Page 40 of Knot Their Soldier: Part Three

Good.

I hope they keep walking. I hope they find some quiet settlement far from Blackgate, Halley, and the Alphas currently holding themselves together by force of will and very little else. Pack Scorch is many things, but forgiving has never been one of our natural talents. If those survivors return, if Knox, Viper, or Blaze see the faces of the people who helped kill Halley, I’m not sure I could stop what happens next.

I’m not entirely sure I would want to.

And then there’s the woman.

The one Blaze had tied down. The one who put the bullet in Halley.

Maddie.

I study Zero’s face, searching for any twitch of guilt or sign that he knows where she is now.

Nothing.

She could be dead from the wounds Blaze inflicted, or she could be tucked into one of those civilian transports, headed for a new life despite the pain she caused.

It’s better if I don’t know.

It’s better if none of us know.

"Convey my thanks to your Pack for their support and sacrifice in ensuring mission success," Zero says. "We saved many lives."

Between us hangs the word "sacrifice", and I suddenly picture Halley's vacant eyes staring unseeingly at the sky.

I suppress a shudder and simply nod in acknowledgment. "See you back at base, Prime Alpha Zero."

He snaps back into Prime Alpha mode instantly. I watch as his personal discomfort and awkwardness slip away until all that remains is a soldier created solely for leadership with no space for emotion. He strides back into the controlled chaos of the decampment, soldiers darting forward to ask him for orders, which he issues with ease.

It's like watching the ghost of Knox.

I slip back inside, where a maelstrom of scents has swirled together into what my hindbrain now associates with Pack. I allow it to wash over me and soothe my frayed nerves. We are together despite the universe's best attempt to split us up.

Knox catches my eye and nods. He heard everything Zero said, and outside the tent, our departure is already being handled.

Once, command would have swallowed him whole. Now he stays here with us, watching Viper sluggishly climb into his trousers.

He fumbles with his zipper, and Knox's fingers twitch at his side.

He wants to help, but he holds himself back.

Viper looks exhausted, but thankfully, he is still himself. Not a trace of bulging veins, black eyes, or psychotic rage.

We pack slowly, relief and grief making every movement heavier than it should be. Knox keeps glancing at his lieutenant, rubbing at the scar on the bridge of his nose until the skin reddens.

Viper starts his usual task of checking each of our weapons and packing them for transport. He works his way through Blaze's extensive blade inventory before moving on to Knox's stash. He picks up Knox's pistol, and Knox goes still.

"Don’t make me do it again," he says.

Viper pauses, the gun resting in his huge hand. "What?"

Knox nods toward the pistol. "That." His voice roughens. "I can’t. I won’t."

Understanding moves slowly across Viper’s face.

"Years ago, I gave you my word," Knox says. "That when Blood Lust took you for good, I’d be the one to end it."

I purse my lips. Yes, we all understood what would happen when Viper finally succumbed to Blood Lust and exactly what our Prime Alpha vowed to do if it were in his power. A mercy kill was the right thing.