14
Phoenix
The heavy beat of Corruption’s last song for the night vibrated through the stack of boxes I had perched on backstage.
This was my favorite part of the night—the adrenaline coursing through the air as Purely Onyx prepared for the stage.
I’d never admit this to the guys, but I’d been a fan of their music long before they made it big.
I had followed their career from rock’s next big thing to a worldwide rock sensation.
It wasn’t until their second world tour that they needed a fixer for their image.
One too many scandals involving drugs and alcohol led to their names landing on my desk.
There was something about their music that resonated with the masses, regardless of whether they were fans of the rock genre or not.
Sitting here and getting to listen to their set almost every night made this job worth it.
My problems floated away as I became absorbed in the beat of the music; all that mattered was enjoying the show.
While the guys were on stage, I didn’t have to worry about how I acted, what I said, or what others were doing.
I could just enjoy the music.
As the final notes of the song faded, I watched as the guys grabbed their instruments from the roadies and headed toward the stage entrance.
Kage’s biceps rippled as he arranged his guitar and stepped toward the curtain.
Zephyr followed closely, and I got a full view of him from behind.
He wore fitted black jeans and a band tee, and I tried not to focus on his broad shoulders or defined arms—arms that I bet could hold a woman in the bedroom with ease.
His jeans hugged his ass in the best way possible, and his black hair was styled in a carefree, tousled manner.
Damn, what an Alpha.
I felt the need to jump straight into a cold shower to cool down my libido and snap myself out of it. I made sure my face remained blank, not giving away my feelings, before leaning back to enjoy the show.
As soon as the encore finished, the Alphas were led to the VIP area for the nightly meet and greet.
I followed a few paces behind and surveyed the VIPs for the night.
The small gathering was mostly trust fund babies—Betas—except for one male Omega.
I slunk into the background, trying not to attract attention.
For the most part, I could ignore my Omega instincts, but the longer I spent on this tour, the harder it was to rein them in.
Developing feelings for my mates would only bring pain, but I couldn’t seem to help myself.
In moments like these, I couldn’t deny my true feelings.
When I glanced up and saw the male Omega sliding too close for comfort to Zephyr and placing a hand high on his thigh, it took great effort to suppress the growl rising in my throat.
It had been two nights since Zephyr’s meltdown, and I was still no closer to understanding what had caused it.
It had been foolish of me to approach him during his freak-out, but my Omega instincts wouldn’t let me leave him alone.
I had only intended to check on him and try to talk him down, but then he had kissed me.
Time seemed to stand still while his lips dominated mine. I squeezed my thighs together, trying to ease the throbbing that reappeared as I remembered how much I had longed for him to take me right then and there.
Forcing myself to look away, I locked eyes with Parker, who was studying me.
Damn it.
Before I could retreat further into the shadows, he stood and made his way over to me.
“Now, now, Doll, don’t skitter away just yet,”
he said with a laugh.
“Why don’t you come take a seat?”
Parker pulled me toward the nearest love seat.
His thick thigh brushed against me as he slumped back into the soft cushions.
I knew there was no use trying to escape since I was obligated to be with the band during these events anyway.
Leaning in close, Parker whispered, “Don’t worry, I won’t bite unless you ask.”
The gravelly edge to his voice made my pussy clench, but my back stiffened, expecting him to start with the regular insults.
“Relax, Phoenix.
I’m just taking pity on you standing over in the dark.
It looks like it will be a long night; make yourself comfy while you take your notes to tattle on us later.”
The way he added the last part, as though that was exactly what he expected me to do, grated on my nerves.
“That’s not my role, and you know it,”
I snapped.
The rest of the room carried on with laughter and jeering as Parker and I fell silent.
I shouldn’t have lost my temper with him.
I already knew their opinion of me and should have brushed it off, but the more they taunted me, the more it hurt.
Sitting next to Parker, I couldn’t help but inhale the strong spiced orange and cinnamon.
My arm occasionally brushed against his, and all I wanted was to rub up against him and drown in his scent. I imagined him pulling me into his lap, placing kisses down my jaw and neck while grinding against me.
Trying to end that train of thought, I focused on finding something to say when Parker spoke.
“So, tell me, Phoenix, are you always work and no play on all your jobs?”
Of course, he wanted to take another dig at me for never joining in on their fun.
“Not always,” I said.
“But always around us,”
Parker added, moving his arm to rest behind my head on the couch.
