Page 49 of Rhythm Of Our Souls (Heartbreak Melody #3)

Ally

I’m used to change, to my life moving quickly. I’m always on the road or starting a new project, never staying still for very long. It’s something that’s never really bothered me. I liked it. It was fun. Kept me busy. And kept me out of my mind for the most part.

How can you think about being heartbroken and depressed when you're always on the go, right?

Sitting here, in my hotel room, snuggled up with my pack while we watch a movie, I look around at the people who’ve come into my life and changed it for the better.

It’s kind of ironic that some of the people who played a part in some of my worst pain have become the people who have healed me.

The world works in odd ways. They were always meant to be mine; it just wasn’t our time until now.

It was worth the wait, no matter how much it sucked to have gone through what I did. What matters is that I’m happy now. I’m loved. I haven’t gone to bed alone in weeks.

I’ve never felt so safe, wanted, and loved in my whole life.

Most people think I have it all. Money, fame, status. And while all of that is nice, I’d give it all up in a heartbeat if it came between my career and my pack.

Because what's the point of having everything in the world if you have no one to share it with?

Being a singer and living this kind of life has always been my dream. It’s one I’ll forever be grateful for coming true.

But the more time I spend with my pack, the more I find myself resenting my job.

It’s messed up, I know. Still, when I’m up on stage, I’d much rather be back on the bus, cuddling with Lulu, sitting in Liam’s lap while we play games, walking around laughing with Brady, picking on Liam with Nate, or arguing who the better superhero is with Gavin.

Tyson, Ryker, and Skyler have been my rocks, my safe place for a long time. The only ones I could depend on not to hurt me. The ones I leaned on when I felt like everything was crumbling around me.

Life is changing, and while they will always be some of the most important people in my life, their roles have changed. Now, I have a pack to be my rock and safe place.

We’re in Phoenix for a show, and last night was amazing, but this? Sitting here and just enjoying one another's company has given me more dopamine lately than when I’m on stage.

Part of me feels guilty, like I’m doing a disservice to my fans. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am today and wouldn’t have the life I live.

I’m doing what I always do and pushing forward. I’ll be okay. I always am.

Nate’s phone rings, pulling all of our attention away from the TV.

He pulls it out and sighs, getting to his feet. “Just gonna take this quickly.”

“That one is always working,” Lulu points out.

“Yeah.” I bury my face in her lap, making her laugh. “But it’s kind of our fault.”

I peek up at her, finding her chewing on her lip. “Maybe we should have kept things a secret a little longer. At least until after your tour.”

Frowning, I roll over so that my head is facing up in her lap. “Why?”

“Because,” she sighs. “It’s just been creating all sorts of buzz on the internet. There have been three articles on who your mystery pack is.”

We’ve started going out in public together, holding hands, kissing, nothing too crazy, but with paparazzi up our asses now, we’ve gone back to wearing hats and sunglasses.

I know she’s the one who wanted to stop hiding, but Lulu hates the spotlight. I've been terrified that it’s going to become too much for her and she’s going to regret her decision. And the way she looks right now, I think I might be right.

I really hope I’m not.

I’m about to ask her if she’s upset with me, or because of me, when Nate walks back into the room

My stomach sinks at the grim look on his face. “What’s wrong?” I ask, scrambling to sit up.

He licks his lips, hesitant to tell me.

“Nate,” Liam’s voice is filled with urgency, like he, too, does not like the look on Nate’s face.

“That was your lawyer,” Nate states.

Shit. This can’t be good.

I’m waiting for him to tell me a fan is trying to sue me, or somehow I’m in breach of some sort of contract, although I don’t think I am.

But what he says next is not at all something I expected to hear come from his mouth.

“It’s about Julia."

Dread sinks to the bottom of my stomach, heart pounding painfully in my chest. Just her name alone makes my skin crawl.

“What the fuck about that evil bitch?” Liam growls, getting to his feet.

Nate looks between Liam and me nervously. “She has a parole hearing in a few days.”

“What?!” I croak, not sure if I believe what I just heard. My eyes go wide as terror fills my bones.

“You have got to be kidding me?” Lulu says in outrage. “How is that bitch even eligible?”

“I don’t know,” Nate replies, looking as sick as I feel. “They wouldn’t tell me much. Just that if you are concerned about her getting out, you are allowed to go to the hearing and speak against her to make sure she isn’t granted parole.”

