Chapter 5
Chapter Five
MIA
Aiden Paltier and Leo Altis said I was talented.
Aiden Paltier and Leo Altis.
I don’t have anywhere to go before we’re supposed to meet with Noah to continue getting to know each other. But that’s okay, because as soon as I leave Carnation Studio and retreat to my car, all I can do is stare out of the windshield in utter shock.
Freaking Wesson Thornside. Put me in a room. With the former lead singer of my favorite band, the drummer of a band I also loved, and a talented bassist and said: here, don’t miss your shot.
And I didn’t .
My head still throbs and I’m pretty sure my cheeks haven’t stopped being on fire from the moment I laid eyes on all three of them.
Holy. Shit.
I relax back against the driver’s seat with a wide grin splitting my face. I laugh and run my hand through my hair.
Exit Fate. It’s not a bad name, and it’s an insane opportunity, one that makes me want to eat every word I said earlier today about not wanting a band like this, about wanting to stay a solo act.
Am I starstruck? A bit, yes. But I’m not stupid enough to see the way this opportunity could pay off. And the way we all immediately clicked?
No one’s exiting fate. We just walked straight into it.
Just like I’d walked into a room with three alphas asking me to come play music with them. Did they sense me as an omega the way I immediately knew they were alphas? Was it obvious?
I glance up at the rear-view mirror and see the blush still keeping my cheeks pink. Yeah, they fucking knew.
My fingers shake with excitement as I pick up my phone and video call Sable. My entire body is thrumming with vibration from everything that just happened. Inspiration, the instant clicking, the anticipation of what this might become, all from a single meeting. Even Aiden went from looking not super thrilled to eager.
Sable picks up on the second ring. Her bright face greets me and I let out a little scream of excitement. She returns it without questioning what’s going on. “Tell me!”
“Wes is starting a new band.”
Sable’s eyes widen. “And?”
“Leo Altis is the drummer,” I offer.
“Oh shit! Wait—was he there?” Sable was a huge fan of Lost Time before they let Leo go and their music went downhill.
“Oh yes, he was.” I grin wider—if that’s even possible at this point. “He and this bassist named Noah. He’s ex-Juilliard apparently, really good at his craft.”
“Stunning, this is so exciting, Mia!” She lets out a squeal. “This is the exact opportunity you deserve. I’m so happy for you! Think your father might know of him?”
I hadn’t even thought of that. Dad retired a few years ago, and I don’t know how long it’s been since Noah was kicked out, but it’s possible. “I don’t know, but I’ll ask. And I haven’t even told you the best part.”
That freezes her. “What’s that?”
“Aiden Paltier is the lead guitarist and second vocalist.” I try to say it deadpan but I literally cannot.
“Shut up.”
I laugh. “It still doesn’t feel real. I mean, the news about Designation Outsider just broke last night. If they threw him out last night, which is kind of the impression I’m getting, Wes must have known it was going to happen or called him literally after the news stories went live. Because this was wild.”
“ Mia ,” she says as if I’ve done something wrong, but I know she doesn’t mean it that way. “Wild doesn’t begin to cover what you’ve just told me.”
Tears brim in my eyes—happy ones. “I know.”
Then she goes serious for a moment, and I already know what Sable is going to say before she says it. “Mia, you’ve gotta take this seriously. Don’t screw it up.”
She means don’t drink anytime soon. Or too much. Preferably ever again. But I can’t imagine a rock band without parties and alcohol.
“I won’t,” I promise her. “I got here with a hangover. Not sure how it happened, but as great as today was, I know I can play better without one. So no more.”
“It’s not just that,” Sable says as she lowers her voice so I’m forced to really listen to her. “Leo and Aiden, they’re in their thirties. Their bands kicked them out. They’re going to take this very seriously, and while they clearly are okay with having someone so young with them, I just…”
“What, Sable?”
“Just take it as seriously as they do,” she warns. “There’s a lot of experience in that room. Even with the ex-Juilliard bassist. Man made it into Juilliard .”
“And I’m just an overnight viral story?” I snap before thinking better of it. I know Sable doesn’t think that of me. She’s seen first-hand the hard work I put into this. But my parents don’t, my followers sometimes don’t, and until today, there’s never been any real opportunity of moving out of this limbo I’ve found myself in.
