Epilogue Part II
EPILOGUE
PART II
________
EVA
Tyler took my hand and helped me out of the limo into the view of the press. Sound roared around us. A storm of butterflies the size of the city itself had taken up residence in my gut, but I pasted on my smile and tried to breathe.
“You’ve got this, baby,” Tyler murmured.
None of them felt the least bit panicked, and that helped.
We’d managed to keep the details of my tattoo and the show about Nautilus under wraps, but we were about to launch it with this red carpet, and I hoped it went well.
Not only because this was a turning point in my career, but Esme’s pack had a stake in it as well.
Their work would be judged on me, as well as the show I was helping them to make about the studio.
Jasmine stood at the entrance to the official carpet and nodded. “Ready?”
“If I say I want to throw up in that plant over there, what does that mean?”
She smothered a laugh. “Shelly’s doing the interviews. She’s been prepped to ask you about both the tattoo and the show. Wait until you reach the middle of the carpet to do the reveal. We’ll get every angle that way.” She glanced behind me. “You guys okay with being used as props?”
“By Eva?” Dylan asked. “Absolutely.”
They were dressed to match in different ways. Jack’s button-down shirt was a similar color to my dress, with those damned sleeves rolled up like the night we’d met. It had been their idea to pay homage to it. And so far it was perfect.
The others had my color in different places, but all of them looked and felt sharp. More casual than the tuxes for our bonding and closer to their look as Mindless Delirium. They looked like rock stars.
Liam kept an arm around my waist and a hand on my hip as we moved, posing. It helped keep anyone from seeing my back before we were ready. And the closer we got to the center, the more the fierce grip of nerves curled into my gut.
“Does your new look include pictures of us kissing you?” Liam asked.
We weren’t that careful when we were in public, but until now we’d avoided any pictures at official events with PDA. But I felt the truth behind the question. His instincts had flared, and he was desperate to calm me down. “I think it can.”
He turned my face to his, holding it gently, and kissing me while cameras flashed. Soothing calm and confidence washed over me. Liam pushed it to me, overwhelming my nerves and leaving me smiling.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. And we’re here.” The middle. “Ready?”
I took a deep breath. “Now or never.”
Smiling at all the cameras, I turned, placing a hand on Jack’s shoulder, and feeling Liam’s hand still on my lower back. I pulled my hair over my shoulder and posed for the cameras. It sounded like a ripple of shock through the crowd. A rare moment of silence before questions erupted.
Dylan appeared in front of me, giving the opportunity for a different pose as I leaned into him. He kissed my temple, and I let my eyes fall closed.
It was strange to be here again with them.
Last year none of us could make it because of our schedules.
They helped guide me down the red carpet effortlessly, and I let them.
Maybe it was remembering when we met, maybe it was my own anxiety, but I was happy to let them lead the way.
They wouldn’t let me fall or embarrass myself, and I didn’t remember a time when I’d felt as safe at an event.
Tyler dipped me back and kissed me, drawing cheers and smiles before we ended up with Shelly. She was an entertainment reporter who attended most red carpets. I’d known her casually for years. “Eva May Williams, is that really you? I swear I don’t recognize you tonight.”
“Thank you so much. That’s exactly what I was hoping for.”
“Well, I have to say, you are absolutely crushing this new look. What inspired it?”
Jack wove our fingers together and squeezed.
“It’s something I’ve been working on for a while.
I’m grateful for every opportunity I’ve had in my career so far, and I’m looking forward to everything coming in the future.
I’m ready to branch out in a new direction with new kinds of roles, and I wanted to shift my look and career that feels more natural to who I am. ”
“I spotted your reveal down the carpet there. Is that a tattoo I saw?”
“It is.” I grinned, spinning so it could be seen, but still speaking over my shoulder.
“My sister’s pack—the Nautilus Pack—are all incredibly talented tattoo artists, and I’ve wanted a piece from Bennett Gray for years.
Even before they met Esme. So the collaboration has been amazing, and there will be more news about it, and the brand new show about the Nautilus studio will be coming very soon. ”
Shelly looked at my Alphas. “How about you guys? Did you help with the tattoo? Are you getting some more?”
“We were there with her the whole time,” Jack said. “And definitely. But you’ll have to wait for the show to find out where and what the rest of us might get.”
“Ooh,” Shelly said. “You know we love a good mystery. It’s always so good to talk to you, and I think I can speak for everyone when I say you’re going to be the talk of the town looking like this. Have a great rest of your night.”
“Thank you so much, Shelly.”
We slipped away from the live mic and camera and into the venue. My hands shook from the adrenaline. It was done. Out of the bag. No turning back.
“That was perfect,” Liam said. “Told you they would love it.”
“Still feels a little unreal.”
Dylan touched my elbow. “You need anything?”
“Cheese fries,” I blurted out.
They all laughed, and Dylan shook his head. “Cheese fries?”
“I swear, they’re the best cheese fries I’ve ever had, and if you want some, get your own because I’m not sharing.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He saluted and disappeared to get my fries.
They sat us all together, and I didn’t have to present an award this year, so I didn’t have to move. I was nominated, but I didn’t win, so there wasn’t any excuse to go backstage, which had my pack grumbling and me cackling. Silently.
I should have known they’d want to stop by our favorite dressing room.
Once the show ended, we made our way to the exit slowly. The exit was less important, and if we got lucky, we could slip away without being noticed once again.
I waved to Jasmine and froze at the door outside. Prickling and sharp pain flickered through my gut. Far too familiar. I wasn’t coming off suppressants this time, so this was just… chance?
Another burst of pain had my Alphas looking at me in concern. “Eva?” Tyler asked.
“Seriously?” I looked up at the sky and huffed a breath before laughing once. “Apparently, the universe is on board with us recreating that night.”
“What do you mean?”
A new blush painted my cheeks, and it was more fire than embarrassment. “I’m going into heat,” I whispered.
Jack’s mouth landed on mine, tongue delving between my lips to conquer the kiss. Unbridled need flowed from all of them. It was what they’d been pushing down since they dressed me, along with so much more. Excitement. Satisfaction. Arousal.
“I’m on the side of the universe,” Dylan scooped me off my feet when Jack released me. “That heat was perfect, and every other heat we’ve had has been perfect. But I won’t lie and say I’m not looking forward to this.”
Not doing it over, but comparing then to now. How much we now knew and loved each other. But unlike before, this wasn’t the best timing. I had things to do for the announcement of the show. Interviews and photoshoots. Things that would have to be rescheduled.
“Fuck.” They helped me into the car and buckled me in.
“I need to tell Jasmine so she can get on top of the schedule. Don’t you have studio time that would need to be rearranged?
There’s so much to do this time. This is why I usually take the suppressants because it’s so much easier when you’ve planned for it. ”
Liam leaned across the car and caught my hand in his, reaching out with the other to cup my face. “It’s okay, Eva. It’ll all get taken care of. We’re going to get you home, and we’ll make the calls while you go to your nest.”
I whined. If they were doing that they weren’t in the nest with me and that was a problem. Arousal and perfume pulsed, along with a new burst of pain low in my gut. Knot. “But what about… I don’t know if I can wait that long.”
“You trust us, right?” Jack asked.
He knew I did. The question was to remind me that I could through the haze of hormones flooding my brain. “Of course.”
“Then don’t worry about anything. We’ve got you. And for the rest of it?” He smirked. “We’ll get there.”