Claimed by the Band (Fameverse #1)

Chapter 43 – JORDAN

43

JORDAN

I peek through the velvet curtain at the absolutely massive crowd filling the stadium. I feel a flutter of excitement at the sight, but not with the usual anxiety that comes from being around so many people. This time, the nerves are mixed with hope. With purpose.

Every seat is filled with either a beta or an undercover officer, the few alphas among them wearing industrial-strength blockers courtesy of PheroMaster's new head of research.

I have to admire Vince's commitment to making amends, even if it's mostly out of self-preservation. The blockers were his idea—a "gift" to secure our continued silence about his private proclivities, I'm sure, but a gift nonetheless. But I have no intention of exposing him. What he does in his personal life is his business, as long as he starts considering the real-world implications of his products.

Warm hands slide around my waist, and I know it's Asher before he even speaks. His scent makes me melt back against his solid warmth.

"You look absolutely gorgeous," he murmurs, turning me away from the curtain to face him. His eyes glimmer as he spins me in a slow circle, making the skirt of my dress flare out around my legs.

I can't help but smile, running my hands over the soft fabric. The dress was his idea, or rather, having it custom made was. But everything else about it is purely me. I picked the fabric, the colors, the cut. It's more feminine than anything I've worn in years, but there's an edge to the dark purple fabric and the way it clings to my body.

It make me feel pretty in a way I'd forgotten I could. And bit by bit, I think I'm starting to figure out my own personal style. What I actually like and enjoy, versus what other people wanted me to wear, or the layers I had to hide behind for safety.

"Thank you," I say softly, leaning up to kiss him. "For everything. Are you ready to put on the show of your life?"

"More than ready," he grins, but then his expression softens. "Are you nervous?"

I bite my lip, considering the question. "Not about the trap," I admit. "We've planned everything perfectly. But meeting Maria and Ace..." I trail off, my stomach doing flip-flops at the thought.

They're the reason we were able to pull this off so quickly. Maria using her connections in law enforcement while Adam worked his magic with ticket distribution and the setup that's going to make sure the Sons of Epsilon won't be getting out of this place tonight in anything but handcuffs. I owe them both so much, and they don't even know who I really am yet.

"They'll love you," Asher says firmly, cupping my face in his hands. "The real you. And fuck anyone who doesn't, though I seriously doubt that will be an issue."

I lean into his touch, drawing strength from his unwavering faith in me. "I hope you're right."

"Jordan?" Sam, the band's manager, appears at the end of the hallway. "Your special guests are here. They're waiting in the dressing room."

My heart stutters. This is it. I'm about to let two more people see the real me.

"Want me to come with you?" Asher offers.

I shake my head, even though part of me wants to cling to his hand. "No, I need to do this on my own. But thank you."

He kisses me softly, pouring all his support into the gentle press of his lips. "I'll be right here if you need me. The others will be back soon, too."

Taking a deep breath, I smooth down my dress one final time and head toward the dressing room. My boots thump against the concrete floor, the sound echoing off the walls. I might be experimenting with fashion more, but I'm nowhere near ready to part with those.

I pause outside the dressing room door, my hand hovering over the handle. Through the thick wood, I can hear familiar voices. Maria's warm alto and Adam's deeper tone, discussing something about security protocols.

My friends. My allies. People who've helped me for years without ever knowing my face or even my real name.

Before I can lose my nerve, I push open the door.

They look exactly like I pictured them. Maria is petite and striking in her tailored pantsuit, her long brown hair pulled back in a neat ponytail. Ace is tall and lean but solid, his dark hair short but messy. He's wearing a hoodie and jeans, as if he's not on a top-secret mission that'll be the subject matter of all tomorrow's headlines. A man after my own heart.

They both look up as I enter, confusion crossing their features as they scan the room behind me.

"Hi. We're looking for Echo? We were told to meet him here," Maria says, her brow furrowing slightly.

I can't help but smile, even as I brace myself for rejection. I let my voice slip back into Echo's. "You're looking at her."

The silence that follows is deafening. Maria's eyes widen as she processes my words, while Ace's expression shifts from confusion to understanding to something that might be awe.

" You're Echo?" Maria asks finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "The mysterious hacker who's been helping us take down corrupt officials and anti-omega extremists for the past three years is a woman?"

"And an omega?" Ace adds, and I realize he hasn't actually blinked this whole time.

I nod, my hands clasped tightly in front of me to hide their trembling. "My real name is Jordan, but… yeah. That's me."

"Holy shit," Ace breathes, running a hand through his choppy hair. "Didn't see that coming."

"That makes two of us, computer boy," Maria says without taking her eyes off me. I hold my breath for a few tense moments, until her lips part into a smile. "That's fucking awesome."

Now it's my turn to look stunned. "It is?"

"Hell, yeah it is," Ace says with a laugh, leaping up from his chair.

I stare at their accepting smiles, my heart racing as I try to process their reactions. This isn't at all what I expected.

