Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
After three days snowed in at the estate, the roads are finally clear for us to make a trip into town.
Quentin had pulled me aside yesterday afternoon to let me know that the label execs were demanding a face-to-face with our Omega. What he didn’t mention was how upset they were with Skye for refusing to stop her show when her heat started.
“Ms. Pierce, we take the safety of our artists and their fans seriously. What happened at the end of your last concert was not only dangerous, it was reckless.”
Three execs sit across from us in the airy conference room near their offices.
It’s so different from their manager’s office, which is crowded with desks and plastered with old posters.
This room is sterile with white walls and gray carpets, not a single piece of art hanging on the walls to break up the space.
“I wasn’t fully in heat yet, and the scent blockers prevented any Alphas in the area from catching hints of my pheromones,” Skye protests, her hands wringing in her lap.
I love my Omega to pieces, but I’m with the label on this one. She should have listened when we told her to get off the stage. Her fans would have understood, and any who didn’t could have fucked off.
“We understand that,” the female Alpha across from her says gently, “but it doesn’t change our stance.
Going into heat in a sold-out venue could easily start a riot.
Even if you were safe with security and your pack nearby, what would have happened if an Alpha had gone into a rut and assaulted someone in the crowd? ”
Skye’s shoulders fall, her head dropping until she’s staring at her lap. “I hadn’t considered that. I just didn’t want to let them down. With us being away from work and the next album untouched…” she trails off.
Her shame burns through our bond. I hate it, but I cannot bear this burden for her. She has to listen, truly listen, so that instances like that never happen again.
Because next time? I won’t be sending Caleb to coax her off the stage gently. I will haul her out of the venue without a word to her fans, and then I’ll redden her ass in punishment.
“Ms. Pierce.” A polished Alpha who is graying at his temples pulls her attention to him. “Your contract requires another album within the next three years. No one in the company would bat an eye if you waited until the last week of that timeline to launch a record.”
“Shiloh is right,” the woman says. “Taking breaks isn’t a bad thing. You are allowed to have a life outside of your career. In fact, we encourage it.”
I pull one of Skye’s hands into mine when she starts picking at the skin around her nails. The watery smile she flashes my way guts me.
“There isn’t another performance on your schedule until March. Enjoy that time away. Spend time with your pack. With your new Alpha. Let life inspire you. The label will still be here.”
They leave, returning to their other tasks. As the door clicks shut behind them, I drag Skye into my arms, encouraging her to wrap around my torso.
“Darling, they’re only worried about you,” Quentin runs his palm up and down her back.
“I know,” she whispers, breath puffing against my throat. “It’s hard to step away. I feel so guilty when I’m not releasing new music.”
Patting her head, I tuck her firmly against me. “You didn’t put out any music or step into the studio while you were recording your season of the Musical Disguises,” I point out.
“I am not going on another reality show.” Her nose wrinkles at the thought.
Chuckling, I use my finger to smooth the skin. “There are other options, is all I’m saying. Podcasts, brand deals, vlogs. Ways for you to stay connected to your fans without pushing yourself too hard.”
“You know, that idea has a lot of merit,” Quentin interjects, his head tilted to stare at the blank wall beside us.
“There are several brands that would leap at the chance to work with the Skye Pierce. Off the top of my head, I know Nested would love to help you create your own line of decor for their stores.”
Skye’s jaw drops. He’s rendered her speechless.
“Are you for real?” she whispers before leaping at him, her arms locking around his neck as she kisses his cheek. “Yes. I’d love that.”
“So would your fans,” I point out.
Quentin presses a kiss to her temple and offers her his hand, helping her climb off my lap. “I’ll start the paperwork. Why don’t you and Onyx take the car downtown and do some shopping? Christmas is next week.”
Great. He’s cornered me into taking her out in public days before a major holiday. My instincts are going to be a bitch to rein in.
Skye requests the fish packets Sterling loves to make, so we invite Mama Aisha up to eat with us. He feels bad that she doesn’t have the same freedom to come and go as she used to because of all the snow we’ve gotten this month.
Like it’s his fault he can’t control the weather.
I trudge down the path we made to her apartment, hand tucked into my hoodie pocket to ward off the cold. The keys to the SUV wait in my shorts. There’s no way I’m dragging her to the house and expecting her to walk back in the dark, not when it’s icy out.
