Chapter Forty-Two #2
I smirk. It seems we’re not the only ones who can’t deny our Omega a thing.
Halley beams, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I can't explain how important this is to me."
Before I can brace for it, she lets out a joyful squeal and launches herself into my arms.
"It's Ember! It has to be."
Her legs wrap around my waist, arms around my shoulders, and she presses close, rubbing her scent over me in celebration. Pure joy pours off her in waves, thick with bright, sweet pheromones that hit all of us like sunshine.
"It’s entirely plausible," Shade says, smiling indulgently at her. Halley’s enthusiasm is infectious.
I hold her tight, hands full of soft curves that fit perfectly into my grip.
The innocent joy melts into something warmer. Deeper. Her hips roll lazily against mine, and the air thickens with sultry pheromones that make my mouth water.
Blaze chuckles and nudges Zero’s shoulder like they’re old drinking buddies. "Congrats, you made our Omega so happy she's horny."
Zero’s ears flush a deep, unmistakable red. He clears his throat, but the sound cracks halfway through. His gaze darts first to the ceiling, then to the floor, then to a spot over Shade’s shoulder that definitely doesn't require inspection.
“I… ah — yes. Right then. I’ll give you some privacy.” His voice is stiff, forced into the shape of authority, but it lands crooked.
He turns on his heel with sharp military precision, trying to recover some dignity, but there’s a telltale hitch in his movement.
I stifle a chuckle.
Blaze does not.
Alright then. So the stiff military man isn’t completely unfazed by our Omega. Apparently all it takes is a face-full of slick-laced perfume to have him walking like he forgot how knees work. I feel oddly vindicated. Like maybe the world still makes a little sense after all.
He reaches the tent flap and stops. His shoulders tense, caught between pride and practicality.
With a resigned sigh, he drags a hand down his face like he’s regretting every life choice that brought him to this moment.
“I hate to do this, but I’m running a delicate operation here.
All of these soldiers came with me from the Fathim army when I defected.
They’ve served with me for years and I trust them implicitly, but I have Alphas under my command who I need to stay calm.
I can’t have them growling around the civilians.
You need to neutralize her scent before it becomes a problem. ”
He gives a short nod, reassuring himself that he's done his duty, then slips out through the canvas flap without another word.
Knox raises his face and his nostrils flare. "Rut-dammit, he's right. She can’t be here smelling like this. We’ll have every Alpha for miles crashing through this camp."
Halley stiffens, her wide, purple eyes peeking out from where she’s nuzzling my shoulder. “Ah… woops? I didn’t realize I was doing that.”
“I know, I know. We’re just so sexy, aren’t we, Sparkles?” Blaze jokes, voice light, but alert. He moves to position himself in front of the tent entrance, eyes scanning for potential threats.
Blaze really is his best self when he has a task, a mission. It’s only when he’s left to his own devices does the chaos begin. At least keeping Halley safe here at this camp will keep him busy.
Halley groans softly and buries her face in my neck again. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I can’t stop wanting to touch you. Is there, like, a cold shower nearby or something?”
Her embarrassment tinges the air, wrapped in sweet, clingy pheromones.
A deep rumble escapes my chest before I can stop it. She melts into it, her body going soft and pliant against mine.
I hold her tighter.
It never gets old, how she seeks me out when she needs safety. How her breath evens out against my skin. She doesn’t care that I’ve done heinous things while under the influence of my Blood Lust. I’m her safe harbor.
Shade tilts his head, studying us with that sharp, analytical look.
"There’s nothing wrong with you, baby girl,” he says, voice calm and sure. “We’re building a Pack. Your instincts are shifting. That’s normal.”
He steps a little closer, eyes still locked on Halley like she’s a living theory coming to life.
“The books described Pack Omegas as touch-hungry and comfort-driven. Craving physical contact, constant reassurance. The scholars didn’t exactly highlight, well, how insatiable you are, but they were clear on one thing.
As our bonds settle, that neediness ramps up. ”
Halley makes a distressed little whine of frustration.
Shade’s gaze softens just slightly. “And it’ll keep building until we claim you. Until we’re bound, and this Pack is whole.”
Knox grunts and rubs his thumb over his lower lip. “If she keeps smelling so fucking good, we’ll have to fight off every knothead Alpha in the region. We need a plan.”
Shade’s brows pull, rifling through his extensive mental library. “She needs tending.”
“Tending?” I echo, but the word barely leaves my mouth before Halley starts rolling her hips against me again. My voice snags in my throat.
"She needs mutual scenting sessions. We have to smell like her and she needs to smell like us. It’ll calm her Omega, at least for awhile.”
Halley groans and buries her face deeper in my chest. “This is so humiliating.”
She’s pouting, but it’s hard to take her displeasure seriously when her cheek is smushed so adorably against my collarbone.
“Anything else to add, princess?” Knox probes with a raised brow.
She grumbles for a moment before sighing in defeat and shaking her head. “Nope, that about sums it up.”
“Alright, well, what do you suggest, oh wise Omega whisperer,” Blaze asks Shade, already palming his hard cock through his trousers.
Shade shrugs. “Get her off.”
There’s a shuffling sound from outside as one of the Beta soldiers moves a crate of supplies nearby. Blaze slips through the canvas door like an avenging wraith hunting prey.
