Page 110 of Knot Their Soldier: Part Three

"Just give me a moment to double-check. I want to be certain."

The Pack bond suddenly explodes into a riot of frenzied panic, and I shoot Shade an accusatory look. 'You shouldn't have called them.'

He has the audacity to not look guilty. 'No such thing as privacy in a Pack, love.'

Heavy footsteps thunder down the corridor, and I brace myself for impact.

The infirmary door bangs open so hard it rattles on its hinges, and the cold rush that follows makes my skin pebble.

Knox fills the doorway first, with Viper at his shoulder. Blaze slides in behind them, eyes wide, wild, and scanning the room like he expects to find me bleeding out on the floor.

They stop the second they see me on the exam bed, shirt lifted, gel on my stomach, Everlyn with an ultrasound probe in her hand.

"Talk," Knox bites out, voice low and lethal. His gaze flicks over me with that Alpha assessment that makes me feel both safe and exposed. "What’s wrong with her?"

Shade stays where he is, anchored to me. He still does not release my hand.

Blaze is already at my side, crouching beside me but vibrating with energy like he wants to climb onto the bed with me. "Sparkles? Are you hurt? Did the heat mess you up? Oh fuck, did we break you? I thought you were enjoying it, but maybe we went too far."

His hands hover, not touching me as though he's afraid one brush of a fingertip will cause me to shatter. He's shaking with the effort not to grab me.

Viper does not speak. He just stares at the screen and then back at me, his jaw tight as he absorbs.

I can feel the palpable fear in the bond that has torn open. They're not hiding from me anymore.

"Nobody is dying," Everlyn says, and then wafts her hand in front of her nose with a grimace. "And stop flooding the room with that awful territorial Alpha scent. You’re making my eyes water."

Before I even register that I'm doing it, an unbidden, soft calling trill slips from me and breaks the tension. I beckon all four of my mates closer, reaching for them.

"It's okay. Whatever it is, we can face it together," I say calmly. Blaze takes my other hand, squeezing it tight, while Viper and Knox place a hand on my shoulders. My trill turns into a purr because I know it's the only thing that is going to keep everyone in this room from panicking.

"Everlyn. Report. Now," Knox demands in his Prime Alpha tone.

She snaps her eyes to him and narrows them. "Do not use that tone with me, Knox. You're in my territory now, and I won't tolerate Alpha bullshit in my infirmary."

A beat of silence.

Then Knox forces his shoulders to relax, exhaling as he asks, "Yes, fine. Just tell us what you found. Please."

Her eyes lift to meet mine, her throat bobbing.

"Halley." Her voice softens. "I need you to stay calm."

My laugh comes out thin. "That’s a terrible thing to say right before telling someone something medical."

Blaze’s head jerks toward Everlyn. "What is it? Infection? Damage? Did the resurrection do something to her insides? Because I will kill it. Whatever it is, I will destroy it."

I pat his hand. Such a silly Alpha, but I'm humbled by his determination, nonetheless.

Everlyn’s left hand trembles as she sets the datapad down.

"I pulled up Halley’s earliest baseline scans," she says. "The ones from Barkrood. We did a full workup when she arrived and claimed sanctuary."

Blaze frowns like he does not understand why old files matter.

I do. My stomach twists.

Everlyn continues.