Page 151 of Knot Their Soldier: Part One
“The squad,” I breathe, fear surging up through me again.
“They’re fine. They can handle it,” Shade tries to reassure me, but I’m already springing into action.
The sniper rifle is laying beside Shade, a splash of his blood coating the muzzle. I snatch it up and take off running. Shades curses and shouts, falling behind me.
I’m not a coward.
I’m not.
And I will not hide when they need my help.
I crash through the tree line, skidding down the steep incline.
I can hear them, but can’t see them. I slow down and crouch low, hunting the sounds of a vicious fight.
A large rock juts out from the steep undergrowth, and I climb carefully up and peek over the edge. I can see movement from the battle below. Laying on my belly, I prop the sniper rifle on its mount and adjust the scope.
Looking through the magnification, I gasp at the scene.
The squad is in the thick of fighting what looks more beast than man. It’s covered in gore, and unlike the Blood Lust Alpha with the broken foot I encountered, it’s fully functioning and enraged. It moves so fast, it’s almost a blur, and the sounds ripping from its throat remind me of a wounded bear.
Blaze is on its back, slashing wildly at its arms while Viper distracts it with brutal punches and kicks.
Knox appears and I flinch as he pins the ferocious Alpha’s hand to its stomach, and impales it with his hunting knife. Viper wrestles its other hand onto its belly as well, and Blaze jams his knife into it. With its hands incapacitated, Viper kicks the back of its knees and it falls to the ground. Knox grasps a handful of its bloodied hair and pulls its head backwards, presenting its forehead to the watchful forest.
Viper and Blaze slink away, and Knox holds the Alpha’s thrashing head tightly. He’s exposed it for a perfect kill shot.
Looking directly at the spot I’m hiding, he barks, “Now, Shade! Take the fucking shot!”
He thinks I’m Shade, but I obey my Prime Alpha’s order. I line up the forehead of the Blood Lust Alpha in the crosshairs and hold my breath. I hear Viper’s voice echoing in my memory.
‘Feel the gun. You’re joined. The same. The bullet is an extension of you. Put it exactly where you want it.’
I squeeze the trigger, and the Alpha’s head explodes in a red mist.
There’s silence, the only sound the ringing of the gunshot echoing off the mountainside.
I look through the scope. Nothing remains but a headless body and splattered brains on the forest floor.
Saliva pools in my mouth as vomit threatens to appear. Now that I know the squad is alright, the impact of what I did hits me.
I shot an Alpha in the head.
Killed him.
More than that.
I killedtwoAlphas.
Everything in my biology should make that impossible.
Omegas are caregivers to their Alphas. We’re soft and sweet, not violent killers.
I heave, but there is nothing in my stomach to expel. A full body shudder wracks through me, and my teeth begin to chatter. I move on autopilot, the world around me distorting, and a rushing sound fills my ears.
I climb down from the rock, sling the rifle over my shoulder, and hike back to camp in a daze. I follow Shade’s scent, inhaling his dark chocolate and pine aroma like it’s a drug.
Soon, Shade is speaking to me in soft tones, and I let him lead me into the bunkhouse.
