Page 38 of Alpha Awakened

Instead of answering, he looked at his squadmate and asked a question of his own. “Why don’t we scent each other?”

Jax’s eyebrows rose at the question. “I don’t know.” He turned to Ortiz. “Why don’t we, Major?”

“It never came up,” Ortiz said. “Do you want to scent, Hazard?” she asked.

Hazard blew out a frustrated breath before answering. “Yeah. We’re a team and Iknowthat. But I would feel better, more settled, if we did something to bond as a pack. Especially after that fucked up mission.”

“Then let’s do it.” She smiled and beckoned him over.

Surprised that it was that easy, Hazard crossed the ready room to go to his unit leader. He put his head on her shoulder, close to the scent gland on her throat but not touching. With a deep inhale, he breathed in the smell of mint. It was slightly dulled by blockers and tinged with sweat and gun smoke. But it was what he needed. His pack alpha letting him know they were safe. She pressed him close for a moment. Her wrist brushed over the back of his neck, the gland there transferring her scent to his skin. Relief washed over him, and the tight knot of tension in his gut slowly began to unravel. After a final deep breath in, he raised his head and stepped away. “Thanks, Major.”

“You’re welcome. Anytime you need it, just ask.”

The relaxed, easy smile was still on her face, replacing the pinched frown that had been settled between her eyebrows for hours. Hazard was glad that she seemed happy to scent rather than thinking the request was foolish. And since she was their leader, hopefully she’d gotten something from scenting one of her teammates.

A cough came from the other side of the room. Hazard looked to see Jax waiting for him with his arms open wide.

“Come here, bro.”

With a grin, he went in for a bro hug with Jax. The roughly affectionate contact transferred their scents to one another. Hazard breathed in, inhaling Jax’s fresh grass scent. He drew back, pretending to wince at the playful punch Jax landed on his shoulder. Jax and Ortiz scented each other as well.

“Feel better?” Jax asked him.

“Absolutely.”

“So do I actually,” Jax said as he rolled his shoulders. “Thanks for bringing it up.”

“No problem,” he said before he looked to Ice. The black clad alpha’s back was to them. Hazard had a feeling he wouldn’t be up for it, but not wanting to reject him in case he actually did want to scent, he extended the offer.

“What about you Ice?”

“I’m good. But thank you.”

That was the answer Hazard expected to hear. “The offer stands if you ever change your mind.”

Ice nodded.

The mood was noticeably lighter after that. Hazard’s unsettled, itchy feeling eased, allowing him to finally relax. Ortiz softly whistled as she checked over the straps and buckles on her tac vest while Hazard and Jax traded good-natured insults over the mishaps they’d had during the mission.

Once everyone was finished gearing down and had returned their weapons to the gun cage, they left the armory. The team walked together back to their barracks, Ortiz slightly ahead, Jax and Hazard next to each other, Ice behind them.

“Are we making that a habit?” Jax asked.

Hazard certainly hoped that they were. “If you guys don’t mind,” he said aloud.

Ortiz threw her answer back over her shoulder. “It’s fine by me.”

“Fine by me too,” Jax said.

Hazard smiled. “Good.”

Jax slung an arm over his shoulders as they walked. “You’re good for this team.”

At the compliment, Hazard’s Instinct glowed warm in his chest. If felt good knowing that one of the people he wanted toestablish a pack bond with was happy to have him around. Saw him as valuable.

Tonight, the 448 had taken their first steps toward becoming not just a team but a pack.

* * *