Page 17 of Rocked By the Alpha
“No goodie bag for me,” he says with a mock frown.
“There’s a watch you can have,” Tanya says, reaching across Ruby and handing it to Ryan.
“Nice.”
Tanya continues her examination of the goodie bag and Ryan wraps the watch around his wrist and starts to take photos on his phone. Ruby uses the moment’s peace to glance around the seats.
Some of her biggest idols are only seats away.
Maggie Storm to her left and theAlien Invadersa row or two in front. She has to pinch herself.
No sign ofThe Packthough, and still no hint of West’s scent in the circulating air. Perhaps they won’t show up after all. Perhaps they are as reluctant to deliver this award to her band as they are to receive it from his They’re not up for any awards themselves this year, not that they need anymore to add to their substantial collection.
She wishes now she’d messaged him about this whole situation. That way she’d know for sure. Or at least they could’ve come up with a game-plan on how to play this. But he’d sent that shitty message about the guy she was photographed with and she’d enjoyed toying with him a little. Let the predator think he’s lost his prey for once. Let him stew in a pit of jealousy for a bit.
The lights dim and the show starts and Ruby settles into her seat, squeezing her thighs together.
* * *
The award ceremony has been going for nearly two hours. Rapper Stymer and rock legend Frank Live perform between the winner announcements and the host, some comedian picked for tonight, chatters inanely whenever there’s space to fill.
Every minute is drawing closer to the main categories, the key awards. Best live performance and best album have already been and gone. And next it’s theirs: Best Single. The host, dressed in a white tuxedo, finishes another skit to the camera and then turns back towards the audience.
Beside her, Tanya takes her hand and squeezes it and Ryan leans in to whisper excitedly, “This is it.”
She nods, biting her lip. Her body strains with so much tension she thinks any minute it might snap in two and her heart thumps in her throat making her nauseous.
The host opens his arms out and flashes his pearly white teeth. “Our next award is for best single. And to announce the winner, let’s welcome on stage Ash Canon and West Stone fromThe Pack.”
The audience erupts. They loveThe Pack. Fucking adore them. And can she blame them? Ash and West stride onto the stage together, lifting their hands in recognition of the cheering crowd. They look like rock gods, the real deal. Insanely good looking with muscular physiques and the height to match. West is dressed in dark pants and an open shirt, a chain around his neck and his hair messy about his face. She wants to eat him. Every piece of him. He looks delicious.
She bites down on her lip harder and squeezes her thighs together more firmly. She needs her body to calm the fuck down. She needs herheartto calm the fuck down.
She crosses her fingers, half hoping they win, half wishing they won’t.
West points to the screen over his shoulder and grins at the audience as if he’s about to share an intimate secret with them. Or invite them into bed with him.
There is such a natural ease to the Alpha. He can charm anyone, can make them laugh. It’s what she likes about him and what she hates.
“How about we take a look at the nominations?” His eyes float up to what must be an autocue. He reads the first name. Some singer songwriter from Ireland. A segment of the music video plays out on the big screen behind him, casting him in a multitude of colours. The reel ends. He reads the next two names, the music video clips playing each time.
Then there’s only their band left.
The third clip ends and West turns from the screen back to the audience, his eyes returning to the auto cue. He opens his mouth to read the words.
“And finally …”
He hesitates. The smile on his face flickers. His eyes slide to Ash and then out to the audience. He swallows and clears his throat, and her whole body freezes, her heart beating so loudly she hardly hears his next words.
“Sweet Desire.”
There’s an audible gasp from the audience, followed by wolf whistling and cheering. The audience knows they’re about to receive a treat. It was damn clear West had no idea her band was up for this category. The tension on the stage is palatable, the smiles on the rock gods’ faces vanished. They’re pissed.
Ruby catches sight of herself blown up on the big screen with Natasha and Tanya, standing on top of a windswept cliff, the camera swooping around them.
The reel ends and this time Ash steps forward and speaks into the microphone.
Beside Ruby, Tanya squeezes her hand tighter.
