Today's First Chapter Friday is from my fourth Shifter Towers story, His Omega on Stage. I tried to expand what we know about the city of Saramto with this story, while returning to Adan Records at the same time. This is the longest story in the Shifter Towers series. And I'll let you in on a secret, there is more Shifter Towers coming in the future. In His Omega on Stage, Ash is releasing his debut album under the stage name AI. And when mishaps happen, he ends up working alongside his high school crush. But in the entertainment industry, relationships are never easy when they happen in the spotlight. Enjoy the first chapter of HIS OMEGA ON STAGE from Jun's point of view...Another day, another dollar. Okay, so I made more than a dollar a day, but that was how the saying went. I was on my way to work once again. All I seemed to do lately, with nothing to break the monotony of my week. I used to teach guitar lessons to a few high school kids on my days off, but they either went off to college or had their own part-time job now with no time for lessons anymore. And I hadn’t bothered to look for more students. A boyfriend? Yeah right! Who wanted a leopard cat alpha who worked the evening shift at a record store? One who had a bad-boy reputation in high school that hadn’t translated well into adulthood. I had the occasional lonely omega come into the store at night. But a hookup with them never led to another. At first, that’s exactly what I’d wanted, having been burned by those I’d loved in the past. But, that had quickly become a lonely life. Now, I was “too passionate,” or “an overgrown house cat,” and not at all the type of fun my bed warmers were looking for. I wasn’t the “bad boy” they expected. So, I worked. And when I wasn’t working, I listened to music at home, sometimes strumming along. That was my life. Boring. And another boring night awaited me at work. Or so I thought until I got there and saw my boss, Kathie, the owner of KMM—Kathie’s Music and Merch—at the back of the store, fingers clenched in her dark-brown hair. “Thank the stars you’re here.” She handed me a tall, yet thin cardboard box. “My father was rushed to the hospital a couple of of hours ago, and I need to get there.” “Why didn’t you call me to come in earlier?” I felt bad for sleeping in and lazing around all morning while she was stressing the whole time. Sure, my job was boring, but Kathie treated me well, and we got along. “You know I would have.” “I know.” She lightly touched my forearm. “But the doctor said he was stable, and I needed to discuss things with Sanjeet, the rep from Adan Records, before AI’s signing tomorrow.” She nodded toward a stack of tall cardboard boxes like the one I held. “This is only some of the display for tomorrow’s signing. I need you to help those coming down from AR to set up. Felix is coming in to work the store so you can do that for me.” “Okay.” I nudged her toward her office. “I’ll take care of it all. Now, get your stuff and go to your father.” She didn’t need to stress about anything else. While Kathie gathered her belongings, I rang up a couple of customers. The part of my job I was used to. Setting up the event room for the signing would be new for me. Usually, Kathie did that herself. Sure, I’d retrieved items for her when the store wasn’t busy, but I’d never been left to complete the task on my own. Or even with support staff from AR. But I wasn’t worried. She wouldn’t trust me with the task if I couldn’t handle it. A few minutes after Kathie rushed out to catch the light rail transit to the hospital, Felix arrived, his normally blond hair sprayed silver, the main color in all the promo for AI’s debut album. I tried to hide my smirk. “Excited about the album, or hoping to pick up a fan?” He winked at me. “Maybe a bit of both. AI is cute. Have you seen him?” “Nah. I don’t get into artists for their looks. I need to hear them first before I become a fan.” And if they’re good-looking, it’s an added bonus. But like I’d ever have a chance with anyone famous. “He has some covers out already.” Somehow Felix managed to pull an app with a list of AI’s covers up on his phone, and flashed it in front of me within seconds. “You should give them a listen while you’re setting up for him.” I shrugged. “Trying to copy someone else’s song doesn’t give me any idea of what an artist truly sounds like.” From my experience, artists usually didn’t live up to my expectations on their own music after I’d enjoyed a cover. Sometimes the artist released a single of a completely different style than what I’d hoped for. “But he makes them his own. Does his own thing.” Felix’s pout was cute, but it wouldn’t make me listen to this AI kid any sooner than I had to. “Whatever.” I picked up a couple of the boxes. “I know the album will be playing here all day tomorrow. I’ll decide then.” Likely I’d be sick of every song by the end of the day and never want to hear the album again. Adan Records did have some good artists, like Envi and TK, but the boy group they debuted recently was too bubble-gum pop for me. Listening to them made my teeth hurt. Although they and groups like them seemed to sell well. With the rise of digital music, many fans no longer bought albums, but they came in searching for other merchandise, like