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

Oli

PACK ‘EM UP GOSSIP COLUMN

WILL WE SEE MORE ROMANCE BETWEEN OLI HART AND JACK HANSLEY AFTER HE CARRIED HER OFF THE STAGE?

May 26th

I swing open the door to my nest at the back of the tour bus, expecting the comforting scent of strawberries and the soft pile of cushions that usually greet me. But instead, a prickling unease climbs up my spine. The air is wrong—tainted. I sniff, my instincts screaming at me to be on high alert. There’s a chemical tang mixed in with what should be my safe haven.

“Something’s not right,” I whisper to myself, stepping in cautiously, my heart thudding against my ribcage.

I move deeper into the space, my hair brushing against my cheeks as I turn my head this way and that, searching for the source of my discomfort. The usual warmth of my nest feels distant now, replaced by a cold dread that makes my green eyes dart around fearfully.

A whine escapes my lips before I can contain it, loud and pitiful, echoing off the walls of the bus. My throat tightens, and I clutch at my neck.

The moment my whine pierces the silence, I’m no longer alone. Footsteps thunder toward me—rapid and urgent. Jack bursts in first, his blue eyes wide with alarm.

“! What’s wrong? Talk to me,” he says, his voice a mix of command and concern only an alpha can muster.

Before I can answer, Aiden slips in behind him, his brown eyes scanning the chaos of my nest. “Are you hurt?”

Instead of words, another whine comes out of me. Shivering, I wrap my arms around myself, trying to recapture some sense of security.

Chase pushes past them and wraps his arms around me. “I’m right here.”

Dax hangs back, hazel eyes taking in the scene from the doorway.

“Something’s wrong…” My voice falters, eyes flicking to the disarranged pillows and blankets.

Jack, Chase, and Aiden’s eyes scan the room, but I can tell they don’t get it.

The grumpiness that typically cloaks Dax falls away as he steps forward. “Something is wrong with your nest, right?” he inquires, always perceptive despite his rough exterior.

I nod slowly.

“Let’s figure this out together, okay?” Chase says, his hand finding the small of my back, grounding me.

“Whatever it is, we’re here,” Jack adds, determination etched onto his handsome face.

“Always,” Aiden chimes in, standing close enough for me to feel the warmth radiating from him.

I let out a shaky breath, bolstered by their unwavering support.

I take a deep, shuddering breath, the metallic tang of descenter assaulting my senses—it’s unmistakable. “There’s… there’s a smell,” I manage to say, my voice quivering as I try to steady my nerves.

Jack frowns, stepping closer, his brow wrinkled in confusion. “A smell?”

“Descenter,” I clarify, watching their faces for any sign of recognition. “Can’t you smell it? It’s like… like bleach but bitter, chemical.” As an omega, my sense of smell is sharper than theirs, but this scent is so potent, so violating, that I can’t believe they don’t detect it, too. “It shouldn’t be here.”

Aiden sniffs the air and then shrugs, a shadow of doubt crossing his face. “Maybe it lingered on one of us after the show,” he suggests, trying to keep his voice light, but I can hear the undercurrent of concern.

“Or it could’ve clung to our clothes from the venue,” Chase adds, his usually bright eyes dimming with the suggestion.

“Guys, I’m telling you, it’s not right,” I insist, my tone firmer now. “Someone brought this scent in here.”

“Did someone break in here?” Chase asks, green eyes mirroring my own—searching for answers. He moves closer, his natural charm forgotten in the face of my distress.

All of them tense up, looking at the space with new eyes.

I pivot on my heel, scanning the interior of my once-perfect sanctuary. My chest tightens as I notice the subtle disarray—a pillow out of place, a blanket not quite how I left it. The guys watch me, their faces etched with concern. I can’t let their doubt seep into me; my nest is an extension of my omega senses, and I know every inch of it.

“Look here,” I say, my voice steadying with every word. “ This cushion—someone’s flipped it. And that throw? It’s folded wrong.” I move with purpose now, pointing out each discrepancy that only an omega like me would notice.

Jack’s fingers graze my forearm, grounding me. “We’ll make it right, . Whatever you need.”

“Thanks, Jack,” I murmur, leaning into his touch for just a moment.

Their support wraps around me like a blanket, and I draw in a deep breath, letting their presence bolster my resolve.

“Should we wash it or air the room out?” Chase asks.

I whine again, sharp and painful.

“Okay, that’s it. We’re going out and getting you new stuff,” Aiden declares, his voice firm with a promise of safety, eyes locked with mine in a silent vow.

The bus starts moving as we head to our next stop on the tour.

“We can go as soon as we stop in Nashville,” Jack says. He slips his phone from his pocket, probably searching for the nearest nest supplies store.

“You can sleep with me tonight,” Chase says, nudging me out of the nest.

There’s only one thing I can’t get rid of. All the stuffed animals Jack has gotten me.

“Do you think-” I break off, nervous this is too much to ask.

“What is it, ?” Jack asks.

“Anything you need,” Aiden reassures.

