Page 68 of Knot Their Soldier: Part One
“And how would you quantify this element?” Shade asks clinically, his focus on his tablet and his stupid data. He doesn’t even look at me while in full science mode.
I turn my irritation to him.
“I’m right here, Shade. Can you talk to me like I’m a person, not an experiment?”
He looks up at me, blinking, and his mouth drops open.
I raise an eyebrow at him, and he lowers the tablet with an apologetic grimace.
Blaze has slipped in beside me, his face close to mine as he studies my face like it holds clues he can uncover. “And you’re not turned on now?”
I shove his chest and push him back. He lets me, but continues his inspection from afar. “No, Blaze. I’mannoyed.”
“And yesterday, you weren’t annoyed?”
I throw my hands up in exasperation. Apparently, I need to spell this out to them. For super soldiers with supposedly enhanced senses and interrogation skills, they really suck at reading me.
“Yesterday, Viper, and Blaze were touching me all morning, helping me through the obstacle course and looking out for me. Caring for me. Then Knox and Shade gave me their undivided attention. You pushed me to the limit, ordered me around, and encouraged me. You made me submissive and praised me for it.”
I wait for them to make the connection. They don’t, and I sigh.
“My Omega got confused. She saw you as her mates.”
It’s as if I’ve slapped them.
Viper coughs and turns away, a hand scrubbing over his dark hair.
Shade taps his lips in thought and addresses me. “What you’re saying is, the circumstances emulated a scenario in which you were in the midst of a physically exhausting heat cycle with a pack tending to your needs.”
I nod, my anger deflating as quickly as it rose.
I rub at my chest, relieving the sudden hollow feeling in my chest. Agreeing with his assessment feels hollow. I’ve never spent a heat with an Alpha, so I wouldn’t know. Reality of my loneliness is on full display and makes me want to curl into a ball.
Knox inhales and exhales, his nostrils flaring. The frown eases, and the deep scar puckered across the bridge of his nose relaxes back into his features. He turns to Shade and they begin a rapid, low discussion in the background.
“I smell sadness. Halley? Why are you upset?” Blaze asks from my side, and I blink up at him with watering eyes.
My first instinct is to tell him‘I’m fine.’It’s my go-to response, as I never want to be a burden to another. Yet, the genuinely confused and boyish expression on Blaze’s face makes me reply truthfully.
I sigh. “I feel stupid because my Omega thinks you are my… that we’re more than teammates.”
“You’re not stupid, Sparkles,” Blaze says earnestly. He reaches for my hand and gently entwines it with his own, squeezing softly to show his support. A warmth that I’ve come to associate with Blaze’s touch floods through me.
My heart melts a little for Blaze.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Halley
Knox calls us back to attention, “Alright troops, let’s huddle up.”
He looks down at me and I feel small. “How copy, Omega Sparks?”
I frown.
“It means, how are you?” Blaze whispers, interpreting the military speak.
“Um, I’m fine,” I reply, squirming. I told the truth to Blaze, but Prime Asshole doesn’t get to know my inner-most thoughts. He hasn’t earned the right.
