Alpha's Surprise Baby(6)

"I used to be in a band, too," he said, smiling sheepishly.

"Yeah? What'd you play?"

"I was a bassist," he said. "I was decent, I guess. But I gave it up after a while."

"It happens," I said. "It's hard to make a living as a musician. Until I  got signed with Altador, I had to have real jobs, working in coffee  shops and bars."

That had been a tough time in my life. Of course, this stage of my life  came with its own challenges, but back then, it had been hard to have  faith in myself, to keep pushing. There were times I found myself  spinning my wheels, wondering whether or not it was all worth it.

"None of the others know you're a shifter, right?" he asked.

"Nope. Even though we've become close, I wouldn't dream of breaking my  promise to my pack. I also feel like it would be a nightmare if it got  out somehow. I don't want to make my PR team deal with that." I laughed.

"Fair enough. What about Tony, though? He gives me some odd vibes."

I looked right at Xander. "I'm glad you mentioned that. It was driving  me nuts because I didn't have anyone else to discuss it with. I've  gotten the same vibes off of Tony."         

     



 

"I mean, he's very likely a shifter, but he's not a wolf. If he was, then we'd smell it," said Xander contemplatively.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was another kind of shifter  entirely. Like a fox, or a coyote, or something," I said, keeping my  voice low. I didn't want any curious humans picking up on our  conversation. I already drew too much attention to myself when I went  out in public.

"Are you kidding me?" said Xander, incredulous.

"I mean, you heard about the arrest of Golden, right?" I asked. "The lion shifter?"

"You believe that?" he asked.

"Yeah, dude," I said. "My whole pack does, and so do many others I've  spoken to. I mean, I know there's no real proof, except for the  testimony of witnesses, but … "

He still looked skeptical.

"I mean, doesn't part of you want there to be others like us? And how would you explain Tony?" I pressed on.

He shrugged. "Tony stumps me. If he is a human, he is a very unique kind of human."

We walked on in a comfortable silence. I felt inexplicably safe around  Xander, and it wasn't just because he was my bodyguard. Sure, he was  being paid a lot to protect me, but I didn't know him that well yet. Our  connection as fated mates gave us a sort of built-in rapport.

I wanted to bring up the possibility of us being fated mates, but I  didn't want to scare him, especially when the tour was well underway. We  were going to be sitting together in close quarters for the next  several weeks. If I made things awkward now, I'd fuck it all up.

But the compulsion prodded me forward. I wouldn't be able to rest if I didn't have the conversation.

"Hey, Xander," I said, "did your pack ever have the legend of the fated mates?"

There, I had done it. I had released it, and now I couldn't take it  back. I had set a machine in motion, and now, nothing would stop it.

He stiffened beside me as we kept walking. I wouldn't have noticed if it weren't for my shifter senses.

"Yeah," he said. "We did."

I hesitated. I hadn't thought this idea through. I had no idea what to  say now to smooth over the tension that now hung between us. It had  seemed so easy in my head. Thankfully, he saved me from having to  respond.

"You think we're fated mates, don't you?" he asked.

"Yeah." I was suddenly feeling shy, understanding that I really didn't know the man walking next to me.

"It doesn't matter if we are," he said. "I can't do relationships."

"What? Why?"

"It doesn't matter why, either. It's just not something I want right now."

That was an obstacle I hadn't expected at all. "I can respect that, I guess," I said, but I must have sounded sour.

"You want a relationship?" he asked. He seemed surprised.

"Yeah. I want to get married and have kids and all that jazz. But I've  never met anyone who made me feel like that until I met you. My fated  mate." I looked up at him, my eyes wide with wonder. It was hard to  believe that this was the guy I was supposed to spend the rest of my  life with, especially since he was being so resistant.

"I didn't think a rock star would want that kind of stability."

"I'm just a regular guy," I said, shrugging. "A regular guy that got  lucky. Before I got into this life, I wanted the same kind of life  everyone else wanted. But fate had a different path for me: the one that  led me to you."

