Page 41 of This Fate That Guides Us
“I won’t freak out every time we encounter a protest, I promise,” I mutter. My cheeks are a little warm knowing he’s seen me at so many weak points over the past week. “I know it seems odd with my paranoia and social anxiety, but protests are something I’ve grown used to. As long as I expect them, I won’t panic the way I did earlier.”
“I was mildly curious how such a large portion of your portfolio involves DAU protests given your triggers.”
Lowering my voice, I walk closer to my bodyguard so no one else can overhear me. “Donovan suggested it, and he was right. DAU events give me a way to fight back without risking exposure.”
A few hours later, I step backstage after the show comes to an end. I’d gotten lost behind the lens, letting my work drown out the thread of anxiety still pulsing through me. Pack Graves put on a stellar show. Their performance had a sharper edge than it normally does. A direct response to the bullshit still being spewed outside.
“Listen up,” Brady calls from his spot in the wings. The bands and Bea are already gathered around him so we make our way over to join them. “One more change. Another big one. We’ve canceled our reservations at the hotel here in Grand Rapids. The label is going to eat the cost of the cancellation and has booked us a bus site in northern Ohio. We’re heading there as soon as everyone is back on their buses and ready to go.”
Quiet murmurs spread through the crowd as the various groups start making plans to get their stuff from the hotels and head to where our buses are parked outside of the city. I trust Lex and Ridley to have a handle on our plans, so I remain quiet.
I’m glad we have a day off after this. We are all going to need a minute to adjust to the new reality of our tour. Especially when our next stops are in Tennessee and Kentucky. Two areas muchcloser to anti-designation groups in states with stricter anti-pack policies than here in Michigan.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
NOW PLAYING: YOUPut A Spell On Me- Austin Giorgio
Yesterday was a shit show.
We are all on edge after learning anti-pack and anti-designation groups are now targeting our shows. While their demonstration last night was relatively peaceful, there is no guarantee every stop we make will be as calm. The closer we get to anti-designation territory, the more likely these protests are to turn violent.
A thought weighing heavily on all of our shoulders. Which is why I’m taking control of our plans for the day! My mates and our girl need a nice day of relaxation before we begin our journey to the Southern states.
A knock at the door pulls my attention away from the checklist I’m making on my phone. I jump to answer it, shooing away Titan when he meets me there. Two of our security staffstand outside with an armful of bags. Half from a local chain department store and the rest from a beauty supply store.
“What exactly are you up to?” Nebula asks. He’s eyeing the bags curiously, but I block his view. He has to wait just like everyone else.
“You’ll find out in a little bit when Omen gets here.”
I grab as many of the bags as I can and carry them to the bedroom. No one is in here right now so it’s the perfect space to sort through everything. After grabbing the rest, I carefully dump them out onto the sheets and start arranging everything into piles. Face masks, hair masks, foot scrubs, everything we could need for an at-home spa night.
My heart races in anticipation when I hear another knock at the door an hour later. She’s here–my dream girl. I can’t wait to soothe all the tension from her muscles and spoil her silly!
Leaving the bedroom door mostly shut, I step into the small sitting room of our suite where my other mates are waiting. I wave them off as I jog to the door and swing it open. Hints of Omen’s sunflower and honeysuckle scent has my cock already at half-mast. So sweet and light, it makes me want to devour her.
“Hey,” she greets quietly when I usher her inside. My girl’s still a little unsure of herself around us, and that’s okay. We have all the time in the world to help her see we’d love her unquestionably–if she lets us.
“Gorgeous, you look absolutely ravishing.” I close the door and press a kiss on her cheek, taking a deep inhale of her scent. My eyes roll back at the strength of the floral notes, but I remind myself to behave. ‘Omen isn’t ready for an orgy’ has become my new mantra.
“Thank you.” The words are whispered. Her red cheeks hidden behind a curtain of her hair. She looks even more tempting like this.
“So!” I have to distract myself before I do something to make her uncomfortable. Like kiss the shit out of her. “We can all agree yesterday sucked. We’re stressed out and that’s not going to do us any good this early in the tour. Worry not, sweet girl, I have the perfect solution!”
Her icy blue eyes follow me across the room, filled with apprehension and a touch of curiosity. My hand is on the door when the doubt starts to creep in. I’d spent the last hour lost in getting things ready for tonight. I didn’t have time to stop and consider how she’d react to my plans.
She’s going to hate it.
Alphas aren’t supposed to be planning self-care nights with fifteen different face masks and a dozen colors of nail polish to choose from. They pay for spa days for their omegas, they don’t participate.
A hand rests on my shoulder, gripping tight. Callisto’s light woodsy scent helps to calm my raging thoughts. He softly mutters an offer to help me while sending reassurances down our bond.
Sucking in a deep breath, I keep a bright smile pasted on my face when I swing the door open and step inside to grab the baskets I made. “Ta-da!”
I turn around with the black storage box I’d picked out for her. The outside is covered in gray moths and fossils. Very dark academia which seems to be my gorgeous girl’s preferred aesthetic. The lid is open with a fluffy black robe carefully tied to the top with black ribbon. The bottom is filled with all of the various products I chose for her.
Hopefully, I got her skin type right.
“Oh…wow.” her voice is choked. The blush has drained from her cheeks leaving her pale.
