Chapter 2
TWO
Jagger
PRESENT DAY
“Remember, this is what you wanted, Jagger. Superstars like you rarely decide to just go to college.” Next to me, my manager, Valerie, sucks her yellow, smoke-stained teeth as we pass a row of flashing cameras at the entrance to Scent Valley University. “There’s still time to change your mind.”
On my other side, Nash’s broad shoulders tense.
I shoot him a warning look before he’s tempted to make a sarcastic remark.
This transition is already difficult enough without him and Valerie butting heads.
Even though I’m not Valerie’s biggest fan, Pack Fire would never have become a global sensation without her.
Sure, she can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but I owe her.
Something she’s always quick to remind me of.
“If you have second thoughts, Brad and Drew would be happy to go back on tour.” I detect the hint of hope in her voice. “All you have to do is say the word.” She snaps her fingers. “I’ll figure out all the details, and you’ll be on a flight out of here.”
Nash smirks. “You’d have to wait until Brad’s black eye fades before he can be seen in public.”
Valerie narrows her eyes. “That’s not funny.”
When my bandmates found out I’d formed a pack without them, it went down as badly as our last single. I’m not proud of punching Brad, but I couldn’t let them talk shit about my new pack.
Nash crosses his arms. “I never said it was.”
Valerie scoffs at Nash’s expression, which clearly says otherwise.
“I’m sure Brad and Drew will be happy to take a break from touring,” Tae intervenes smoothly. His calming vibe is exactly what we all need right now, but even he can’t temper the awkward atmosphere. “After everything that’s happened, some distance will be good for everyone.”
“Hm.” Valerie taps away on her phone with her talon-like nails. “Maybe you’re right.”
After living as a solo alpha my entire life, becoming part of a pack so suddenly came as a shock to everyone.
Valerie, and everyone else at my record label, wanted me to form a pack with my two bandmates, but I’d never felt like Brad and Drew were family.
I could never fully be myself around them.
They loved the “Jagger Knight” rockstar persona and everything that came along with it: my playboy image, endless partying, and the extravagant lifestyle.
But they never cared about getting to know the real me.
I expected to be alone forever until I met Tae and Nash, who changed everything.
“SVU should have put up better security for your arrival,” Nash growls as he looks at the chaotic scene in front of us. “How did the media know you were arriving today?”
“I bet they’ve been camping out for days.” Tae nudges me playfully in the ribs. “Everyone wants a piece of Jagger, huh?”
It seems that every major news organization has shown up for my first semester at college. Going anywhere when you’re famous is like a military operation. Nothing is spontaneous, and you’re not entitled to privacy or a personal life. The media thinks they own you, pure and simple.
“Maybe we should stop to say hello?” Valerie primps her greying bouffant. “A quick quote will be great to reassure the fans that Pack Fire is still alive and well. After your surprise announcement, the internet is going crazy, wondering whether the band is breaking up.”
Nash’s jaw tics in annoyance before he bites out, “That wasn’t the plan, Val.”
Today isn’t only a big deal for me. It’s a fresh start for him and Tae too.
They left their entire lives behind to join me.
During my time studying here, Nash will be acting as my bodyguard, and Tae has found a job on campus to keep him busy.
Despite my telling him he never needs to work again, he insists that he has to do something or he’ll go stir-crazy.
Aside from my previous bandmates and a few select individuals who my lawyer forced to sign NDAs, the world doesn’t know about my pack yet. To protect them, I plan to keep it a secret for as long as possible. My life may be a toxic media circus, but theirs doesn’t have to be.
“Jagger!” Fists pound against the tinted car windows. “We love you, Jagger!”
“What a welcoming committee, huh?” Tae’s joking around, but a lingering worry hides behind his words.
Guilt gnaws at my stomach with every camera flash and yell.
Although they both knew what they were signing up for when we formed a pack, living and experiencing it is totally different.
Despite their reassurances that they’re ready for this, part of me is still worried that they’ll want to return to their normal lives and leave me behind as soon as they see what my reality is really like.
