Page 14 of Omega Rock

Health issues.I did recall rumors that Leo had left Lost Time because of health, but nothing was ever really clarified. Not that I’m going to interject with this information as afan. It’s clear Aiden and Leo have known each other for a while, though.

“So, what’s the plan, then?” Noah asks. “Seems like whatever happened with your band happened recently, Aiden. Are you contract-free?”

Aiden scowls, but it’s not directed at Noah. “You know, I have no fucking idea, but I’m considering it ripped up. I’m sure Jordan’s already done so, though.”

“Check that,” Noah says. “Fine print screws us all, believe me.”

“Like that of Juilliard’s polices?” Leo asks. “You were inJuilliard, man.”

Noah shrugs, but I can tell it’s hollow. It’s for sure unfinished business for him. “Not for long, but happy for the experience gained there.” He turns to me. “Mia, you’ve got to have some sort of baggage too, right? Seems a prerequisite for joining Exit Fate.”

I nearly choke on the beer in my mouth. While I cough, the guys laugh, and Noah claps me on the back.

“Joking, joking,” he says.

But it’snotjoking the way his touch, light and quick as it was, sends an electric shot of warmth through my body. My cheeks flush again and a thrum begins across my arms and legs.

Leo flashes me a concerned look. “Are you okay?”

I clear my throat and set down the beer bottle. “Yes, and the baggage is a drinking problem, clearly.” I laugh even though it’s the truth. Just not… a choking on beer kind of drinking problem.

“Noted,” Noah says with a chuckle. “Don’t let Mia drink alone.”

If they only knew how real that was.

“But no, no baggage here,” I say so they don’t see right through me. Although the way Aiden’s green gaze is settling on me now with a crease in his brow, I’m wondering if he already has. “I’ve had a natural ear for music since I was a child, college route didn’t really pan out, and then a few videos went viral of me singing and playing, and here I am.”

“A few?” Noah asks. “Try just the one. Amazing song, by the way.”

I feel all their gazes on me as I point mine directly at the beer in front of me. I’ll sing and say whatever to a camera, but put attention on me while I’m not on stage, and I kind of want to crawl into a hole.

This attention is different, too. It’s the attention of three very attractive, very much more experienced alphas.

Another shot of warmth flows through me and my head starts to spin.

I grab the side of my head and lean forward over the table. “Oh, god.”

“Mia?” Leo’s concern registers first, but I can tell all three alphas have moved closer even by an inch or two.

“Are you okay?” Noah asks and then chuckles. “Or just a lightweight.”

I try to laugh, too, but the second Noah’s hand rests on my shoulder again, I’m stifling a whimper that tries everything to escape.

Warmth.Heat.

A wetness blooms between my thighs, and by the time I’ve put all the pieces together and look up at all three of my bandmates, thesealphas, I’ve realized my mistake.

I knew drinking impacted my heat suppressants. Just taking them a few hours off will do it, too. I’ve had heats before and survived them because even poorly-working heat suppressants still block some of the worst side effects. But it’s the combination of the alcohol from last night and just now, the feeling of these alphas’ presence. It’s Noah’s hand on my shoulder. It’s the way he smells like a pine and cedar forest combined with a distinct campfire scent, like together they’ve built a campsite out of a band. And then Aiden comes in, serving hot chocolate with cinnamon with his scent, and all I can think about is howlovelya scene this would be to dive into.

I want to dive into all of them.

Slick coats the inside of my thighs.Oh, fuck.Am I in heat? Am I actually going into fucking heat on the most important day of myfucking life? I do the math quickly. It’s early, this heat cycle, but I’ve also never scented alphas quite before like this, this easily, thisstrongly.

Because they’re a scent match.

Well, Mia, that’s one way to potentially fuck up the opportunity of a lifetime, isn’t it?

Noah comes into view. “Mia?”

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