Chapter Forty-Five
Blaze
I’m supposed to be on guard duty. And I am.
Just… not where Prime Alpha Zero told me to be.
We’re not in the army anymore, which means I don’t have to follow orders I don’t like. I’m a free agent now.
Well… not exactly free. I have a new master, and she can do whatever she likes with me. I’ll happily follow her to the ends of my existence.
Viper was dispatched to help unload a fresh supply drop, leaving Halley's sweet ass unattended. So, I took it upon myself to keep an eye on her. She's busy helping civilians, her smile bright and her scent soothing.
I'm lounging on a stack of supply crates, watching her. I've got a clear view of her from where I'm perched, and I can monitor the goings-on of the camp from here too. It's a win-win. I get to watch my hot Omega work while also keeping her safe.
Ah, yes. It’s a good day to be Blaze.
Halley is smiling, and she has another babe on her hip, bouncing it to keep it from crying. The pups flock to her, and she loves them all in return. She doesn't seem to be able to stop touching them, pressing her nose to their cheeks, kissing them, and scenting them. It's adorable.
The pup stops crying, soothed by her scent, and she hands it back to its father, a Beta who bows at her like she's a monarch gracing him with her presence and expresses his thanks profusely. It makes my girl duck her head and blush.
She's too fucking perfect.
She’s also a fucking liar.
The darkness has retreated for now, but its whisperings of mistrust remain.
She says she's infertile, but her scent, and taste, say differently.
The others aren't looking for it, but it's there — broken bodies have a smell.
Our primal Alpha senses would be able to tell if she wasn't capable of breeding.
.. but she smells so fucking ripe. So ready to have her belly swell with the evidence of our bond.
Breed. Mate. Claim. Fuck.
I don’t want a baby, but my hindbrain is on high-alert, searching for any hint of her heat and the chance to fuck my seed deep into her belly.
I shake my head side-to-side to dislodge the errant thoughts. They loosen. For now. But they’ll be back.
She waves goodbye to the little family and turns to see who is waiting for her next.
"Omega Specialist Sparks."
Prime Alpha Zero's towering frame ducks under the door of the supply tent.
“I have the Beta soldiers you requested to speak to.” He clicks his tongue and two young male soldiers enter the tent.
I’m instantly alert.
I don’t give a shit if they’re Betas or Alphas. There is no male alive who wouldn’t be attracted to our Omega. I’m ready to defend my Omega with extreme violence if necessary.
“Report your intel to Omega Specialist Sparks, soldiers," Zero instructs, eyes narrowed at them with dubious belief.
Prime Alphas make life or death decisions for their subordinates.
Having accurate information is crucial in making the right choice and he doesn't trust their unverified report to be wholly accurate.
The two Betas stand with their spines straight and their hands clasped behind their backs. Their faces are impassive and their eyes stare forward at nothing. The picture of military precision.
The one on the left is tall and lean, but I can see the thick muscle in his thighs from his daily physical training. The one on the right is younger, his face still round with youthful chub, but he’s tall too. Both have sandy blonde hair and hazel eyes. Maybe they’re brothers.
I creep closer to the supply tent, moving on silent feet and keeping to the mid-afternoon shadows.
“Ma’am. We were deployed by Prime Alpha Zero to escort a cohort of Beta settlers to the Talonpoint settlement.
Upon our arrival, we were met with a Omega who…
well, she took charge and no one, not even the Prime Alpha stationed there, argued with her.
She introduced herself as Ember,” the young soldier says.
My heart pounds.
This is not good.
No, no, no.
It's happening again. And just like last time she heard news about these damn friends of hers, she’ll leave us for them.
“And you’re sure she was an Omega?” Halley asks.
“Yes, ma’am. We were only there overnight, but, er,” his eyes rake up Halley from head to toe, “no offense, it’s hard to miss an Omega when you see one.”
Who does this fucker think he is looking at my Omega’s body like that? Lingering on every curve with a raised brow of interest. My skin crawls and my fingers twitch. If he so much as moves to touch her, I’ll dig his eyeballs out of his skull.
