Page 41 of Pack Fever

“Trust me, we’ve seen plenty.” His hand tightens around my lower back, guiding me toward the house. “The fights, the bickering… it’s fucking off-putting. Reed enjoys the girl fights, though. Think he gets off of it.”

I laugh, somehow not surprised.

Other people from the party are also heading indoors. Maybe it’s cake time.

As we stride closer to the house, his hand never leaving my back, he leans in and whispers in my ear, “Oh, and those Betas weren’t wrong about those rumors about me.”

I meet his grinning smirk and laugh, nudging him with my shoulder. “Sure, sure. Isn’t that what every guy says?”

He simply smiles wider. “You’ll see.”

Is it strange that I’m both intrigued and a tiny bit scared? I ask myself… is this a thing then? Me staying so they can satisfy my heat cravings?

My thoughts are stolen the moment he guides me upstairs. Suddenly, we’re all moving out through another set of French doors onto an oversized balcony. The location overlooks what appears to be a forest stretching out from the side of their house toward the mountains in the distance. The scene from up here is breathtaking.

The balcony extends as wide as it is long. Chairs are arranged in a semicircle, all facing toward the front, where Seth and Reed are standing with their guitars. Behind them, a drum set awaits, flanked by speakers. And beyond that is the railing and the forest.

Everyone’s murmuring excitedly. Fever is going to give us a private performance. The giddiness growing inside me makes my heart race. Jasper walks me to the front of the row to an empty seat next to Seth’s mom. His dad is nowhere to be seen.

With a smile at her, I take a seat, my knees already bouncing. I’ve never been this close to a performance, and there’s a part of me inside that wants to scream that I’m about to see Fever perform live.

Seth meets my gaze and grins. It completely melts my insides. Reed has his head down, string bending as he plays single notes, tuning his guitar.

Jasper’s up there now, settling in behind the drums. Around them, fairy lights are strung on the railing, giving a magical glow behind them. While others are buzzing with anticipation, I can’t remember the last time I was this thrilled. What I wouldn’t give for my phone to film this. My friends will never believe me.

Seth’s mom leans over, whispering, “They don’t do this often. I’m so proud of Seth.” Her eyes are bright with pride.

I smile back, almost feeling for a moment like I belong here.

Then the first chords ring out, clear and striking through the night air. I recognize it instantly. It’s Echoes of the Heart, one of their chart-topping songs.

I might have squealed a bit, edging closer to the edge of my chair.

The melody envelops me, and I’m fangirling hard internally. My heart slams into my rib cage as I take in Jasper at the drums, his head banging in sync with each beat, hair falling over his face, just like in all the music videos I’ve watched. The intensity with which he plays is mesmerizing.

Reed embodies every inch of a rock star, his fingers dancing over the strings, producing sounds that have the hair on my arms standing on end. His posture is relaxed, his legs parted, as he works the guitar. His gaze sweeps through the crowd and lands on me, making my heart sizzle. The man is a rock star god.

Then Seth steps forward, mic in hand, and steals the attention. The words stream past his lips like a breeze, his voice deep and so recognizable, I might have given a small scream of excitement. Might not be my finest moment, but I think I’m about to faint.

In the echoes of my heart lies a love torn apart.

I swoon, my toes curling in my shoes at just hearing that line that has always been my favorite. Hearing it live, I might have tears in my eyes at how overwhelming, how this is a moment forever etched on my brain as the best experience ever!

It’s funny since I always assumed, like most, that this song is about a romantic rejection. But having met his family, I can’t help but wonder if it’s something deeper and perhaps relating to Seth’s relationship with his father.

Completely submerged in the song, I softly sing along with Seth as it wraps around my heart, tugging at every string, every emotion inside me.

Seth’s voice is a blend of raw emotion and dark sharpness that screams his talent. Each word echoes in my ears, as if he’s singing just for me. He’s standing in the center with his guitar, completely immersed in his performance, playing the strings, while Reed deftly strums the guitar, carrying a lot of the tune with Jasper.

There’s a look of pure joy on their faces, clear this is their calling, where they find his happiness. The energy is infectious. Seth’s head tilts back as he rocks out the chorus, his voice powerful. Passion flows into every beat.

In the whisper of the wind, my dreams are lost.

Dancing on the edge of time, the world unwinds.

We’re lost… So lost that I’ll never come back from this… from you.

Shivering all over, I start to feel something else I never expected. Something tingling right between my thighs. It’s fiery and intense. My nerves are pulsing with each beat of Jasper’s drums. The intensity of the music washes over me, the force heating my skin and quickening my breath. I’m barely able to calm down, utterly consumed and floating on waves of their melody.

---