I could imagine how it would feel to have his arms surrounding me in other ways. “Well, maybe your ideas of play don’t interest me.”
Parker side-eyed me with a dark chuckle, and I could tell he didn’t believe me.
“So, did you enjoy the show?”
Parker changed the subject, and I was actually surprised he let the previous topic go without adding any insults. Usually, Parker, Zephyr, and Kage took every opportunity to point out how uptight I was and dig the knife in deeper.
“I always enjoy the show.”
I smiled up at him, meaning it. I fucking loved their shows and wanted them to know that.
“There it is,”
he said. When I gave him a confused look, he added, “Your smile lights up a room when you let it loose, Sweetheart.”
With that confession, he stood up and moved out of the room, beer in hand.
A sense of longing hit me as I watched him walk away, but I liked to think I was good at avoiding my own feelings for the band.
I refocused my attention on the room in front of me.
Zephyr and Kage each had a Beta in their laps, laughing loudly while enjoying a bottle of whiskey between them.
They were already halfway through the bottle, but as long as it was only booze, I wouldn’t need to intervene.
Man, would I love some of that whiskey right now.
Kage glanced across at me as he grabbed his girl by her neck and brought his lips to hers.
I knew I should look away, but he hadn’t taken his eyes off me, even as his tongue explored the Beta’s mouth.
I refused to look away until the Beta began grinding herself against Kage’s lap, dry-fucking him right in front of everyone.
I craved to be the one in his lap, to push the blonde Beta off, free his hard cock from his jeans, and take his knot.
I rubbed my thighs together in response to my thoughts and met Kage’s gaze once more.
I was startled by the raw, primal hunger in his eyes but reminded myself it couldn’t be for me and was more likely due to the Beta writhing in his lap.
Kage’s pupils dilated and his eyelids drooped in desire as he continued to hold my gaze.
My skin started to burn, and I didn’t know how much longer I could sit there.
Just as my pussy was about to win the battle with my head and make me storm over to Kage, Zephyr tossed his beer bottle into the metal bin, the loud noise startling me and bringing me back to reality.
I took the distraction and quickly left the couch, practically running back to the bus.
◆◆◆
I must be insane.
Like fucking absolutely insane.
My skin felt too tight, and my body buzzed with an electricity I couldn’t shake.
I had stormed back to the bus, my breath shallow and my thoughts a chaotic mess. I had watched Kage grinding with that Beta, his hands on her hips, his eyes glinting with something dark and possessive. And I had felt it. God, I had felt it. A heat that wasn’t mine, a need that wasn’t mine, but it coiled in my belly anyway, demanding attention.
I stumbled onto the bus, my hands trembling, and instead of heading to the shower like I had planned, I found myself moving toward the back bedroom.
My cunt throbbed with every step.
I shut the door behind me, leaning against it for a moment, my breath coming in short, uneven gasps.
“Fuck,”
I whispered, my voice shaky.
I could still see him, his green eyes locked on mine, even as that Beta girl had writhed in his lap.
He had been looking at me the whole time, his gaze heavy, deliberate, as if he could see straight through me.
As if he knew.
My hands moved on their own, one sliding under my shirt, fingers brushing over my nipples and the other playing with my clit.
I shuddered and my head fell back against the door.
I needed more.
I needed to take the edge off, to quiet the ache that was building inside me.
I stripped quickly, my clothes dropping to the floor in a haphazard pile.
My skin was hot to the touch and my thighs were already slick with arousal.
I hesitated for a moment before I settled onto the bed, spreading my legs and playing with myself.
Imagining the Alpha’s touch on me, I couldn’t stop the small whimpers coming from my mouth as I pressed my fingers harder into my flesh.
Pressing two fingers slowly into my opening and scissoring to stretch myself, I shuffled to the bedside and braced myself on my hand and knees.
Reaching for one of the drawers where I knew the band kept new toys for their nightly conquests, I found the first clean dildo that my hand made contact with and made quick work of using my own juices to lube the silicone.
I brought the toy to my entrance.
The first touch was electric, a sharp jolt of pleasure that made me gasp.
I worked the dildo slowly, teasing myself, my breath coming in shallow pants.
I imagined it was him, his hands on me, his mouth on me, his cock filling me.
I bit my lip, my hips rising to meet the toy, my body craving more.
