Page 141 of Knot Their Soldier: Part One
She’s crying again. Deep, howling sobs of loneliness.
“She can’t consent,” I repeat the words aloud, mumbling them under my breath like a mantra.
My heart breaks as I hear her begging in the empty tent. I clench my hands into fists to prevent me from barreling into the bunkhouse to take care of her. I’m not the one she wants. I’m a Beta. I don’t have a knot to ease her ache. She only wants an Alpha, and she’s not in her right mind to see reason right now.
Her scent is… I’ve never smelled anything as enticing in my life. I want to inhale her, swallow her slick, lick her until she comes apart for me. It wasn’t so long ago that I tasted her and watched her fall apart on my tongue. I could do that again for hours. Days. However long she needs me to tend to her.
But it’s not going to happen. I have to wait and listen. She needs protection, whether she knows it or not. I can do this. I can ignore the ache in my balls and stay in control. I can protect her. I won’t give in to her again. I already fucked up twice today.
I’ve got this.
Probably.
A flash of movement catches my eye and I react with reflexes honed by years of training. My hand snags Blaze’s shoulder as he is preparing to shimmy through his secret entrance under tent flap he thinks I don’t know about. Our stealth expert almost slipped past me while I sulked.
He’s breathing hard, quivering with restrained power.
“She’s calling for us. She needs us,” Blaze hisses furiously, struggling to get out of my arms. The color in his blue eyes has drained away, leaving an iridescent white sliver visible around his huge black pupils. They glow with frenzied hungry, a shiny glaze betraying just how far gone he is. Blaze is close to rut and once he dips into that state, nothing will keep him from breeding and mating the Omega inside the tent.
“Fuck this! I’m calling for an evac from base,” Knox snarls, his back ramrod straight and his fists clenched tight to stop them from shaking. He’s fuming. It’s not because of Blaze or Viper losing their cool. It’s because he’s close to losing it, too. His biology is telling him to rut her, knot her, breed her, and bite her until she’s tied to him for life. Decidedlynotpart of the plan.
Knox hates when life doesn’t go to plan.
Our Prime Alpha strides across the training ground towards the tent with the radio. He’s going to request an exfiltration for Halley back to a secure location. It’s the only option. If she stays here, and the suppressant takes too long to work, it’ll send the entire squad insane. Me included.
I have it better than my brothers, but even so, it’s hard watching them losing their damn minds. It’s harder hearing Halley begging for us. I know I have to keep a cool head. I’m the only one without the biological urge to knot ruling my actions. I have to be rational and keep us all safe.
“Omega! Omega!” Viper shouts from the back of the truck.
I tug Blaze until he looks at me and level him with a stare. Blaze isn’t hard to understand once you get to know him. He’s a kid at heart. A deeply troubled kid, but still a kid nonetheless. He never got a childhood and craves the attention of a parental figure, positive or negative. Usually negative with his unpredictable behavior.
The brass has stopped trying to discipline him in conventional ways. The fucker likes it too much. Now, they threaten to take him off missions. It works to a certain degree, but if he doesn’t get his violent urges out on the battlefield, it comes out in other ways… usually involving fire and rope.
If I have any chance of keeping him from entering that tent, I have to give him something he wants more.
I deepen my voice and take on a steady cadence of authority. He responds the best to firm instructions.
“Blaze, it’s time to leave Halley. She needs some alone time right now.” I reach out and ruffle his hair fondly.
I don’t usually use my Squad Daddy role, as Halley has dubbed it, so blatantly. Our squad works because our relationships are strong. Adding anything ‘extra’ to the mix might upset the balance. Yet, desperate times call for desperate measures. I’ll be Blaze’s Daddy if it keeps everyone safe.
The younger Alpha turns his attention back to me, his eyes wide and his lips parted, and eagerness for attention overpowering his need to rut.
Well, that worked like a charm. I smile at him.
“I won’t hurt her. She’s in pain and I can make it better,” Blaze argues, but the fire is out of his words and his tone is bordering on desperation. He doesn’t want to do anything Halley would be uncomfortable with, but his instincts are riding him hard and Blaze isn’t known for his self control.
“I know you won’t,” I say quietly in a warm, fatherly tone. “You’re so good with her, bringing her breakfast and makingsure her belly is full. Such a good Alpha to your Omega, aren’t you?”
Blaze frowns deeply and his gaze turns back to the tent. His scent is tormented with spikes of desire, concern, and shame.
I ignore my raging arousal. I’ve wanted to play with Blaze this way for years, and it’s hotter than I expected. I’ll evaluate it at a later time. Right now, I have my hands full with an Omega in heat and a team full of Alphas on the verge of rut.
“You’re being a good boy, Blaze, such a good boy. You’re keeping her safe by staying strong and protecting her.”
“I don’t think I can stay away,” Blaze whines with a longing look at the bunkhouse.
“That’s okay, buddy. That’s okay.” I glance around quickly, eyeing up the surroundings and trying to think of a solution.
