Page 197 of Knot Their Soldier: Part One
“Quiet,”I say with conviction, and like magic, his lips clamp shut. His eyes are wide, and his hand flies to his mouth.
“The Omega Division hasn’t just been my home, it’s been my sanctuary. And those three defective Omegas in there with me…” I inhale, and exhale on a sob. “They’re my family.”
My voice catches and my hands tremble.
I wipe my eyes, trying to compose myself. “I’ve been deluding myself, thinking you could be my Pack. That you’d want me eventhough I’m… not suitable to take a mate, let alone four. It was selfish, and I’m sorry.”
I sigh, and a weight lifts off my chest. I hadn’t realized I’d been carrying around the guilt of keeping my secret from them. At first, I suspected that they knew. That they’d read my files and medical records and knew what was wrong with me. As time passed, it became clear General Stone had kept them in the dark. They really were clueless when it came to The Omega Division too. It made me wonder how much of a secret our existence was.
They remain silent, with only the sound of their heavy breathing breaking the silence.
I adjust my backpack and, with one last Omega Command, I sever our ties.
“Don’t follow me.”
With a deep breath, I turn and begin my descent down the mountain, the wind whistling in my ears.
Each step feels like agony, and the press of their gaze like hot pokers on my back until I turn a corner, and then they’re gone.
And so is my heart.
A tear trickles down my cheek, and I let it fall to my chin, my breath coming in shallow rasps. I pick up speed, the urgency to save my friends pushing me forward, the knowledge that the squad will never be my pack now, makes my stomach clench in agony.
I need to get my emotions under control, and focus on one thing: Finding Dazz, Ember, and Flicker, and getting us all somewhere safe while the country implodes.
If I have any chance of making it to them alive, I have to focus. I have to remember everything I’ve learned about being a soldier, but most of all…
I have to forget Scorch Squad.
To be continued.
Epilogue
General Stone
I always knew this day would come. It’s loomed on the horizon for years. Stopping it was impossible, so I did everything in my power to delay the inevitable.
And now, all of the pieces have fallen into place and there are no more moves to make.
It’s time.
Fathim is about to fracture into a thousand pieces.
I’m not blameless in this mess. I became as fat with complacency as my fellow leaders. In my youth, I petitioned for an Omega and kept her as my own. She didn’t choose; someone Commanded her to obey.
Despite the ugliness of our beginning, she loved me, and I loved her.
The love of my Dorothea opened my eyes. She shifted my perspective of the world and made me reconsider the treatment of Omegas. After all, she was the light of my life, the sweetestcreature ever to grace my presence. How could I condone the mistreatment of other Omegas who were just as loving and kind?
I couldn’t.
I’m a fair man, but somewhere along the way, I’d lost my moral compass. I’d allowed corruption and greed to twist my intentions. The only thing I could do was make it right with the time I had left.
It was Dorothea’s idea to encourage a politician in the capital to establish The Omega Division as a public relations stunt in his political campaign. A safe place for Omegas to escape the harsh realities of their designation.
I enlisted the help of discreet government officials who directed Omegas towards the sanctuary when they presented. We spent years passing legislation, greasing the right palms, to ensure that once an Omega was enlisted in the military, they couldn’t be forcibly removed.
Except, the unmated Omegas were too tightly controlled and their hope for an Alpha mate was too great. Most were identified at birth due to their unique physical features and closely monitored until they presented.
