Chapter 27 #2
If this is another mini heat, that means bonding her hasn’t helped ease the bond sickness. It means I’m still hurting her. And that’s the last thing I want to do.
“It is December,” Sterling comments as we show the security staff our badges and slip through the door. “Her heat was due at the end of the month, but it could have come early.”
Emmett appears ahead of us, his lips pinched tight.
“I see you’ve figured out what’s going on.
Quentin is working with the venue staff to prepare for the show to end early, but Skye is refusing to leave.
Onyx is getting close to a breaking point.
He might storm the stage and throw her over his shoulder if this continues much longer. ”
Hurrying after him, we weave through the halls until we’re stage-side, where our other packmates are waiting.
Onyx paces furiously, Alpha pheromones rolling off him in thick waves. “Shit,” Sterling mutters, brushing past me to reach his mate. We need him to get control before he sends the crowd into a panic.
Skye twirls around the front of the stage, unfazed despite the agony and need surging through our bond. It’s equal parts frustrating and awe-inspiring.
Our Omega is a badass for fighting through the misery of a heat to not ruin tonight for her fans.
“I have an idea.” Quentin rushes to us, holding an electric guitar in his hands. “Do any of you know the chords?”
When the others admit they don’t, I quietly raise my hand, ignoring the way my cheeks burn when they all turn to me. “I memorized her music and binged her albums.”
Pushing the instrument into my hands, he motions for a stage tech to hook it up. “Go get our mate.”
Nervous as hell, I slide the strap over my head and step onto the stage. The noise from the crowd quiets as I let my fingers move through each note of the song, inching closer to where my Omega is dancing.
The crew on stage doesn’t miss a beat as they seamlessly make room for me to get to her. I can’t catch their exact scents, but they have an acidic edge to them, belying their concern despite the lack of it on their faces.
Skye finally sees me, her eyes narrowing as she sings. Sweat soaks her top, the thin material translucent where it clings to her back. And her scent… Fates, does she smell heavenly.
Without missing a beat, I step to her side and play up my appearance by winking at the crowd and bumping my hip against hers. If any of her fans recognize me, they might know our history and assume I’m here to surprise her.
That’s actually a great idea.
I mouth to the dancers that they should leave the stage while she is between songs, ignoring my mate when she not-so-accidentally stomps on my foot.
“Don’t be a brat, bunny,” I whisper in her ear before leaning forward to speak into her mic. “Hey Pierclings, did you know Skye was in a band before she went solo?”
Various answers shout from the crowd. Some recognize us, others making wildly inaccurate guesses.
Putting her hand over my mouth, Skye explains who I am. “This is my newest Alpha mate, Caleb. Long before I became Skye Pierce, we were in a band together.”
Licking her palm, I chuckle when she shoves the mic toward me, burying a moan into her shoulder. My little mate thinks she can fight this heat, but her instincts are slowly taking control.
“Who’s interested in hearing a Hollow Anchors original?”
The crowd roars its agreement, earning a sigh from Skye. “You’re going to get me into trouble,” she mutters, heading toward the piano sitting on a raised part of the stage.
All it would take is one peek toward the side of the stage where Onyx glares at us to see just how much trouble she’s gotten herself into.
Leaning against the side of her piano, I wait while she slots her mic into place and stretches her fingers above the keys, joking with the crowd about barely remembering the notes.
She perfectly glides into the song as I start us out, her voice rough and her back stiff. This is Hollow Anchors shortest song.
And our saddest.
This was our farewell song. One we’ve only ever performed once. During our last show.
Unlike that concert, we won’t be parting ways when we leave. No, I’m going to take her home and spend the next several days buried knot-deep inside her. Exactly where I belong.
Her last note carries through the room, her breaths puffing out in rapid pants and her hands shaking where they hover over the keys.
Stealing her mic again, I step a few feet away, taking advantage of her momentary distraction.
“Well, New York, I have something to admit. I didn’t come out here tonight just to perform with my Omega, though that’s always a blast. You see, this fiery little mate of mine is in heat.
And she’s been trying to fight through the last twenty minutes of the show. She didn’t want to let you down.”
Murmurs fill the room, some shocked, others full of disbelief.
“So, I’m going to steal her away now. Can we give her one last cheer for putting on such an amazing show?”
They roar, shouting at my mate, but I ignore their questions as I pass the mic to a stagehand who appears to take it and the guitar. Skye’s eyes are glassy, her skin burning against my hands when I lift her into my arms, her head cradled against my chest, and rush off the stage.
“About damn time,” Onyx growls, immediately pulling her from my arms. “We’re leaving.”
Sterling slaps me on the back, hurrying to follow our pack leader. “Well, this has been a disaster.” Quentin pinches the bridge of his nose and pockets his phone. “I made sure everything we need will be delivered to the house. Let’s hope our mate can make it home without sending anyone into a rut.”
The pointed look he throws my way has my shoulders hiking up around my ears. Yeah, that’s a real possibility for me.
“Caleb and Sterling should ride with me in the Jeep,” Bellamy suggests as we reach the parking lot. “Em, go with Q. Onyx shouldn’t go into a rut since he just had one, but he might need extra hands.”
“We have a plan, let’s get out of here.”
Emmett slides into the back seat with Skye, letting out a wave of her honey-sweet perfume that has my eyes rolling back into my skull.
Bellamy’s hand grips my bicep tightly, dragging me across the lot and away from my mate. “I’ll get you back to her, dude. Can’t have you losing your mind till we get home.”