52
Phoenix
Waking up this morning felt different. After last night with Kage and Parker, I felt a sense of calm I hadn’t experienced in a long time. I was still processing everything that had happened between the three of us, the way they made me feel seen and wanted, not just as their Omega but as me—Phoenix. It was a shift, a realization that I was stronger than I thought. That I didn’t have to carry my burdens alone.
The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. I stretched, the ache of last night still lingering in my muscles, but it was a good ache, a reminder of how far I’d come. There was a time when I never would’ve allowed myself to be that vulnerable with anyone, let alone two Alphas. But things were different now. I was different.
I smiled to myself, feeling lighter as I rolled out of bed and padded to the kitchen. The smell of fresh coffee filled the air, and for a moment, everything seemed peaceful, like I had found my place. My phone buzzed on the counter, breaking the tranquility. I glanced at the screen and frowned when I saw who was calling.
My boss.
I hesitated before picking it up. I hadn’t spoken to Trent in weeks, not since things had gone downhill. My sister had called in for me, making excuses, trying to buy me time. But I knew this conversation had been coming. I just didn’t expect it to be today.
With a deep breath, I answered. “Hello?”
“Phoenix.”
His voice was clipped, impatient, as always. “Are you planning on coming back to work, or are you just going to keep leaving me in the dark? I’m not keeping your position open forever, you know.”
My stomach tightened, the old familiar stress creeping back in at his words. He had no idea what I’d been through, and I wasn’t about to explain myself to him. Hell, he didn’t even know I was an Omega. He didn’t care about anything but his bottom line.
“I’ve been dealing with some things,”
I said, keeping my voice steady, even though I felt the tension building in my chest. “My sister explained that to you.”
Trent scoffed, the sound grating in my ear. “Yeah, she gave me some excuse about you needing time, but that’s not my problem, Phoenix. You’ve had plenty of time. Either you’re coming back, or I’m finding someone else to take your spot. I don’t have the luxury of waiting around for you to get your act together.”
I clenched my jaw, anger bubbling up inside me. I had given years of my life to that job, busting my ass to climb the ladder in an industry that wasn’t kind to Omegas, even though I’d kept that part of myself hidden. And for what? To be treated like I was disposable?
I’d been talking with Dr. Lyra about this, about what it meant to value myself, to stop settling for less than I deserved. The idea had been brewing for a while now, the thought of breaking away from the toxic corporate world and starting something of my own. A PR firm that was inclusive, where Omegas could work without fear of discrimination or harassment. The type of place I wished had existed when I was starting out.
I could feel the weight of the decision pressing down on me. It wasn’t just about quitting my job. It was about taking control of my life again, about building something better for myself and for others like me.
And I was ready.
“I’m not coming back,”
I said, the words clear and final.
There was a pause on the other end of the line. “What?”
“I’m quitting,”
I repeated, my voice gaining strength as I spoke. “I’m done with this job. I won’t be returning.”
The silence that followed was almost satisfying. I could picture Trent, sitting at his desk, trying to process what I’d just said. He was probably furious, but I didn’t care anymore.
“You can’t just quit,”
he snapped, his voice rising. “Do you even realize what you’re giving up?”
“I know exactly what I’m giving up,”
I replied calmly. “And I know what I’m gaining by walking away. I’ve given this job everything, and I’ve gotten nothing in return but stress and bullshit. I’m done.”
“You’re making a huge mistake, Phoenix. You’ll never find another position like this.”
“I’m not looking for another position,”
I said. “I’m starting my own firm.”
His laugh was harsh, mocking. “You? Start your own firm? You don’t have the resources, the connections—”
“I don’t need your approval,”
I interrupted, my heart pounding in my chest. “I’m doing this for me, not for you.”
He sputtered, clearly caught off guard. “Good luck with that,”
he sneered. “You’ll be crawling back to me within a year.”
I smiled to myself, feeling a surge of pride. “We’ll see about that. Goodbye.”
And with that, I hung up.
The room was quiet again, but the air felt different now. Lighter. Freer.
I took a deep breath, letting it all sink in. I’d quit. I was really going to do this. No more working for someone who didn’t respect me. No more hiding who I was.
I was going to create something new. Something better.
I glanced out the window at the San Gabriel Mountains in the distance, the sun rising just above the peaks. It felt like a new beginning, like the start of something that could finally be mine.
◆◆◆
The lightness that followed quitting my job still clung to me like a comforting blanket. It wasn’t just the job, though. It was everything—this newfound strength, the growing bond with Parker and Kage, and the clarity I’d been searching for.
After the call with Trent, I had spent the morning mulling over the changes in my life. It was time to make decisions—not just about my career, but about my future. A future that, for the first time, didn’t feel tied down to New York or to the expectations of others. It was mine to shape, and I knew exactly what I wanted.
