Page 99 of Knot My Band: Part One
“Something’s not right,” I whisper to myself, stepping in cautiously, my heart thudding against my ribcage.
I move deeper into the space, my hair brushing against my cheeks as I turn my head this way and that, searching for the source of my discomfort. The usual warmth of my nest feels distant now, replaced by a cold dread that makes my green eyes dart around fearfully.
A whine escapes my lips before I can contain it, loud andpitiful, echoing off the walls of the bus. My throat tightens, and I clutch at my neck.
The moment my whine pierces the silence, I’m no longer alone. Footsteps thunder toward me—rapid and urgent. Jack bursts in first, his blue eyes wide with alarm.
“Oli! What’s wrong? Talk to me,” he says, his voice a mix of command and concern only an alpha can muster.
Before I can answer, Aiden slips in behind him, his brown eyes scanning the chaos of my nest. “Are you hurt?”
Instead of words, another whine comes out of me. Shivering, I wrap my arms around myself, trying to recapture some sense of security.
Chase pushes past them and wraps his arms around me. “I’m right here.”
Dax hangs back, hazel eyes taking in the scene from the doorway.
“Something’s wrong…” My voice falters, eyes flicking to the disarranged pillows and blankets.
Jack, Chase, and Aiden’s eyes scan the room, but I can tell they don’t get it.
The grumpiness that typically cloaks Dax falls away as he steps forward. “Something is wrong with your nest, right?” he inquires, always perceptive despite his rough exterior.
I nod slowly.
“Let’s figure this out together, okay?” Chase says, his hand finding the small of my back, grounding me.
“Whatever it is, we’re here,” Jack adds, determination etched onto his handsome face.
“Always,” Aiden chimes in, standing close enough for me to feel the warmth radiating from him.
I let out a shaky breath, bolstered by their unwaveringsupport.
I take a deep, shuddering breath, the metallic tang of descenter assaulting my senses—it’s unmistakable. “There’s… there’s a smell,” I manage to say, my voice quivering as I try to steady my nerves.
Jack frowns, stepping closer, his brow wrinkled in confusion. “A smell?”
“Descenter,” I clarify, watching their faces for any sign of recognition. “Can’t you smell it? It’s like… like bleach but bitter, chemical.” As an omega, my sense of smell is sharper than theirs, but this scent is so potent, so violating, that I can’t believe they don’t detect it, too. “It shouldn’t be here.”
Aiden sniffs the air and then shrugs, a shadow of doubt crossing his face. “Maybe it lingered on one of us after the show,” he suggests, trying to keep his voice light, but I can hear the undercurrent of concern.
“Or it could’ve clung to our clothes from the venue,” Chase adds, his usually bright eyes dimming with the suggestion.
“Guys, I’m telling you, it’s not right,” I insist, my tone firmer now. “Someone brought this scent in here.”
“Did someone break in here?” Chase asks, green eyes mirroring my own—searching for answers. He moves closer, his natural charm forgotten in the face of my distress.
All of them tense up, looking at the space with new eyes.
I pivot on my heel, scanning the interior of my once-perfect sanctuary. My chest tightens as I notice the subtle disarray—a pillow out of place, a blanket not quite how I left it. The guys watch me, their faces etched with concern. I can’t let their doubt seep into me; my nest is an extension of my omega senses, and I know every inch of it.
“Look here,” I say, my voice steadying with every word. “This cushion—someone’s flipped it. And that throw? It’s folded wrong.” I move with purpose now, pointing out each discrepancy that only an omega like me would notice.
Jack’s fingers graze my forearm, grounding me. “We’ll make it right, Oli. Whatever you need.”
“Thanks, Jack,” I murmur, leaning into his touch for just a moment.
Their support wraps around me like a blanket, and I draw in a deep breath, letting their presence bolster my resolve.
