Page 169 of Alpha Awakened
After their run, they trotted back to the camp site, tired but happy. Everyone shifted back into human form. Redressed in his jeans and sweatshirt, Hazard started to work on cleanup so they could return to base. But Ice wrapped both arms around his waist in a loose hug and lazily pulled him into his body.
“Hold up for a minute. I want to tell you something.”
Dylan tilted his head back to look up at his mate. He was even more handsome than usual in the moonlight. His blond hair shone as bright as the moon and his dark eyes rivaled the sky in their velvety softness. “Okay.”
Ice lowered his voice to whisper, the rough timbre meant for Hazard’s ears alone.
“You awakened me to what it means to truly be a shifter. An alpha. Taught me how important it is to be a part of a pack. And showed me how special it feels to love and be loved in return. I love you, Corporal Dylan Hazard Mitchell. And I’m glad you joined our squad.”
Ice’s declaration was everything Hazard wanted to hear. And he shared his own feelings without hesitation.
“I knew soon after I joined that the 448 was going to be my pack and that you would be a great partner. I didn’t know that you would be the greatest thing to ever happen to me. Notjust my partner, but my mate. I love you Captain Royce Ice Anderson. I want to fight and run and live by your side forever.”
Ice leaned down to brush their noses together.
“Forever,” he whispered, sealing the promise with a kiss.
Epilogue
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
Ice curled an arm around Hazard’s shoulders, tugging him close to drop a kiss on his forehead. “Absolutely.”
“Okay.”
They crossed the parking lot and went up to a small building. The large, plate glass window was painted with colorful designs in different styles — dragons, anchors, pin up girls. In the center of the art was the name OKC Tattoo Studio. Ice pulled open the door for his mate and followed him into the tattoo shop.
“Hi. We have a one o’clock appointment with Brett,” Hazard said to the girl sitting behind the counter.
“Just a second.” She twisted around on her bar stool. “Brett!” she yelled. “Your one o’clock is here!”
Ice was impressed. She could be a drill sergeant with a set of lungs like that. A second later, a tall, lanky beta sporting a sweatshirt, ripped jeans, and a backward ball cap over long blond hair came through the heavy red curtains behind her.
“Hey, Hazard. Good to see you again, man.”
“Hey, Brett. This is Ice, my mate I told you about.”
Ice stood at his mate’s side as Brett took him in from his boots to the top of his head covered in a black knit cap.
“You weren’t kidding about the size of him.” He held his hand out. “Nice to meet you, Ice.”
Ice shook his hand. “Likewise.”
“You mind taking your jacket off for me?”
Ice shrugged out of his black hoodie and handed it over to Hazard. He was wearing short sleeves, which left his forearm tattoos on display. Brett reached for his arm, but stopped short before touching him.
“May I?”
Ice nodded.
He cradled Ice’s arm with a surprisingly gentle touch, turning it back and forth to get a close look at all of the tattoos he had. “These are gorgeous. You’re from Mystic Storm?”
“Yes.”
“So am I. When your mate called, he insisted on a Mystic Storm artist to do your ink. He got lucky. I’m rolling through town on a cross-country tour before I head back home to Washington.”
“I came in to look through his book and loved his work,” Hazard said. “Made the appointment and put down a deposit right then.”