Page 22

I can't stop checking my phone as I punch in the security code to Blackthorn's fancy safe house.

It's been three days. Three fucking days I've been gone, and it feels like three years.

My thumb hovers over Dahlia's name in my contacts for the hundredth time today, but I shove the phone back in my pocket instead.

She doesn't need me blowing up her phone when she's trying to save the world.

I push open the door. The main living area is empty, but I hear voices from down the hall, Dahlia's voice, specifically. My heart does that stupid little jump it always does when I hear her.

"Hello?" I call out, dropping my guitar case by the door. "Anybody home?"

The voices stop abruptly. Then I hear quick footsteps, and suddenly Dahlia appears in the hallway. She freezes when she sees me, her eyes going wide.

"Axl?" She blinks like she can't believe I'm standing there. "You're back."

"In the flesh." I spread my arms wide, trying to be casual even though my pulse is racing. "Miss me?"

She stares at me for another heartbeat, then launches herself across the room. Before I can react, she crashes into me, her arms wrapping around my neck so tightly I almost can't breathe.

"Whoa." I laugh, catching her against me. "I'll take that as a yes."

"You disappeared," she says against my neck. "You didn't even say goodbye."

I wrap my arms around her waist, breathing in her scent. "I know. I'm sorry. Something came up that I had to handle."

She pulls back to look at me, her hands still on my shoulders. "For three days? Without a single text?"

"Would you believe my phone died and I forgot my charger?"

"No."

"It was worth a shot." I tuck a curl behind her ear. "The truth is, I had some business to take care of. Band stuff. Manager stuff. Life-outside-this-crazy-shifter-drama stuff."

She studies my face, and I can see the exact moment she decides to let it go. Her expression softens, and she steps back, though her hands linger on my arms like she's making sure I'm here.

"Well, you picked a hell of a time to come back," she says.

"Why? What happened?" I look past her down the hallway. "Where is everyone?"

A smile breaks across her face, so bright it's almost blinding. "I found it, Axl. I found the cure."

For a second, I don't process what she's saying. Then it hits me.

"The cure? For the Crimson Plague? Are you fucking serious?"

She nods, practically vibrating with excitement. "I tested it on Mara this morning. And on the infected shifter we captured. Both of them are showing signs of improvement."

"Holy shit." I stare at her in amazement. "You actually did it."

"I think so. We're still monitoring them, but…."

I don't let her finish. I grab her by the waist and lift her off her feet, spinning her in a circle. Her surprised laugh is the best thing I've heard in days.

"You are fucking genius!" I shout, spinning her again. "I knew you could do it!"

She's laughing so hard she can barely speak when I finally set her down. "It's still preliminary," she says, trying to catch her breath. "We need more tests, more data…"

"Screw the data." I cup her face in my hands. "You're brilliant. You're amazing. You're the smartest person I've ever met."

Her cheeks flush pink under my praise.

"This calls for a celebration." I drop my hands to her shoulders, suddenly struck with inspiration. "I know exactly where we should go."

"Go?" She raises an eyebrow. "Go where?"

"I'm playing a private show tonight. It's an exclusive venue, invitation only." I grin at her. "And I happen to have a plus-one."

Her eyes light up for a moment, then dim. "I can't leave. I need to monitor the patients, run more tests…"

"One night," I interrupt. "Just a few hours to celebrate this massive breakthrough. You deserve it."

She bites her lip, clearly tempted. "I don't know..."

"What don't you know?" A deep voice asks from behind her.

I look up to see Leo standing in the hallway, his arms crossed over his chest. Great. The fun police have arrived.

"Axl wants to take me out to celebrate," Dahlia explains, turning to face him. "He's playing a private show tonight."

Leo's expression darkens. "That's out of the question. It's not safe."

"Come on, man," I argue. "It's a secure venue with a private entrance. No one will even know she's there."

"No." Another voice joins in, and I see Onyx appearing behind Leo. "We can't risk it."

Dahlia's shoulders stiffen. "Well thank God, I wasn't asking permission."

"You can't go anywhere until we know Hammond isn't tracking you," Onyx says, his voice leaving no room for argument.

"I haven't left this house in days," Dahlia counters. "I've been working non-stop. I need a break. I deserve a break"

"A break shouldn't mean risking your life," Leo points out.