After starting the car and opening the garage, I head around the back and knock on her apartment door. “Mama Aisha? You ready to head down to the house?”
“I’m just slipping my shoes on.”
The apartment has changed a lot in the few weeks she’s lived here. Colorful throws hang off the back of the white couch, and decorations cover the walls. Best of all, it smells like her. Warm, comforting chamomile. The scent of safety from my childhood.
“My handsome boy, all dressed up to see me,” she jokes. I’m in basketball shorts and a hoodie, nothing special at all. “Are you enjoying the weather? We didn’t get many winters like this in Kolcruz.”
Taking her arm in mine, I walk her to the garage, making sure she doesn’t slip. “It’s alright. Skye, Bellamy, and Quentin all love the snow. I don’t mind it, wish there wasn’t so much of it already. January is going to be a bit—a big pain if it gets worse.”
She smiles when I catch myself before swearing, a habit I picked up from being cracked on the knuckles with a spoon when I did it around adults as a kid. “I don’t like the cold so much. My place stays pretty warm, but it’s like my bones know it’s cold out. The chill seeps right into ‘em.”
I crank the heat when we climb into the SUV, letting it blast for the short drive down to the house. “If you need thicker blankets or a better heating source, let us know.”
She pats my arm as we park by the front door. “Don’t worry, son, I’m not afraid to advocate for myself. Not anymore.”
Skye meets us at the door, immediately pulling Mama Aisha into a tight hug. My mate has been hiding in the conservatory all day, sulking after being scolded by the label execs yesterday. I’m glad she’s out and surrounded by her mates.
“Hello, dear. And hello to you, Mochi.”
Peering around Mama Aisha’s back, I snort when I spy the guinea pig’s nose poking from the hood of Skye’s sweater. She loves carrying her around. I wouldn’t be surprised if she tried to take her on stage during her next tour.
Not that we’re going to let her go out again for a few years. She needs to chill and take a real break before she works herself into an injury she can’t bounce back from.
“Sterling says dinner is ready when everyone wants to eat.” Caleb shifts on his heels in the doorway to the dining room, a tiny smile on his lips. “Want me to run her upstairs, bunny? I grabbed a blueberry from the fridge.”
I swear Mochi can understand what we’re saying. Her little head pops up, and she shifts to the side of the hood closest to Caleb. “Thanks babe.”
Gathered around the table, we pass around steaming packets of fish and veggies, and a plate of homemade sweet potato fries. “Does anyone have plans for Christmas?” Quentin asks as he plops a scoop of coleslaw on his plate.
“We’re celebrating here, aren’t we?” Skye asks, her eyes wide. She has a fry paused halfway to her mouth. Unease trickles from her bond. She doesn’t want any of us to leave. So we won’t.
“I already let my family know I wouldn’t be able to make it this year,” Caleb supplies. One of his hands disappears beneath the table, and our mate melts in relief. “Cora convinced Mom to wait until spring for us to visit.”
Skye’s lip wobbles. “It would be lovely to see them again.”
“And you will,” he soothes. “In the spring.”
No one else made plans to travel for the holidays, which means we’ll need to decorate the house and prepare dinner here. It will be our first Christmas in Skye’s dream home. It has to be as amazing as she is.
There should be a tree farm near Starburgh we can visit, but I can have Quentin order everything else.
Taking Skye shopping downtown after her appointment was stressful.
It’s crowded and everyone is in a hurry.
My instincts can’t handle another trip like that.
Not without hiring a security team to surround us everywhere we go.
And my Omega would put her foot down if I suggested that option.
“Not to bring the mood down, but Doctor Koch’s office emailed. The results of your blood tests are in.”
Everyone falls quiet, our breaths held. I doubt he’ll be able to tell us much. The doctor will want to speak to them in person, but any piece of information he can share feels immeasurably valuable.
“Your markers are a near-identical match for bond sickness. There is one outlier that they will look into, but they are hopeful they can treat you the same way they treat mates who bonded before their separation.”
Mama Aisha huffs out a heavy breath and reaches over to pat Skye’s hand. “Thank the Fates for that.”
We settle into quiet conversation, much lighter now that we know there is hope for an easier path forward.
After dinner, Sterling drives his mother home while I help Emmett and Bellamy clean up. Caleb had offered, but he needs this time with Skye.