19. Xayden
CHAPTER 19
Xayden
My phone chimes, and I glance down to see a news alert lighting up my screen. That automatic search for the band is at it again. I tap the notification, expecting the usual coverage—maybe something about our upcoming show. Instead, I’m met with a shot of us at the diner, Ashlyn tucked between Jake and me, her face flushed pink in a way that makes my stomach twist.
Has Primal Pulse found their omega in Omega’s Top Model, Ashlyn Robinson?
The headline stops me cold, and all I can do is stare at the image. She looks so damn right sitting there with us. I can’t stop the wave of heat that floods my chest, like I’m riding the thrill of the paparazzi’s guess. I want it to be true. No point denying it. I’ve wanted her since I first laid eyes on her, and time hasn’t lessened that pull. Not even with the years apart.
A shadow falls over me. Todd’s voice, low and laced with an undercurrent of something hopeful, reaches my ears. “New story?”
He leans in, scanning the screen before I can hide it. His jaw tightens for a beat, then he breathes out, almost like relief. “It had to happen sooner or later,” he mutters, but there’s a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. He wants this—wants the world to believe we’ve finally claimed her. He’s never been the type to deny what he wants.
Then Jake sidles up beside me, posture relaxed in that beta-calm way he has, but his eyes narrow the instant he sees the headline. “Damn,” he murmurs, raking a hand through his hair. “They’re really jumping to conclusions, aren’t they?” His gaze flicks between me and Todd. “We need to make sure Ash knows about this before it blindsides her.”
I tear my eyes from the photo. “Yeah,” I agree, my voice rougher than usual. “We should tell her.”
Todd’s lips press together, his gaze lingering on the screen. “I mean… it might not be so bad.” He clears his throat, then shrugs, trying to look casual. “It’s not like they said anything terrible about her.”
Jake shoots him a look. “They’re implying she’s our omega,” he points out, voice measured but firm. “And while that’s… something I think all of us would like, it puts a target on her back for every tabloid out there. Especially if they think it sells magazines.” He sighs, crossing his arms. “We’re all used to rumors, but Ashlyn doesn’t deserve to deal with more invasive crap, especially caused by us.”
I flick through the article, a slow burn curling in my gut as I picture the paparazzi swarming her, asking questions she might not be ready for. “No, she doesn’t,” I say quietly.
Todd runs a hand over his mouth, his eyes still fixed on the phone. For all his calm and confidence, I can see the tension in the lines of his shoulders. “She’s strong. But even the toughest person can only take so much,” he mutters.
Jake rests a hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “Tell her we’ll handle it if it gets out of control. She shouldn’t feel like she’s fighting this alone.”
I nod, the words throbbing in my chest. Fighting it alone—that’s exactly what I’m worried about. I can’t stand the idea of her facing any more stress because of us. “You’re right,” I say, tapping my phone to lock the screen. “I’ll text her now.”
For a second, none of us move. The quiet hum of the rehearsal space rings in my ears, the distant sound of crew members setting up gear reminding me we’ve got a job to do. But all I can think about is Ashlyn. Her soft laugh, the way her perfume spiked around us, how she looked at me in the diner.
Todd breaks the silence, his tone soft but resolute. “Tell her… if she needs anything, we’re here.” A faint smile tugs at his lips, though I catch a flicker of longing in his eyes. He wants this to be real, too.
Jake steps back, the tension in his posture easing just a little. “Yeah. Let her know she’s got options. She doesn’t have to play defense with the media on her own.”
I unlock my phone, scrolling to Ash’s name in my contacts. “I will,” I promise, my thumb hovering over the screen. “And if she’s worried, we’ll figure it out.”
Todd nods, exchanging a look with Jake—an unspoken agreement that we’re all in this together, even if it’s messy. Even if it breaks us again.
I type a quick message, unsure if it’s enough but determined to let her know she’s not alone. My pulse thunders in my ears. I want to protect her. But I also want more than that—I want her. We do. And if this headline is just a spark, maybe we can fan it into something real.
I send the text, my chest tightening, and slip the phone into my pocket. “Alright,” I say, trying to sound more confident than I feel. “Let’s go make some music.”
Jake nods, and Todd claps me on the back with a surprisingly gentle touch. Then we head back to the stage, the rhythmic thud of our footsteps echoing in the dim hall. In the back of my mind, the image of that article lingers—a promise and a threat. But maybe, if we’re lucky, it can be something else—a chance. A chance to show Ash we’re not going to make her face the world alone. Not anymore.