Page 3 of Alpha Awakened

“I remember our meeting, Captain Anderson. It’s nice to see you again, sir.”

“Mmmm.” Ice answered with a noncommittal hum.

“How was your ride in?” Ortiz asked.

“Uneventful. I could use some action after the long trip.”

“You’ll have plenty of it here. We’re briefing now for tonight’s mission.”

“Sounds good.”

Ice noted the eagerness to Hazard’s expression. The young soldier didn’t complain about being put straight to work or ask for a night’s respite after being transferred from his previous post. He respected that. While Mitchell walked around the table to take a seat and the aide began passing out mission briefs, Ice assessed their new team member.

The corporal wasn’t what he’d expected. Usually omegas were short, with petite, slender builds. Mitchell was smaller than the three alphas in the 448 — a whole head shorter than Ice — but he wasn’tthatshort. And his build wasn’t anywhere close to what you’d call slender.

This omega was solid, with thick thighs, wide shoulders, and a firm, broad chest that tapered down to a flat stomach and tight waist. Muscular arms made it clear that he put in good time in the gym. Mitchell wouldn’t be slipping into any small, tight spaces with his sturdy frame.

His ink black hair was buzzed close to his scalp. And the barest hint of a five o’clock shadow darkened his jaw — another difference from the omegas Ice usually saw with their smooth, bare cheeks. Of course, Ice didn’t care about any those non-typical traits. He only cared if Mitchell could do the job he’d been brought in to do.

An odd warmth started to tingle in Ice’s chest. Ice rubbed his knuckles over his breastbone. It was probably mild heartburn from the jalapenos the mess hall cooks had sprinkled in that evening’s dinner.

Still feeling annoyed, Ice opened the mission brief. He didn’t want a partner at all and he certainly didn’t want this one with his cheeky attitude. But Ortiz had brought Mitchell in, doing it in a way that left Ice little room for refusal. For tonight at least, he would have to work with him.

* * *

Hazard looked into the eyes of the man sitting across from him. He recognized those deep, dark eyes. They belonged to the officer he’d run into three months ago when he’d visited Fort Grove to speak with Major Ortiz. The big alpha hadn’t been wearing his wolf skull mask that night and he’d been in casual clothes so he hadn’t realized he’d been speaking with the infamous Captain Ice Anderson.

Going by the cold stare the captain was giving him now, he’d probably pissed him off with his flippant exit from their brief conversation. Fuck. Not the best way to start off with his new team. But, what was done was done. No point in dwelling on a minor misstep. He might not be off to a great start with the captain, but he already had a good rapport with Major Ortiz, the leader of the team.

He liked Ortiz. He’d first met her three years ago when she’d led an advanced training course. From what he remembered back in training, the tall brunette was smart, highly skilled, and laid-back when not in the field. Her light brown eyes were always calm and often friendly, a trait he admired in an alpha of her rank. It had been a surprise and an honor when the alpha had recruited him to join her squad.

His fellow corporal Jax was another alpha. He had smooth, mahogany brown skin and bright, copper brown eyes. He’d given off a good vibe during their introduction and seemed glad to have Hazard on the team. Hazard looked forward to getting to know him.

Jax was dressed in loose fitting Legion pullover shirt, drawstring pants, and slip-on footwear. It was standard uniform for soldiers who planned to shift during a mission. Ortiz was in the 448’s specialty black uniform. There was a dark green band on the collar and cuffs and a 448 patch sewn onto the right arm. Hazard wondered when he would receive his 448 kit to wear instead of his standard US Legion uniform. Major Ortiz would probably have him go through a few missions to earn it first.

Then there was Ice. He’d heard tales of the man. Everyone in the Legion had. The tales all said that he was big, bad, and deadly. A lone wolf with an unmatched kill count. And that he was rarely seen in public without the hard-shell wolf mask covering most of his face.

Hazard could verify that thebigpart of Ice’s reputation was accurate. The night they’d first met, the alpha had towered over him by more than a head, making him easily six foot four. Sitting across from him now made it clear that his muscular bulk was massive. He wondered how big Ice was when he shifted into his wolf form.

The alpha was wearing the infamous wolf’s skull mask. This one was painted pitch black, except for the sharp white teeth. Another part of the legend that was true. The night they’d met he must have caught him during one of the rare occasions he didn’t have it on. If Ice had been wearing it that night, he probably wouldn’t have been cheeky talking to him. Or maybe he would have.

As far as bad and deadly... Well, he’d find out if that was true soon enough. However, Hazard couldn’t lie to himself. Evenbefore seeing Ice in action, Hazard was slightly intimidated by him.

The way the captain kept his face covered by a replica of a wolf’s skull gave off vibes that had the hairs on the back of Hazard’s neck rising in a primal warning.Tread lightly, his Instinct whispered.This one is dangerous. But Hazard was a dangerous man too. And being intimidated wouldn’t fly if they were going to work together.

Dark eyes that peered out from the eye sockets of his mask with cool detachment were the only parts of the alpha that Hazard could see. The rest of his body was covered with long sleeves, pants, boots, and gloves. All of it in black.

Other than his size and eyes, Hazard couldn’t determine any of Ice’s physical characteristics. He couldn’t even see Ice’s lashes or eyebrows thanks to the shadows cast by the eyeholes of the mask. And the balaclava he wore beneath the mask hid his hair, making it impossible to tell his hair color or skin tone. Was he tan like Hazard or lighter? Was he a redhead, blond, or a brunette? Hazard had no clue, but he wondered what made a man lock all of himself away like that.

When the corporal’s assistant flicked off the overhead lights and turned on the two large monitors set into the wall at the front of the room, Hazard shrugged off his thoughts on the mysterious Ice and gave his attention to the briefing that was beginning.

Gibbs rose from his seat at the head of the table. The lieutenant colonel was an older Caucasian man, human, with faded red hair cut short, and silvered battle scars on his hard face. He was dressed in a sharply pressed green officers’ uniform with the requisite gold bars displaying his rank.

“Corporal Mitchell. Welcome to the team,” Colonel Gibbs said in a crisp tone.

“Thank you, sir.”

“You’ve joined the 448,” the colonel continued. “An elite squad formed for one reason. To get shit done. Whenever we have a situation that needs a lightning fast, no holds barred response, the 448 is called in. I hope you’re ready for that responsibility.”

---