I wandered through the house, finding Parker, Kage, and Zeph in the living room. Parker was sprawled out on the couch, one leg casually draped over the armrest, while Kage and Zeph sat side by side, flipping through some paperwork. The scene was peaceful, normal, but I could feel a change in the air. A shift in my own perspective.
I stood in the doorway for a moment, collecting my thoughts before stepping forward. “Hey, can we talk?”
Parker looked up first, grinning like he always did when he saw me. “Sure, Sweetheart. What’s up?”
Kage nodded, his dark eyes curious as he leaned back against the couch. Zeph, on the other hand, remained quiet, his gaze flickering between me and the papers in his hands.
I took a deep breath, feeling a small flicker of nerves in my chest, but I pushed through it. I had made my decision, and it was time to own it.
“I’ve decided not to go back to New York.”
There was a brief pause before Parker’s grin widened. “Wait, does that mean you’re staying? With us?”
I smiled, feeling a rush of warmth at his question. “If the offer still stands… then yeah, I’m staying.”
“Hell yeah it does,”
Kage said, his deep voice rumbling with satisfaction. His eyes lit up as he stood, crossing the room to pull me into a tight hug. I melted against him for a moment, feeling his solid presence, his strength. It felt right, being here with them.
Parker joined in, wrapping his arms around the both of us with an excited chuckle. “We’re not letting you go that easily.”
I laughed, letting myself bask in the affection for a second before I glanced over at Zeph. He was still quiet, his expression unreadable as he leaned back in his seat. I felt a knot of uncertainty twist in my stomach. Zeph was always the hardest to read. He didn’t wear his emotions on his sleeve like Parker or Kage, but I knew him well enough by now to sense when something was off.
“I also quit my job,”
I said, stepping out of Parker’s embrace as I addressed the three of them. “I’ve been thinking about starting my own PR firm—something for Omegas. A place where they don’t have to hide who they are or feel discriminated against, you know? I want it to be the kind of space I wish had existed when I was starting out.”
Kage raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking into an impressed smile. “Damn, Doll. That’s ambitious. And awesome.”
Parker nodded enthusiastically. “We’ll help with whatever you need. Marketing, connections, hell, anything.”
“I’ll figure it out,”
I said, feeling a surge of excitement at the thought of building something of my own. “But it means I’ll be working remotely for a while. I’ll join you guys on tour, and I’ll figure things out as I go. I just… I don’t want to be tied down anymore. Not to a place that doesn’t feel like home.”
Parker’s expression softened, his eyes gleaming with warmth. “Phoenix, you’re already home.”
I smiled, my heart swelling at his words. But then something else I had said clicked. “Wait, the tour. You’ll be on the road for months.”
Kage glanced at Zeph, and for the first time since I’d started talking, Zeph finally spoke. His voice was quiet, but there was a firmness to it. “We’ve already pushed the tour back by six months.”
“Six months?”
I blinked, taken aback. “Why? You guys love performing. Your fans—”
“They’ll understand,”
Zeph interrupted, his gaze meeting mine for the first time. There was something intense in his eyes, something unspoken. “Our loyal fans will wait for us. They always do. Besides, this is more important.”
I swallowed, my throat tight as I processed his words. It was hard to believe that they would put something as big as their tour on hold—for me.
“You didn’t have to do that,”
I said quietly, my voice wavering slightly. “I don’t want to be the reason you—”
“You’re not the reason,”
Zeph said, cutting me off again. His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. “We made the decision together. This isn’t just about you, Phoenix. It’s about us. We needed the break, too. And now we’ve got time to work on a new album, time to regroup. Time to focus on what really matters.”
I bit my lip, feeling a rush of gratitude and something deeper—a connection to these men that was unlike anything I’d ever felt before. They weren’t just putting me first; they were showing me that I was part of this now, part of them.
“I don’t know what to say,”
I whispered, feeling a lump form in my throat.
“You don’t have to say anything,”
Parker said, his voice soft as he stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “Just stay with us. That’s all we need.”
I nodded, feeling a sense of peace settle over me. This was where I belonged. With them. And as daunting as the future seemed, with my new business venture on the horizon, I knew I wasn’t alone in it.
Kage clapped his hands together, breaking the moment of quiet reflection. “Alright, then. Looks like we’ve got a lot to celebrate.”
Parker grinned, his arm sliding around my waist. “And a new album to work on.”
Zeph stood, his eyes lingering on mine for a moment longer before he turned to the others. “Do you mind if I speak to Phoenix alone for a sec?”
The room felt heavy with tension as Zeph looked at me, his eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite read. It was a mix of resignation and something darker. The others hadn’t noticed it yet—or maybe they had and were waiting for this moment too—but I could feel it brewing in the air.
Parker and Kage exchanged small, knowing smiles, and they kissed me before standing up from the couch. “We’ll give you two some space,”
Kage murmured. Parker gave me a wink, as if to reassure me everything would be fine, before they both headed out of the room, leaving me alone with Zeph.
