Chapter Twenty
Halley
I don’t get a wink of sleep.
When the soft sounds of night change to the bright chirps of early morning, I stiffly untangle from my nest. It feels tainted. Like it’s somehow shameful.
A renewed dislike of Prime Asshole has settled inside me, deep in my very sense of self. It’s been a long time since I felt ashamed of my designation.
I’ve spent years working through my self-loathing created by growing up as my family’s dirty Omega secret, only to have it dredged out by Prime Asshole Knox in one day.
I’m more determined than ever to prove him wrong. I may be an Omega, and I may need a nest, but I’m not weak.
There is a bowl of unpalatable oatmeal resting on a side table, and I hesitate before deciding to eat it. I didn’t like being called a thief last night, and I don’t want to be accused of taking what isn’t mine again. But why else would it be here if not for me?
My growling stomach decides for me, and I hastily consume the tasteless food.
I dress in my filthy Omega Division uniform, my nose wrinkling at the still damp sweat stains under my pits and the gritty feeling of dirt in the seams. I take a brief moment to wonder where the other squad members slept last night, because they certainly didn’t sleep in the bunkhouse with me.
Why didn’t they put me in a separate tent if they didn’t want an Omega in their space?
I don’t understand how these males are acting around me, and the only consolation I can find is that I don’t think they understand their own actions either.
At the threshold of the tent, I steel myself for the coming day with a deep inhale. I exhale with a whoosh and step through the tent flap.
At the heart of the compact base lies a spacious open area, adorned with tufts of sturdy grass emerging from the gravel and rocks, and that’s where they are. All four squad members, chatting casually, like it’s just another morning.
It’s the first time I’ve seen them all together, and in the early morning mist, they look utterly formidable. A wall of muscle and confidence. The perfect soldiers.
I stop to stare for a moment, my eyes raking over their bodies, taking in every inch of them. From their many scars to the heavy boots on their feet. Broad shoulders, lean muscles and toned limbs.
Whatever deity exists needs to grant me strength not to drip slick.
They wear a matching outfit; dark green trousers tucked into black leather boots and a tight green shirt with their callsign name and rank emblazoned on the chest.
Prime Alpha Knox.
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.
“Prepare yourself, Omega Sparks,” Prime Alpha Knox says.
I gulp, nodding my head once in a jerky fashion.
“Go.”
I take off towards the tires and hop my way through them. My breasts bounce uncomfortably. The bra I arrived in popped a wire digging yesterday and I had to resort to wearing the regulation sports bra provided.
Just another thing not designed for an Omega. Without missing a beat, I hold both breasts with my hands, using them for support as I bound over the tires.
I’m already breathing heavily by the time I reach the other side, but don’t slow down. With my short legs and low center of gravity, tackling the balance beam is easy. I’m over and on the other side in a flash. Years of balancing on warehouse shelves is paying off dividends.
I’m feeling good about myself as I come up to the two stacked wooden crates.
Viper is standing next to them, his large arms crossed over his chest, and my belly flips at the sight of his imposing stature.
I glance nervously at him from under my eyelashes.
He must interpret my glances as confusion, because he points at the boxes and grunts, “Jump.”
Jump?
I stare up at the looming box tower.
I’m sure for someone of Alpha height, it’d be simple to scale, but for me, it’s higher than I can reach. I look back at him with an incredulous expression, and he averts his gaze and shrugs. The message is clear, ‘figure it out, pipsqueak.’
“I… It’s too high,” I pant, reaching up to try to grab the top lip. I have to jump before my fingertips even graze the edge. What do they expect me to do here? I can’t magically grow.
I look over at Shade, his eyes already fixed on me. I raise an eyebrow at him in exasperation and he raises one back. No help whatsoever. I guess that’s what I get for thinking one of them is on my side.
From above, a loud thump rings out and I spin back to see Blaze perched on top of the tower, squatting on the edge with an amused expression. More evidence that he is a fracking cat disguised as an Alpha. I didn’t even see him move, let alone get on top of the tower.
“Come on, Sparkles. You were doing so well, this is the easiest one,” he says down at me in an unexpected tone. It’s softer, and a tingle of pleasure starts at my head and ends on my toes.
I like his praise. A lot.
I hear Prime Asshole’s feet shuffling in the gravel, and I grit my teeth. I won’t give him the satisfaction of giving up.
My first try is useless, my arms too weak to pull myself up, but I learn.
The second time I get more of a run up and practically throw myself at the wall with a resonate thud, resulting with me sprawled in the dirt at the base.