A startled shout cuts the air, followed by the rapid retreat of footsteps.
Blaze returns a moment later, smirking, and casually slides his combat knife back into its sheath with a soft scrape of steel on leather.
“We’re not exactly somewhere private,” Knox adds, his shoulders raised as his territorial instincts scream at him.
He’s right. Every Alpha instinct in me agrees.
I don’t want anyone out there hearing the way she sounds when she comes apart in our arms. And I sure as hell don’t want them catching the scent of her slick and knowing what they’re missing.
Blaze snorts. “That didn’t stop you from choking her on your dick earlier.”
If looks could kill, Knox’s withering glare would have reduced Blaze to ash.
Shade nods and licks his lips, a flush rising up his neck. He’s not unaffected by our current predicament. It’s proof that her perfume might set even the Beta soldiers off.
“It wouldn’t be the worst idea to make it clear to the camp that she’s claimed,” he says, voice low. “Might stop any future… misunderstandings.”
I hate that he’s right.
Our scent didn’t stop the Alpha who attacked her. It didn’t matter how steeped in our scent she was. But if there’s even a chance it might deter the next bastard, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe.
A wicked grin stretches across Blaze’s scarred face, making him look borderline manic with enthusiasm. “I like this plan. Let’s do it.”
He reaches for her, already half-hard and eager, but Shade swats his hand away with an exasperated sigh.
“We don’t have time for one of your elaborate sex scenes,” he says, tone clipped. “Quick and methodical. It’s a mission. This is about the safety and security of our Omega.”
Blaze snickers. “Of course, it’s all for the greater good.”
“I'm sorry for being trouble, I promise I can take care of it quickly on my own,” she murmurs into my shirt.
She’s always so quick to blame herself and put her own needs aside.
“You’re not trouble, pretty girl. And if you want to handle it yourself, that’s fine too.”
Halley rubs her face against my shirt, her nose scrunching like she can’t quite stand the thought.
“That’s not what you want though, is it?”
She shakes her head and buries her face deeper, clearly embarrassed.
“Wanna tell us what you do want?”
Another small shake. Still hiding.
I share an amused glance with Shade. Shy Halley is adorable. It’s moments like these that I think I understand Shade’s caretaker kink.
Shade steps in close and slips a finger under her chin, gently tilting her face up. “Want us to take control?”
She nods. That pink flush blooming higher on her cheeks.
“Then you’ll need a safe word, baby girl.”
She frowns, brows drawing together. “A safe word?”
The confusion in her voice hits harder than it should. Shame burns hot behind my ribs as I realize none of us thought to give her that—none of us gave her the most basic tool to protect herself from us.
My inner Alpha claws at my chest, furious. I’ve failed her. We all have. An Omega should never have to ask what a safe word is.
Shade reaches out, his voice quiet but firm. “It’s a phrase that means stop. No matter what.”
His thumb brushes along her jaw.
“If you’re ever uncomfortable,” he continues, “or feel unsafe, you need a way to make us stop. Immediately. Without question.”
She opens her mouth, but he keeps going.
“Saying stop won’t always work,” he says gently. “Not if an Alpha’s too far gone. Sometimes that kind of pleading just triggers the instinct to claim harder. It’s not fair, but it’s real.”
I wish it weren't true, that I'd keep my Omega safe no matter what, but sometimes she makes me feel rabid. Like a feral beast unable to stop myself from rutting into her. I want to own every inch of her.
I can feel Knox’s stress thrum through our bond.
That’s what he’s afraid of.
Not the mating itself, not the closeness or the permanence.
It’s losing control. It’s hearing her say stop and not registering it as a boundary but as a challenge, an Omega begging to be dominated, not protected.
He’s terrified that, in the heat of it all, her cries of fear will sound like sweet submission.
The safe word isn’t just for her. It’s for all of us.
If one of us gets swept up in instinct and can't pull back, the rest of the Pack will step in and make sure it stops.
Shade continues, his voice low and even. “The idea behind the safe word is that you choose something you’d never say during sex. And if you do say it, we stop instantly and check in, pause, and reset.”
She chews on her lip, and I resist the urge to smooth the flesh out from under her teeth.
“How about cockwomble?"
A bark of laughter rips from Blaze.
“Yeah,” Shade chuckles. “That’ll do the trick. If you say cockwomble, we'll stop and start aftercare. Sound good?"
“Uh huh. I understand.”
"Good girl," he purrs.
Halley's scent blossoms again, her arousal renewed.
We don't have time for Halley to make a nest to feel safe in a strange place, so I figure the best place for her to feel secure is in my arms.
Turning her to face the others, I nuzzle her throat over the bite collar protecting her precious mating gland. The metal tag with “Sparkles” inscribed still hangs from her throat, catching the midday light.
Someday soon, I'll rip the damn collar off, bite her and make her mine, but today isn't that day. Right now, we need to make her come. Fast.
Blaze is grinning like a madman, staring at Halley like she’s a chew toy he wants to tear apart. "Let's get this party started. Mission Omega Orgasm is a go."
'Roger that, Sergeant,' I think with a smirk. I’m dying to feel her fall apart in my arms again.