26
Phoenix
Stupid. Stupid, stupid. How could I have forgotten about heat spikes? It was so obvious now that I was off my suppressants—my body was bound to react, and react it did. Abruptly stopping suppressants without preparing for the consequences was a rookie mistake. I should’ve been smarter, more cautious.
At least Kage and Parker had been there to see me through it. The thought alone made my cheeks heat, and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Every time I thought about how they’d helped me through that spike, I felt the telltale stir of my perfume, the way it’d rise in the air, announcing my arousal to anyone who could sense it. It was ridiculous. I couldn’t even think about them without my body betraying me.
Not that it was easy to avoid thinking about them, especially now.
I glanced across the room at the VIP fan event. The place was buzzing with energy, people drinking, talking, and laughing. It was one of those posh events, put on by one of the band’s sponsors, meant to celebrate their recent success. The venue itself screamed luxury—high ceilings, velvet drapes, and chandeliers that glittered above us, casting a soft glow over the space. But it wasn’t the room or the people or the drinks that kept catching my attention.
No, it was the three Alphas scattered around the party, each of them looking devastatingly hot, even when they weren’t trying to.
Parker was across the room, leaning against a bar, talking with some exec. He was dressed coolly and casually, as usual—dark jeans and a tee, his short but messy hair falling in that perfect, careless way he always had going for him. I watched the way his lips curled into an easy, charming smile, and I had to tear my eyes away before my mind wandered too far.
Then there was Kage, standing near the small stage, talking to the sound crew. His energy was more intense, always was. Even now, with his relaxed posture, there was something coiled about him, like he was always ready to pounce. His black T-shirt stretched over his chest and shoulders, hugging his well-sculpted body. Just thinking about him made me feel warm.
And then there was Zeph, the one I was supposed to be avoiding the most. He was perched on a couch, surrounded by a group of people who were hanging on his every word. He was effortlessly charismatic, as always, the kind of person who could command a room with just a glance. His blue eyes hadn’t landed on me yet, thankfully, because I wasn’t sure how long I could keep up the act around him.
Kage and Parker had been clear—it was best if we didn’t involve Zeph until we could sit down and explain things. Apparently, he had some pretty big hang-ups when it came to Omegas, and that wasn’t something they could just blurt out in the middle of a party. They hadn’t gone into much detail, and I hadn’t pressed them for it, but the fact that they were playing interference to protect me from Zeph’s reaction only made me feel more guilty.
Not that I hadn’t already felt guilty enough.
When I’d brought it up to Parker and Kage after the heat spike—apologized for putting them in a position where they had to lie to their packmate—they’d brushed it off like it was no big deal. Kage had given me that stern, serious look of his and told me that it was better this way, at least until Zeph was in the right frame of mind to handle it.
“Don’t worry about it, Doll,”
Parker had said with a grin. “We’ll explain everything to him when the time is right. We’ve got your back.”
That should’ve reassured me, but it didn’t stop the gnawing guilt. And now, every time I thought about how they’d helped me through that heat spike, the memory of how close we’d gotten, how intimate things had become… I could feel my scent starting to rise again.
I squeezed my legs together and took a deep breath, forcing myself to focus on something else. Anything else. The last thing I needed right now was for my perfume to start drifting across the room, drawing attention to me. I didn’t want to deal with the consequences of that, especially not with Zeph in the same room.
But it was hard. So hard. Especially when they all looked so damn good.
I tried to shake the memories of Parker’s purrs, Kage’s rough hands, and the way they’d both taken care of me when I needed it most. It was easier said than done when I kept catching them glancing my way. They weren’t exactly being subtle about it either. Part of me loved it. The way they made me feel seen, desired. The way they treated me like I was already part of their pack, like I belonged with them.
I hadn’t expected to get this close to them, hadn’t planned on becoming part of their world. Now, it felt like I was balancing on the edge of a cliff, and everything was about to come crashing down before we even had a chance to figure things out.
