Viper gently brushes her hair behind her ear, smiling as she unconsciously leans into his hand. We might have some trust issues and a truckload of baggage to wade through, but there is still hope. She’s still here, and she wants us to be her Pack.
“We want to make up for all of the shitty things you just listed. Starting with choosing you.”
“Choosing me? What does that mean?”
Viper presses a kiss to the top of her head. “We left our post, pretty girl. We are officially AWOL.”
I nod. “Our duty isn’t to the Fathim Military anymore, it’s to you.”
Blaze, in a moment of clarity, adds, “Fuck those guys right in the ass.”
She lets out a short laugh, but it fades quickly as her brow pinches with uncertainty. “But, the military is everything to you. You’re Fathim soldiers.”
“The moment we met you, that all changed, baby girl. Just took us some time to figure it out.”
Knox returns to the conversation after his self imposed time-out. “I can be better, it just might take some time to learn how not to be—”
“A giant asshole?” Blaze blurts.
“I was going to say a Prime Alpha all the time.”
Her frown remains.
‘Let’s tell her the plan for her training, that’ll set her mind at ease. Viper, it’s probably best if she hears it from you,’I lock eyes with the big Alpha. He’s not a man of eloquence, but in this instance, he’ll have to be.
He shifts her in his lap so she can look up at him, reaching out to hold her hand.
It looks so tiny in his meaty paw, her little fingers grasping at his calloused fingers.
She was never meant for calloused palms or split knuckles. She’s so precious.
“Pretty girl,” he begins, his deep voice rumbling gently. It’s like magic. Her tense shoulders release and her frown softens.
I wait for the jealousy to come again. This time, it doesn’t. I think it’s because I know, given enough time and healing, Halley Sparks will be my,our,Omega, and she’ll melt like that for me too.
“You don’t have to throw a punch, because I can do it better than you.”
I slap my forehead into my hand.‘Sweet rutting-fuck, save me from Alphas shoving their big feet in their mouths.’
She puffs up her chest, as if affronted by the suggestion she’s not capable.
‘Oh, shit.’Viper quickly backtracks.
I sigh, step in, and do what I do best: fix what my Alpha brothers have broken.
“Halley,” I say calmly, carefully. “What these emotionally stunted cockwombles are trying to explain is that you’re not like us. And no matter how hard you push yourself, you’re not supposed to be.”
She shifts like she’s about to argue, but I hold up a hand.
“Let me finish,” I say, my voice low but steady.
Halley’s jaw flexes, but she nods once, wary and waiting.
“Combat. Killing. The front lines,” I continue, keeping my gaze on hers. “That’s not who you are. And it was a mistake for us to ever try to force you into that role. From now on, training is going to be different.”
Her brows draw together, uncertainty flickering behind her eyes.
Her throat bobs as she swallows, blinking rapidly. But she’s still listening.
