Claimed by the Band (Fameverse #1)

Chapter 35 – DANTE

35

DANTE

I pace the length of the bus's narrow hallway, trying not to focus on the sounds and scents coming from the bedroom. The mingled honey and roses and rain is driving me crazy, making my alpha instincts scream to join them. But I know we need to give the omegas space right now.

Omegas.

Alex is an omega.

A single fact has never at once fucked with my head and made perfect sense to my heart as much as this one has.

"Will you sit down?" Silas growls from his spot on the couch. "You're making me dizzy."

"How are you so calm?" I demand, running my hands through my hair. "Our omega is in there with our beta—who turned out to be another omega—after that shit Trakiss put in the vents backfired on us."

Knox makes a low sound in his throat at the mention of Trakiss. He hasn't said much since we got back, but the tension coming from him is as loud as one of Damon's drum solos.

"I'm not calm," Silas says, his voice tight. "But wearing a hole in the floor isn't going to help."

He's right, but I can't seem to make myself sit still. Not when everything I thought I knew has been turned upside down in the span of an hour.

The more I think about it, the more things make sense looking back on them. The way he always flinched from touch. How affected he was by pheromones. The walls he always kept up, even as he clearly yearned for connection.

"It makes sense," I say aloud, finally dropping onto the couch beside Silas. "Looking back, there were signs."

Knox shifts in his chair, guilt flashing across his features. I know he's beating himself up for how cold he was at first, even though he and Alex seem to be getting along better lately. Especially after that morning Asher caught them cooking together.

"None of us saw it," Silas says gently, clearly picking up on Knox's mood. "He went to incredible lengths to hide it."

"But why?" Knox asks, his voice rough. "We would never?—"

A particularly loud moan cuts through the air, making all of us tense. The scent of arousal and heat grows stronger, and I have to grip the edge of the couch to keep from moving toward the bedroom.

"Fuck," Knox mutters, shifting uncomfortably.

I know exactly how he feels. The combination of Asher and Alex's scents is intoxicating, calling to something primal inside me. Inside all of us.

I can barely breathe when Asher emerges from the bedroom, his honey-sweet scent mingled with Alex's in a way that makes my mouth water. His violet eyes are bright with satisfaction, his golden hair a mess, and there are fresh red marks blooming across his throat that make my alpha instincts purr. Especially when I imagine how they got there.

The image of Alex pressed against him, sucking desperate marks into Asher's skin is enough to make my jeans even more painfully tight than they already are from all these omega pheromones filling the bus.

"Where's Damon?" Asher asks, looking around our little gathering.

"Supply run," Knox mutters from his spot in the corner.

Asher nods, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "Good thinking. We're going to need... things." His cheeks flush slightly, but his voice stays steady. "Now that the edge is off, and Echo's had time to rest and build a proper nest, I could use an alpha or two to tag in. More than that might be overwhelming right now."

It strikes me as odd that he's still using Echo's code name, but I'm too distracted by the invitation to dwell on it. "I volunteer my services," I say, earning a soft laugh from him.

"Of course you do," Silas drawls beside me, but I can smell his interest spiking. "I'm in too, if that's what you both want."

Knox remains silent, and yeah, I get it. He's probably remembering every harsh word, every suspicious glance he threw the new omega's way in the beginning.

"There are some things we need to discuss first," Asher says, his expression growing serious. The shift in his demeanor catches my attention immediately. Asher bites his lip, clearly wrestling with something. "Being an omega isn't the only thing Echo was hiding."

" More secrets?" Silas asks, but there's no judgment in his voice. Just curiosity.

"Why are you back to calling him Echo?" I ask, pieces starting to click together in my mind.

"Because Echo's name isn't Alex," Asher says softly. "It's Jordan. And... she's not a he."

The silence that follows is deafening. I process this new information, turning it over in my mind.

Female. Echo—Jordan—is a female omega who's been living as a male beta. Who ran away from...

Oh.

"The cult," I say aloud as understanding dawns. "That's why, isn't it? Because of how they treated female omegas?"

Asher's expression darkens, and there's a dangerous glint in his eyes that I've never seen before. "Yes," he confirms, his voice tight with barely contained rage. "They saw female omegas as breeding stock. Property to be controlled and..." He cuts off, his hands clenching into fists.

