Page 15 of Pack Me Up

I want to tell her I’m not ready for this, but I know it doesn’t matter. The ground has already shifted. Nothing will ever feel normal again.

Rehearsal is a blur. Every time I try to focus on the chords, my mind jumps the tracks and crashes right back into that moment, their scent, and the feeling like my entire nervous system caught fire. My fingers keep missing, and I forget the lyrics to a song I wrote myself.

Oli doesn’t say anything, just runs the setlist and lets me fail in real time. Dax glares at the door like he wants to punch it off its hinges. Jack laughs too loudly, and Chase tries to play it cool but keeps side-eyeing the entrance, like he’s expecting the Phoenix Pack to burst in with guns blazing.

Every five minutes, one of the alphas pokes their head back in. Sometimes it’s a quick visual sweep, sometimes they say, “Just checking in,” which sounds more like a threat than reassurance. The twins never come alone; they tag-team the hallway, passing off the patrol like a relay. Fox lingers longer,always meeting my eyes, always giving that same soft look that’s equal parts apology and safety.

Saint doesn’t show himself after the first sweep. Not physically, but I can feel him, like gravity, or the way a song stays stuck in your head even after the record stops playing.

My hands are shaking when Oli finally calls a break. She slides onto the stool next to me, shoulder to shoulder, her voice pitched for my ears only.

“You holding up?”

I nod, but she knows better. She watches me pick at the edge of my guitar case, then tucks her hair behind her ear and says, “We can get someone else for your security.”

The thought sends a jolt through my chest. It’s a weird, sour disappointment, like I’ve already lost something I never got to have. “No,” I say, too fast. “It’s just… I need time to adjust.”

Oli squeezes my hand, then glances at the door, lowering her voice to a whisper. “The Phoenix Pack are good guys. I trust them with my life and yours. My advice is to lean into this experience, don’t try to fight it. Those men were made for you, so get to know them, let them keep you safe,andgossip to your friends about every step.”

I try to laugh, but it sticks in my throat. “I promise to keep you updated.”

She smiles, like she knows a secret I haven’t figured out yet.

The twins come back, this time with Saint right behind. The room drops five degrees. Dax stands up so fast his chair tips and bounces off the wall.

Saint stops in the center of the space and turns, putting his back to the wall and his eyes on me. The twins take their positions by the exits, arms folded, mirrored statues. Fox appears, as if conjured, and stands beside Saint but one step back, like he’s used to following orders but never out of the fight. Behind them, Hunter paces, restless and bouncing on his toes.

Oli stands, all five-foot-nothing of her, and plants herself between Saint and the rest of us. “You need something?”

I think they’ve given me as much distance as they can right after finding me. I don’t blame them. My skin has finally stopped itching with all of them in the room again.

Saint shakes his head. “We needed to check in again.” But he never looks away from me.

I turn to Oli and her mates. “Could we end rehearsal for today? I think the six of us need some time to sort things out, and clearly, we should do it sooner rather than later.”

Dax opens his mouth to say something, but Aiden elbows him before any words can come out.

“Maybe we could start with dinner?” Fox asks.

I think about what Oli said and decide to jump into this thing feet first. “That sounds nice.”

Hunter steps forward, eager, and holds out his arm. I loop mine through it and let him lead me out of the studio with his pack following closely behind us.

Brittney

OMEGA BUZZ GOSSIP COLUMN

THE MENDED HART TOUR IS ANNOUNCED FOR MAY

April 13th

The Phoenix Pack walks me down to the lobby.

“Are you ready for dinner?” Saint asks.

“Yes, my car is in the lot. Where should I meet you?” I ask.

Saint’s eyes flick to the twins, Colton and Cody, who nod in perfect sync. “Colton and Cody will go with you,” he says. “They can direct you to Lily’s Bistro just down the street.”