Page 44 of Omega Rock

We walk upstairs to my apartment and hurry inside. I go through my mail—mostly junk—and then shower quick and pack a suitcase of needed things. Clothes. My favorite blanket. My notebooks and gel pens I write all my music with. And, yes, string lights. Hope Aiden’s amenable to adding these to his bedroom walls.

Sable helps me stuff everything together into the suitcase. We’ve got it zipped up tight when a wash of lightheadedness comes over me. I sway beside the bed.

“Whoa, girl,” Sable says as she helps me sit down. “Are you okay?”

I nod. I’d been so focused on grabbing nest supplies that I hadn’t realized how loudly the heat thrum had gotten in my veins. I shoot Sable a sheepish smile. “Yeah, just my heat flaring.”

She gives me an understanding look before grabbing my suitcase and hauling it from my bed. “I get you. Let me know if you need anything. I’ll be out there.”

“Thank you.” It’s not possible to convey with words and a look how grateful I am for her. Luckily we’ve been friends so long, I don’t need to. Our telepathic link, even a pretend one, is set.

After a few hours during which Sable blasts so much good music—including stuff from Aiden and Leo’s old bands—I emerge from my bedroom exhausted and dehydrated. I shower again to wake myself up and clean off, grab a water, and sit beside Sable on my couch.

“How are you doing?” she asks with a knowing smile.

“Fine.” It’s all I have to offer as I sip my water. Then I relax a little. “Better. Thank you, Sable.”

She smirks. “Of course. I thought maybe Aiden’s voice might help.”

I chuckle and wrap my arms around my knees. “You thought right. Although I think it’ll be like this until I have all of their knots and they mark me.”

She raises an eyebrow. “They didn’t mark you last night?”

“No.” I squeeze my arms around my knees tighter. “Everything’s being taken slowly.”

Sable reaches for my hand. I nod her an okay, so she holds it. “Wouldn’t it help your heat, though?”

“I mean, yeah.”

“But?”

“We barely know each other.” Although we were certainlygettingto know one another. “We’re also trying to launch Exit Fate, and that’s important.”

Sable levels me with a look. “I’m not going to disagree with you regarding the band and Knotty Tour, but I also think that if this is a pack and your alphaswantto, you should let them help. Especially if there’s mutual interest and attraction. It’s worth the risk, Mia. You deserve to be happy.”

“I thought this was about my heat,” I argue since it seems Sable has switched gears.

She holds up her hands in defense. “Just saying—don’t let chasing success be what holds you back from living the rest of your life.”

“Or drinking too much?” I ask.

Sable nods. “Yes, or that. Since that’s what’s got your suppressants all messed up in the first place.” She gestures vaguely at me. “You drinking must have lessened their effects, and these guys came right in and—” Sable claps her hands together for effect.

I can’t help but laugh. “Yeah, it was something like that.”

She smiles at me then throws herself toward me for a hug. “I’m so proud of you, Mia. I know everything with Exit Fate is happening quickly. But you looked powerful and in your purpose on stage at Sound House. You’ll smash Knotty Tour.”

I hug her back just as tightly. “Thank you.”

Sable sits back. “Now, what do you want to do tonight? Are you feeling like staying in because of everything, or…?”

Her tone is enough to let me know she’s much more interested in the “or…” option. “What are you thinking?”

Sable gives me a once-over. “If you think you’re stable enough, maybe we could go out for a quick dinner, maybe even a little dancing, just to inject some fun into this prepping-for-tour panic?”

It’s a risk. A blatant one. Mixing heat with tour prep is already a lot, but once my heat ends, the only sort of fun release in tour prep will be the creative magic with the band. Which is amazing as it is, but the nerves leading up to our show at Sound House will be nothing compared to how they’ll be in the days before our first Knotty Tour show.

Sable inclines her head expectantly when I fail to reply. “What if I call the guys and have them meet us out? Then at least they’ll be with you if you need them.”

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