Page 116 of Bonding the Band

I sniffed myself experimentally. I smelled a bit like half of a flower shop had gone up in flames and the other half had fermented.

“Come on. I’ll run you a nice baby-safe-temperature bath, and then we’ll tuck you into my nest.”

“Thank you.”

“What are best friends for?” She cocked her head, examining me. “If your guys reached out to me, would you want me to tell you?”

“Not right now.”

“Fair enough.”

Clover took me back to our familiar dorm. I scrubbed down in the shower while she ordered us pizza, and then I settled into a slightly above lukewarm bath once I was squeaky clean.

Clover popped her head into the bathroom. “I bought you a couple of nightgowns and some undies, so you’d have something to change into. I’m not going to waste a laundry load on one outfit, so I’m gonna get your train clothes rinsed and soaking in the sink.”

Clover busied herself doing just that, and when the pizza arrived, she helped me haul myself out of the bath and change into what she had bought for me. The fabric was omega-approved softness, and I happily snuggled into the nest, wearing it, while Clover served us each a pair of pizza slices.

This momentary return to my old life was both a comforting balm on my soul and a stark reminder of how much had changed. Did I even really belong here anymore?

“Rom-com or action?” Clover asked as she flicked through streaming options.

“Pride and Prejudice?” I regretted the suggestion as soon as I said it, the title reminding me of my first meeting with Hendrix.

“You’ve got it. I am one hundred percent down to watch Pack Darcy woo our Lizzie.”

“Did you know Hendrix has actually read this book?”

“Shut up, really? That does not seem up his alley.”

I nodded, retreating back into myself. If I thought about him too much, I would start crying again, and it was hard to keep hydrated when Nugget was sitting on top of my bladder.

By the end of the movie, I was ready to pass out. I wasn’t entirely sure if my headache was due to being away from Arlo with the fresh bond or from all the crying I’d done recently. Clover bundled me up tightly in her nest, and I was out like a light almost as soon as I closed my eyes.

Clover, bless her, did her best to keep me distracted the whole next day. The guys had been texting me, trying to call, but I put my phone on silent and set it aside after a simple reply that I was safe.

“How’re you feeling?” Clover asked as we snuggled in with a movie.

“I miss them.” I sighed. “Kinda mad about it. Have they been bothering you?”

“Arlo has been up my ass for updates. That man is obsessed with you.”

“We just bonded.”

Clover paused, a spoonful of ice cream halfway to her mouth. “A brand new bond, and you’rehere? Girl, do you not remember how terrible you felt last time?”

“Iknow. I wasn’t thinking about that part when I left.”

Clover stared down at her phone, brow crinkled. “Pass me my laptop.”

“What are we watching?”

Clover didn’t answer until the livestream was filling the screen, my pack standing in front of a horde of reporters.

“First, we want to apologize to our fans,” said Beckett, “for the lack of communication surrounding the cancelation of the remainder of our tour. All tickets will be refunded.”

“So the tour is officially canceled?” one of the reporters asked.

Beckett nodded. “At this time, there is no way for us to safely continue. Our manager, Gary Williams, who has been with us since our early days, has been fired. He is currently under investigation for the extensive abuses against our pack and his misuse of power.”

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