Page 154 of Alpha Awakened
This was their first time seeing him in person. Cortez was undoubtedly an alpha. Big, barrel chest, broad shoulders. He was dressed in a tight green tee, camo pants, and combat boots. A bullet proof vest protected his torso.
“We are at a standoff, Major Ortiz,” he called out.
Showing off her own alpha fearlessness, Ortiz abandoned her cover and strode out to meet him. She was a few inches shorter than Cortez, but her aura was equally as dominant.
Ice, Jax, and Hazard followed, taking up position a few steps behind their leader.
“Not for long. We’ll take you and your people down before the day is done.”
Cortez smiled. “Perhaps. Or perhaps we can settle this the old way. Without human weapons. As wolves.” He tossed his gun to the ground. “I fight one of you. If I win, you go back to your base and stay out of our business with the Snow Walkers. If your challenger defeats me, we will go into Legion custody without further resistance.”
“And you and all your people will honor this?” Ortiz asked.
Cortez nodded. “I give you my word as an alpha.”
Hazard stepped up to his squad leader to speak into her ear. “I don’t like this. He’s got too much to lose to risk his freedom in a wolf-to-wolf fight.”
“True,” Ortiz replied with her eyes still on Cortez. “But he’s smart. He knows he’s likely to end up dead at the end of a bulletif the firefight continues. And then his little rebellion will be over.”
Cortez of course could hear them. He gave an acknowledging nod of his head.
“We accept your challenge,” Ortiz said firmly and loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Excellent.” Cortez grinned, his eyes starting to glow. “Who will face me?”
Ice stepped up next to Ortiz. “I will.”
Chapter 59
“You’re the infamous Captain Ice Anderson, correct? It will be an honor to face you in combat.”
Ice didn’t answer. He simply glared at the insurrectionist leader.
“Ice,” Ortiz quietly spoke his name to get his attention. “As team lead, I should be the one to face him.”
Ice shook his head. “He nearly killed my mate. I want payback.”
Ortiz’s brows rose. “Mate?”
Ice tugged down his collar, revealing the fresh bond bite on his throat.
Ortiz’s eyes went wide and she whipped her head around to look at Hazard.
The omega did as Ice had, pulling his collar aside to show his marked mating gland.
Ortiz blew out a hard breath. “Of course you two have mated.” She took a step back. “He’s all yours then.”
The fight was approved and the terms were set. In the middle of the clearing, the two groups formed a ring around Ice and Cortez as they began to undress. Legion on one side of the circle, Vengeful Claw on the other. Anticipation filled the air, as thick as the gun smoke that hung over the area.
Ice dropped his gear to the ground, kicking it to the side. He’d never done a one-on-one challenge like this before, but hewas glad to fight as a wolf. And his wolf was eager for the chance to be let loose to face an enemy.
Once he was naked, Ice bounced on the balls of his feet. He shook his arms out then shifted, dropping to all fours in his new form as a big, white wolf.
Across from him Cortez had shifted as well. He was a large, muscled, light brown wolf with white on his belly and down both his front legs.
The two alphas began to slowly circle each other, growling, lips pulled back to show their sharp fangs. The smell of aggression from both wolves rose in the air. The two scents formed an unpleasant mix that made the hackles on the back of Ice’s neck go up.
Someone in the circle called out the signal to start.