Since my last tour ended, the three of us have enjoyed a few chill months.
Both of them were surprised when I said that I wanted to go to college, but they never questioned it.
A fresh wave of regret hits me. Maybe I should have been more honest with them about my real reason for coming here, but I couldn’t risk them saying no…
“Val may have a point.” I massage my temples. “If I give them a brief statement and smile for the cameras, they’ll get bored and leave quicker.”
“How many more photos of you do they need?” Nash grumbles.
Tae snorts. “I take it you won’t want the Pack Fire calendar that I bought you for your next birthday?”
“Living with the real thing is bad enough,” Nash jokes.
This is one of the many reasons why I love them like brothers. They’re not intimidated by my fame. They easily take it in stride and aren’t afraid to poke fun at me, which is surprisingly refreshing when I’m used to people constantly kissing my ass.
“Welcome to show business, Nash!” Valerie flails her arms. “You’re going to have to get used to the cameras.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to like it.” He glares at her. “But fine. One photo. Two minutes. That’s it, and only once we’re within SVU’s security perimeter.”
Although he’s worked all sorts of odd jobs over the years, this is Nash’s first time working as a bodyguard.
You wouldn’t know it, judging by how well he’s been coordinating with the SVU security team ahead of our arrival.
At twenty-eight, he’s three years older than me and Tae and our packs steady anchor.
“Wonderful!” Valerie claps her hands before pulling a piece of paper out of her purse. “I already prepared a statement for you. Just in case.”
“Just in case, my ass,” Nash mutters under his breath.
Thankfully, Valerie is too busy rifling around for something else to hear him. I only have a few minutes to skim through and memorize the statement as we crawl through the sea of paparazzi. As expected, it’s a load of bullshit.
A group of burly alphas wearing identical, all-black outfits open the gates for us to pass. I assume they’re SVU security, most of them looking to be in their twenties. Nash mentioned that students studying criminal justice tend to work security shifts for extra credit and have a great reputation.
Valerie finally locates her bold red lipstick with a triumphant huff and quickly reapplies as we come to a stop. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” I turn to Tae. “You good staying here?”
“Heck yeah. I’m living the dream.” He reclines then tears open a bag of potato chips. “I’ll be right here when you’re done signing autographs.”
I roll my eyes, though I’m not annoyed. His down-to-earth nature is precisely what drew me to him in the first place.
He finds the whole “fame” thing hilarious.
I can only hope he continues to see the bright side of it as time goes on.
There’s a lot more to being a rockstar than flashy brand deals and concerts. The truth is far less glamorous.
Nash grimaces, gripping the door handle like we’re about to head into battle. “Let’s get this over with.”
He heads out first, looming over everyone at 6′7′′. After exchanging a few brisk words with the team, Nash’s handed an ear-piece before he beckons for me to follow.
I peer over at Tae who throws a potato chip into the air then catches it in his mouth. “Break a leg, Jag!”
Fuzzy dots swim across my vision as soon as I’m outside while questions are barked at me from all directions. So much for only coming onto campus for a quick orientation and a meeting with the dean before my classes start tomorrow. I don’t know why I expected it to be any different.
“Are you excited, Jagger?”
“Tell us why you picked SVU, Jagger!”
“Where are Brad and Drew? Are they coming to SVU too?”
I tune out the shouting, waiting until the audience settles before addressing the crowd to relay Valerie’s pre-approved statement.
“I thought now was the perfect time to deepen my understanding of musical theory.” How did Valerie think that phrase would sound natural?
“And though they don’t plan to enroll themselves, Brad and Drew are supportive of my decision. I’m sure they’ll even come to visit.”
Nash coughs to disguise a laugh. They’ll be as welcome in our house as a hole in the head.
“Are you working on another album?” A reporter shoves a microphone in my face. “What about the rumors that Pack Fire is breaking up?”
