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Dahlia moves to the table, checking the man's pulse. "His heart rate is elevated but stable."

"Did you notice what he said?" Leo asks, sheathing his knife. "He smelled something that drew him here."

I nod. "He smelled her."

Dahlia looks between us. "Me? I brought him here?"

"It's the only explanation," Leo confirms. "He lives nearby, caught your scent on the wind, and couldn't fight the instinct to find you."

"But he's married with children," she argues. "Wouldn't that... I don't know, give him some immunity?"

I laugh, "Darling, when an alpha catches the scent of an Omega in heat, nothing else matters. Not marriage, not morals, nothing."

"That's barbaric," she whispers.

"Well…" I shrug "Except he's not an alpha though."

"So, the virus doesn't just cause unstable transformations, it heightens their response to smell."

"Bingo," I confirm.

"This changes everything," she mutters. "I need to adjust my approach entirely."

"How so?" Leo asks.

A phone rings before she can respond. Dahlia frowns, patting her pockets before locating her cell.

"It's Emily," she says, glancing at the screen.

"Don't answer it."

She doesn’t even look at me. “It’s my best friend. I’ll be quick.”

“Hey Em.”

“Oh my God, are you alive? Did the sexy detective eat you or what? I’ve been texting you for hours!”

I hear Emily’s cherry voice from where I stand.

“Sorry. It’s been… a night,” Dahlia mutters, glancing at the unconscious shifter strapped to the table.

“Well, good, because you need a night. Guess what?”

“What?”

“I got us VIP passes toExedra… you know, the Axl-freaking-Valentine’s band. Front row and we get access to the after-party and fan sign. We’re going.”

“Wait, what?” Dahlia perks up. “Seriously?”

“Yes… it cost me an arm and a leg, but you need this, and you’ve been dying to go for ages.”

I grit my teeth. “What now?”

“It’s a concert,” she says.

“No.”

She keeps talking like I didn’t just speak. “We’re going to Exedra. Emily got us VIP passes to the concert and it’s Axl Valentine… the rockstar.”