Chapter Twenty-Eight
Halley
Knox calls us back to attention, “Alright troops, let’s huddle up.”
He looks down at me and I feel small. “How copy, Omega Sparks?”
I frown.
“It means, how are you?” Blaze whispers, interpreting the military speak.
“Um, I’m fine,” I reply, squirming. I told the truth to Blaze, but Prime Asshole doesn’t get to know my inner-most thoughts. He hasn’t earned the right.
“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 viability as 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 to chase me?
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’.”
I’m feeling self-conscious about the information he’s recording in my electronic file.
Did he make an entry about my personal session this morning?
‘Recruit was caught vigorously wanking under the blankets by her commanding officer.’
I cringe.
What else has he noticed?
Does he record my reactions to the squad?
Is there a log for each blush from Blaze’s flirting, or every time my scent thickens in response to Viper’s silent strength?
Knox takes off his pack, laying it next to mine. The others follow suit.
The rifles strapped to them remain, and I swallow.
“What do you need your guns for?” I want it to sound like a casual question, but it still comes out as a squeak.
Knox exhales in cruel amusement. “All the best to hunt you down, Omega Sparks.”
Viper punches him in the shoulder, and he winces. Viper doesn’t pull his punches, and if he didn’t have such tough skin, the Prime Alpha would have a deep purple bruise.
“We’re always armed outside the camp perimeter, “ Shade explains patiently.
I frown. From what I can tell, we’re still inside Fathim. We’re safe here. There isn’t anything to shoot because the enemies are beyond the border. That’s where the guns are needed, right?
“Copy,” I murmur in affirmation, but remain confused.
Knox rolls his shoulders and stretches his neck side to side. “Let’s run this as a standard target exfiltration session. Viper, you’re with me. Blaze and Shade, you’re on defense. Omega Sparks, you’re the target.”
Target? I don’t like the sound of that.
I stare at him with wide eyes, certain I look like a deer in the headlights. Knox and Viper are going to hunt me?
Blaze pops out his bottom lip and whines in a jovial tone. “Damn, was lookin’ forward to chasing an Omega around the mountain.”
I smile at him, but it looks more like a grimace.
Blaze knocks his shoulder against me, or at least he tries, but he’s so much taller than me and he hip checks me instead.
“S’all right, we’ll have some fun. It’s been awhile since I’ve beaten the shit out of ol’ Knoxy pants here.
He’s been a right jackass lately, so I think he’s due for a thrashin’. ”
Something creeps through me, warm and aching. I want to believe it’s just nerves, but it feels an awful like anticipation.
I lick my lips. “What do I have to do?”
Knox shoots me his trademark smirk. “It’s simple. Make it back to camp, and you win. If we capture you, you lose. Blaze and Shade will play defense, but it’ll be up to you to survive.”
I can tell by the tone of his voice he doesn’t expect me to make it back to camp.
“But…” I need more information. I don’t have a game plan.
“Remember, this is an experiment to learn more about the symptoms you’ve been displaying,” Shade adds, but I’m not thinking about my O-space problem anymore.
The scent of testosterone filters through the air, and it makes my insides clench.
Blaze raises his hand, like a kid in the schoolroom. His mouth quirks like he’s biting the inside of his cheek to hide a grin. Knox looks like he’s fighting to not roll his eyes, but points at him anyway.
“What do we do when she goes all…” he trails off, crosses his eyes and flutters his hands in front of his face. I think that’s supposed to be me when I go into O-space. It’s not flattering.
“Once it starts, we’ll try a few techniques to see what is effective in halting the process,” Shade answers.
He makes it sound so clinical and simple. Like it’s not going to be a full onslaught on my body. I should stop this. Request a different scenario, but I can’t deny my body is humming in anticipation.
Viper and Knox are going to hunt me down.
Blaze and Shade are going to defend me.
Something primal and pleased rattles in my chest, a chirrup of delight itching to break free. I can’t control it. My Omega wants to be chased. Wants to be claimed by powerful Alphas, and I can’t deny that instinct. It’s an experiment, I remind myself, just a training exercise. A means to an end.
