Page 7 of Hidden Fates

He also declared we were taking a break from work and enjoying several extra weeks away during the trip.

As exciting as the possibility is, my brain demands I am letting my fans down by not working on another album.

An arm slips around my shoulders, tugging me away from the window. Bellamy wiggles his thick blonde eyebrows. His long hair is pushed to one side, teasing my shoulder.

I melt against him, trying to bury the sense of not-good-enough that keeps bubbling up inside me.

“Ready for an adventure, dandelion?”

“Every day with you is an adventure,” I breathe.

Light stubble covers his cheeks, prickling my skin when my hand rubs over it. Baby blue eyes focus on me, mischief and amusement shimmering in them as he hums, his fingers teasing my ribs. The smile stretching his lips grows when I glare at him, ready to retaliate if he tries to tickle me.

His sandalwood and vetiver scent is extra warm and leathery, filling my body with his personal brand of sunshine. Shifting closer, I press my face to his neck and inhale deeply, feeling better as it soaks into my body and soothes the anxiety crawling through me.

I love the life we live. Creating music and sharing it with the world is a blessing, but the expectations that come with fame can be overwhelming.

Quentin tilts his head as he helps me crawl into the middle row of our SUV. I shake my head, patting his forearm. Something we’ve learned over the years is that when my emotions get too big, I need to sit with them for a while.

He turns to stand outside the car while our bags are loaded into the trunk. After an entire suitcase of my clothes had wound up in an online auction several years back, he’s been extra vigilant about ensuring nothing is misplaced or lost when we travel.

Nothing pisses an Alpha off like seeing his Omega’s panties being sold to a stranger.

Squished against Bellamy, I giggle when Emmett slides in beside me, creating the best Beta-Omega sandwich. He grumbles, barely awake. He always naps during our flights. Something about being in the air makes falling asleep easy for him.

“Isn’t the first show Saturday?” he mumbles, dark auburn hair ruffling against my cheek as he pulls me against his side.

Wrapping an arm around his shoulders, I hug him to me, awestruck by how pretty he is. Strong cheekbones and a square jaw match his carefully sculpted brows and pillowy lips. He looks like he belongs in an ad for a dark, sensual men’s cologne. And he smells like one, blending tart and musky blackcurrant with the luxurious warmth of cashmere.

Instinct has my thighs squeezing together to hide the burst of my perfume as I imagine smothering myself in his scent. His lips twitch, palm dropping to my hip and squeezing.

“Yes, your first show isn’t until Saturday,” Quentin answers as he slides into the passenger seat, having overheard Emmett’s question. “The shows are important, but we’re also here for a much-needed vacation. Which is why we flew out early—to get anything work-related out of the way.”

Turning in his seat, he catches my eye. “We’ll be staying in Starburgh.”

Excitement bubbles in my stomach. “The lake house?”

Three years ago, I stumbled upon the dreamiest house when I was doom-scrolling after a show. A gigantic Victorian estate built of weathered stone and straight out of a fairytale. We’ve stayed there twice, both times only for a single night.

I know Q has been renovating while we were away, slowly morphing the estate’s style to suit our pack’s needs. I won’t be surprised if every common space room has a nesting spot built into it. He knows I adore finding little spots to curl up with blankets and get lost in daydreams.

Blowing him a kiss, I can’t hide my grin as I lean against my Betas. The next few days will be busy, but it will be worth every moment we get to spend at the estate.

Saturday finds me exhausted and grumpy. We’ve spent the past two days at photoshoots, interviews, and meetings. Our schedules were so packed it’s like we’ve run a marathon. But tonight is the guy’s first show, which means tomorrow we’ll be in Starburgh at the estate.

We’ll be home.

Following Onyx and Sterling through the venue’s back halls, I can barely hide my excitement. Despite my readiness to be done with work for a bit, I can’t wait to watch the guys perform. Their shows are amazing. Dark, heavy, and emotional, with beats that make me want to dance and scream along with them.

Quentin joins us after speaking with the venue staff. He volunteered to act as the guy’s manager for the charity shows since we plan on staying here for a while.

“Darling, there’s something you should know.” He draws my attention to him as we’re shown to the green room where we’ll chill until sound check.

Glancing up into his light gray eyes, I startle when he chews his lip. My stoic Alpha is never nervous. “Is something wrong?”

His head shakes, and he runs a hand through his short, ash-brown hair. The disheveled strands amplify how handsome he is, distracting me with his beauty. When he clears his throat, an amused look in his eyes, I huff out a laugh, dispelling the weird tension settling between us.

“The openers for tonight’s show. I never told you who they were.”