I let out a small breath. I’d been waiting for this conversation, so I was glad he asked. Things had been building between us, unsaid words and emotions that had gone unresolved for too long. I wasn’t afraid, though. I was ready for whatever he had to say.
Zeph stood there for a moment, hands in his pockets, his gaze shifting toward the window as if he were gathering his thoughts. Finally, he turned to me, and there was a softness in his expression that I didn’t expect.
“I’m happy you’re staying,”
he said, his voice quiet but sincere. “You should know that.”
I crossed my arms, not sure where this was leading. “Thanks. I was going to tell you the same thing. I’m glad we’re talking.”
He gave me a small nod before sighing deeply, like he had a weight on his chest he couldn’t shake. “I’ve been thinking a lot, Phoenix. About you, about the guys… and I’ve made a decision.”
The way he said it made my heart skip a beat, and I already knew I wasn’t going to like what came next.
“I’m not going to stand in the way of you and them,”
Zeph said, his tone detached, like he was stating a fact. “I’ll tell them tonight. It’s better for everyone if I step back.”
“No.”
The word slipped from my mouth before I could stop it.
His brows furrowed as if he wasn’t expecting me to argue. “Phoenix, it’s for the best.”
“For the best?”
I stepped forward, my voice rising with frustration. “How can you think this is what’s best?”
“Because I can’t be what you need,”
he said, his voice firm but sad. “You deserve better. I don’t have it in me, Phoenix. I don’t know if I can give you what you need, and I’m not going to hold you back.”
“You don’t get to decide that,”
I snapped, my chest tightening with frustration. “You don’t get to decide what I need or what I deserve.”
“I’m doing this for you,”
he insisted, his voice rising. “I can’t—”
“No, you’re doing this because you’ve given up.”
My words cut through the air like a knife. He flinched, but I didn’t back down. “You’re running, Zeph. You’re too scared to fight, and you’re using me as an excuse.”
“I’m not scared.”
His jaw clenched, but his voice wavered just enough for me to catch the crack in his armor.
“Yes, you are,”
I pressed, stepping closer. “And I’m not going to let you do this. You need to fight for me, for us. Do you even want me, Zeph?”
His mouth opened to respond, but I cut him off. “No, wait. If you take away everything that happened, everything else, do you want me?”
He hesitated, and for a heartbeat, the world around us seemed to still. His eyes darkened as he whispered, “Yes.”
My heart soared, but I held on to my conviction. “Then you can’t walk away.”
His eyes darkened, and for a moment, I thought he might lash out, but instead, he just stood there, fists clenched at his sides. “You don’t get it, Phoenix. You don’t know what it’s like to be in my head. I can’t—”
“I do get it,”
I cut him off, my voice firm but not unkind. “I can get on board with helping you deal with your trauma, and I can get on board with letting you earn back my trust. But like hell will I get on board with you just giving up.”
Zeph’s eyes flashed with something—anger, maybe, or shame—but I wasn’t backing down. Not this time.
“You don’t get to tell me what I want or need, Zephyr,”
I continued, my voice softening but still resolute. “Only I can do that. And I want you. All of you. And you’re just going to have to deal with your shit and get on board.”
He opened his mouth to argue, but I held up my hand, stopping him.
“I’m not letting you walk away from this,”
I said, my heart pounding in my chest. “You don’t get to take the easy way out. We’re in this together, and I’m not giving up on you. So don’t you dare give up on me.”
Silence fell between us, heavy and charged. I could see the struggle in his eyes, the battle raging inside him. He wasn’t used to people standing up to him, and I knew he wasn’t used to anyone fighting for him. But I was, and I wasn’t going anywhere.
For a long moment, neither of us said anything. Zeph’s breathing was uneven, and I could tell he was processing everything I’d just thrown at him. His gaze dropped to the floor, and he ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply.
“I’m sorry, Phoenix,”
he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
I stepped closer, closing the distance between us until we were standing inches apart. I reached out, placing a hand on his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart beneath my palm.
“I’m not asking you to have it all figured out right now. But I’m asking you to try. That’s all I want. Just try,”
I said softly.
He looked down at me, his eyes searching mine for something—maybe reassurance, maybe strength. I didn’t know. But whatever it was, I hoped he found it.
“I just don’t want to lose you,”
he admitted, his voice breaking.
“You won’t,”
I promised, my fingers curling into his shirt. “But you have to stop pushing me away. You have to let me in.”
For a moment, I wasn’t sure if he would. But then, slowly, his arms came up, wrapping around me in a hesitant embrace. He held me tightly, like he was afraid I might slip away if he let go.
“I’ll try,”
he whispered into my hair, his voice raw with emotion.
I closed my eyes, resting my head against his chest. “Thank you,”
I whispered back.