Ace steps forward, extending his hand with a warm smile. "I'm Adam, by the way. Since we're doing real introductions." His grip is firm but gentle when I take his hand. "It's an honor to finally meet you."

"Even though I'm not what you expected?" I can't help asking, a wry smile tugging at my lips.

He laughs, shaking his head. "Are you kidding? This doesn't change anything. If anything, it makes you even more of a badass. I mean, you managed to fool everyone for years while taking down some seriously dangerous people. That's impressive as hell."

Before I can respond, Maria launches herself at me, wrapping me in a tight hug that catches me completely off guard. I stiffen for a moment before relaxing into it, letting myself be held by someone who's been more of a friend than she even knew.

"I have about a million questions," she says as she pulls back, her eyes bright with excitement. "But they'll have to wait until after we deal with these assholes tonight. We've got a crazy cult to thwart first."

I laugh, feeling lighter than I have in years. "Yeah, we do. And I promise I'll answer everything once this is over. No more secrets."

"Deal," she says firmly. "Now, where's this pack of yours? I need to meet the people who finally got you to come out of hiding."

As if on cue, I hear familiar footsteps in the hallway. My pack's combined scents reach me moments before they appear in the doorway. My marks tingle pleasantly at their proximity, a constant reminder that I'm not alone anymore.

"Speaking of them,” I say with a smile, turning to make introductions as they appear in the doorway. "This is Silas, Knox, Dante, Damon, and Asher. My pack."

The words still send a thrill through me.

My pack .

Maria's eyes widen slightly as she takes them all in, and I can't blame her. They're an impressive sight, especially all dressed for the show in their stage clothes. "Damn," she whispers, leaning close to me. "Lucky girl."

I can't help but grin, watching as Adam shakes hands with each of them. "Yeah," I agree softly. "I really am."

"Everything's set," Adam says, all business now that the introductions are out of the way. "The stadium is completely secure. No alphas except your pack and a few carefully selected officers wearing the new blockers. I've got eyes on every entrance and exit."

"And I've got teams standing by," Maria adds. "The moment anyone tries anything suspicious, we'll be ready."

Asher slides an arm around my waist, pulling me close. "Then I guess it's showtime," he says with a fierce grin.

I lean into his warmth, drawing strength from his embrace. "Be careful out there," I tell him in a whisper. "All of you."

"Always," Knox rumbles, pressing a kiss to my temple.

"Besides," Dante adds with a wicked smile, "we've got a life to get on with."

The others murmur agreement, each taking a moment to scent mark me and Asher before heading toward the stage. It's a pack thing, reaffirming bonds before going into potential danger. The intimacy of it still takes my breath away sometimes.

"Wow," Maria says once they're gone, fanning herself dramatically. "That was... intense."

I laugh, feeling my cheeks heat. "Yeah, they tend to have that effect on people."

"I can see why you finally decided to stop running," she says with a knowing smile. "They clearly adore you."

"They do," I agree softly, touching one of the marks on my throat. "And they make me feel safe enough to be myself. All of myself."

Adam clears his throat, looking slightly embarrassed by all the emotions flying around. "Right, well. We should probably get into position. The show's about to start."

He's right. I can hear the crowd growing restless, feel the excitement building in the air. Soon, Wild Honey will take the stage, and we'll find out if our trap worked. If we can finally put an end to the Sons of Epsilon's reign of terror.

"Ready?" Maria asks, squeezing my hand.

I take a deep breath, straightening my shoulders. "Ready."

Together, we head toward the security station where we'll be monitoring everything. I catch glimpses of the stage through the various screens, my pack getting into position, the crowd buzzing with excitement, the careful placement of officers throughout the venue.

This is it.

Time to show my past I won't be ruled by it anymore.

The lights dim, and the crowd roars as the first notes of music fill the air. I watch through the monitors as Asher steps into the spotlight, his voice rising clear and strong above the instruments. The sound wraps around me like a caress, familiar and comforting even through the speakers.

"Your boy's got pipes," Adam comments, his eyes never leaving the security feeds he's monitoring.

I smile, pride warming my chest. "He really does."

Maria squeezes my shoulder supportively as we settle in to wait. The hard part now is staying patient, staying alert. The Sons of Epsilon will make their move—Trakiss practically guaranteed it. We just have to be ready when they do.

"Got movement at the southeast entrance," Adam reports suddenly. "Two males attempting to access the service corridor."

I lean forward, studying the footage. Even through the grainy screen, I can see the way they move, practiced and coordinated. Military training, or something like it.

"That's them," I say firmly. "I recognize one on the right. His name is Reese, one of my father's enforcers."

Maria is already speaking into her radio, coordinating with her teams. But something about this feels too easy. The Sons of Epsilon are many things, but sloppy isn't one of them.

"Wait," I say, grabbing her arm. "This is wrong. They wouldn't be this obvious unless..."

"It's a distraction," Adam finishes, already switching to different camera feeds. "There!"

