Page 60 of Knot Their Soldier: Part Three

So, no. I have no regrets about the leadership change at Blackgate. It's overdue, but I just wish my rut-damn Pack weren't so impulsive.

A growl rumbles nearby.

I look away from Stone’s body, and my focus narrows to the two Alpha guards Blaze has been fighting on the floor.

They aren’t fighting to protect Stone anymore.

They’re looking at Halley.

Their breathing has changed from battle-ragged to hungry. One of them tries to leap toward Halley, and Blaze snarls as he slams him back down.

Fuck.

It isn’t just our Alphas going into rut.

No one else moves while the usual sounds of the active fortress buzz around us. The Beta assistant has broken out in a full-body tremor, the datapad on the floor by his feet. The Beta soldiers have lowered their rifles and are staring unblinkingly at Stone’s limp body.

I'm snapped out of my stupor when Halley makes a whimpering sound.

"Halley?"

She whines again and clutches Everlyn, her knees buckling, while she gazes fixedly at Viper.

I grimace. Viper stands over the mangled body of the General, and it's a grisly sight.

However, instead of disgust, our Omega releases a thick, needy rush of pheromones.

It clicks.

Halley is in heat, her most primal state, and she just watched Viper kill an Alpha to protect her. Pure possessive, territorial Alpha. Viper killed Stone because he tried to take what belonged to our Pack.

Her inner Omega liked it.

A lot.

And it's accelerating her heat.

I feel Knox's control strain through the bond as his attention snaps to Halley with a violent wave of possession before he forces his gaze back to the corridor.

Viper doesn’t even manage that much restraint. His eyes stay locked on her, and the deep satisfaction in the bond darkens.

Blaze bares his teeth over the two Alphas beneath him, his body planted between them and Halley as if he’s one muscle twitch away from tearing out both their throats.

Okay, so that’s three Pack mates descending into their hindbrain, two unaffiliated Alphas already trying to crawl toward our Omega, and a dead General at our feet.

Great.

Fantastic.

The sound of boots is getting louder. Soldiers are coming in our direction, no doubt summoned as backup for the General, and if even one of them is an Alpha, this whole wing is about to become a bloodbath.

We’re running out of time to figure out what comes next.

I breathe out as I gather my thoughts and concentrate.

Halley squirms, and I can feel the heat radiating from her from a foot away. A sheen of sweat has formed on her forehead.

"Yeah. Okay, baby girl. Reading you loud and clear," I whisper, leaning in to kiss the top of her head. Whatever else is happening, my Omega’s wellbeing will always be my top priority. The Alphas can defend and protect us with their big, scary muscles.