Page 111 of Knot My Band: Part One

Even as I fight to stay awake, to cling to their worried faces looming over me, the blackness encroaches, relentless and unforgiving.

“We’ve got you, Oli. You’re safe now.” Dax promises.

“Never gonna let anyone hurt you again,” Jack adds, his voice laced with a determination that could move mountains.

“Conserve your strength,” Aiden murmurs, ever the gentle soul amidst the storm.

“But keep your eyes open, little rose.” Chase’s command is a velvet-wrapped steel, insistent and tender all at once.

But despite their pleas, my senses dull once more, and this time, the darkness doesn’t just creep—it rushes in, claiming me.

“Oli? Oli!” The last thing I register is Chase’s hand gripping mine, a silent pledge as my world fades to black.

* * *

My consciousness flickers, the edges of my mind fray like worn fabric as I drift back to reality. There’s a fortress of warmth surrounding me, a barricade against the creeping chill. My alphas’ scents—cinnamon, coffee, caramel and cookies—swirl together in a protective cocoon.

“Dammit, she should’ve been safe here,” Dax growls, his arms around me like iron bands.

“Whoever did this won’t get far. We’ll find them,” Chase vows, his fury a palpable force.

Jack’s hands skim over me with an efficiency that belies his simmering rage. “No visible injuries besides her neck, but we need to get her checked out. It’s darkening with a bruise.”

The chill of the concrete beneath me seeps through my stage clothes, but it’s their warmth that cocoons me, keeping the cold at bay. My alphas—Dax, Chase, Jack, and Aiden—hover over me like guardian angels with thunderous scowls and clenched jaws.

“She’s awake,” Aiden interrupts, “Easy, sunshine, you’re okay,” Aiden soothes, his touch light on my cheek, grounding me.

“Someone really tried to put out my spotlight,” I rasp, a weak attempt at levity because if I don’t joke, I might just break apart, but the words come out broken, making it worse.

The pain in my throat is unbearable.

“Over my dead body,” Dax snarls, a fierce promise in hiseyes.

He still cares about me despite how awkward things have been since his rut.

“Nobody’s dying today, especially not any stubborn rockstars,” Chase counters, squeezing my hand as if he could transfer his strength through our intertwined fingers.

“Oli, we’re tightening security,” Jack says, thumbing away a tear I didn’t realize had escaped. “We can’t… I can’t let anything happen to you.”

“None of us can,” Chase asserts, pulling me closer against his chest. The steady beat of his heart is a reminder that I’m still here, alive, and theirs.

“Let’s get her out of here.” Aiden’s practicality slices through the tension, even as he offers a smile that reaches deep into the wells of fear inside me.

“Let’s get her to the bus. We can get a doctor to come here. That will be safest,” Dax decides, scooping me up effortlessly. I lean into his embrace, surrounded by the scent of cinnamon and icing that’s uniquely him. “There won’t be a moment one of us isn’t with you after this.”

“Who would do this?” I whisper, more to myself than to them.

“Doesn’t matter,” Dax answers, his protective gaze meeting mine. “We’ll find them, Oli. And until then, I swear on everything, you’re safe with us.”

I try to push out of their arms and stand on my own. If I let them baby me, I might break down completely.

“Tonight was really scary. It’s okay if you’re not okay, Olive. You’re strong but you don’t need to be right now. We will take care of you, protect you and we won’t fail you like this again so please just take comfort from us right now. We need it as muchas you do. Our alphas are going wild,” Aiden says as tears run down his cheek.

I lean over and wipe a tear away, then lay back in Dax’s arms, content to let my alphas care for me right now.

Tomorrow, everything will change, and I’ll need to be strong to handle it.

* * *