"They were going to force-bond her," Knox says quietly from his corner. It's not a question. "That has to be why she left. No omega would leave everything they know, pack and family and home, without something even worse behind them."

Asher nods sharply. "I think so. But she's not ready to discuss the details tonight. All I really know is that she built an entirely new identity for herself. Spent nine years making sure no one could ever find her."

"Except her brother," Knox says, something low and dangerous in his tone even though I can't see his eyes from the way he's looking at the floor.

The room falls silent. We're all on the same page there. Now we're not just looking for the psycho alpha extremists who attacked Asher, we've got a cult on our hands as well.

I'm not sure if I'd be relieved or not if they turned out to be related, rather than two completely distinct threats, but I've got a bad feeling about all of it.

My stomach turns at the thought of what she must have been through. What she was running from. The fact that she managed to escape, to rebuild herself from nothing, to become someone entirely new...

"She's incredible," I breathe, and Asher's expression softens slightly.

"She is," he agrees. "And terrified we'll reject her now that we know the truth."

"Never," Silas says firmly, and the conviction in his voice makes my chest warm. "She's pack. None of this changes that." He pauses, looking around at all of us. "I think we can all agree on that."

"Of course she is," I answer immediately.

Knox nods. "Damon's not here, but I know he feels the same." His expression is fierce, protective in a way I've only ever seen him direct at Asher before. "If anything, it makes me want to hunt down every last member of that cult and tear them apart."

"Get in line," I mutter, but my heart lifts at his words. We're all united on this. After everything that's happened, pack unity is important than ever.

"She needs to know that," Asher says softly. "That we accept her. All of her. That she doesn't have to hide anymore."

"Then let's show her," Silas says, rising from his seat with that fluid grace that never fails to catch my eye. "If she'll have us."

Asher's smile is brilliant. "Just take it slow. She's still processing a lot, and this heat hit her hard. We need to let her set the pace."

I nod, understanding completely. After so long spent hiding, running, keeping everyone at arm's length... This is a huge step for her. We need to prove ourselves worthy of the trust she's placing in us.

"Whatever she needs," I say firmly. "However long it takes."

Asher reaches for my hand, squeezing it gently. "Come on then. Let's go show our girl she never has to run again."

The words make my chest tight with emotion. Our girl. Our mate. The missing piece we didn't even know we were looking for until she crashed into our lives.

As we follow Asher toward the bedroom, I catch the mingled scents of honey and roses growing stronger. My body responds instantly, alpha instincts roaring to life. But I force them down, reminding myself that this isn't about claiming or possessing.

This is about showing Jordan that she's safe. That she's wanted. That she belongs with us, exactly as she is.

I'm almost to the room when I realize Knox isn't following. "You coming?" I ask.

I turn back to Knox, who shakes his head with a small smile. "Asher said not to overwhelm her," he reminds me. "And right now, I think she needs you and Silas more than me."

Part of me wants to argue. After everything that's happened tonight, the revelations about who Jordan really is and what she's been through, I know Knox wants to make amends. But he's right—too many alphas at once might be too much for her right now. Especially given her history.

"Later then," I tell him with a reassuring smile. "Once she's more settled."

He nods, relief evident in his expression. "Take care of her."

"Always," I promise, then follow Silas and Asher toward the bedroom.

The sight that greets me when I enter makes me freeze in the doorway. Jordan is curled up in the middle of our massive bed, wearing one of Asher's silk robes. The dark purple material clings to curves I've never seen before, softness that was always hidden beneath those baggy clothes. Her dark hair falls beautifully around her face, and her skin practically glows in the soft lighting.

But it's her scent that really gets me—roses and rain mingled with pack scents. Our scents. A purr builds in my chest before I can stop it, pure alpha pride at seeing her in our bed, surrounded by our scents.

She looks up at the sound, those dark eyes wide with uncertainty. But there's heat there too, need and want barely contained.

Asher climbs onto the bed beside her, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple. "Look what I brought you," he says with that mischievous sparkle in his violet eyes. His hands slide over her shoulders, working at tense muscles as he adds, "Our omega needs a knot, gentlemen. Who's ready to give her what she needs?"

