Page 18 of Omega Rock

But Mia starts walking away toward a hall. “You got a guest room, Aiden?”

Aiden shakes his head. “One bedroom. But it’s yours, take it. The sheets are clean and there’s fresh towels in the bathroom.”

“Thank you.” Mia stumbles down the hallway and out of sight. After a few moments, the sound of a door closing echoes down into the living space.

I glance at the other two alphas. “Are we just supposed to let her be in her heat alone?”

Noah gestures wildly. “We just met her,andeach other. Don’t think it’s right.”

“It’s not,” Aiden agrees. “Even if she’s a scent match, even if we’re all matches enough to make a pack. She’s young.”

“Notthatyoung,” Noah points out. “Twenty-two, I think?”

Aiden and I both release a short laugh at the same time. I say, “Eleven years. We’ve got eleven years on her.”

“Same, man,” Noah says. “But it is what it is.”

Aiden leans back with his hands pressed together behind his head. “Everything in me is screaming to go in there and help her ride out her heat. I don’t know what to do.”

“I understand,” I say. “But unless she asks, we probably shouldn’t.”

“No,” Noah agrees but the pain in his eyes hasn’t gone away. It’s literally pain to sit here knowing she needs us. “We need to be careful with her.” He shoots a look at Aiden. “And the band. You want to make a pack? Fine. But we’re all here because of the band.”

Aiden leans forward so that his elbows are on his knees and he’s looking up at both of us. “I meant what I said today. We all hit it off, and we made something irreplaceable. Wes’s offer was to see us through our first album and first tour, all we have to do is make the music and do our best. If we make it, we make it.”

“And what’s your definition of ‘making it?’” Noah asks him.

Valid.Lost Time never hit the amount of fame that Designation Outsider managed, but reaching either band’s level of fame would take a ton of work. And that’s a lot to ask of four people who’ve just come together, two of which who have never seen limelight before.

“Releasing an album successfully,” Aiden says, “and to not be booed on tour. I just want to make music, man. That’s all.”

Noah glances to me with an expectant look in his eyes. He wants my answer, too.

Mine’s simple. “I never thought I’d play music again or be in another band. I’m happy just to be here for the ride.”

“And what do you want out of this, Noah?” Aiden asks.

“I’m in for the music,” he answers without hesitation. “And maybe a bit of validation just like you, Aiden.”

“Like all of us,” I add.

“Then from tomorrow on, we’re music focused,” Aiden says. “I think forming a pack out of a band feels natural too, for the record. I’m willing to give that a go as well.”

Noah and I both nod in agreement.

“Then we take that day by day as well,” Aiden says. “And just because we’re a pack doesn’t mean Mia has to join it. But we’ll be there for her either way, same as a band would.”

It’s a good plan. It’s therightplan. And I even feel satisfied knowing these things are sorted. But Mia being an omega, beingourscent matched omega, surely puts a large wrench into things.

I let it go as Aiden finds blankets for the three of us and we stretch out easily with more than enough space on all the sectional pieces while Mia takes Aiden’s bedroom.

But I simply can’t sleep. My inner alpha screams at me to go to her all night long, even as logic warns I need this sleep so badly. Not just to ignore the deep, primal call within me to be with Mia, but also because my body craves rest to keep itself alive.

I lose the war. Around three in the morning, I tiptoe out of the living space toward the bathroom to relieve myself. Whimpers pour out from underneath the closed door at the end of the hall.

Mia.

I finish up and then go to the door and gently knock on it. “Mia, it’s Leo. Can I come in?”

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