Page 50 of Follow the Rhythm (Fairview City Omegaverse #2)

“D on’t tell me the great Ellis Fox is nervous,” I said, bending forward until I could see Ellis’s face. He’d been growing out his hair, and I loved playing with the silky black strands. Kieran never let me braid his, but Ellis had infinite patience for my hair experiments.

Who knew I’d be so into pretty Alphas with long hair? Now I just had to convince Charlie to grow his hair out, too.

“Of course I’m nervous,” Ellis said, playfully nipping at my nose, but apprehension shaded his eyes.

We were in the green room of the same club I’d first seen them perform all those months ago.

But this time, their name was on the marquee, and tickets had sold out almost immediately after they announced the show.

A camera crew was filming for a livestream, too. All the proceeds were going to charity.

It was Velvet Howl’s last show. They’d be playing Reward live for the first and last time, as a final send-off in honor of Michael.

“It’ll be hard,” I whispered. “But it’ll be great.”

Ellis nodded, and I felt gratitude flow down our bond. He gave me a swift kiss and a smile.

I climbed off my perch behind him on the couch and wandered out into the hallway, following the tug of my other bonds.

Charlie grabbed me suddenly from behind, and I suppressed a yelp. I relaxed into his arms, though, especially when he teased our bond mark with his tongue. “How do you keep sneaking up on me?” I asked with faux annoyance.

“I’m an apex predator, remember,” he joked. “Have you eaten anything?”

I rolled my eyes and smiled. “I am capable of feeding myself.”

“I know, I know,” he laughed. “Sorry.”

He was going to be insufferable when he found out I was pregnant. They all were, to be honest, just in different ways.

But I was going to wait to tell them until after the show; a new beginning after an ending. I was completely terrified, of course, but after a day of blind panic, I’d found a strange sense of calm. Whoever this little baby was, they’d be so, so loved. We’d figure out the rest.

Grace and Austin knew, because I had to tell someone , but they’d been sworn to secrecy. I was worried that Grace would spill the beans, though.

“Where are Grace and Kieran?” I asked, with a twinge of anxiety.

“Somewhere over there.” He nodded towards the wings of the stage. “Grace said she had something important to talk to him about.”

“She what?!” I burst out of his arms and stalked over to their dark shapes.

“Jess!” Grace said excitedly, as if we hadn’t been hanging out in the greenroom literally fifteen minutes before. “Guess what!”

I furrowed my brow as Kieran pulled me over and tucked me under his arm. “What?” I asked suspiciously.

“I’m moving to Fairview, officially!” she said, shaking my arm.

“Yes, Grace, I know,” I said, laughing in relief and exasperation. “We’ve been talking about it for weeks.”

I’d been worried when Grace called me, saying she was leaving The Valkyries, until she admitted it was because she was moving in with Stevie.

Sure, it was fast, but I certainly couldn’t judge, and Grace seemed excited to be part of the grand tradition of being a “U-Haul lesbian” - her words, not mine.

“Well, yeah, but Kieran’s down to start a new project, so it’s official , official now,” she said, beaming.

Kieran smiled down at me. “That’s great news,” I said, my heart swelling with pride and love.

Grace and Ellis had been writing new music together while they rehearsed for the show.

After the public backlash to Echelon trying to force the release of Reward, they’d released Ellis from his contract to avoid the PR nightmare, so he was free to do what he wanted. But Kieran had kept his distance.

“She promised we wouldn’t tour very much so I can stay home with you and whoever’s in here,” he rumbled, and wrapped his hand protectively around my stomach.

“You told him?” I asked, whipping to look at Grace.

“No! You know I’m a steel trap,” Grace said, sounding offended.

“I’m omniscient,” Kieran whispered in my ear. “But actually, I found the test in the trash. You’re not very sneaky, love.”

Happiness rushed through our bond, and I felt echoes from Ellis and Charlie, too. “Do they know?”

“No, I wanted to let you tell them,” Kieran said.

“Thank you,” I whispered, and he kissed me tenderly.

“Gross, guys, please get a room,” Grace said. “Or just hold it together until later; we’re about to go on.”

Ellis and Charlie joined us in the wings. Ellis was still looking nervous, but Charlie was clearly giving him a pep talk. Whatever he whispered in Ellis’s ear made him laugh, then smack him on the arm. “You’re filthy,” he told Charlie with an indulgent smile.

“It made you smile, though,” Charlie answered. “You guys ready?”

The crowd was chanting, and the electric feeling right before a show was coalescing around us.

“Hell yeah,” Grace said with a brilliant smile.

Ellis nodded, looking braver.

“Let’s have it, then,” Kieran said.

I watched them walk onstage to thunderous applause, cheering just as loud myself. Whatever came next, I was ready too.