"Maybe we'll be right for each other later on," he said. "But not now."

His tone made it clear that he wasn't willing to talk about it more,  which was fine. I wanted to respect his boundaries and avoid pushing him  farther than what made him comfortable. But my heart and body yearned  for him in a powerful, unfamiliar way. The compulsion was going to be  hard to ignore.

I was honestly surprised by how disappointed I was. I had really wanted  him, and I had built up a whole fantasy in my head about how he'd  completely agree with me and want to be my partner immediately. It  hadn't occurred to me that he wouldn't be ready.

I was crushed. I'd have to give myself some space before the concert,  otherwise I'd completely screw it up. My lyrics were so personal and  emotional that I had to be careful and keep myself in a good headspace  before shows.

We eventually made our way back to the hotel, small talking about the  band and Lake City. I didn't bring up the fated mates thing again, and I  didn't dare to. He was the Alpha, and I was the Omega, so it was his  responsibility to make the first move, if he even wanted to. I had put  the ball in his court.         

     



 

It was also worth remembering that Alphas didn't like pushy Omegas.  Alphas were always the dominant ones in relationships, so they didn't  like it when Omegas took too much initiative. It was pretty much always  taboo for an Omega to ask an Alpha out or initiate sex. Some Alphas even  considered it emasculating. I personally thought that was going a  little too far, but then, what did I know?

Joel and Jareo were back at the hotel room as well. We hadn't been able  to book a suite on such short notice, but it was still spacious and  comfortable, and Michael and Xander would be just a couple of rooms  down, in their own spaces. Michael always asked me if I wanted a private  room, but I liked being with the other guys. It felt like a sleepover.

This time, though, I had to admit that I had been entertaining certain  fantasies about Xander. I wanted to be with him, in his own room,  instead of with my band mates, who could be boisterous. To be curled up  in bed with Xander, in the clean, white sheets of the hotel, the skyline  of the city lit up in the window …

It sounded like paradise.

But it seemed like paradise was not going to happen tonight. I sighed  and went to the bathroom to freshen up. I made sure my hair looked  perfect, too. Part of my appeal was supposedly my fashion sense-at  least, that's what the folks at Altador told me-so I made sure to look  good whenever I stepped outside.

We decided to order in for food. I started to get into my meditative  state-the same state I always got into before any performance. I became  quieter and calmer as I tried to psych myself up. Before the actual  performance, I would sit and do some actual meditation to prepare myself  for the intensity of the music.

"It's about time to head over," said Michael, checking his watch.

We piled into the van and the driver brought us to the venue. Ice  Company was smaller than any venue we had performed at in recent memory.  In fact, it reminded me of the venues I had played at back in my  hometown. I immediately relaxed, realizing that there were going to be  fewer people and dimmer lights. We could even throw more acoustic  versions into the mix.

Xander would have to keep an eye out for superfans, though. Because this  venue was little more than a bar with a stage set up, people would be  able to access me easily. There wouldn't be the same barrier that there  would be at a larger venue. I'd have to keep my eye out, too.

The place was packed, just as I expected. I wasn't sure if it was  because of the social media blasts Candy had done earlier, or if it was  because there had been a show here earlier. I wanted to think it was the  former. There was no point playing a secret show if people weren't  enthusiastic.

I looked around the bar. It appeared to be a reconstructed industrial  building, with old, wood-paneled walls and Edison lighting. The  clientele was a little older and hipper. They didn't seem like the  typical kind of fans I saw at larger shows.

After I did some deep breathing, hidden away in a corner, I felt ready  to perform. The band finished tuning up, and I took the stage. The crowd  clapped politely, though some people cheered.

"I hope you all enjoy the surprise we've brought you tonight," I said.  "You're lucky you're getting to see us at this secret show. Thank you to  Ice Company for taking us for tonight!"