Chapter 32
“Make yourself scarce,” Sam said to Jax. “The less alphas around when Ice gets here, the better.”
Jax nodded. “Smart. No point in setting him off unnecessarily.”
The corporal went back into his room. When he came out, he was dressed, a coat thrown on over his T-shirt and fatigues. He grabbed the book he’d abandoned on the couch before he’d gone to bed earlier that night and left.
After making a mug of tea, Sam sat down at the kitchen table to wait. It didn’t take long. Barely five minutes later, the sound of a vehicle swerving up to their barracks followed by tires screeching to a halt announced Ice’s arrival.
The front door slammed open, bouncing against the wall. Ice stood framed in the entryway, the black of night behind him. His dark gaze locked on her.
“Did you touch him?” he asked in a low rumble.
“ What ?” The question surprised her until it dawned on her that Ice was in the thick of his alpha instincts and not thinking clearly. Rationally, Ice knew she wouldn’t do anything intimate to or with Hazard but right now, his rational mind wasn’t in control. Hazard’s heat had pushed him into a rut just as she’d feared it would. “No, of course not,” she said firmly.
Ice nodded. He strode into the barracks and headed straight for Hazard’s quarters. He tried the knob. It was locked. Ice took a step back, then surged forward and rammed his shoulder against the door. With a crack of splintering wood, the door burst open from the force. Ice disappeared inside the bedroom.
Sam raked a hand over her hair as she pondered how to handle this situation. Getting between an alpha and omega during a situation like this was stupid and dangerous. Dangerous she could handle. But she didn’t deal in stupidity. Unfortunately, both men had said they didn’t want to share this heat. As their pack leader, it was her responsibility to make sure they didn’t do anything while in the thick of a heat and triggered rut that they didn’t actually want to do.
Sam sighed before steeling her spine. Being the leader was rough work, but somebody had to do it.
* * *
Ice went into Hazard’s room. The smell of the omega’s heat hit his nose, a beautiful scent that drew him closer to the bed before he’d even decided to move his feet.
Hazard lay atop tangled sheets, naked. A warm flush turned his skin to rose gold, and he glistened all over with sweat.
Ice’s cock throbbed at the sight. Hazard was gorgeous, delectable, laid out just for him. There was only one thing wrong with this picture. Hazard was alone in his nest. Ice wanted to be in it with him, their limbs entwined in a sensual embrace.
“I called for you,” Hazard whispered.
“I heard you.”
“And you came.”
“Yes.”
Hazard ran his tongue over his lips. Ice tracked the movement, wanting to taste those lips for himself.
“Did you change your mind?”
Ice only nodded in answer this time.
“I’m glad. I need you.”
Hazard raised a hand, reaching out for him. Ice took it, lacing their fingers together. But when Hazard tried to pull him down to the bed, he resisted.
“We can’t spend your heat here, Hazard. If you want me to take care of you, then we’ll need to go somewhere private.”
“Okay.” Hazard pushed himself upright. “I need to get my stuff.”
“Stay there. I’ve got it.”
Ice let go of his hand and went over to the wardrobe and took out Hazard’s duffel bag. He moved around the room, grabbing the clothes and toiletries he thought Hazard would need. His Instinct wanted to make sure his omega would be comfortable and cared for. All of the snacks and cold packs he’d purchased were on the nightstand. He stuffed them into the bag. His lip curled in disdain at the sight of the two dildos. His omega wouldn’t be needing those.
The bag packed, he slung the strap over his chest so that his hands would be free. Then, he helped Hazard into comfortable clothes — a sweat suit and tennis shoes. He wrapped him up in all of the blankets then swung him up in his arms in a bridal hold. He looked down at Hazard, meeting his eyes. The green irises were glassy and his dark lashes fluttered. Mine , his Instinct whispered.
“We’re going up to my cabin in the woods. I’ll take care of you there, okay?”
“Okay.” Hazard slipped his arms around his neck, holding on in a trusting embrace.
Ice lowered his head, rubbing his nose against Hazard’s and breathing in more of his luscious scent. “Let’s go.”
He walked back out of the room with his omega in his arms. But before he could leave the barracks, he met a barrier in the form of Major Ortiz. She stood in front of the door, looking serious. He met her gaze, but held back his first aggressive reaction. He knew his leader didn’t want Hazard. But she might try to stop him from taking him away. If she did, there would be a fight because he wasn’t leaving here without his omega. He waited to hear what she had to say.
* * *
Ice came back out to the common area, a blanket wrapped Hazard bundled up in his arms, and a packed duffel bag slung over one shoulder. Sam expected to be blasted with Hazard’s heat scent. But all she got was a residual cloud of it wafting from the bedroom. Ice’s strong alpha pheromones covered Hazard in a heavy, protective screen, a roaring warning to other alphas to stay the fuck back.
Keeping self-preservation in mind, Sam made sure both her scent and stance were non-threatening. She didn’t want either of them to think she was going to hurt them in any way. Ice might be bigger and stronger, but Hazard was an omega in heat. He’d rip her throat out if she tried to separate him from his alpha against his will. But she had to make sure that it was actually his will that was driving him.
She parked herself in front of the still open door to make sure Ice stopped to speak with her, but left enough of an opening so he would know he had a way out.
“Major,” he said sharply.
She held her hands up, palms facing out in a placating manner. “Relax, Ice. I’m not going to take him from you. I need to verify that this is what you both want. You want to spend Hazard’s heat with him.”
“Yes.”
Sam nodded. “And you, Hazard. Do you want to go with him?”
“I do, Major.”
She had their verbal consent. She wasn’t going to interfere any more than that. “Okay then.” She stepped aside, leaving the path to the front door clear.
Ice strode forward, walking past her without another glance.
Ortiz watched from the doorway as Ice carried Hazard over to his Jeep. He got him inside and helped him with his seat belt. Then he went around to get in on the driver’s side. Once he was behind the wheel, he looked at her through the windshield. He gave her a nod which she returned. Then he backed up, put the vehicle in drive, and drove off.
She continued to watch until Ice’s Jeep turned a corner and the tail lights disappeared from sight. That was that.
After closing the door behind them, Sam went over and sank down on the couch. Technically, what had just happened was against the rules of fraternization. An omega from the enlisted ranks shouldn’t be spending his heat with a commissioned officer. But she wasn’t going to report them. It was her team and she’d run it the way she chose. If the brass found out and had a problem with it, she’d take the hit.