Blaze releases an amused laugh, and I poke my tongue out at him, which only makes him cackle louder.
I dust myself off.
On my third try, I manage to get a good grip, and I swing my thigh up high enough to hook a knee over the edge, and then I use my strong, thick thighs to hold on while I scramble up.
I’m gasping for air as I reach the top, sweat pouring out of me, and I shake from exertion.
Blaze’s hands are there, bracing me as I kneel on top of the tower in case I go tumbling off the side.
His icy eyes watch me with an encouraging twinkle.
Another surprise from Blaze. I thought for sure he’d enjoy my failure with the others, but he’s been my biggest encouragement.
“Interference,” Shade calls out, tapping at the tablet like he’s recording the facts of the transgression down.
“Blaze, get the fuck down. No helping the Omega,” Prime Asshole calls. The prick isn’t even using my name anymore, just my designation.
Blaze shoots me a wink before jumping elegantly off the box, and I’m suddenly breathless for an entirely different reason. He really is incredibly handsome, and the way he moves makes me think of how he’d move in bed.
I watch him saunter to stand beside Viper, who is already waiting at the next obstacle, and shake myself out of my hormone stupor. It’s too late. My panties are damp and my core is aching despite my physical exertion.
I take my time to carefully lower myself down the tower. The last thing I want is to hurt myself. It’s an arduous task that requires upper body strength, and I’m relieved when I feel solid ground beneath my feet again.
“You’re moving too slow,” Prime Asshole states, and I’m back to running. Well, more like a steady jog. I’m a bit more hesitant in my steps as I approach the hanging rope. My shoulders ache, and my arms shake.
It reminds me of the rope swing that hung over the small lake on my family property.
I’d been terrified to swing out over the lake for years until my cousin challenged me.
My stubborn streak flared, and I’d sailed out over the lake with a triumphant shout.
We’d spent the afternoon chasing each other, daring the other to do it again.
It’s one of the few positive memories I have of my cousin.
Not long after, I hit puberty and became the family pariah.
“What are you stopping for? Get moving,” Knox clips.
I’m tempted to tell him to frack himself.
Instead, I swallow hard and force myself to reach out for the rope.
The coarse texture bites into my palms as I tentatively tighten my grip, feeling its rough, unforgiving surface against my skin.
A knot of uncertainty twists in my stomach.
There is nothing beneath the rope to catch me if I fall.
I’ve never climbed a rope before, and the task ahead seems daunting. With my heart pounding and adrenaline coursing through my veins, I summoned my courage and hoist myself upwards. My arms immediately scream in protest, and I know a whimper slips out in the strain.
A deep voice rumbles from beside me as Viper says, “Use your feet.”
I frown but fumble with the rope dangling around my legs, flailing wildly and failing to hook the rope between my feet.
A gentle hand stills my thrashing and slips the rope between my boots, allowing me to gain traction and hold my position on the rope.
“Viper, no interference, for rut-damn sake,” Shade shouts, but it’s lacking bite and I think I can hear a smile.
I look back at Viper and let a tiny smile slip through. He helped me. He touched me. My body is far too preoccupied to react, but I know I like it. A lot.
Using my legs makes climbing the rope much easier. I use the strength in my legs to propel myself higher. Each upward pull still feels like a battle. The ground below is impossibly distant, but with each agonizing inch I climb, a sense of accomplishment settles behind my breastbone.
With one final grunt of exertion, I reach the top and secure myself in place by hooking my feet around the rope, and take a shuddering gasp of air.
I did it! I completed the obstacle course.
My body is pumping with adrenaline and the excitement, and I let out a brief burst of laughter.
“I don’t know what you think you’re celebrating, Omega,” Prime Asshole shouts, and it’s like a cold splash of water. I feel his icy gaze on my sweaty back. “You’re not done yet.”
I keep underestimating how difficult getting down from high places is. I get halfway down the rope when my feet slip and my weak arms can’t slow my rapid descent. The ground rushes up to meet me and I squeeze my eyes shut to brace for impact.
I’m swung sideways instead.
Heat and vibrating strength cradle me against a familiar, muscled chest.
Viper.
My belly flutters and my skin tingles where we touch.
“Good catch,” Shade remarks, and the lieutenant releases me immediately. He moves away like touching me is painful.
I stare after him, but he ignores me, already striding away, shaking his head.
The Prime Alpha snarls, “Keep moving, Omega.”
I’ve finished the obstacle course. What more does he want from me?