Page 69 of Knot Their Soldier: Part One
“We have a new strategy,” Knox declares, and looks to Shade to explain.
“Halley, this is going to sound callous, but we need to confirm your theory in the context of our work. We think the fastest way to is to simulate a combat situation and trigger your Omega’s instinctual response to being overwhelmed and overstimulated. That way we can make an accurate assessment of your viabilityas a soldier and the best way to overcome the issue. Do you understand?”
I don’t understand, not fully, but I nod anyway. What does he mean by a ‘combat situation’? They’re not going to shoot at me, are they?
“So how we doin’ this?” Blaze asks, clapping his hands together eagerly. “Do we strip naked? What are the parameters?”
“Shut the fuck up,” Viper grunts, elbowing him in the side.
“I was just askin’.” He innocently squeezes my hand and flashes me a grin.
I bite back a smile.
Knox crosses his arms over his chest, the straps of his pack creaking in the sudden quiet. The breeze picks up his unique spicy scent, and unthinking, I sway closer to the squad leader.
“A training simulation in exfiltration and evasion might do the trick.”
Blaze lights up with sheer glee. “Oh yes! Sparkles, you’re gonna love this!”
Shade has his nose buried in his tablet again, tapping in the parameters of the experiment. “My research suggests triggering your prey drive will create a flood of mating pheromones. It’ll put your instincts into a heightened state, further exasperated by physical exertion. If this doesn’t trigger you, nothing will. What do you think, Halley?”
It takes me a moment to unpick the science jargon, and then I blink in shock.
That can’t be right.
They’re going tochaseme?
A shiver rolls down my spine, starting at my mating gland and ending somewhere between my legs. An involuntary image forms in my mind.
Viper hunting me through the forest, his large body growing closer and closer. Tackling me to the ground, my adrenaline throbbing through me as a single hand holds both my wrists above my head, his hips pining mine down as he—
“Uh, yeah.” I clear my throat. “Affirmative. That will do the trick.”
My mouth goes dry and I flick my gaze up to look at Viper. He’s watching me with those deep, soulful eyes, and I have to avert my eyes. I am convinced he has the ability to hear the explicit thoughts running through my head.
Blaze squeezes my fingers, and I realize I’m still clinging to his hand. My palms are sweaty.
Shade lifts his head from the glow of the tablet screen. “It’s going to be fine. I’ll be there to stop anything from escalating out of control and you can tap out anytime. Your safe word will be…”
He looks questioning at our huddled group, looking for suggestions.
Blaze jumps at the opportunity excitedly, jumping up and down. “Ooo, make it something fun. Like, ‘stop it, you’re burning me,’ or ‘what are you doing with that knife?’”
My eyes bug out of my head as I stare at the sadistic look on Blaze’s face, and carefully extract my hand to safety.
For a moment, I forgot the sweet, boyish Alpha holding my hand is a homicidal arsonist with a sadistic streak.
Knox glares at Blaze for the suggestions. “Rein it in, Blaze. We’re not playing murder games right now.”
Murder games?
My eyes bug out.
What the frack are murder games?
Viper notices my stiff posture and briefly meets my eyes. He looks away immediately, but provides another option. “What about ‘purple’?”
Shade nods with a knowing smirk and taps it into his tablet. “Your safe word is ‘purple’.”
