Page 29 of Waiting for Fate
A growl rips from my throat when someone lobs something through the air toward the car in front of us. Lex clocks it and signals it isn’t a genuine threat. I watch as glass bottles shatter against the side of the car. Brady pulls his phone out and starts sending rapid texts, likely updating the label execs what is happening here. And letting them know local reinforcements are doing nothing to stop these assholes.
This is their city. Why the fuck are they throwing glass and trash around?!
“We’re spreading our security teams through the crowd of attendees at the front,” Brady informs us as we pull to a stop in the parking lot. The gate rattles shut behind us, blocking the protesters’ view. We can hear their shouts rattle around each of us, bringing our tension to a fever pitch.
They never should have agreed to hold a show here.
Lex pulls me aside when we get inside. “I’ve got these two. You go with the security staff and sweep the crowd waiting to get in.”
Frowning, I go to protest, but he cuts me off with a sharp shake of his head. “You can take over Bea’s security after you do the sweep. The band’s security team is trained to notice threats to their clients, not threats to the public. You could catch something they don’t.”
Gritting my teeth, I turn on my heel and stalk away. It’s difficult to leave Bea behind after what we just witnessed, but I know Lex is right. If I don’t go out there and someone slips through, I’ll regret it later.
Nervous energy fills the air around the front of the building. The crowd shifts restlessly, excited to get into the building. Their eyes constantly shift around, watching for the group of protesters to attack. No one stands out as I weave through.
As venue staff allow the crowd through, doing bag checks as they go, I slip back inside. Time to get eyes on my girl before I lose my mind with worry.
Bea is backstage with Orbital Somatic, giving them another pep talk. They’ve gotten better at handling their pre-show anxiety, but the threat of violence outside has clearly shaken them. It unsettled all of us.
“Music can be the spark of a revolution,” Bea tells them. “It only takes one artist’s voice ringing loudly to carry a message to the world. Don’t let the assholes outside win. Designations and packs—we’re here to stay.”
Meeting each of their eyes, she turns to peek at me over her shoulder. Midnight blue eyes shine brightly, lit with the fire of injustice and determination. My badass omega mate.
“We won’t let the villains win.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
HAVING RIDLEY EATme out while Lex watched from the doorway was one of the hottest experiences of my life. The heat in both of their eyes when Ridley stepped back, leaving my still leaking pussy on display, was hot enough to catapult me right back into needy omega territory.
That was three days ago, and the grumpy alpha has barely looked at me since. I’m fairly certain he is allergic to feelings that aren’t annoyance or anger. I can’t decide if he hates me or wants to know what it feels like to be knot deep inside of me.
Hopefully, it’s the latter because I would swallow him down like my favorite candy.
Today was our first of four days off after a string of back-to-back shows, and I am grateful for the break. The sun is dipping low on the horizon when we settle around our beachside fire pit. We’ve spent the day playing in the water, and enjoying the feel of the sand on our toes.
I adjust my high cut orange bikini bottoms as we settle down on our towels. Ridley leans back beside me, creating the perfect resting spot for my head. He rumbles his approval when my head hits his toned thigh. It’s been hell watching him swim and play volleyball all day in nothing but the short blue swim trunks he’s wearing. He didn’t even have the decency to throw on a cutoff when we decided we were done in the water for the day!
Nebula, the bassist from Primordial Covenant, pulls out a guitar and plays. I meet Omen’s eyes across the fire, wiggling my eyebrows at the blush staining her cheeks. Two of her potential alphas have her wedged between them. She smiled and laughed more today than I can remember. Freedom looks good on her. I just hope it sticks when she reveals her birth identity.
When the song ends, Caleb cuts in with his own performance. I watch from the corner of my eye as Nebula heads down the beach, my bestie quickly following along behind him. Fucking get it, Oms!
Looking up into Ridley’s blue-green eyes, I’m stunned by how bright they shine in the fire’s light. It’s like looking up at the Northern Lights, with swirls of brighter green and darker blues. My breath catches when he meets my gaze, trapping me with the strength of the pull between us.
It’s terrifying to admit he may be right about us being Fate matched mates. I’ve longed for that soul deep connection to someone since the day I turned twenty-one. When my Fated connection didn’t appear, I was crushed, but I hoped it would manifest one day. There is a thread of doubt in the back of my mind, because I haven’t felt the shared pain myself.
I don’t care if he’s lying. I still want him to be mine.
Whatever he sees in my eyes has him pushing to his feet, carrying me with him. Lex grunts, his attention anywhere but on me. It stings to have him avidly avoid me, but I won’t force someone to love me. I deserve better.
Ridley’s hand is warm in mine as we walk across the sand. The sun has disappeared now, leaving only the faintest light blue at the edge of the sky. It’s dark enough for the beach to be empty, most of the families and other visitors long gone. The sand turns to pavement as we approach the bus. Excitement quickens my steps. I’m ready to get inside and strip my alpha naked.
We barely make it to my nest before he’s on me. Those firm lips slam to mine, devouring me as if he’ll suffocate without my lips pressed to his. Kisses trail across my jaw and down the column of my throat, turning to hard sucks when he reaches the spot he favors on my neck. The place his bite will go after all this bodyguard nonsense is over.
My hands scramble along his waist until they catch on the top of his trunks. I jerk them down his thighs in one swift motion, my eyes dropping to watch as his heavy cock slaps against his stomach. He’s beautiful. Long and thick and veiny. Pre-cum leaks from his tip, rolling down to his knot. I dart my tongue across my lips, needing to taste him.
He pushes the door open behind me, but I ignore it and drop to my knees. “Sunshine,” Ridley groans as I suck his tip into my mouth. Salty with hints of citrus. If his pre-cum tastes this good, how amazing will it be to have a mouth full of actual cum?
I slip more of him into my mouth, gagging when he hits the back of my throat. I pull back, taking a deep breath before trying again. Getting my throat to relax takes several tries, but eventually he slips deep enough for his knot to brush my lips.
