Our Deceptive Heat (When it Raines Omegaverse #3)

31. Ryn

Chapter thirty-one

Ryn

Sour notes scream into hallowed halls- Ryn Raines

I stand in the shadows, watching them play. The crowd shifts and roars around me, a veritable mass of screaming fans, not one single person, but a swarm. I want so badly to be the one on stage, belting out my songs. It’s so close I can taste it. I elbow my way through the crowd, pushing to the front.

I want to be down here so he can see me when he plays my song.

All the dreams, the ones my father hated so much. No daughter of his was going to be like Chile Raines. “A singer,” he says, and his lips curl at me in that familiar hated sneer.

The vibe is intoxicating. I’m drunk on the excitement, drugged on the atmosphere. Every song they play only strengthens the bond. It guides the excitement higher; it pushes them into a frenzy. The music thuds through my veins and pounds in the racing beats of my heart.

I feel like I’m on another planet, another world. All I can see is the bouncing mass, screaming the lyrics. Screaming my lyrics!

They bounce and call, scream and cry, on and on. Dressed to attract, dressed to show how much they love them. Glow sticks in hands, one in thousands, desperately waving to be seen.

It infects me, and I find myself whistling and singing along with the words, then screaming them as I laugh and lose myself. The girl beside me grabs my arm, and for a moment, we dance together, screaming the lyrics of Angel to each other. I laugh as she turns away, shifting in the crowd as it swallows and eats her up.

Lights flash, and I get a good look up at Fate’s Choice doing what they do best. They look like magic up there. The new branding looks incredible. The slightly edgier look and styling has paid off. On the big screens, the camera pans to Envy as he puts his back against Tyr and croons at him.

The crowd goes wild. I’m so fucking proud of them.

My dream is really going to come true! I can’t believe this. Tomorrow, that will be me, and I will have them.

I can’t wait for them to unveil the new song. It’s going to be epic and will go perfectly with the band’s new look. My stomach twists in knots, but I know it’s going to be fine. This song is something special. I check the microphone again, making sure it hasn’t been bumped or dislodged. The light glows on the pack, showing that it’s active. Tyr will start the song, and I’ll come in on the chorus.

We’ve got it all worked out, and I cannot wait. I’ve never felt this alive before.

The night progresses slowly. I take careful note of the way the crowd is responding, doing my job even if my job is already done. They are really feeling it tonight, and so am I.

I should have done this years ago, it’s so much fun.

At last, we get to the moment. My moment. I wipe my hands on my jeans and stand on my tiptoes, watching intently. I feel like I’ve got a secret that I want to share with the whole world, and I’m ready to burst. I’m so excited to reveal this song.

I’ve worked my way to the front, so I’m right where Tyr can see me, just in front of where he stands on the stage. I can see Tyr so clearly, the sweat on his brow, the way his throat moves as he sings. He is so beautiful, I can’t wait to be up there with him.

Sharing it with the pack I love.

The song should be up next, two songs until the end of the concert. This is the second encore. I bite my lip so hard I think it’s going to leave a mark.

I watch Tyr tease the crowd, wickedly strutting his stuff across the stage. He’s talking, but I can barely hear him. The screams are too loud.

“We’ve got something special for you tonight,” Tyr shouts suddenly, his voice throwing across the roar of the fans. He throws an arm towards Mako.

Mako nods on the big screen behind them. “Something so special.” When he smiles, I imagine that smile is for me and me alone.

I can barely take my eyes off them. I let out a nervous giggle. They are my saviors, and when my song takes off, I know I’ll finally be free.

Free to be with them .

Maybe…maybe something can happen. If they want me.

I can’t believe I found my scent matches. I should have told them. I wonder what they will say when I tell them.

The future is filled with opportunity. And it’s more than I’ve ever had.

Envy returns on stage with an acoustic guitar. It’s the first sign that something is wrong. I frown and go completely still. My mind is jumping to conclusions, but it’s not possible. They wouldn’t. How ridiculous. I trust them, I do.

