Page 22 of Omega Rock

I want to slink back against the wall or find a window exit. But a window from the penthouse isn’t an exactly valid escape route. So, I lift my chin and sling my bag across the shoulder like nothing’s wrong or happened and I’m just ready to leave. Because it shouldn’t be something embarrassing, but itis. Heats happen. Alphas assist. It is what it is.

But we’re coworkers, so itcan’t.

Unless we make a pack. Unless we commit to one as well as a band.

I’ve known them less than twenty-four hours so that’s a big oldnoright now.

Right?

Conflict storms within me, stirring something farther south—another heat flare I simply donothave time for. I’m functional now, and I want to be functional enough to get at least halfway home before having to pull off and… and what? Get myself off enough to get the rest of the way home?

I’m never drinking again. I can’t afford my heat suppressants not working anymore, especiallynow. Especially with Exit Fate. We have so much work to do so quickly, and it needs to be done without distractions.

Unfortunately, I’m not sure if I can stop a heat cycle already in motion.

I hurry into the living space of Aiden’s apartment to find him cooking, and Noah and Leo at the kitchen island, sitting on barstools and eating breakfast. “Morning!”

I move quick toward the apartment door but Aiden steps into my path. I stop just short of bumping into him—which is good, because physical contact with one of these alphas might fully set me into this flare.

“Do you want breakfast?” Aiden asks with an innocent tone not questioning how I’m doing, which I appreciate.

Noah and Leo, on the other hand, meet my gaze with theirs full of concern.

“No, thank you, though,” I say quickly. “I should get going, it’s a long drive back home.”

Aiden’s cinnamon and chocolate scent fills my nostrils. He’s not touching me, but hispresenceis, and it’s making warmth bloom at my core. Another flash of Leo’s fingers inside me fully envelopes my mind. I sway on my feet.

Aiden touches a hand to my shoulder to steady me. “Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Something in the way he asks the question hits me wrong, as if this is my first heat ever and do I know what I’m doing. I’m young, but I’m notthatyoung. And I also don’t think he meant it that way.

Still, my jaw clenches. “Yes, I’ll be okay. I just need…”Need new clothes.Fresh panties. A freezing cold shower and my knot dildos and the rest of the day alone. My face heats until I’m so warm I feel like you could cook on my forehead. “I need to get home.”

Aiden’s concerned green eyes narrow. He opens his mouth to speak, then shakes his head. “Please don’t feel embarrassed.”

I close my eyes and just breathe for ten seconds. A part of me hopes when I open my eyes again, all of this will have been a dream—or nightmare, more like. But it’s not.

“We’re supposed to be making a band,” I say to Aiden, but it’s for Noah and Leo, too. “And that’s the focus. I apparently suck at appropriately handling heat suppressants, and I’ll not let that happen again. But for right now, I want to get home and deal with this. And then we have music to make. So.” I lift my phone and shake it in front of me. “Text chain, lyric ideas. Send videos of guitar riffs and drum beats. Let’s just focus on the music right now.”

And not the way we’re all scent matched. Not the way this band already feels like home in an odd, very comforting way. And definitelynoton the way Leo’s brown eyes have a little bit of joy shining in them because he’s remembering last night, too.

“Thank you for everything yesterday,” I say to all of them. “I won’t let you down. I’m really excited for what we make with Exit Fate.”

This feels like a line in the sand—and it should. Wes and Sable both warned me not to screw this opportunity up. Starting a pack with these alphas or letting them help me through this heat would be screwing it up. It’d be crossing that line thatneedsto exist if Exit Fate is to succeed.

Don’t mix love and work, isn’t that always the advice?

“We are too,” Noah says with a sad smile. “Let us know when you’re back home?”

I nod, grateful he’s moving this conversation away from Aiden’s ask I stay. Aiden freaking Paltier wants me tostayhere and help me throughmyheat.

Leo Altis already did.

I went from being starstruck to running out of here so quickly it’s like I’d slept with all of them.

“Let’s plan to meet this weekend,” Aiden says, “and we’ll write and share stuff as Mia asked.”

“Sounds good to me,” Leo agrees. I note the joy has left his gaze.

Noah nods. “Sure thing.”

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