Page 66 of Shades of Scars

We finally reach the bar after what feels like an eternity, and I’m already scanning the crowd around it. When I findApollo leaning against the wall next to the swinging door that leads behind the bar, my teeth grind. I don’t even alert Lark. I stalk towards him, and the moment he sees me, he winces and straightens his posture.

He still doesn’t anticipate the punch I aim at his face. My knuckles slam against his cheek, and he stumbles back against the wall. Lark clamps a hand down on my forearm to stop me from swinging again, but he doesn’t need to. I only wanted one good punch.

“What the fuck, Caito!” Apollo snaps, glaring over at me, but he doesn’t move to retaliate. Smart man.

“Where the fuck is she? Are you truly that big of a fool, Apollo? Why the fuck would you bring her here?”

“Calm the hell down, asshole. Kate begged her to go out one last time before she’s holed up in the penthouse.Ravenis one of the only places in this entire city where it’s safe for her. And I’m fucking watching her. I can keep my omega safe without your input.”

I grit my teeth, clenching and unclenching my fist to relieve some of the ache in my knuckles from delivering a solid punch to my pack mate’s face. “You better come up with a different excuse when Wren gets his hands on you. If you think I’m pissed, that’s fucking nothing. Now,where is she?”

Apollo glares at me, but there’s at least a little apprehension in his eyes now at the mention of Wren. “I offered to get the girls into a VIP lounge upstairs, but they wanted to dance down here on the main floor. They’re right-” He moves his attention across the crowd, and then he freezes, and I know something is wrong immediately. “What the fuck?”

I follow his line of sight where I spot the roommate right away, but Scarlett is nowhere to be seen. I’m already moving towards her before Apollo can say another word, and the moment I get close, I have an iron grip on her arm. I’m preparedwhen she lashes out, whirling around with her fist already swinging. I catch it easily in my palm, flexing my fingers over hers so she knows not to so much as flinch a muscle again.

The moment her eyes connect with mine, she relaxes, but only marginally. I can tell she doesn’t trust me, but right now I don’t really give a flying fuck. “Where is my omega?” I demand, and she scrunches up her nose. She’s got her long, dark hair twisted back from her face with pins, but I can still see her ice blue eyes sparking malice behind her black velvet mask.

Her red painted lips peel back in a sneer, and then she yanks herself away from me, but she doesn’t go far. Smart omega. “She went off with some alpha named Ant. He asked her if she’d be willing to sing a set with them. She seemed excited about it.” Kate shrugs, and I see fucking red.

I whirl around and spear Apollo with a sinister glare. “He has no right approaching her like that, let alone asking that of her.” I don’t give him a chance to respond. I’m already stalking through the crowd again, heading towards the side of the stage. I’ll fucking teach that sorry excuse of an alpha to never approach my omega again.

Just before I can make it halfway to my destination, the lights above dim and the curtain on the stage begins to pull back. My feet freeze to the floor, and I feel my entire world tip on its axis. Lark and Apollo come to a stop beside me as we watch the curtain reveal our omega, center stage, dressed to fucking kill in a floor length crimson cocktail dress that sparkles like a supernova under the lights that flare to life above her. She has a matching satin mask tied around her head that conceals half of her face from view, but I’d know it was her even in the damn dark.

I’m just about to step forward again to snatch her off that stage when the band begins to thrum behind her. Then sheopens her mouth and begins to sing, and I forget all about my need to have her safe in my arms.

She sings my damn siren song and I know I’m done for.

41

Scarlett

“Ireally shouldn’t have let you drag me out tonight!” I have to practically yell over the thrum of the bass shaking the floor beneath our feet. Someone steps on my foot, and I snarl, whipping around to flay them alive, but the drunk alpha is already stumbling away.

“We’re not drinking! We’re just dancing! The alphas will be fine!” I glance over my shoulder at her words, but my gaze is drawn to Apollo keeping watch over us by the side of the bar. We aren’t that far away from each other, but I shiver at the feel of his gaze laser focused on me. She follows my gaze and sighs. “You deserve to have a little fun before they lock you away in a tower, Scar!”

“It’s not like that! I told you everything! It’s for my own safety, as well as the baby!” Thankfully, the anti-nausea meds Kars prescribed have been helping me keep my insides in place, but I still haven’t wanted to eat much. Plus, I have been a bit upset at the prospect of being locked up in the pack’s penthouse for the foreseeable future.

So when Kate practically begged me to come out tonight for one last hoorah, I hadn’t wanted to say no. Armed with puppy dog eyes and a lot of begging, Apollo never stood a chance.

“One more hour, Kate!” I yell over the music, and she waves me off, getting back to swinging her hips and losing herself inthe beat pulsing through our bodies. I start to follow, trying to let loose, but a hand lands on my shoulder, and my adrenaline spikes to dangerous levels.

I whirl around again, ready to pummel whoever has touched me now, but the face I see beneath the flashing overhead lights makes me pause. Ant—the alpha electric guitarist I’d met during my working interview—is giving me a massive smile that makes it hard to hold back a cringe. I still don’t like how happy he seems to be all the time. I also don’t like the way his eyes are sparkling behind his gray mask.

Thank fuck I’d decided to take a suppressant before leaving.

It’s the only way Apollo agreed to let me come tonight.

“Fancy seeing you here! I spotted you before I headed backstage! Thought I’d see if you wanted to play a set with us tonight?! It’s a special night tonight!” He gestures around to all the people dressed to the nines and sporting masks like I didn’t know the theme of the club tonight.

“Who’s this?!” Kate notices my company quickly and joins me, calling the question loud enough for me to hear.

“This is Ant! He’s with the band! He wants to know if I’ll sing a set tonight!” Ant turns his attention to the beautiful, dark-haired omega beside me, and I watch his nostrils flare. She didn’t take my advice and hide her scent. Now Ireallydon’t like the way his smile stretches even wider.

I want to get him the hell away from her. My skeeve meter is going off the rails right now.

“Oh, fuck yes! You should definitely sing! I’ve only ever heard you in the shower, but you sound amazing!” Kate beams at me, and I feel my resolve starting to crumble. I did kind of miss singing. This might be the only opportunity I have for a while to show off my skills.

“One set!” I hold up a single finger to Ant, and when I look over my shoulder to see Apollo talking with Caito and Lark, Iknow my time to slip away is dwindling. “Let the alphas know I’m heading to help the band!” I relay this to Kate, and she nods eagerly.

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