“This is our new song, the first time we’ve played it anywhere. It’s for a special person who made this all real and true for us.”

I smile in relief. How sweet was that. I feel myself get all melty.

They’re going to play my song. It will be enough to save me. I was freaking out for no reason. Of course, they are going to play my song. They know how much it means to me. They know what will happen to me if they don’t.

Still, my stomach flips nervously while I wait.

I watch as they organise themselves, and then Tyr turns, grabs hold of the microphone, and sways. I glance down at the microphone on my waist and see the lights not on. What? That’s not right.

Envy strums a note.

I forget instantly about everything else. My head jerks up to the stage, staring at him in disbelief. My stomach sinks. Instantly, fear and denial floods my system.

No.

There is no way. What the fuck is he doing?

He plays another few notes.

What are they doing? No. This is a joke, right? Oh, god, oh, god. I can’t go back. What have they done?

I don’t realise I’ve screamed the words until I register my aching throat.

Tyr begins to sing, and the hope that I had, the hope that I’d pinned everything on, goes up in smoke.

I’m not going to be a packs whore.

I won’t.

I’ll die first.

I let out another scream that is drowned in the roar of the crowd, and the song that is killing me.

Tyr looks down. Our eyes clash. He falters, stumbling over the word. That moment goes on and on.

You said you loved me.

You said you wanted to save me .

He hardens his expression and looks away from me, continuing to sing the song that is tearing my heart into tiny pieces.

“You asshole!” I howl.

The walls are closing in; the future is crushing me. I see the path laid out before me, unable to fight an alphas bark as they do unspeakable things, knocking me up, my words buried inside, my voice frozen forever.

I can’t breathe, everything is numb. This was my chance, my shot. Oh, god. How could they do this to me?

I stare at them, willing them to stop, willing them to change their minds. But they sing the crappy song, crooning it to the crowd as if they’re lovers.

And I stare back, wondering who these strangers are.

For the entire first verse of the song, all I can do is stare at the pack that betrayed me. I’ve never felt such pain as I do in that moment. Like someone has ripped open my chest and left me gaping, wounded and ruined.

Their words, their damn promises repeat in my mind, louder even than the roar of their beguiled fans. My breathing hitches in my lungs, even as my fingernails bite into the palms of my hands, digging bloody trenches that I don’t feel.

What am I going to do?

What I’ve always done. Plan B.

The strobe lights dance over the crowd, and the music dulls, merging with the sound of the multitudes. My first step backwards is unconscious. It’s purely instinctive, but it snaps everything into sharp relief.

I whirl and push past the screaming fans, making my way to the exit. It feels like it takes forever, and the whole time, every word they sing, every note they play, drives the betrayal even deeper.

I swipe at the blurriness in my eyes and realise I’m crying. But I grit my teeth and keep moving.

I planned for this. Fucking Ryn Raines, she always has a plan or three. I never leave anything to chance. Even my dreams.

As soon as I’m away from the crowds, I make my way towards the exits, flashing my badge at security and officials alike. They let me pass as I pull out my phone and hold it to my ear.

“What do you need?” Kelly asks loudly.

“Kelly, I need to vanish. My plan crashed and burned.”

“Go to the airport. There will be a ticket waiting for you under the name Sunny Wilder. Don’t worry about security, I’ll have it handled. You just get on that flight. ”

I close my eyes, knowing I’ll soon be gone. This phase of my life will end. Auryn Raines will have to disappear, perhaps forever.

I pull out my phone and dial the second number I know by heart. It rings forever but finally picks up.

“Don’t hang up!” Kit shouts. “I’m running. He’s just about to get on the ice. I can catch him.”

“Kit-”

“I got him!” The alpha shouts into the phone.

I drag the phone from my ear and wince.

“Ryn?” Raider asks with deep concern.

“I’m running, Raider. This is goodbye. Can you pass those messages on for me?”

