Page 18 of Knot My Band: Part Two
I sit there, thinking about what this means for me.
Miranda leans forward, her eyes locking onto mine like she’s peering into the very core of my soul.
“Oli,” she starts, and this soothing lilt in her voice feels like a balm to my frayed nerves. “You’ve got this amazing spark in you, this fire that lights up every stage you step on. Your voice? It’s just one part of your magic.” Her words wrap around me, warm and comforting.
I chew on my lip, absorbing her reassurance. She believes in me, truly believes. And isn’t that what I need right now? Someone to hold up a mirror and remind me who the hell I am?
“Okay,” I say, finally, my voice more assertive than expected. “Let’s try it.”
Chase whoops. “This means we don’t have to cancel any shows, and we still get to perform with our perfect omega!”
He wraps his arms around me and presses a kiss to the top of my head.
A laugh bubbles up from my throat, surprising me. It’s light and carefree; somehow, everything seems less heavy now. Miranda has this way about her, making you feel like you can conquer the world with a snap of your fingers.
In thirty minutes, she’s been a better manager than Trevor ever was.
Aiden
DIRTY BETA GOSSIP COLUMN
SHOULD OMEGAS BE TOURING LIKE OLI HART OR KEPT HOME?
June 5th
I’m slumped against the cool wall, just outside the flurry of activity in the dressing room, where Oli’s perched in front of her makeup artist. My gaze wanders, unbidden, drawn to the dark bruises shaped like hands on her neck.
The artist is painting them with thick concealer, but I’ll know they’re there even if the fans won’t.
“Does it look bad?” Oli asks Riley, her voice tinged with a vulnerability that doesn’t match her usual fiery spirit.
Riley flutters around Oli like a mother hen, her pixie-cut hair bouncing with each brisk movement. “Trust me, Oli,” she says, grabbing another sponge and dabbing away at the last of the bruising. “Once you’re out there, under those lights, no one’s going to notice anything.”
Oli’s fingers tap an anxious rhythm on the armrest of her chair, her bright green eyes wide and laced with worry.
“But what if they do, Riley?” Her voice is barely above a whisper, her usual spark dimmed by fear. “What if they see right through it? They’ll know I was attacked.”
She glances at me through the mirror, desperation seeping into her gaze.
“No.” I push off from the wall and saunter closer, dropping my voice to a low rumble. “You know you’re too bright, Olive. No one can focus on little details when you’re around.”
I can’t tear my eyes away from the sight of those marks disappearing under layers of makeup. A growl rumbles in my chest, protective instincts clawing at the surface.
“Charisma doesn’t hide the truth, Aiden.” She chews on her bottom lip, a habit I find both endearing and maddening because all I want to do is soothe it with a kiss.
“Oli,” I start, closing the distance until I’m standing right behind her. I lower my voice to a husky murmur, designed to comfort. “You’ve got them wrapped around your little finger, bruises or no bruises, voice or no voice. You’re the sunshine they came to bask in.”
She meets my gaze in the mirror again, and there’s a flicker of her usual fire dancing behind those emerald eyes. “You really think so?”
“Know so.” Slipping to Oli’s side, I can’t help but let my hand brush against hers, sending a silent message of support. She’s a bundle of nerves, and every fiber of my being is screaming to protect her, to shield her from the pressure that’s weighing on her slender shoulders.
“Seriously, Oli,” Riley pipes up, her eyes twinkling with unwavering belief, “you could stand still on that stage, and they’d still go wild for you.”
“Riley’s right,” I chime in, locking eyes with Oli through the reflection. “You’re magnetic, sunshine. Always have been.”
“Thank you both.” The warmth in her voice wraps around me like a hug, and I know, despite the chaos, this is exactly where I’m meant to be. With her, always her.
Leaning in, I hover just behind Oli’s chair, the warmth from her body teasing my senses. My lips part ever so slightly, and a low, soothing purr rumbles from deep within my chest. It’s an intimate sound, one that I know resonates with her omega instincts. A private serenade meant to calm her storming nerves.
