Page 55 of Knot My Band: Part Two

“It’s an emergency suppressant,” she responds calmly, despite the situation’s urgency. “It stops the heat immediately but knocks her out cold. She’ll be okay, I promise. When she wakes up, she might have close to two days before her heat starts again.”

“Then why didn’t you warn us? We could’ve prepared, could’ve avoided this whole damn mess.” My accusatory tone is sharp, slicing through the tension.

Miranda raises an eyebrow and doesn’t cower to us. “If Oli didn’t tell you, that was her choice. This was our emergency plan. She didn’t want to cancel this final show in Miami.”

I falter. A plan? Without us? The thought burns in my gut.

I grit my teeth, guilt mixing with the worry gnawing at my insides. My need for Oli is still there, simmering beneath the surface, but it’s overshadowed by the fierce desire to see her safe and awake, her eyes sparkling with that irrepressible light I fell for hard and fast.

I lean down, kissing Oli’s forehead, whispering promises of safety.

As I lift her into my arms, my bandmates close around us, forming a protective circle. Our pack bond has never been stronger than at this moment.

“I’ve also got a plane on standby to fly you back to California after the show if you want it,” Miranda tells us.

California. Our pack house. She planned to go back there.

“Let’s do it,” I hear Jack say, his voice steady despite the animalistic glint in his eye.

“Agreed,” Aiden adds, and Dax just nods, his jaw clenched tight enough to crack.

“Fine,” I mutter, even though the fury is still a living thing inside me, clawing at my insides.

We find our dressing room. Gently, I lay Oli down on the plush sofa, her breathing soft and even, a stark contrast to the chaos she’s left in her wake.

“Chase, man, chill,” Aiden murmurs, placing a hand on my shoulder. “She didn’t mean to keep us out of the loop.”

“Didn’t she?” I snap. The question is an accusation. But even as I speak, I can’t help but brush a lock of rose-gold hair from her forehead, my touch betraying the anger I want to cling to.

“Let’s just focus on getting her through this,” Jack interjects, always the voice of reason when the rest of us are teetering on the edge.

Dax punches the wall, leaving a hole in the drywall. Then he’s silent as he stands there, gripping the back of the couch like he will lose his shit again if he lets go.

“Let’s get her to Cali,” I say, conviction steeling my voice. “We’ll figure out the rest when she’s up.”

“She planned all of this to complete this show. Now that the shot has been administered, we have two days. Let’s respect her wishes and do the show before leaving,” Aiden says too calmly.

I growl at him.

“The bond is riding you hard, Chase, but you need to keep it together,” Jack says.

I cup her cheek, my fingers lingering on the soft warmth of her skin. The vulnerability in her slumbering face tugs at something primal within me, an ache to protect that goes bone-deep. We’re tucked away in the dimly lit dressing room, the four of us alphas huddled around our omega.

“This is all my fault,” Dax blurts. “She thought it was the show that was important to me and pushed herself. I just wanted more time in Miami to show her my mother’s grave.”

“Oli is selfless to a fault, but we are her alphas. It’s our job to ensure she’s taking care of herself and putting her first,” Jack says.

My anger melts away, and guilt takes its place.

I was only angry with her to protect myself from taking the blame. Jack is right, I am her bonded alpha, and this is my fucking job. I failed, but it will never happen again.

Oli stirs in my arms, starting to wake up.

Her eyes blink open before focusing on me. She seems groggy and confused.

I push her hair back from her face behind her ear. “Hi, little rose, how are you feeling?”

She cringes. “Do you hate me?”