Page 50 of Knot Their Soldier: Part One
Specialist Shade.
Lieutenant Viper.
Sergeant Blaze.
And then there is me: Omega Sparks.
The metal tag with my name etched on it jingles lightly on the collar as I take a step forward. The sound alerts them to my presence and their casual demeanor changes in a heartbeat.
I have no clue what I’m walking into, but it feels like it takes an age to cross the empty field to stop in front of them. Their eyes rove over me without shame, and my skin flushes at the attention. A blush rises high on my cheeks, making my face feel hot.
“Good morning.”
I get no response. Instead, Prime Asshole Knox says, “You’re late.”
I glance down at the military-issued watch on my wrist. It’s 06:01.
I’m one minute late.
I open my mouth to protest, ‘I was out here on time,’ but swallow the words. They watched me walk towards them! How was I to know it would take so long to approach them? Frack, they could have met me halfway.
After yesterday, I know better than to backchat Knox. The last thing I want to do is dig another damn hole.
I swallow past the lump in my throat and nod my head. “Yes, sir.”
“I expect you to be on time tomorrow.” He gives me a cold, hard look, his eyes narrowing to thin slits.
My heart thumps hard in my chest, and the sound is thunderous in my ears. I feel the prickle of sweat on the back of my neck.
“Yes, sir.”
I can’t keep the quiver out of my voice. If I expected an apology for the violation last night, I’d be an idiot. Prime Alphas don’t apologize.
“Today we’re going to test your physical capabilities so we can accurately gauge what you need to improve or learn,” he states. “You’ll be pushed to your limits and expected to keep going until you are dismissed.”
He doesn’t phrase it like a question, and I don’t ask any.
My eyes flick to Viper and when I catch his intense stare, he flinches. I don’t think he meant to be caught looking at me, and his eyes instantly dart back to his Prime Alpha.
“Let’s run her through the course,” he commands.
“Yes, sir,” they chant with serious expressions. I raise an eyebrow at Blaze. The cheeky, jovial Alpha from yesterday is gone. Apparently, he can turn off that part of his personality and become an obedient soldier when needed.
Course?
What course?
Fifteen minutes later, I’m staring at the answer. It’s a rudimentary obstacle course.
There are tires laying in a staggered line. A thick rope is tied to an overhanging branch, the tail trailing to the ground. There’s a balance beam fashioned from a sturdy fallen tree dragged from the forest, and two large crates stacked to make a tall tower.
I’m not unfit. My work in the warehouse keeps me physically strong and I work out with Dazz and Ember twice a week. The course looks achievable, but I know it’s deceptive. Whatever they’ve made to test me, it’s going to kick my Omega behind.
My heart rate is already raised without even attempting the obstacle course as nerves spider through me.
Shade has a stopwatch in his hands and a stylus tapping on a high-tech tablet. The contrast between the primitive surroundings and the presence of technology is jarring.
Growing up, we didn’t get a television until I was twelve, and even then it only received two channels. The disparity between military tech and the public tech is shameful.
