Page 54 of Knot My Band: Part Two
“Shit.” The word slips out, a whispered curse as realization dawns on me. “This is on us. We added that damn show.”
Dax’s fury softens into something that looks dangerously close to guilt. His jaw clenches, but I can see the self-reproach brewing behind those intense eyes.
“Damn right, it’s on us. We are her alphas,” Aiden mutters.
I feel my share of blame. We should’ve been tracking her cycle, we should’ve seen this coming. But it’s too late for should haves. Now we’ve got to deal with the present, with Oli’s heat and our near-feral need for her.
“Miranda,” Oli whimpers again, her voice breaking as another shudder wracks her body. My heart races and the room feels ten degrees hotter because of her. We’ve got to find Miranda and fast.
We barrel through the crowded backstage area, a mass of tense muscles and protective instincts. Oli’s nestled between us, her small frame shrinking with every step as her heat turns the air electric. The perfume of it is thick and cloying, wrapping around us like a second skin.
And then he’s there, and I immediately recognize him. Daniel. Her fucking ex. A leering smirk stretches across his too-perfect features, and he’s looking at Oli like she’s nothing more than prey. “Well, well, if it isn’t Oli and her new entourage,” hedrawls, stepping into our path with an arrogance that makes my skin crawl.
“Out of the way, Daniel,” Jack snaps, his voice low and dangerous. But Daniel doesn’t budge, instead puffing out his chest.
“Come on, boys,” Daniel sneers, eyeing us dismissively. “You know you can’t handle an omega in heat. She should be with me.”
“Like hell, she should,” I growl, the fury boiling inside me until my vision tints red.
“You’re all singing love songs about me every performance. You should know what she wants,” he brags.
I’m about to punch him when Aiden snaps, “And the ones about how you broke her heart.”
“Move,” Dax warns, his tone a deep rumble that echoes the storm brewing in our chests.
Daniel doesn’t take the hint. He steps closer, trying to scent Oli, and that’s when we lose it.
Jack lunges first, but I’m right behind him, shoulder-to-shoulder with Aiden and Dax, as we form a protective wall. We’re not just bandmates; we’re a pack, and no washed-up alpha is going to touch what’s ours.
“Back off!” Aiden shouts, usually quiet but now a force of nature, his fists clenched at his sides.
There’s a scuffle, a blur of movement as we clash with Daniel. It’s all growls and snarls, the primal part of our beings taking over. Then the security team is there, their hands gripping us, pulling us away from the smug bastard who dares challenge us.
They take over, subduing Daniel.
“Let’s go,” I hiss. We skirt past Daniel, leaving him behind with nothing but the echo of our fury.
We break through the backstage door, the noise of the crowd fading into a dull roar behind us. A quick glance at Oli tells mewe’re running out of time. Her skin is flushed with the early signs of her heat, and even though I’m trying to keep my alpha in check, her scent is dizzying.
“Miranda!” Dax barks out, his voice cutting through the thick tension that’s settled over us like a heavy blanket.
Miranda whirls around from where she’s been talking to a stagehand, her eyes sharp and assessing. She understands the scene in a split second—the flush on Oli’s cheeks, our barely restrained aggression—and understands.
“Got it,” Miranda says, all business now. She reaches into her bag without hesitation, pulling out a needle with practiced ease. There’s no question in her movements, only the certainty of someone who’s done this before.
Oli whimpers, and there’s a flicker of fear in her green eyes. It’s enough to make my heart clench deep inside me.
All four of us growl, but Miranda doesn’t hesitate. She sticks Oli with the shot.
Her eyes lock onto mine, a silent plea for understanding, and it guts me to see her so vulnerable. When Miranda swiftly injects her, Oli’s body goes limp in my arms, and my heart stutters in panic.
“What the fuck?” I shout at Miranda. My voice cracks as I lower her to the ground, keeping her head cradled against my knee. The heat that was pulsing through me, driving every primal alpha instinct to claim, protect, and mate, crashes into a wall of icy fear.
Jack, Aiden, and Dax step between us and Miranda with furious expressions.
“Miranda, what the hell did you just give her?” Jack demands, his voice rough with the strain of holding back a growl.
Even though I know Miranda wouldn’t do anything to harm Oli, we need answers. Now.
