Alpha Awakened (Reaper Pack 84, #1)

Chapter 27

November 8, 1982

21:00

White River National Forest

When Ortiz and Jax returned, Ice went to the major’s office. He let her know that he and Hazard had settled their issue and were ready to get back to work. Ortiz hadn’t asked any questions. She’d nodded and that was that.

Now a week and a half later, they were out on a mission, tracking Cortez again. They’d received word that he was holed up in a commune of shifters in the shadow lands of southwest Colorado.

They crept through the forest as the sun set, eyes sharp, weapons at the ready. Hazard was to his right, crossing through a patch of bright yellow flowers. Ortiz and Jax were a few klicks to the east, allowing them to cover more ground in their search. As they proceeded, an overpowering, sickeningly sweet smell hit Ice’s nose.

“What the fuck is that smell?” he asked in disgust.

Hazard looked at him with an eyebrow raised. “I don’t smell anything.”

“How can you not? It smells like a truckload of rotting fruit.”

Hazard stopped and drew in a deep breath through his nose. “I don’t smell it. That’s weird.”

Ice instantly went on high alert. He didn’t believe it was simply weird that he was smelling something that Hazard couldn’t. Something was off. He got on the comm link. “Ice to Ortiz. How copy?”

“Solid copy, Ice. What’s up?”

“Do you smell something odd?”

“Yeah. It stinks like somebody left a bunch of overripe oranges out in the sun.”

Jax came on next. “I smell it too. Eau de rotting fruit.”

Ice threw an I told you so look at Hazard.

“Hazard doesn’t smell it.”

“You think it’s something only alphas can detect?” Jax asked. “Some sort of trap or weapon for us specifically?”

“Maybe.” He walked over to Hazard. The closer he got to him, the more he smelled the sweet stench. “It’s coming from right here.”

Hazard’s brows drew together in a fierce frown. “It’s not me!” he said, clearly offended.

Ice shook his head. “I don’t think it’s you, Corporal.” He looked down at the yellow flowers surrounding Hazard’s boots. “You two got flowers near you?”

“Yeah. Big yellow ones.”

“Get away from ‘em.”

“Roger that.”

“Hazard, back up slowly,” Ice ordered the omega.

Hazard took several steps to the side, moving out of the field of flowers. Then for good measure, he stomped his feet, shaking off any pollen that might have been clinging to his boots.

Relief loosened Ice’s shoulders once Hazard was no longer standing amongst those blooms. That smell wasn’t only bothering his nose. It was setting his teeth on edge.

“Everybody mask up just in case,” Ortiz ordered. “Check in immediately if you start feeling sick or unusual.”

“Roger.”

“Copy that.” Ice took his mask from his pack. He put it on, watching as Hazard put his on to make sure it was secure.

“All right. Let’s keep moving.”

They continued on, giving the field of flowers a wide berth.

“What do you think was up with those flowers?” Hazard asked.

“I don’t know. Didn’t study botany.”

“The science team might want to examine them to see if they’re some kind of biological weapon or a seriously stinky flower.”

“We’ll note it in the mission report and the higher ups can decide if they want to send a team to investigate,” Ice said dismissing the matter. The flowers were strange, but no one was sick and they had a mission to complete. Now wasn’t the time to be concerned about them.

They’d only gone about another mile, when in the distance, Ice spotted several smoke columns rising above the tree tops.

“You see that, Captain?” Hazard asked.

“Yes. Likely from heating homes. Hold up.”

Hazard came to a stop at his side. Ice took out his binoculars to get a good look. Several miles away, there was a small settlement consisting of log cabins and metal mobile homes. There looked to be about twenty buildings total, plus a few vehicles, and a small children’s playground. He got on the comms to let Ortiz know what they’d found.

“Major, we have visual on our position.”

“And I smell shifters. No humans,” Hazard added.

“Roger that. We’re on our way.”

They two of them held their position until their squadmates arrived.

“Haven’t smelled that sweet stench for a while,” Jax said when he joined them.

“We should be good to take off our masks.” She pulled hers off and the others followed suit. Ice handed her his binoculars.

“This should be it,” she said as she looked for herself. “Weapons ready but stay cool. These are civilians.”

Together, the four of them headed for the settlement. They were near the edge of the forest when a howl rose, quickly followed by others.

“Shifter alarm system,” Hazard said. “Their lookout wolves are letting the rest of the pack know they have intruders on their lands.”

“Keep going,” Ortiz ordered. “We’ll identify ourselves as soon as we make contact.”

They moved past the tree line onto a grassy area that led to the settlement.

They were still a good distance away when a group of ten adults emerged from the settlement to meet them. Most were in human form, but four wolves, big fuckers, were mixed in with the group. Ice eyed them, quickly assessing to see who was the biggest threat and where the attack would come from. A gray and white wolf tried to move off to the side as if he was getting into position to flank them.

Ice turned slightly to follow his movements. He didn’t fully raise his weapon, but he shifted it higher in his hold and curled his finger over the trigger. He’d drop the big gray before he could make a move. The wolf got the message and fell back in line with the others.

Their two groups paused with about an acre of distance between them.