He points to another screen showing the side entrance where the crews load in equipment. More figures are slipping in through a door that should have been locked, moving with the same deadly grace as the others.

"Get into position as soon as they release the compound," Maria says grimly. "Clever bastards."

But we're cleverer. I grab my phone, sending a quick text to the pack. One of them will be able to glance at it during the performance. They need to know what's happening, need to be ready.

"Teams are moving to intercept both groups," Maria reports, her voice steady and professional.

I watch the security feeds intently as the cult members make their way through the service corridors. I'm on edge, sure, but there's no fear now. They can go ahead and try their little trick with the compound. We're ready for them this time.

"They're approaching the main ventilation hub," Adam announces as he tracks their movements. "Should we stop them?"

"Not yet," I say, unable to help the small smile tugging at my lips. "We'll let them think they've won. It'll make the takedown that much sweeter."

Maria raises an eyebrow at me but doesn't argue. She trusts my judgment when it comes to these people, just like I trust hers when it comes to law enforcement operations.

On stage, the band transitions seamlessly into their next song. Asher's voice soars over the crowd, strong and defiant. If he's nervous about what's happening behind the scenes, it doesn't show in his performance. None of them miss a beat.

"Compound released," Adam says, his voice tight. "Air circulation is distributing it through the venue now."

I lean forward, watching the cult members' faces through the grainy footage. They look so smug, so certain of their victory. They have no idea that every alpha in that crowd is either wearing blockers specifically formulated to resist their compound or is actually a beta in disguise.

"How long do you think it'll take them to realize something's wrong?" Maria asks, a hint of satisfaction in her voice.

"Not long," I murmur, watching as one of them—Reese—starts gesturing frantically to his companions. "They're expecting chaos by now. A stadium full of alphas going feral, attacking the band..."

Sure enough, confusion is spreading through their ranks as the crowd continues enjoying the show, completely unaffected by their weapon.

"Now?" Maria asks, her hand hovering over her radio.

I nod sharply. "Now."

She barks orders into her radio, and the response is immediate. Officers who've been blending into the crowd suddenly surge into action, converging on the cult members from all directions. The Sons of Epsilon might be well-trained, but they're completely outnumbered and caught off guard.

"All teams moving in," Maria commands. "Secure the suspects and clear the building."

I watch with fierce satisfaction as they're taken down one by one, efficiently subdued and cuffed by officers who've been waiting for exactly this moment. Now who's looking over their shoulder?

"I'm going to check the backstage area," I tell Maria and Adam, already heading for the door. "Make sure the guys know they can come offstage."

"Be careful," Adam calls after me, but I'm already moving.

The service corridors are eerily quiet compared to the muffled roar of the crowd and music. My boots echo against the concrete as I make my way toward the dressing rooms, checking each door as I pass. Everything seems clear, but something feels off. The hair on the back of my neck stands up just before a familiar voice freezes me in my tracks.

"Hello, little sister."

I spin around to find James emerging from the shadows, his face twisted into something that might have been meant as a smile but looks more like a grimace. He's older than I remember, obviously, with new scars and harder eyes, but there's no mistaking him.

"Long time no see," he says, taking a step closer. "Father's been so worried about you."

"Stay back," I warn, but he moves faster than I expect. His hand clamps around my upper arm, grip bruising even through my sleeve.

"You're coming home," he growls, trying to drag me toward the exit. "Where you belong."

For a moment, I'm sixteen again, terrified and alone, desperate to escape. But then I feel the marks on my throat pulse, reminding me that I'm not that girl anymore. I'm not alone.

"I am home," I snarl, and sink my teeth into his hand.

He jerks back with a curse, his grip loosening just enough for me to wrench free. Before he can grab me again, a blur of movement slams into him from the side. Knox drives him into the wall with a growl that seems to shake the foundations, while Dante and Silas flank him, cutting off any escape route.

Damon appears at my side, pulling me safely behind his massive frame as Asher wraps his arms around me. Our bonds vibrate with protective rage and fierce love.

"Are you okay?" Asher asks, his hands gentle as they check me for injuries. "We felt your panic through the bond..."

"I'm fine," I assure him, leaning into his touch. "Better than fine."

The sound of running footsteps announces Maria's arrival with her team. They take over securing James, who glares at me over Knox's shoulder as they cuff him.

"This isn't over," he spits. "You can't hide from what you are forever."

"I'm not hiding anymore," I tell him calmly as the officers lead him away. "I know exactly who and what I am. And it's nothing like what you and our father tried to make me into."

The pack surrounds me completely once he's gone, their bodies and their scents form a protective shield around me. Hands touch me gently, checking for injuries, offering comfort, reaffirming bonds.

"Let's go home," Silas murmurs, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

Home. The word fills me with warmth instead of dread now. Home isn't a place I'm running from anymore. It's these men, this pack, this life we're building together.

"Yeah," I say softly, melting into their combined embrace. "Let's go home."