More tears. How did I have any tears left?
The walls around me and floor beneath my feet vibrated with the music. Oblivion Haze wasn't just playing. They were destroying. There was no way the audience would forget tonight. I knew I wouldn’t.
“I love you,” was the last thing I said to the past. I wiped my face clean with the billowing sleeve of my top. I smiled softly to myself, eyes still closed. For the next several songs, I just sat there existing. Nothing else. And I told myself that was enough. Just to exist. Just to have survived. I knew I wanted more in the future. I didn’t want to just be an Omega, matched for marking and mating. Music had been my first love. And then I’d blamed it for ruining my life. I knew it hadn’t. That was just a child’s need to blame something tangible. I wanted music to be part of me again, beyond standing on the sidelines as my men basked in the spotlight. What could a woman who’d disappeared from society soon after graduating high school do in the music industry? I didn’t know.Yet.
Then, in a lull between tracks, Ryder’s voice boomed. “This is our last one tonight.”
The crowd booed affectionately.
The guys laughed. Dammit, I loved their laughs. Each so unique.
Ryder continued as the audience quieted. "You know what it is.Oblivion Haze always finishes the way it started—angry and loud as hell!"
The opening to "Requiem for Rage" was intense, with Tray pounding the skins like he was trying to literally bring down the building. When the guitars came in, the chandelier above me shook. I knew every note and lyric of this song, but I'd never heard them play it so ferociously. They were attacking their hardest song as if tomorrow depended on it.
I wasn’t the only one looking to the future. Looking to make the most out of every second.
Suddenly, I didn’t want to keep sitting. I wanted… No, Ineededto see them playing. I had to see their faces; had to see what they were feeling. I stood up, ready to march back across the room and watch my guys. I'd survived. I'd made it here. That meant something. We’d fight for our future together, as a pack.
Just as I took my first step, a stranger stumbled into the room. He wore a burgundy jacket, and there was a large green stain down the white button up shirt beneath. Obviously very drunk, he was talking to himself with one eye shut and the other darting around trying to land on something. Though, even if he did pick something to focus on, I doubt he’d actually be able to see it clearly. I couldn’t smell him beneath the stench of Absinthe. Didn’t know if he was Alpha, Omega, Beta. I just knew he shouldn’t be in the room with me. A lot of good beefing up security had done.
I backed away instinctively.
“You’re not supposed to be in here.” My voice was calm, good for me. I tried to recall my last gym session with Dixon. He’d teasingly grabbed me from behind and then, after I’d flailed around for a while, he’d given me pointers on taking down someone bigger than me. I’d not paid very good attention, because who would be stupid enough to attack an Omega with four Alphas at her side?
“Whoa-ho-hoooo,” he slurred, leering down at my legs. I tried to pull the skirt over my skin, but the mile-high slits had a purpose, and they weren’t failing. “You the afterparty, doll?”
“Not your afterparty,” I bit out. “Please leave.” I looked around him,trying to see if any of the, apparently useless, security guards were nearby.
He blinked—his second eye momentarily opening to reveal how bloodshot it was—then grinned wider. "Feisty. I like that." He lurched forward.
I looked once more past him through the doorway. The song was almost finished. No one was even glancing in our direction. I could yell, hoping to be heard over the din, but by the time anyone got here, he'd probably already have his grimy hands on me.
Nose.
Groin.
Throat.
What else had Dixon said? I was not going to get a gold star in self-defense.
The bumbling, liquor-soaked Beta was too close for comfort now. I started to back away, but my legs hit the sofa. I’d be damned if this asshole pushed me down on it. So, I stepped forward, bringing us even nearer to one another.
“Change your mind, baby?” He wiped spittle from his chin after asking the impertinent question.
“Nope,” I said firmly.
And then I cocked back my fist, prayed I didn’t miss, and I punched up into the bastard’s nose as hard as I could manage. My aim could have been a little better, but it was enough. The man staggered away, slamming his own hand over his nose and crying out. Blood spurted between his fingers seconds later and he dropped to his knees on the carpet. I did quickly step away now, putting distance between us. Then I watched in morbid fascination as he crumpled onto his side, writhing on the carpet, howling like I’d broken more than just his stupid nose.
The last song of the set finished.
And the man was still yelling.
Security guards finally did their job, rushing into the room. They were quickly shoved to the side by my Alphas, revved up with adrenaline. Dixon growled at the guards for being fucking useless. Catalina came inlast, taking in the situation before giving me an approving nod of head and walking back out.
After firing every guard in sight, which I wasn’t sure he could do, Dixon bellowed, "Fuck yes, Tessa! You took him down!" He raced to me, grabbing me up into a bear hug that made my feet dangle above the floor.
I laughed, slapping his chest. “Put me down. And don’t praise me. I totally wasn’t listening to your whole self-defense speech the other day.”
