Jack
DIRTY BETA GOSSIP COLUMN
IS IT SAFE FOR OLI HART RIGHT NOW? DO WE BLAME HER ALPHAS, THE EDGE, FOR MAY’S ATTACK?
July 3rd
I ’m pacing. Restless energy has got my legs moving and my heart racing, and not in the good, after-show kind of way. The living room feels too small. It’s about Oli’s check-up, and damn it, I can’t shake off the protective instincts clawing under my skin. My band—my pack—they’re here too, but it’s her face that’s burned into my mind, with those expressive green eyes that always seem to see right through me.
“Easy, . You’re wearing a path into the floor,” Chase teases, his drumming fingers echoing the beat of my internal turmoil.
“Can’t help it,” I mutter, running a hand through my messy white-blond hair. “Feels like eons since we’ve heard her sing.”
“The doctor will be here soon,” Aiden offers quietly from where he’s perched on the armrest, always the voice of calm amidst our storm.
Dax is all silent strength, leaning against the wall, his hazel gaze sharp. He’s got that look, the one that says he’s ready to fight the world if Oli’s news isn’t good. That’s what being an alpha is all about, I guess—this ferocious need to protect what’s yours.
“We need to do it before the doctor gets here, so she knows it isn’t dependent on healing,” Aiden insists, and I agree.
I can’t shake the nerves gnawing at my gut. Our eyes meet—mine, Aiden’s, Chase’s, Dax’s—each exchange a silent promise laced with anxiety. We’re on the cusp of something monumental, and it’s got my heart thrumming.
It became clear yesterday when Oli was hesitant to sing the song with Dax, that we were not on the same page.
Oli comes rushing into the room. Her anxiety is palpable, and it only serves to heighten mine.
But I push that aside so I can be there for my omega. I wrap her in my arms and scent mark her, hoping to calm her down. My purr comes out strong and powerful as I try to soothe her.
“It’s going to be okay, baby girl. No matter what, we are here for you,” I tell her.
She doesn’t seem convinced.
“Can we talk to you briefly before the doctor gets here?” I ask.
The room’s electric with the hum of potential, our future hanging in the balance. I draw in a lungful of air, trying to steady myself. This is it, time to lay all our cards on the table.
“Oli.” Her name rolls off my tongue, a familiar melody. She turns towards me, eyes glinting with curiosity. “We’ve been thinking…” I trail off for a second, giving myself a mental kick. Come on, , spit it out.
“About the band.” I clear my throat, my voice finding its footing. “We want you to join us. Like, officially. One band, your voice, our music… together.”
Her reaction is instant, a burst of light in those green orbs that draws everyone in like moths to a flame. A wide and genuine smile spreads across her face, and my insides do a backflip. Relief crashes over me, waves of it, as she lets out a laugh that’s music to my ears.
“Really?” she gasps, her disbelief morphing into excitement faster than a snare hit. “You mean it?”
“Every word,” I say, grinning like an idiot.
“We know you’re bigger than us, so we would be incredibly lucky to have you permanently, but we are a pack now, and I can’t imagine a time when we are touring separately,” Aiden adds.
She leaps up. “Yes! Absolutely, yes!” Her enthusiasm is contagious, and the room erupts. We’re celebrating our unity, our future.
“Looks like we’ve got ourselves a new lead singer, boys,” I proclaim to the others, who are already on their feet, clapping and hooting like they’ve just won the lottery.
“Welcome to the chaos, Oli Hart,” Dax says, his usual gruffness softened by the grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“Best decision we ever made,” Aiden adds, his shy smile saying more than his words ever could.
“Watch out, world,” Chase chimes in, wrapping an arm around Oli’s shoulder. “Here comes the next big thing.”
And standing there, surrounded by the people who have become my family, I feel a fire ignite within me. Together, we’re unstoppable. With Oli’s spirit, Dax’s intensity, Aiden’s heart, Chase’s charm, and my leadership, we’re not just a band. We’re a force to be reckoned with. And nothing’s going to stand in our way.
