Page 126 of Alpha Awakened
Ice held out his arm for the doctor to look at the withdrawal site. They hadn’t bothered to put a bandage on the spot to stop the bleeding so there was a small crust of blood on his arm. The doctor wiped it clean with an alcohol pad.
“This is fine. They were good with a needle.”
He let go of Ice’s arm and moved to touch his scent gland with his gloved fingers.
Ice instantly flinched away. His lips peeled back from his teeth, baring his fangs in a silent snarl.
The doctor froze with his hands in the air above Ice’s collarbone, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Sorry, Doc.” Ice forced himself to relax. “Just don’t touch me there right now.”
He flicked a quick glance at Hazard. The omega looked concerned but Ice couldn’t explain his reaction just then. He only knew that he couldn’t handle anyone touching his mating gland again. Ice pulled in a deep inhale. He breathed in Hazard’s scent. The familiar smell of apples was laced with traces of worry and anger. With that scent in his nose, Ice adjusted his line of thought. He didn’t want anyone who wasn’t Hazard touching his mating gland.
The doctor looked at Hazard too. A smile briefly deepened the creases at the corner of his eyes. “Understood,” he said as he dropped his hands. “Visually the gland appears to be fine. No swelling or irritation. The amount they withdrew will naturally replenish. But if you start noticing any adverse reactions in the area, swelling or pain, I want you to come and see me immediately.”
Ice nodded. “Will do.”
“You’re good to go.” The doctor pulled off his gloves. He went over to one of the cabinets and took out a small blue jar. He handed it to Hazard. “Apply that salve to your bruises untilthey’re gone. Regularly ice them as well. Get some rest, eat, and you should be good as new in a couple of days.”
“Thanks, Doc.” Ortiz said.
“Of course, Major.”
The doctor left the room, dropping his gloves in the waste basket on the way out.
Ice slid off the exam table and shrugged back into his shirt. He rebuttoned it, but didn’t bother to tuck it in.
“You’re a lucky bastard, Captain. Getting captured by a group of mercs who didn’t know how to go deep with the interrogation tactics. Or maybe they were too scared of you to go whole hog with the torture,” Jax joked.
The others laughed, but Ice could smell the relief on them. They were all glad that he hadn’t been seriously hurt during his short captivity. So was he. He could have handled it, but he was glad he didn’t have to.
The four of them left the med center and headed back to their barracks. As they walked, Ortiz moved to be out in front. Hazard fell into place at Ice’s right side and Jax took the rear position watching his back.
Ice’s Instinct felt settled and secure being surrounded by his squad as they crossed the base. They’d come to rescue him and they were protecting him now. Maybe being part of a team wasn’t so bad after all.
* * *
After a quick shower, Ice had a simple but filling meal of meatloaf sandwiches and mashed potatoes, several glasses of water, and cookies for dessert. His belly full for the first time in days, Ice leaned back in his chair with a content sigh. Hazard and Jax teased him for how many sandwiches he ate, but he was too tired to do more than hit them with a side eye for their playful impertinence.
“We should all get to bed,” Ortiz said. “It’s been a rough and exhausting week.”
Everyone agreed and rose from the table. Before they left the kitchen, Ice called out to Jax and Ortiz.
“Thank you both for getting me out,” he said with sincere gratitude.
Jax reached over and clapped him on the shoulder.
“Of course. No way we were leaving you out there on your own.”
Ortiz didn’t speak. But she pressed her fist to Ice’s chest and nodded. Ice nodded in return.
The two alphas went to their bedrooms. Ice turned to go to his, with Hazard following behind him.
“How are you feeling?” Hazard asked once they were behind his closed bedroom door.
“Tired but not ready to sleep.”
“Do you want me to go?”