Chapter 11
Thirty minutes later, Ice went with his team up to the mess hall, where the Legion anniversary celebration was already underway.
Lance Corporal Ryder Boone, a young alpha with sandy brown hair and freckles, and a member of their support team, sat at the sign-in table next to the front door. He checked their IDs, then gave them each three drink chits.
“Don’t get too crazy tonight,” he playfully cautioned in a thick, Southern accent.
Ortiz laughed. “We’ll be on our best behavior.”
Drink tickets in hand, they walked into the mess hall. It was packed with people.
The various rec rooms on base were too small to hold such a large crowd so the mess had been commandeered for the occasion. The entertainment committee had put in a lot of effort to transform the utilitarian room into a space fit for a celebration. Music played over the PA system, something from a rock band he didn’t recognize. Bunting and crepe paper garlands in green and gold draped over the doorways. A huge banner with Happy Anniversary US Legion printed across it hung from the ceiling in the center of the room. Most of the dining tables had been removed. Tables cloths in an alternating pattern of green and gold covered the remaining tables, with a centerpiece of mini Legion flags and white flowers in the center of each one.
Game tables had been brought in — pool, foosball, and ping-pong. They all had groups of soldiers clustered around them, humans and shifters alike, playing or watching as they waited their turn. Privates — probably ones who’d drawn the short end of the stick — walked around with serving trays of popcorn, peanuts and hot dogs. On each side of the hall, makeshift bars had been set up to serve both soft and alcoholic drinks.
Ice didn’t usually attend these base wide celebrations. But when he’d looked at Hazard slouched in the chair, asking if he was going with those pretty green eyes focused directly on him, he’d found himself saying yes.
The four of them stayed together as they made their way to the bar to exchange the chits for their first round of drinks. After that, they began to separate. Ortiz moved off to speak with Captain Hayes. Jax was roped into showing off his ping-pong skills with his friend, Landon. That left Ice alone with Hazard. He looked excited, ready for a night of social activities.
“Want to stick together, Captain? I’m about to check out one of the pool games.”
Ice considered it, but after glancing at the rowdy games of pool taking place, decided to look for a calmer pursuit.
“I’ll play a couple of hands of Black Jack.”
“Okay. Win big for me,” Hazard said with a grin.
He took off one way, and Ice went in the other direction where several card games were underway. He picked a table that had four players and an empty chair.
“Can I join in?”
“Sure thing,” the soldier dealing the cards said. “Have a seat.”
“Welcome, Ice.”
“Good to see you, Captain.”
Ice politely returned the greetings as he settled in his seat. He’d worked with a couple of the soldiers at the table on various missions before — Sergeant Raphael Jennings, a sniper known as Angel, and Bruce Hightower, a brusque gunnery sergeant with a take-no-prisoners rep. The group suited him. They weren’t loudly boasting about their war stories or inclined to much small talk. The game progressed with minimal conversation, chips quietly clinking whenever someone threw them on the table to place a bet.
Ice won a few rounds. The chips had no monetary value but it was a nice way to spend an hour. Once he had his fill playing, he said goodbye and left the game.
Scouting an empty table in a shadowed corner, he went to it and took a seat with his back to the wall. He stretched his feet out in front of him, nursing his beer as he watched the goings on of the celebration.
Through the crowd of people, he spied Hazard. He was in the middle of a pool game that looked to be more antics and showing off than anyone actually trying to win. The omega looked good, dressed in civvies — a pair of tight, faded blue jeans and a black short sleeve shirt. The gold of his skin was a pretty contrast against the dark material.
He looked away. But after a few minutes his eyes drifted back to Hazard. He’d leaned a hip on the pool table and was laughing at something someone in his group had said. Ice let his gaze trail down, lingering on the curve of Hazard’s ass in those tight jeans. Cursing under his breath, he pulled his gaze away yet again.
“It’s not easy to see unless you know what to look for.”
Only his training kept Ice from guiltily jumping at the sudden sound of his squadmate’s voice. “What’s not easy to see?”
Jax pulled out a chair and sat next to him. “That you’re watching Hazard.”
Ice took a sip of his beer, neither acknowledging or denying Jax’s observation.
“You know you could go over there and talk to him, right?”
“Don’t need to talk to him.”
