Page 81 of Omega Rock

Mia beams up at Leo. “Turns out our drummer can sing pretty well.”

Leo grins and shakes his head. “Noah pulled the important strings for that one.”

“Well,” Wes says, “it worked. Not just for views, mind you, but in general. There are a lot of people banging down my door asking when this album of yours will be out.”

My breath hitches in my chest. “And… when will it, Wes?”

Wes hesitates long enough I’m convinced he’s not going to release it at all for some reason. But that’s insane as he just said the album wasfantastic.

“Next month, if I can swing it,” Wes finally says. “Which means you’re eligible for awards season.”

Aiden chortles. “Next month? That’s right before Designation Outsider’s new album.”

“Yes, it is.” Wes says it simply as if it doesn’t matter at all. But it does. Because if our album does well… “I still want you all to stay away from them. But, most importantly, I want you all to enjoy this. Celebrate. You worked hard for this, and even though there were plenty of bumps in the road, you made it. Good work.”

The pack all smiles at each other. My alphas, my bandmates.We did it.

“Leo, how are you doing?” Wes asks.

Leo perks up a bit. “I’m good. Treatment done for this round, and I’m good as long as I’m careful again.”

“I’m so glad to hear that. Are you well enough to play one show this coming weekend in New Jersey? It’s an outdoor venue, still Knotty Tour. We’ll get you in and out the back way.”

My heart leaps up into my throat. “Back on Knotty Tour?”

Wes chuckles lightly. “One last show, one last set with them to close it out. They askedmethis time.”

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

“Yes,” Leo says quickly. “We’ll do it.”

We all look to him, the same question no doubt on all of our faces.Are you ready?

Leo nods. “It’s just one show. Thirty minutes. We’re doing it.”

* * *

The last stop on Knotty Tour for this year is the largest. The largest venue space, the largest crowd, the largest set of bands. It’s nerve-wracking being back on stage and even more so with this many thousands of people in one space, all watching us and singing our songs word for word.

The cheers. The crowd surfing. The way Exit Fate plays together as if fate itself rearranged to allow us this moment in time.

My veins sing with fulfillment, satisfaction, and inspiration. Like this is everything I was meant to do and more. Like all of us were always meant to behere.

Our parents all come to show. Sable is up in the front row with Seth like before I joined Exit Fate. And she’s still the loudest person here.

Our most popular track? Leo’s Song, which we play acoustically this time to the tune of thousands of phone flashlights turning on across the audience.

It brings tears to my eyes and warms my heart in a way that only the pack can otherwise emulate.

Wes watches our set from the side of the stage with huge grin on his face. We were trouble for him, but I know in that moment he thinks it was worth it.

We don’t have a tour bus this time, but the four of us did get a hotel suite near the venue. We retreat there after with a bottle of champagne that Leo and I water way down. One drink, and that’s it, as I fall into the massive over-sized king bed with my alphas all around me.

They idly caress my arms and legs, and I kiss them each one at a time and then back again.

“I’m so proud of us,” I say as Aiden collects the champagne glasses and sets them aside.

Noah leans in and kisses my forehead. “Us too, angel.”

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