Page 105 of Knot My Band: Part Two
“Oli, baby, you’re okay?” His voice is a mix of relief and fear.
“Jack…” I whisper, leaning into his embrace. I can finally exhale, the tension seeping from my body as if his touch is the only thing holding me together.
Then I’m enveloped in more warmth, more love. Chase’s sandy brown locks brush against my cheek, his green eyes reflecting the fierce protectiveness I feel in my heart.
“Damn it, Oli, don’t scare us like that,” he murmurs, his voice carrying the tremble of barely-contained emotions.
“Wasn’t… exactly my plan,” I manage to reply, my lips twitching upwards. Even in the midst of chaos, the flirty banter comes as easy as breathing.
Dax pushes in next, his strong arms encircling us both. I rest my head against his chest, the steady thump of his heart grounding me. “You’re safe now,” he rumbles, and the gruffness in his voice belies the gentle way he strokes my hair.
“Knew you’d get here,” I say, finding solace in the hazel depths of his eyes.
And lastly, Aiden slips through, his spiky black hair a stark contrast to the others. He doesn’t say much, but his soft brown eyes are filled with an intensity that speaks volumes. He reaches for my hand, squeezing it with a promise of unspoken support.
“We will always come for you,” he whispers, and I squeeze back, grateful for his quiet strength.
We stand there, tangled in each other as they purr for me, the chaos around us fading into the background. My alphas have me, and nothing else matters—not the flashing lights, not the distant murmur of police radios.
“Apparently, the spa tipped off the press because they wanted the publicity. That’s how they knew you were here. Then, they bribed Alice, and she folded,” a grim voice cuts through the haze of relief. The head of our security team stands before us, his expression a mixture of anger and apology. “We found her sneaking out the back of the spa.”
“I can’t believe you let that happen,” Jack snaps at Saint, his hold on me tightening.
“It’s my biggest shame. If you can still trust us, there will be a complete overhaul overseen by me,” the security head assures us, his jaw set. “You’ll only be watched by my pack. This will never happen again.”
“Better not,” Dax growls, his protective nature roaring to the forefront. “Or you’ll answer to me.”
“Us,” Chase corrects him, and Aiden nods, their solidarity unshakeable.
“Thank you,” I tell Saint, feeling the weight of the day settle over me. But it’s different now. There’s no room for fear, not when my pack surrounds me, not when their love is the shield that guards my soul.
Chase turns and goes to Cate, pulling her into a tight hug while I extricate myself and hold Riley.
“I’m so sorry you were both dragged into this,” I tell them, tears streaming down my cheeks. “I never wanted that.”
“This is not your fault,” Riley snarls. “Those psychos needed to be dealt with, and now they are.”
“And you’re both okay?” I ask.
Cate pushes away from Chase and comes to join my hug with Riley. “Everyone is okay. We are tougher than we look. We all survived this.”
I hold both of them and reassure myself that they’re safe, and I didn’t miss anything.
The police join us and take our statements. Riley, Cate, and I tell them everything that happened, and they leave with a promise to handle the situation.
“Let’s all go back to the hotel,” I say, facing my alphas, my eyes meeting each of theirs. “I need to be with you all—now more than ever.”
“Home it is,” they chorus, and it’s music to my ears.
The door to the spa closes behind us with a soft click, and I take a deep breath. The outside world, with its dangers and uncertainties, fades away as I lean back into the circle of my alphas. Their arms are my fortress; their scents—coffee, cinnamon, caramel, and cookies—meld together in an intoxicating blend that grounds me.
“Are you okay, baby girl?” Jack’s voice is a low rumble against my ear, teasing and tender all at once.
“Getting there,” I quip, mustering a smile that feels more genuine than it has since I first realized something was wrong at the spa. Chase’s hand strokes my back, a soothing rhythm that whispers promises of safety and comfort. “Now that they’ve been arrested, I feel safe again.”
As we move toward the parking lot, our steps synchronize naturally, as if we were a single entity moving with purpose. The night embraces us, cool and serene, an open canvas for the rest of our lives.
Oli
