Page 93 of Claimed By the Band

He makes a small sound that might be agreement, his fingers curling into my shirt. His scent wraps around me—roses and rain and heat—making my head whirl. But not in the way alpha pheromones affect me.

I've always enjoyed the scent of other omegas in heat, but this is something else altogether.

This is different.

This is... right.

I'm halfway up the stairs when the door above us slams open. Dante and Silas burst through, clearly following our scents. They freeze at the sight of us, their eyes widening as they process what they're seeing. What they're scenting.

"Is he—" Dante starts, but I cut him off.

"Not now," I say firmly, tightening my hold on Alex as he trembles against me. "We need to get him out of here."

They exchange looks but don't argue. Silas immediately pulls out his phone, probably texting the others, while Dante moves to clear our path.

"Car's waiting out back," Silas says, his voice carefully neutral even though I can tell Alex's scent is affecting him. Dante, too. "Knox and Damon are already heading there."

I nod, grateful for their efficiency. For their lack of questions even though I know they must have almost as many as I do. For the way they fall into formation around us as usual, protecting us both as we make our way through the service corridors toward the exit.

Alex shivers in my arms, pressing his face into my neck like he's trying to hide from the world. I can feel his heat through our clothes, can smell how the pheromones are affecting him.

"Almost there," I murmur against his hair as we approach the exit. "I've got you. You're safe now."

He makes a small sound that breaks my heart, his fingers tightening in my shirt. "Don't hate me," he whispers, so quietly I almost miss it. "Please don't hate me."

My steps falter for a beat, but I force myself to keep walking. "Never," I promise fiercely, my chest aching at the vulnerability in his voice. "We could never hate you, Alex."

He tenses slightly at that, but doesn't respond. Maybe can't respond, given how the heat is clearly overwhelming him. His scent grows sharper, more desperate with each passing moment.

The cool night air hits us as we burst through the service entrance, and I'm grateful to see our SUV idling exactly where Silas said it would be. Knox jumps out to open the door while Damon slides into the driver's seat.

"Home," I say as Dante helps me maneuver Alex into the backseat. "Fast."

No one argues. No one asks questions, even if I can see the confusion mingling with the curiosity and worry in their eyes. They're all alphas, and if I'm this affected by Alex's scent, I know it has to be just as intense for them.

And something tells me they're having the same thoughts I am. That this isn't just another omega in heat. It's something that's going to change our lives, and our pack, forever.

But that's something we'll all have to deal with later, once Alex is somewhere safe, where we can protect him. Shelter him. The alphas move with practiced efficiency, getting us away from this nightmare as quickly as possible.

I settle Alex across my lap in the backseat, not caring about proper seating arrangements. He needs the contact, needs to be held, and I need to hold him.

"What happened?" Knox asks softly from the front seat, his eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror. His pupils are dilated the way they always are when I'm in heat, but I've never seen him get this affected by one of my flings. More proof that Alex is different.

"Later," I say firmly, running my fingers through Alex's hair as he trembles against me. "Just... get us home."

Home. To the tour bus that's become more of a home than anywhere else. Where we can take care of him properly, help him through this heat that's been forced on him.

If he'll let us.

Alex whimpers against my neck, his body trembling as another wave of heat crashes through him. His scent calls to every instinct I have, making me want to wrap him up and never let go.

"Easy, kitten," I murmur, stroking his hair as he presses closer. "I know it hurts."

His fingers clutch at my shirt, desperate for contact. The fabric is damp with sweat where his skin burns against mine. I've never seen a heat hit this hard, this fast. Whatever was in those vents, whatever Trakiss created, it's brutal. And ifthat'swhat he's showing off at parties…

"Can't we just give him suppressants?" Dante asks from the front seat, his voice tight with concern. "If he's in this much pain..."

"Not safe," Knox mutters, glancing back at us with worried eyes. "Taking an omega out of full-blown heat like that could make it way worse, and we don't know what he's already on. It could interact, or cause an overdose."

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