Page 86 of This Fate That Guides Us
Our meeting is brief, something I’m grateful for. Exhaustion has become my constant companion since the heat.
We’re leaving the office when we run into Brady. “Omen! It’s so nice to see you up and about! Are you doing alright? We weren’t sure if you’d be joining us for the next show or if you still needed time to recover.”
“I actually won’t be joining at all,” I admit with a weak smile.
His eyes narrow and he searches my face before scoffing. “Those boys are behind this aren’t they?”
“No, it’s not–“
“I’m not blind Omen. I’ve been to every show. Seen the beautiful relationship you five were building. You’re here to tellthe studio you are leaving and they aren’t with you. You expect me to believe they don’t have anything to do with it?” He eyes me expectantly. Seeing too much. I don’t want Pack Graves’ issues with me to affect his relationship with them.
“Leaving is my decision,” I tell him with finality.
He shakes his head before pulling me into a hug. I relish the moment of fatherly affection. “Don’t be a stranger,” he calls when Lex leads me away. I wave goodbye knowing I have no plans to ever return to this building. Everything will be better if I stay away.
Four days have passed since I awoke alone in the hotel nest after the most excruciating heat of my life. My time is spent shuffling aimlessly around the apartment and avoiding Lex who is trying to force me to get myself back into the swing of life outside of touring with a band of masked rock stars.
I also sleep. A lot. More than is necessarily healthy. Like now. I came in to take a nap after sitting on the couch with Lex for an hour, only to blink awake what feels like seconds later. Confused and slightly dazed, it takes several long minutes for me to register the urgent knocking at my nest door. When I swing it open Lex stands on the other side, his huge arms crossed across his chest. “We have a problem.”
He drags me to the kitchen where he coerces me into eating before he will explain anything. I push around the stir-fry he made while he scrolls through something on his tablet. When he slides the device across the island to me, I give up my charade and push the plate away.
“Someone leaked your identity.” I scan the news article, seeing what was once my worst fear brought to life. I’m not surprised Fate has taken another swing at me. I deserve it forlying to my mates. For not being honest with them from the start. “The DAU is looking into the leak, but as of yet we don’t know who is responsible.”
I shrug. It doesn’t matter who did it. What’s done is done and there’s no taking it back now.
“We’re leaving for a safe house as a precaution. If they know your name, we have to assume they know your address as well.”
I pack enough clothes and necessities to last several days and toss them in a luggage bag. I’m sad to lose the sanctity of my nest. My home. But I won’t risk staying here and endangering Bea’s safe space too.
The cool glass of the tinted windows feels wonderful against my head as we drive away from Starburgh. Away from the label. Away from the men who shattered my heart. We’re stopping at the closest DAU headquarters to grab a different vehicle and whatever other supplies Lex needs. We’re also going to be leaving our phones there so I take the time during our drive to video call Bea. Our relationship is still rocky after she learned all of the secrets I’d been keeping, but she’s still my bestie and I don’t want her to worry when I go dark.
“How's the tour been?” I ask as soon as Bea accepts the video call. I can tell by the dim lighting she’s in her nest on the bus which is surprising since the bands would have just finished their show in Salt Lake City. I realize as she settles in that she’s skipping the post-show rituals out of solidarity. My ride or die, this chick. Even when I’ve been a shit friend and haven’t earned her support.
“It’s as intense as always. Minor mishaps, wild artists, crazed fans. The usze. How’s sharing our apartment with the grumpy puppy going? Has he tried to piss on anything and mark his territory yet?” She lets out a hard laugh.
The way those two have butted heads over the past several weeks… I’m starting to believe the connection between them is much deeper than either one wants to admit to.
I chew on my lip as she shares stories about her band's antics and all the mishaps she had to fix during their shows in Canada and Boulder. I know I won’t be able to settle without asking how the guys are doing. I also know I don’t deserve the answer after I lied and hurt them.
“I can see that look in your eyes Omen and the answer is no. They’re alive. The fans don’t know anything is amiss. That’s all you are going to get from me. This isn’t healthy for you, girl.” Her eyes soften from the glare she’s directing my way. “I know this is hard. Omegas who are rejected by their Fate matched mates… We aren’t going to let your Fate be the same as theirs. You’re a badass omega. You’ve survived so much in your life, you can make it through this too.”
I’ve been rejected, even if none of them ever said those exact words. We’ve all heard the stories, as rare as they may be. We know what happens to rejected omegas. Most of them never make it out the other side. The depression and heartbreak cut too deep. I never understood how they could spiral so quickly. How they could fade away to nothing.
Now I get it. The weight of the rejection batters against you like waves on the shore during a hurricane. You barely have the strength to catch your breath let alone try to pull yourself out of the water. The doctor the DAU sent me to after the heat said it’s a chemical rejection, which is even rarer, but still as deadly. He suggested being around people I love may help. Having a support system in place to keep me afloat.
Though that will be nearly impossible when I have to abandon everything once more to escape my birth family.“I’m trying,” I promise her. I hate to see the tears sparkling in her eyes. I don’t want her to be burdened with worry for me. Ijust want her to be happy, to live her life the way she’s always dreamed.
“I know. I love you, Oms.”
“I love you too bestie.”
We share a comfortable silence, each lost in our own feelings before Bea’s eyes narrow on me. “Isn’t it almost 3 in the morning back home?”
I shrug. “I guess I’m still too used to the tour schedule.”
“Even when we were celebrating you were still in bed by 2 at the latest,” she points out.
“Yeah,” I sigh. “I can’t sleep. The doctor said it’s normal to fluctuate between periods of insomnia and oversleeping. I’ll take something to help me sleep soon.”