clothing, posters, trading cards, figurines, and more. Their hunger for goods was endless. Tonight, we wouldn’t be very busy. Only the customers who knew about the signing and wanted to avoid the crowd would come in. Plus, the occasional random shopper. Nothing Felix couldn’t handle. So, I set to work carrying all the material to the event room. I’d just finished bringing in everything labeled for the signing when two women from AR arrived to help me get the room ready. The older one, probably in her mid-forties, with shoulder-length blonde hair and a large tattoo of a snake around her right arm, had a detailed layout of where everything was supposed to go. We divided the room then set up cardboard cutouts, decorated tables, and arranged the line area. The merchandise would come in the morning. Adan Records was really strict about not letting anyone get an early peek at their albums. Even though customers always came into the store early, hoping to snag a copy before their friends, they never had any luck with AR artists. Because we didn’t get them ahead of time. I had just put the last barrier in place for the fan lineup when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out to find a text from Felix. Suspicious customer. Busy with others. Can you come deal? Be right there, I replied. I quickly excused myself from the room then rushed back to KMM. Felix was ringing through customers, but I could see him side-eying the person he’d texted me about. And for good reason. The figure browsing through the pop CDs wore baggy black jogging pants and a hoodie, with a black bucket hat and black face mask bejewelled with silver beads in the shape of a diamond. Obviously trying to keep their identity a secret, but that made them more suspicious in a record store. Though we had security stickers on most products, there were still too many items that could easily be pocketed. I caught a whiff of their scent. Vanilla and brown sugar. An omega, which I hadn’t expected when I’d first seen him. Though I couldn’t tell what kind of shifter. “Can I help you with something?” I don’t think he heard me approach, as he jumped a little before turning my direction. “I uh, yeah.... I’m looking for AI. His new album. For my sister.” His deep voice caught me by surprise, too, but I didn’t believe his story at all. Why did he have to hide, in multiple ways, that he was a fan? I sneaked a glimpse of his eyes under the rim of his hat. He appeared strangely familiar, as if I should know who the person was but couldn’t seem to remember. Someone I’d seen in person before maybe? Why couldn’t I remember? “AI’s album doesn’t release until tomorrow. We don’t get any copies of it until first thing in the morning. Sorry to disappoint you, I mean, your sister.” Would he get the hint I didn’t find his story credible? “But if you’re available tomorrow, AI will be here to sign his new album from eleven until two. There’ll be new merch, too.” “Oh, okay.” The guy adjusted his hat and mask, covering even more of his face. “I’ll come back then to get one. Thank you.” He rushed out of the store without bothering to look for anything else. Not that I minded. It meant I could return to setting up for the signing. But I wondered if the guy would really come back. Would he admit to being a fan if face-to-face with AI? “Customers are looking for his album already,” I said, walking into the event room. “That’s a good sign.” “Understandable. He’s really good.” The older woman carried the cardboard cutout of AI to the stage. “I heard his album is a bit different from the covers he posted though.” Everyone spoke so highly of his covers, but I still wouldn’t listen to them. I wanted to hear him singing his own music to make my judgment. “Well, I’m sure he’ll have quite the turnout tomorrow.” The woman set the cutout in place, and that was the first time I got a glimpse of the artist who went by the stage name AI. All other cutouts had him wearing a white full-face mask, with intricate silver patterns. In this one, I could see his dark hair and big doe eyes. I couldn’t shake the feeling of familiarity, like I should know him from somewhere. I guess I’d have to try to get a glimpse of him sometime tomorrow to know for sure. That is, if I had a moment to leave the store. HIS OMEGA ON STAGE (Shifter Towers #4) by Jessica E. Subject
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It's been a while since I've done a First Chapter Friday post, but since there are many stories I haven't posted about yet, and I'm trying to link excerpts to my book pages, I thought I'd start these posts again. Today's First Chapter Friday is from the second book in my Shifter Towers series. There were many real-life events, conversations, and experiences that inspired this story. In Mink Omega in Hiding, a bear shifter longs for his fated mate whom he hasn't seen since they attended college together. And one day, the mink shifter shows up on his doorstep, looking for a place to hide out. Enjoy Roan's POV in the first chapter of MINK OMEGA IN HIDING...As a child, I often believed standing on stage performing for enraptured spectators would be the best feeling in the world. I was so wrong. My audience twenty years later consisted of drunk and horny wolf shifters waiting