Jax laughed. “Of course you don’t need to. But you want to.”
“He looks fine talking to the friends he’s made.”
“Hazard is a friendly wolf. He likes to talk and people like to be around him. Doesn’t mean he wouldn’t appreciate your company too.”
Ice took a final long swallow of his beer. He stood and pitched the empty bottle into a nearby trash can.
“I’m heading out.”
Jax made chicken clucking noises.
Ice glared. Before he could offer a retort however, Hazard arrived at his side. The omega smiled up at him, face rosy from drink and conversation.
“Heading back to barracks, Captain?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll walk back with you.”
“Why leave?” Ice flicked his gaze over to the pool game Hazard had been in before looking at him again. “It looked like you were having a good time.”
“I was. But I’m tired.”
“Fine.”
Ice made his way to the mess hall door, Hazard calling out goodbyes to soldiers and officers as he trailed behind in his wake. Outside, the night was cool. The sounds of music and revelry became muted once the mess hall doors closed behind them. Soldiers stood around alone, or in small groups, talking and smoking.
“That was a good night,” Hazard said quietly as they walked.
“Why’d you leave then?” Ice asked without looking at the corporal.
“I love hanging out but when I hit my limit I’m ready to go. I’m still tired from the Arizona op, so I guess I hit it a little sooner than usual.”
“Hmm.” That was a surprise to hear. He’d assumed that Hazard had a never-ending battery when it came to being social. Still, Hazard’s shortened social tolerance was longer than his own regular tolerance, which ran out after about twenty minutes.
Hazard stepped closer and playfully knocked their arms together.
“And as a bonus, I get to walk back with you.”
Ice rolled his eyes at the corporal’s teasing. Making the short trip from mess to barracks with him was hardly any kind of bonus.
Before they reached their barracks they came across a trio of soldiers. Two human officers had cornered a young recruit up against the side of a building. The recruit was a shifter, a beta. He had cinnamon brown skin and startingly bright sapphire blue eyes. His face was still round with baby fat and gray framed glasses perched on his nose. It was obvious the officers were up to no good. The beta’s entire being was stiff, his fingers clenched tight on the book he held down by his side. Ice could have kept moving, but he slowed to a stop and addressed them.
“Is there a problem here?”
All three soldiers stood at attention and saluted him. The officers answered while the recruit remained silent.
“No, sir.”
“We’re just hanging out, Captain Anderson.”
Ice knew that was a lie. He shifted his gaze to the recruit, silently demanding an answer.
“There’s no problem here, sir!”
Also a lie. But of course, a rookie soldier wasn’t going to complain about the officers harassing him right in front of them. Ice wanted to put a stop to whatever was going on but didn’t want to leave the young soldier open to retaliation. He looked at the name on the recruit’s uniform. Thomas.
“Private Thomas. Step away for a moment.”
“Yes, sir,” he said with a sharp salute. He retreated to stand next to Hazard.
Ice stood in front of the officers, silent and patient, letting them stew in their turn being intimidated. And he was much better at intimidation than they were. He took a step forward, getting close into their personal space. They weren’t shifters so they didn’t show their necks, but they dropped their gazes to the ground and the sour smell of fear sweat drifted up to sting Ice’s nose. When he finally spoke, he didn’t yell or growl. He kept his voice low, steady, and icy cold.
“I have a lot of pull in the Legion. Don’t give me a reason to have you both shipped off to Bumfuck, North Dakota for permanent janitorial assignment. Do your jobs and leave the recruits alone. Understood?”
One swallowed hard enough to make an audible gulp , while the other nodded his head so fast it was a wonder he didn’t pull something in his neck.
“Yes, Sir!”
“Understood, Captain Anderson!”
He waited a long moment, long enough for them to start to nervously squirm in their boots before he released them.
“Dismissed.”
They quickly saluted then scrambled off.
Ice watched them until they were out of sight and then went over to Hazard and Thomas.
“Are you okay?” he asked, expecting an honest answer this time.
“I am now. Thank you, Captain.”
“Is that your first run-in with those two?” Hazard asked.
He shook his head. “They’ve been bothering me for a while. I try to avoid them when I can. But when they do find me I can’t exactly walk away or ignore them since they’re both second lieutenants.”
“What have they done?”
