Page 88 of Knot My Band: Part Two

“That sounds amazing!”

I can feel Oli’s excitement, and I hate the panic that lances through me.

“Massages, facials, the works,” Cate continues, her eagerness causing Oli’s grin to widen even further.

“Can we get those cucumber things on our eyes?” Oli asks, her face alight with the prospect of pampering.

“Absolutely, and don’t forget the matching robes. It’s mandatory.” Cate’s laugh is like a melody, harmonizing perfectly with Oli’s bubbly tone.

The laughter still lingers in the air when I catch the shift in the room’s vibe. Aiden’s brow furrows ever so slightly, and Jack crosses his arms, leaning back like he has something on his mind eating at him.

“Spa day sounds amazing,” Dax says, his tone just a hair too casual. “But you know, you probably shouldn’t go out alone.”

I tilt my head, catching his drift. Our protective instincts are flaring up and clogging the room with alpha pheromones.

“Are you worried about us dealing with too much fun?” Oli teases, her eyes glittering with defiance and amusement.

“Or maybe the daunting task of choosing nail colors has you on edge?” Cate adds, and this mischievous glint in her eye tells me she’s enjoying the gentle ribbing as much as Oli is.

She’s known Aiden, Dax, and Jack for a long time and acts like a sister to them, too.

“Funny,” Jack mutters. “It’s not the fun or the nails. We want you both safe, is all.”

Aiden says, “You’re both important to us, and May and Trevor are still out there, and the press is hounding us.”

I’m torn. I want them to bond, be friends, and have fun, but I can’t let either of them get hurt.

“Guys,” Oli begins, stepping closer to Aiden and reaching up to trace his jaw line with her fingertip, “we’ll be fine. We’re just going to a spa.”

Cate nods, wrapping her arm around Oli’s shoulder. “Besides, we have each other’s backs, right?”

“Of course,” Oli replies, bumping her hip against Cate’s, but I can feel her nerves through the bond. She’s rethinking this idea.

Cate definitely likes Oli more than she likes me, but I better still be Oli’s favorite. I am her bonded alpha, after all.

“And think of how relaxed and zen we’ll be when we get back. You’ll benefit from our chilled-out vibes,” Cate laughs.

We exchange looks, that silent communication thing we do so well. A moment passes, and then Dax sighs, running a hand through his hair.

The tension in the room is a living thing, almost crackling between us. He’s ready to be the one who says no and disappoints our omega, but suddenly, an idea pops up!

“Wait, I have a compromise!” Everyone looks at me as I speak, and I continue quickly. “We can fly Cate out to a show in Europe and book some private time in a spa there. Things will die down, and we will be overseas. It will be safer then.”

Everyone thinks about it, but Cate looks nervous. “You want me to go to Europe?”

I grab her hand. “I want you to see a show anyway, and you deserve a vacation. Could you get the time off?”

She looks at me, and I watch her soften and smile. “Okay, big brother. I can call in some favors.”

“That sounds great!” Oli kisses each of her alphas, including me, on the cheek, and I pout because it’s my idea. What did they do to deserve kisses?

Saint, our no-nonsense security team lead, clears his throat. He hasn’t said much, just leaning against the wall with that ‘I’ve seen it all’ look plastered across his face.

I keep forgetting he’s even here. He blends so well into the wall in any room. He’s taking Cate home at the end of this visit.

“I think I can help,” he starts, and all eyes shift to him. “At the security firm, we have female team members. We can use one of them, and she can tag along to the spa.”

It’s a great idea.