Page 71 of Knot Their Soldier: Part One
“Once it starts, we’ll try a few techniques to see what is effective in halting the process,” Shade answers.
He makes it sound so clinical and simple. Like it’s not going to be a full onslaught on my body. I should stop this. Request a different scenario, but I can’t deny my body is humming in anticipation.
Viper and Knox are going to hunt me down.
Blaze and Shade are going to defend me.
Something primal and pleased rattles in my chest, a chirrup of delight itching to break free. I can’t control it. My Omega wants to be chased. Wants to be claimed by powerful Alphas, and I can’t deny that instinct. It’s an experiment, I remind myself, just a training exercise. A means to an end.
My Omega doesn’t care.
Shade lays the tablet down and gives me his full attention, his expression soft and encouraging.
“Halley, you’ll get a thirty minute head start from your hunters. And Blaze and I will leave in fifteen.”
I flit my eyes between him and Blaze. “Aren’t you coming with me?”
Blaze paces, energetically swinging his arms to limber up. There’s a sharpness to his gaze as he slips from joking comrade to lethal trained killer.
They said this wasn’t ‘murder games,’ but does someone need to repeat the instructions to Blaze?
Shade answers. “No, baby girl. You’ll make your own way back and we’ll do our best to hinder these two so it’s more evenly matched. You might see us, but you’re on your own.”
I swallow back a whimper.
I’m so far out of my depth, it’s ridiculous. They haven’t trained me long enough to be throwing me into the deep end like this. Only a few days earlier, I was sitting on the rooftop, sippinga fruity drink through a twirly straw, ogling Alphas from a distance.
“I don’t know which way to go,” I squeak, wringing my hands together.
Shade holds my shoulders and turns me to face uphill. “Follow the ridge line. The camp is at the peak.”
Before I can ask more questions or voice my protest, Knox pulls back his sleeve and looks at his military-issued watch.
“Omega Sparks, this training session begins in five, four—” I blink in shock and comprehend that I’m expected to start the game right this instant.
Knox keeps counting down.
I lean down to collect some items, but Viper shakes his head. “Leave your things.”
I back away, wide eyed and my pulse hammering.
“Three, two—”
“We’ll see you on the other side, hopefully with the answers we’re looking for,” Shade says with a comforting smile. Easy for him to look so casual. He’s not about to be hunted across a mountain by a team of super soldiers. There has to be a better way to diagnose the issue.
“One, go.”
I run.
I tear up the steep, rocky terrain, feeling the adrenaline coursing through my veins. It’s not pretty or coordinated. It must look ridiculous to the expert soldiers watching me disappear into the forest.
Thirty minutes is not a long time. Why didn’t I ask for more?
I can feel my breath becoming labored, and the staccato beat of my heart is making my head swim. I’m exhausted from yesterday, and hiking all day.
Yet, a surge of adrenaline pushes my body through the aches and pains, a desperation settling beneath my skin, urging me onwards.
I don’t want them catching me.