I can't help but grin, even as alpha hunger pools hot in my chest. "Well, when you put it that way, how could we possibly resist?" I crawl onto the bed, keeping my movements slow and deliberate. "I take back everything I said about being afraid you'd bring home a stray someday, for the record. This was a good decision."

Jordan actually laughs at that, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. "I'm not sure if I should be flattered or concerned by that comparison."

"He definitely means it in a good way," Silas says as he joins us, his movements pure predatory grace.

A pretty blush spreads across Jordan's cheeks at his words. I want to taste it on her skin. So I do, leaning in to capture her lips in a gentle kiss. She responds immediately, melting into it with a soft sound that makes my alpha instincts roar.

When we break apart, I can't resist stealing a kiss from Asher too. He tastes like Jordan now, sweet and musky. I lick his bottom lip just to taste more of her arousal. Now I know exactly what they've been up to in here, and I want in.

"Beautiful," Silas murmurs, his hands sliding down Jordan's back as he begins working out the knots of tension there. She arches into his touch with a gasp that goes straight to my cock.

"So responsive," I breathe, trailing kisses down her throat. The red mark Asher left earlier stands out beautifully against her pale skin, and I can't resist adding one of my own beside it, thinking about how much I want to put an actual mark there. A physical reminder to the world that these omegas belong to us, but I know she's nowhere near ready for that yet. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to touch you like this."

"Really?" she asks, and the genuine surprise in her voice breaks my heart a little.

"Of course," I tell her firmly, pulling back to meet her eyes. "You're incredible, Jordan. And you belong with us. That was clear from the beginning. Now that your scent's not being blocked out, it just explains a lot."

The moment I say the word “scent,” Jordan freezes. Her whole body goes rigid against me, and I can feel her pulse racing beneath my lips where they press against her throat. Asher winces, and I immediately know I've said something I wasn't supposed to.

"What's wrong?" I ask, pulling back to look between them.

Asher grimaces. "I, uh, hadn't gotten to that part yet."

"Oh shit." I can't help but laugh at myself. "Me and my big mouth, as usual."

"It's okay," Asher says with a fond smile. "I should have warned you guys. I'm a little... scattered at the moment."

"Tell me about it," Silas mutters, his hands still working the tension from Jordan's shoulders.

"What's going on?" Jordan asks, her dark eyes darting between us. "What do you mean about my scent?"

I exchange looks with the others, silently debating who should explain. Asher takes the lead, as he usually does in delicate situations.

"You're our scent match," he says softly, brushing her hair back from her face. "Just like I'm theirs."

Jordan stares at him, shock written across her features. "That's... that's not possible. We can't both be..."

"It happens more than you'd think," Silas says, his voice gentle. "Especially in larger packs like ours."

"I'm not surprised," Asher murmurs, pressing a kiss to her temple. "We fit together perfectly. All of us."

Jordan shakes her head slightly, disbelief clear in her expression. "I don't understand how I could... belong to a pack like yours. You're all… you're you . I'm nobody."

The vulnerability in her voice makes my chest ache. I catch her chin gently, turning her face toward me. " You are amazing," I tell her firmly. "Strong, brilliant, brave... and so fucking beautiful. Everything we could want in a mate."

"It's true," Asher adds softly. "For a long time, I felt like something was missing. I felt so guilty because I couldn't possibly love my alphas more, but there was still this... emptiness." He strokes her cheek tenderly. "Now I know it was you. You were our missing piece all along."

I watch emotions play across Jordan's face as she processes this—doubt, hope, fear, longing, acceptance. Her scent shifts with each one, becoming sharper with anxiety before softening with want. Another wave of heat hits her, making her whimper and arch against me.

"Please," she gasps, grinding against my thigh. "I need..."

"We've got you," I promise, capturing her lips in a heated kiss. "Let us take care of you."

Her only response is to press closer, desperation clear in every movement. I can feel her heat through the thin silk of her robe, burning against my skin like a brand.

I slide my hands up Jordan's thighs, pushing the silk robe aside to expose more of her pale skin. She shivers at my touch, her scent blooming beautifully. The evidence of her earlier activities with Asher on my fingertips as I trace them up her slit makes my mouth water.

"Look how ready you are for us," I purr, sliding my fingers through her slick and Asher's come. "Asher got you all worked up, didn't he?"

Jordan whimpers, her hips bucking against my hand as I tease her. "Please," she gasps, those dark eyes hazy with heat.

