Chapter 63
In the hall outside the hearing chambers, the 448 and everyone who had come to support Ice and Hazard gave them a moment to themselves. Hazard had a question that he needed to ask.
“Why did you do it?” he asked softly to keep the conversation between them. “Why did you try to quit the Legion when it’s so important to you?”
Ice smiled. “I first set my mind on the goal of becoming the first starred shifter in the Legion because of my father. It was his goal and I wanted to achieve it to honor his memory. As a thank you for the sacrifice he made to save my life. But when I was sitting in the brig, I realized something.”
“What did you realize?”
“Neither of my parents would want me to pursue that goal if it meant giving up my mate. I don’t have to earn promotions to honor them. That’s not why they saved me. They saved me so that I could live my life however I chose. And maybe one day build my own family. Once I realized that, the choice between losing you or giving up the chance to become a general was easy. Because to me, family is more important than a career goal. You’re my family, Dylan, and I’ll do whatever it takes to stay with you.”
“ Oh .” For a moment, Dylan couldn’t do anything more than breathe out that single syllable response. Then he smiled, tears prickling in the corner of his eyes. He quickly wiped them away before he spoke. “To think the man who couldn’t even be bothered to grunt hello at me had such romance hiding in his soul. You’re my family too and every day I can’t help but think how lucky I am that we found each other.”
His own eyes glassy and bright, Ice reached out for his hand. They didn’t speak, just held on tight to each other for a long moment. Finally, Hazard remembered that there was a crowd of people behind them.
“We’d better go thank our supporters.”
“Hmmm.”
Ice made his usual noise of acknowledgement, making Hazard laugh as they walked over to the group of soldiers waiting to celebrate their victory.
“That was a hell of a hearing,” Colonel Gibbs said as he clapped Ice and Hazard on the back.
“And a win for shifters,” Hazard happily added.
Ortiz shook the councilor’s hand. “Thank you so much for coming today, Councilor Doucette.”
“I’m glad you called. When I said if there is ever anything I can do for you, I meant it. And I will be following up to ensure that the treatment of shifters in the military is addressed.”
“I have lots of ideas on that if you’d be interested in hearing them, Councilor Doucette,” Hazard offered.
“I am. Call my office and have my assistant set up a time for us to talk. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to my mate. She wants me by her side as much as possible right now.”
They all thanked her again. She gave them a wave goodbye and left. Lieutenant Colonel Kelly left too and after congratulating them once more, Gibbs left as well.
Hazard profusely thanked the group of soldiers who’d come. Ice, standing behind him, quietly added his thanks. Everyone expressed their relief that the two of them would get to stay together and had hope for what that meant for shifters in the future. However, it wasn’t long before the conversation slid into jokes about their mating.
“I knew Captain Anderson was the reason for your smile, sir,” Private Bell said with a smile of his own.
Boone laughed. “He probably hasn’t stopped grinning since they exchanged bond bites.”
“Well, I might have frowned once or twice while I was sitting in the brig wondering if I was about to be sent to military prison. But other than that...” Hazard looked over his shoulder at Ice. His mate looked down at him with love clear in his dark gaze. “Yeah, I’ve been happy and smiling.”
His declaration of happiness set off a round of cooing and whistles from the group. Hazard’s ears burned and he laughed at the playful ribbing. He leaned back against the solid wall of Ice’s chest. Ice returned his affection with a brief caress to his waist.
Captain Hayes spoke up when the teasing and jokes died down.
“I’d love to stay here and make fun of these two some more, but I need to get back to my sick bed.”
“Absolutely, sir,” Hazard quickly agreed. “You should be off your feet.”
Ice spoke, his voice low with sympathy. “We appreciate the effort you made for us today, Captain Hayes. I know things are difficult for you right now.”
Hayes pressed his lips together in an expression that was more pained grimace than smile. “Yes, they are,” he said roughly.
