Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Halley
With a grunt, I lift my bulky pack onto my shoulders, feeling the weight pressing down, and fasten the belt band snugly around my waist to keep it in place.
I reach up to fix my bun, gently tucking the rebellious piece of hair back into place, and grunt in frustration as it instantly falls back into my eyes. I can’t see myself in a mirror, but I know my appearance reflects how I feel: like warmed shit.
At least the uniform looks and feels good. It hugs my curves just right, not pinching in my wider parts or gaping when my waist cinches in.
Stumbling out into the open camp, I breathe in the fresh mountain air – crisp woody notes. I hadn’t realized how stale the air in the bunkhouse was. The scent of Alphas was thick and strong.
I realize my ill-fated masturbation session was probably prompted by sleeping in what is, effectively, an Alpha den. Their pheromones are messing with my mind and body.
I’m not oblivious to the effect my scent is having on the Alphas either. My sweat has nullified the scent-canceling soap and suppressants. Besides, they didn’t give me time to shower this morning, so the strength of my pervasive funk is their fault.
I run a finger underneath the leather bite collar, adjusting it so it doesn’t pinch from the pressure of the backpack. I’m not hating the collar anymore. Not because I’m worried they’ll bite me without warning, but because I might ask them to.
In the center of the open space, the four of them stand, their voices mingling together in easy conversation.
I watch silently as Knox puts Blaze in a headlock and the two play wrestle. It takes years off Knox’s harsh features. The morning light filtering through the trees softens the sharp planes of his cheekbones. It makes me wonder how the effects of war have aged him.
Viper is standing with Shade. His full mouth, which is usually pulled down in a permanent sad expression, is hitched at the sides. A faint, amused smile on his bearded face as he watches his two brothers-in-arms mess around.
Shade has his arms crossed, and his head tipped up, soaking up the rays of the sun like Knox had done earlier.
On their own, they’re handsome.
Together, they’re devastating.
Seeing them at ease humanizes them, and I release a sigh through a soft smile.
Four sets of eyes snap towards me.
Oh. Whoops.
They straighten immediately. Knox’s carefree demeanor disappears, replaced by the overpowering presence of Prime Alpha Knox. Drill instructor extraordinaire, and witness to my latest indiscretion.
He shoves Blaze away from him so hard the Alpha stumbles briefly before gaining his balance and flipping a rude gesture at his commanding officer.
“Omega Sparks, report for duty,” he barks. It’s not an Alpha Command, but my body reacts the same, feet darting across the grass and rocks.
I clench my teeth together to keep from berating him for his harsh tone, but I’m also mortified that my Omega has decided she likes when Knox orders us around. Stupid, stupid hindbrain instincts begging me to submit to his authority.
I’m not ready to evaluate my increasing attraction to the flaming dickwad. My plan is to make it through whatever torturous training they have in store for me today.
I take a deep breath.
“Good morning,” I say in a cheerful voice, at odds with my emotions and the raspiness of my raw throat.
“Good morning, Omega,” Shade purrs, his warm brown eyes tracing over my body. “Nice to see you in our squad uniform.”
I fidget under their scrutiny, the press of their gaze feeling heavy against the curve of my breast where the crest is stitched. They linger longer than is acceptable, taking the excuse of admiring the new uniform to stare at my chest.
It’d be nice to be admired so blatantly by the team, if it didn’t ratchet up my already rampaging libido. The place deep in my belly pulses.
“Uh, yeah. Thanks for making this uniform for me, it’s really thoughtful.”
Shade grins like he has a juicy secret and can’t wait to blurt it out. “Baby girl, it wasn’t me. Our fearless leader stayed up all night adjusting his spare kit.”
My eyebrows skyrocket and my mouth pops open with a surprised, “Oh.”
I assumed it was Shade because he seems the most thoughtful of the squad. The last person I expected was Prime Alpha Knox. Imagining him with a needle and thread, amending his own clothes to my exact measurements, makes me soften towards him.
Feeling strangely shy, I look through my eyelashes and say softly, “Thank you, Prime Alpha.”
There is a brief moment where he looks like he wants to say something kind back, when his mouth settles into his usual stern slash. He shrugs and looks away from me. “You needed clothes. Your old ones stink.”
And there go the warm, happy feelings.
Cockwomble.
“Besides, you’re going to need correct gear for today’s training.”
I don’t know what they’ve got planned, but I’m guessing it’s not going to be fun.
I can hear the smugness in his voice. Like he knows something I don’t. It’s unnerving, and I look over at Viper instead.
The big guy averts his gaze and fusses with the full pack at his feet, effectively ignoring me.
I puff my cheeks out and exhale awkwardly.
The other two watch me closely, their eyes assessing my every movement. One with careful measurement, the other with a burning heat.
“Omega Sparks, your performance yesterday was… satisfactory,” Knox says, his nose wrinkling slightly and his voice strict. “But losing consciousness isn’t acceptable.”
I want to tell him it wasn’t a choice, but I’m not insane. I know what backchatting gets me: a fracking hole to dig. Instead, I nod and tilt my chin up in acknowledgement.
He scowls at me like I’m a blister on his foot, and I bite my chapped bottom lip against the tense silence.
Shade interjects, breaking the tension. “The data we collected yesterday was useful. We know what your fitness baseline is, so now we can to work on improving it.”
“Thing is, Sparkles,” Blaze steps forward.
