadn't happened to come across them.
Shane had been forced to take a season off, as a part of his deal with the league when his designation was exposed. He had struggled with the requirement, but he would be able to trade to a new team as a free agent in July, which meant his hockey career wasn't over. In the meantime, Shane was living with Ilya in Boston, and they were planning to sign to the same team over the summer. As much as Ilya hated seeing Shane's career disrupted, there was something so impossibly sweet about coming home to him.
"I feel very lucky to hear him purr," Ilya answered, guiding the conversation to safer territory. "I feel very lucky to have Shane at all, to be honest."
Yuna smiled. "Have you had any more conversations about mating?"
"A few," Ilya answered. "I don't want to push him, but Shane has told me he wants to be mated. I think it would be good for us to mate next summer before the season starts."
His eyes fell to Shane's unmarked neck, to the crook where his mating bite would go. Ilya longed to see it there, to have Shane in that way.
"That would be nice," Yuna answered. "I think David and I just really want to see him happy, with someone who will take care of him. He deserves that, after everything."
Ilya's throat still felt tight as he nodded. "He deserves the world. I would give him anything he asked for."
Beneath him, the low rumble of his purring omega continued, safe and warm and blissfully content. Ilya longed to hear it forever.