Page 70 of Omega Rock

Panic must be evident on my face because Aiden lifts his hand. “Wes was right to keep us there.” His gaze shifts to Leo. “But I agree with Mia about you.”

“I’mfine,” Leo replies with a tight jaw advertising a definitelynotfine state. “I’m just going to get some sleep. I suggest we all do. If we’re allowed to play tomorrow, we should be ready to wow the crowd.”

If we’re allowed to play tomorrow.

Fuck me.

“Good plan,” Aiden says. “Let’s all head off to bed then.”

I go to ask if they want to share my nest with me tonight, but I get the distinct impression that everything from last night is far too raw, so I don’t. Instead, I head back there on my own while the guys take their bunks.

It’s hollow and lonely without them. So naturally, I decide to make it worse by opening the messages from Sable that have gone unanswered until now.

Mia! Are you okay? I’ve seen the videos but you’re not responding.

Do you need me to bail you out?

Ah—just checked. The station said you’re out now. But you know I was already halfway to Maine when I found out!

I close my eyes to try stopping the flood of tears threatening to rise to the surface. Slowly, I type out a reply:

Hi Sable. I’m fine. Wes bailed us out this afternoon, but we missed our set today and he made it sound like we may be kicked off the tour. It was just one fight, but… Designation Outsider’s manager tried to poach me and that set all this off. I’m not sure what’s happening now. And Leo’s in a lot of nerve pain. It just all feels like it’s falling apart.

Sable, god bless her soul, doesnotcall me when I finally text back. She knows me well enough to know I have zero bandwidth for that right now.

Mia! I’m so glad you’re okay. All of that sounds like a whole lot. But kicking you off Knotty Tour for just one fight would be crazy—they won’t do that. It’s not like it was all the bands fighting or something. Wild about DO’s manager, though. UGH. I’m so sorry, Mia. HUGSSS! I know it’s a lot right now but focus on getting some actual sleep tonight. Then figure things out with the band in the morning. Go from there. Remember they’re not just your band but your pack, too.

The tears finally fall. Sable is right.I will. Love you, girl.

Love you too, Mia. Get some sleep. Call me tomorrow.

I’m not brave enough to read the messages from my parents or call them back. So I power down the phone, roll over onto my side in my empty nest, and try to sleep.

Sleep does not come. I toss and turn for a while before turning my phone back on and settling on doom-scrolling until sleep takes me. With the door open, I have to keep the volume on the videos down, but the bright screen would alert any of my alphas I’m awake. It’s stupid—I should just ask them to join me rather than baiting them to. But sure enough, Noah eventually makes an appearance in the doorway to the nest.

I wave him inside. “Sorry. I can’t sleep.”

Noah quietly joins me on the side of the wide bed I’ve turned into a nest. “Me either. I’m sure Sable’s blown up your phone. Did you talk to her?”

I chuckle quietly. “That you know her that well already is wild.”

“She’s your best friend,” he says with a small smile. “I expect your parents have called, too?”

My smile fades. “Yeah. I haven’t… replied or anything yet. I don’t have the energy.”

Noah nods to the bed. I gesture for him to join me and end up cuddled against his side. “You said you talked to them yesterday before our set?”

“Yeah, and they weren’t thrilled,” I whisper. “They never are.”

Noah’s silent for a long time before replying, “They just want what’s best for you, Mia. Same as all of us.”

I shake my head against his chest. “I don’t even know what’s best for me, how can anyone else?”

“Juilliard is a great school, they’d be lucky to have you.”

I sit up and look at him. Moonlight shines through the one window back here and illuminates his face I’ve memorized time and time again. “Do you want me to leave the band?”

Noah’s eyes go wide. “No, I just mean if… If this ends soon like Wes warned.”

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