“Could you take the stuffed toys to bed with each of you to cover them in your scent? I can’t replace those,” I ask softly.

Jack’s face softens. “Of course.”

All four of them, even Dax, grab some. I almost tell Dax he doesn’t have to, but it would be so nice to have his scent in the nest, so I keep quiet.

The bunks are tiny, and I end up lying on top of Chase while he holds me. His purr kicks up and lulls me into sleep.

* * *

The next morning, Chase wakes me up with a kiss. “It’s time to shop, little rose.”

I groan but climb out of his bunk, and we all dress quickly in disguises.

“Let’s roll out,” Chase adds with a grin, nudging me gently toward the bus door.

We take a car, Jack driving us there.

It’s blissfully scent-free as we step into Nest Haven, the cozy shop lit with warm amber lights and lined with shelves of carefully arranged nest necessities. Soft music plays in the background—some indie band I think I recognize, their mellow tunes adding to the calming atmosphere.

“Wow,” I breathe out, taking in the rows of plush blankets in every hue imaginable, the stacks of pillows with intricate patterns, and the assortments of cuddly toys that seem to be gazing at us with button eyes full of comfort.

“Let’s get everything you need to feel safe again,” Jack murmurs, joining us with a cart.

“Thanks, guys,” I say, my heart swelling as much as my nest is about to. The fear that claws at me begins to subside, replaced by the warmth of being cared for. “Let’s make the best nest we can on a bus.”

I weave through the aisles, my guys trailing behind me. They grab anything I so much as look at for longer than a second.

Chase picks up a soft pink robe that matches my hair. “You need this, little rose.” He tosses it in the cart Jack is pushing.

Jack snags a purple blanket off the shelf. “This matches the dinosaur.”

I laugh. “Then we have to get it.”

Aiden is already half-buried in a pile of throw pillows, examining each one with the focus of a man on a mission. He tosses a particularly fluffy one my way.

I can’t help burying my face into it. It smells new and feels like hugging a cloud.

Dax hangs back, his gaze scanning the shelves. There’s a hesitance to his movements, the unfamiliar territory of nest-making leaving him visibly uncertain. But then, his hand pauses over a chunky knit blanket, his fingers brushing against the soft yarn.

“Seems durable,” he mutters, more to himself than anyone else, but I catch the words and cross over to him. I touch his arm lightly, making him look down at me.

“Good choice, Dax,” I assure him. “It’s got that ‘will survive a rock tour’ vibe.”

“Exactly what I was going for,” he replies, the ghost of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

We amass a growing collection of nest necessities, piling them high in our arms. All four of them wander away at some point. Laughter rings out as someone accidentally knocks over a stack of cushions, and playful jabs are exchanged when Aiden tries to sneak an extra-large stuffed bear into the mix.

“ needs something to cuddle when we’re all being pains in the ass,” he defends, his grin infectious.

“Speak for yourself. I’m delightful company,” Chase counters, earning an eye roll from Jack.

“Sure you are,” Jack teases, his arm slipping around my shoulders in a brief, comforting squeeze.

I laugh, reveling in the camaraderie.

We spill out of the store after arranging a delivery for this afternoon.

The guys insisted on paying for it, even though I could more than afford it.

“Who knew shopping could be so exhausting?” Aiden chimes in, side-stepping a puddle.

“Speak for yourself. I’m ready for round two,” I tease, bumping my hip against his as we navigate the sidewalk.

A camera flashes off to my left, and I walk faster, hoping it was a fluke.

When the next one goes off, I know it’s not.

“ Hart! Is this The Edge?”

“Are they your pack?”

“Were you nest shopping with them?”

More cameras go off, and I know someone tipped off the paparazzi.

“Shit! We need to go,” Jack commands us.

“The car is another block up,” Dax says.

We start rushing, pushing past people and the growing crowd. People have noticed the paparazzi and want to know who we are.

“I love you, Hart!” A young girl screams out.

I smile and wave to her but otherwise ignore everyone else.

One of the guys with a camera cuts us off. “Does the Edge really deserve you, ?”

Jack growls before barking. “Back off.”

We get past him, but people keep coming. My alphas surround me like a wall as we get swarmed.

“We are bringing bodyguards next time,” Dax says .

I’m overstimulated and worried when we finally get to the car.

Jack holds my door open and arranges me inside, buckling me before shutting the door. Everyone gets in, and the car muffles the noise around us.

They move out of the way as Jack drives us through them.

“That was too close,” Aiden says.

“They were swarming us,” Dax growls. “This has never happened to us before.”

I whine in distress, feeling like he’s blaming me.

Aiden rubs my back with soothing circles. “He’s not mad at you, sunshine. This isn’t your fault. We weren’t prepared, but we will be next time.”

Dax turns around and stares at me. “You brought us fame. That’s a good thing. I’m just not sure how to deal with it yet, but I don’t blame you.”

I settle back into my seat, and the rest of the drive is uneventful.

Thanks to Aiden purring next to me, I’m calm by the time we get back.