“We’ll come by,” Ortiz said. “And we’ll be there for the services.”
Hayes nodded in acknowledgement then turned to go.
Private Bell practically leaped forward to reach the captain. “Let me help you, Captain Hayes.”
“I’m not an invalid,” Hayes snapped.
“Of course not, sir. I just thought it would be best to have someone on standby in case you need assistance.”
“Fine.”
At Hayes’s grudging acceptance of Bell’s escort, they left. Hayes slowly walked toward the exit with Bell attentively at his side. The young soldier opened the door for Hayes when they reached it and together they disappeared through it.
Throat clearing by the MP standing outside the chamber doors got the rest of the group of supporters moving out the exit, until there was only Hazard, Ice, Jax, and Ortiz remaining in the hallway.
Ortiz crossed her arms over her chest with a self-satisfied smile on her face. “I wasn’t losing my boys without a fight.”
“I am beyond grateful that you fought for us,” Hazard said.
“Me too,” Ice rumbled behind him.
“Me three,” Jax said. “If I had to suffer through witnessing the drama you two went through, I’m damn well keeping you.”
Hazard scoffed in amusement. “Your turn will come, my friend. And I’ll be right there with popcorn to watch as you lose your head over your mate.”
Jax rolled his eyes at that. Ortiz laughed and lightly clapped him on the shoulder.
“Stop complaining, Jax. You got a free day off base while those two stayed behind to fix their shit.”
“Wait.” Hazard frowned as realization hit him. “You mean there was never an escort mission? That milk run wasn’t real?”
Ortiz gave him a serene smile. “I don’t know what you mean, Corporal Mitchell. Now, let’s get out of here and get some lunch.”
* * *
An hour later, Ice was leaving the mess hall with his team when a young officer approached them.
“Captain Anderson, sir.”
“Yes?”
“Major General Walsh is here on base. He wants to see you.”
Ice looked at Hazard. “I need to go.”
Hazard squeezed his hand. “Okay. I’ll see you later.”
Ice squeezed his hand back then followed the officer to where the general was waiting for him. He went into the officers’ lounge and closed the door behind him.
“Hello, General Walsh, sir.”
“Hello, Royce. Have a seat.” Walsh indicated the leather club chair next to the one where he sat. “I heard about the trouble you landed in,” he said after Ice sat down.
“Yes. Thankfully, it’s all been taken care of without any issue.”
“That’s good to hear. But I have to admit, son. I’m not just surprised, I’m disappointed. A relationship with an enlisted man?”
“It was a shock to me as well, sir. But I’ve learned over the past few months that embracing the parts of me that are shifter isn’t a negative. And that includes following my Instinct to my mate.”
“I see. What about your goal?”
“My goal is still a priority, sir. I’m mated, but I intend to work just as hard to be promoted.”
“And how is the... relationship?”
“If you can believe it, it’s the best thing that ever happened to me. Dylan — Corporal Mitchell — fills parts of me that I didn’t even realize were empty. And he’s an excellent soldier too. We are a perfect match for each other.” Ice stopped, surprised that he’d gushed so much. Apparently he wanted everyone to know how happy Hazard made him.
The general smiled. “I suppose I understand as much as a life-long bachelor can understand.”
Ice started to take the expression at face value. But something felt... off. Walsh wasn’t a shifter so his emotions weren’t broadcast through his smell as strongly. But Ice still detected something dishonest in his scent. Maybe Walsh was more disappointed than he’d let on that he’d broken a regulation, when he’d never so much as missed curfew before. Too bad. He wasn’t giving Hazard up because his mentor was disappointed in him.
“I’m here for a couple of days this time,” Walsh said. “Maybe I can have dinner with that team of yours, if you all are available.”
“I’d like that, sir.”
“Great. I’ll have my aide call you with arrangements.”
Ice rose from his chair. He saluted the general and made his exit. After three days apart, he was eager to get back to his mate.