In the center of the settlement group was a tall man, with the build of a lumberjack. Bald, with a thick red beard, he was dressed in a faded blue chambray shirt, neatly patched jeans and brown work boots. Ice assumed he was this pack’s alpha. He confirmed that assumption when he separated from the rest of the group and strode forward alone to close some of the gap.

“You’re trespassing on private property,” the man called out.

Ortiz walked forward as well, identifying herself as their leader. “I’m Major Ortiz of the US Legion. We’re not here for you, sir.”

“Then why are you here?” the man asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“We’re looking for someone.”

“Who?”

“Carlos Cortez. Have you seen him?”

“There’s no one here by that name.”

“That didn’t answer my question.”

The man smiled. “Yeah. I saw him. He came through here a few days ago but he’s not here any longer.”

“Where did he go?”

A single, bushy red eyebrow rose in question. “Why should I tell you?”

“We only want to talk to him,” Ortiz cooly replied.

“That’s how you go looking for a man you want to talk to?” He made a pointed glance at the rifle Ortiz carried. “Armed to the teeth?”

“When we suspect the person we want to talk to is dangerous? Absolutely.”

“Well, I can’t help you. Like I said. The man came through. We put him up for a few nights and he went on his way.”

The leader’s face was impassive. That didn’t mean he wasn’t lying. Remembering what Hazard said about most people not wearing blockers, Ice tried to read his scent. Unfortunately, he was too far away and there were too many other people for him to get a solid lock on it.

“You won’t mind if we do a quick search to pick up his scent to track.”

“I’m not letting you run through my camp with guns. I have to protect my people.”

“Understood,” Ortiz said with a nod. “Hazard.”

“Yes, Major?”

“Sniff him out.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Hazard stripped out of his gear and uniform. It took him awhile, since he wasn’t dressed in the uniform meant for a soldier who planned to shift. But he went as fast as he was able, while the rest of the 448 stood in a tense standoff with the compound wolves.

Once Hazard was naked, Ice caught a glimpse of the tan, muscled beauty of his human body before white light flashed and he shifted into his wolf form. His wolf was just as beautiful. Black fur with brown-gold on the tip of his tail and on his belly. His stature was in a similar vein to his human build — small but solid with muscle.

He turned his head to look at Ice. Ice met familiar green eyes, although now the golden flecks were more prominent. After that quick look, Hazard broke their eye contact and loped away to the encampment while Ice, Jax, and Ortiz stayed in position.

Ice watched Hazard until he disappeared from sight around the side of the largest cabin. Out of nowhere, the back of Ice’s neck prickled with unease and his chest tightened. He realized that he didn’t like that he couldn’t see Hazard. He wanted his eyes on the omega to make sure that he was safe. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do but stand there and wait until he reappeared.

It didn’t take long. Hazard moved swiftly through the settlement. Minutes later, he came trotting back over to them. Ice let out a breath, the tension in his shoulders relaxing.

The leader looked at Ice.

“He your mate?” the alpha asked him.

“No,” he coldly replied.

“It’d be nice to have an omega as pretty and strong as that one join our pack.”

Ice’s upper lip curled away from his teeth in a silent snarl and he barely managed to hold back a possessive growl. “That won’t be happening,” he said tightly. Hazard wasn’t his mate. But that didn’t mean this fucker or anybody else would be getting their hands on him. Hazard belonged at his side.

When Hazard reached them, he spoke to Ortiz telepathically. Ice heard him too.

He’s not here. Trail goes east .

Ortiz nodded.

Hazard shifted back to human form and began to redress. Once he was ready, Ortiz spoke to their leader again.

“We’ll let you get back to your people. Have a good evening.”

Together they backed up. Across the way, the leader and his group turned back toward their settlement. Except for two of the wolves. They stayed in place. Once their squad reached the tree line, the wolves began to follow them.

“Ice, keep an eye out and make sure they don’t follow us once we’re out of their territory,” Ortiz ordered.

“Roger.”

They moved east through the forest, following in the general direction that Cortez would have taken. After about a mile, the wolves stopped tailing them and turned back. Ice let the major and the others know.

“Our escort is gone.”

“Good,” Jax said. “Didn’t like them at our back.”

They continued walking, with Hazard taking point to follow Cortez’s scent trail. A few minutes later, Ice picked up the faint sound of an eighteen-wheeler.

“You hear that?” Jax asked.

“Vehicles,” Ice answered. “We must be approaching a road.”

Soon after, Ice spied a two-lane highway through the trees. They emerged from the forest and went up a slight embankment to reach the road. Another big rig rumbled past, blowing back hot exhaust in Ice’s face.

“Fuck,” Ortiz spat out the curse. “He either hitched or had someone pick him up. We won’t find him here.” She got on the comm link. “This is Major Ortiz to command. Send ex-fil to Highway Eighty-Six mile marker thirty.”

Ice shared her frustration. Cortez kept eluding them and he was sick of it. But for now, there was nothing they could do.

* * *

Back at Fort Grove, Hazard stepped off the plane with his squad. The afternoon sun burned bright overhead as they crossed the tarmac. In the distance, he noticed a lone figure running toward them, waving his arm in the air to get their attention. Hazard squinted against the sun, trying to make out who it was. “Isn’t that Gibbs’s aide?”

