Page 60 of Alpha Awakened

“I know so,” the general insisted with a firm nod. “He was a damn fine soldier himself. One of the best I served with.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Ice didn’t have much more to say to that. He barely remembered his father. And he wasn’t going to ask the general to tell him stories of the man, like he was a child sitting at his uncle’s knee requesting tales of family lore. Instead of asking forstories, he would do the work to honor his father’s memory. To be worthy of the sacrifice his father had made.

It had been his father’s goal to make Brigadier General. Now, it was his. And to achieve that goal he had to be a good soldier. The best. He would show the brass that there was no one better than Ice Anderson.

“Remember, it’s training and skills that make you a top soldier. Not pack and instincts. Your father believed that as well.”

“I will, General. I spent too much time and spilled too much sweat and blood learning those skills to rely on animal instincts.”

The general nodded, his blue eyes shining. “Atta boy. Now tell me about your last mission.”

They talked, Ice recounting the Alaska op. He left out the parts about scenting and kissing Hazard. At the omission, guilt twinged in his chest, but he pushed it down. He wasn’t ashamed to have kissed Hazard. But that topic wasn’t appropriate for lunch conversation with his mentor. Not to mention, their kiss had broken fraternization rules and confessing it to the general might lead to consequences for both him and Hazard. The general was a stickler for the rules after all. Perhaps their mentor mentee relationship would prevent Walsh from reporting Ice for his transgression, but he certainly wouldn’t give him his blessing.

Once their food arrived, the conversation fell into a natural lull. Ice enjoyed his meal, the beef was tender and well-seasoned and the accompanying vegetable mix was just as flavorful. The general expressed his pleasure in his meal as well. After they finished, they resumed chatting over post-meal coffees. As usual, the topics never strayed past Legion business. Even when he was a child, personal discussions between them had been rare.

At the conclusion of their meal, the server collected their coffee cups. Ice rose along with the general and they walked out of the dining hall together. Outside, the general turned to him.

“Royce, it was a pleasure to spend an hour with you. Unfortunately, I’ve got to get to a meeting and I leave straight after. Otherwise, I’d ask to meet the members of your team. You be sure to give them my best.”

“Will do, sir.”

“Good.” The general clapped Ice on the shoulder. “Remember, let the focus and skills you’ve developed be what drives you, son,” Walsh reminded him again. “They’ve already made you an elite soldier. And with them, you’ll rise up the ranks as high as you want to go.”

They shook hands before Walsh strode over to the staff vehicle waiting for him. He got in and Ice gave him a final wave goodbye as the truck drove off across the base. Once it was gone, Ice pulled his balaclava from his pocket and slid it on over his head.

* * *

On his way back to the 448 barracks, Ice thought about what his mentor had said. Over the past few weeks, he had strayed from what he’d been taught during his years in military school and training in the Legion. But it wasn’t too late to get himself back on track. He could serve and live with the 448. That didn’t mean that he had to embrace their way of life and abandon the values that made him who he was.

But it did mean he would have to let go of his budding closeness with Hazard. Not only was it inappropriate for them to have a romantic relationship, but Hazard was too into the instinctual sides of their nature. The omega wanted them to be a pack and scent each other and who knows what else. That wasn’t him. It never had been.

He was a soldier with a goal. Personal relationships and giving in to instincts would prevent him from achieving that goal. A momentary pang of regret tightened his chest at the thought of pulling away from Hazard but he squashed it. They would both be fine. There was never any real future for them together anyway, so it was best to put an end to it now.

Ice walked into their barracks with renewed determination. Hazard, Jax, and Ortiz sat at the kitchen table with playing cards in hand and a pile of them in the center of the table. They all looked over when he walked in. Hazard sent him a welcoming smile.

“How was your lunch with the general?” he asked.

“Fine.”

“Want to join us? We’re playing Uno.”

“No.”

Hazard looked surprised at his abrupt answer. Ice ignored him. He went straight to his bedroom and shut the door without saying another word. The brief interlude of exploring his shifter instincts and embracing the pull he felt toward Hazard had been interesting, but it was time to get back on track.

Chapter 24

Hazard returned to the 448 barracks after a lengthy morning meeting. Ortiz sat at the kitchen table, flipping through a folder and making notes on whatever was inside. Ice was working out, doing chin-ups on a bar he’d installed in his bedroom doorway.

“We’ve got a briefing on Cortez at thirteen-hundred,” Ortiz said.

Hazard groaned. “That’ll be nearly an entire day spent in meetings for me. All that listening and reading reports and sitting on my ass is no good for my psyche.”

Ortiz snorted a laugh. “If you can make it through torture resistance training, you can make it through a day of meetings.”

Ice dropped down from the bar and looked at his watch. “That’s in ten. I’ll head up now.”