Page 61 of Bliss & Her Idols (Pack Bonds Omegaverse #10)

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Performance Hall, Idol Estate

M y heart soars, as much as my stomach churns.

I’m trembling with nerves.

Tonight’s performance is going to be incredible, special, life changing .

All day, Jin, Immortal, and fifty handpicked Idols have been practicing in secret in the estate’s performance hall to pull this off, while I’ve leaked news of the one-off concert to trusted music journalists.

Cricket showed off his talent by causing enough chaos in the fake messages (he’s the only troll that I approve of), which he sent between the supervisors and security to keep them confused, at each other’s throats, and away from the hall.

At the same time, Rory came through for me with the paper trail of evidence. On top of that, Piper sent me everything that I’d been gathering in this investigation from back in Haven.

I’d settled into a navy, velvet seat in the auditorium with a thermos full of coffee and my laptop balanced on my knee and wrote with focused attention the most personal and intense article of my life.

When you have a deadline, it definitely makes you work hard.

When I finished, I stared at the screen.

I knew deep inside that this was a turning point.

My life would never be the same after this. Nor would my pack’s or the Idols’.

Except, this wasn’t about me or even the Idols.

This was bigger than any of us.

Once I passed this article to Cricket, nothing would be the same within the global music industry again. A shift would occur that people couldn’t ignore.

I was the pen behind it, but it had never been about me.

My voice was the one that amplified a thousand, million others.

One voice could speak up for those who’d been silenced.

None of us were ever alone if we remembered that power.

I can sense a mix of nerves and anticipation from the rest of my pack through the bond.

Standing in the wings of the performance hall, I scrunch up my nose at the smell: dust burning in the footlights, the musty scent of the seats, and greasepaint.

The boards of the stage have been polished by Cricket until they gleam.

The hall is large and luxurious because Mena and the twins use it as a setting to invite music executives and VIPs to privately visit and debut new Idols.

Glowing stars hang from the ceiling.

The background is backlit by streaming silver lights like hanging chains. A vast birdcage shaped screen hangs in the middle.

The lights are blindingly bright.

I stare out at the Idols who are gathered in a circle around Jin. Their ages range from elementary to college, but their dedication and hard work is equal to any adult’s.

Throughout the day, when Jin didn’t yell at or punish them like the twins did, they relaxed and began to have fun. Jin kept their attention with magic tricks.

Each student is outstandingly talented.

Jin is giving them a pep talk. The Idols are spellbound by him.

They look at him with an open adoration that is sincere. Having watched them together during practice and Jin’s hyper and joyful way of bringing them together with laughter, kindness, and magic, I’m certain that it’s not because he’s a celebrity.

Jin has an entire hidden life with these Idols, just like Immortal has, which I don’t know.

To them, these two men are their saviors and protectors.

And how much more important is that than being famous? To save even one person, let alone an entire Idol camp?

My heart swells with respect.

The emotion must be strong enough that it reaches through the bond because Jin falters, glancing across at me.

He smiles and waves, and I wave back.

Jin is wearing the same as the rest of the Idols: the black t-shirt and joggers of the Idol’s uniform.

His hair hangs untamed around his shoulders without clips holding it back.

Jin wanted to appear before the world stripped back. It was his idea to take off the mask and show himself as simply one of the other Idols, rather than in the rich satins and silks, which he’d been forced into wearing.

They’re not his real style or identity.

“When I’m Chief Alpha,” Torin replied, refusing to accept that we still could fail, despite the fact that we all knew the danger, “every Idol will have a proper contract, pay, and can wear whatever they choose. The kids will have a bank account with access to buy their essentials for themselves, including their own clothes. They’ll have help to choose their own identities, rather than a marketing team imposing their signature look and branding on them.

Until then, why don’t we all wear the same?

People will be able to see that I don’t think I’m above anyone else on this estate. ”

I smile as I study Torin.

True to his word, he’s donned the same simple Idol uniform.

Has any Alpha on this estate worn that before?

He deserves to be an honorary Idol. He’s earned it.

Torin stands at the back of the stage next to Immortal. The two men are tuning up their indigo electric guitars.

Torin has that furrow between his brows again, the one that he had when he was sitting on his floor, composing with his acoustic guitar on his lap.

He looks as much in the zone, as when I write.

