Page 15

Nolan

T he energy of the vast crowd washes over the arena like a torrential downpour.

Still, all I can think about is Ava leaving me tomorrow night.

Bakari, Stella, and I stand in the wings at the edge of the stage, counting down to the start of the show when the band and I step on stage.

Rex and the guys are currently doing their preshow rituals behind me but I can’t seem to channel my focus.

Rex hops from one foot to the other, getting his heart rate up in preparation for the sustained energy of the show.

Ian is doing yoga, and Torin and Eli are downing shots of tequila.

Stella pulls out her phone from her pocket and stares intently at the screen. She’s so focused on what she’s watching that she doesn’t notice Rex joking around behind her, trying to get her attention.

She grins with a pleased look in her eye. “Ava’s amazing. She is fighting for you guys with everything she’s got. Nolan, you need to watch this.”

“What is it? Who’s fighting whom?” I say.

Bakari pulls out his phone, too. “Where am I going to watch? I want to see what has you so excited.”

“The band’s social media feed. Ava’s doing a live stream now, but you should watch it from the beginning.”

Bakari puts in an earbud and passes me the other one. Slipping it into my ear, I nod at Bakari, and he starts the video.

“Hi, everyone.” Ava waves at the camera, and I grin at her friendliness. “You’ve probably seen that I’m Death by Dawn’s new social media manager. I need to address some things that have happened in the past few days.”

She pauses, and her shoulders slump. My breath stalls. Ava looks hot and uncomfortable, with a sheen of sweat on her forehead. She blows her bangs out of her face.

“You see, the previous social media manager has been malicious and spiteful. She has done everything she can to drag Nolan and Death by Dawn through the wringer, and some of you have been eating it up. What you don’t know, because he’s too much of a stand-up guy to tell you, is that she’s Nolan’s ex and means to harm the band you love so much. ”

She adjusts her sleeves and looks into the camera with so much anger it makes my inner Alpha claw up my spine with a need to fix it. I don’t like seeing her upset. I’m blown away that she’s doing this.

“I care about this band. They’re even better than you know.

I am sick of seeing them mistreated, and I know you feel as passionately about them as I do.

Nolan doesn’t deserve this nonsense, and neither does the band.

Are you going to let some jilted lover treat them like this? I know I won’t. Not anymore.”

My mind is reeling. Seeing her stand up for me and the guys warms my heart. This girl is absolutely stunning, even more so when she’s angry. She takes off her sweater and slams it down on the couch.

“It’s time to show Death by Dawn how much you care about them. It’s time to give this Larissa a taste of her own medicine. I’m sick of deleting her hateful comments and blocking every new account she creates. It’s time to let her know how you feel about her crap.”

She clenches her fist and then adjusts her glasses. The fact that she’s standing up for us is heartwarming. I want to grab her and kiss her to show her how I feel. Bakari looks at Stella, bouncing on her heels with excitement.

“It’s time to let your voices be heard. Flood her with your hearts and your positive comments.

Do what your heart tells you, and don’t let her get away with it, but also don’t sink to her level.

It’s time for her to let go and leave her relationship with Nolan Szasz in the past. He’s done and is moving on. It’s time for him to be happy.”

She looks down and collects herself. All I can feel is my heart expanding in size. Taking deep breaths to hold back the overwhelming awe that’s making me tear up, I watch as she continues.

“If you love Death by Dawn as much as I do, then now is the time to show them you care. It’s time to stand up for them.

Don’t let Larissa and her vindictiveness win.

Working for them this week has truly been a dream and a pleasure, and for those of you who are seeing them in Las Vegas tonight, enjoy the show! ”

She clicks off the live stream, and I can only stand in stunned silence.

The sounds of the crowd fade away, and the excitement in the arena feels less important than it did before watching Ava just now.

I wish I didn’t have to perform. I want to run to the hotel suite and give her my gratitude. But I can’t.

It’s showtime.

I glance at the guys, give them a nod, and Torin, Rex, and Ian walk on stage. The crowd goes wild.

As Eli walks past, I glance at Stella and Bakari. “I’m worried about Ava. It looks like her heat may be right around the corner. Go check on her, please, Stella.”

My manager nods and heads for the hotel.

