Page 63 of Omega Rock

I have to tell Wes this happened. But I really don’t want to tell the band. Not right now before we’re due on stage to perform, and not tonight either, when we’re supposed to be taking it easy.

Idohave to tell them, though.

I pocket my cell phone and head out to the ready area. My alphas are there grabbing water and snacks, and generally attending to their pre-show rituals. They look so happy and relaxed, so ready to perform, that I decide this isn’t the time.

Tomorrow.I’ll tell them tomorrow.

It’s the right call. Our set is amazing and goes off without issue. We nail every song and my voice holds out despite the extra effort I put into some of the lines. Like everything inside me builds up during those moments of the song and I scream and growl more than is written. It’s an exorcism of everything: anger at my parents and at myself for constantly being a source of disappointment, anger at Jordan, and a heavy dose of grief for what was once my high regard for Designation Outsider.

I let it all out and I leave it on the stage, the only other safe space besides my pack’s arms and Sable’s company I’ve ever known.

ChapterTwenty

AIDEN

Something about Miais different tonight. The way she sang was more… intense in a way I can absolutely identify with. I’ve had those nights too, where something so raw just takes over and comes out on stage. But it makes me regret leaving her on the tour bus alone and heading over here because clearly whatever phone call she was on when we left changedsomethingabout her.

I can’t help but watch her instead of the crowd during our set. I catch Noah and Leo’s gazes, too, as if they can feel something in our omega has definitively changed.

But by the time our set is over and we’re offstage, Mia’s all smiles and hugs, flitting from one of us to the next with embraces and kisses that draw more than a few glances. Someone’s designation is no one’s business, and so many other bands are also packs. But it’s not like we’ve advertised our pack being official.

“Mia?” Noah asks as she hands each of us a bottle of water from the fridge in the ready space.

“Yeah?” Mia opens hers and takes a long drink. As she lowers the bottle from her mouth I spot the tightness in her eyes.

“Is everything okay?” Noah presses.

She nods with a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Yeah. Why?”

Leo holds her hand. “You seem different, that’s all.”

Mia shakes her head a little. “My parents called as I was getting ready. I… didn’t exactly tell them about Exit Fate or Knotty Tour, that’s all. They’re not fans of any of this.” She glances at Noah then looks away. “They’d rather I be at home enrolled in Juilliard.”

Noah’s lips press into a thin line. “Right. Well, you’re kicking ass here, so I think you made the right choice.”

“Me too.” Mia’s voice twists my gut. Does she regret going on tour? No, I don’t think so. But I can’t quite pin down what about her entire demeanor right now screams something has irrevocably changed since we left that tour bus.

I let it go while we hang out with a few other bands in the ready space. One of them is an all-female pop-punk trio, Moira, who Leo seems to know well. He introduces us and they get on with Mia as if they’ve been friends for a long time.

“I caught them playing a festival one time back home,” Leo says, grinning while he recounts the story. “They nailed their set and I did everything I could to connect them with the right people to get out there.”

Sophia laughs and elbows Leo in his side. She’s the lead singer and guitarist who looks to be Mia’s age and has a shock of bright pink hair dye in her blonde hair. “He says it like it didn’t help a ton. We’re signed, but this Knotty Tour is the biggest thing we’ve done and we’re only on the Maine stops.”

Leo waves her off. “Moira will be on the full tour next year, just you watch.”

Finally, we head off back to our tour bus after the sun’s set and the parking lot has turned into a party scene. We’ve got our lawn chairs set up outside and are minding our own business when the drinks in our cooler run dry.

“I’ve got it.” I grab the cooler and head back into the bus.

Our fridge could do with a restock on our way out of town, if not sometime before. But I manage to pull a beer for everyone and some waters. Since the drinking incident at our first stop, even I’ve cut down to two beers a night if anything. Enough to enjoy and celebrate the strides we’re making on tour without causing issues.

I toss some ice in on top of it all and then stop in to use the restroom. As I make my way out after, I hear a phone buzzing nonstop in the back room where Mia’s made her nest.

My parents called.

Were they calling her again? It seems important, whatever it is, as it keeps buzzing, so I duck my head into the nest and, sure enough, find Mia’s phone lit up on her makeup counter. I reach for it in aims to just bright it outside to her but can’t help looking at the screen.

Sable’s name is there a few times, which doesn’t surprise me. I’m so happy Mia’s got a close friend like Sable in her life.

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