He’s using a small sharp knife to clean underneath his nails, and I stare at the action with fascination.
He has perfect control of the blade, like it’s an extension of himself.
“There ain’t no point in training you up if you’re gonna conk out each time.
It’s a technicality, but soldiers have to be lucid to fight. ”
Blaze shrugs, and I can’t help my eyes darting over to Viper. He wasn’t lucid the first time we met. He doesn’t meet my eyes.
Does that mean they’re sending me home? Is that why Knox told me to pack my things? Panic wells within me, fast and hard. I gulp down the cool air, spluttering as it catches in my throat.
“N-no. Wait. I can do better.”
Knox’s eyebrows furrow in disapproval.
“Omega Sparks—” he begins to reprimand, but I’m already spiraling.
I barely made it a couple of days. I’ve completely failed my Omega family. My sweet Flicker, strong Ember, and Dazz. My wonderful, bright, brilliant Dazz.
“—going to figure out what the trigger is today.”
My thoughts screech to a halt. “What?”
Knox sighs in exasperation and repeats in a condescending tone, “Before we can move onto the rest of your training, we need to ascertain whether this is a solvable issue. We’re going to figure out what the triggers are for your… episodes.”
I blink.
It’s so rational.
They want to problem-solve the issue. They’re not kicking me out at the first roadblock. A swell of affection rises in my chest, and it’s so sudden I can’t stop it.
A bright smile blooms on my cheeks and a small giggle slips past my lips.
“Sparkles. Did you just giggle?” Blaze chuckles.
“I, uh.” I clear my throat, looking down at my shuffling boots. “I appreciate the effort.”
Knox bends over to tighten the straps and zippers on his pack, but I swear I catch the smallest crease of amusement at the corner of his mouth.
Shade catches my eye and gives me a nonchalant shrug. “We’re not ones to run from a problem.”
He may not think it’s a big deal, but it is to me. Everyone I’ve ever relied on has abandoned me when I became a problem.
Viper swings his pack onto his wide back. It looks small on his enormous frame. The straps are extended to their limits to fit. It makes my pulse flutter, and a sneaky thought blows through my mind.
I wonder where else he’s big.
Except I don’t need to wonder. I’ve felt it between my thighs, grinding against my folds and twitching as he came against me.
My arousal blooms from me in a wave, thick and sweet. It crackles through the air, alive and hungry.
Four heads whip towards me, features sharpened in predatory stares.
A chorus of rumbling growls build. My scent thickens.
Shade breaks out of the trance, shaking his head like a dog. Lurching into action, he quickly ushers me towards a path downhill. It’s the road we took to get here.
“You can’t do that,” he says once we’re a few paces away from the others.
“What?” I fuss with the shoulder straps of my pack, struggling to get a hold of my raging hormones.
“They’re already on edge.” His voice is soft, quiet, like he can hide our conversation from his team. We both know the other three can hear a sparrow fart on the other side of the mountain if they focused.
I nod, staring at my boots so I don’t trip on a rock. My pack is heavy and if I fall, I’m afraid I’ll tumble all the way down the mountainside.
Shade matches my pace, his steps loping and slow while mine scramble over the uneven ground.
Our silence is paired with the rhythmic sound of my new trousers. The fabric is stiff, and as my thick thighs rub together it makes a swishing sound.
I bite the inside of my left cheek, feeling the sharp sting as I resist the urge to argue that the burden shouldn’t be solely placed on me. Their scent drives me crazy too, and I’m also on edge.
I haven’t known Shade for long, but he doesn’t seem like an unreasonable person. In fact, he seems almost burdened with reason. So why would he blame me for something that’s out of my control?
I trip over a small rock when I realize what he’s actually referring to. He’s not talking about perfuming in the field moments ago.
I lick my lips and look at him through my peripheral vision, unwilling to make eye contact. “Did you… I mean, did Knox tell you what he saw this morning?”
He clears his throat and runs the side of his thumb over his lower lip. I notice he does that a lot. It’s a nervous tell, and useful for reading the Specialist in the future.
“He mentioned it.”
Oh frack, no!
I swallow and keep my legs moving.
I’m bright red all over, I know it. The humiliation burrows deep into me, and I want to curl up into a ball to die from embarrassment.
I take a moment to calm myself before responding.
“It was a lapse in judgment and it won’t happen again,” I mumble as I cringe and nod.
Shade’s gaze lingers on the side of my face, his eyes focused as if I’m a problem he can solve. I want to snort and reply, ‘Good luck, buddy. I’ve been trying to sort my shit out for years,’ but stay silent.
“Look, it can’t happen again. Knox is strong-minded, but even he has his limits.”
I can’t imagine the strict Alpha losing his tight grip on his control. Other than in rage. The dude has some serious anger issues.
I do understand that masturbating undermines Knox’s carefully planned mitigating factors – the soap, collar, and suppressants. They’re good deterrents, but nothing can mask the scent of fresh slick. Alphas are hunters and masturbating is like marinating myself for them to devour.
I curl my fingers into my palm. The nails dig in and I imagine the little indents they’re making in my skin. It grounds me.
I’m not upset that the squad is struggling with their inner urges. They’ve already far surpassed every expectation I previously held about unmated Alphas. Their self-control is impressive.
No, I’m upset with myself.
If there is a weak link on this horny train to damnation, it’s me.