Page 25 of Knot Their Soldier: Part Three

"Halley is gone, and without her, there is no Viper," Knox says, and the words sound like they’re killing him. He doesn’t want to give Viper this final mercy. But he will. Knox won't shy away from his responsibilities, and he will perform his duty to his loyal lieutenant to the bitter end. "He asked me for mercy. I gave him my word."

"And I’m asking you to wait," Shade says, voice shaking. "Please, Knox. Give her one second. Give all of us one chance before you do something none of us can survive."

"Knox," I try to call, but my throat is ruined. His name comes out thin and broken, barely more than breath.

Blaze strides past Shade and me before I can try again.

Viper’s upper lip curls. A vicious snarl tears out of him, his black eyes locking on Blaze as the red veins at his temples pulse harder.

"Stay back," Knox grits out, without taking the gun off Viper.

Shade’s arm tightens around my waist, holding me against him when I try to go after Blaze. If I could just get close enough, they'd see. They'd know.

Can they not feel that the bond is healing? I try tugging on the bonds, yanking them as hard as I can, but our connection is so fragile they barely move.

Blaze stops several feet from them and yells, "Oi, you melodramatic asshole, put down the fucking gun." He throws one hand back toward me. "Halley is alive!"

Knox flinches. His eyes squeeze shut, as if Blaze's words have stabbed him in the heart.

The Command slips.

Viper takes the opening, surging up from his knees with a savage snarl, and his teeth snap inches from Knox’s throat.

"Hold!" Knox shouts.

Viper crashes back onto his knees, his body locked in place by the fresh Alpha Command, and his face twists with rage. Any other Alpha would fail to leash him like this. It’s only years of serving under Knox, obeying his Prime Alpha’s voice, that leaves Viper vulnerable to the Command.

Knox presses the gun back to his straining lieutenant’s forehead.

"Now isn't the time for your fucking games, Sergeant."

Viper's black, restless eyes sweep the area as his tongue darts out, tasting the air, searching until he catches my scent.

He freezes.

I hold still, desperate for recognition, for the smallest flicker of Viper. I need him to see me. His mate. His Omega.

His eyelids lower, and a low growl rolls out of him.

My stomach drops, because that isn't the reaction of an Alpha seeing his dead Omega alive again.

It's a predator locking onto prey.

Viper roars, and the raw and primal sound shakes the trees around us. It doesn’t sound like my Viper’s voice. It sounds like a monster wearing his skin.

Shade’s arm tightens around my waist. "Oh shit."

Viper surges to his feet, and Knox’s Command snaps under the force of it.

"Kneel!" Knox shouts, driving another Command into him.

Viper jerks to a stop. His shoulders hunch, his muscles strain, and his teeth bare as the order locks around him.

Then he rolls his shoulders and takes one heavy step forward.

"Kneel!" Knox tries again, but the Command breaks almost as soon as it lands.

Viper takes another step, slower this time, dragging against the weight of the Commands, yet still coming.