Finally, he’ll be able to perform on a stage like he always should have been able to.

Fuck what his family will think about that.

Fuck how much he will be judged for it.

Immortal catches my eye and shoots me a wink.

Jin offered to put makeup on Immortal to cover his bruises, but Immortal shook his head.

“Aren’t we meant to be taking off our masks and showing the world the truth?” Immortal ran his hand down the length of his body. “I’ll still be the prettiest on that stage.”

He has some serious competition.

With so many Idols on the stage at once, along with my Alpha, it’s like looking at a gathering on Mount Olympus.

Somehow, the fact that they’re only wearing simple black outfits, merely emphasizes their beauty more.

All the moving lights, spectacle, and over the top costumes, distract you from the beauty and talent of these Idols.

Everybody at home will be blown away. I hope that finally, no one in America will allow these Idols to be caged again.

I glance down at Cricket.

He’s crouched in the shadows of the wings. He’s scanning multiple computer screens. He’s been tapping away at the keys so fast that his fingers are a blur.

Like me, he’s dressed in the same Idol uniform, although his hangs off him, revealing his tanned shoulders.

He pushes his curls out of his eyes, as he clicks on a button with a look of deep satisfaction.

Cricket’s amber eyes are bright in the shadows.

He looks up at me. “Done.”

Excitement wells through me. “My article is published? It’s really out there?”

I rush to throw myself to kneel next to Cricket, staring at the screens.

And there it is:

Idolized but Abused: The Dark Side of Stardom by Bliss Idol

My article isn’t published only in fluffy magazines for Omegas.

It’s been splashed across the front page of almost every magazine and newspaper online across the world, translated into hundreds of different languages.

Already, I can see in the streaming comment sections that fans and politicians alike are demanding the Idols’ freedom.

I stare in amazement at the screen, however, because I never expected that Cricket would manage to hack into so many places and swap my article onto their front pages.

“How did you manage this?” I ask.

Cricket links his hands behind his head. “I am a geek , after all. The Knot Crusher strikes again.”

I chuckle, grabbing him by the cheeks.

Taken by surprise, he falls forward, as I kiss across his sweet freckles.

“You’re amazing.” Exhilaration rushes through me. “Incredible. A rebel.”

“And yours . I love you, Bee.” Cricket captures my mouth, more confidently than he has before.

I allow him to lead, tender and sweet.

We’re united in this moment before the storm.

“Omega love birds,” Torin’s cool voice cuts across the kiss, “if you can pull yourself away from your show, we’re ready to put on our one.”

Laughing, I break away from Cricket.

Cricket’s fingers flash across the keys again, before he turns to Torin. “Just give me the nod. It’s set up to start streaming, when you’re ready.”

“And the screen?” Immortal gestures at the cage-like screen that hangs at the back.

Cricket gives him the thumbs up.

When my phone vibrates in my pocket, I yank it out.

Then I grin.

The text is from Chase, who has been monitoring my mission but has allowed me the freedom and independence to run it my way.

Congratulations, little wolf! U did it. Lion says kick their asses. Pip wants 2 know when can he invite Immortal over 4 a coffee?

I laugh, stuffing the phone back into my pocket.

Typical Piper that he’s planning to be the one to court the superstar Beta and not the other way around.

But then, he has learned from me. Isn’t that what Cricket and I did with Jin?

It worked.

I hope that my brother does find his pack bonds soon. He’s lonely, even if he won’t admit it.

I glance back at the stage.

“Good luck!” I call.

Jin and Torin smile at me, and my heart leaps at the happiness that swells through the bond.

“I’m dedicating this song to both my Omegas again,” Jin declares. “This all started with you figuring out that you needed to save me. You’ve saved all of us.”

When the other Idols glance curiously at us, wave, or yell out choruses of thanks , it’s not only Cricket who blushes.

I duck my head, but my smile widens.

I adjust the wolf clip in my hair, which Lion gave me. I love feeling that my friend is with me.

My pulse pounds, as Jin encourages the ranks of singers into place behind him.

They’re a sea of black on the simple stage.

Immortal and Jin swagger to flank him with their guitars strapped over their shoulders.

Immortal and Jin are going to duet together tonight.

It’ll be a world first.

We want as much media attention as possible on this event, and getting the two singers to duet, while one of the mysterious Idol siblings plays guitar, is our best shot.