2
Scarlett
L ife on the Tide Valley Parkway is entirely too wild for my tastes. It’s why I enjoy living on the outskirts of the city, and as far away from other people as I can possibly get. I only make it a point to come down to the heart of the city if I need essentials.
Now, I’m willingly volunteering for a position at the Parkway’s newest and hottest club.
So many fucking alphas.
It’s seven in the evening on a crisp Saturday night, and the line to get inside Raven is already miles long, wrapping around three blocks with no end in sight.
I feel eyes on me while I walk straight through a gap in the line and beeline for the side employee entrance where I’d been instructed to go via email when I arrived.
Predictably, two hulking betas are standing outside the side door when I approach, and my hand immediately slips inside the pocket of my leather jacket to grasp the small pocket knife I keep stashed there for emergencies.
The one on the left has his arms crossed over his puffed up chest, and he narrows dark green eyes at me at my sudden appearance.
“Employees only.” His scent hits me at the same time as his words, and it takes all of my willpower not to wrinkle my nose in disgust. There’s something pungent about it.
Like rotten leaves and mildew. My attention shifts towards the second beta, and he doesn’t appear nearly as imposing as the other.
He smells better, too. It reminds me of campfire smoke and early morning dew drops on blades of grass. A much better combination.
“I have an interview with Mr. Madden. He told me to come in through this entrance.” I reached for my purse slung across my shoulder to get out my phone in case they needed to see the email, but the nice smelling beta holds up a hand to stop me.
“Miss Reighn?” He tips his head to the side as he studies me, and I dip my head. “Mr. Madden informed us you’d be coming. Follow me.” I swallow hard, refusing to look at the mammoth beta still glowering at me when the other leans forward to open the sealed door.
The moment he opens it, the heavy thump of music spills out into the night air.
He gestures for me to go in first, and I have no choice but to slip past hulk 2.
0 so I can get inside. Thankfully, the asshole stays outside when the door shuts behind us.
They must not think two are needed to escort the weak little omega.
“Just ahead to the right will take you backstage.” The beta calls over the pounding music, and I shuffle forward until I reach the doorway he’d mentioned. He follows me through, up a few steps, and past a curtain that obscures the insane set up on the other side.
Four people are busy setting up sound and equipment when we step through, and I pause to let the beta security guard take the lead. One of the guys fiddling with an electric guitar glances up at his approach and offers the bouncer a smile.
“Ant, this is Miss Reighn, the beta vocalist Mr. Madden wants to hire. She’s here for a working interview.” My eyebrows shoot up to my hairline at that, and Ant peers over the bouncer’s shoulder at me still standing by the side entrance to the stage.
Deciding that I don’t want to appear timid and weak, I step forward until I’m a fair distance away from the two, and give a slight dip of my chin. “Scarlett Reighn. Sorry, I was unaware I’d be performing tonight.” My heart rate kicks up in my chest when Ant lets out a knowing laugh.
“Wren’s a sneaky bastard. He probably didn’t want to scare you off.
You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to sing the set with us.
” With so many scents whirling around back here, I can’t pick up Ant’s, but I know he’s an alpha, anyway.
I can just tell by the way he holds himself. I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Sucking in a breath, I shake my head. “I don’t mind. I dressed for the occasion, just in case. I have to warn you, I might be a little rusty. I haven’t done a show in a few years.” Understatement of the century. Ant just smiles at me, and the beta bouncer takes a step back from us.
“If you have her handled, I’ll head back to my post.” Ant dips his head to him, and then he turns back to me. “Good luck out there.” I offer him a simple nod. I don’t usually smile at people, and he doesn’t seem put off by my seemingly abrasive attitude.
Who the hell smiles at strangers, anyway?
Once he’s gone, Ant turns his full attention on me.
From his back pocket, he pulls out a wad of papers and passes it over to me with a warm smile.
“Take a look at the set list and tell me if there are any tunes you don’t know.
We’re all fairly new to this as a group, so we’re just here to vibe tonight.
Boss will be watching from the back as we play the first set.
Once that’s all said and done, I’m sure he’ll pull you back for the rest of your interview. ”
I unfold the roll of papers and glance briefly over the list of songs, relief washing through me when I recognize them all. “This shouldn’t be a problem. I’m pretty familiar with these.” I hand the packet back over to him, and he slips it back into his jeans pocket with another easy smile.
