Page 24 of Lucky Dance Date
“Here.”
I looked over to see the alpha Wes had been with holding out a key and a slip of paper. “What’s this?”
“A key to the studio, and the address.”
“What do I say?”
Sean pushed a cheap cash-box into my hands. “That’s the cover for tonight. Scott and I can work out any stragglers with funds from the refreshments. It needs to go to him, so there’s your excuse.”
Avery walked up, and I remembered that he’d ridden with me.
“I…” I started.
He smiled. “It’s ok. Cameron will take me home.”
I blinked, then noticed a look between him and the alpha that Wes had been with.
“You two?” I asked.
The alpha—Cameron—nodded. “Fate.”
Part of me had questions, but I decided they could be answered later. “Thank you.”
“Go,” Avery said. “Don’t lose him again.”
“I won’t.”
I dashed to my car, entered the address in my GPS and sped off.
I needed Wes as much as I needed air, and it was time I told him that.
Chapter 13 - Wes
Isat on the hardwood floor, back to the mirrors, looking out into my darkened studio with tears streaming down my face.
I was a fool. There was no way my parents would let this happen. They’d find a way to crush it, just like they had everything else that had made me happy over the years. As soon as they learned I’d opened my own studio they’d start scheming.
Dancing with José, as wonderful as it had been, was a reminder of that. They’d taken away my best chances of a performing arts scholarship when they refused to let me act on opening night. They’d destroyed my relationship with José in the same stroke.
And my sweet alpha, this whole time he’d blamed himself for their actions. He still believed that he’d failed me, even though it was nearly impossible for a teen alpha to defend an omega from their own parents.
How many more people would they hurt this time? The other instructors when I had to close? The kids who were suddenly without dance classes?
How much sick satisfaction would they take from it? To them, the more innocent bystanders affected in their attempts to control me, the better.
Actions have consequences. They told me that every time, and my actions impacted those around me.
It was my fault others were affected. If I’d just listened in the first place nobody else would have been hurt.
I wiped away a tear. All those people had turned out for a good evening. Sean, Scott, Cameron, even Dom’s uncle Robert had pitched in to make my dreams happen.
José had come to the dance, just to support me.
How would they all feel when it all came crashing down? How long would it take? Six months? A year?
If the only things I had to worry about were related to the running of the business I would be fine. I knew I could do it. But my parents were vindictive, and they wouldn’t stop until they got their way.
How many people would I lose this time? Who would look at it all and decide that it was too great a risk to be associated with me?
