Knot My Band, Part One (Knot My Band #1)

Aiden

ALPHA TEA GOSSIP COLUMN

VANCOUVER WELCOMES OLI HART WITH CROWDS GATHERED AROUND THE STADIUM

April 10th

T he roar of the crowd still echoes in my ears as I step onto the tour bus, a satisfied hum vibrating through me. We nailed it tonight—Vancouver didn’t know what hit them. The guys shuffle past, their energy a mix of exhaustion and adrenaline, but there’s one person whose attention I’m desperately waiting to catch.

We settle around the couch as the bus’ engine grumbles to life beneath us, the gentle sway of the bus signaling our departure.

Oli springs from her seat with a bright grin. “I’m going to shower if you four don’t mind me going first?”

She does this every time and I think she might be starting to realize we all wait her out to let her go first. It’s sweet that she doesn’t want to assume, but all of us enjoy taking care of her this way.

Even Dax, though he won’t admit it.

Her bangs bounce as she disappears toward the back .

I sink into my seat, hearing the muffled patter of water begin, and suddenly, I’m aware of just how empty the space beside me feels. My leg starts bouncing, a telltale sign of the restlessness gnawing at me. My fingers tap an irregular rhythm against my thigh, mimicking the erratic beat of my heart.

I want time with Oli, the kind of time where it’s just her beautiful eyes, that sunshine smile, and me, but how do you even ask for that? Especially when you’re the guy who usually fades into the background.

“Hey, , you good?” Jack’s voice cuts through my thoughts, his eyebrow cocked in concern.

“Fine, just… amped up from the show.” It’s partially true, but there’s more static under my skin than just leftover performance buzz.

Jack claps my shoulder. “I get it.”

“So, Dax, you’ve followed Oli out to the back stage every show,” Chase comments casually.

Dax looks up and glares at Chase.

“I hated seeing her move so far away and into the crowd, too, but drums aren’t portable,” Chase says, smiling.

“Or a keyboard,” I add.

Jack laughs. “I could go.”

We all look at Dax, who looks pissed at that. I know he wants to deny it but isn’t sure how to play it cool at the same time.

“I guess since Jack actually likes Oli, it would make more sense for him to go with her,” Chase says.

If Dax wasn’t such an ass to Oli, I might feel bad for him, but this is all playful and innocent. Unlike the way we used to fight because of May.

“It’s on my side,” Dax says simply, then turns away from us to look at his phone .

The three of us burst out laughing. Chase and Jack keep teasing him, but I move back to my bunk. I feel the itch to write and want to grab my notebook.

The steady hiss of the shower cuts off. My attention snaps to the bathroom door, watching as it cracks open. A sliver of steam escapes, and then there’s Oli, peeking out with those green eyes scanning the aisle.

She looks at me, and her eyes widen.

“!” she whisper yells at me so the others don’t hear her.

“What’s wrong, Oli?”

Her rose gold hair clings in damp tendrils to her flushed cheeks.

“I forgot to grab clothes,” she admits sheepishly.

“Here, take this,” I say, yanking off my shirt without a second thought. The fabric’s still warm from my body and covered in my scent.

“Really?” Oli’s eyebrows arch in surprise, her lips quirking up as she accepts my offering. She goes back in the bathroom and comes out in only my shirt. It’s so big it covers her knees.

All the blood in my body rushes to my cock, seeing her like this.

“Thanks, ,” she murmurs, that small smile playing on her lips like she knows exactly what kind of thoughts are tumbling through my head.

She doesn’t run into her room and change immediately. I catch her leaning down to smell my scent. I have to bite back a purr when she smiles, and I know she likes it.

“You smell like chocolate chip cookies, like comfort and home. I might be addicted.”

Her eyes run over my bare chest, and I might flex a little to make my abs look even better. Oli’s scent flares slightly, turning sweeter and telling me she likes what she sees.

Our scents mixed together rival the best desserts I’ve ever had.

Chase comes into the bunk area but stops short when he sees Oli. His nostrils flare, and I see the tiniest flicker of jealousy before he shoves it behind an easy-going smile.

“That’s not your shirt,” Chase points out.