Halley nods pensively.
Panic rises. I creep closer to the tent and inhale.
She smells sweet and trusting.
Fuck. Fuck. She believes them.
Now that she knows where one of her strays is, she's going to leave. Again.
“Did you see any other Omegas?” she asks, her hands clasped together in a plea. "There would have been a small Omega, delicate like a pixie, and a male Omega, he might’ve even looked like a Beta to you."
The two soldiers exchange a glance, and then the one on the right answers, “No, ma’am. She was the only one.”
"Are you sure?"
"Three Omegas are even harder to miss, ma'am."
She nods again, her throat moving as she swallows and tries to keep her tears at bay.
I watch as she sniffles and wipes her palms on her thighs. “That's okay. Thank you for sharing with me, it's... you can't know how much it means.” Her voice sounds thin, like a fine layer of ice that could break at any moment.
She doesn’t get to break. Not unless it’s me doing the breaking.
I don't want to be distrustful of my Omega, but what choice do I have? Last time I thought she cared for us, loved us, and look what happened. She destroyed us. Shattered me.
She loves them more.
Once she has her Omegas back, she won't need us.
The younger brother steps closer, a frown on his face before he catches himself and stops. The compulsion to comfort a distressed Omega is strong, even for Betas.
"If it helps, she’s a real force of nature… the Omega that is. The settlement citizens are very loyal to her and wouldn’t let us get even close to her. They’re keeping the Alphas stationed there at bay too."
She nods and forces a watery smile. "That's reassuring to hear, thank you."
Zero clears his throat. "You're dismissed, soldiers. Return to your posts."
They both salute and turn on their heels to return to the refugee camp.
Halley is still as a statue, staring at the canvas wall behind where the soldiers stood. She clenches her jaw, her eyes glaze over, unseeing, lost in thought. Sadness and fear swirl in her scent. Her fists clench, and a tear rolls down her cheek, falling to the ground with a wet splat.
"Omega," Zero says, his voice soft. "Was this information useful?"
Halley nods slowly, her eyes focusing on Zero as she swipes at her cheeks. "Yes, it is, Prime Alpha. Thank you. It helps to know she's still alive, or at least she was a few days ago."
Zero nods in understanding. He doesn't speak, just watches my Omega as she processes the news.
"Are you alright?" he asks and I'm surprised to see genuine concern in the way he regards her.
I narrow my eyes. The others seem to think he only has platonic, brotherly affection for our Omega. I know better! How could an Alpha even look at such a gorgeous creature without wanting to lock his knot in her?
Fuck, now I’m thinking about it again. Her ass high in the air as she presents prettily for me.
Halley sighs and shakes her head, another tear escaping her eye. She quickly wipes it away with her sleeve, but not fast enough to avoid Zero's notice. His eyes track the movement, his hand twitching like he wants to reach out and comfort her.
Nope, not happening. Fuck that.
Distrust aside, she's my Omega.
Mine.
My Pack’s Omega.
The tent flap snaps open as I stride in.
“Blaze?” Halley gasps.
She’s in my arms before she can blink, my palm cradling the back of her head, her wet face pressed tight against my chest.
Zero gets the full force of my glare. "You don’t need to worry about whether she’s okay. Her Pack will take care of her."
The look I level at him says the rest. Touch her and die painfully.
Her body softens against me, the tension bleeding out as I keep her caged in my arms.
I arch a brow at the Prime Alpha.
See? She has what she needs, and you're not it, motherfucker.
It's a strange thing, to have such a small, precious thing trust me so implicitly. I've threatened her, hurt her, cut her with my blade, and yet she still seeks comfort in my arms.
That’s not just strange.
That’s downright deranged.
Maybe she’s as messed up in the head as I am.
And yet, I still can't return her trust. Not completely. The voice still whispers.
If Zero finds my sudden appearance alarming, he doesn’t show it. He carries on talking with Halley, unfazed by my obvious possessiveness.