Sable, to her credit, doesn’t take the bait. She smiles sweetly at me in that very don’t ever say that again best friend way, and then firmly says, “You’re talented, Mia. And you’re ready for this or Wes wouldn’t have put you in that room. I’m just reiterating what I’m sure he’s already said: This could go places, so listen and learn, first and foremost.”
Don’t drink a ton. What both of them didn’t say. Don’t party, don’t fall into all the stereotypical traps. We haven’t even had an actual practice yet, let alone a gig or anything else.
All we did was talk and play a single song. It’s that simple.
And that magical. Because we definitely created a certain kind of magic within three minutes and forty-five seconds, too.
“I’m going out to dinner with them in a little bit,” I tell Sable. “I’ll find something to do until then.”
Her brow creases. “Carnation Studio’s pretty far away. Call me when you get back tonight?”
I nod. “Absolutely.”
Sable smiles again. “Good work, Mia. Everything happens for a reason, I believe that. So take this opportunity and smash it.”
I grin back at her. “I will.”
I won’t let these alphas down, or Wes. They’re all taking chances on me to some degree, and I’m frankly tired of disappointing people.
Sable says her goodbyes and hangs up the phone. My thumb switches to my favorites list and then hovers over my parents’ house number. They swapped it over to a cell phone rather than give it up entirely. I’d thought it cute at the time, but now I wonder if it’s because they always want to make sure I can call home with a number I know by heart.
I want to call. I want to tell them what’s happened today. But my thumb never quite hits the screen.
This is too new, too fragile. Why get their hopes up if it doesn’t work out, or if I somehow screw it up? Would they even understand how insane this opportunity is to begin with? They know of Aiden and Leo. I had posters of their old bands on my bedroom walls for years. And Noah…
Wait, when did Noah go to Juilliard? Did he say? Dad really could already know Noah. We could have all been connected by various invisible fate strings from the start.
Exit Fate. How ironic is that.
But then I remember: Noah was apparently kicked out of Juilliard. So yeah, maybe not telling my parents about this yet.
I don’t want to ruin the magic we’re making. Even if this crashes and burns in a few weeks, what I felt while playing one single song with Exit Fate today was the closest to actual magic I think I’ll ever get in my life.
It sure felt like fate.
* * *
By the time I find and park outside Al’s Wing’s, I’m convinced I’ll be the last one there again . Luckily, that’s not true as only Aiden is sitting inside, near an exit door that’s been cracked open. The table is situated in such a way as to catch the cool air draft from the perfect early summer night.
I approach with a wave and sit across from him. “This place looks great.”
Aiden smiles wryly. “It’s quiet, which honestly, is the most important thing.” He’s got a beer on the table for everyone already, along with his phone that keeps buzzing with messages and missed calls.
“Yeah, I, um…” I want to ask how he’s doing with his break from Designation Outsider. I can only imagine how much that must have and still hurt, even with how well today went.
Aiden shakes his head a little but sadness dulls the bright green of his eyes. The motion sends a few strands of his longer black hair into his face. He sweeps them out of the way in a practiced motion. “It’s okay. I mean, it’s not . But it is what it is. I guess I can say it was a long time coming.”
“Doesn’t make it easier, I imagine.”
Aiden purses his lips for a moment’s consideration. “No. Are you, uh, a fan?” His jade gaze rolls over me, and I can already hear the question without him saying it. Are you old enough to be a fan?
“I was ,” I make a point of saying. “Designation Outsider isn’t much without you, honestly. Their mistake is our boon though, I guess.”
“That’s not fair,” Aiden is quick to say. “They’re all talented in their own right.”
“But every band ends up having a heart,” I say with much more courage than I think I could’ve found earlier today. For some reason, being so open with someone who I was starstruck by for years is… easy.
Flashes of earlier today zip through my mind. I was definitely starstruck when I walked into that room and found what Wes had planned. But the second we started playing together everything fell away. It was just us, our instruments, and the magic we were making.
And now I’m sitting in front of Aiden Paltier not in an autograph or meet and greet line, but as his bandmate.
“Someone stands out and apart, they become the lifeline. I think that was you. Just my two cents anyway.”
Aiden considers this for a moment so long it becomes awkward.
