Page 84 of Our Deceptive Heat

Chapter twenty-six

Ryn

Tendrils of hope growinside me, and your love is what waters the ground- Ryn Raines

That night, the concert is full on. Everything seems surreal. The lights are brighter, the sounds more intense, everything is just more.

This yearning to be on stage is almost as strong as the yearning to be with them. I can only take my eyes off Tyr long enough to look at Envy, and then Mako and Digs.

They look exhausted but happy.

That could be me.

“They look good out there, don’t they?”

I stiffen, annoyed with myself for forgetting about Tara, even for just a few moments.

“The band is incredible,” I agree.

“Yes, and they have nowhere to go but up. But only if you stop dragging them through the mud with events like today. Seriously, Raines, what were you thinking? I had to calm your father down for hours.”

I seriously doubt that. My father doesn’t listen to women, let alone be calmed by them.

“He is wrathful. It’s one thing if you want to be a whore for a pack that, according to the news articles, already has an omega, but what happens when the press finds out you already have a pack, too? How is that going to look?”

I take a step back, reluctantly leaving the spot where I can watch the band. “They are not my pack,” I whisper, my lips numb.

“I know you're an omega. I can smell it when I’m around you. It’s so obvious, and when he finds out, you’re going to be locked in a cage until he can palm you off. Because,” Tara leans in close, her hand resting on my forearm, “the only thing Typhor hates more than a whore is an omega whore.”

My eyes widen because she’s right. She’s totally right. I forgot how serious this situation really is. He will get his thugs to take me, and he will either take me straight to the pack or lock me up until he can offload me.

I’m an object to sell.

The knowledge breaks me out into a cold sweat, and I pull my arm free and walk. I don’t run, but I walk fast to the dressing room, where I find Tony.

“Kid, what’s wrong?”

I inhale, but I can’t seem to breathe deep enough. I shake my head, but he pulls me into a hug.

“Breathe, Ryn. You’re safe now. Breathe.”

I take one shaky breath and then another.

“I forgot about him.” My words come out in a nervous babble. “I mean, I didn’t forget, but he’s not as dangerous when I’m here so far away. I forget the power he wields.”

“It will be fine-”

“No, it won’t. I need to finish my plan. I need to ask them for help. I need the pack's help, Tony.”

Tony pats my back. “They will help you. I know they will.”

He’s the only person who knows it all, but having him in my corner makes me feel even more vulnerable.

I don’t know if I like the feeling, but I really like the not feeling quite so alone part.

“How did you become their manager?”

“You think their mothers would trust their lives to anyone else? They’d heard the horror stories of rock stars, and they came to me. That was the condition of letting the boys continue with the contract. The little shits had signed before I read it, though. So, I was to look after them for a couple of months, but no one predicted how fast they would rise. I guess a couple of months turned into a year, which turned into a couple of years. I don’t regret it. My family is set up now. My wife and I are closer than ever. But I’m going to have to train some new kid to take over. These late nights are killing me.”

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