Page 91 of Knot My Band: Part Two
July 3rd
I’m pacing. Restless energy has got my legs moving and my heart racing, and not in the good, after-show kind of way. The living room feels too small. It’s about Oli’s check-up, and damn it, I can’t shake off the protective instincts clawing under my skin. My band—my pack—they’re here too, but it’s her face that’s burned into my mind, with those expressive green eyes that always seem to see right through me.
“Easy, Jack. You’re wearing a path into the floor,” Chase teases, his drumming fingers echoing the beat of my internal turmoil.
“Can’t help it,” I mutter, running a hand through my messy white-blond hair. “Feels like eons since we’ve heard her sing.”
“The doctor will be here soon,” Aiden offers quietly from where he’s perched on the armrest, always the voice of calm amidst our storm.
Dax is all silent strength, leaning against the wall, his hazel gaze sharp. He’s got that look, the one that says he’s ready to fight the world if Oli’s news isn’t good. That’s what being analpha is all about, I guess—this ferocious need to protect what’s yours.
“We need to do it before the doctor gets here, so she knows it isn’t dependent on healing,” Aiden insists, and I agree.
I can’t shake the nerves gnawing at my gut. Our eyes meet—mine, Aiden’s, Chase’s, Dax’s—each exchange a silent promise laced with anxiety. We’re on the cusp of something monumental, and it’s got my heart thrumming.
It became clear yesterday when Oli was hesitant to sing the song with Dax, that we were not on the same page.
Oli comes rushing into the room. Her anxiety is palpable, and it only serves to heighten mine.
But I push that aside so I can be there for my omega. I wrap her in my arms and scent mark her, hoping to calm her down. My purr comes out strong and powerful as I try to soothe her.
“It’s going to be okay, baby girl. No matter what, we are here for you,” I tell her.
She doesn’t seem convinced.
“Can we talk to you briefly before the doctor gets here?” I ask.
The room’s electric with the hum of potential, our future hanging in the balance. I draw in a lungful of air, trying to steady myself. This is it, time to lay all our cards on the table.
“Oli.” Her name rolls off my tongue, a familiar melody. She turns towards me, eyes glinting with curiosity. “We’ve been thinking…” I trail off for a second, giving myself a mental kick. Come on, Jack, spit it out.
“About the band.” I clear my throat, my voice finding its footing. “We want you to join us. Like, officially. One band, your voice, our music… together.”
Her reaction is instant, a burst of light in those green orbs that draws everyone in like moths to a flame. A wide and genuine smile spreads across her face, and my insides do a backflip.Relief crashes over me, waves of it, as she lets out a laugh that’s music to my ears.
“Really?” she gasps, her disbelief morphing into excitement faster than a snare hit. “You mean it?”
“Every word,” I say, grinning like an idiot.
“We know you’re bigger than us, so we would be incredibly lucky to have you permanently, but we are a pack now, and I can’t imagine a time when we are touring separately,” Aiden adds.
She leaps up. “Yes! Absolutely, yes!” Her enthusiasm is contagious, and the room erupts. We’re celebrating our unity, our future.
“Looks like we’ve got ourselves a new lead singer, boys,” I proclaim to the others, who are already on their feet, clapping and hooting like they’ve just won the lottery.
“Welcome to the chaos, Oli Hart,” Dax says, his usual gruffness softened by the grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“Best decision we ever made,” Aiden adds, his shy smile saying more than his words ever could.
“Watch out, world,” Chase chimes in, wrapping an arm around Oli’s shoulder. “Here comes the next big thing.”
And standing there, surrounded by the people who have become my family, I feel a fire ignite within me. Together, we’re unstoppable. With Oli’s spirit, Dax’s intensity, Aiden’s heart, Chase’s charm, and my leadership, we’re not just a band. We’re a force to be reckoned with. And nothing’s going to stand in our way.
Oli thinks differently. Her smile melts off her face, and I feel a deep sadness spread to us from our bond.
“What’s wrong, sunshine?” Aiden asks the question before the rest of us can open our mouths.
Her lip trembles. “I want this so badly, but we don’t know if my voice will ever be the same. I can’t be your lead singer if I can’t sing.”
