Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
NOAH
I think I can speak for all of us alphas when I say that Mia is the singular brightest light in our lives. She’s wild and young and carefree. And even when she’s not, she’s still amazing.
Since fully bonding the pack that evening in her apartment, everything has felt so clear and inspired. A clarity that comes with an inner peace I didn’t know I was capable of. Her heat ends two days later, but man if those two days weren’t so wild. Between Mia’s heat and our ruts spurred on by it, it was a wonder we made it out alive at all.
After that, we go right back to the studio and a purely professional mode, moving our magic from the bedroom as a pack to a band preparing for our first big gig.
And today’s the day. We meet at Aiden’s where he’s paid for extra parking spots to leave our cars for the next two months so that we can board the monstrosity awaiting on the other side of the parking lot.
Sable, Mia’s best friend, drops her off just as Leo and I arrive. Aiden’s already standing outside the tour bus with Wes. Whatever the conversation is has Aiden slightly rolling his eyes as he laughs.
Sable throws her arms around Mia’s neck and gives her a tight squeeze. “You better text me every day! And I’ll be at closing night.” She wiggles her eyebrows. “Might even drag Seth along.”
Mia smirks. “Poor man doesn’t know what he’s signed up for. Keep me updated on everything .”
“Oh, I will.” Sable finally lets go and points Mia toward all of us. “She’s yours now! Keep her safe!”
Mia mumbles something about not really belonging to anyone quite like that, but Leo gives Sable a mock salute and says, “Yes, ma’am.”
Mia looks mortified.
I chuckle and grab her hand as she walks by with her guitars and suitcase, which I take from her with my free hand. “Sable would be fun on the road. She should join sooner than closing night.”
Mia throws a final glance over her shoulder at Sable. “I’m confident she’ll find a way to make that happen, just you wait.”
“Mia!” Wes calls as we head over.
She waves. “Morning, Wes. How are you today?”
Wes grins wider. “Happy to send my top band on their way to Knotty Tour.”
Aiden nods to the rather nice tour bus behind us all. “Are you joining us?”
Wes waves him off. “No, no. Not really my scene. But I’ll be there most weekends for at least one night.” He waves his phone. “And always reachable by phone, so please don’t hesitate to reach out at all. Now, you’ve got an eight-hour drive ahead of you all and you’re on at 1 p.m. tomorrow afternoon, so you better get going. And Aiden, Leo?” They nod. “Make sure you give Mia and Noah some Knotty Tour tips since you’re both veterans.”
“We will.” Aiden gives Wes a clap on the back. “Thank you again, Wes. For all of this.”
Wes smiles sheepishly. “You guys are doing all the hard work. I just made some phone calls. Remember that you’re not a replacement band, you’re the real deal and deserve to be there. And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
Mia moves to give Wes a big hug which I’m not sure he appreciates. Still, he laughs. Mia says, “We won’t. Talk soon, Wes!”
We say our goodbyes to our manager and board the bus. It opens up into a kitchenette situation including a four-seater table. Beyond that is a narrow space with couches on either side, a fridge, and then a toilet and sink opposite a shower. The next section holds six bunk beds total, very narrow sleeping quarters, and then opens up to the back of a bus with a u-shaped sectional couch that has fold-out cushions to make into one large bed. It’s not very typical, I don’t think, but Wes understands.
We leave Mia to set up her nest there, which she does, adorning the bed with blankets and pillows, and the walls with band posters, string lights, and strips of black fabric with more lights sewn throughout. By the time she’s finished, it’s homey and looks cozier than I could ever imagine a tour bus being.
Leo and Aiden fold in behind me. They’ve spent the time tucking away all of our gear, snacks, drinks, and toiletries as well as claiming bunk beds.
“Wow,” Leo exclaims. “This looks great, Mia.”
“For real,” Aiden adds.
It doesn’t really encompass the sight very fully, though. Especially not when Mia dives into the middle of her nest and, with a smirk on her face, asks, “Anyone want to help break the nest in?”
Truly, it becomes a race to get to her first.
Today we’ll focus the pack again. From tomorrow onward, we’re Exit Fate on tour. The focus begins.
Until then, my focus is a very specific pleasure spot on Mia’s neck that makes her moan my name like a prayer.