Page 15 of Wicked Truths

* * *

“Are you excited?” Hawk asks as we head toward the Ruined Records building.

I shrug, glancing at him over my shoulder as we walk. He grins a wide, friendly smile, and I stumble a step. He quickens his pace until he gets out in front of me. He always opens doors like the perfect gentleman.

“Y-Yeah, I mean it’ll definitely be exciting if it works out.” I shake my head. You’d think I’d have found some chill in the last year that he’s been my security, but that’s just not how I roll apparently.

Come to think of it, I’ve gotten weirder over time.

It wasn’t hard to be around him in the beginning.

When I first told my father I wanted to make it in the music industry, his only request was that I have full-time personal security. I didn’t put up too much of a fight because of what happened to my mom when I was younger, but it has been an adjustment getting used to having someone follow me all the time. It’s still better than being kidnapped because of my maternal grandparents’ exorbitant wealth, so I’ve adapted.

Things were simpler before the suppressants started sucking at their job. I’m pretty sure forcing my body to release soothing pheromones when Love was in labor screwed something up with my system. Ever since that show, I’ve been a million times more sensitive to alpha scents, and it seems like I’m going through waves of heat at random times.

Being an omega is a real pain in the ass.

I have hopes and dreams outside of living pack life.

I speed up to keep pace with him, and his sandalwood scent seems to overpower everything else around us. I’ve always been able to recognize that Hawk is hot. He’s one of those massive guys that make other alphas seem small in comparison.

My eyes stay glued to his wide shoulders as he leads the way. Being around him got harder when I realized I’m wildly attracted to his scent. Freaking useless suppressants.

“I’ve said it before, but you know you can change your mind at any time, right?” Hawk stops just before the door and turns to face me. I crane my neck up so that I can look him in the eyes. He seems to take up all the space around us as he leans close. “You just…” He frowns, shaking his head. “You don’t seem happy lately.”

I blink up at him, trying to figure out how to say what I need to say. He’s not wrong, but both Hawk and Sullivan are the majority of my misery.

Music has always been my outlet. It’s my expression and the way I process my emotions. I fell into it even deeper when my mom died. At this point, I don’t know what I’d do if I wasn’t performing.

“You know you can talk to me, right, little one?” he asks, brushing his fingers over my cheek.

My eyes squeeze shut as I focus on breathing through my mouth. His scent is thick in the air, and it makes it hard to breathe through my nose.

When my eyes pop open, he’s staring down at me with his brow wrinkled. Those light blue eyes of his are squinting as he studies my face. It’s hard not to turn into his touch. Then again, he’s more than ten years older than I am. He’s here to do a job and not to listen to my problems.

“I’m good,” I say, smiling. “Hopefully there are some female candidates so I’m not surrounded by testosterone.”

Hawk’s short blond hair glints in the sunlight as he gives a clipped nod. He’s so hard to read and it’s getting worse. I don’t know what happened, but he pulled back hardcore right around when I tried to kiss Sulli. I know they work out together. Maybe Sullivan mentioned it or asked for advice and Hawk is upset because he liked me. I have no clue, and I feel like I’m driving myself insane trying to figure it out.

Hawk steps back, and I don’t have to see it to know the others have caught up. He’s only affectionate and tender when we’re alone lately. My other suspicion is that he knows about me and Marcus, but at the same time, I’m fairly sure he hates Marcus enough that he would have mentioned it by now if he was aware.

I shake off that thought and nod to the door. I’m probably misreading the situation. I’m fairly sure I should focus on the guy who likes me enough to at least have sex with me.

“Ready, princess?” Marcus tosses an arm around my shoulder.

“Yeah, let’s do this,” I say as Sullivan finally comes up on my other side. We make our way into the building, but I can’t help but feel like I’ve gotten myself into a real mess. At this point, I don’t even know if it matters. Neither Sullivan nor Hawk likes Marcus, and it’s kind of a powder keg waiting to explode, but at the same time, they don’t want me.

I shouldn’t feel especially bad for finally doing something to make me happy.

* * *

The morning is busy as we make our way through the plethora of auditions. Some of them are decent. A few are not great. It’s getting tedious listening to the same songs over and over on repeat.

“All right,” Jamen says. “Let’s break for lunch. There are three more scheduled after two p.m.”

We all give our agreement.

“Are you hungry?” Sullivan asks, appearing at my side. He shoves his tattooed hands in the front pockets of his jeans. His blondish-brown hair falls in his eyes as he leans closer.

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