7
Phoenix
After weeks of constant judgmental stares and put-downs, I concentrated on keeping my skin thick.
But the reality of living on the bus with them was wearing me down.
I had gone to Trent, even Pete, searching for another option, another bus where I stay, but I was shut down at every turn.
There was nowhere else for me to go.
So I steeled my spine with determination and focused on getting the job done.
Only two more months to go, and I had decided that I would officially be saying fuck you to the universe and leaving my scent matches in the dust when the job came to an end.
Just thinking about the band put my willpower on a knife’s edge and set my heart ablaze.
Zephyr, Kage, and Parker were forces of nature.
Each towering over six feet tall and as well defined as statues carved from marble, they commanded attention before you even got close enough to be intimidated by their Alpha big dick energy.
Zephyr turned heads long before he poured his sinfully rough voice through the microphone.
Kage’s permanent scowl while he caressed his guitar drove crowds wild, and his irritable, bad-tempered demeanor was nothing like the lighter, carefree, and erratic energy that Parker was known for.
Every night while I lay in my bunk, I pictured what it would be like if Parker pounded into me with the same ferocity he showed his drum kit.
But he wasn’t the only one I imagined when I got myself off in the quiet.
Any time I was in their space or passed them in our shared living area on the bus, my thighs clenched, and I had to force my face to remain neutral, betraying nothing of the raw attraction and lust that overwhelmed me.
Their female fans screamed at them every night, making it painfully obvious how much they wanted the band in their beds, as if the panties thrown at their feet didn’t make their intentions clear enough.
Each night, Zephyr, Kage, or Parker picked a groupie from the crowd to fuck, and each night, I lay there dying a little more inside.
I told myself the noises coming from that cursed back room didn’t bother me and that the satisfied smiles of the girls when they left didn’t gut me.
The truth was, no matter what insults they threw my way, no matter how much they despised my role on their tour, and no matter how many groupies they fucked into oblivion, I couldn’t deny how drawn to them I was.
The more time I spent with them, the more I felt like they could understand me in a way no one else could—if I ever let them see the real me.
Today, we had arrived in Seattle, and I couldn’t have been more relieved to finally be off the tour bus.
After days of being stuck in such close quarters, a night in a hotel felt like a reprieve.
However, that brief flicker of relief was swiftly extinguished when we encountered a major hiccup.
The lobby was a chaotic mess of roadies, band members, and apologetic hotel staff who seemed flustered.
As the evening progressed, it became clear that there was an issue with the room arrangements.
The hotel had been double-booked due to a massive conference, leaving us short on available rooms.
The receptionist, who looked like she’d been fielding complaints all day, gave me a weary look.
“I’m sorry, Ms.
Phoenix.
We’re completely booked.
The only available option is for you to share a room.”
I felt my heart sink. “Share a room? With who?”
As if summoned by the mere mention of the word “share,”
Kage sauntered over. “Looks like you’re stuck with me,”
he said, barely concealing his smirk.
I turned back to the receptionist, trying to keep my cool. “There must be some mistake. I can stay at another hotel.”
Kage’s eyes gleamed with a hint of malicious pleasure as he interjected, “Sorry, Phoenix, but according to your contract, you’re required to be wherever the band is. No exceptions.”
I was livid. “No way. I may be forced to share a bus, but I firmly draw the line at sharing a room with any of you three. I need a break from them.”
Pete, the band’s manager, who had been hovering nearby, finally stepped in. “Look, Phoenix, I understand your frustration. But with the buses being serviced and no alternative accommodations available, you don’t have much of a choice.”
I shot him a withering look. “So, you’re saying I’m stuck here with Kage?”
Pete nodded apologetically. “I’m afraid so. His is the only room with two single beds, so it’s our only option.”
Kage’s smirk widened as he watched my face fall. “Guess you’re going to have to make the best of it.”
I shot him a glare that could have melted steel, but he seemed impervious. With a resigned sigh, I realized I had no choice but to accept the situation. I turned back to Pete and the receptionist, forcing a tight smile. “Fine. I’ll take the room.”
Kage’s grin was now positively triumphant as he led the way to the elevator. The moment we stepped inside, the air grew thick with tension. The doors slid shut, trapping me in the confined space with him.
He leaned casually against the railing, shooting me a sideways glance. “You know, I’m so glad I’m going to have company tonight. Gets lonely.”
I folded my arms and stared straight ahead at the panel of buttons, willing the elevator to move faster. “I’m sure you manage just fine.”
He chuckled. “I do. But that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate a little… variety.”
I clenched my jaw, biting back the sharp retort on the tip of my tongue. The last thing I needed was to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.
Kage tilted his head, studying me. “You’re quiet. That’s new. Usually, you have some remark ready to go.”
I exhaled slowly, keeping my voice even. “Just trying to get through the night without an argument.”
His smirk widened. “Where’s the fun in that?”
I refused to look at him, my fingers curling into my palms. The ding of the elevator was a relief, and as the doors slid open, I stepped out without another word.
The hallway seemed to stretch on forever as we walked toward our room.
I kept my gaze fixed straight ahead, trying to ignore the weight of Kage’s presence looming beside me.
He was a full six feet tall, his striking green eyes practically glowing in the dim light. His blonde hair was tousled and wild, and I was dying to run my hand through it.
When we finally reached the door, Kage unlocked it and swung it open with a flourish. “Welcome to your new home for the night,”
he said, his voice dripping with faux charm.
The room was small and stark, with two single beds pushed against opposite walls. I felt a pang of frustration as I realized just how little privacy I was going to have. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.
“Great,”
I said flatly, stepping inside. “I’ll take the bed by the window.”
Kage chuckled as he tossed his duffel bag onto the other bed. “Fine by me, Priss.”