Bakari gives me a fist bump, and then I step out onto the stage.

The lights shut off, and I step up to the microphone.

As the stage lights turn back on, we begin to play, and the crowd goes wild.

The words flow out of me. We’ve played these songs at every show on this tour, and I’m excited about the new songs I’ve put together the last few nights. Rex just needs to arrange the music.

Ava has genuinely been a blessing; she is my muse, and I’m absolutely mad about her. I can only imagine how good the new album will be with her presence in my life. Thoughts of Ava threaten to pull me out of every song, and thankfully, only the guys notice; the audience is none the wiser.

I’m worried about her fluctuating discomfort in the casino and during tonight’s live stream. Her heat is coming, and she’s going back to San Diego. On Lord Stryker’s order, she’s being ripped away from me. What am I doing? I can’t help but think I’m making a mistake in letting her go.

I’m barely present with each song. Just playing the notes and singing on autopilot.

When did doing what I love become so tedious?

Looking into the wings, I can’t help but hope that a particular pixie of a girl will be standing there, watching me.

But all I see are Bakari with our roadies.

The song is almost at the bridge, and I try to shake my thoughts and focus on what I do best. Making music. What I’ve worked so hard for.

I could feel Ava’s care, concern, and passion for us—for me—in every word she spoke. Part of me wants to keep her and claim the girl who was meant to become mine.

I’m sick of feeling tied up in knots, fighting myself. An Alpha is supposed to be confident and decisive, and I haven’t been either of those things. Before tonight on the gaming floor, I thought I’d have more time with her, at least a few more days, until we reached San Diego.

I don’t know if I can take seeing her with another man. Just watching Bakari embrace her made me livid, and that’s not like me. The idea of seeing Ava’s adorable fangs and another Alpha’s claiming mark on her porcelain skin makes me fiercely hostile toward her future mate.

Ava is the perfect girl, a perfect Omega.

..perfect for me. Fame doesn’t faze her.

She understands the importance of family, whether bound by blood like my parents or chosen and developed like my band.

She’s creative and passionate, things we both share.

With her vibrant and bubbly personality, I know she’ll be scooped up, courted, and claimed quickly.

I already miss her. I want her here with me as I finish out the tour. She’s become an essential part of it, and I’m surprised by how fast she charmed her way into my life.

The roar of the crowd turns incendiary as I raise my arms to them.

This is by far the largest crowd of the entire tour.

The double balconies that wrap around the arena are packed, and the floor is a sea of faces taking in every word, every note, every harmony Rex and I sing.

I used to love this, but tonight, it all feels rote.

Like I’m just here to finish something I started months ago.

I’m not giving my everything to the deserving crowd.

Tonight, I can’t help but feel that the person most deserving of my attention is the girl in my hotel suite.

Ava would never resent my career. I’m starting to see now that I was being ridiculous. We could make a relationship work on the road. We’ve been great together for the past four days. Hell, Rex and Lucy make it work.

It would be a privilege to reward and provide for Ava.

With proper planning, we could schedule our tours around her future heats without much issue.

The guys and Stella would understand. A relationship with Ava would be nothing like the toxic mess I was immersed in before. Larissa was never right for me.

As the guys and I wrap up the song, I glance at the side of the stage for what must be the millionth time and see Stella standing there with a worried expression marring her face. She beckons to me.

Fear takes hold of my lungs.

Walking over to Rex, I call, “Hey man, can you handle the next song with a drum solo and play for a while? The guys can riff off you. Stella needs me, and she looks tense.” The crowd is screaming and cheering for the next song.

“Yeah, sure, no problem. You go find out what’s happening,” Rex says, making eye contact with Ian. “Hopefully, it’s nothing too bad.”

“It’s probably nothing.” I nod at Rex and walk off stage to Stella and Bakari.

“What’s up, Stella?”

“You won’t like this.” She pauses, and I’m hanging on her words. “Ava has gone into heat. She’s tearing apart the suite, frantically trying to nest.”

Fuck! A wave of protectiveness rips at my throat. An unassisted heat could send Ava into madness for days.

Bakari looks at me with a calculating stare. “She needs an Alpha to soothe her. It’s her first heat. She can’t be alone. You know this.”