Thomas hesitated. Clearly he didn’t want to rat the two out. Hazard loudly cleared his throat, in a clear sign for him to speak. Thomas began listing off the officers’ transgressions.
“They’ve made me run laps for every little infraction they could think of. Tracked mud in the laundry room when I was on laundry duty. Then they came back and did it again right when I finished mopping it up. Put a snake in my bed. Although I can’t prove that one was them since I didn’t see them do it. And they destroyed a couple of my books. Snatched one and tossed it in the toilet before pissing in it. Poured soda over another.”
“Little shit baby officers. Throwing the weight of that shiny first bar around,” Hazard said in disgust.
Ice was disgusted himself. And angry. But he didn’t let the emotions show. “They shouldn’t bother you or anyone else from now on. If they do, come find me.”
Thomas frowned. “Sir, I don’t want —.”
Ice cut him off. “You’re not being a snitch or getting anyone in trouble. They need to respect the rank they’ve been given. If they can’t do that, they will be dealt with.”
“I understand, sir. Thank you again for your help. I’d hate to lose another book,” he said with a wave of the paperback he was holding.
Ice acknowledged his thanks with a nod. “Turn in and get some rest, soldier.”
After a salute to Ice and a nod to Hazard, Thomas did an about face and walked off toward the housing area for first year recruits.
“You handled that well,” Hazard said once they were alone.
“Mmmm.”
“Actually, I’m surprised you handled it at all. Too many officers think a little hazing is good for building strength and character.”
“I don’t. And I don’t like bullies.”
They resumed the walk to their barracks.
“Neither do I. That was a pretty good punishment you threatened them with.”
Ice huffed a short laugh. “It was only partially a threat.”
“What do you mean?”
“If they stay here, eventually they’re going to bother that recruit again.”
“You sound certain of that.”
“I know how bullies behave.” A memory tried to surface but Ice shoved it back down. “I won’t have them sent to North Dakota or put on janitor duty, but they’ve already proven that together, they’re a problem. They need to be separated. Maybe a fresh start on their own on separate bases will put a stop to their bullying.”
“Whether it does or not, I’m sure Thomas will be grateful he doesn’t have to deal with them anymore.”
“Mmmm.”
They walked the rest of the way in silence. In the barracks, Ice went straight to his bedroom door. Hazard called out to him before he could disappear inside.
“Have a drink with me?”
Ice paused, one hand on the doorknob. “I thought you were tired.”
“Got enough energy for one more drink. Besides, easy enough to walk a few steps and fall into bed when we’re done.”
At that, Ice snapped fully around to face the corporal. Had Hazard propositioned his superior? “Excuse me?”
Hazard’s brows drew together in a confused frown before he laughed.
“Fall into my own bed alone, Captain,” Hazard clarified still smiling. “Get your mind out of the gutter.”
Ice felt silly at his incorrect assumption of Hazard’s meaning. But since there was nothing suggestive about the invitation, he agreed to stay out with him. “One drink.”
“One drink coming right up,” Hazard said on his way to the kitchen. “Hope you like rum and coke. Because other than popping the top off a beer, that’s all I know how to make.”
He went over to join Hazard in the kitchen. “Rum and coke is fine.” It was actually a little too sweet for his taste, but he could deal if that’s what Hazard was making.
Once they had their drinks, they took them and went to sit on the couch. The common area was lit only by the light that spilled over from the kitchen as they hadn’t turned on the front room lights when they first came in. At first they sat there quietly, slowly sipping their drinks. Naturally, Hazard spoke first. He drew one leg up to sit sideways and face Ice.
“Did I thank you for saving my life?”
Ice turned his head to look at his squadmate. He nodded. “You did. But it wasn’t necessary. It’s my job as your teammate and superior to protect you and make sure you make it back under your own power.”
Hazard smiled, his eyes soft in the low light. “I think I like that. You protecting me.” He raised the hand holding his glass to point at Ice with his forefinger. “And before you say I shouldn’t have this job if I can’t look after myself, I damn well can. But I like having you as a partner.”
“You can’t tell that already. You’ve barely been here two months.”
“Hmmm. True. I just have this sense that you and I are going to make a great team.”
Hazard raised his glass again, this time indicating that he wanted a toast. After a moment, Ice obliged him and clinked their glasses together, before taking a sip of the rum and coke.
