Page 76 of Alpha Awakened

Ice took a seat at one of the tables. Ortiz sat next to him. The soldiers tended to stick with their own squads during these muti-team meetings.

Bored, Ice started leafing through the meeting packet. He’d just flipped to the second page when goosebumps rose on his arms and a shivery feeling tugged behind his navel. He snapped his head up, something drawing his attention to the doorway.

At that exact moment, Hazard walked in. He was with Jax, laughing at whatever the alpha had said. But Ice didn’t pay attention to their conversation. He was too focused on Hazard.

Ice continued to watch him as he sat down on the opposite side of the table. Something about him was different. No one else seemed to notice it however. The meeting began without anyone saying anything to Hazard or even looking at him curiously. Hazard didn’t seem bothered either. But Ice could tell something was off.

His scent was softer. Richer. His lips a touch fuller. And his scent glands were slightly rosy in color, with the barest hintof swelling. All of that could only mean one thing. Hazard was about to go into heat.

But that wasn’t right. As an officer on the team, he knew the omega’s scheduled bi-annual heat time. And he wasn’t supposed to be going into heat right now. Alpha and omega soldiers were given suppressant shots to regulate their ruts and heats. On the shots, omegas had a heat twice a year. Alphas had a yearly rut unless they were triggered into one when their partner went into heat. Hazard was too responsible to risk missing his suppressant shot since doing so might cause him to go into heat out in the field. So why was he exhibiting pre-heat symptoms today?

Ice endured the meeting, eyes drawn again and again to Hazard’s throat and his sweet-smelling scent glands. Beneath the table, he clenched his hands into tight fists. It was all he could do not to get up and drag Hazard from his seat to take him somewhere private. No one else should be around the omega, watching as his lips grew even more plump than usual and a delicate flush stained his cheekbones. He couldn’t do that however, so he remained in his chair, his entire body rigid as he fought to control his impulse.

As soon as the meeting was over, Ice shot up from his chair and went over to him.

“Corporal Mitchell, I need to speak with you for a moment. In private.”

Hazard looked surprised but he rose and dutifully followed after him. He remained silent until they were outside.

“Are we about to have another delightful alleyway chat?” he asked, his voice laced with annoyance.

“No.” Ice led them to a spot where there was no one around, but still out in the open so he wouldn’t give in and touch the far too tempting omega.

Hazard faced him. He crossed his arms over his chest, his expression cool and distant. Ice wanted to sigh. He missed therelaxed, charming aura Hazard used to have whenever they interacted. The change was his fault. Not for the first time regret tightened his chest, but he reminded himself it was for the best.

“I need to inform you in case you aren’t aware.”

“Inform me of what?”

“You’re about to go into heat.”

Hazard frowned, his brows drawing together in confusion. “Not possible. I’m on suppressants just like every other wolf on this base.”

“They’ve failed,” Ice said bluntly.

Hazard scoffed, clearly doubting his claim.

“How do you know?”

Ice let his gaze dip to the gland on Hazard’s neck. The swelling was still barely noticeable, but the sight of it and the scent drifting in the air from the omega wolf made his mouth water. He wasn’t going to say that however. “I just do,” he said instead.

Hazard silently glared at him for several seconds before he spun on his heel and marched away.

Ice watched him go. He was headed in the direction of the infirmary. Ice released a deep breath. He’d done his part. The medical staff would take it from there.

* * *

Hazard went directly to the shifter wing of the medical center. He didn’t believe he was going into heat. His suppressant shot should be good for another two and a half months. But he couldn’t imagine that Ice would tell him that he was about to have a heat for shits and giggles. Something had to be up with him for the alpha to have said that.

“I need to see a doctor,” he said to the Legion nurse behind the counter.

“Of course, sir. May I have your ID number?”

Hazard rattled off his name and military identification number then waited as she pulled up his records.

“Thank you, Corporal Mitchell. Have a seat and we’ll have a doctor examine you shortly.”

He only had to wait for a few minutes before he was shown into one of the examination rooms. The nurse who escorted him in took his temperature, noting it on his chart. He left after letting him know the doctor would be there in a few minutes.