Page 28 of Alpha Awakened

Jax made chicken clucking noises.

Ice glared. Before he could offer a retort however, Hazard arrived at his side. The omega smiled up at him, face rosy from drink and conversation.

“Heading back to barracks, Captain?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll walk back with you.”

“Why leave?” Ice flicked his gaze over to the pool game Hazard had been in before looking at him again. “It looked like you were having a good time.”

“I was. But I’m tired.”

“Fine.”

Ice made his way to the mess hall door, Hazard calling out goodbyes to soldiers and officers as he trailed behind in his wake. Outside, the night was cool. The sounds of music and revelry became muted once the mess hall doors closed behind them. Soldiers stood around alone, or in small groups, talking and smoking.

“That was a good night,” Hazard said quietly as they walked.

“Why’d you leave then?” Ice asked without looking at the corporal.

“I love hanging out but when I hit my limit I’m ready to go. I’m still tired from the Arizona op, so I guess I hit it a little sooner than usual.”

“Hmm.” That was a surprise to hear. He’d assumed that Hazard had a never-ending battery when it came to being social. Still, Hazard’s shortened social tolerance was longer than his own regular tolerance, which ran out after about twenty minutes.

Hazard stepped closer and playfully knocked their arms together.

“And as a bonus, I get to walk back with you.”

Ice rolled his eyes at the corporal’s teasing. Making the short trip from mess to barracks with him was hardly any kind of bonus.

Before they reached their barracks they came across a trio of soldiers. Two human officers had cornered a young recruit up against the side of a building. The recruit was a shifter, a beta. He had cinnamon brown skin and startingly bright sapphire blue eyes. His face was still round with baby fat and gray framed glasses perched on his nose. It was obvious the officers were up to no good. The beta’s entire being was stiff, his fingers clenched tight on the book he held down by his side. Ice could have kept moving, but he slowed to a stop and addressed them.

“Is there a problem here?”

All three soldiers stood at attention and saluted him. The officers answered while the recruit remained silent.

“No, sir.”

“We’re just hanging out, Captain Anderson.”

Ice knew that was a lie. He shifted his gaze to the recruit, silently demanding an answer.

“There’s no problem here, sir!”

Also a lie. But of course, a rookie soldier wasn’t going to complain about the officers harassing him right in front of them.Ice wanted to put a stop to whatever was going on but didn’t want to leave the young soldier open to retaliation. He looked at the name on the recruit’s uniform. Thomas.

“Private Thomas. Step away for a moment.”

“Yes, sir,” he said with a sharp salute. He retreated to stand next to Hazard.

Ice stood in front of the officers, silent and patient, letting them stew in their turn being intimidated. And he was much better at intimidation than they were. He took a step forward, getting close into their personal space. They weren’t shifters so they didn’t show their necks, but they dropped their gazes to the ground and the sour smell of fear sweat drifted up to sting Ice’s nose. When he finally spoke, he didn’t yell or growl. He kept his voice low, steady, and icy cold.

“I have a lot of pull in the Legion. Don’t give me a reason to have you both shipped off to Bumfuck, North Dakota for permanent janitorial assignment. Do your jobs and leave the recruits alone. Understood?”

One swallowed hard enough to make an audiblegulp, while the other nodded his head so fast it was a wonder he didn’t pull something in his neck.

“Yes, Sir!”