Page 52 of Rhythm Of Our Souls (Heartbreak Melody #3)

Lulu

There’s been this... off feeling that I’ve had in the pit of my stomach all day. I can’t seem to figure out what it is, but there’s this heavy feeling of dread. And I don’t know why.

Everything seems to be fine as far as I know. After the little visit the twins and I paid to Julia, we told Ally.

Thankfully, she wasn’t upset. When I told her I got a few hits in on Julia, Ally burst out laughing. Let’s say it led to some hot-as-hell sex. I just wanted to get a bit of revenge for my girl.

After that, we left for the last few of Ally’s concerts before her tour officially ended, which was just a few days ago.

We flew back in last night, and while Ally is out finishing up a few things at the recording studio before taking a much-needed break, Brady, Gavin, and I decided to stay behind.

“This place is too fucking big,” Gavin grumbles as he makes his way into the kitchen.

Blinking, I look away from the bird I’ve been watching while sipping my coffee. “I know,” I agree, leaning against the counter.

“Do you think now that Tyson, Ryker, and Skyler are getting their own place, Ally might consider moving into something smaller?” he asks, looking around the place. “I mean, it’s nice and all, but this isn’t... for me.”

“I think that's something we all need to talk about,” Brady said, joining us.

“Are we really going to stay here?” Gavin asks. “What about the compound, the clubhouse? I love our pack, but I miss my old life.”

Guilt hits me, which adds to the sick feeling swirling inside me. “You can go back if you want,” I murmur. “I don’t want you to stay somewhere you're not comfortable just because you're mated to me.” I hate that I feel like crying.

I hate that I feel like this at all.

I feel like I’m betraying Ally for even the thought of wanting my old life back, like Gavin does.

This is what I wanted, wasn’t it? To be with Ally. To have Ally. I finally have her, and I can’t lose her.

Now that we’re back, things will be different. She’s not going on any more tours anytime soon. She doesn’t even have plans to start the next album. Everything is going to be okay. It has to be. These feelings will pass. We will make it work. There’s no other option.

Still, the relief I feel for finally being done with the tour riddles me with guilt.

“Hey.” Gavin steps forward, gripping my chin. “Wherever you go, I’m right there by your side. Do you understand me?”

“Okay.” I nod.

“Let’s get out of here and head over to the compound for the day, okay?”

“Yeah.” A smile finds my face. “Yeah, I think I’d like that.

Finishing my coffee, I head upstairs to get dressed before hopping on the back of Gavin’s bike.

As we zip down the coast, I can’t help but smile, a giddy feeling washing over me. The scent of home hits me right in the gut, replacing a bit of the unease I was feeling before.

“There she is!” Slim Jim cheers from the front step of the club. “I’ve missed you.”

Laughing, I climb off the bike and head over to the twins' dad. “Hey, Jim.” I laugh, letting the older man pull me in for a hug. “I missed you, too.”

“It’s about damn time the three of you got your asses back here.”

“You knew how long we were gonna be,” Brady chuckles.

“Still. This place isn’t the same without you. Plus, our bikes keep breaking down because Bobby can’t do fuck-all in that shop of yours.”

“Bobby does amazing work, and you know it,” Gavin laughs. “You're just sour we were gone.”

“Watch it, boy,” Jim warns.

“Look,” I say, getting his attention. He looks down at me, and I show him my neck. “See anything new?”

“Well, I’ll be damned!” Jim says before whooping in glee. “My boys have gone and marked up their Old Lady. About damn time.”

“Yeah.” I smile over at my Alphas. “About damn time.”

We head inside to have a drink. The rest of the day, I’m greeted by club members and their women, even some of the sweetbutts are happy to see me.

I can’t help but feel like I’m home. Where I need to be. And that makes me feel sick because Ally isn’t here. Liam isn’t here. The pack isn’t complete.

The more the day goes on, the more I wonder if two packs from completely different worlds can make it work.

How did I go from feeling like I was on top of the world to feeling homesick?

Just talk to Ally. Tell her how you feel. She loves you. She will make sure we do whatever we can so everyone is happy. Maybe we can convince Ally to move to the compound while she’s not touring, like a compromise.

As soon as that idea settles, I start to feel better. I think that could work.

“Hey, isn’t that your girl, Brady?” Slim Jim asks, pointing to the TV.

We’re in the middle of a game of pool when we look up to see Ally on the TV. No, not just the TV, the news.

“Turn it up,” Brady demands.

“Ally!” someone screams. “Ally Cat. Is it true about the identity of your pack?”