I’m standing here shirtless. Oli is wet and covered in my scent while wearing my shirt. He might be drawing less innocent conclusions.

Oli giggles. “You’re right, it’s not my shirt, Chase. Great observation skills.”

“You are such a brat.” Chase leans in to tickle her, and her laughter fills the entire bus.

Dax and Jack come back to see what’s going on back here.

Jack’s eyes flick between Oli and I. Suspicion is etched into the lines of his face.

Inside, I’m buzzing with a strange sense of possessiveness I’ve never felt before—the idea of Oli wrapped up in something of mine sends a thrill right down to my bones. And if my bandmates’ narrowed eyes and stiff postures are anything to go by, they wish it was them.

Dax turns around and leaves.

“Why is Oli wearing your shirt, ?” Jack asks.

They’re being ridiculous, but jealousy does stupid things to the alpha mind. We are a pack and they should be glad if I’m making progress with her, but this was more innocent than that.

“Oli forgot her clothes and needed my shirt, which I was happy to provide,” I tell them, only sounding slightly smug about it.

Chase and Jack scan Oli from head to toe.

“Well, it looks like you need even more clothes.” Chase pulls away from Oli and goes to his drawers. He comes back with a pair of boxers, which he holds open at her feet.

Oli stares at Chase with wide eyes.

“Come on, beautiful omega, put my clothes on, too,” Chase begs.

She carefully steps into the holes before Chase pulls them up her legs. His smile is satisfied as he wraps his arm around her.

Jack looks at both of us before pulling a pair of socks off his bunk. I know they’re his secret obsession that he thinks we don’t know about. They’re blue, soft, and fuzzier than any other sock I know.

He puts them on Oli’s feet with a satisfied smile.

“These are yours, Jack?” Oli wiggles her toes and smiles.

Again, Jack glares at Chase and me before reluctantly answering, “Yes, but they look better on you. Omegas like soft things, right? Now you’ll be comfortable.”

We all ignore the fact that she already has clothes she likes and picked out herself. She’s covered in our scent right now, and satisfaction is thrumming through the bond.

Except Dax, who is pretending to be indifferent, but his jealousy is leaking through.

“Thank you,” Oli says, taking a second to look all of us in the eye.

If we are courting this omega, then we need to step up our game and get her more gifts. Ones that don’t come from our drawers.

Oli laughs nervously. “Shouldn’t one of you get in the shower?”

“I’ll go,” I say.

I zip through the shower, and Jack hops in after me.

Oli sits on the couch alone with her legs tucked under her, so I join her.

“You’re not going to bed?” I ask her.

She shakes her head. “I’m too pumped up from the show.”

“Me too. I was thinking…” I trail off and clear my throat.

“What, ?” she asks softly and touches my hand.

I never write with someone else, but I’m dying to do it with her.

“I was thinking of doing some writing. Would you want to join me?”

She nods so fast I’m afraid she’ll hurt her neck.

“Sounds perfect,” she agrees, and there’s a spark in her bright green eyes.

I grab my notebook and the keyboard I keep on the bus for moments like this. Oli surprises me by grabbing a guitar.

We settle side by side on the couch together.

I flick my notebook open past the scribbles of old songs.

“Did you have something you were planning to start with?” Oli asks.

“The energy and synergy we’ve had coming together on the tour. One line keeps circling my head.”

“What is it?”

“Stars collide, a sonic boom echoing through the entire room.” I taste the words, feeling it resonate within me.

She grins, flipping her hair over one shoulder. “Who would think we’d feel this way? Running through the doubts today.”

Her captivating eyes spark with excitement.

“Beats syncin’ up as hearts discover,” I suggest, and our gazes lock, a silent acknowledgment of the synergy forming between us.

The words are coming together so quickly.

“Love that,” she murmurs, scribbling down the phrase. “What about the melody? Something that starts soft but builds—”

She strums her guitar, and I add in with my keyboard.

“Are you two playing music at three in the morning?” Chase asks, breaking the moment.

Oli laughs, leaning closer to brush her shoulder against mine. “We are writing.”

Chase’s eyes widen before he stares at me. He knows I don’t work well with others when it comes to writing songs, but that’s not the case with Oli.

