Chapter Thirty-Nine
Halley
The General is pissed off.
A vein is pulsing at the side of his temple while he paces his office, ranting about how he doesn't need this headache on top of everything else he has to manage.
His fury is directed at my Prime Alpha.
“That was one of my finest soldiers, you know. A loyal, disciplined Alpha with years of service. And now? He’s useless for the next few days while he heals.
You broke his arm, twice, and then stood by while your rabid dog sliced the man’s hand off.
Good thing his hand can be reattached, but do you know how many hours it will take my only surgeon to stitch him together? Wasted resources.”
He huffs, his face red.
“It’s not just about him. It’s about the hole his absence leaves. One less able-bodied Alpha guarding this fortress. If we’re attacked, if orders need executing swiftly and without question, I need my soldiers focused and whole. I need them ready to defend.”
Knox grunts in response, his arms crossed and face impassive.
"So? Speak up. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Your soldiers need better discipline if they are threatening to assault an Omega," Knox replies, his eyes narrowed on the old Alpha. I can see the anger simmering below his calm demeanor.
"If you'd mated the Omega already, like I told you to, this wouldn't be a problem."
Knox growls, and I lay a hand on his arm, imploring him to calm down. He’s been vibrating with restrained rage since the incident, and I worry he’ll snap.
His muscles loosen slightly beneath my touch, and he shifts back into the resting parade stance the others have already assumed.
He spreads his feet shoulder-width apart and clasps his hands behind his lower back.
Whether it's an unshakeable habit of decades of military training or a deliberate display of discipline, it’s hard to say.
What it is not, however, is a gesture of respect for General Stone.
“It’s only been a few weeks. We’re not ready,” I say, my voice quiet. I clear my throat, pushing more strength into it. “I’m not ready. We’ve agreed to form a Pack, but we need time to build the bond.”
“You’ve had plenty of time,” the General snaps. His expression is unreadable. “It’s not that complicated. Bite her mating gland—”
“You don’t talk about her like that,” Knox says coldly.
General Stone halts mid-stride and swallows thickly.
The unspoken threat in Knox’s words rings through the room. Any lingering doubt about whether Knox wants me is gone. Burned away by that fierce, possessive display on the balcony.
It forces a truth to the surface, one I should have faced long ago.
Knox is exactly who he is.
Territorial. Possessive. Aggressive. Mercurial.
He can work on the rougher edges, maybe even try to be softer in moments that call for it. But at his core, he’s never going to be gentle. With his words or his hands. It’s not in him to pull his punches.
And that’s okay.
That’s the beauty of a Pack.
There are days we’ll need Viper’s steadiness, or Blaze’s chaos, or Shade’s care. But today? We needed Knox.
A Prime Alpha who responds to threats with deliberate, controlled violence. One who doesn’t bluff or crumple under pressure. Who takes calculated risks, but would carry out every brutal threat if it meant keeping his Pack safe.
So, no, Knox doesn’t offer comfort or soft words. He offers control.
And that’s why we need him. Because when danger closes in, Knox doesn’t waver. He straightens his spine and goes toe-to-toe with the enemy.
Sometimes, a Pack needs a Prime Asshole. The one willing to make the hard calls and stand between us and the even bigger assholes on the other side.
Knox needs me to see him clearly and love him anyway.
And I do.
This is the fourth time I’ve stood in General Stone’s office, and for the first time I don’t feel afraid or alone. This time, I know I have an Alpha willing to break the bones of my enemies standing by my side.
I copy the Pack’s posture, bringing myself to my full five feet, and raising my chin.
“General Stone, I hope you didn’t doubt me when I told you the consequences of not making good on our agreement. You have one week left to give me proof of life, and, General?” I raise a brow at him. “The clock is ticking.”
His nostrils flare, but he doesn't reply. He's backed into a corner and he knows it. Before, when I made the ultimatum, could he tell that I was wavering? That I didn’t actually believe I could strike out on my own?
I bet he can see how serious I am now.
Unlike last time when I had to leave, I know without a doubt that my Pack, and Knox, will support me. If I leave, they’ll be right by my side.
The General's eyes flick to Knox, as if waiting for him to reprimand me for talking out of turn and making decisions for the Pack.
Knox's expression is cold, his posture screaming a threat. "You heard the Omega. She's the boss."
My mouth parts in surprise.
I'm the boss?
Me?
His eyes flick to mine, and he winks. Actually winks at me in plain sight of his commanding officer.
Except… that’s not his commanding officer anymore.
Because Knox defected.
For me.
I want to cringe at my earlier self. How could I doubt that he wants me as his Omega?
I spin back to the General with a hand on my hip and a smug expression etched on my features.
“That’s right, I’m the boss!” I shout, and I hear Viper and Shade failing to smother their laughter. Knox exhales loudly.
I sound silly, I know, but it’s an intoxicating feeling having a squad of super-soldiers ready to commit violence at my command. Ready to defend my honor. That was pretty hot.
Yes, the severed limb was excessive. Blaze went too far, as he always does. I’ve already pulled him aside, told him it was overkill. He’s cooling off in the medic bay with Everlyn keeping an eye on him.
Still, I can’t stop the quiet thrill that keeps running through me.
So yeah, suck it, old man. I’m not alone anymore.
“Fine,” General Stone growls. “You’ll have proof of life by the end of the week. But in the meantime, you can’t stay here at Blackgate. I won’t have my soldiers ripped apart just for glancing at your unmated Omega the wrong way.”
I hate the way he talks about me, like I’m some feral mutt with fleas about to infest everyone around me. But he’s not entirely wrong.
Since the incident on the balcony, the air inside the fortress has been thick with tension, edging into outright hostility.
The attack seems to have opened the floodgates, and the Alphas of Blackgate Fortress aren’t holding back their interest anymore.
Leaving now, while things are still volatile, might be the smartest move we’ve got.
"Where do you propose we go?" Knox asks, his jaw clenching. He's not happy about the idea of being away from a secure location. In his eyes, the squad did nothing wrong. If you ignore the dismemberment, it was simply a Prime Alpha correcting the behavior of a soldier out of line.
"Phase two of my plan has begun. Displaced civilians are being exfiltrated from the evacuation points in Fathim to camps within Blackreach Province. We need to ensure they are properly processed and escorted through the Blackreach Mountain Pass quickly."
I sigh.
'That fine with you, pretty girl?' Viper's voice rumbles in my mind.
'It'll be good to have an objective again,' Shade adds.
I agree. Sitting around waiting hasn't been good for any of us. I'd much rather be helping people than fending off violent advances from fellow soldiers. Besides, it'll be good to get out from underneath the General's thumb.
‘Fine.’
They relay my approval to Knox.
Our Prime Alpha crosses his arms and widens his stance, dried blood still in the creases of his hands.
"Fine. We will assist with the exfil, but you’ll supply the loadout of our choice. I won’t be taking our Omega into a hot zone without proper equipment.”
“I can’t authorize that.” Stone narrows his eyes, his brow twitching in dissatisfaction. He doesn’t like it when someone else is calling the shots.
“Find a way,” Knox snaps, his tone sharp.
Heat spreads low in my belly.
I think I have to face the fact that Knox being a commandeering bastard does something to me. Something that makes my core ache with need.