Before he can say anything, I quickly brush non-existent hair out of my own face as a blush creeps up my cheeks. “Anyway, I just mean that?—”
Aiden waves it off. “No, I appreciate it. I honestly haven’t really talked to anyone about any of it. They fucking hurt me, and I’m definitely still upset about it. But I’m excited and more importantly committed to giving Exit Fate a go.”
“You want to stick it to them.” It’s not unreasonable, and even I have to admit that a chance of being in a band more popular than Designation Outsider would be a wildest dream come true. But it’s not that simple, and I know Aiden knows that.
Aiden nods. “I would fucking love to, yes. It’s just all still fresh, you know?”
You know? No, I actually have no idea what it’s like to be kicked out of an award-winning, multi-album band.
“Yeah,” I say, because what else do I say to that?
Aiden’s phone buzzes again. He glances down briefly while picking up his beer and nods. “Leo and Noah are here, arrived at the same time.” He sets down his beer and types out a quick text, then looks to me. “Actually, I should have grabbed your number earlier, sorry.” He hands his phone to me. “Want to text yourself?”
Aiden Paltier wants my phone number.
My eyes go embarrassingly wide. The blush returns to my cheeks. And yeah, sure he wants it because we’re working together, but it doesn’t take away the teenage fantasy of Aiden having my damned phone number.
“Sure thing.” I take his phone and text myself while he stands, opens the exit door wider, and waves. By the time I hand his phone back to him, Leo and Noah enter and Aiden moves to my side of the table where he sits backwards on the chair, leaning his chest against the chair’s back.
“Here,” he says to Leo. “Take my seat, and feel free to open the door wider if you want. Al won’t mind.”
Leo claps Aiden on the shoulder. “Thanks, man.”
I watch the exchange, which feels purposeful, although I’m not sure why.
Noah then sits between Aiden and Leo. “How are we doing tonight?”
Aiden nods a quick thank you to me and then taps on his phone. All of ours ping in unison. “There, group chat. That’ll make things easier.”
“Doing great,” Leo replies, then shoots a look to me. His deep brown eyes meet mine and just the look alone sends an excited zing of energy through me. God, he’s so hot. They all are. And not just because they’re musical legends, or alphas, or anything like that. It’s just everything about all three of them, their very presence itself, vibrates at a frequency my body seems to like.
We’re all basically strangers, but I feel at home. This feels right, sitting around a table together, like we’ve done this all our lives. And yeah, there’s a part of me hoping it’s not something seriously parasocial as far as Aiden and Leo are concerned.
But… I really don’t think it is.
“Yeah,” I finally reply to Leo.
“We made some magic earlier, boys,” Noah says, then laughs. “Sorry, and lady.”
“No,” I say with a chuckle. “It’s okay, and I totally agree regarding magic.”
Aiden indicates the beers he bought for all of us. “Please, help yourself.”
Noah takes his and clinks bottles with Aiden.
Leo inclines his head. “I appreciate that, but can’t today.”
He and Aiden share another weighted look before Aiden waves him off. “No worries, I’m sure it’ll be drunk. Mia?”
Don’t drink. But it’s just a beer. Just one.
I’ll sip it. I reach for one of the remaining beers and clink bottles, too. “Thank you.”
Aiden sits back. By now, the sadness in his eyes is gone, replaced by a relaxed tone. “I do agree with Noah, though. That was magic.”
Leo flags down a waiter and requests a water pitcher for the table. “Gotta admit, yeah. Never felt that with Lost Time.”
“They never treated you right,” Aiden replies.
Leo shrugs. “They didn’t know what to do, unlike Darius and Jordan. Those two fucked you over, man. I’m sorry.”
Aiden sips his beer. “Their loss.”
The waiter returns with a water pitcher and glasses. Leo fills one for himself. “Hope we’ll all be more understanding of health issues than our past bandmates.”
“You know it,” Aiden reassures.
Health issues. I did recall rumors that Leo had left Lost Time because of health, but nothing was ever really clarified. Not that I’m going to interject with this information as a fan . It’s clear Aiden and Leo have known each other for a while, though.
“So, what’s the plan, then?” Noah asks. “Seems like whatever happened with your band happened recently, Aiden. Are you contract-free?”
Aiden scowls, but it’s not directed at Noah. “You know, I have no fucking idea, but I’m considering it ripped up. I’m sure Jordan’s already done so, though.”
“Check that,” Noah says. “Fine print screws us all, believe me.”
