Page 13 of Lion's Crossing

“What if Phoenix sings the first part of the chorus and then Carter comes in next?”

I shook my head, snapping myself back to the moment. Again. “Sorry, um. I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves.” My thoughts kept drifting to Knox instead of focusing on the omegas in the room with me who I was supposed to help with their debut album. “Why don’t you each record your own version of the demos I made? You can play with the lyrics and the melody to give it your own flavor. Then we’ll listen to them in a week and decide which voice fits best where.”

“But aren’t we just supposed to divide it up?” Troy glanced at me, concern etched in the furrow of his brows. “Not all of us can sing.”

I held in a chuckle, trying to not downplay his worries. “Yes, I want the rappers to try singing, and the singers to rap. Most fans would have you divide up a song evenly so that every member gets an even number of lines. And we will make sure you all have a significant role in each song, especially those that will be performed live. But your voices are all different and each will add a special style to the songs. I don’t know what your fortes are yet, so I’d like to hear each of you sing all the songs. You might surprise yourselves and each other with what you record. When it comes time to divide the lines, I will give you my opinions, but I’d like you to help with that, too, and get to know each other’s strengths as well.”

“Is that how you did it when you were part of FNL?” Finn asked.

I nodded. “Yep, and later on, it helped us to write songs that highlighted each other’s voices.”

The omegas glanced at each other then began to tap their fingers on their phones or rocked their knees back and forth. I gathered they were anxious to get started.

“Well, if you have any questions, just email or text me. Angelo will be in the recording booth for you all week.”

They all nodded quickly then stood, some of them wiping the wrinkles out of their pants.

“Thank you, Linc,” Vinny said before darting from my studio office. The rest followed him out, and I was never gladder to get a break from work.

At my parents’ home, I’d been anxious to get back to the studio, but that was before I’d met Knox. Now, I couldn’t get him out of my head. I checked my phone to see if he’d texted. After buying him a coffee and a bagel at NJ Foods in tower one, the first building of Shifter Towers, I’d left him to go to work. I still had his luggage. He needed that back sometime during the day. That was when I would have to say goodbye for good. My chest tightened and my lion snarled at the thought. Maybe I could find a way to ensure all the hotels were booked for the night and he would have to stay at my place again. No, I had to accept Knox wasn’t mine. If Fate wanted us to be together, they would find a way to bring us back into each other’s lives. Otherwise, I had to move on and let him be.

At my computer, I sent the demo files to each of the members of the new group. They called themselves Omegas Naturally Entertain, or ONE for short. At least until fans voted for their permanent name, as well as what the fandom would be called. I remembered those early years with my own group. We had a lot to learn about the industry back then as well as about each other. And while performing as a group wasn’t what all of us wanted to continue doing, we all remained close. Yash and Cruz still toured around the world as solo singers, and Buan became the lead choreographer for Adan Records. Ren was theonly one of us who left Adan, instead, working in one of the other towers as an intern while attending law school. He planned to specialize in entertainment law. The members of ONE seemed enthusiastic about their debut album, but I hoped it was for the love of music and not the desire to be famous. None of us in FNL had realized all the downsides that came with being in the spotlight alongside the perks.

One of them was not knowing whether someone truly liked you for you, or if they avoided you because they had no desire to be known by an entire fandom.

I wondered if Knox felt that way with me. He’d been anxious to leave that morning, even more so when we were in the concourse of tower one, with the multitude of people around us. I knew he had a tour appointment, but his unease felt different somehow. That didn’t stop my lion, or any other part of me, from yearning to be in his presence again. After FNL split, I still dedicated so much time to my work. It wasn’t until the previous night, after I’d carried Knox to the guest bed, that I’d considered settling down, maybe having a family one day. My parents and sister had asked if I’d thought about it, but I told them they were all talking nonsense, that I had many things still to do before I entertained such an idea. But Knox had made me reexamine my life. I believed I could find a work/family balance if I had the right mate. My lion kept urging me toward Knox. Though how did I get him to ever want to see me again?

I slumped into my chair and sighed. I wasn’t going to find any kind of balance if I let Knox invade my brain any longer. I had work to do. Not only was I producing ONE’s debut album, but I wanted to start working on my own, give a listen to the songs that had been sent specifically for me. I had a while yet before my release was scheduled, but thinking about it would keep my mind occupied on something other than a certain omega.

I played the first song, an acoustic demo, about an alpha meeting their fated mate for the first time and not knowing how to convince the omega that they’d be good together. It did not help at all.

My phone chimed with a new message. Normally, I had my notifications on silent while working, but I’d turned them on to wait for Knox to let me know he was ready to collect his luggage. He’d finally texted me. But the message was not what I’d expected.

Can I call you?

Yes,I texted back.

As I waited, I worried about what he wanted. Had something happened to him? Or had he met someone that needed my voice to confirm that Knox knew me and had spent the night at my place. I never considered Knox to be like that, but others had surprised me in the past.

When my phone rang, I answered right away. “Hello?”

“Linc,” he whispered. “It’s me, Knox. I need your help.”

“What is it? Where are you?” Something didn’t feel right.

“I’m at the Natural History of Shifters Museum you told me about.” He whimpered before speaking again. “I’ve locked myself in the bathroom.”

It was then I heard banging in the background, and someone shouting.

“Why? What’s going on?”

“I have a problem.” He sniffled. “And there are two alphas outside who want to help me with my problem, but I don’t want them to. I don’t know who else to call.”

Fear clenched my chest first. Then anger. And something even stronger. Possessiveness. Knox was mine. He’d gone into heat. At least, I assumed that to be his problem. And he’d called me. Wanted me to help him. My lion growled from deep inside. “I’ll be right there. Don’t let anyone in.”

I quickly shut down my computer, grabbed my messenger bag, then rushed out of my office toward the elevator.

“Hey, Linc! You’re here!” Buan walked toward me from his office down the hall.

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