Page 178 of Knot Their Soldier: Part One
I stop walking, turning to him with a frown. It’s weird to hear him referring to himself in the third person, but he’s still pretending to be Dazz.
“He’s fiercely loyal. He’s not going to be able to walk away from you.” His grip tightens on my hand as if he’s scared that if he lets me go, I’ll float away.
His gaze is so intense, I find myself looking away, unable to hold his stare.
“He doesn’t think you have baggage, because when you’re with him, he feels the weight of the world slide off his shoulders. And it’s not just him, the rest of the squad feels the same. Whatever power has awakened between you and Scorch Squad-1 ends up being, and whatever this defect you’re talking about is, they’ll still want you.”
I am overwhelmed by a surge of emotions that are not my own, urging me to touch and embrace him. His fingers flex around mine. “The question is, doyouwant them?”
His expression is vulnerable, the intensity of his feelings shining through me. I can feel his truth, the earnest nature of his declaration as if I’d spoken the words myself. It leaves no room for self-doubt.
I exhale.
“I want them, all of them, more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.”
Shade squeezes my hand as he lets out a shaky breath.
“Thank fuck,” he murmurs, leaning in and placing a gentle kiss on my lips. He flicks lightly at the seam, teasing me with the hint of his tongue ring.
‘Good girl,’his silken voice slides through my mind, causing my knees to weaken and my heart rate to speed up.
When we part, I’m a little breathless, and he has a wide, satisfied smile.
“I think I’d like Shade back now,” I admit, smiling softly at him. “I don’t usually kiss Dazz.”
Like a switch, the Beta with a steadying force is back.
“See, not so hard to talk about it,” he whispers, stroking my hair back from my face. “One step at a time. We’re in this with you.”
I look down at my boots and nod. He’s right. He’s not Dazz, but he understands me on some level. He knew I needed someone to talk to. Shade has done an excellent job of distracting me from my spiraling thoughts. I feel less like I’m on the dangling of a cliff, clinging to the edge by my fingernails.
The sun is slowly slipping below the tree line, the shadows deepening.
“Time to head back, baby girl.”
I nod, and he brings our joined hands up to his lips and presses a soft kiss to my fingers. I squeal in protest as he scoops me up, carrying me bridal style.
“Put me down, Shade!”
“Nope.”
“I can walk. Why do you all think I can’t walk?”
A soft expression crosses his sharp features, making him look younger and almost sweet. “Just… Let me take care of you, okay, baby girl?”
I chew on my cheek and nod, leaning into his warm chest as he effortlessly carries me up the hill towards camp. There isn’t a single sign he was beaten unconscious hours earlier.
I’m not used to this amount of affection and care for my wellbeing. I hadn’t realized just how touch-starved I’d become. Omegas aren’t meant to live alone in a dorm room with only a few friends to hug and the occasional Beta to warm our nests. All of this attention from potential mates has me in a confusing tailspin.
But, I’m learning to accept it. Slowly.
It helps when they touch me like I’m someone special, like I belong to them.
Chapter Sixty-Two
Halley
As we enter the camp, I’m hit with a sense of déjà vu. Yesterday, I walked back into camp with Knox looking at me with the same stern scowl on his face.