“Yeah, so go to bed and leave us here.” I flick my eyes toward the bunks, trying to get Chase to take the hint.

He laughs, walks away, and joins the others in bed. I hop up and close the partition between the rooms to try to block the noise.

“Lost but not alone,” I write down, the words scratching onto paper like a declaration as soon as I’m back at the table. “Two souls navigating the noise, finding harmony amidst the chaos.”

Oli nods, biting her lip thoughtfully. “Like they’re guiding each other home.”

We work for hours, writing one song before thinking of a bridge for another. The world outside the bus blurs into streaks of color as the sun starts to come up.

Oli and I are baring our souls to each other through music, and I feel like we’ve broken something down between us.

“Never had a home,” Oli repeats my lyric. “What does that mean?”

I don’t tense as I confess, “I know Jack told you we met in foster care. Before I found the three of them, I was in a new house every six months. No one wanted me.”

Oli squeezes my hand before singing, “I’m healing through music.”

I nod, agreeing and repeating the line.

We lean into the work, into each other, the chemistry undeniable as we trade lines and laughter.

I tap out a beat on the notebook, my fingers channeling the rhythm of a heart racing with excitement—or maybe it’s just mine, reacting to her closeness. “What about this?” I hum a few bars, a melody that’s been teasing the edges of my mind all night.

“Ooh,” Oli chimes in, her voice weaving into the tune, lifting it, transforming my simple hum into a living, breathing song. It dances around us, a flirty promise hanging in the air. Her eyes catch the dim light, sparkling like emeralds.

“Keep going,” she urges, her body swaying slightly as if the music has taken hold, and she can’t help but move to its rhythm.

I let the notes spill from my lips, raw and unrefined, but Oli picks them up like scattered pieces of gold, polishing them with her voice until they shine. The harmony we create is intoxicating, swirling around us, a mix of potential hits and stolen glances.

“This song is meant to be a duet,” Oli declares, staring at me.

I blush. “Jack might be willing to sing it with you.”

Oli shakes her head. “No, , it should be you. Your voice has this perfect scratchy undertone that it needs. ”

“May always said I was the worst singer, and opening my mouth was putting the band at risk,” I admit sheepishly.

Oli gasps in outrage before smacking my arm.

“Why are you hitting me?” I demand.

“Because you listened to that witch! , your voice is perfect. The world needs to hear more of it.”

I try to erase May’s words in my head and replace them with Oli’s, but they won’t disappear completely.

“I’ll remind you until you believe it,” Oli says, cupping my cheek.

“I don’t know how I got so lucky to find you, but I won’t take it for granted,” I whisper back.

Her hand brushes against mine, sending a jolt of warmth up my arm.

A creak from the bunk area interrupts us, and I swivel around to see Jack stretching as he opens the door, his hair even more disheveled than usual. “You two are up early,” he yawns, his blue eyes scanning the papers scattered around us. “Wait, did you stay up all night?”

Jack’s features harden.

“Creative genius doesn’t sleep,” Oli quips, collecting some of the sheets.

“Bed. Now,” Jack growls.

Oli straightens in her seat. “You’re bossy.”

“Someone needs to make sure the two of you take care of yourselves,” Jack counters.

Oli looks like she’s about to sass him back, but I know this is a lost battle. Jack is taking care of his omega, and she had better get on board with it.

“Fine, fine,” I say, standing up and stretching, feeling the hours of work in every muscle. “Come on, sunshine, let’s go. ”

The nickname just slips out. She’s like living, breathing sunshine, and I can’t help but want to soak her in.

Oli stands, too, and for a moment, we’re just standing there, facing each other in the dim glow of the lights. She looks up at me, and something electric passes through the air. Then she leans forward, her lips brushing against mine, soft and slow like a secret being told for the first time.

My heart beats a wild rhythm, echoing the thrum of the road beneath us. When she pulls away, there’s a smile dancing in her eyes, both mischievous and tender.

“Sweet dreams, ,” she whispers before turning toward her bunk.

“Only if they’re about you,” I murmur, half-joking, half-serious.

Her laughter is the last thing I hear before I climb into my bed, my mind repeatedly replaying that kiss.