Nash steps in front of me, creating a mountainous human shield. “Back up with that microphone, or I’ll stick it up your—”
“Nash!” Valerie gasps in horror, talons flying to her face. “You can’t—”
“I’m security, not PR,” he snarls. Okay, I guess he’s not exactly a professional yet.
While Valerie and Nash fall into a stormy silence, I continue talking, pushing aside the simmering tension bubbling around me. “Pack Fire is very much still together. We’re taking a brief hiatus, but we’ll be back with new material soon.”
“How do you feel about how your last album performed?” Someone snickers. “Some are calling it the biggest flop in recent history.”
“That’s all the questions Jagger has time for.” Valerie steps forward to field more questions as Nash steers me back toward the car.
They’re not wrong. Pack Fire’s last album was a total failure.
If I actually gave a shit, I might’ve been embarrassed by some of the critics’ reviews, but my heart wasn’t in it.
I churned out the trash that the record label wanted me to, but I was barely involved in any of the writing or producing.
In fact, the only song on the album that I wrote was deemed “the most depressing song of the year,” which even die-hard fans criticized.
“Excuse me!” a woman’s voice cuts above the noise. A pretty blonde approaches, clutching a notebook and a pen, her sharp features and blue eyes trained on me like daggers. “Do you have a moment to make a comment for The Valley Voice?”
“We don’t have time—” Nash begins.
“It’ll only take a minute.” She flips over a page. “What do you think about your label’s stance on omega pay rights? Did you know they’re the worst offender in the entire music industry?”
My jaw drops. Usually, people ask about my favorite food and relationship status, nothing like this. I look around for Valerie, who is too busy speaking to another reporter. Fucking fantastic. She’s not there the one time I actually want her to be.
“Uh…” I have no scripted reply ready. “No comment.”
“Do you plan to bring a culture of hedonism onto campus?” She practically spits out her words.
“Do you expect you’re going to attract the attention of many omegas?
” I glance over her shoulder at the car, itching to make an escape.
“How do you plan on managing that? Or do you intend on leaving a string of broken hearts in your wake?”
“Kady!” A breathless alpha pushes his way through the crowd to reach her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
From the way her expression softens slightly upon his touch, I’m guessing they’re together.
“Why don’t you go easy on the questions, huh?
Leave some for me.” The guy flashes me his lanyard.
“Calder Soren, editor of The Valley Voice.”
“Co-editor,” the blonde corrects him. She’s clutching her pen so tightly that her hand shakes. I don’t know what I’ve done to offend her, but the scowl on her face makes it seem like this girl really hates me.
“I think it’s probably time for me to meet Dean Rivers.” I politely make my excuses. “Maybe another time.”
“Here are our details.” Calder hands me a business card. “The Valley Voice team would love to hear from you. Everyone’s excited to have a celebrity on campus.”
“Ha,” Kady scoffs. “Not everyone.”
“I really have to go—”
“Yeah, that’s right, run away,” Kady snaps then adds under her breath, just loud enough for only me to hear, “Just like you did with Delilah.”
I freeze. She knows Delilah? Before I can reply, her ponytail is already swishing in the breeze as she stomps away.
“That chick really doesn’t like you.” Nash watches her disappear, a gleeful smile on his lips while I remain frozen. “It’s a welcome change from girls fainting.”
I tune Nash out, tucking The Valley Voice card into my pocket with fumbling fingers.
The cardboard feels like it’s burning a hole through my jeans.
Kady knows Delilah. That piece of paper is the first concrete link between us since we last saw each other.
While I never intended to do an interview with the college paper, they’re not the only ones who are looking for answers.
Delilah Goodwin—the omega I spent the best weekend of my life with last year—is the real reason why I wanted to return to SVU.
Despite leaving her being the right thing to do, it ripped my heart out of my chest. Since then, my career has suffered, and my creativity has drained away, plagued by the memories of her sweet apple scent.
Maybe it was madness to return, but I’m a different guy than the one who left her.
Now I’m back with a pack, and this is my only chance to find out whether what I felt during those few days with her was even real.