Page 6 of Ruled By The Alpha

AX2 remembers this—the jokes, the laughter, the sharing of words for no other reason than… thanbonding.It’s like a lightning strike up his spine, only it isn’t a memory as such, it’s… it’s a whisper through the dark parts of his mind he can no longer access. A warm trickle through his blood. It feels… right in a way nothing elsehas since the cursed day he woke up inherlab.

This? This is what it feels like to be human.

A clank of metal sends a jerk through the group, each alpha pulling away and into straight-spined postures of attention before the door swings open.

AX2’s heart throbs too fast in his chest as General Thompson walks in, followed by Dr. Green, and a few moments later,her.The general’s gaze slides over them all, and with a jolt of surprise, AX2 realizes the fear making his heart pound against his ribs is not for himself—it’s for the strangers he's known for mere minutes.

He moves forward a single step, offering a mechanical salute. “General, I initiated any and all unapproved contact. The responsibility for any infractions is mine, and mine alone.”

The blond alpha by his side draws in a sharp breath, imperceptible to a regular human’s ears, but AX2 hears it. The gratitude he feels at that small suggestion that this stranger cares what consequences he might face for his admission is blinding. But the urge to shield these men from whatever punishment comes next is impossible to dismiss. They are his kin.

And he is not alone.

But instead of anger or disapproval, the general’s face cracks in a wide grin.

“Ha! Do you see this?” He turns to look over his shoulder at the two doctors. “Five minutes together, and they are already displaying unit loyalty.Machines.”His focus returns to AX2, the triumphant smile still in place. “Step back, soldier. No infractions have taken place.”

This… is new. AX2 obeys, unease clenching in his gut as he flicks his gaze toher.Newis dangerous with her. And judging by the murderous look in her pale gray eyes, she does not agree with the general’s assessment. Herfather’sassessment.

It is… odd to think of her as having a father. Unpleasant.Addie,he’d called her. The same, shortened name the woman on the phone had used for her. The doctor hadn’t liked it, hadn’t liked being undermined in front of him, the look of anger on her face as prominent then as it is now.

“You may be wondering why we have gathered you together,” General Thompson says, his focus widening to include the other soldiers. “Through the hard work of the scientists working on Project Fireshield, the U.S. Military now has five soldiers amongst its ranks with unprecedented strength. You have all been tested through a series of complex missions, and we are most impressed with your combat abilities. Your unique qualities have ensured success where drones would have lacked finesse, and regular troops strength. Your victories have not gone unnoticed. The Pentagon has tasked me with taking your training in a new direction, and that, men, is why we are here today.

“For the past four decades, I have served our country, and the number-one lesson I have learned is that a man needs his unit. It doesn’t matter how strong you are, soldiers.; without brothers in arms, you are vulnerable. Weak. It is my wish, and the wish of the U.S. Government, that you integrate into thegeneral military population. The eventual goal is that you form a special unit that can assist every branch of the defensive services as needed.

“Your combat prowess is impeccable, so going forward, you’ll be developing skills of a more social nature. Step one is to bring you together, like we have today, and to assess how you might operate as a unit. I have already provided Dr. Green and Dr. Thompson with your new regimen, and they will be overseeing your progress and reporting back to me.

“I have great expectations of you, men. Each of you has already shown how seriously you take this second chance you have been given to serve your country, and I expect nothing less as we move forward together. Now, I have duties to return to, so I will leave you with your capable team to get on with it. Good luck, soldiers. Do me proud.”

No one speaks as General Thompson nods at the two doctors, then turns to exit the room.

A vein throbs in AX2’s temple, one of his body parts untouched by engineering. He saw the people with the general yesterday: sleek suits and bland faces with cunning eyes. The kind of people at home in the shadows.Intelligence.

It doesn’t take a genius to work out why they were watching a demonstration of his abilities, not when it is immediately followed by orders to learn tosocialize.

He dares a glance atheragain, at her flatly pressed lips and darkened eyes, and remembers how she all but snarled that she could get him to follow any instructions necessary.

The thought has barely entered his brain when she lifts her gaze, catching his.

Addie.

Her much-too-sweet name flickers through his mind before he can stop it, followed by the memory of her floral shampoo in his nostrils. Her fingertips on his chest. In the breath theireyes are locked, something dark and needy coils in his abdomen. Then her eyes widen, outrage flashing over her face before she rips her gaze from him and turns to the other soldiers.

“You know your orders: socialize. We will be observing your efforts. Noncompliance will not be accepted. Commence.”

“Speaking of whores,” the man to his left mutters under his breath, low enough that neither doctor hears.

AX2 blinks, the rushing sound in his ears making it hard to focus on the other soldiers hesitantly relaxing. The knot in his abdomen is still hot and tight, and he feels… empty.Hungering.

What is this?

“AX2.” Dr. Green snaps his fingers. “Join the others.”

He jerks once, finally managing to pull his focus from the disturbing sensations of his biological body. “Yes, sir.”

The others watch him, faces blank from what he assumes is the same sort of training that has taught him to keep his emotions hidden. But when he joins the loose circle of men, a dark-haired alpha with olive skin asks, “AX2?”

AX2 grunts, offering a nod. “You?”

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