Oli thinks differently. Her smile melts off her face, and I feel a deep sadness spread to us from our bond.
“What’s wrong, sunshine?” Aiden asks the question before the rest of us can open our mouths.
Her lip trembles. “I want this so badly, but we don’t know if my voice will ever be the same. I can’t be your lead singer if I can’t sing.”
All four of us surround her, touching some part of her body and soothing her.
“It doesn’t matter. We are one pack and one band now. Whatever the future holds, we deal with it together,” I promise.
Dax, Aiden, Chase, and I discussed this and decided that this is how we feel. If our omega can’t keep singing, we will give up music too.
A tear slips out of her eye. “I could never let you stop making music for me.”
“It wouldn’t be like that. We put the pack first and do what is best for the pack. You’re our omega, and we are alphas. All that matters to us is that we still have you and are together,” I tell her.
Chase, Aiden, and Dax nod in agreement.
Reassurance floods our pack bond from all sides, and I know Oli feels it.
“Okay,” she whispers.
“We had another idea,” Aiden adds, making nerves burst from Oli again.
“Another?” she asks.
All four of us nod.
“Right now, our pack name is the Edge Pack because none of us felt connected to our last names, and our band was everything that mattered, but with you here, that changes. We want to be the Hart Pack,” Aiden tells her.
Oli’s eyes widen before awe comes rushing down the bond. I’ll never get enough of this connection to her soul.
“Really?” she asks, grinning.
Chase bounces up and down before rushing to add, “And all together, our band could be called The Hart’s Edge.”
Oli joins him in bouncing. “I love it!”
I get a text from security that the doctor is here. When there’s a knock on the door, I leave Oli on the couch and go to let the doctor in.
The front door clicks open, and there she is. The doc. She’s like a breeze of serenity as she steps through the threshold, unbothered by the thick tension she walks into. Her presence somehow feels both intrusive and necessary, a paradox wrapped in a white coat.
“Doctor,” I greet her, my voice a strained note of respect and anxiety. With a quick glance at Oli, I try to gauge how she’s doing. She’s sitting there, all spunky charm and hidden nerves, her rose gold hair a wild cascade around her shoulders.
“Hello,” the doc replies, her professional smile not quite reaching her eyes. She knows the stakes are high.
“Let’s hope you bring good news,” Dax grumbles, his arms folded across his chest.
“Let’s get started,” she says, ignoring the tension as she moves closer to Oli.
Oli’s hopeful gaze meets mine, and I offer her the best grin I can muster, though inside, I’m all twisted up. “You got this, baby girl,” I whisper, winking at her. She returns a shaky smile, and something fierce lights up inside me.
This is it. This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for. And I’ll stand by her through every part of it.
My feet have stopped their pacing, but it doesn’t mean the rest of me is any less a caged beast. The doctor has her hands on Oli, and every muscle in my body screams to shield her. I shove my hands into the pockets of my jeans to keep from reaching out, from growling at anyone who dares get too close. Gotta stay put. Gotta let this play out.
“Relax, ,” Aiden murmurs from where he leans against the wall, all calm, alpha coolness that I’m sorely lacking right now. But his eyes are just as glued to Oli as mine are, tracking every move the doctor makes.
“I’m trying,” I mutter under my breath, watching as Oli tilts her head back, giving the doctor full access to the delicate lines of her throat. Those green eyes of hers are wide, shimmering pools of nerves. Her fingers dance nervously on the fabric of her shirt, like a silent melody only she can hear. My chest tightens in response, a drumbeat echoing her silent tune.
“Alright, Oli, this might feel a bit uncomfortable,” the doc warns gently, her fingers poised and professional.
Oli nods, the light catching the pink strands as they sway with her movement. Damn, even nervous, she’s like a freaking siren call—beautiful, irresistible, deadly to a guy like me who just wants to pull her away from all this poking and prodding.