“Like that of Juilliard’s polices?” Leo asks. “You were in Juilliard , man.”
Noah shrugs, but I can tell it’s hollow. It’s for sure unfinished business for him. “Not for long, but happy for the experience gained there.” He turns to me. “Mia, you’ve got to have some sort of baggage too, right? Seems a prerequisite for joining Exit Fate.”
I nearly choke on the beer in my mouth. While I cough, the guys laugh, and Noah claps me on the back.
“Joking, joking,” he says.
But it’s not joking the way his touch, light and quick as it was, sends an electric shot of warmth through my body. My cheeks flush again and a thrum begins across my arms and legs.
Leo flashes me a concerned look. “Are you okay?”
I clear my throat and set down the beer bottle. “Yes, and the baggage is a drinking problem, clearly.” I laugh even though it’s the truth. Just not… a choking on beer kind of drinking problem.
“Noted,” Noah says with a chuckle. “Don’t let Mia drink alone.”
If they only knew how real that was.
“But no, no baggage here,” I say so they don’t see right through me. Although the way Aiden’s green gaze is settling on me now with a crease in his brow, I’m wondering if he already has. “I’ve had a natural ear for music since I was a child, college route didn’t really pan out, and then a few videos went viral of me singing and playing, and here I am.”
“A few?” Noah asks. “Try just the one. Amazing song, by the way.”
I feel all their gazes on me as I point mine directly at the beer in front of me. I’ll sing and say whatever to a camera, but put attention on me while I’m not on stage, and I kind of want to crawl into a hole.
This attention is different, too. It’s the attention of three very attractive, very much more experienced alphas.
Another shot of warmth flows through me and my head starts to spin.
I grab the side of my head and lean forward over the table. “Oh, god.”
“Mia?” Leo’s concern registers first, but I can tell all three alphas have moved closer even by an inch or two.
“Are you okay?” Noah asks and then chuckles. “Or just a lightweight.”
I try to laugh, too, but the second Noah’s hand rests on my shoulder again, I’m stifling a whimper that tries everything to escape.
Warmth. Heat.
A wetness blooms between my thighs, and by the time I’ve put all the pieces together and look up at all three of my bandmates, these alphas , I’ve realized my mistake.
I knew drinking impacted my heat suppressants. Just taking them a few hours off will do it, too. I’ve had heats before and survived them because even poorly-working heat suppressants still block some of the worst side effects. But it’s the combination of the alcohol from last night and just now, the feeling of these alphas’ presence. It’s Noah’s hand on my shoulder. It’s the way he smells like a pine and cedar forest combined with a distinct campfire scent, like together they’ve built a campsite out of a band. And then Aiden comes in, serving hot chocolate with cinnamon with his scent, and all I can think about is how lovely a scene this would be to dive into.
I want to dive into all of them.
Slick coats the inside of my thighs. Oh, fuck. Am I in heat? Am I actually going into fucking heat on the most important day of my fucking life ? I do the math quickly. It’s early, this heat cycle, but I’ve also never scented alphas quite before like this, this easily, this strongly .
Because they’re a scent match.
Well, Mia, that’s one way to potentially fuck up the opportunity of a lifetime, isn’t it?
Noah comes into view. “Mia?”
I nod. Did I actually whimper, or did I manage to keep it to myself? Can Noah feel the way my body is starting to tremble?
“I’m okay,” I finally say. “Just need to use the restroom really quick.” I stand and pray to god that there is no wet spot on the chair, or on my pants. Everything was going so right. Why the fuck is this happening now ?
My heart sinks in my chest as I hurry to the rest room and lock the door behind me. It’s just one room with a toilet, sink, and a mirror above it. I lean my head back against the door and try to breathe deeply.
Omegas. Alphas. Betas. They’re all a fact of life. And yes, I clocked they were alphas when we met, so I’m sure they clocked the fact I’m an omega at the same time.
But scent matches are so rare. So special. And the fact they’ve started my heat early, too…
I should be overjoyed. Any other omega might be happy at finding this kind of match in their life.
But these guys aren’t a pack. These alphas and I have just met. And everything we’re supposed to be focusing on—the music, creating a band, taking this chance Wes is giving us and making something out of it— has to come first.
Oh, but a heat burns at my core. My body shakes at the mere memory of Noah’s hand on my shoulder. Need courses through every fiber of my being.
