Page 125 of Alpha Awakened

“That’s interesting,” Ortiz said thoughtfully.

“I thought so too.”

“You said Merc Number Five. How many were there total?” Hazard asked.

“Six, including the leader. Then the doctor and his assistant came in. If there was anyone else involved, I never saw them.”

“They were slippery bastards,” Ortiz said. “They all fled the second we were on site.”

Jax nodded. “Yep. Didn’t engage with any of them except for the one that Hazard got his teeth into. I called him off so we could get to you and he hauled ass out of there the second Hazard let him go.”

“The bastard is lucky I didn’t kill him,” Hazard said with a hint of angry growl to his tone.

“He’ll have some nice scars to remember you by for the rest of his life.”

“Good.”

There was a quick knock on the door. It opened and a doctor walked in. An older beta with salt and pepper hair, wearing a green uniform with a blue med staff band around his upper right arm, and a stethoscope around his neck. A confused frown creased his brow when he noted the presence of the other 448 members.

“Uh... Examinations are private,” he said politely. He stood there holding the door open in a clear gesture for them to exit the room.

None of Ice’s squadmates moved.

“We’re not leaving, Doc,” Hazard said.

At that declaration, the doctor looked to Ice.

Surprised and... touched that his team wanted to remain by his side, he gave the doctor permission for them to stay. “It’s fine. Go ahead with the examination.”

The doctor could have followed protocol and banished the rest of the 448 from the exam room. But he seemed kind and understanding. With an amused smile shining in his denim blue eyes, he shut the door. This doctor was a lot different than the mystery doctor with his cold green eyes. He pulled on a pair of gloves and got started with Ice’s exam while three soldiers loomed over him watching his every move. Ortiz and Jax were tense while Hazard looked ready to attack if Ice so much as tightened a muscle in discomfort.

“Looks like they worked you over pretty good,” he said as he gently prodded Ice’s bruises. “Tools?”

“Fists and a stun gun.”

“Did you pass out or feel irregular heartbeat when you were stunned?”

“No. They were light with it.”

“Felt like a tickle?”

Ice snorted a laugh. “Exactly.”

“Well, let’s check your heart anyway.”

A cold stethoscope was pressed to Ice’s chest. Ice sat calmly while the doctor listened to his heart. Then he moved the stethoscope to his back.

“Sounds good,” he said, looping the stethoscope back around his neck. He moved on to pressing on Ice’s ribs, checking for broken bones. He directed Ice to inhale and exhale while he watched.

“No pain when you breathe?”

Ice shook his head.

“Relatively speaking, you’re in good shape. Shifter healing has certainly helped. Anything else I should be aware of?”

“I didn’t eat while I was held. And they drew blood and took fluid from my scent gland.”

“Let’s check that out.”