Page 91 of Claimed By the Band

The door above me slams open, and panic shoots through my system. Footsteps echo down the stairwell, accompanied by voices I can't quite make out through the pounding in my ears.

No no no.

They can't find me.

Not like this.

I force myself back to my feet, ignoring the way my body screams for alpha touch. Foromegatouch. I try to force myself to run,but I barely make a step before my legs give out beneath me and I collapse to my knees.

"Alex?" a familiar voice calls from above.

Asher.

Fuck.

This is it. There's no hiding it now. A choked, hysterical laugh bubbles up in my throat as footsteps approach.

At least the truth is finally coming out, even if it's in the worst possible way.

34

ASHER

Ipush through another crowd of panicked party-goers, every second that goes by spiking my anxiety.

Where is he?

The chaos from my little stunt with the ventilation system has turned into full-blown pandemonium, but I can't find Alex anywhere.

"Any sign?" Knox asks, appearing beside me with worry etched across his features beneath his wolf mask.

I shake my head, trying to keep the panic from my voice. "Nothing. He's not answering his phone either."

"We'll split up," Silas declares, taking command as usual. "Cover more ground. Dante, check the offices. Knox, take the lobby in case he went outside. Damon, stay here and keep searching the ballroom. I'll check the service corridors."

"What about me?" I demand.

"You take the stairs," Silas says gently. "The elevators are packed anyway. And... he might respond better to you if he's hurt or scared."

The thought sends ice through my veins. If anything's happened to him...

I nod sharply and break away from the group, pushing through the crowd toward the stairwell. My hand trembles slightly as I push open the heavy door, but I force myself to focus.

Alex needs me.

That's all that matters right now.

The stairwell is eerily quiet compared to the chaos above, my footsteps echoing off concrete walls. The emergency lights cast everything in an eerie red glow that makes my skin crawl.

"Alex?" I call out, my voice bouncing back at me.

A sound catches my attention—something between a whimper and a cry, coming from the landing below. My heart leaps into my throat as I race down the stairs.

And there he is, crumpled against the wall like a broken doll. His cat mask lies discarded beside him, and his face is flushed with what looks like fever.

"Alex!" I rush to his side, dropping to my knees beside him. "What happened? Are you hurt?"

He shudders at my touch but doesn't pull away. If anything, he seems to lean into it despite himself. That's when it hits me—a scent so familiar it stops me in my tracks.

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