Chapter 64
Ice returned to the barracks after his meeting with Walsh to find the rest of the pack already there. They all smelled of happiness and relief, which helped to take his mind off the slight unease he’d had when talking to his mentor. Whatever was bothering the major general, it was no concern of his.
He went over to sit on the couch next to Hazard. His mate smiled at him and scooted over so that they sat touching from shoulder to knee.
“Now that two of our members are out of the brig, we can finally celebrate our win over Cortez,” Ortiz said from her spot in the arm chair.
Jax came out of the kitchen with a glass of Coke and a bowl of chips. “What do you suggest, Major?”
Ortiz sighed. “I’m mentally exhausted. You underlings think of something to make up for abandoning me to that hours long debriefing on my own.”
“How about a campfire in the woods tonight?” Hazard suggested. “We can have some beers, roast hot dogs, and relax.”
“I like that idea,” Ice said.
Ortiz nodded. “It’s a good one.”
Hazard pushed up from his seat. “Ice and I will go and get the food and drinks. Consider it our thanks for helping to get us out of that mess.” He turned to look down at Ice. “Is that okay?”
“Yep. As long as you let me pick out the beer.”
* * *
Later that evening, the team piled into Ortiz’s Range Rover and headed up to the woods. They found a spot where other people had previously had camp fires, leaving behind a dug-out fire pit that they could use. Jax and Ice built the fire while Hazard and Ortiz dragged over a few logs to sit on.
Once the fire was going and the hot dogs roasting, they got their beers from the cooler and took their seats. Ice sat on one of the logs. Hazard spread a blanket on the ground in front of him. He sat down on the blanket and leaned back, happily ensconced between the warmth of his mate’s thighs.
It was a wonderful night. Peaceful. The orange flames of the camp fire lit their little section of the world and warded off the chill of the Oklahoma late autumn air. Hazard breathed in, inhaling the smells of the forest and the scents of his packmates. He ate a hot dog that Ice prepared for him, perfectly blackened on the outside, piping hot on the inside and dressed with nothing but a squiggle of ketchup.
After he ate the fourth hot dog Ice passed him, his stomach was pleasantly full. Ice dropped a hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze to get his attention. Hazard tilted his head back to look at him.
“What’s up?”
Ice was quiet for a moment. “I think it’s time.”
Without being told, Hazard knew exactly what he meant. “As long as you’re ready. No one expects you to do it if you don’t want to.”
Ice leaned down and dropped a kiss on his forehead. “I want to.”
They both straightened to their original positions. Ice held out his beer for Hazard to take. And then, he pulled the balaclava off.
There was a moment of shocked silence. The sounds of nature filled the gap — a log popped in the fire and an owl hooted somewhere off in the trees.
Jax was the first to speak.
“Wow.”
“Wasn’t expecting that,” Ortiz said.
“Felt like it was time,” Ice said with a shrug.
“It truly is nice to see your face, Captain,” Jax said sincerely.
“Yeah, it is,” Ortiz agreed.
“Thanks. And thanks for being cool about me wearing the mask.”
Ortiz raised her beer. “Here’s to Cortez’s defeat, our pack mates’ court win, and Ice’s face.”
“Cheers.”
“I’ll toast to that,” Hazard chimed in.
They leaned over the fire to clink their beer cans together in a toast.
“I think I’m jealous,” Hazard said to Ice when he settled back. “I thought I’d be the only one treated to such beauty. Now I have to watch the rest of the pack ogling you all night,” he playfully teased.
Jax laughed. “Avert your eyes, Major. You don’t want a jealous omega on your ass. They bite.”
Hazard grinned and pressed a loud, smooching kiss to Ice’s knee.
“Is this a permanent unmasking?” Ortiz asked.
“Might still wear it around base,” Ice answered. “But with my pack, I don’t feel the need to be masked anymore.”
Hazard smiled hearing Ice refer to the 448 as his pack. They’d come a long way from Ice eating meals on his own and insisting he didn’t need a pack.
The conversation moved on, all of them relaxed and at ease as they talked around the camp fire. They were discussing what they might be called to do next when Ortiz spoke up.
“Boys, you’re in luck. I’m letting you sleep in tomorrow.”
“Really?” Hazard asked in surprise.
“Yep. One hour. And no morning run. Enjoy it.” She waved her beer can as if she were a royal granting a boon to her subjects.
“I won’t turn down an extra hour of sleep,” Jax said. “But I’ll miss the run.”
Hazard had the perfect solution for that problem. “Since we’re not running in the morning let’s go now. Shifted. As a pack.”
Jax bounced to his feet. “Hell, yeah. Let’s do it.”
Hazard banked the fire while everyone else stripped out of their clothes and put them in the Range Rover. Jax shifted first. The big, brown wolf swung his head around to look at Hazard.
Hurry up, slow poke.
Hazard startled at how clear Jax’s voice was in his head. “I hear you loud and clear, boss.”
Guess we made that pack connection then.
Hazard grinned. “Guess so,” he said just before he shifted.
Once they were all in wolf form Ortiz howled. The other three wolves lifted their heads and joined their voices to hers. With a sharp bark, Ortiz took off running, the three of them right behind her.
As they ran, they fell into pack formation. Ortiz in the lead, Ice slightly behind and to her right, Jax and Hazard running side by side behind them. Together they weaved through the forest, underbrush crackling under their paws, a crescent moon shining through the treetops above.
Hazard looked at the pure white wolf running in front of him. His mate. He loved Royce and was proud to be in a pack with him. Next Hazard looked at Ortiz and Jax. Their brown coats, different shades, both blended beautifully into the colors and shadows of the forest. He was proud to serve with them too.
Is this the first of many pack runs, Major? Hazard asked hopefully.
The major’s answer was swift.
Absolutely, Corporal. The pack that runs together, stays together.
* * *
After their run, they trotted back to the camp site, tired but happy. Everyone shifted back into human form. Redressed in his jeans and sweatshirt, Hazard started to work on cleanup so they could return to base. But Ice wrapped both arms around his waist in a loose hug and lazily pulled him into his body.
“Hold up for a minute. I want to tell you something.”
Dylan tilted his head back to look up at his mate. He was even more handsome than usual in the moonlight. His blond hair shone as bright as the moon and his dark eyes rivaled the sky in their velvety softness. “Okay.”
Ice lowered his voice to whisper, the rough timbre meant for Hazard’s ears alone.
“You awakened me to what it means to truly be a shifter. An alpha. Taught me how important it is to be a part of a pack. And showed me how special it feels to love and be loved in return. I love you, Corporal Dylan Hazard Mitchell. And I’m glad you joined our squad.”
Ice’s declaration was everything Hazard wanted to hear. And he shared his own feelings without hesitation.
“I knew soon after I joined that the 448 was going to be my pack and that you would be a great partner. I didn’t know that you would be the greatest thing to ever happen to me. Not just my partner, but my mate. I love you Captain Royce Ice Anderson. I want to fight and run and live by your side forever.”
Ice leaned down to brush their noses together.
“Forever,” he whispered, sealing the promise with a kiss.