“Kage,”
I whispered, my voice barely audible. I didn’t know why I said his name, why it slipped out, but it felt right. It felt like the truth. My movements became more frantic, my free hand moving to my clit, my fingers circling in tight, desperate motions. I was close, so close, the pressure threatening to spill over.
And then the door opened.
I froze and my eyes snapped open. Kage stood in the doorway, his tall frame filling the space, his eyes dark and unreadable. He didn’t say anything at first, just stood there, his gaze sweeping over me, taking in the scene before him.
“Well,”
he said finally, his voice low and rough. “Isn’t this a surprise?”
My face burned, my mind scrambling for something to say, some excuse, but nothing came. I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, my body still singing with the edge of pleasure I hadn’t quite reached.
Kage stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him with a soft click.
He moved toward me with a slow, deliberate grace.
He reached the bed, his hand extending, and before I could even think to stop him, he swiped a finger through my slick, bringing it to his lips.
He tasted me, his eyes closing for a moment even though I knew it would have no flavor. When he opened them again, they were even darker, more intense.
“I knew you were keeping secrets, Princess,”
he said, his voice a low purr. “But I didn’t think you were an Omega.”
My breath caught, my body tensing. “I—I’m not—”
Kage cut me off with a sharp laugh. “Don’t lie to me, Doll.”
He leaned in closer, his hand resting on the bed beside me, his face inches from mine. “If only you weren’t suppressing your scent. What do you smell like, hmm? I bet it’s fucking intoxicating.”
My body betrayed me as heat pooled low in my belly. I could feel the weight of his presence, the way his scent—crisp, dark, and utterly Alpha—wrapped around me, making my head spin.
Kage’s hand moved, his fingers brushing over my thigh, making me shiver. “Tell me, Omega,”
he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Would you like some help?”
“Fuck off,”
I snapped, my voice trembling more than I’d like to admit. I clenched the dildo tighter in my hand, my cheeks burning as Kage lingered.
He raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking into that infuriating, self-assured smirk that always made me want to scream. “Just offering to help, love,”
he drawled, his deep voice smooth and teasing.
“I don’t need your help,”
I shot back, though my words lacked the bite I intended. My body was still thrumming from the memory of him at the VIP meet—the way he’d sat in that chair, his piercing green eyes locked on mine, while that Beta had ground shamelessly in his lap. I had told myself I was leaving because I was disgusted, but the truth was, my panties were soaked, and I’d barely made it back to the bus before my hands had started wandering.
Kage shrugged, stepping back as if to leave. “Suit yourself.”
The door creaked as he started to push it shut, and panic flared in my chest. “Wait,”
I blurted.
He paused, the door hovering halfway open, and turned to look at me. “Changed your mind?”
I swallowed hard, my grip on the dildo loosening. I hated him—hated the way he treated me, hated the way he made me feel so out of control. But right now, I wasn’t sure I cared.
“I… please,”
I all but begged.
Kage stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a soft click. The room felt smaller now, his presence overwhelming as he crossed the space between us in a few long strides. He reached out, his hand brushing against mine as he plucked the dildo from my fingers.
“Let’s see if I can do a better job,”
he murmured, his voice low and rough.
My breath hitched as he knelt between my legs, his free hand pushing my thighs further apart with firm but gentle pressure. I could feel the heat of his gaze as he studied me, his expression unreadable.
“You’re so wet,”
he observed, his thumb brushing lightly over my clit. I gasped, my hips arching off the bed as pleasure shot through me.
“Shut up,”
I muttered, though the effect was ruined by the way my voice broke on the words.
He chuckled, the sound dark and rich. The dildo was cool against my skin as he pressed it to my entrance, his other hand holding my hip steady. He pushed it in slowly, inch by torturous inch, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Fuck,”
I breathed, my nails digging into the sheets as he worked the toy deeper inside.
“That’s the idea,”
Kage replied, his tone teasing but his touch achingly deliberate. He began to move the dildo in slow, steady strokes, each thrust sending waves of pleasure coursing through me.
I struggled to hold on to some semblance of control. But it was impossible—not with one of my mate’s hands on me, not with the way he was watching me.
“You’re so fucking beautiful like this,”
he murmured, his voice soft but intense. “Begging for it, even if you won’t say it out loud.”
“I’m not—”
I started to protest, but the words died in my throat as he angled the dildo just right, hitting that spot deep inside that made me see stars.
“You are,”
he insisted, his thumb circling my clit in time with the thrusts of the toy. “And it’s okay, Doll. You don’t have to hide it from me.”