"Omega Specialist Sparks, your presence here has made a difference to the incoming Fathim citizens. We've already doubled the amount we processed yesterday. The Beta population is soothed by an Omega during times of trouble."
Yeah, no shit. Our Omega can talk an Alpha out of Blood Lust. This is small fry.
She raises her head, wet lashes fluttering as she focuses on Zero, listening to him speak.
I zone out and wipe the tears from her cheeks and lick them from my fingers.
They taste so salty and delicious, so I press a wet kiss to her cheek, lapping up more.
Everything about her is perfection. She smells, tastes, feels, sounds, and looks good enough to eat.
I want my kiss to embed in her skin and stay there forever, an outline of my lips right where everyone can see it, and when she looks in the mirror, she can never forget me.
If the others wouldn’t lose their minds over it, I’d carve my name into her skin.
Letter by letter, the same way I’ve carved hers into mine.
I’m dragged out of my thoughts, catching the last part of Zero’s conversation.
"… some survivors are hesitant to approach the processing camp, but lingering too long will only lead to their death." Zero explains stoically, but there is the smallest tick at his eyebrow.
Hmm. What isn't he saying? Is he asking Halley to go out into the wilderness to convince them to come here?
Absolutely the fuck not.
"Back off, Prime. We aren't putting our Omega in danger."
I'd do anything to protect her. Anything.
Prime Alpha Zero gives me a long, even look. “I’m talking to Omega Specialist Sparks right now, Sergeant.”
I spit at his boots.
He ignores me, eyes tracking back to Halley, and resumes speaking.
"These people have been through unimaginable suffering. Their family members are dead, their homes burned down, and they've been running from the enemy for weeks. They are traumatized and afraid, and they won't believe a word an Alpha, or any soldier, says."
Halley is nodding along, her brows pulled into a deep furrow of concern.
Shit. She’s actually listening to him. Does she really not see it?
He hands her the one thing she’s been desperate for, word about her lost friend, and now he is circling in to cash in on her gratitude. She thinks she owes him. She doesn’t. Not a damn thing.
"They think they're safe but the enemy is closing in and they have to be convinced to resettle in Blackreach. Someone needs to make them listen to the truth. There is no time for rapport building, it must be someone who they are biologically inclined to believe immediately."
I shrug. "If they don't have the good sense to save their own necks, let em rot."
"Blaze!" Halley spins and smacks me on the shoulder, indignation shifting her lavender scent to one of crackling ozone.
I bite the inside of my cheek until it bleeds.
Fuck, I recognize the expression on her face. Her jaw clenched, eyes narrowed, nostrils flared. It’s the same look she’d get during training when her body was begging to quit, but she’d refuse to back down. Stubborn, determined pride.
She spins back to Zero. "I'll do it."
"Like fuck you are," I snarl down at her, copper saturating my taste buds, probably staining my teeth red. She flinches but doesn't break eye contact, challenging me to stop her.
Here she goes. Leaving again.
"I'm going, Blaze. I can't turn my back on these people when they need me."
"Then we're all going with you."
Prime Alpha Zero shakes his head. "Any sign of an Alpha or soldier, and they'll spook."
Halley studies my face, searching for something in my expression. Whatever she sees, her fury softens.
"Blaze is good at staying hidden. The best. He can come and play bodyguard from the shadows."
Zero's eyes flick to me, and he gives a curt nod. "I'll allow it, so long as Blaze doesn't interfere with your mission. Your goal is to get the civilians to the processing camp, understood? If you can convince them to relocate to a settlement it will save their lives. "
"Yes, sir."
He nods in approval, his eyes lingering on Halley's face, studying her. I know what he sees. A beautiful idiot, easily manipulated by her big heart.
"Okay. It’s too late to set off today, so prepare to leave first thing tomorrow morning," Zero instructs, turning to Blaze. "Can I trust you to keep your Omega safe?"
I bare my teeth at him.
“Fuck you.”
Of course, I can keep my Omega safe! I'll kill anyone who even looks at her funny and burn any evidence of their existence to ash.
Until the moment she rejects us again, I’ll keep her safe.