Page 13

Nolan

A va and I step off the elevator and onto the gambling floor.

Large glass chandeliers sparkle like rain, hanging in a cascade of glittering crystals.

Nocturnal’s opulence is on another level, surpassing all the other hotels and casinos on the Strip in Vegas.

The walls are dressed in silver and lavender wallpaper, and dim lighting gives the gambling floor a dreamy nighttime feel.

The large open space is divided into separate areas with the table games to the room’s right, the high-stakes slot machines to the left, and the lower stakes games downstairs.

The noise isn’t too bad on my hearing; I’m grateful for that.

Humans tend to fill any space with loud chatter that can grate on my senses.

I want to grab Ava’s hand, but after our night at the donut shop, I’ve been repeating a mantra, Keep your distance.

Pull away. It’s for the best . I need to stop blurring the lines between us.

She didn’t deserve to be hunted and intimidated by my ex.

Larissa showing up was a worst-case scenario, and now our fragile relationship feels strained.

Ava’s too sweet to be mistreated by Larissa, who wants to tear us down.

Do I want Ava? More than anything. Is she the perfect Omega—or even worse, the perfect Omega for me? Again, yes. But I could never ask her to join my world, my life on the road, my life of fame; she deserves a normal drama-free life.

The press caught word of the drama in the donut shop and the nasty comments on our feed, and now questions are swirling around about Ava, as though she’s the other woman who pushed “poor Larissa” aside. All nonsense.

I can see her shoulders slump every time she checks her phone.

Larissa rudely interrupting us last night is a perfect example of why I can’t keep an Omega private.

A relationship with me would thrust Ava into the spotlight, and the intense scrutiny that comes with my fame wouldn’t be fair to her or any other potential mate.

No one deserves that kind of attention unless they signed up for it like I and the rest of the guys in the band did.

We knew what we were getting ourselves into.

Ava doesn’t, and it’s unfair for me to expect her to put up with the results.

Does this realization hurt? Absolutely.

All I want to do is take her in my arms and ask if she’ll accept me as her eternal mate.

The distance between us is eating me up.

I feel my inspiration and music slipping away again.

I miss Ava’s deep understanding of me, and she would fit seamlessly into my personal life with Stella and the guys.

She would make a great mate. My parents would love her—my dad already does—and I have no doubt she could hold my interest and fascination for the rest of our lives.

Those she cares about, she cares for deeply, and as the days progress, she gets closer to Stella.

My manager may never speak to me again if I drive Ava away.

I’m curious if Ava’s even open to me like that. Does she see me as a potential mate to court her and claim her? But given how she pulled away from me after last night, I suspect the answer is no.

I also know it’s for the best.

My actions haven’t helped. If any other Alpha saw what I’ve been doing with the gorgeous little Omega, they would say that I’ve already been courting her with treats, meals, and experiences. But I haven’t told her that, and I’ve been in denial about it until now.

Bakari is waiting for us at the bar, and although I’m happy to have my closest friend here in Vegas for our final show, I hate how his gaze keeps drifting to Ava. He’s drawn to her like waves to the shore, making my skin crawl and my shoulders tight.

It doesn’t help that he’s the most flirtatious single Alpha in House Stryker. He is working his way through the Beta population like he’s insatiable.

He hugs me and shakes Ava’s hand. He’s dressed casually, in a charcoal T-shirt and black jeans, not caring that we’re on the high-stakes floor. His dark brown hair is loose, and his eyes are locked on the Omega.

“Hi. You must be Ava.”

“In the flesh,” she says with an infectious smile.

“How are you liking being on tour with the guys?”

“It’s great. I enjoy it very much.” She smiles at him and glances at me. “How do you like House Stryker?”

“I have lived in the palace with my parents, sisters, and brother all my life. It’s all I know.

You’ve not met Lord Stryker, right?” He glances at her neck, which, if she’d met our lord and given her vow, would bear the necklace with Lord Stryker’s crest to indicate she’s promised to the house and protected.

He glares at me, no doubt judging me that she’s here instead of in the Sanctuary.

“Not yet. I will when we go back to San Diego.”