Ortiz raised a hand to shield her eyes. “It is. What the hell is he doing?”

They wouldn’t have an answer until the aide reached them. So instead of going to the armory to gear down, they changed direction to meet him.

“Colonel Gibbs wants to see you all in the briefing room right away,” the aide said as soon as he reached them.

“What’s going on?” Ortiz asked.

“We received a message from Carlos Cortez.”

“He contacted us?” she asked in surprise.

The aide nodded. “Yes, ma’am. He sent a tape.”

Hazard looked at his squadmates in surprise.

“Let’s go,” Ortiz said.

Now they understood why the aide had been in such a hurry. If there was a message from Cortez, they wanted to see it immediately. They ran to HQ, only slowing down once they were inside so they didn’t mow down the people in the halls.

In the briefing room, Lieutenant Colonel Gibbs sat at the table, holding a VCR remote control in his hand. He skipped greeting them to get straight to the point.

“When I heard you were on your way back I waited for you. I knew you’d want to see whatever is on this tape.”

“Damn right,” Hazard said.

They all sat down and Gibbs hit play.

“Where did this come from?” Ortiz asked.

“The tape arrived an hour ago with urgent directions to be delivered straight to me.”

The video started with shaky gray lines on a black screen. It smoothed out and the black faded away. A gray brick wall appeared on screen. A second later, a tall, well-built young man walked into frame. He was dressed in a brown and yellow striped pullover. His dark hair was neatly combed, parted in the center and feathered back on each side.

It was Carlos Cortez. He smiled and clasped his hands together in front of him.

“Hello. I heard you were looking for me.”

Hazard clenched his jaw to keep from growling. He already didn’t like Cortez and his smug expression. A quick glance around the table showed everyone else felt the same way. The tape played on, the Cortez in the recorded video smiling and uncaring of their animosity.

“You won’t find me. Not until I want you to. But I will tell you why you should care who I am.”

The smile dropped from his face, his expression switching to one of cold intensity.

“For too long, the shifters in this country have ignored those who need them the most. The shadow packs of the Southwest, Florida, and the Mid-Atlantic. We were all abandoned. We are so forgotten that no one even speaks our names any more. Young wolves don’t even know our names. But I will speak them. Sun Ridge, Grim Tides, Sacred Coast.

He paused, as if to let the weight of those names sink in.

“The current council is a fraud,” he continued. “They are not a true council because they don’t represent all shifters. And that one, single councilor who claims to represent the shadow packs doesn’t count. What has she done for the shadow packs? Nothing but leave us to rot.”

Cortez took a step toward the camera.

“I will unite the shadow packs into one new pack majora. I will give us a new home and a new name. And I will open our newly claimed territory to all wolves from all over the country who want to join us. Those who are dissatisfied in their current packs. Those who want to return to shifter traditions. Those who shun mixing with the humans. All will be welcome in the Bright Heart pack. We will find our strength and claim our home.”

The cold intensity eased from his expression and he smiled once more.

“That’s all you need to know. Goodbye Squad 448. I’ll see you when I want to see you.”

The video ended.

“Is he crazy?” Jax asked in disbelief.

“More than likely,” Ortiz answered. “But I can see people flocking to his cause.”

Hazard sneered. “Yeah, a bunch of knot head alphas who want omegas as their submissive play things.” As an omega, that traditionalist bullshit was a sore spot for him.

Ortiz nodded in agreement. “True. But there are also people who legitimately feel abandoned in the shadow lands.”

“And plenty of others who only want to cause chaos,” Ice added.

Gibbs leaned back in his chair and set the remote on the table. “You’ll have to clue me in. Why are there still shifters in those areas if there are no major packs left?”

Hazard answered the colonel’s question. “All of the shifters from the decimated major packs were given the chance and offered financial assistance to relocate and join other packs. Many did. Those who rejected the offer didn’t want to leave their territory. Unfortunately, life can be hard for those who are left behind.”

“My best friend growing up is originally from the Florida shadow lands,” Jax said. “He told me stories of how rough life was there.”

Hazard nodded. “The council supplies them with aid, but that doesn’t replace the support of having a full pack. Once a year, the council sends a relocation committee around to all the shifters in the shadow lands with the offer to move to any pack majora they want. There are always a few who take advantage of it, which means the shadow packs get smaller and smaller every year.”

“And the resentment grows for those who stay,” Ice guessed.

“Bingo.”

“I see,” Gibbs said. “A situation like that is the perfect birthing ground for an insurrectionist.”

Ortiz crossed her arms over her chest. “Indeed it is. And we can’t allow his movement to gain nation-wide momentum. We need to know exactly what he’s planning, when he plans to carry it out, and where he plans to set up his new pack.”

“I agree.” Gibbs rose from the table. “I’ll pass Cortez’s manifesto along to the intelligence team and let them know tracking him down is now a high priority.”

“They need to find him fast,” Hazard said. He hoped he was wrong, but he had a feeling that things were going to get bad before they would be able to bring Cortez down.