“Another one?” Hazard asked.
Ice looked down at his glass. It was empty save for a couple of melting ice cubes. He’d planned to have one drink to be polite and then go to bed. But he found that he liked sitting here in the quiet, dim common room, talking with Hazard. He held the glass out for Hazard to take. “Yes, I’ll have another.”
The pleased smile he received from Hazard made something light and nice shift in his chest.
“Good. I’ll be right back.”
Ice waited on the couch as Hazard returned to the kitchen to pour them a second round.
“So, tell me. What’s your sign?” Hazard asked when he returned and flopped back down on the couch.
Ice accepted the drink he handed him. “I’m a Virgo.”
Hazard impatiently waved a hand. “Not that human shit. What’s your wolf sign?”
“I don’t know.”
Hazard’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “How is it possible that you don’t know your wolf sign? Wolf pups grow up with their pack telling them how much like their sign they are.”
“I wasn’t raised by wolves,” he stated matter-of-factly. “I grew up in a military boarding school with humans.”
“Oh.”
Ice didn’t offer any additional information on why he hadn’t grown up with a shifter family or in a pack even though he could tell Hazard wanted to know more. His nose was practically twitching with curiosity but he didn’t pry.
“Well, I’ll tell you your wolf sign now then.”
“Do you actually believe in that stuff?”
Hazard shrugged. “Maybe I do. Maybe I don’t. Either way it’s a bit of harmless fun. What month were you born?”
“August.”
“Ah. You were born under the Lazy Moon.”
“What’s that mean?”
“It means you’re a big, grumpy bastard who won’t take off his mask.”
Ice threw him an annoyed glare. Hazard grinned, clearly not at all bothered by the stern look.
“Okay, seriously. You’re a calm, steady force. Coincidentally, your wolf sign is compatible with mine. You see? We are meant to be a great team.”
“What’s yours?”
“Fierce Moon.”
“Let me guess.” Ice stretched his legs out in front of him, getting more comfortable on the couch. “Shifters born under the Fierce Moon are overly energetic little fucks who never stop talking?”
Hazard threw back his head and laughed. “Now you’re just being mean, Captain.”
“I give as good as I get.”
Hazard smiled at him over the rim of his glass, pale green eyes twinkling with humor in the low light.
“I bet you do,” he said low before he drained the rest of his drink.
For some reason, the words, the tone , gave Ice that nice, light feeling again. Except this time he felt it lower, a soft lift behind his navel. He immediately squashed it. Feeling anything that rode the edge of attraction toward his subordinate was unacceptable. Besides, Hazard’s flirting, if you could even call it that, wasn’t meant to be taken seriously. It was simply a part of his playful personality.
The night continued on. A second drink turned into a third before they switched to water. Their conversation flowed from topic to topic until they heard Jax outside the door, laughing and talking with someone before he started whistling the theme song of Gimme A Break .
Hazard looked at the clock hanging over the wall above the dark TV. “Sweet Mother Wolf, it’s four in the morning.” He stood up and stretched, letting out a small groan when his back popped. “Guess we should get to bed. Our own beds,” he teased.
“Very funny,” Ice said as he stood too.
Hazard leaned down to pick up the glasses they’d abandoned on the coffee table. Ice reached for them at the same time. Their fingers touched — a fleeting brush of skin-to-skin contact. Hazard’s gaze rose to Ice’s as he took the glasses from the omega’s grasp.
“I’ll take care of them,” he said.
Their gazes stayed connected for a single heartbeat before Hazard blinked and looked away.
“Thanks.”
Hazard drifted over to his room while Ice went to the kitchen to rinse the glasses out in the sink. When he finished, he stood in the kitchen, looking across the room to Hazard. The kitchen light just barely reached him, lighting him with a soft, warm glow as he stood braced against his bedroom door.
“I had a nice time talking to you, Captain,” he quietly said. “Good night.”
Ice dipped his chin once in acknowledgement, then watched as Hazard opened the door and disappeared into his room.
As he stood there alone, thinking of the hours he’d spent with the corporal, that feeling returned yet again. And again, he squashed it. Maybe they were developing a connection as teammates just as Ortiz wanted. But that was it. He was not attracted to Dylan Hazard Mitchell. They were teammates. Nothing more.