Page 50 of Alpha Awakened

“Headache gone?” Hazard asked.

“Yeah,” He sighed with relief. “Finally.”

“Good.” Hazard rose from the couch. “I’d better get back to bed. You know Ortiz will have us up early for our morning run.”

“Mmmm.” Ice hummed in agreement. “Thanks for keeping me company.”

Hazard smiled. “You’re welcome, Captain. Get some sleep.”

Ice stood and returned his glass to the kitchen. Now that the headache was gone, he should finally be able to rest.

Chapter 19

The next evening, Hazard was back on the couch, watching the weekly crime drama Simon and Simon with Jax. Ice sat at the kitchen table, sharpening his collection of knives. The front door opened, pulling Hazard’s attention away from the TV.

“Who’s in the mood for snow?” Ortiz asked as she came in and closed the door behind her.

Hazard straightened up from his slouch against the sofa cushions. “It’s too early in the year for snow here, so where are we going?”

She held up a brown mission brief folder. “We’ve been asked to assist on an op in Alaska.”

“What’s the mission?” Ice asked.

“There’s a black market operation set up on Fox Island. Their unit on the mainland base has enough intel to take them down, but due to the private military force this guy has guarding his compound, they want a team that specializes in infiltration and target extraction to fill out their numbers. So they requested us.”

“Wearethe best,” Jax said smugly.

Ortiz didn’t verbally agree, but the hint of a smile on her face was enough to show that she did.

“Pack warm. And be ready for a long flight.”

* * *

October 9, 1982

16:00

US Legion Base - Fort Mason

Outside Anchorage, Alaska

The flight from Fort Grove, Oklahoma to Anchorage, Alaska took just under ten hours. Thankful to be back on the ground, Hazard walked off the plane with the three alphas on his team.

A tall African American man with a medium brown complexion waited for them on the tarmac. He was dressed in fatigues, combat boots, and a heavy, dark green Legion issue coat. It was unzipped, the fur lined hood down. But he wore a black knit cap to cover his head from the cold.

As team lead, Ortiz stepped up to him first.

“Major Ortiz. Welcome to Alaska.”

“Hello, Captain Grant.”

The two of them shook hands.

“Thanks for coming in on this. We can use your expertise.”

“We’re happy to assist,” Ortiz said before she stepped to the side so that the captain could meet the rest of the team.

Captain Grant greeted Jax and Ice with more firm, friendly handshakes, welcoming them as well. Then he turned to Hazard.