Chapter 28
MIA
It is actually insane how viral Leo’s Song goes. And that’s what we name it, plain and simple. The orchestra video travels far and wide to the tune of 5 million views on the main social platforms, and it’s a flurry I can barely keep up with. More than a few lifestyle segments on TV reach out for interviews, and the reposts and video stitches are wild.
So wild that none of us wants to speak into existence the worry that the only person it feels like we haven’t heard from is Wes.
We decide to head out to the beach for one of the last truly warm summer days. The sun’s high above us now, hot and burning, but we’ve got more than one umbrella set up to keep Leo away from the sun and the rest of us from sunburn. Waves crash in the distance and the smell of salty ocean air soothes my frayed nerves.
Leo is doing so much better now. He’s no longer in pain and moving his hands isn’t an issue. Noah’s gotten on with old Juilliard friends he hasn’t talked to in so long. Aiden’s doing his best to get our music out there within bounds allowed by the contract with Wes and his management company. Overall, our pack and band are doing so well, you’d never know the turmoil we went through during Knotty Tour.
All we can do is pray we get a second chance.
I think I manifest it while staring at the ocean. Our album plays softly on a speaker tucked near Noah’s head where he’s sunbathing. Then Aiden’s phone rings.
“It’s Wes,” he announces, which has us all sitting up. Aiden puts the call on speaker. “Hi, Wes. We’re all here.”
“Good!” Wes actually sounds happy. It makes my heart skip a beat. “Long time, no chat. How is everyone doing?”
Aiden gives us all a nervous glance. “We’re doing really well.”
“Hi, Wes!” I call out after.
Noah’s flipped over onto his stomach now. “How are you?”
Wes chuckles into the line. “I’m feeling a little bad about giving you all the cold shoulder the last few weeks. Truthfully, I wasn’t sure what to say for a while, and then I wanted to see what you all created with the album. Which is fantastic, by the way. And that social media campaign was something special, too.”
Mia beams up at Leo. “Turns out our drummer can sing pretty well.”
Leo grins and shakes his head. “Noah pulled the important strings for that one.”
“Well,” Wes says, “it worked. Not just for views, mind you, but in general. There are a lot of people banging down my door asking when this album of yours will be out.”
My breath hitches in my chest. “And… when will it, Wes?”
Wes hesitates long enough I’m convinced he’s not going to release it at all for some reason. But that’s insane as he just said the album was fantastic .
“Next month, if I can swing it,” Wes finally says. “Which means you’re eligible for awards season.”
Aiden chortles. “Next month? That’s right before Designation Outsider’s new album.”
“Yes, it is.” Wes says it simply as if it doesn’t matter at all. But it does. Because if our album does well… “I still want you all to stay away from them. But, most importantly, I want you all to enjoy this. Celebrate. You worked hard for this, and even though there were plenty of bumps in the road, you made it. Good work.”
The pack all smiles at each other. My alphas, my bandmates. We did it.
“Leo, how are you doing?” Wes asks.
Leo perks up a bit. “I’m good. Treatment done for this round, and I’m good as long as I’m careful again.”
“I’m so glad to hear that. Are you well enough to play one show this coming weekend in New Jersey? It’s an outdoor venue, still Knotty Tour. We’ll get you in and out the back way.”
My heart leaps up into my throat. “Back on Knotty Tour?”
Wes chuckles lightly. “One last show, one last set with them to close it out. They asked me this time.”
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
“Yes,” Leo says quickly. “We’ll do it.”
We all look to him, the same question no doubt on all of our faces. Are you ready?
Leo nods. “It’s just one show. Thirty minutes. We’re doing it.”
* * *
The last stop on Knotty Tour for this year is the largest. The largest venue space, the largest crowd, the largest set of bands. It’s nerve-wracking being back on stage and even more so with this many thousands of people in one space, all watching us and singing our songs word for word.
The cheers. The crowd surfing. The way Exit Fate plays together as if fate itself rearranged to allow us this moment in time.
My veins sing with fulfillment, satisfaction, and inspiration. Like this is everything I was meant to do and more. Like all of us were always meant to be here .
Our parents all come to show. Sable is up in the front row with Seth like before I joined Exit Fate. And she’s still the loudest person here.
Our most popular track? Leo’s Song, which we play acoustically this time to the tune of thousands of phone flashlights turning on across the audience.
It brings tears to my eyes and warms my heart in a way that only the pack can otherwise emulate.
Wes watches our set from the side of the stage with huge grin on his face. We were trouble for him, but I know in that moment he thinks it was worth it.
We don’t have a tour bus this time, but the four of us did get a hotel suite near the venue. We retreat there after with a bottle of champagne that Leo and I water way down. One drink, and that’s it, as I fall into the massive over-sized king bed with my alphas all around me.
They idly caress my arms and legs, and I kiss them each one at a time and then back again.
“I’m so proud of us,” I say as Aiden collects the champagne glasses and sets them aside.
Noah leans in and kisses my forehead. “Us too, angel.”
His lips ignite the slowly returning heat that’s threatening to surface early. I wonder how often this will happen now I’m with this pack. Early heats, my body begging for my alphas to get me pregnant. For me to carry their pups.
We’re not ready for that, not yet. Not by a long-shot. But I can sense the way it’s certain. Whenever I think about raising children with them there’s nothing but peace in my heart. Starting a family, continuing our career as Exit Fate. For once, my life seems set out. Perfect.
“I love you all so very much,” I whisper.
“And we love you, babygirl,” Leo says against my neck before kissing me there.
My core clenches tight, the fiery storm burning there now fully ablaze. My alphas must sense it, the shift in the energy, my scent growing stronger as my heat calls. They begin to strip me of my clothes and then remove theirs, and while this isn’t our nest at Aiden’s apartment— our apartment—it’ll do.
We make love to the tune of the music inside us. And that’s what it is, this intimate bonding of our bodies, their knots inside me, their marks along my skin. Our pleasured moans and gasps of release. A beautiful crescendo stronger than any orchestra can produce.
It’s love. It’s home.
And whatever comes next, it’s ours.
So is the award for Best New Rock Artist, making us an award-winning band with a top-selling first album.
How’s that for Finding Fate ?
* * *
Thank you so much for reading Omega Rock!