Chapter 51
Chapter Fifty-One
Knox
Shards of bark explode from the tree I’m hiding behind.
Bullets whiz past, searching for an enemy they can’t see. A enraged roar rattles from up the mountain.
Viper is loose and was told his Omega is in danger. The guy has some pent up anger and pressure to expel, and this ragtag crew is about to be his stress-relief.
Blaze hasn’t seen action in weeks, and has been getting twitchy. I almost feel sorry for the intruders.
“Give us the Omega and we’ll let you live,” one of the Alphas shouts. I got a good look at them before I let them know I was there.
They move like soldiers. I don’t know what they’re doing so far from the frontlines, or where their commander is, but they’re here and they’re trained to kill.
After I couldn’t make contact with General Stone for an exfiltration, I snapped into Prime Alpha headspace. I couldn’t let myself become overwhelmed by the enticing Omega in heat calling my name. I had a job to do. So I took to the perimeter to get some fresh air… except it wasn’t fresh.
The wind is blowing down the mountain, carrying Halley’s scent with it. It was only a matter of time before it brought unwanted visitors.
So I sat, watched, and waited.
The early morning air is crisp and cold, and I hear the faint sound of a river babbling in the distance. Viper appears at my side, his eyes wild and hungry for battle.
A good Prime Alpha would command him to retreat and cover us with his sniper rifle from a distance.
It’s not worth risking his Blood Lust. Except, he’s not just my subordinate.
He’s my brother. My friend. I know that desperate, thirsty look in his eyes because if I looked in a mirror, it would stare back at me.
He needs this.
We all need this.
So I nod at him, and squeeze his shoulder. We’ll do this together, like old times.
When Blaze arrives, swift and silent, I only know because I know what to look for. I feel his presence slinking through the undergrowth from behind the advancing group.
In a quick and quiet flash, ten becomes nine.
None the wiser, I hear their whispered remarks. “What’s an Omega doing out here?”
“I don’t give a shit. I think I hit the Alpha they had guarding her, so she’s probably unprotected. I’m going to fuck her raw and split that sweet Omega cunt open on my knot.”
My grip on Viper’s shoulder tightens. The fuckers just guaranteed a painful death. The way they’re speaking about Halley cannot go unpunished. They might be troops, but they’re storming a black site without orders from command. As far as I’m concerned, they’re acting as guerrilla forces.
“Not if I get there first.”
“We can all take turns. She’ll be gagging for more cocks.”
Viper bares his teeth in a silent snarl.
There’s a moment of infighting, and Blaze uses the distraction to strike. He lets the Alpha grunt in alarm before making him disappear.
Eight remain.
“What the fuck was that?”
They spin to investigate the sound, and when they turn their backs, Viper and I slip from the shadows.
With Blaze at their backs, we’ve surrounded them in an effective pincher formation. I’ll give them one chance to submit and leave. Only because they’re our troops and probably out of their minds with lust. Also, the paperwork will be such a bitch to fill out.
“Going somewhere, fellas?” I ask with my arms crossed with a raised brow.
Blaze emerges from the undergrowth with a wicked grin.
I frown. Whenever he gets that look, he’s done something fucking weird.
Brilliant, but weird.
Blaze pulls on a length of rope he’s slung over an overhead branch, and two bodies are hoisted up by their bound wrists behind him. They sway in the air, like two wraiths sent as warning messengers.
The other Alphas scream in horror, not knowing their comrades are only unconscious, not dead. It also confirms they’re not experienced soldiers, probably barely set foot on a battlefield.
I roll my eyes at Blaze’s theatrics, but I can’t deny it’s effective. The band of inexperienced Alphas look like they’re about to shit their pants.
“Oh fuck, oh fuck,” an Alpha closest to us chants, the vise-grip of rut losing out to abject fear.
“Don’t kill us!”
“We’re sorry, the Omega just smelled so good.”
I nod, and infuse an Alpha Command into my words. “You will leave this forest and not return. Tell no one of our presence here. Do I make myself clear?”
Even if they don’t tell a soul, the site is compromised, and we’ll be leaving ASAP.
Sounds of affirmation rumble through the group, voices shaking with terror.
I level them with a glare, inspecting each of them for any dissent.
My gaze freezes on an Alpha off to the side. He’s standing away from the others, and he’s foaming at the mouth. His eyes whirl in their sockets, and red veins bulge at the sides.
Ah, fuck.
Blood Lust.
The situation just went from a simple deescalation to ‘stay the fuck alive.’
Blaze straightens beside me as he notices the stray Alpha.
“Ah, rut-damned fuck,” he sighs, raising his radio. “Shade, we have a code red down here. We’re going to need long-distance support.”
“Roger. Getting into position. Over.”
I look at the other seven Alphas and they’re just as alarmed by their buddy’s current state as I am.
The Alpha closest to him says, “Frank? What are y—”
Whatever Frank has been up to, he’s seen enough blood and violence to drown himself in Blood Lust. This merry band of fuckers might not be as innocent as they seem.
A frothy snarl rips from Frank, and he dives towards his friend. He uses his shoulder as a battering ram and drives the Alpha into the ground. His arms work fast, hands squeezing and his teeth sinking into the Alpha’s neck. Wet gurgling sounds are drowned out by the Alpha’s shrieks.
Shit.
So much for no paperwork.
Shouts of alarm echo around the forest as the six remaining Alphas scatter to get away.
Claps of gunshots resound from a pistol as one of the intruders try to shoot the feral Alpha.
They miss, dirt kicking up and drawing attention to the shooter.
The last one in the chamber hits the feral Alpha in his shoulder, but he barely flinches.
Bullets don’t stop an Alpha in Blood Lust unless you put one between their eyes.
The pistol clicks – the magazine is empty.
A wet thump, spray of blood, and the Alpha with the gun is dead. In a flash, the feral Alpha darts off after one of his fleeing comrades. The scream is piercing, but the following silence is worse.
Blaze rolls his shoulders beside me and licks his lips. “Finally, some proper action. If I can’t fuck our Omega, I’ll have to fuck up this dude.”
I exhale in amusement at the psycho fucker. I don’t disagree with his statement. I’m strung out and full of anger with nowhere to go. Time to make someone bleed.
“If he gets a whiff of Halley, he’ll try to take her,” says Viper. “We can’t let that happen.”
Blaze gives me a mischievous smile. “Then let’s keep him entertained.”
A wet snarl comes from behind a cluster of boulders as a hulking figure emerges, teeth stained crimson.
It’s not Frank anymore, but a monster. He’s entirely consumed by Blood Lust, driven mad by a disease triggered by violence that eats away at the host’s brain until they’re only capable of the most primal of urges – killing.
“This is your last warning. Leave or die,” I growl, my voice deep with the power of a Prime Alpha.
The Blood Lust Alpha growls in response. Yeah, didn’t think that would work.
Blood and viscera soak his torn shirt, and old scars mar his chest. He’s taken bullets and knives before. Definitely an experienced soldier. This complicates things. It isn’t going to be easy if he’s trained like us, but I’m hungry for the fight.
I raise my sidearm pistol and shoot, aiming for his head, and he dodges the bullets with ease.
Hand-to-hand combat it is then.
I unsheathe my knife from my utility belt, the steel glinting in the growing sunlight, and grip the handle tightly.
“Let’s fucking dance, big boy,” Blaze mocks from beside me, dropping into a defensive position.