Chapter 59
“You’re the infamous Captain Ice Anderson, correct? It will be an honor to face you in combat.”
Ice didn’t answer. He simply glared at the insurrectionist leader.
“Ice,” Ortiz quietly spoke his name to get his attention. “As team lead, I should be the one to face him.”
Ice shook his head. “He nearly killed my mate. I want payback.”
Ortiz’s brows rose. “Mate?”
Ice tugged down his collar, revealing the fresh bond bite on his throat.
Ortiz’s eyes went wide and she whipped her head around to look at Hazard.
The omega did as Ice had, pulling his collar aside to show his marked mating gland.
Ortiz blew out a hard breath. “Of course you two have mated.” She took a step back. “He’s all yours then.”
The fight was approved and the terms were set. In the middle of the clearing, the two groups formed a ring around Ice and Cortez as they began to undress. Legion on one side of the circle, Vengeful Claw on the other. Anticipation filled the air, as thick as the gun smoke that hung over the area.
Ice dropped his gear to the ground, kicking it to the side. He’d never done a one-on-one challenge like this before, but he was glad to fight as a wolf. And his wolf was eager for the chance to be let loose to face an enemy.
Once he was naked, Ice bounced on the balls of his feet. He shook his arms out then shifted, dropping to all fours in his new form as a big, white wolf.
Across from him Cortez had shifted as well. He was a large, muscled, light brown wolf with white on his belly and down both his front legs.
The two alphas began to slowly circle each other, growling, lips pulled back to show their sharp fangs. The smell of aggression from both wolves rose in the air. The two scents formed an unpleasant mix that made the hackles on the back of Ice’s neck go up.
Someone in the circle called out the signal to start.
“Fight!”
Ice and Cortez lunged at each other, teeth snapping, snarling deep in their throats. Blood lust rose within Ice, his primal Instinct telling him to protect his mate and his pack by killing the enemy. But this wouldn’t be an easy win. Cortez was just as big and strong as him. And the other alpha fought hard, equally determined to win.
When Cortez clawed down Ice’s side, his followers howled their approval for their leader.
In a flash, Ice returned the favor, raking his claws across Cortez’s vulnerable belly. The 448 howled even louder to cheer him on.
Cortez shuffled back to regroup. Blood dripped from his wounds onto the leaf covered ground beneath him.
Ice arrogantly gave the other wolf time to recover. Finished licking your wounds? he asked after a few moments.
Cortez snapped his head around to Ice and snarled.
The brown wolf leaped back into the fight. They went at each other with deadly intent — the scent of blood in the air driving them into a near frenzy. Teeth and claws tore at flesh, ripped out fur floating in the air around them.
It took all of Ice’s strength and effort, but he eventually gained the upper hand. He had Cortez down in the dirt, with his jaws locked around the other alpha’s throat. Cortez thrashed wildly, trying to get free but Ice held on tight. The fight was nearing its end. Ice spoke to the rebel leader one last time before he killed him.
You nearly killed my mate.
It was war, Cortez replied . It wasn’t personal.
It was to me.
He was about to tear out Cortez’s jugular vein when Ortiz sharply called his name.
“Ice! Don’t kill him!”
Ice almost ignored his unit leader’s order. He wanted to kill Cortez for what he’d done to Hazard. His mate had nearly lost his life because of that bomb. But he knew that they needed Cortez alive for questioning.
Ice snarled. However, instead of severing Cortez’s jugular with his teeth, he eased up on the bite.
You’ve lost.
Yes, Cortez admitted . I yield.
Forcing back his blood lust, Ice released his jaw’s grip on Cortez’s throat. He stepped away from the downed wolf and shifted back to human form. Steam rose up around him when the cold air met his heated, sweaty, bare skin. His wounds ached, but Ice pulled his shoulders back to stare down at Cortez in triumph.
The other wolf lowered his gaze and turned his head to show his neck, signaling that Ice was the dominant alpha.
His blood thrumming with victory, Ice turned to look at the Vengeful Claw side of the circle.
They too lowered their gazes. The armed soldiers placed their weapons on the ground. Those who were in wolf form shifted back to human. The entire group kneeled on the ground, and put their hands behind their heads.
The support team swarmed them to get them in restraints while his squadmates came over and surrounded the rebel leader.
“Shift back, motherfucker,” Ortiz ordered.
Cortez staggered up on to four paws. It took him a minute to change back to human, no doubt due to the pain and blood loss. He was in sorry shape. His face was marred with scratches and bruises. There were bloody bites on his arms and throat. And claw marks ran down his torso from collar bone to navel.
Once Cortez was steady on two feet, Ortiz whistled to get one of the support team member’s attention.
“Bring him his clothes.”
“Yes, Major.”
The soldier quickly brought over Cortez’s shirt and pants. Ortiz kept her gun on him as he dressed then directed Jax to cuff him. Hazard brought Ice his uniform and gear.
“Thank you,” Ice said as he accepted the clothes and began to dress.
“You’re welcome. And good job in that fight.”
Ice nodded.
Cortez suddenly spoke up.
“You may have defeated me. But I’m only one man. Vengeful Claw will have our vengeance and we will carve out a piece of this land for ourselves. We will make our own nation,” he swore with zealous conviction.
“You and what army?” Jax asked. “Because we already captured all your troops.”
Cortez didn’t say anything to that.
“Yeah. That’s what I thought. Let’s go.” Jax gave him a shove and marched him out of the forest.
Ice looked at his mate. He hadn’t killed Cortez, but he felt satisfied that he’d exacted payback for the hotel bomb. He knew Hazard would still love him even if he’d lost, but he was proud to stand before his omega as the victor.
Hazard smiled up at him. “I knew you would win.”
“Did you?”
“Absolutely. Wolf or man, no one defeats Captain Ice Anderson.”
Ice laughed. “I appreciate your confidence in me. Now let’s get these fuckers back to base.”