Page 93 of Knot Your Fated M.U.S.E.

Second chances…

About finally doing what you should have done years ago.

Hold on, Nyx.

I won't fail you again.

The injector feels warm in my palm as I prepare to risk everything for one more chance to be the alpha I used to be.

The alpha I should have been that day in the valley.

Because some debts can only be paid in person.

Some mistakes only corrected through direct action.

And, Nyx, the Omega I’m desperate to claim for me and my pack, is worth risking everything to save.

"Parazodiac Nexus, status check," I say into the intercom, only to be met with crackling static. My heart rate kicks up as I try again, adjusting frequencies with trembling fingers.

"Vale?" Atlas's voice finally breaks through, heavy with concern. "Everything alright?"

I try to respond, but the static intensifies, drowning out my words. The intrusion in my systems is more thorough than I initially thought, compromising even our basic communications.

But I'm not out of options yet.

Reaching under my desk, I pull out a backup phone — old technology, running on a separate network with its own antenna array. It's not connected to our main systems, which makes it both more primitive and more reliable in situations like this.

I dial Kieran's number, knowing he's the only one who consistently carries the matching device. Old habits from his military days — always have a backup plan for your backup plan.

He answers on the first ring.

"What's wrong?"

"Someone's in our systems," I say quickly, watching as more code dances across my screens. "But it's strange…like they're trying to help rather than hinder. But that's not our biggest problem right now."

Are they friends or foes? I’m not sure we’re going to find out now with this mission underway, but I have to keep an eye out.

"Which unit are you with?" I ask, already strapping on my tactical gear. The weight of the guns against my chest is familiar, and comforting, even as my legs protest every movement.

"Subdivision D," Dante's voice comes through. "B and C are setting up on the east side."

My fingers fly across the keyboard, bringing up multiple screens showing different angles of the facility. The footage of the flooding room remains central, a constant reminder of what's at stake.

"We've got our target Omegas trapped in a containment chamber," I explain, watching the water level rise with terrifying speed. "Room's almost completely flooded. They're going to go under any minute. We need one division to redirect there immediately while the others trigger the alarms for distraction."

"We can get there fastest," Subdivision D's leader cuts in. I already got video footage of them as they’re pausing in a sector, noticing that alarms have been set off but the opposing units are going down a different route. "We're closest to that sector."

Quickly scanning the blueprints, I can see Division D’s right about the closeness. Technically speaking, they’re also the fastest when you compare age gaps.

Even if I don’t want to admit my pack and I are a bit “old” when you acknowledge OP standards.

I see Kieran about to argue with the visible image of him opening his mouth —our history with D's unit isn't exactly friendly— but I cut him off.

"D takes point on the rescue. Move now."

The sound of them splitting up comes through the line, footsteps echoing as they head in different directions.

"Vale," Kieran's voice carries a warning note. "If you're thinking what I think you're thinking..."

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