Page 10 of Shared Omega

“Dog! Stand down!”

No sooner has Frostgrave spoken the command than the Alpha leaves off his aggressive display and stands at attention. His muscles and breathing relax as if nothing happened. His body, however, remains protectively positioned in front of mine. At this proximity, my nose fills with his intense scent, and my heart thumps beneath my breasts.

I catch a glimpse of the woman Hines. She looks away, straightening her glasses on her face. At first I thought she was nervous that the demonstration would go badly. Now, however, I get the impression that something else is bothering her.

She thinks it’s distasteful to manipulate Dog this way. He is, after all, a human being.

No, I remind myself. Not human. Alpha.

“Good, good,” Frostgrave says, pleased with the demonstration. “Sloane, you may return to your seat. Now, as you can all see, the Alpha has been thoroughly conditioned to obey commands. And the most important command for you to remember is that simple, two-word phrase: ‘Stand down.’ You may think of it as your safe word.”

There are nervous chuckles from the small audience.

As I return to my seat, I toss a smirk at Donovitch, but he doesn’t see it. He’s too busy struggling to regain his composure. His face is pale and his forehead is beaded with sweat.

“Yo, Donnie,” someone whispers from behind. “You need to change your shorts there buddy?”

***

Colonel Fulgore and Doctor Frostgrave go over a few additional details of the mission before dismissing us. The doctors and corporate suits file out first, followed by the black-clad marines. Only Frostgrave, Hines, and the Alpha stay behind.

As I head toward the door, I cast one last glance back at the aptly named Dog. My heart nearly jumps into my throat when I find those dark eyes focused on me.

“Sloane,” Colonel Fulgore barks as I step out into the corridor. “A word.”

I stop dead in my tracks and turn to face him. My body stiffens as I stand at attention.

“Sir?”

Fulgore steps close, and the stench of his cigar fills my nose and makes my eyes burn.

“What the fuck was that little outburst earlier?” he growls under his breath so only I can hear.

He’s referring to the beginning of the briefing, when I questioned why we are being sent on this mission. It’s interesting that I’m the one getting chewed out for speaking up when that idiot Donovitch interrupted the briefing at least three times or more. I don’t see him being disciplined.

But I keep my mouth shut. There’s no point in arguing with a superior officer.

“Are you having second thoughts about taking on this mission, Sloane?” Fulgore growls.

“No, sir.”

“What’s that?”

“No, sir!”

Fulgore nods and looks me up and down.

“If it were up to me, you wouldn’t be going on this mission,” Fulgore hisses. “You saw what those Alphas are capable of. The Zone is no place for a woman. Hell, as far as I’m concerned, you’ve got no business being a marine at all. But Dr. Frostgrave specifically requested your inclusion on the team.”

He takes the cigar from his lips and taps his temple right beside his squinting eye.

“Just remember, Sloane, Frostgrave and Central Command will be watching your every move. If you fuck this up, it’s going to reflect badly on me. And you know I don’t like to look bad. Understood?”

It’s a struggle to keep from trembling with rage. I’ve worked twice as hard as any man to get where I am, and I’m just as tough as any of the grunts in my squad.

But I hold my tongue and master my emotions like a good soldier.

“Yes, sir,” I answer sharply. “I won’t let you down, sir.”