Chapter Eight
Shade
“Any idea why General Stone called us in at zero dark hundred?” I ask the three Alphas sitting around the room.
I’ve never met them, but I’ve heard of them. They’re the best of the best, each skilled in warfare, with experience to boot.
Prime Alpha Knox is stationed at Dunefold Fortress and rules over the troops there with an iron fist. He’s ruthless and cunning, able to figure out what the enemy’s next move is before they make it. He’s a leader of men and has the attitude to match. He doesn’t suffer fools.
Lieutenant Viper earned his legend status after a mission went wrong and his team abandoned him behind enemy lines.
The giant Alpha single-handedly slaughtered each and every human hunting him with only a knife and a marksman rifle.
The soldier has a kill count higher than anyone else in the military.
Lastly, and undeniably not to be considered least, is Sergeant Blaze.
The brass sends him in when they need information.
He’s stealthy, able to slip into any location undetected, extract information from high-profile sources, and destroy evidence…
usually with fire. No one is sure what came first, his call sign Blaze or his homicidal obsession with flames. I’m just glad he’s on our side.
Being in a room with these military legends is intimidating, and I’m vastly confused why I’m here. As a Beta, I’m trained to support Alphas in the field and am damn good at my job, but Betas aren’t in the same league as Alphas.
A tall older man with silver hair comes striding into the briefing room, and we rise from our seats.
He stands before us, his arms crossed, glaring hard enough to melt glass. My body instinctively stiffens in the proximity to such a high ranking Prime Alpha. His authority almost vibrates from him. He has a leathery face with deep wrinkles on either side of his mouth.
“At ease, soldiers,” he clips, gesturing for us to sit. “Thank you for coming at this early hour.”
The chair creaks as Viper sits, his immense size straining the office furniture.
Blaze snickers.
“You four have been selected to undertake a covert military experiment.”
Military experiment? Now he’s got my total interest and attention. I love nothing more than collecting data and extrapolating the results.
“You will form a single unit. An elite team of soldiers capable of handling sensitive missions.”
Mine and Knox’s eyes lock, and his eyebrow twitches. We both feel a niggle of a lie in the air.
I’ve never liked politics or their lies, and right now, General Stone is doing a good job convincing me there’s something brewing.
Call it instinct, but if I believe in one thing, it’s my ability to read between the lines.
The General isn’t telling the full story, and if Knox’s body language is any indicator, he thinks the same.
Something is going on.
General Stone doesn’t hint at the ulterior motives, instead launches into our orders.
“Prime Alpha Knox will take command of this team. His leadership is not to be questioned. Do you understand?”
“Sir, yes, sir,” we chorus, the response automatic.
He pins Blaze with a particularly stern stare and waits until the pale-eyed Alpha lowers his chin in a submissive gesture.
“Specialist Shade will be your support officer.”
His mouth thins into a line.
I blink and nod, covering my surprise.
Being on this covert squad is surely some kind of mistake. Why would they assign me to an elite team?
Sure, I can fight better than any Beta I trained with… but I’m not an Alpha.
I’m slender in build, and only five foot ten, while most Alphas are a solid six foot five with stone-cut muscles. They heal fast and can take an absolute beating before going down. I’m tougher than a human, but a liability nonetheless.
“From now on you are to live, sleep, shit, piss, and breathe together. I want you to move and think like one machine. Do you understand?”
“Sir, yes, sir.”
“You will be referred to as Scorch Squad and I am your commanding officer. You report to me and me alone.”
“Sir, yes, sir!” we bark, saluting with firm gestures.
Viper’s expression’s unreadable, the massive Alpha sitting ramrod in his seat.
Knox is watching the General, and I can see plans forming in his head.
Blaze is swinging on the two back legs of his chair with his head cocked.
He’s staring right at me with an amused glint in his eyes.
I fight against a shiver that begs to run up my spine.
“Any official records will never have you recorded as a team.” The General continues, “In the eyes of the military, you will remain as the individual soldiers under your callsigns Blaze, Viper, Shade, and Knox. This is a project we’re keeping closed and quiet.”
My eyes dart around the room, studying my new teammates with a different lens. I don’t know what the future holds, but from this moment on, it’ll be beside them.
“Well then, fellas, it seems we have fun times ahead,” Blaze chirps. His fingers flick and, almost out of thin air, a lighter with an orange flame appears.
A shiver climbs up my spine.
And just like that, Scorch Squad is born.