Page 130 of Knot Their Soldier: Part One
I scratch at my sternum where my thickest burn scarring lies. The skin is never truly comfortable, but feels tighter than usual.
Knox stares vacantly into the forest as he rubs his throat. His anger fizzled the moment Halley recoiled. Now, he has a look I’ve never seen on our Prime Alpha before. He looks almost defeated. Not by her, but by his own values and morals.
He swallows and speaks in a rasping voice. “It’s General Stone’s orders. She needs to learn her place as a soldier. If she can’t follow orders, there’s no point in continuing her training.”
He’s been using the same argument for weeks. This time, it’s not very convincing.
Viper sighs and finally chimes in. He hasn’t taken part with this ongoing rift in our squad, choosing to keep himself out of the discussion entirely. Apparently, he’s ready to pick a side. Fucking finally. “It was wrong. She needs help controlling it before it controls her.”
With her body hunched, Halley stands in stillness, her senses fully engaged as she listens intently to every word.
Shade runs his hand through his hair. “We don’t even know what it is or why it’s happening… what she did to Knox. She’s dangerous.”
Halley sobs harder.
I roll my eyes and scoff, “She ain’t dangerous. Look at her. Does she look like she wanted that to happen? She’s inexperienced, and she’s fucking angry.”
“Exactly—”
“But ya know what would fix that, Specialist Shade?” I snarl his rank in a mocking tone. “Talking about what the fuck is happening to her.”
Shade uses his forearm to wipe the blood coating his face. The rest drips from my fists.
Knox’s gaze transforms into a steely glare as he swiftly pivots to confront me directly. “You’re not Prime Alpha here. I am. Do I need to remind you of that?”
Ah, yes. It’s about the time in our argument that he reminds me he’s Prime Alpha Knox. He’s the big shot in charge of all of us with his fancy, shiny rank.
It usually is enough to make me back down. He knows I won’t go against him. As much as I hate how the Omega situation has been handled, I won’t risk destroying the only family I’ve ever known. Except this time, I’m done.
“Fuck you, Prime Alpha. And fuck the General’s orders.”
“Sergeant Blaze,” Shade warns, not liking where this is heading.
I shrug off Viper’s tightening grip on my shoulder, his silent insistence that I calm down. I won’t.
I don’t give a fuck anymore.
No way am I gonna let them hurt the best thing that’s ever happened to us.
They don’t see what I see yet. Halley Sparks is our Omega, and from now on, I only answer to her.
I turn to face the small, precious creature shivering before me, and I reach out to take her hand.
“Sparkles, come on. Let’s get away from these spineless idiots.”
Chapter Forty-Five
Shade
It’s been like watching a car crash in slow motion.
A dark cloud looming on the horizon for weeks.
When Knox contacted General Stone to report the O-space issue and the outcome of the chase experiment, it didn’t go as we expected.
The General fell unsettlingly quiet, the line crackling like a live wire.
After the strange, prolonged silence, he ordered Knox to stand down. We are not to acknowledge her growing powers until her training is complete. No explanation given.
