Page 166 of Alpha Awakened
Ortiz crossed her arms over her chest with a self-satisfied smile on her face. “I wasn’t losing my boys without a fight.”
“I am beyond grateful that you fought for us,” Hazard said.
“Me too,” Ice rumbled behind him.
“Me three,” Jax said. “If I had to suffer through witnessing the drama you two went through, I’m damn well keeping you.”
Hazard scoffed in amusement. “Your turn will come, my friend. And I’ll be right there with popcorn to watch as you lose your head over your mate.”
Jax rolled his eyes at that. Ortiz laughed and lightly clapped him on the shoulder.
“Stop complaining, Jax. You got a free day off base while those two stayed behind to fix their shit.”
“Wait.” Hazard frowned as realization hit him. “You mean there was never an escort mission? That milk run wasn’t real?”
Ortiz gave him a serene smile. “I don’t know what you mean, Corporal Mitchell. Now, let’s get out of here and get some lunch.”
* * *
An hour later, Ice was leaving the mess hall with his team when a young officer approached them.
“Captain Anderson, sir.”
“Yes?”
“Major General Walsh is here on base. He wants to see you.”
Ice looked at Hazard. “I need to go.”
Hazard squeezed his hand. “Okay. I’ll see you later.”
Ice squeezed his hand back then followed the officer to where the general was waiting for him. He went into the officers’ lounge and closed the door behind him.
“Hello, General Walsh, sir.”
“Hello, Royce. Have a seat.” Walsh indicated the leather club chair next to the one where he sat. “I heard about the trouble you landed in,” he said after Ice sat down.
“Yes. Thankfully, it’s all been taken care of without any issue.”
“That’s good to hear. But I have to admit, son. I’m not just surprised, I’m disappointed. A relationship with an enlisted man?”
“It was a shock to me as well, sir. But I’ve learned over the past few months that embracing the parts of me that are shifter isn’t a negative. And that includes following my Instinct to my mate.”
“I see. What about your goal?”
“My goal is still a priority, sir. I’m mated, but I intend to work just as hard to be promoted.”
“And how is the... relationship?”
“If you can believe it, it’s the best thing that ever happened to me. Dylan — Corporal Mitchell — fills parts of me that I didn’t even realize were empty. And he’s an excellent soldier too. We are a perfect match for each other.” Ice stopped, surprised that he’d gushed so much. Apparently he wanted everyone to know how happy Hazard made him.
The general smiled. “I suppose I understand as much as a life-long bachelor can understand.”
Ice started to take the expression at face value. But something felt... off. Walsh wasn’t a shifter so his emotions weren’t broadcast through his smell as strongly. But Ice still detected something dishonest in his scent. Maybe Walsh was more disappointed than he’d let on that he’d broken a regulation, when he’d never so much as missed curfew before. Too bad. He wasn’t giving Hazard up because his mentor was disappointed in him.
“I’m here for a couple of days this time,” Walsh said. “Maybe I can have dinner with that team of yours, if you all are available.”
“I’d like that, sir.”