I step forward, placing a hand on Dahlia's shoulder. "Look, I get your concerns. But I'm not exactly helpless. I have private security. We'll be careful."

"It's not happening," Onyx growls.

Dahlia's eyes flash with anger. "I'm going. I've found a cure that could save thousands of lives. I've earned one night off."

"We should at least come with you," Leo suggests.

"No." Dahlia shakes her head firmly. "I need space. From all of this. Just for a few hours."

The silence that follows is heavy. I watch as Dahlia stares down both Alphas, her chin lifted in defiance.

"I promise this is the only time I'll ask to leave until everything is sorted out," she says finally. "After tonight, I'll stay put. But I'm going to this concert with Axl."

Leo and Onyx exchange a look, having some silent communication that makes me want to roll my eyes.

"Fine," Leo says eventually. "But you take a secure phone that I can track. And you check in every hour."

"And you're back by midnight," Onyx adds. "No exceptions."

Dahlia's face breaks into a smile. "Deal." She turns to me. "Give me thirty minutes to get ready."

"Take your time," I say, grinning at her excitement. "The show doesn't start until nine."

She practically skips down the hallway toward her room. Once she's gone, both men turn their attention to me, and the temperature in the room seems to drop ten degrees.

"If anything happens to her," Onyx says quietly, "I will tear you apart."

"Slowly," Leo adds.

I hold up my hands. "Message received. But nothing's going to happen. I'll protect her with my life."

Neither of them seemed convinced, but they back off, returning to whatever they were doing before I arrived. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. Christ, those two are intense.

Thirty minutes later, Dahlia comes out of her room, and my jaw nearly hits the floor. She's wearing a black dress that hugs every curve, her wild curls tamed into some kind of artful chaos around her face. She's applied makeup that makes her eyes look even bigger, her lips fuller.

"Wow," is all I can manage.

She spins in a slow circle. "Will this work for your fancy private concert?"

"You could wear a potato sack and still be the most beautiful woman there." The words come out before I can stop them, completely sincere.

Her cheeks flush again. "Smooth talker."

"Only when I mean it." I offer her my arm. "Shall we?"

She takes it, smiling up at me. "Lead the way, rock star."

We make it to the door before Leo appears, holding out a small phone. "Every hour," he reminds her.

"Yes, Dad," she says, rolling her eyes but taking the phone.

Onyx doesn't say anything and just watches us. I can feel his gaze burning into my back until the doors close.

"They're just worried about you," I say as we descend.

"I know." She sighs. "But I needed to get out of there. Even just for one night."

"Well, you're in for a treat." I guide her to where my driver is waiting. "Tonight is going to be unforgettable."

And I mean to keep that promise.

The venue is a renovated theater in the heart of downtown, featuring Art Deco glamour and velvet seats. I bring Dahlia in through the back entrance, my security team keeping a respectable distance as we make our way to the green room.

"This place is incredible," she says, looking around with wide eyes.

"Wait until you see it from the stage." I grab two bottles of water from a cooler and hand her one. "The acoustics are insane."

She takes the water but doesn't open it, too busy taking in everything around us. "How many people will be here?"

"About three hundred. All personally invited." I step closer to her. "But I'm only playing for one."

Her eyes meet mine, and something electric passes between us. "Lucky me."

"Lucky me," I correct her. "Having you in the audience gives me a reason to play my best."

A knock at the door interrupts us. "Five minutes, Axl," my stage manager calls.

"Be right there." I turn back to Dahlia. "I've got a special seat for you at the side stage, where you can see everything."

She follows me through a maze of hallways until we reach the wings of the stage. A single chair sits just offstage, positioned perfectly to see both the performance and the audience.

"Your throne awaits," I say with a dramatic bow.

She laughs, taking the seat. "I feel like royalty."

"You are." I lean down to kiss her cheek. "My Omega queen."

Before she can respond, the house lights dim, and the crowd begins to cheer. My band is already taking their positions on stage.

"That's my cue." I grab my guitar from where a tech is holding it. "Enjoy the show."

The moment I step onto the stage, the crowd erupts. The energy is electric, feeding something primal inside me. But for the first time in my career, the audience isn't what matters. My eyes keep drifting to the side of the stage, where Dahlia watches with a smile that outshines every spotlight.