“Of course. You stay safe and hidden. You need anything. Come back here, and we’ll hide you. You’ll fit nicely in a locker!”

I smile even as I blink the burn from my eyes. “I love you, Raider. So much.”

“I love you, too, cousin. Now be safe and be smart.”

I end the call before I can get more emotional than I already am and continue walking through the theater. When I see a bin, I dump the phones, the microphone, and all my ID into a bin. The concert is ending. I don’t have much time.

For a split second, I think of taking a cab, but like he promised so many weeks ago, my hero, this strange old man from a little village called Carmine is waiting near his car. Leaning on it. I don’t know why, but I’m so fucking relieved to see him.

“Tony?”

He opens his arms and pulls me into a hug.

Fate has decided. In more than one way.

It’s helping me get away from them. Maybe this is all the story we get together.

He holds the door open. An offer, a truce, a kindness that makes it all hurt more. He doesn’t say a word, but the disappointment drips from his pores.

After a brief hesitation, I slide into the passenger seat.

“Why are you helping me?” I ask in a low voice when he starts driving.

“Because I don’t know what the hell they were thinking. Those idiots!”

I swallow hard. “It doesn’t matter now. I won’t be coming back.”

Tony swallows hard. “Isn’t there some way of…”

“You know all the details, Tony,” I say in exhaustion. “This was my last shot, my last chance. I’ve run out of time, and I smell like an omega now, nothing is getting rid of this scent. I have this ridiculous urge to do omega things like collect things for a nest I don’t even have. My days of hiding are over as soon as he knows. I’m as good as gone. ”

Tony’s fingers flex on the steering wheel, his brow creasing. “I wish I could do more to help you than drive you to the airport.”

“There is something you can do,” I say hesitantly.

“Anything,” Tony says quickly.

“Can you not tell them you brought me here? Or just delay giving them the information?”

“I don’t understand it. I’ve seen the way they are with you, the way they look at you. They care. I can’t understand why they changed their mind. Those idiots. I’m kicking their asses tonight.” He bangs his palm on the steering wheel, his face turning a ruddy red.

My heart feels like it’s been stabbed. Did I misread their feelings for me? Did I misunderstand what was happening between us?

No, I’m sure I didn’t.

Did they pretend? Was it fake?

Did they feel anything for me?

They knew how important this was. This was my life, my chance for freedom. My dream. They sold me out.

The anger that swamps the hurt is a welcome relief.

“Can you tell them something else for me?” I ask.

Tony pulls the car into a stop in front of the airport. He reaches behind me, in the back seat, and pulls out a bag and hands it to me.

“Put this on,” he murmurs.

I look in the bag and find an oversized, knitted beige jumper, a dark auburn wig, and mirrored glasses.

His kindness threatens to break me.

“I’ve had it just in case. What do you want me to tell them?”

“Tell them I hope it was worth it,” I murmur and lean over, giving Tony an enormous hug. “I’ll find the first pack who will have me and vanish. I’m sorry, but thank you for all your help, Tony. You have been the calm in all this chaos.”

Tony pats my back, and when I draw away, he wipes a tear from his eye. “If there’s anything I can do?”

“No, it’s good. I’m good. I have a plan in place. You know, I told you that.”

“I remember. It’s why I came to meet you.”

I swallow hard. “Well, this is it.”

It’s so much harder letting go of them than I thought. Once I get out of this car, it’s over. I won’t be theirs. I won’t be me anymore, either .

I have to force myself to get out of the car, and once outside, the numbness returns. The echoes of that damn song playing in my ears.

My chest feels empty, my mind crushed. Fear is lingering in the background, threatening to drown me.

It’s over.

They were never mine. A dream. It was all just a dream, and I have no right to think I could have one.

I walk into the airport, and the Ryn with plans, routines, and knows just what to do takes control. I might be an omega with all those needs and instincts, but I’m a Raines first.

It’s time to be gone.

Forever.