Page 45 of Alpha Awakened
“Good morning, recruits. I’m Major Ortiz and I’ll be leading this training session today. Assisting me is Corporal Mitchell.”
“Good morning Major Ortiz! Good morning Corporal Mitchell!” the privates shouted in unison.
“Today, you will be learning more on hand-to-hand combat. First, the corporal and I will demonstrate. Then you will break off into two groups to practice. Understood?”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Hazard moved into place so that they could demonstrate the moves for today’s lesson. Each move was explained with step-by-step by instructions. They taught each move slowly at first, then in real time. They took turns being the one utilizing the hold or strike and the one being attacked.
Once he and Ortiz went through them all they split the privates up into two groups. Hazard took his group over to left side of the gym.
“Okay, privates. Pair off. Let’s start with upper cuts. Attackers, you are not going full out. We don’t want any broken jaws today. Defenders, I still want you to make sure you block.” He clapped his hands together. “Let’s go!”
The young soldiers excitedly got started. Hand to hand was usually a favorite among recruits. After a few minutes of the first round of attackers practicing their upper cuts, he called for them to switch off.
“Switch!”
As Hazard watched the privates, a tingle of awareness suddenly slipped down his spine. Following the pull tugging at his chest, he looked over and saw Ice standing in the doorway. Their eyes met. Ice crossed his arms over his chest and leaned one shoulder against the doorframe. The relaxed pose made it clear he didn’t plan to leave for a while.
Hazard stood there frozen, staring at the captain until one of the privates, a slender African American omega with a honeygold complexion, raised his hand. Hazard jerked his gaze away from Ice to acknowledge the young soldier.
“Private Bell. Go ahead.”
“How are omegas supposed to win hand to hand combat if we come up against an alpha? They’re so much bigger and stronger than us. It seems pointless to even try.”
“If you give up in a fight because you’re an omega, you won’t survive for very long.”
Bell didn’t look convinced.
“That’s easy for you to say. You’re bigger than the average omega.”
“True,” Hazard acknowledged that fact with a nod. “But I’m still not able to match the strength of a lot of alphas.” He looked over toward the entrance again. “Especially ones like our Captain Ice.”
The group turned and followed Hazard’s gaze to where the big alpha was still leaning against the doorway.
Hazard raised his voice to be heard over the noise of grappling from the other group. “Care to join us, sir?” Hazard asked.
At his invitation, Ice straightened and strode into the gym. The scent of nervousness from the privates spiked. They skittered out of the way to make room for the captain as he cut through their midst, watching him walk past them with awe on their young faces.
It was easy to see why they were intimidated. The alpha was a menacing presence, the sheer size of him enough to make anyone wary. He was taller than everyone else in the room and dressed all in black with a stark white wolf skull mask covering his face. He walked with a lethally confident swagger that left no doubt that he could break bones and incapacitate anyone foolish enough to move against him.
Captain Ice Anderson made Hazard feel something too, but it definitely wasn’t intimidation.
Ice stopped when he reached Hazard’s side. He recrossed his arms over his chest and stared at the group of soldiers.
“It’s not always strength and size that wins fights,” Hazard continued. “Although those things do give some people an advantage. That’s why you have to learn how to use whatever advantagesyouhave. Being smarter than your opponent. Faster. Having better technique. And if all else fails, bite that motherfucker.”
The last made the group laugh. Private Bell relaxed, laughing along with his fellow recruits.
“Ice, what do you say we give them a little demonstration so they can see how an omega trained to fight can hold up against an alpha opponent?” Hazard asked with a grin.
Ice turned his head to look down at him.
“Love to.”
The soldiers who’d been training with Hazard all stepped back to give him and Ice more room on the mat. They squared off, just as they had the first time they’d sparred. This time, Hazard had the knowledge that his quick in and out attacks weren’t going to work. He’d have to rely on his skill and his mean streak. As soon as they started, Hazard punched forward in a quick jab, aiming for a throat strike. He almost connected, but Ice batted his fist away at the last second.
“Fighting dirty, Corporal?” Ice asked in his rough voice.