“Doing great,” I say, hoping my voice carries enough warmth to act like a blanket around her. The words are more for me than her, a mantra to keep the protective snarl locked up tight behind my teeth.
“Can you swallow for me?” the doc asks, her attention focused on Oli’s throat as she does as told. I can almost see the vibrations, the promise of that voice that’s gonna rock the world. It’s been too long since we’ve heard her sing, too damn long.
“Look at her, handling it like a champ,” Chase whispers from the couch, his tone tinged with admiration. Dax nods, his usual stoic expression softening slightly as Oli follows the doctor’s instructions.
I can only nod, my heart playing a bass line against my ribs.
“Almost done here,” the doc reassures, stepping back and giving Oli a small smile.
“See? Knew you had it in you,” I say, the tension finally starting to seep from my shoulders. Not completely gone, though. Not until we’re all back on stage, with Oli’s voice leading us into the fray again.
“Alright, Oli, everything looks great. Your throat has healed nicely. You are cleared to sing,” the doctor announces with a clinical kind of cheer that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. But it’s all I need to hear.
I exhale, and a grin splits my face. My eyes dart to Aiden, Chase, and Dax, who mirror my relief with their versions of smirks and smiles.
“Thanks, Doc,” I say, my voice a little rough around the edges from the tension that’s been dogging me all day.
The doctor nods, packs up her bag with efficient clicks, snaps, and makes her way out. The door closes with a soft click, and silence floods the room for a heartbeat or two.
“Okay, little rose, last step. Let us hear that beautiful voice,” Chase prompts.
Anxiety is pouring off my omega, and I know we need to deal with this now to stop it from getting worse.
She rises from the couch, her movements tentative—like she’s unsure if her legs will support her. Her rose gold waves catch the light as she moves into the center of the room, and I swear it’s like watching the sun break through the clouds after a storm.
“I’m scared,” she confesses.
“Oli,” I start, pushing off the wall and closing the distance between us with a few steps. “You’ve got this.”
Her gaze flicks up to meet mine. She worries her lower lip between her teeth, and I fight the urge to lean in and do the job for her.
“Remember our first show together?” I ask her with a tease in my voice, hoping to coax a smile onto those kissable lips. “You had the crowd eating out of your hand before you even hit the chorus.”
Her smile is shy but genuine, and it lights up the whole damn room in a way that no stage lighting ever could. “Yeah, but I wasn’t recovering from an injury then.”
“It’s you, your presence and magnetism,” I say, my tone dipping into something softer, something meant for just her ears. “You’re stronger than you realize, Oli Hart. And we’re right here with you.”
With a deep breath that lifts her chest, she nods. Her fingers brush against mine—a spark, a bolt of lightning—and then she’s stepping back, readying herself. The room holds its breath, waiting as Oli prepares to conquer her fears.
“Sing for us, Oli,” I murmur, my heart hammering away, eager for the symphony of her voice.
The first note trembles into existence, a quivering thread of sound that quickly swells into a bold melody. Oli’s voice fills the room, clear as a crystal stream, washing over us with its raw power and beauty. I stand there, rooted to the spot, my blue eyes locked on her.
She’s in her element, her soul laid bare with every rise and fall of her pitch-perfect voice. The long, rose gold waves of her hair catch the light as she sways to the rhythm, her green eyes closed, lost to the world we’re in. The song is an outpouring of everything she is, everything she’s fought to reclaim, and it’s mesmerizing.
I can’t help but feel this swell of pride surging through me, mixed with a potent joy I could get drunk on.
Her final note hangs in the air, a sweet sound that slowly fades, leaving a silence that’s heavy with awe. Then, like a dam breaking, applause erupts from Chase, Dax, Aiden, and me. The cheers are thunderous in the pack house, and our excitement is a palpable force that could shake the walls.
“Oli, you were amazing!” I shout over the noise, my heart racing.
