Page 168 of Alpha Awakened

“Thanks. And thanks for being cool about me wearing the mask.”

Ortiz raised her beer. “Here’s to Cortez’s defeat, our pack mates’ court win, and Ice’s face.”

“Cheers.”

“I’ll toast to that,” Hazard chimed in.

They leaned over the fire to clink their beer cans together in a toast.

“I think I’m jealous,” Hazard said to Ice when he settled back. “I thought I’d be the only one treated to such beauty. Now I have to watch the rest of the pack ogling you all night,” he playfully teased.

Jax laughed. “Avert your eyes, Major. You don’t want a jealous omega on your ass. They bite.”

Hazard grinned and pressed a loud, smooching kiss to Ice’s knee.

“Is this a permanent unmasking?” Ortiz asked.

“Might still wear it around base,” Ice answered. “But with my pack, I don’t feel the need to be masked anymore.”

Hazard smiled hearing Ice refer to the 448 as his pack. They’d come a long way from Ice eating meals on his own and insisting he didn’t need a pack.

The conversation moved on, all of them relaxed and at ease as they talked around the camp fire. They were discussing what they might be called to do next when Ortiz spoke up.

“Boys, you’re in luck. I’m letting you sleep in tomorrow.”

“Really?” Hazard asked in surprise.

“Yep. One hour. And no morning run. Enjoy it.” She waved her beer can as if she were a royal granting a boon to her subjects.

“I won’t turn down an extra hour of sleep,” Jax said. “But I’ll miss the run.”

Hazard had the perfect solution for that problem. “Since we’re not running in the morning let’s go now. Shifted. As a pack.”

Jax bounced to his feet. “Hell, yeah. Let’s do it.”

Hazard banked the fire while everyone else stripped out of their clothes and put them in the Range Rover. Jax shifted first. The big, brown wolf swung his head around to look at Hazard.

Hurry up, slow poke.

Hazard startled at how clear Jax’s voice was in his head. “I hear you loud and clear, boss.”

Guess we made that pack connection then.

Hazard grinned. “Guess so,” he said just before he shifted.

Once they were all in wolf form Ortiz howled. The other three wolves lifted their heads and joined their voices to hers. With a sharp bark, Ortiz took off running, the three of them right behind her.

As they ran, they fell into pack formation. Ortiz in the lead, Ice slightly behind and to her right, Jax and Hazard running side by side behind them. Together they weaved through the forest, underbrush crackling under their paws, a crescent moon shining through the treetops above.

Hazard looked at the pure white wolf running in front of him. His mate. He loved Royce and was proud to be in a packwith him. Next Hazard looked at Ortiz and Jax. Their brown coats, different shades, both blended beautifully into the colors and shadows of the forest. He was proud to serve with them too.

Is this the first of many pack runs, Major?Hazard asked hopefully.

The major’s answer was swift.

Absolutely, Corporal. The pack that runs together, stays together.

* * *