for me to sway my hips and peel my clothing off one piece at a time. Even though I knew they were there, I couldn’t look at any one of them. If I did, I would freeze, be completely unable to perform. Instead, I imagined stripping for someone else, someone from long ago. Thoughts of my first love helped me through work, and every day at home when Tuan wanted me to perform sexual favors for him and several of his gang members, or decided he wanted to remind me of his dominance with his fists. Memories of my first love helped me through it all. He’d never loved me back. Not in the way I’d wanted him to. But he’d always treated me as an equal, even if he was an alpha and I was only an omega. I pictured him sitting in the front row, weaved my hips around to entice him, make him want to claim me. I teased him, showing flashes of skin before lifting my shirt off. Then I slowly rolled down my pants, a little at a time before I bent over in front of him, giving him a view of my bare ass. Ignoring the catcalls, I imagined his deep voice encouraging me, telling me that I was a good omega and how much he loved me. And then my performance was done. “Oh, you were so good, baby,” Pog, one of Tuan’s minions called from the audience. He’d arrived later than usual tonight, though I wished he hadn’t shown up at all. “Let’s go to a private room where you can grind that pretty little ass over me.” Swallowing the bile that tried to escape, I grabbed my clothes from the stage and ran off. Tuan insisted that I didn’t give private dances at work. Not when he wasn’t there to profit from it. Besides, it was my last dance for the night, and I had to rush to get dressed and catch the last bus of the night that went past the club. After saying good night to some of the other dancers, I pulled the strings on my hoodie a little tighter and pushed open the door of the employee entrance. Escaping out into the muggy night, I headed for the bus stop. My shift was over, though I wanted to go home as much as I wanted to stay at work. Tuan would want the same thing every guy who came into the club longed for. My body. But, for once, I wanted to feel like I was appreciated for more than the shape of my ass and sway of my hips. I wanted to have an intellectual conversation instead of hearing, “Hey, baby, come and sit that pretty ass on my lap.” Yet I had nowhere else to go. No one else to depend on. Not even myself. I reached the stop as the bus pulled up. Getting on, I found a single seat in the middle. Perfect. I pulled my hood over a little more so no one would recognize me. Even in sweats and a hoodie, I often got recognized by my face. Though it seemed no one ever looked there while I danced, they obviously did at some point during my routine. Could and did spot the mole on my right cheek from fifty feet away. Didn’t matter. I still wanted out. My tips were slowly adding up, but not yet enough to afford my own place. Why had I become involved with a wolf omega who was the leader of the worst gang in all of Gitown? What had I ever seen in him in the first place, giving up a promising future to be with him? My parents were right when they’d objected to him. But it wasn’t until they were killed in a car accident that I realized how right they were. Now I had no one else to depend on. No one to help me leave his clutches. After transferring onto my next bus, I heard my phone ding, indicating a text. I rolled my eyes as I pulled it from my pocket. Probably Tuan wondering where I was even though he knew my shift ended at midnight and how long it took me to get home. No, it was from an unknown number. I froze at the single word on the screen. Run What did that mean? And who had sent it? No one had my number except work and Tuan. He’d made sure of that. My hand holding the phone shook. Should I believe what the message said? Had something happened? Or was it a threat? Tuan had a lot of enemies, some of whom had found me at the club. Thank goodness the bouncers there were armed for such occasions. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Maybe someone had texted the wrong number. The message was meant for somebody else. Suddenly the volume of the voices on the bus heightened. I glanced out the window to see what the excitement was about then realized how close to home I was. I yanked on the stop-request cord then carefully headed for the exit. And that’s when I noticed the lights. Blue and red. All flashing. My home was surrounded by police cars and crime scene tape. Then I recalled the message. Run. It was meant for me. But who had sent me the warning? I returned to my seat, not budging when the bus stopped. “You getting off, sweetheart?” the bus driver called. I ducked low in my seat. “Uh, no. Not yet. Forgot I had to pick up some groceries before I go home.” The driver knew I lived in the neighborhood but not which house. Tuan had me circle the block and enter through the back gate. Paranoia, I’d originally believed, but now I was thankful for the stupid tactic. No one on the bus knew the house they were all staring at, wondering what had happened there, was my home. A place I doubted I could return to. Though I didn’t want to anyway. I crossed my arms and rocked my right leg back and forth, trying to prevent the fear swirling