Page 120 of Bonds of Fate

Additionally, you have known since we visited the offices over a week ago that we will continue our hiatus until such a time aswefeel we can return to work. If the best course of action for our pack is that we come out, then we will come out. That has always been on the table. Regardless, you must agree there is to be a certain level of loyalty to be expected?”

Leo is right—LRH is responsible for more than a third of the company’s annual revenue. They work tirelessly to do more than their job requires, and in the past, it has always entitled them to speak their minds.

There have been countless hours of discussions with their legal teams and the company about the impact an announcement like this would have on the company’s investments, the music industry, and their fans. It had been heavily implied during those talks that the company’s loyalty and resources should be behind them, no matter what.

When did things change so much?

“You are correct, Leo. We do expectLong Road Home’sloyalty to the company. We appreciate your position but cannot support a public coming out so close to award season and with your album schedule so tightly packed. Additionally, our legal department has been working to keep the trial out of the publiceye, as the optics aren’t good for the company. I’m sure you understand?”

If that’s how almost ten long years of blood, sweat, and sacrifice are acknowledged, then thingshavechanged, and not for the better. Jay’s not sure of how or why, but he knows he can’t throw his name or his future in with a company that doesn’t make doing therightthing their top priority.

Leo, Rowan, and Luca have always felt the same way. It’s unbelievable to think that for all that LRH has done for Ripley Records–not just financially, but in the goodwill they create in the industry–they are here, on the edge of the end.

And that’s where they are—the end.

Jay catches sight of his reflection in the window behind Finn’s office couch. It’s distorted, and it isn’t from the rain pelting down. He is fucking furious, and it shows. He’s verging on a verbal meltdown that will free his wolf’s temper.

How dare they? How dare they do that to LRH? To his mates. To him. ToNix.He lets his scent burst into that of a forest fire, and his wolf growls, low and deep. Even the even-keeled Leo’s cinnamon is toasty.

The time has come to put their departure contingencies into action.

The Costas firm had negotiated their contract three years ago, and Antonio made sure they had contractual leverage and escape clauses should they ever need them.

Turns out they fucking do because there is no way they are sweeping this under the corporate rug. He meant it when he told Grayson he would give it all up in a minute, and they would not stand as part of a company that demands they hide any more than the Human-Were Alliance requires.

Still, Jason has the fucking gall to reiterate, “I’m sure you understand?”

“We certainly do. Our lawyers will be in touch.” Leo hangs up, tense beside him on the couch, holding Jay’s phone in an iron grip, and it occurs to him that this isn’t the first time in the past year that they have had to stand firm against the company’s demands. It hadn’t been enough to push them out the door, but now…

In the past, when they had dreamed of where they thought they would be, it hadn’t always been under Ripley Records’ vast, influential umbrella. There’d been talk of their own company, making music, and maybe even fostering their own group of like-minded musicians.

But Jay had always been loyal, always felt he owed it to the company that gave them their start to stay. So now that they’re done–and they so fucking are–Jay thought there might be a bit of sadness at the possibility of being untethered. But there isn’t. There is only a sense of relief buried under the fury.

It’s time for a change.

“That sucked so bad. He’s an asshole. Jaybird, what are we going to fucking do? We can’t let them sweep this under the rug. We need their support, right?”

“Fuck them. We’re done with this shit, Leo. But you were so good back there. You always make me proud, but you kicked his ass up one side of Music Row and down the other.” He gives his blushing mate a hard kiss, squeezing his thigh.

Jay is so lucky that these men are his mates. “When I say we’re done, I mean we aredone.Do you think you guys would be up for a change?”

“A change? Like leaving Ripley Records? Seriously? You better not be joking right now.”

Jay’s mate is up on his knees, clutching his arm, his fearful mood replaced with pure excitement. Leo has disliked the company since the beginning. It had always been Jay dragging his mates along after him with an apparently misguided senseof loyalty and for the sake of sticking by a few valued employees who’d become friends.

“Yes, I fucking mean it. This is the last straw. Try not to say you told me too loudly or in front of the others, eh?” Jay leans his head on the back of the couch, fury banked to a slow burn.

“Leo was right about something? Do tell.” Finn heads straight over to his desk and settles into his office chair, trailing the subtle scents of popcorn, black currant, and vanilla behind him.

Snorting out a huff of laughter, Leo replies, “The fucking company is trying to screw us over about managing the trial.”

Finn snorts in disgust, sitting heavily in his desk chair. “Can’t say I didn’t see that coming. That fuss they kicked up last year when Luca couldn’t get to Lollapalooza? Or that time when you and Grayson went to that art show in Paris, and the tabloids had a heyday? Or when I had my wisdom teeth taken out, and you had to cancel thatStonesspread at the last minute? Or–”

Finn is right. The list is long, and Jay has spent too long defending a company that no longer serves their purpose or meets their needs.

“I get it. It’s been a long time coming. I’m sorry if I made you feel you were banging your head against a brick wall, Leo. We should have done this three years ago.” They’d had the chance to go, but he’d convinced his mates to stay. He promises himself he’ll do better.

For now, he pushes his guilty conscience aside in favor of entertaining the possibilities that are swirling in his head. Most importantly, is that after they make sure Nix is safe, Jay will make sure Ripley Records is verysorry.

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