Page 65 of Claimed By the Band

Unless I really am crazy.

"I'm not sure if what I saw was real," I admit finally, hating how weak my voice sounds. "But if it was... you're all in danger. Please, just trust me. You need to leave."

Asher takes a second to process that. The whole pack does.

"Not without you," Asher says firmly.

The others nod in agreement, and something warm and dangerous blooms in my chest. These people barely know me. They don't know me at all, really, and yet they're ready to upend their plans based on nothing but my word.

I stand frozen as Silas takes command, his voice cutting through the fog of panic in my head. "Come on, we're getting you both out of here." He turns to the others. "You guys deal with the venue. Make our excuses."

Before I can protest or explain or run away, Asher's arm is around my shoulders, and Silas is herding us both toward the back exit. The warmth of Asher's body against mine is more soothing than it has any right to be.

"I've got you," Asher murmurs as we hurry through the dark corridors. His scent makes my head spin in a way that has nothing to do with fear.

The tour bus looms ahead, a gleaming sanctuary in the night. Silas ushers us aboard, his movements precise and efficient. I notice he positions himself between us and the windows, scanning the darkness constantly. He's good, better than most security I've seen.

"Sit," Asher commands gently, guiding me to the plush couch. Before I can process what's happening, he's wrapping a softblanket around my shoulders and pressing a bottle of water into my trembling hands.

"I'm fine," I try to say, but the words come out weak and unconvincing.

"Sure you are," Asher says, his eyes soft with concern as he perches beside me. "That's why you're shaking like a leaf."

I want to argue, to maintain some semblance of the distance I've worked so hard to keep. But my walls are crumbling, and I'm too exhausted to rebuild them right now.

The others pile onto the bus minutes later, their faces all betraying their concern. Damon immediately heads to the front, speaking quietly to the driver.

"We're heading halfway to the next stop," he announces, returning to drop into one of the chairs. "Just in case. Sam's handling everything else with the venue."

"Good," Silas says, still standing guard by the door. "Now, Alex... want to tell us what's got you so spooked?"

I clutch the water bottle tighter, staring at my hands. They're all staring at me, expecting answers I can't give. Truths I've buried so deep I sometimes forget they're real.

"I..." I start, but my throat closes up. How do I explain without explaining everything? How do I warn them without exposing myself?

"Hey," Asher says softly, his hand finding mine under the blanket. "You don't have to tell us everything. Just whatever you can. Whatever you feel safe sharing."

Safe. It's been so long since I felt safe doing anything. Even in my apartment, I'm always on edge. Always waiting.

But around them…

The kindness in his voice nearly breaks me. I've spent so long being strong, being careful, being nobody. But right now, surrounded by their concern and their protection, I feel dangerously close to becoming somebody again.

"I saw someone," I manage finally. "Someone who shouldn't be here. Someone dangerous."

"Someone you know?" Damon asks carefully.

I nod, not trusting my voice.

"Did they recognize you?" Silas asks, his tone professional but gentle.

"No," I whisper, relief and terror warring in my chest. "But if he's here, it can't be a coincidence."

The bus rumbles to life beneath us, and I feel some of the tension leave my body as we pull away from the venue. Away from James. Away from everything I've spent years running from.

But as Asher's thumb traces gentle circles on my palm, as the pack settles in around us like a protective wall, I realize I'm not running alone anymore.

And that terrifies me more than any ghost from my past.

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