26. Ryn
Chapter twenty-six
Ryn
Tendrils of hope grow inside me, and your love is what waters the ground- Ryn Raines
That night, the concert is full on. Everything seems surreal. The lights are brighter, the sounds more intense, everything is just more.
This yearning to be on stage is almost as strong as the yearning to be with them. I can only take my eyes off Tyr long enough to look at Envy, and then Mako and Digs.
They look exhausted but happy.
That could be me.
“They look good out there, don’t they?”
I stiffen, annoyed with myself for forgetting about Tara, even for just a few moments.
“The band is incredible,” I agree.
“Yes, and they have nowhere to go but up. But only if you stop dragging them through the mud with events like today. Seriously, Raines, what were you thinking? I had to calm your father down for hours.”
I seriously doubt that. My father doesn’t listen to women, let alone be calmed by them.
“He is wrathful. It’s one thing if you want to be a whore for a pack that, according to the news articles, already has an omega, but what happens when the press finds out you already have a pack, too? How is that going to look?”
I take a step back, reluctantly leaving the spot where I can watch the band. “They are not my pack,” I whisper, my lips numb .
“I know you're an omega. I can smell it when I’m around you. It’s so obvious, and when he finds out, you’re going to be locked in a cage until he can palm you off. Because,” Tara leans in close, her hand resting on my forearm, “the only thing Typhor hates more than a whore is an omega whore.”
My eyes widen because she’s right. She’s totally right. I forgot how serious this situation really is. He will get his thugs to take me, and he will either take me straight to the pack or lock me up until he can offload me.
I’m an object to sell.
The knowledge breaks me out into a cold sweat, and I pull my arm free and walk. I don’t run, but I walk fast to the dressing room, where I find Tony.
“Kid, what’s wrong?”
I inhale, but I can’t seem to breathe deep enough. I shake my head, but he pulls me into a hug.
“Breathe, Ryn. You’re safe now. Breathe.”
I take one shaky breath and then another.
“I forgot about him.” My words come out in a nervous babble. “I mean, I didn’t forget, but he’s not as dangerous when I’m here so far away. I forget the power he wields.”
“It will be fine-”
“No, it won’t. I need to finish my plan. I need to ask them for help. I need the pack's help, Tony.”
Tony pats my back. “They will help you. I know they will.”
He’s the only person who knows it all, but having him in my corner makes me feel even more vulnerable.
I don’t know if I like the feeling, but I really like the not feeling quite so alone part.
“How did you become their manager?”
“You think their mothers would trust their lives to anyone else? They’d heard the horror stories of rock stars, and they came to me. That was the condition of letting the boys continue with the contract. The little shits had signed before I read it, though. So, I was to look after them for a couple of months, but no one predicted how fast they would rise. I guess a couple of months turned into a year, which turned into a couple of years. I don’t regret it. My family is set up now. My wife and I are closer than ever. But I’m going to have to train some new kid to take over. These late nights are killing me.”
I shove him playfully. “You’re not old.”
“I’m ancient. My old bones play the drums better than Mako does when I get up in the morning.”
I snort a laugh, feeling the horror and fear fall away from me .
“So, you want to talk me through the plans one more time? And you’re still not telling them about the failsafe?”
I shake my head. “It's better no one knows that one. I shouldn’t have even told you.”
“I’m still going to be a getaway driver. Don’t you forget.”
I laugh but don’t take his words seriously.
Two hours later, the band comes into the dressing room, excited but happy. Digs pulls me into his arms and kisses me.
“Where’d you go?”
“We were catching up,” Tony says in a grumble. “I’ll leave you guys to talk.”
Tony leaves and the pack turns to me, watching intently. Suddenly I’m nervous, and I don’t know why.
“I need your help.”
“Anything, baby,” Mako says and perches on the arm of the lounge.
“Don’t say that. Just listen before you decide what you want to do.” I take a deep breath, preparing myself, and wishing I didn’t have to ask this. “I wrote you a song.”
“You did. It’s a beautiful song.”
“I want you to perform it in two weeks.”
“Okay. So, you want us to switch out Tara’s song for this one? I fucking love that idea. Count me on board.” Digs smirks and reaches for me, but I step back.
“But,” I look at Tyr, silently begging him to understand. “I need you to let me sing it with you.”
He stiffens slightly.
“Just hear me out before you think I’m some spotlight stealing bitch. If I sing that song on stage, that brilliant, beautiful song, with you, to your audience, I will become instantly famous, and there’s no way he can sell me off. He won’t be able to stop the tide.”
Tyr opens his mouth and closes it. “I’m not sure, Ryn. He controls us and owns us. It wouldn’t be hard for him to turn this against you.”
My eyes fill with tears, which is stupid because, of course, he should have reservations. This is their song, their light. “Please. I have two options: find a pack to mate with before he comes for me or become so famous he can’t touch me.”
Tyr groans. “No tears. They are my weakness. I can’t bear it, Ryn.”
“I don’t know what else to do. Fuck, if I could I would, but I can’t hide. I’m an omega forever. All I have in the world is you guys and my cousins.”
“You will always have us, and we will always be on your side,” Mako says as he glares at Tyr. “We should do it. We should let her sing.”
“And what happens if it’s not enough, and he takes her faster?” Tyr snaps.
“We could start a campaign and spread the information faster,” Envy says. “Hit all the socials, get the fans to share it. We can make her viral. How could Typhor, the Alpha Label CEO bury a talent like Ryn?”
Tyr hesitates for a moment longer, and then he nods, agreeing with a grimace. “Okay, but we need a plan if it doesn’t work because I am not losing you!”
I throw myself into his arms. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love you.”
The words fall easily and land like a small bomb in the room. Tyr goes completely still.
“Let's get you back to the hotel room, Omega.”
I lean into him, feeling all the stress and panic melt away. This is where I am safe. This is where it all works out.