I stride over to her, my movements eager but controlled, and pull her into a gentle hug that I hope conveys everything I’m feeling. “I’m so damn proud of you,” I whisper, my lips brushing against the shell of her ear.
Her body relaxes against mine, the tension of anticipation melting away in the warmth of our embrace. At this moment, surrounded by the brothers of my pack and the woman whose spirit outshines the brightest star, I know we’ve not just witnessed a comeback. We’ve seen a rebirth—the rise of Oli Hart, rockstar extraordinaire with a voice that could command the heavens.
“…” Her voice is soft, humbled, and filled with relief.
“Shh, let them cheer, Oli. They’re all for you,” I murmur back, my hands resting on her back, feeling the echo of her heartbeat against my fingertips. “Every damn clap and whistle.”
And as I pull back to look at her, her bangs falling playfully across her forehead, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears of happiness, I know we’re ready for whatever comes next. We’ll face it together, as a pack and as a band.
“Ready to rock the world? We leave tomorrow,” I ask, grinning, already imagining the roar of the crowd, the blaze of stage lights, and the unstoppable rush of performing live.
“Absolutely,” she replies, her fierce and bright grin matching mine.
She’s radiant, basking in the love.
“Hey, before we get too caught up in plans and celebrations,” I speak up, motioning for a moment of calm, “there’s something we want you to have, Oli. From all of us.”
Curiosity piques her interest. She pauses mid-laugh, tilting her head in that adorable way that drives me crazy. I retrieve a small, elegantly wrapped box from behind the couch and hand it to her.
“Open it,” I urge, my heart doing this weird drum solo inside me.
She peels back the wrapping, and her gasp is music to my ears. “Guys… what’s this?”
The box lid hinges back, and her face is a canvas of emotion—surprise painting her wide eyes in a shade I haven’t seen before. “Oh my god,” she breathes out, and it’s like the air carries her gratitude straight to my heart.
I lean close enough to catch the fragrance of her excitement.
“That,” I start, leaning closer to share her space, her air, “is a little something from all of us. It’s got an emergency button feature—just press it, and wherever we are, whatever stage or city or trouble we’ve gotten into, we’ll come running as well as the police.”
“’s being dramatic, but he’s not wrong,” Chase chimes in, winking at Oli.
“Think of it as a symbol,” Aiden says, the quiet strength in his voice grounding us. “Of our bond, our commitment to each other.”
“Plus, it looks good,” Dax adds, arms crossed, but I see the approval in his gaze.
It’s a tiny gold music note charm that attaches to the bracelet Dax got her. It’s perfect for our omega.
“Thank you,” she whispers, tracing the intricate design with a finger before clasping it to the chain. “It’s perfect.”
“Only the best for our omega,” I say, voice low and teasing. “Now, let’s get some rest. Tomorrow, we record our songs and leave for Europe, and the world isn’t ready for what we’re about to unleash as one band together.”
“Damn straight,” Dax agrees, and we share a look that says, without words, that we’re in this together—every step of the way.
“Get ready to rock their socks off,” Chase declares, ever the showman.
“Or whatever else they’re wearing,” I quip, earning a round of chuckles.
“Can we spend our last night together in the nest?” Oli asks timidly.
It’s a silly question; we’ve spent every night together since her heat, but I won’t say that to her.
All five of us pile into her nest, and I enjoy the aroma of our pack filling the space. I wrap my arms around her and spoon my omega from behind. The feeling of her in my arms, her scent in my nose, and our pack surrounding us is everything I could have ever dreamed of.
My alpha settles inside me, satisfied with the life we’ve built.
Dax takes her front while Chase and Aiden find ways to touch her head or feet.
Oli sighs in contentment as the four of us purr for her. The smallest, sweetest, softest purr comes from her, and we all move closer to soak it in before falling asleep together.
They’re my pack, she’s my omega, and damn if I’m not the luckiest alpha in the world.