We play through our set, the music flowing through me like a living thing. When we reach the final song, I step up to the microphone.

"This next song is new," I tell the crowd. "It's something I've been working on. It's for someone special who's here tonight. Someone who's changed my life in ways I'm still trying to understand."

I glance at Dahlia, who's watching me with wide eyes. The band starts a slow, haunting melody, and I begin to sing. The lyrics came to me in a fever dream the night after I met her, about finding something you never knew you were missing, about a connection that defies explanation.

As I sing the final chorus, I turn fully toward where she sits, no longer pretending I'm singing to anyone else. The last note hangs in the air for a breathless moment before the crowd explodes with applause.

I barely hear it. All I see is Dahlia, with tears shining in her eyes, looking at me like I've given her the moon.

"That song," she says softly. "Was it really for me?"

"Every word." I set my guitar down. "Did you like it?"

She crosses the room in three quick steps and throws her arms around my neck. "It was beautiful," she whispers against my ear.

I hold her close, breathing in her scent. "I wrote it the night we met. It just... poured out of me."

She pulls back to look at me, her hands still linked behind my neck. "No one's ever written a song for me before."

"Well, get used to it. I've got about ten more started."

She laughs, "You're something else, Axl Valentine."

"So, I've been told." I tuck a curl behind her ear. "Are you hungry? I've got dinner waiting for us back at my place."

"Your place?" She raises an eyebrow.

"My penthouse will be private."

She considers this for a moment, then nods. "Lead the way."

My penthouse takes up the top two floors of one of the city's most exclusive buildings. Its floor-to-ceiling windows offer a panoramic view of the skyline, glittering like stars against the night sky. But the real showstopper is the rooftop terrace, where I've had dinner set up.

"This is incredible," Dahlia breathes as we step outside.

The terrace is lit with string lights, creating a warm glow over the table set for two. A bottle of champagne chills in an ice bucket, and covered dishes wait to be revealed.

"I figured we could use some peace and quiet," I say, pulling out her chair.

She sits, looking around in wonder. "It's perfect."

I pour champagne for both of us, then lift my glass. "To the brilliant Dr. Baldwin, the savior of shifters everywhere."

She clinks her glass against mine. "And to your new songs and new beginnings."

She sits between my legs, her back against my chest, and my arms are wrapped around her waist.

"Thank you for tonight," she says, her head resting on my shoulder. "I needed this more than I realized."

"Anytime." I press a kiss to her temple. "I'm always up for rescuing beautiful scientists from their laboratories."

She turns in my arms to face me, her eyes reflecting the string lights above us. "Is that what this was? A rescue mission?"

"Maybe." I brush my thumb across her lower lip. "Or maybe I just wanted you all to myself for a change."

"Are you jealous of the others?" She smiles, a teasing glint in her eye.

"Should I be?"

Instead of answering, she leans forward and presses her lips to mine. The kiss is soft at first, but it quickly deepens as her hands slide up my chest to my shoulders.

I pull her closer, one hand tangling in her curls as the other wraps around her waist. She shifts until she's straddling my lap, her dress riding up her thighs.

"I've been thinking about this," she murmurs against my lips. "About you."

"Yeah?" I slide my hands up her thighs, feeling her shiver at my touch. "What kind of thoughts?"

She rocks against me, the friction making me groan. "The kind that would make you blush."

"I doubt that." I nip at her lower lip. "I'm not exactly known for my innocence."

"No?" She pulls back slightly, "Then maybe I should show you instead."

She climbs off my lap, and for a moment I think I've said something wrong. But then she reaches behind her and slowly pulls down the zipper of her dress. It falls to the ground in a whisper of fabric, leaving her in nothing but black lace underwear.

"Fuck," I breathe, taking in the sight of her. "You're gorgeous."

She steps forward, between my legs, and places her hands on my shoulders. "Take off your shirt."

I don't need to be told twice. I pull my shirt over my head, tossing it aside. Her hands immediately go to my chest, tracing the lines of my tattoos with her fingertips.

"I've wanted to do this since I first saw this," she admits, following the curve of the wolf on my chest.

"He is all yours." I catch her hand, bringing it to my lips. "I'm all yours."

She smiles, a predatory gleam in her eye. "Good answer."