“Awesome. If you want to hang your purse and coat over there, I’ll introduce you to the rest of the band.
It’s show time in ten.” He gestures over to a small alcove at the back of the stage where I can see other coats and belongings stashed.
I don’t really care for my things being out in the open like that, but I do as I’m instructed, before heading back to where Ant waits for me.
Then, he turns to the three other band members milling around behind us with that dopey grin plastered on his face.
“Guys, this is Scarlett. She’s going to be jamming with us tonight for a bit.
Test the waters for the boss to see if she’ll be a good fit for us.
” All three of them shift their attention to me.
A tiny beta woman with sharp cheekbones, dark, short cropped hair, and vivid blue eyes sits on a stool in front of an electric keyboard. She offers me a small wave, and I return the gesture. “Hey. I’m Vivianna, but you can call me Vi if you want.”
“Scarlett. Or Scar. Whichever you prefer. It’s nice to meet you.”
I turn my attention to the burly alpha behind the drums. He has dark brown eyes and chin length, shaggy brown hair that frames a stoic face with a perfectly trimmed beard that reminds me of an eighties rock star.
He dips his chin in my direction, but doesn’t wave.
“Rocky. Nice to meet you Scarlett.” He rumbles out, and I try not to shiver at the sound.
“Fitting name.” I quirk a brow, trying to be funny. Thankfully, he chuckles, a twinkle glinting in his eye.
Finally, I glanced at the tall female alpha that clutches her bass guitar to her chest like she’s going to try to use it to beat me to death. She’s the only one openly glaring at me like I’ve purposefully offended her in some way, even though I’ve yet to be introduced to her.
We stare at each other for a long, tense moment, before Ant laughs in that seemingly good-natured way of his, trying to lighten the mood that’s made the atmosphere suddenly plummet a few too many degrees.
“The alpha that looks like she’s just got done sucking on a lemon is Raven.
She’s the boss’s older sis. Don’t let her attitude dampen your spirits. She’s like this with everyone.”
Like the boss bitch I am, I don’t even grimace at the introduction. Seriously? Mr. Madden’s fucking sister? A freaking alpha that looks like she wants to take her amp cord and wrap it around my neck to strangle me. Who the fuck pissed in her goddamned cheerios this morning?
“I fucking told Wren we don’t need a vocalist.” She practically snarls, and I give myself a pat on the back for holding back a flinch at her scathing tone.
Masquerading as a beta is hard work, especially when presented with such dominant alphas like Raven Madden.
My omega instincts are screaming at me to roll over and bare my neck to this alpha.
“We’ll fuckin’ rock with a vocalist, Raven.
Don’t get your panties in a twist over nothing.
” Ant rolls his eyes, and I’m loath to admit I’m a little impressed by how brazenly defiant he is with her.
She’s scary as hell with eyes so dark, they look like blades forged with ice.
I bet she’d be lethal even without her designation to back her up.
I fully expect her to drag me off the stage by my hair any second now, but all she does is twist her lips in a sneer before turning away to continue fiddling with her guitar.
Ant blows out a breath beside me akin to a sigh of relief, then turns his attention back to me, that infuriating smile pasted back in place.
I’d like him to stop smiling at me like that.
“Mic should be all set, Scarlett. Try not to let Raven get under your skin. She’s an asshole to everyone.
Even the boss. Too much alpha and not enough omega around to settle her instincts.
” He winks at me like I’ll understand the joke.
I really wish he’d stop flirting with me. It’s starting to make my skin crawl.
He gestures to the mic front and center of the stage ahead, and I just give him a respectful nod. No sense pointing out that I’m pretty sure she doesn’t need a reason to hate me. Alphas don’t respect betas. And somehow, I just know she’d think even less of me if she knew what I really am.
Thankfully, no one has commented on the ugly scar that mottles the skin of my shoulder.
Probably because they haven’t been paying attention…
I take my position by the mic, pushing thoughts of pissed off alphas and all the rest of my demons out of my head.
The minutes tick by, and then the lights above flare to life before the curtain pulls back.
My heartbeat jumps into my throat when I look out at the mass of writhing bodies already on the dance floor.
A cool trickle of sweat slips down my spine beneath the fabric of my dress at the first thrums of music behind me as the band begins the set.
Then, I close my eyes and let myself fall back into the familiar ease of music and soul. And when my mouth opens to sing, I’m flayed apart all over again as my memories consume me and drag me under, straight to hell.