“This can not be happening right now,” I whisper to myself, feeling my body start to visibly shake. Julia is a monster. Letting her out on parole shouldn’t even be an option for her, let alone making it as far as her getting a hearing to be given a chance to be heard.

She ruined so many lives. Abused her powers. Left people, like me, with scars from our trauma.

Mine may not present in many ways, but I still fear an Alpha using their bark on me. I’ve just been lucky to be around good Alphas who would never dream of it.

Still, that doesn’t mean that in the back of my mind, I don’t fear what they might do during every interaction with an Alpha I’m not familiar with. If I piss them off, will they take it out on me? Force me to do something I don’t want to?

The only Alphas in my life are my bandmates, packmates, and fathers. Everyone else on my team is either an Omega or a Beta. Anyone else who would have close access to me is a Beta, like Nate.

“You don’t have to,” Brady reassures, pulling me into his lap.

The moment his arms wrap around me, his scent fills my nose, and I feel a million times better.

But it doesn’t take away the fear that the person who used and abused me for years could be getting out early.

She was sentenced to ten years, and it’s only been three.

She should be in there for life if you ask me.

So letting her out before she’s even served half of her sentence is fucked up.

“I should,” I say, trying to clear my mind long enough to think.

“I wasn’t involved very much regarding the trial.

I gave my statement, told the investigators what happened, but I didn’t do everything I should have.

Other victims of hers fought, but I was too afraid of the attention that it would bring to my career.

I cared too much about what everyone would think about me, my friends, my family, my fans.

I shouldn’t have. And I wish I had done things differently.

This is my chance to fix that.” Even though the idea of seeing her again makes me want to claw at my skin.

“Are you sure?” Lulu asks, taking my hand in hers.

“Yeah.” I nod, feeling more sure of myself. I look up to Nate. “Make it happen. I don’t want that bitch out of prison. She can rot in hell for all I care. But if I can help keep her behind bars for at least her full sentence, then I’m going to do everything to play my part in that.”

“Only if you're sure.”

“I’m sure.” I nod.

“Okay.” He blows out a breath. “Let me make some calls.”

“Come here,” Liam says, holding out his arms. Brady kisses me on the forehead before helping me to my feet. A sob rips from my throat the moment his arms wrap around me, and I break in my Alpha’s arms.

This man saved me. If he hadn’t come when he did, who knows how much longer Julia would have kept going. Maybe she would still be controlling my life today.

No. because I wouldn’t have lasted that long. The depression would have eaten away at me until there was nothing left.

“We’re going to beat this. We will keep her behind bars. I don’t fucking care what I have to do to make that happen, but she will not be getting out,” Liam vows.

One by one, my pack members stand and wrap their arms around me, whispering loving and encouraging words. Unlike last time, I don’t feel so helpless.

Even if Julia manages to get out, I know I’ll be okay because I'll have my pack fighting at my side, doing everything in their power to protect me from the horrors of the world I’ve become a part of.

Brady

“Breathe, Sweetheart. You got this, baby.”

“That’s really hard to believe right now.” Ally blows out a breath, eyes darting around the room. She’s looking for Julia, but she’s not going to find her.

Gavin and I made sure that Julia wouldn’t be in the building while Ally was inhere. She had the option to speak with Julia face to face, but Ally doesn’t want to see her. She said seeing her in prison after she got convicted was enough. She doesn’t want to go through that again.

And she shouldn’t have to.

The fucking justice system is a joke. This bitch’s file shouldn’t have even been given a second glance. She should be locked up for life, not given a chance to get out years before her sentence is even up.

“All you have to do is go in there, tell the court why you don’t believe Julia should be let out on parole, and then you can leave. That's it.”

“What if it’s not enough?” Her lower lip quivers, and it fucking destroys me. Seeing her like this is a knife to the gut.

“We’ll make sure it’s enough,” I vow to her with a growl, gripping her chin. “Hold your head high, Sweetheart. You’re a fucking badass, okay? We’re going to win this. She’s not going to get out.”

“But–” Ally starts.

“She’s not going to win this,” I promise.

Licking her lips, she nods, taking a deep breath.

Nate walks out of the courtroom. Lulu and Gavin jump to their feet from the nearby bench that they were sitting on. Tyson, Skyler, and Ryker are on the one next to them.