Page 131 of Knot Their Soldier: Part One
And so, we haven’t said a word to her.
Except, Knox has forgotten Halley wasn’t raised as a soldier like we were. He expects his order to be accepted and obeyed, but she’s not like us.
We were born into this, or recruited as children. We know that in order to live to see another day, we must obey direct orders from our superiors. Even Blaze toes the line most of the time –when his self-preservation is working, that is. It’s all we’ve ever known, and it’s become ingrained in our very existence. We’ve been lucky. Knox is a good leader. Our Prime Alpha knows how to keep us alive and, usually, I trust him completely.
For weeks I’ve stayed the course and supported my Prime Alpha and his adherence to the rules.
Today I failed.
Although I want to blame her Omega Command for my disobedience to suppression orders, it’s not the truth. I wanted to tell her. I’ve really hated not sharing my theories. She just had to ask, and I spilled almost everything.
Halley thinks I haven’t noticed her little manipulations. The influence that lightly tinges our decisions as she tests the limits of her new power.
I don’t blame her.
My response would be identical.
Iwantto learn more about this incredible phenomenon.
I have an intense longing to prove my theory correct.
For weeks, Blaze has made his opinion of the decision known, and not just with words. Like a displeased house cat, he’s left clear messages. Knox has woken to the disemboweled hunted animals in his bed. His rifle strung up high in the tree canopy in a web of rope that took hours to untangle. And, my personal favorite, a live rat tucked into his boot.
He’s done with leaving warnings – Blaze has decided his allegiance, and it’s not us.
This isn’t like his usual outbursts of insubordination.
He’s completely devoted to protecting Halley.
We watch with helpless fascination as Halley takes Blaze’s outstretched hand without hesitation.
The same hand I’ve seen disembowel captive enemy soldiers and string their intestines up like tinsel. His scarred knuckleshave beaten faces to a bloody pulp for simply looking at him wrong. That’s not who Blaze is anymore. Not since she arrived.
He doesn’t scare her. She’s never met the psychotic murderer we call our brother, only the strange Alpha who brings her coffee every morning with a goofy grin.
Blaze tugs her towards the forest and she follows unflinchingly.
“Blaze,” Viper begins, but stops himself, swallowing and trying to put together the right words. But they won’t come.
I almost want to follow, except I can’t. Not when there are waves of hurt rolling off our Prime Alpha’s broad shoulders. Betrayal singing through his veins that he can’t make sense of.
First, there was my betrayal.
Then, Halley’s.
Now, Blaze’s.
He’s torn in two. It’s clear to me now just how much it’s hurting him to be stuck between his duty and what he knows is right.
The need to follow his orders is unrelenting, like barbs dug deep into his flesh.
I can’t bear to see our Prime Alpha fracturing under the weight of binding duty, but I know a simple truth.
If he can’t untangle his warring emotions, he’ll strangle the squad and kill it from within.
Scorch Squad won’t survive.
Chapter Forty-Six