“That’s good. You’ll meet other house members then. We love meeting new Omegas. You’ll cause quite a stir.” He smiles and winks at her.

She blushes, and it pisses me off that she’s looking at him and not at me.

The thought of Ava with another Alpha is making the voice in my head respond with murderous intent.

Seeing her with another Alpha in House Stryker would be a daily reminder that I missed out on my potentially perfect mate.

My dad was right; she has quickly become an all-consuming obsession.

She’s been the only person I want to see at dawn these past few days, and I’ve continued to avoid our groupies.

It’s been nice not having any of them hanging all over me.

Repressing the instinct to grab and pull her into my side, I watch her intently to see which part of the gambling floor catches her attention. At least I can ensure she has some fun. Tonight is the last show of the tour. We wrap everything up tomorrow.

“What do you want to play, sweetness?”

“I think the slot machines look good. Sitting sounds nice—I’m a little low on energy. I don’t know what’s come over me. I’m not usually this tired.”

Her declining energy is another sign she’s going into heat soon; it means her hormones are fluctuating and her temperature is rising.

I want to ignore it and enjoy the time I have with her before we return on the road heading home, but her rosewater scent is like a beacon to me, and I can see it impacting Bakari.

She’s more in need of an Alpha than ever before.

I wouldn’t want her to slip into madness with an unassisted heat, but part of me believes I can keep her safe.

I want to be the one to help her when she needs it.

Me. Not Bakari, not my dad, only me. Her heat could throw off my last performance tonight but my last moments with her are worth the risk of her heat starting.

“Okay then, let’s pick your machine and get you settled in.”

She gives me a small smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes as she seeks out a secluded set of machines, walking closer to Bakari than me.

I’m not sure if she’s even aware that she’s putting distance between us, but it puts me on edge.

She looks around the room. “This casino is so nice; the luxury is insane. If the arena is anything like the casino, then your fans will enjoy themselves, for sure.”

“Yeah, I hope so. The last show is always a good time. The fans really go all out, and they always seem more wild and loud.”

“I always love coming to the last show. The energy gets crazy,” Bakari says.

Ava sits in a plush gray velvet chair, removes her credit card from her purse, and quickly swipes it before I can take out my wallet. I bite back unexpected frustration because she beat me to it. I shouldn’t be taking care of her. I know I shouldn’t, but my inner Alpha wants to meet her needs.

Instead, I swipe my card into my own machine, next to hers, and the games start up.

The light from the machine’s screen makes her soft features glow, capturing my attention.

It’s torture. I know I want her. She’s incredible.

She wants a family in the future, and I could give her a found family with Stella and the band.

She already loves my dad. My suite at the palace is ready for an Omega to join me with very little need to change much.

I would purchase her the nest alcove of her dreams. The Stella’s sister who designs Omega alcoves in House Stryker would have a field day helping me spoil Ava to her heart’s content.

With my economic status, I could ensure that we live comfortably for the rest of eternity. She and I would want for nothing, and if we were blessed with children someday, money wouldn’t be an issue.

Now she’s got me thinking of kids for the first time in my thirty years.

But I just can’t get my head around giving up part of my life and settling down with an Omega.

Bakari sits at his machine next to me and pulls my attention from Ava.

He bumps my shoulder and whispers, “Man, what was your dad thinking? She’s perfuming, and soon she’ll attract every Alpha in this damn casino.

I don’t think the two of us should be near her right now.

Either of us could go into rut. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to lose my grip on my control and you shouldn’t want to either.

Even though she is superhot and funny, she’s vulnerable, man. ”

“I’m just as responsible for this mess. My dad delivered her to me, and I didn’t make the call to Lord Stryker so she could take the vow. I knew I was playing a dangerous game, keeping her on tour, but I couldn’t bring myself to send her away.”

Bakari looks me over and grins. “You’re not claiming her. Interesting. What’s wrong with her? She seems great.” He leans forward and stares past me at Ava.

The fact that he’s looking at her fills me with hostility and dread. I hate his eyes on her. In reality, however, she’s fair game.

“Your loss, man. I would claim her in a heartbeat...Maybe I will.” He smirks at me and then moves around me to sit on Ava’s other side.