“Is your bodyguard, Liam, really one of your Alphas? Are you aware of his past? Are you aware that his old pack kidnapped an Omega?”

My heart sinks as my knees wobble, threatening to give out. No. No, no, no. This can not be happening.

“Liam, how do you feel about finally having an Omega? Is she your scent match? Or did you kidnap her, too?”

“What the fuck!” Brady growls, throwing his pool cue.

Liam starts shouting at the press to get back as he tries to cover Ally.

My pulse pounds in my ears as I grip the table for support.

“Is it true that you're seeing another woman?” a different reporter asks. “A Lucinda Carter. And isn’t it true that her parents were a part of a cult?”

“How do you feel about her being mated to members of a gang? How is this going to affect your career?"

“A gang? You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Gavin growls. “This is fucking bullshit.”

There’s this buzzing in my ears as I continue to watch, my body shaking as nausea rolls through me.

They continue to shout questions at her, following her, hounding her. Her team tries to get everything under control, but when one of the reporters manages to grab Ally and yank her into him, my hands fly up to my mouth as I gasp in horror.

“Let go of me!” she screams in his face.

“Tell us!” he shouts back over the crowd. “Are they your pack members?”

“No,” I sob out at the same time Brady roars before throwing something against the wall because we saw it, we saw what just happened.

That reporter is an Alpha. And he just used his bark to force her into answering his question.

Her lower lip wobbles, terror in her eyes. Liam shouts, trying to get back to her, but there are so many people that he can’t get to her.

“Yes,” she says, her voice broken. “They are.”

The crowd goes nuts, and a million more questions are thrown at her.

I watch in horror as Liam loses his shit. He starts punching people or pushing them out of the way, trying to get to Ally.

My heart fucking breaks as the cops tackle him to the ground, putting him in cuffs.

Ally is sobbing, and now so am I. Her team finally manages to get her free from the crowd, but she’s screaming Liam’s name.

I fall to my knees, feeling helpless.

“Come on, baby,” Gavin whispers in my ear before wrapping his arms around me and pulling me to my feet. “We gotta go to the police station and get your Alpha out.”

“Where is Brady?” I ask, trembling violently in his arms.

“He already left.” Gavin presses a kiss to my temple. “Everything is going to be okay.”

Really? Then why does it feel like my whole world is crashing down around me?

We need to get to Ally. We need to make sure she’s okay. And Liam. God, my Alpha. The fear on his face as they ripped Ally away from him is devastating.

This cannot be happening?

I hate myself for even complaining about being on tour and away from home. Because then we were safe. We were happy. In our own little bubble.

This is my fault. I wanted to stop hiding. Now, the world knows, and they are not happy. Did I just end Ally’s career? All because I was selfish and wanted more time with her?

Ally

Numb. That's what I feel. Everything is fucked up. How could everything go south so fast?

One minute, life is great, I’m on cloud fucking nine, living my best life, and the next I’m lying in a fucking hospital bed.

Physically, I’m fine. Mentally? Not so much.

I haven't spoken since it happened.

Having that reporter use his bark on me broke something inside me.

My pack has been by to see me, my best friends, and bandmates too. They’ve all been by my side, my support system. And normally, I’d adore them for it. But it’s hard when I feel myself slipping into this depression that I don’t know how to get out of.

It was one thing with Julia. She was my manager, she wanted something out of it. She was close to me.

But this man? This man was a stranger on the streets. The reality that any Alpha could use their bark on me is fucking terrifying.

That moment was terrifying.

I feel violated.

It wasn’t the questions he was asking–those I would have gladly given them the answer to, if they had just let me talk.

It was forcing it out of me against my will that killed something inside of me.

“You need to eat,” Nate implores, his voice broken. I feel bad, I really fucking do. I’m hurting the people around me by shutting down. But I can’t help it.

It’s like I’m inside my own head, screaming to leave me alone while my body and mind work against me.

“No,” I murmur, curling up in a ball on my side.

“If you don’t eat, you’re not going to be allowed to leave the hospital. Please.”

“Go away.” I close my eyes, and my heart shatters as Nate leaves the room in tears.

“Hey, hey. It’s okay.” Liam’s faint voice can be heard from the hallway.

“No, it’s not. She won’t eat. She’s hardly sleeping. She’s losing weight at an alarming rate... Liam, this isn’t good.”

“I know.” Liam’s voice cracks. “I know.”

My eyes flutter shut, opening again at the smell of Brady’s scent.