Page 108 of Claimed By the Band

I take a deep breath, steeling myself. If I can't trust them with this after everything we've shared, I can't trust anyone. "It's where they marked us," I say softly. "In the compound. Every female omega got one when she presented—a brand to show we belonged to the Sons of Epsilon. To mark us as omegas. As property."

Asher's grip on my wrist tightens slightly, though he's careful not to hurt me. The others let out various sounds of anger—growls and snarls that should probably frighten me but somehow just make me feel safer.

"The day I ran," I continue, the words spilling out now that I've started, "they were going to force-bond me to an alpha three times my age. They'd already picked out this white dress, like some twisted parody of a wedding. But I knew what it really was—a sacrifice. Once he marked me, I'd be his property forever."

"How did you get away?" Knox asks quietly from beside me.

I laugh, but it's a bitter sound. "I got lucky. My brother—James—he was one of the enforcers assigned to hold me down for the ceremony. He got called during the ceremony to deal with some crisis outside the gates. I managed to break free from the otherenforcer holding me down and I ran. I had money hidden away, documents I'd forged... all waiting for a chance to escape."

"Smart girl," Silas murmurs, and the pride in his voice makes my chest warm.

"I rode buses for days," I tell them, leaning into Asher's solid warmth as the memories wash over me. "Changed my appearance at every stop. Cut my hair, bound my chest, learned to walk and talk differently. By the time I finally stopped running, Jordan Larette didn't exist anymore. Neither did the omega girl they tried to break."

"But she did exist," Asher says softly, pressing a kiss to my temple. "She was just waiting until it was safe to come out of hiding."

I blink back tears at his words, at the acceptance I hear in them. "I thought I'd buried her so deep she'd never surface again. But then you all..." I gesture helplessly, unable to find the words to express how they've changed everything.

“No one’s ever going to hurt you like that again,” Dante says firmly, all traces of his usual playfulness gone.

The others murmur agreement, their scents wrapping around me protectively. I should feel trapped, surrounded by so many alphas while discussing my darkest memories. But instead, I feel safer than I have since I was a child.

"If Trakiss knows what you are," Damon says carefully, "we need to be careful. He's probably connected to them."

"The timing is suspicious," Silas agrees. "Your brother showing up at our concert, and now this?"

I tense at the reminder, but Asher's gentle touch grounds me. "We'll figure it out," he promises. "You're not alone anymore."

"I know," I say softly, and I'm surprised to find I mean it. After years of distance, of trusting no one but myself, I finally have people in my corner. A pack who wants to protect me, to help me fight my demons instead of running from them.

"Actually," I say, sitting up straighter despite my body's protests, "I did manage to get something before Trakiss caught me. I copied everything off his computer."

"Everything?" Silas asks, his eyebrows shooting up beneath his messy black hair.

"If there's anything connecting him to the Sons of Epsilon, or to what happened at the concert, it'll be in there," I confirm. "Just need to decrypt it and start digging, now that I'm out of heat."

"That's our girl," Damon rumbles, and my omega brain purrs at the pride in his voice.

Knox shifts beside me, wrapping his strong arms around me. "First, you need actual food. And probably coffee."

"Definitely coffee," I sigh as my stomach chooses that moment to growl.

My body feels wrung out from the heat, muscles aching in ways I never imagined it could. But I also feel better than I ever have. "But I need another shower first."

"I could help with that," Asher offers immediately, eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Nice try," I laugh, pushing his grabby hands away playfully. "But if you join me, we both know I'm not actually going to get clean."

He pouts, but there's no real disappointment in it. "Fine," he sighs dramatically. "I guess I'll just stay here and clean up our nest then."

My chest tightens at his casual use of the words 'our nest', at how natural it feels to have someone else help maintain it. I've done everything alone. Built my walls, protected myself, fought my own battles. The thought of having support—real support, from people who know exactly who and what I am—feels almost surreal.

"Thank you," I say softly, meaning it for more than just the nest maintenance. Asher's expression softens like he understands.

"Always," he promises, pressing a gentle kiss to my temple.

I force myself to get up despite my body's protests, wrapping one of the sheets around myself. The others are already moving with practiced efficiency—Dante gathering towels while Silas strips the bed, Knox heading to the kitchen to start breakfast. It's like a well-oiled machine, and somehow I've become part of it.

As I pad toward the bathroom, my mind is already racing with possibilities. Somewhere in those files is the evidence I need—not just to protect Wild Honey, but to finally take down the Sons of Epsilon. To make sure no other omega ever has to go through what I did.

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