Chapter Fifty-Seven #2
I shake my head, trying to clear my mind of those thoughts.
He doesn’t want that. I mean, sure, he said exactly the opposite yesterday.
More like he shouted it, but he was trying to make a point in the wake of my disobedience.
He’s made it very clear from the beginning how much of a burden my designation is.
I have to keep it in my pants for everyone’s sanity.
An image flashes in my mind – his come spilling over his fist as he comes with my name on his lips. I curse Blaze and his stupid stealth training for providing me with that memory.
I jump to my feet and wipe my sweaty palms against my trousers. The crotch is still wet from my slick, and I know I must still smell like Omega in heat. It’s probably why he’s being so nice to me. It’s his Alpha instincts.
“So, what’s the plan?” I ask, hoping to steer the conversation away from my inappropriate thoughts.
Knox looks at me, his eyes holding a hint of knowing. He definitely can smell the spike in my scent. I can’t hide a single thing from these Alphas.
“Well, we need to lay low for awhile. Give Shade some time to heal up.” His eyes flick to the Beta, who has drifted off to sleep slumped against the tree trunk, jerky still in his hands.
It’s adorable.
Poor guy has had a rough day too. He had to tend to an Omega in sexual distress, was then forced to betray his team by that Omega, was beaten up by a jealous Alpha for helping, stayed awake all night to protect me from his team, fended off a deranged Alpha in Blood Lust, and then escape the relative comfort of camp to hike into the middle of a forest.
Daddy deserves to rest.
I’ll do my best to wake him every hour or so in case he has a concussion.
Thinking about the sequence of events and how short it’s been since Blaze’s fist slammed into Shade’s face, I frown as I study the yellowing bruise around his eye. The bruise shouldn’t be in that phase of healing yet. It’s odd.
Knox meets my eyes and I know he also sees how abnormally fast Shade is healing. He doesn’t say anything though, and I’m grateful. I think we all need a moment to decompress before we dig into what the hell is going on with our biology.
Something funky is happening with all of us. It’s not just me and my O-space anymore.
The universe isn’t done messing with us.
He picks up a few of the small twigs set beside the small fire and feeds them slowly to the building flames.
“Once we’ve had a good night sleep, we’ll set up the comms and make contact with General Stone. Report in the attack and get updated orders.”
I hum in agreement and look around the clearing. It really is gorgeous here. There is a permanent rainbow hanging above the waterfall where the sunlight catches the mist just right.
“What do we do until then?”
“Well,” he says and clears his throat awkwardly. “I thought we’d enjoy the waterfall and each other’s company.”
I raise a brow at him incredulously. Yeah, something strange is going on with Knox, too. He’s acting very out of character.
Maybe we’re infected with something. I can’t think of too many logical reasons Mr. Stick-Up-His-Prime-Ass would want to spend a day relaxing.
Or, maybe he finally sees you as an Omega and wants to get to know you, my buried Omega provides unhelpfully.
My heart skips a beat at the suggestion.
I try to shrug off the thought, but I can feel my cheeks heating up.
Spending time with him for pleasure feels like an invitation for my body to rebel. I’m not sure I can handle being so casual with the team. While I’m their trainee, it feels like there’s a shield of purpose between us. A barrier of professionalism protecting us from our baser needs.
That barrier didn’t help when Shade was between my legs. My blush is in full force now.
As if sensing my thoughts, Knox turns to me with a smirk on his lips. “Is there something on your mind, Halley?” he asks, saying my name low and huskily.
I swallow.
Does he not realize what that sound does to my body?
“N-nothing,” I stutter, averting my gaze. My perfume fans around me, and I hope the mist from the waterfall keeps it from spreading.
Knox leans back on his thick forearms and a smirk slides over his features. It’s not the usual mocking, mirthless smirk I’ve grown to despise. This is teasing, light, and oh so devastating.
Rut-damn, he’s handsome when he smiles like that.
“That’s a lie, princess. What’s got you smelling so sweet?”
Princess? He’s using terms of endearment now?
Yup. Something is going on. Who is this Alpha and what the frack has he done with Prime Asshole? Did he get a head injury during the fight too?
I gape at him, and the tension between us matches the throbbing heat in my loins.
I can handle Prime Asshole. This smoldering hunk is another kettle of fish.
Slightly panicked by the change in our relationship, I pull my anger around myself like a defensive cape.
“Look, like I told you yesterday, I can’t help it. It’s an Omega thing, we perfume.”
“I know,” he replies simply, unbothered by my outburst.
His voice is gentle, and it makes me pause.
“And? Aren’t you going to punish me for letting my designation cause all this…” I wave my hand around, gesturing generally to our current predicament. “All this bullshit?”
He snorts. “No. You can’t help what you are any more than I can help being an Alpha.”
“I’m so confused. Yesterday you—”
He cuts me off with a shake of his head. “Yesterday I was a dick.”
I blink at him and lick my lower lip nervously. Is he actually admitting he was wrong?
“Okayyyy…” I say slowly. “What’s changed?”
“You went into heat, and then almost died because of my fucked-up attitude,” he says gravely, looking away to stare into the fire.
I don’t know what to say to that. It’s not like he’s wrong. He didn’t force me into heat, but it also wasn’t my fault, either.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers, his voice rough.
My heart stops beating.
He’s apologizing to me? Prime Alpha Knox, the one who makes me call him sir, is apologizing to me? The Omega. The worthless, broken Omega?
I don’t think I’ve ever heard him apologize before.
“I… I forgive you?” I offer hesitantly. “And I’m sorry too. For getting everyone into this mess. I was reckless and selfish.”
He scoffs. “Halley, I’ve known you for a little while now and I can confidently say you’re one of the least selfish people I’ve ever met. I’m surprised you haven’t stabbed me in my sleep yet with how much of an ass I’ve been.”
I laugh at that.
A real, genuine laugh that bubbles up from my belly and comes out in a squeak. I clap my hands over my mouth as the sound echos around the clearing.
His eyes flick to me and crinkle at the corners.
“That’s a nice sound,” he says softly.
“Thanks,” I respond awkwardly. “I’m not used to you being so…” I trail off, not sure what word to use to describe his sudden change in demeanor.
“Nice?” he offers with a shrug.
I snort. “Yeah, that’s a good way to put it.”
“I’ll work on that.”
I roll my eyes. “Please don’t. I’m not sure I could handle a nicer version of you.”
I sit back down beside him on the blanket.
He looks at me with those intense, deep eyes, the firelight illuminating the flecks of amber and gold in his irises. “Why’s that?”
“You’re confusing enough as it is,” I mutter under my breath and hope he doesn’t hear me.
“I’m confused, too,” he admits, surprising me with his candor.
“Oh?”
“I can’t understand why you would forgive me so quickly after everything I’ve done. You’ve every right to hate me.”
“I don’t hate you, just severely dislike your leadership style.” I say slowly. “But I also understand how difficult this situation is for you. How difficult it must be to be responsible for the lives of the whole squad.”
I take a deep breath. “The last few days have been… difficult. I’m still confused about what I’m even doing here, and I’m changing.”
Knox nods. “I’ll help with that from now on, I promise. Like I said weeks ago, our squad doesn’t give up easily.”
I smile, pleased with his commitment. “I’m glad. That means a lot. Thank you.”
We lapse into silence as I watch the flames dance across the dry branches.
My mind is spinning.
Everything is changing so fast. I can’t keep up.