Page 46 of Knot Their Soldier: Part Three

I'm still shaking my head. I can't do this, not this soon after…

Halley turns my face toward hers, rubbing her cheek against mine, scenting me with lavender and reassurance.

"I know I promised I wouldn’t go looking for danger again," she says, holding my face until the only thing I can focus on is her. "I’m keeping that promise. This isn’t me chasing danger to prove my worth or soothe my pride. This is war, and we’re soldiers."

"Princess," I warn, but her thumb strokes over my jaw.

"You’re my Prime Alpha, my mate, and I’m yours to protect," she says. "I’ll follow every order you give. You keep me in the truck until he’s restrained. One quick Command, and I'll be back in the truck in a flash. Think of it as the next step in my training, yeah?"

My grip bites into the steering wheel.

"And if I call abort?" I ask.

"Then we abort," Halley says immediately. "We retreat to Blackgate, and I don’t argue."

Another round pings off the truck’s body.

I look through the grimy windshield toward the Pass. The cut through the mountains sits open and exposed, with only a dozen unprepared Alphas standing between the Human army and Blackreach Province.

The enemy wants that opening.

If they take it, the settlement beyond the mountains will become a killing field.

I make a decision before doubt can stop me.

"Pack Scorch will hold the Pass," I declare. "We break through their ranks, find the Unit Leader, and force a retreat."

Viper checks his rifle with calm precision. Blaze bares his teeth, more than ready to use the battle as a way to work through all the violence still crawling through him. Shade’s focus locks in behind me, steady and immediate.

I point at him. "She stays inside until the location is secured. No exceptions."

"Understood," Shade says.

I lean closer to the Omega still latched onto my side, and kiss her. Then I lower my voice until the words belong only to her. "I love you, princess."

"I love you, too," she answers instantly.

My heart swells, overflowing with joy at hearing those words.

Maybe I should have waited until we weren’t under gunfire, with death clawing at the doors, and the Pack braced for another impossible fight. She deserved soft sheets and my mouth against her skin when I said it for the first time.

But all I can think about is the awful truth that I let her die without hearing those words from me.

I will never make that mistake again.

I brush my mouth against hers again in a brief and hungry kiss, then force myself to pull back before my Alpha decides the battle can wait.

"Also," I add firmly, raising my brow at her. "If you don’t listen to Shade, you won’t like the consequences."

Halley tilts her head, her breath warm against my mouth and still a little dazed from our kiss. "Consequences?"

"No sex for a month."

Blaze swears from the back and squawks in protest. "Boss, don’t punish the whole Pack."

Halley’s lips curve.

Then she presses closer, her breasts soft against my arm, her scent blooming warmer through the truck. Lavender, heat, and mine. Her purple eyes lift to mine, half-lidded and wicked enough to make my cock twitch behind my zipper.