I looked down at my drink, the ice melting in the glass as I swirled it around. How long could I keep this up? How long could I hide my heat cycles, my scent, my desires?
I glanced up again, catching Parker’s eye from across the room. He gave me a small, knowing smile, one that made my stomach flip.
I had to get a grip.
For now, at least. Thankfully, Wren had managed to get a hold of more suppressants and was on her way to meet us at the next venue.
I focused back on the room, taking it all in for a moment. I fit in with the crowd more than usual. Tonight, I’d decided to be brave—no more hiding behind the polished, professional version of myself that I always presented to the world. No more tailored pantsuits or restrained smiles. I wanted the guys to see the real me, the version I kept locked away, hidden beneath all the layers of business and professionalism.
So, I’d chosen something bolder, something that screamed me—a figure-hugging red dress that clung to every curve. It was striking, confident, and more daring than anything they’d ever seen me in before. I felt powerful in it, like I could take on the world… or at least, that’s what I told myself when I had picked it out.
My eyes scanned the room, but like a magnet, they found him again.
Zephyr.
He was standing near the bar, surrounded by a group of Betas who were hanging on his every word. His dark hair was tousled from the performance earlier, and he wore a fitted black shirt that highlighted the lean muscles underneath.
I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling a wave of insecurity rise up inside me, threatening to overwhelm the confidence I’d felt just minutes earlier. It wasn’t that I didn’t know I looked good. I did. But being here, watching him laugh and joke with that crowd of Betas, I couldn’t help but feel… less.
They were all so easy around him, all smiles and light banter, no walls or secrets between them. Unlike me, who was holding on to more than a few layers of deception. What if Zephyr didn’t want this—me—once he found out the truth? What if I was just fooling myself by thinking I could be a part of this world, a part of them?
I quickly reached for the small bottle in my clutch and double-checked the scent neutralizing spray, spraying a bit more on my wrists and behind my neck, just to be sure. I’d already applied it before leaving, but paranoia was creeping in.
Once I felt like I was in control again, I took a deep breath and moved toward the bar. I tried to keep my movements casual, confident, but the closer I got, the more my nerves threatened to undo me. I could feel the sweat starting to form at the nape of my neck, my fingers tightening around the strap of my clutch.
Zephyr must’ve caught sight of me out of the corner of his eye because he turned in my direction, his eyes locking onto mine. My pulse quickened as he started to straighten up, like he was about to come over and—
Just like that, someone else stepped in. A groupie, all long legs and glossy hair, slid up beside him, slipping her arm through his and pulling him toward the bar with a flirty smile. I froze mid-step, watching as Zephyr allowed himself to be led away, his attention shifting completely to her.
A sharp stab of jealousy hit me, cutting through the confidence I’d tried to build up. My breath caught in my throat, and I had to stop myself from visibly wincing. Watching him walk away with her like I was just another face in the crowd made something twist painfully in my chest.
My feet stayed rooted in place as I watched them laugh together, the groupie pressing herself closer to him, her smile wide and inviting. Zephyr didn’t seem to mind, didn’t even hesitate before wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her against him. The sight of it—of how easily he could be with her—made my heart sink.
What was I even doing? Why had I convinced myself I had a shot with him? With any of them?
I thought this weekend, the heat spike, everything with Kage and Parker… maybe it meant something. Maybe it was the start of something real. But now, watching Zephyr disappear into the crowd with that girl, I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d made the wrong decision. Maybe pursuing the band, this life, had been a mistake from the start. Maybe I was setting myself up for heartbreak.
The music thudded louder around me, the lights flashing in time with the beat. I could feel the walls closing in, the room suddenly feeling too small, too crowded. My breath came in shallow, ragged gasps as I stood there, trying to figure out what to do next, where to go. My head was spinning, my heart pounding with a mixture of jealousy and self-doubt.
I took a shaky breath and turned away, walking toward the farthest corner of the room before I did something I’d regret.