My Omega doesn’t care.
Shade lays the tablet down and gives me his full attention, his expression soft and encouraging.
“Halley, you’ll get a thirty minute head start from your hunters. And Blaze and I will leave in fifteen.”
I flit my eyes between him and Blaze. “Aren’t you coming with me?”
Blaze paces, energetically swinging his arms to limber up. There’s a sharpness to his gaze as he slips from joking comrade to lethal trained killer.
They said this wasn’t ‘murder games,’ but does someone need to repeat the instructions to Blaze?
Shade answers. “No, baby girl. You’ll make your own way back and we’ll do our best to hinder these two so it’s more evenly matched. You might see us, but you’re on your own.”
I swallow back a whimper.
I’m so far out of my depth, it’s ridiculous. They haven’t trained me long enough to be throwing me into the deep end like this. Only a few days earlier, I was sitting on the rooftop, sipping a fruity drink through a twirly straw, ogling Alphas from a distance.
“I don’t know which way to go,” I squeak, wringing my hands together.
Shade holds my shoulders and turns me to face uphill. “Follow the ridge line. The camp is at the peak.”
Before I can ask more questions or voice my protest, Knox pulls back his sleeve and looks at his military-issued watch.
“Omega Sparks, this training session begins in five, four—” I blink in shock and comprehend that I’m expected to start the game right this instant.
Knox keeps counting down.
I lean down to collect some items, but Viper shakes his head. “Leave your things.”
I back away, wide eyed and my pulse hammering.
“Three, two—”
“We’ll see you on the other side, hopefully with the answers we’re looking for,” Shade says with a comforting smile. Easy for him to look so casual. He’s not about to be hunted across a mountain by a team of super soldiers. There has to be a better way to diagnose the issue.
“One, go.”
I run.
I tear up the steep, rocky terrain, feeling the adrenaline coursing through my veins. It’s not pretty or coordinated. It must look ridiculous to the expert soldiers watching me disappear into the forest.
Thirty minutes is not a long time. Why didn’t I ask for more?
I can feel my breath becoming labored, and the staccato beat of my heart is making my head swim. I’m exhausted from yesterday, and hiking all day.
Yet, a surge of adrenaline pushes my body through the aches and pains, a desperation settling beneath my skin, urging me onwards.
I don’t want them catching me.
I want to hold on to my dignity a little while longer. I need to show them I’m capable.
That I’m a fighter.
Also, because I’m scared witless.
Although I know they won’t harm me, my instincts are on high alert and a drip of cold sweat slithers down my spine.
I’m swept along by the thrill of the chase. Just like Shade predicted. Adrenaline courses through me as I run faster and faster.
My suppressed primal side emerges.
Run!
Faster, faster!
You must escape!
I feel it in my bones. As if this is a do-or-die scenario.
I refuse to fail, so I listen to my instinctual Omega impulses.
The squad will expect me to run directly towards camp.
Yet, attempting to outrun them won’t work.
It’ll be too easy for them to catch up, even with my head start.
I need to work smarter, not harder. I can’t beat them in speed or strength, but if I’m clever and if they underestimate me, I might be able to outmaneuver them.
I split from the ridge line, darting to the side, and I follow the sound and scent of water.
As I push through the thick undergrowth, my shirt snags on a branch, scratching my soft belly. I lose my balance and stumble ungracefully into the shallow stream.
Straightening, I smooth down my sweat-soaked shirt and cringe as I look back at the disturbed soil from my boots. It won’t even be a chore for them to follow my trail. It looks like an elephant charged through the undergrowth.
I frown. How far do I want to take this?
I picture Knox’s face as he arrives back at camp, only to find me sitting prettily on the chair outside the bunkhouse.
He’ll be fuming.
And impressed.
And turned on— Nope. Burn that thought.
I glance at my watch. Seven minutes have passed. If I strain my ears, I can still hear them, their deep voices rolling through me like a tease. So casual and jovial, like this is going to be a walk in the park for them.
Determined, I nod to myself.
If Scorch Squad wants to play, then I’m gonna give them one hell of a match.
I’m going to teach them to never underestimate an Omega.