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

Oli

OMEGA BUZZ GOSSIP COLUMN

OLI HART MAKES IT TO HER NEXT SHOW, SHUTTING DOWN HEAT SPECULATION

May 26th

I ’m buzzing, pure and electric, as the final chord of our performance vibrates through the packed auditorium. The crowd roars, and I’m so grateful I made it here for this show.

These fans deserve my best and not to be canceled on.

I grin, tossing my rose gold waves back with a flick of my head, and they shimmer under the stage lights. My shirt covers my bite mark from Chase so I didn’t have to make a decision about revealing that tonight or not.

I need to talk to Chase. Performing tonight has given me time to clear the rest of the heat from my mind, and I know what I want.

“Good night!”

With that, the stage lowers me until I’m no longer in sight.

“! That was epic!” a stagehand shouts, slapping a high-five into my waiting palm. The slap echoes.

“Thanks, Tommy!” I shoot back .

My steps quicken, though I keep my strut casual, riding the wave of lingering excitement as I weave through the organized chaos until I make it back to my pack.

My pack.

It’s official now.

“, over here!” calls a familiar voice, tinged with laughter and perhaps a trace of impatience. I whirl around, and there is Chase.

Aiden, Jack, and Dax are there with him, waiting for me, but right now, my focus is on my drummer.

“Chase!” His name on my lips feels like an electric charge, setting every nerve alight. I stride over, dodging a guitar case that nearly trips me, but I’m unstoppable.

“Hey,” I say, breathless from more than just the dash through the backstage maze. “We need to talk. Like, really talk.”

His smile falls slightly until he looks nervous, but he tries to maintain his calm persona.

“Everything okay?” His brow furrows.

Can’t he feel my excitement through the bond?

“More than okay.” I lean in, close enough to catch the scent of caramel popcorn mingling with the musky adrenaline of his post-show high. “I’ve been thinking about us, about the… bond. And I want it, Chase. All of it.”

He pushes off the wall, stepping closer until I feel his heat mixing with mine. A shiver runs down my spine, not from cold but sheer anticipation.

“Are you sure?” His voice is soft but urgent, and he steps closer, erasing the last bit of space between us. “Because if you’re in, , I’m all in. No looking back.”

“Absolutely sure.” I reach up, running my fingers through the ends of his hair, feeling the wild beat of my own heart. “I want to embrace this thing between us. Let’s not waste any more time.”

He grins, and it’s like the sun breaking through after a relentless storm. “I’m all yours, little rose.”

His enthusiasm is palpable, vibrating through the air between us. It’s the kind of reaction that tells me he’s not just happy about my willingness to embrace our bond. He’s elated, thrilled, and maybe even a little awed by the turn of events. And knowing that I have the power to affect Chase Sullivan this way means everything to me.

And just like that, I know we’re starting something amazing.

“Whoo!” Chase’s shout rips through the charged air backstage like a victorious anthem. His voice is a wild, untamed thing.

It’s raw power and pure elation rolled into one sound that seems to echo off the walls, making techies and roadies alike stop in their tracks and glance over.

I’m caught up in the infectious energy of it all, the way his happiness doesn’t just fill him, it spills over, drenching everyone in its path. And before I can even react, he’s upon me.

His arms are around me, strong and sure, and I’m lifted clean off the ground. He spins us both, and suddenly, the world’s a blur, a kaleidoscope of colors, sounds, and his dizzying scent mixed with the sweat and adrenaline of our show.

“Chase!” I manage to gasp out, half-laugh, half-protest, but there’s no denying the thrill that zings through me. My hair fans out like a banner in the wind, and I cling to him, my green eyes wide with surprise and delight. For a moment, nothing else exists, just us .

My feet find the stage floor again, and I’m still reeling from the high of both the performance and Chase’s enthusiastic twirl. “You never cease to amaze me,” I quip, a surge of affection warming my voice as I playfully nudge his shoulder with mine.

His grin is infectious, and I can feel its pull, like a magnet to my own happiness.

“I’m happy for you guys,” Aiden says from behind Chase.

I turn to see Jack and Aiden with huge smiles on their faces. Dax, of course, looks pissed, but I’m ignoring that for now. He won’t ruin this moment for me.

Since his rut, it feels like he’s reverted back to his grumpy self. I guess our deal is over.

We weave through the post-show chaos backstage until we make it to the meet and greet. It’s a blur of fans, but all I can think about is Chase.

I can feel his affection and excitement through the bond. Getting used to always having him with me will take some time, but I already know I love it.

Afterward, we spill into the cooler night air, heading toward the idling tour bus.

Me and my pack.