Yet, I knew she could do this. I knew she would take our fans by storm. If they saw and heard her the way I did, they’d be in her thrall. That thought sent me reeling, backwards in time. How often had I said similar things to my pack brothers?
If you’d only seen hertoo…
If you’d only smelled her the way I had…
Fuck, if you’d kissed her, you’d understand…
Endless convincing, to no avail. Repeated arguments that no one won. Watching my pack mates all suffer, feeling myself suffer, as our baser natures began to creep in and take over. I could have relented. I could have agreed to find someone else. Hell, I had agreed. We signed up for Eros after all.
None of that mattered anymore. All that was over.
We were back where it all began. Seattle. The very city that almost ate Tessa alive, then spat her out right into our arms. Mine. Dixon’s. Mac’s. Tray’s. We could hold her every day now. See her sweet face. Drown in her glorious scent.
Where would we be without her? Where would Tessa be without us?
We’d all saved each other. We werestillsaving each other, and until the day we died, we’d keep saving each other.
I don’t think Tessa would ever understand how that first kiss with her lingered after she disappeared. How the feel of her mouth rooted in my brain, changing my DNA. It was like bits of her had slipped inside my soul that night, flowing between our joined lips, leaving a permanent tattoo.
The first time I’d smelled her. The first time I’d tasted her. The first time my Alpha nature connected in an undeniable, irreversible way. So many firsts, when I thought I was all out of firsts.
I was still staring towards her standing backstage. My eyes were glued to her. She turned slightly, gaze roving slowly. When she focused on me, the air sparked.Did she see it too? The bursts of fire between us.
I couldn’t make out the magnificent blue of her eyes through the glowing lights. But I could see the strained smile and the double thumbs-up she offered me. I knew she only did both to assure me she was fine. I wanted to stop singing, halt the music, rush over and comfort her.
But Tessa was strong. She didn’t need saving anymore.
Since I couldn’t, and wouldn’t, rush to her side, I sang for her. I sang like I never had before.
Mac’s keyboard was electric. Tray’s arms were a blur as he poundedthe skins. Dixon grinned as he absolutely shredded guitar. I could tell they felt it too—the rebirth of Oblivion Haze. This was our fate coming to fruition. Not in a weird, mystical way, but in the sense that all the bruises and therapy bills and midnight panic attacks had to add up to something. We’d had long-standing affairs with fame. We’d made a killing and squandered it on ridiculous shit. Parties. Booze. Drugs. Gambling. Late night bidding on auctions that usually resulted in a mystery package weeks later. A fucking Fabergé egg, or a goddamn limited-edition set of golf clubs. We didn’t even play golf.
Though to the outside world back then, we looked like we were riding high, I now knew those days were our low point.
Destiny, the real one, had caught up to us.
Tessa had pulled it along in her wake.
One song ended and we smoothly transitioned into “Land of the Lovesick”. We’d worked out a longer intro, time to make the introductions—for both the song and Tessa.
“This is one of our brand new songs, out on the next album! ‘Land of the Lovesick’!” I shouted into the microphone. “And we’ve got a special surprise for you!” I left it at that; I didn’t reveal the twist.
The music floated over the fans.
A slow beginning, crawling toward the start line.
One.
Two.
Three.
A heartbeat. Rhythmic, soothing. Tray caressed the drums. It always surprised me when he could restrain his feverish playing, suddenly becoming gentle and controlled.
Mac was on bass now. That low, warm thrum felt like a lullaby.
Dixon entered the fray, plucking out the melody. I juxtaposed that, beginning the dance between chord streams. I breathed in. Breathed out. Filling my lungs on a cocktail of pheromones, stage smoke, and my own Alpha scent—turned salty with sweat.
The past and present braided together. We were simultaneously at that fateful concert where I’d kissed Tessa, and this one.