I nodded curtly and headed straight for the bathroom to unpack my things. As I closed the door behind me, I allowed myself a moment of quiet. I needed to regain my composure before I faced the band again.
When I emerged, Kage was sprawled on his bed, scrolling through his phone. He looked up with an almost bored expression as I walked in.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
he asked, feigning sympathy.
I shook my head. “No, Kage. I don’t want to talk about it. Just let me get through the night, and we’ll be back on the road tomorrow.”
He shrugged, seemingly indifferent. “Whatever you say, Princess.”
I glared at him but said nothing, heading back to my bed.
I lay down, staring at the ceiling and trying to ignore the pounding music from a nearby room.
This tour was becoming more of a nightmare with each passing day, and I had a sinking feeling that things were only going to get worse before they got better.
◆◆◆
This was hell.
Literal hell.
The small hotel room, with its two single beds and thin walls, felt like an unbearable prison.
The sound of the city outside was a constant reminder of how trapped I was.
I had been thrown into this situation with Kage, and he seemed to take a particular delight in making it as uncomfortable as possible.
He strolled around the room shirtless, his toned physique on display and his blonde hair tousled casually.
He moved with a confidence that bordered on arrogance, each step he took seemingly calculated to intrude on my personal space.
Every time I caught a glimpse of his bare skin, I pushed down a whine of need.
The hotel room felt like a pressure cooker.
The small space shrunk around me and grew hotter with each passing minute.
Every time I tried to focus on something else, like organizing my work files or jotting down notes for the next day’s schedule, Kage was there, deliberately flaunting his presence.
It was as if he had made it his personal mission to push me to the edge.
I could feel the tension coiling in the air, tightening with every casual glance he threw my way.
“So, Priss,”
Kage said, leaning against the wall with an air of indifference. “How’s it feel to be stuck in the middle of our little circus? You look like you’re about to explode.”
His question was a blatant jab, and he said it with a smirk that suggested he found my discomfort amusing. I could feel my control slipping as I tried to maintain a professional demeanor. “I’m managing.”
Kage took a few steps closer, his presence encroaching on my personal space. “You sure about that? You know, for someone who’s so good at keeping everything in check, you sure seem like you’re about to lose it.”
I resisted the urge to back away, standing my ground despite the way his proximity made my skin crawl. “I’m fine,”
I said, hoping that my clipped tone would deter him.
He chuckled. “You can’t lie to me, Princess, I see the way you look at me, trying to pretend like you’re not bothered. It’s kind of amusing.”
I felt like I was suffocating in the heat of the room. He leaned in too close, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered, “Betas might have more neutral scents than most, but not that neutral. Yours barely registers. Makes me wonder… what are you hiding?”
The comment hit me like a slap. My heartbeat quickened, a flush of heat rushing to my face. His words cut too close to the truth, but I forced myself to stay calm. He still thought I was a Beta, just one who was masking her emotions, and I wasn’t about to give him any reason to think otherwise.
“Maybe I just don’t want everyone knowing my business,”
I shot back evenly. “Not all of us are open books, Kage.”
His smirk widened. “Fair enough. But secrets have a way of slipping out when you least expect it.”
I swallowed hard, thankful that I hadn’t let even a trace of my natural scent slip. If he caught even a whiff of it, I’d be done for.
Kage pulled back. “Don’t worry, Princess,”
he said as he walked back to his side of the room. “Your secret’s safe with me—for now.”
I exhaled shakily, waiting for his attention to turn back to his phone before letting my shoulders sag.
I tried to busy myself with answering emails, but it was futile. No matter how hard I tried to focus, my mind wouldn’t veer from this fucked up situation with my mates. Maybe I should just quit and be done with it.
The silence between us stretched, heavy and oppressive, until Kage finally broke it with a sly, casual tone. “So, heard from your boss lately?”
The question caught me off guard, and my mind immediately flashed to the email I’d received that morning.
My boss had issued me a formal warning, forwarding along a set of anonymous photos of me sneaking away from the venues each week.
The pictures had been taken from a distance, grainy but unmistakable. My heart sank as the memory replayed in vivid detail.
I turned to face him, my voice barely a whisper. “It was you, wasn’t it? You sent them?”
He smirked, leaning against his bedhead, arms crossed like he was enjoying himself. “What can I say? Naughty girls get caught eventually. Thought your boss deserved to know about all those little field trips of yours.”
“You could’ve gotten me fired!”
I snapped, my voice rising despite the lump forming in my throat.
“That was kind of the point.”
My stomach churned, and for a moment, I couldn’t find the words. How could someone so heartless be my destined match? “Did you… did you follow me? Do you know where I went?”
Kage tilted his head, feigning innocence. “No need to get all worked up, Phoenix. I had interviews to attend, remember?”
He tapped the side of his head with a mocking grin. “Although now that you mention it, maybe I should’ve blown them off. Seems like I missed something interesting.”
My stomach twisted into knots, shame clawing at me from the inside out.
If he knew… if any of them knew where I’d been sneaking off to… I didn’t want to imagine how much worse things would get.
They already treated me like garbage. What would they do if they found out I was an addict, virtually attending my meetings twice a week?
A tear slipped from the corner of my eye before I could stop it.
I brushed it away quickly, hoping he hadn’t seen.
But he had. His smirk faltered, his expression shifting for a brief second into something that almost resembled guilt.
Kage’s eyes widened slightly.
“Uh, I should probably… check on my guitar,”
he muttered awkwardly, already hopping from the bed as he shoved as he shoved a shirt over his head and turned toward the door.
I didn’t say anything as he left, the door clicking shut behind him.
Finally alone, I sank into the nearest chair, wrapping my arms around myself.
The ache in my chest was unbearable. I didn’t know how much more of this I could take.