"Please what?" I ask, circling her clit slowly. "Use your words, kitten. Tell us what you need."

"Your knot," she breathes, a pretty blush spreading across her cheeks. "I need your knot, alpha."

The words make my cock throb painfully in my pants. I've always loved when partners beg, but hearing it from Jordan—our scent match, our missing piece—hits different.

"You sound so pretty when you beg," I tell her, pressing two fingers inside her slowly. She's incredibly tight despite her earlier activities, and the thought of being inside her makes me growl. "Do it again."

"Please," she whimpers as I curl my fingers. "Please, Dante, I need you inside me."

"Since you asked so nicely," I purr, withdrawing my fingers to undo my jeans. My cock springs free, already hard and leaking precome. Jordan's eyes widen slightly at the sight, and I can't help but smirk. "Think you can take it all?"

She nods eagerly, spreading her legs wider in invitation. The sight of her like this—flushed and wanting, begging for my knot—nearly undoes me.

"You've got this," Asher murmurs in her ear, his eyes dark with hunger as he watches us. "He'll be gentle."

I line myself up with her entrance, pushing in slowly. The tight heat of her body makes me groan, my alpha instincts screaming to fuck into her until she can't remember any of her aliases. But I force myself to go slow, to let her adjust to my size.

"Fuck," Jordan gasps as I bottom out, her inner walls fluttering around me. "So full..."

"That's it," I praise, beginning to move in long, deep strokes. "Take it all like a good girl."

My knot starts to swell at the base of my cock, catching slightly with each thrust. Jordan whines at the sensation, her body trying to pull me deeper.

"Not yet," I tell her, gripping her hips to maintain control. "Soon."

Asher shifts beside us, bending down to where we're joined. The first touch of his tongue makes Jordan cry out, her body clenching around me deliciously. He alternates his licks between her clit and where my cock disappears inside her, making us both moan.

I catch Silas’s eye where he's watching from the side of the bed, his own arousal evident in his scent. He moves closer, reaching for Asher's neglected cock. Our omega purrs at the contact, never stopping his ministrations.

The sight of them all coming together like this, the combined scents of pack and mate and heat, pushes me closer to the edge. My knot is dangerously close to breaching her.

"Ready?" I ask through gritted teeth, fighting for control.

"Yes," she gasps, pulling me closer with trembling hands. "Please, alpha. Knot me."

I give her what she needs, pressing deep until my knot pops in and swells to its full girth, locking us together. The sensation of her tight heat squeezing around me, combined with Asher's clever tongue, sends me over the edge. I come with a growl, filling her as she shakes apart beneath me.

We collapse together, both panting and trembling. Asher pulls back with a satisfied smirk, his lips shiny and swollen. Silas continues stroking him slowly as he watches us, his green eyes darkening.

"Beautiful," Silas murmurs, and I'm not sure which of them he's talking about. Probably both.

Jordan shifts slightly, making us both gasp as the movement tugs at where we're tied together. "How long?" she asks softly, her cheeks flushed pink. I find myself wondering if she's ever taken an alpha's knot before. She probably doesn't know what to expect.

"Usually about twenty minutes," I tell her, running my hands soothingly down her sides. "Just relax. Let us take care of you."

She nods, melting into my touch. Her scent has softened slightly, satisfaction evident in the way it mingles with mine. With all of ours.

"It feels so good," she pants, squirming a little. Each subtle movement makes her clench around me and I have to bite back my groans.

"You feel good, too," I breathe. "Fucking incredible."

She snuggles up against my chest, burying her face in the crook of my neck. I dig my hand into her hair and breathe in her scent, having a hard time believing this is real, considering where we were less than a day ago.

"Rest while you can," Asher tells her with a knowing smile. "Silas still needs his turn."

Jordan's scent blossoms with interest at that, making me chuckle. "Are you that hungry for another knot while you've still got one inside you, little omega?"

"Can you blame her?" Asher asks, pressing kisses along her collarbone. "She's got a lot of lost time to make up for."

I growl playfully at that, pulling her closer. "Then I guess we'll just have to help her catch up."

Jordan laughs softly, the sound making my chest warm. This is right. This is perfect. This is everything we've been missing without even knowing it.

And we're never letting her go.