My orgasm built quickly, a pressure coiling tight in my core until I couldn’t hold back anymore. I came with a cry, my body shaking as waves of pleasure crashed over me.
Kage didn’t stop, his fingers working me through the aftershocks until I was gasping for air, my body limp and spent.
When he finally pulled the dildo free, I expected him to leave—to gloat, maybe, or make some smug comment. But instead, he leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispered, “This changes everything, Phoenix.”
I wanted to argue, to tell him he was wrong. But as he stood and walked out of the room, I couldn’t bring myself to say a word.
Because deep down, I knew he was right.
Before closing the door, he looked back and added, “I’ll play your game for now and keep your secret as long as it doesn’t interfere with the tour.”
I released the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
“Thank you,”
I whispered before rising from the bed and getting dressed. Not wanting to address what Kage and I had done or what it meant going forward, I chose to ignore the butterflies in my belly and get back to work.
I was mentally kicking myself for the choices I had just made when Kage added, “Oh, and Doll…”
His tone was casual, but there was a weight behind it that made me pause. I turned my head to face him, arching a brow.
“What now?”
Kage held on to the door. “You might want to start praying that Zephyr doesn’t find out you’re not a Beta.”
I blinked at him, confusion flickering through me. “Why’s that?”
Instead of answering right away, he stepped closer, raising a hand to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.
The unexpected intimacy of the gesture caught me off guard, leaving me frozen.
His eyes met mine, and for the briefest moment, I thought I saw something softer there—but it was gone as quickly as it came.
“Because there’s nothing Zephyr hates more than Omegas,”
he said, his voice low and pointed.
And with that bombshell, he left the room, disappearing into the bathroom.
A second later, I heard the shower start, the sound of water cascading over tile filling the silence he left behind.
I stood there, rooted to the spot, his words ringing in my ears.
Nothing Zephyr hates more than Omegas.
My stomach churned, a wave of nausea rolling over me.
As if things weren’t already complicated enough, now I had that to worry about.
Zephyr was difficult enough to deal with on a good day, with his sharp words and cutting glares. But if he found out what I really was… I didn’t even want to imagine how much worse things could get.
The sharp ping of my phone broke through my spiraling thoughts.
Grateful for the distraction, I walked toward my bunk, grabbing my phone off the charger.
A new message from my sister Sparrow lit up the screen.
Hey sis, bad news.
Markus won’t have the order ready for another two weeks.
I’ve changed my trip and will meet you in Cincinnati instead.
Will call you tomorrow to go over the details. xoxo.
I let out a loud sigh, sinking onto the edge of my bunk.
Of course.
As if I needed another curveball right now.
I typed out a quick reply, telling Ro I’d talk to her in the morning, then set my phone aside.
My heart was still racing, though I wasn’t sure if it was from Kage’s words or the news from my sister.
I opened the drawer in my bunk, digging through the scattered contents until I found what I was looking for: a small white bottle of pills.
My hands shook as I emptied the contents into my palm and began to count.
One, two, three, four… I let out a breath of relief when I finished.
Just enough to last me until Cincinnati. Barely.
Suppressants weren’t easy to come by—dangerously unregulated and illegal unless you had guardian or pack permission—but they were my lifeline.
The only thing standing between me and the truth of my designation.
Being an Omega was a vulnerability I couldn’t afford, not here, not anywhere.
I rolled the pills back into the bottle and screwed the lid on tight before shoving it back into its hiding spot.
My chest tightened as I thought about how close I was cutting it.
Originally, I’d planned to meet Ro in Chicago, where Markus was supposed to have a new batch ready.
But now, with the delay, I’d have to wait.
And if something went wrong… I didn’t want to think about it.
Shaking off the thought, I forced myself to focus.
I couldn’t afford to spiral right now.
I’d been walking this tightrope for years.
I’d be fine.
I had to be.
Standing, I straightened my clothes and made sure everything was in place.
My movements were brisk, almost robotic, as I brushed my hands down my black pencil skirt.
The familiar ritual of getting ready grounded me, giving me something to focus on besides the chaos in my mind.
Once I was satisfied, I ran a brush through my hair, quickly tying it back before slipping on my shoes.
With a final glance at the mirror by my bunk, I squared my shoulders and headed toward the front of the bus.
It was time to find the rest of the band and face whatever fresh hell the night had in store for me.