I need relief. My body craves it as arousal thrums like hot summer through me.
Hot summer at a campsite with my alphas and their woody, nostalgic scents.
Fuck me.
“Oh, god.” Another bolt of arousal careens to my core. I double over and move to the sink. Within minutes, this heat started and is brewing so hot, I’m not sure I’ll be able to leave this bathroom.
I need to cum. But I already know it won’t be enough. But I also can’t stay here all fucking night.
How much time has already passed? I can barely think through this heated haze. I’m pretty sure no one’s knocked on the door yet, so not too much time.
My nipples are so hard against my bra. Every movement sends them brushing against the fabric.
I lose the war.
I slip my right hand down under the waistband of my pants and panties and into my sopping core. A single brush against my clit has me crying out. Thank fuck for the loud music blaring through stereos, even into the bathroom.
I work quickly, but it doesn’t even take that much. I’m so slick, so hot, so swollen, that my first orgasm has my toes curling and legs quaking within thirty seconds.
It’s not enough. I know it’s not enough. But I’ve coaxed myself through heats before, and I’ll be fucking damned if I don’t make it back out there for dinner with the band.
I work myself again. This orgasm comes quicker than the first. The release is a little relief, but it’s not until I slip two fingers inside myself and thrust that actual relief starts to build. My third orgasm feels more full, more satisfying, and by the time I reach four, I’m certain I can function again. For just a little bit. Even it means stopping on the hour drive back home to get myself off more.
But I am soaked .
I clean up as best as I can and toss my panties into the trash. They are useless to me in this state.
I exit the bathroom and make my way back to the table with all three of the guys looking at me with concern the entire time. I put on the most convincing smile that I can, but the truth is I know my face is still flushed, that my pupils are probably still dilated, and that every step I take brushes my thighs together. I am hyper-aware of every feeling on my body.
“Mia?” Aiden asks as I sit. He and Noah both reach out but I brush them off.
“I, um, yeah. Please don’t touch me right now.” Fuck me, I’m so embarrassed. So embarrassed. “I’m okay, just… I’m okay.”
The alphas share a knowing look. Knowing because they’re so much older and probably have definitely seen an omega in heat before. This isn’t new to them, and there’s some sort of non-verbal conversation between them, because the next thing I know, Noah’s getting up. He disappears toward the bar. Leo also stands and holds open the exit door for me as Aiden gestures for me to walk through it.
“We don’t need to end tonight because of me,” I say. “God, I feel so… stupid.” Stupid’s not the right word. But embarrassed feels childish somehow, which is stupid. Heats are a fact of omega life, and this is the consequences of my own drinking action. It just also happens to be the exact kind of thing even Sable warned me about.
“Don’t,” Leo says as I pass by him into the cool night air. It helps alleviate some of the heat. “I think we all realized you’re an omega earlier.”
“It’s early,” I say as a weak explanation. “I’m sorry.”
Aiden follows us out the door. “Don’t apologize. We won’t stay here, though. My apartment’s not far, we can keep talking there or… not. How far is home for you?”
I cringe. “An hour away.”
Leo and Aiden share a look. Noah turns up with a bag of what smells like wings.
“Yeah, you’re staying with me tonight,” Aiden says. “Let’s head to my apartment, and if you feel like hanging, you can with us. Or you can sleep this flare off. Whatever you need, Mia. But you are not driving for an hour like this.”
That’s good he’s saying that because my hands are already shaking again. Why did this have to interrupt a night going so damn well?
It’s rhetorical, of course. I know why.
Weakened suppressants plus a scent match and early heat equals… equals what? Just an immense need to fuck? To feel satisfied?
To… make a pack with these alphas and rock stars?
We only just agreed to try out making a band.
I swallow hard and say, “Thank you, Aiden, for the offer.”
Aiden wraps an arm gently around my shoulders and leads me as well as Noah and Leo to his car. “Of course. We’re all a band now, a team.”
I try not to whimper at the touch.
“We’ll take care of you, Mia,” Leo offers quietly.
“Anything you need,” Noah echoes.
What I need is a cold shower and a time travel machine so that I can just get back to focusing on music and creating this band… instead of picturing me sleeping with each and every member of it.
I allow them to help me into Aiden’s car and we speed off toward his apartment.