She doesn’t look down at the audience as she grips the pole, doing a few rotations, before getting into the song, flipping her hair as she climbs up. Her strength is astounding as she uses her hands and calves to climb, before gripping it between her thighs and spinning.
Another song plays, and more Omegas take their places on stage. Clearly the song relates to their scent in some way, but I can’t look away. Not as the sweet girl who came to the firehouse spins around on a pole captivating everyone around us.
Hayes is grinning and Nate…well, Nate looks like he might have suffered an aneurysm. He sits there unblinking, his mouth agape as he looks at the girl he hasn’t been able to rip from his mind.
Hayes’ and Nate’s dream Omega is the same girl, and I’m not sure if this makes things more or less complicated.
I lean toward Hayes, Hailey still completely unaware that we're here. If I move quickly, I could get Nate out of here, if he doesn’t want to take this further.
“You fucking knew it was Hailey,” I rumble against the shell of his ear.
He finally breaks his stare from where she’s dancing to look at me. “I knew if I didn’t force his hand, he’d never make a move. I know you only met her at the firehouse, but she’s special, Sterling. She’s the fucking one, and I know that sounds crazy, but the fact that his Hailey is also my Hailey? Tell me that isn’t fucking fate. Tell me she couldn’t be our missing piece.”
He says it with conviction, all jokes aside. It’s not often he’s serious, but there’s one thing he didn’t take into consideration.
Hailey’s reaction.
I turn and face the stage and it’s the moment she realizes the three of us here. Her eyes widen and suddenly her grip slips. It’s like all my years of training kick in and I’m halfway on stage before I realize it.
She half catches herself, as I grab her hips to help her stand on her massive wobbly heels.
She gasps and takes a deep breath, her nails digging into my wrist as she tries to regulate her breathing.
“Baby girl, are you okay?” I ask her, not letting go of her hip.
She glances down at Hayes and Nate, but I don’t stop staring at her to see their expressions.
“Give me the word and I’ll drag them both out of here by the back of their necks.”
She hides behind my much larger form, and I’m grateful she doesn’t let go of me.
“Hayes…you, and Nate are in a pack?” she says.
“Unbonded, but yes.”
Her eyes well with tears. “Did…did Hayes know? Is this all some sick fucking joke?” she says, her hand dropping from mine.
“Hey. Hey,” I say more sharply, grabbing her face.
“Cherry, you want me to step in?” security asks and she shakes her head.
“Hayes didn’t know who you were before the tournament. He figured it out then. Nate had no idea. I had no idea.”
“I need to get out of here,” she says, breathing fast. She’s still shaking and unstable as I help her get off the stage and, I guess, help her walk backstage.
“Hailey,” Hayes says, following us. “Are you okay?”
She spins, her anger brighter than the sun as her hands ball into fists.
“What? Did my mom put you up to this to humiliate me?” she says and Hayes’ face falls completely.
“What? No. Baby, what?”
“Why else would you all come here, other than to laugh at how pathetic I am? That I thought you liked me, that I felt something with Nate. Is this a punishment?”
My brows furrow so deeply I worry I’ll give myself a headache as I take in all her words.
Suddenly an Alpha nearly my size approaches us. His suit is sharp, and he exudes power.