in my stomach from consuming me. I had to find somewhere to go, someone I could trust. But that wasn’t anyone or any place in Gitown. Shit! All my saved money was hidden in a canister tucked under a loose floorboard in the back of my closet. I had only the one hundred dollars in cash I’d made tonight, money Tuan would have taken the instant I walked in the door. It wouldn’t last me long. But I refused to return home. I had to figure out where to go. I wasn’t going down for whatever Tuan got himself involved in this time. I always minded my own business for that reason. Yet, I was sure Detective Merida would find any excuse to interrogate me. That couldn’t happen. I needed out of the city. And fast. When the bus reached the main terminal, I rushed off and headed to the station for the out-of-town routes. The arrival/departure screen indicated several buses would be leaving at six a.m. But I didn’t want to wait around the station for the next few hours. I knew what happened to people who were found here in the middle of the night. Especially omegas like me. Tuan had told me stories, been involved in many of the attacks. I needed to go somewhere now. One bus on the platform was boarding passengers. Its sign read Saramto. A ten-hour drive to a place I hadn’t been in years. A city that held so many good memories. But with the way I’d left, would the memories have washed away, be long forgotten? Would he remember me? Would he even want to see me? Heck, I didn’t even know if he still lived there. But I had no other choice. I went to the ticket booth. “How much to get on that bus to Saramto?” The woman behind the plexiglass and metal bars looked up. “One way is fifty dollars. Round trip is eighty.” I counted out the right cash then slipped it into the metal bowl on the counter. “One way, please.” The agent didn’t say a word, just took my money then printed off the ticket, which she dropped into a slot in front of me. Grabbing the piece of paper, I rushed onto the bus. Thankfully, it wasn’t crowded. In fact, there were maybe ten other passengers. I took a seat two behind the driver, the aisle seat. When the bus finally got going, I moved to the window, but I didn’t want anyone to dart on at the last minute and sit beside me. Finally, the bus departed the terminal and, within a half hour, Gitown was behind me. A place I never wanted to return to. And never would. Even if things didn’t work out in Saramto, I wouldn’t have any money to get back. I could only hold onto the hope that an old friendship would remain true even after so many years. Otherwise, I was doomed. MINK OMEGA IN HIDING (Shifter Towers #2) by Jessica E. Subject
One of my goals this year was to post more on my own blog. I used to do that a lot by participating in weekly author hops where we shared snippets of our works-in-progress, or simply by creating my own weekly or monthly posts. I'd gotten away from those any many other things last year, but I'm trying to revive some things again. Since the seventh book in my Shifter Towers series released last month, and some of the others in the series were on sale as well, I wanted to take you for a tour of the towers, share the businesses that are inside each one. If I lived in Saramto, I would definitely take the LRT to the towers to do some shopping and maybe catch sight of a pop artist while I am there. About the towers...Shifter Towers consists of three 70-storey skyscrapers located in the center of Saramto. While they all look the same from the outside, the inside of the buildings are very different. There is a courtyard that connects them all with Main Street on one side of the buildings and the main station for the light rail transit system to the rear of the buildings. While towers one and two have a large bank of elevators just off the concourse on the main floor, tower three is much more secure due to the businesses inside. Tower One...Tower One is home to many businesses including the following:
The stories that relate to Tower One the most are:
Tower Two...Tower Two is home to many businesses including the following:
The stories that relate to Tower Two the most are:
Tower Three...While Tower Three is home to many businesses, the main business that takes up many floors is Adan Records. Because of the nature of their business and those who work for them, anyone who wants to go beyond the lobby of the building must have a security card or be approved by reception. The main offices are on the second floor while recording studios, dance practice studios and more are higher up. There is a gift shop on the main floor where fans can buy albums and other artist merch. This store opened after the closing of Kathie's Music and Merch in Tower Two. The stories that relate to Tower Three the most are:
You may have noticed that Demon on Jackson Street wasn't mentioned under any of the towers. That's because it isn't set in any of the towers. It's set in an area of Saramto that's previously mentioned in several of the books. It's slightly different than the others in the series, but is still set in Saramto. |
AuthorJessica E. Subject is a USA Today bestselling author of Sci-Fi and Paranormal Romance. Please note: Some links contain affiliate links.
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