Michael sprinted across the grass, doing his best to stay in the shadows until he reached the back of the medical building. All week, he’d been trying to get in to see Kit but no one would let him. He’d already taken the vaccine so he shouldn’t get infected but the doctors didn’t want to take any chances. Michael imagined Kit sitting in that isolated room, bored, alone, feeling like crap and running a high fever and his gut clenched. He hated the thought that his closest friend was in pain and he just had to see him. Let him know he wasn’t alone and Michael was waiting for him.

Quietly, Michael inched towards Kit’s window and slowly eased it up. Yesterday, he got caught the same way when he came at midnight. That’s why he hoped that coming at three in the morning would work. He’d tried to go through the main doors initially but there were so many security scanners and cameras it was too difficult without any proper equipment to bypass them. And the military wasn’t prone to just signing them out to their soldiers for their personal use.

Once the window was open wide enough he leaped up and slid through, closing it silently behind him. He tiptoed to Kit’s bed and looked down at his friend’s face. What he saw made him grimace. Dr. Damon said that Kit was feeling better but the Beta still looked horrible. His face was covered with sweat, his cheeks flushed from the fever and he seemed to be wincing in his sleep. He’d obviously lost some weight based on his sunken cheeks. Even when the virus finally faded it would take weeks for him to fully recover.

Michael was debating if he should just leave the mini recorder on the desk for Kit to find when Kit’s eyes slowly opened.

“Michael,” Kit rasped. “You shouldn’t be here. You can get sick too.”

“Nah, don’t worry about me. I took the vaccine so I’m all good. How are you feeling?”

Kit swallowed and Michael realized his throat must be dry. He saw a mug full of water with a straw on the nightstand and picked it up, holding the tip of the straw to Kit’s lips. He opened his mouth and took shallow sips, then sighed gratefully.

“I’m better than three days ago. That’s something at least. Dr. Damon’s been pretty good about checking on me.”

“That’s good to hear. It’s really nice of him to take you on personally and take care of you. The other doctors aren’t as hands on.”

Kit’s eyes flicked away briefly then back to Michael, “Yeah, he’s doing it ‘cause of Flynn. He knows we’re friends so he’s doing it as a favour.”

“Ah. So that’s it! I thought it was weird,” Michael laughed, ignoring the little pang of jealousy as he thought of how close Flynn and Kit were. He saw them often walking around the base and they kept going out for meals together as well. Michael had tried to tag along before but they’d rejected him out flat. Michael had then asked Kit to spend time with him alone off base but Kit hadn’t seemed keen on the idea and Michael couldn’t figure out why. They’d become friends as well as partners. Why didn’t Kit want to spend time with him outside the base?

“What’s in your hand?” Kit asked.

Michael held up the recorder, “It’s that book I mentioned to you. That thriller novel. I found an audio version of it online and downloaded it for you. Figured it would be a nice distraction.”

Kit smiled slightly, “Thanks. I appreciate that. I’ve mostly been sleeping, but it is pretty boring here.”

“When you’re all better we should go out or something. There’s a Spring festival coming up in a few weeks. You should be all better by then.”

Kit closed his eyes and Michael knew what he was going to say and cut him off before he could start.

“Look Kit. I know you’re all business but we’re friends. And we’re here for the long haul. It’ll be good for us if we spend time together. As friends and not just partners. It’ll help strengthen our relationship in the field.”

Kit sat quietly, and Michael felt nervous. He’d taken a chance and extended that olive branch again. Would Kit take it?

“I guess you’re right,” Kit said warily. “We’re going to be working together for a long time. It’ll be good for us to get along as civilians.”

Michael sighed in relief, so happy Kit capitulated he didn’t care how reluctant he sounded. “Exactly!”

“You should go now. A guard usually patrols every half hour.”

“OK. I’ll come by tomorrow to check on you again and bring a different book.”

Kit opened his mouth and Michael thought he was going to say no but then swallowed and nodded. “I’d appreciate that thanks.”

As soon as Michael was gone Kit closed his eyes and sighed. For the last few months he’d tried his best not to spend any time with Michael when they weren’t training. There was always that fear that the Alpha might figure out he was an Omega. While his scent was masked it wasn’t full proof. It was too faint for the Betas around him to detect but the Alpha’s keen sense of smell could easily pick it up. 

There was another factor as well, loath as Kit was to admit it. There was the fact that Michael was just so...nice. It was a simple word but encompassed so much. Kit was used to people with an agenda, who always had a hidden side. But Michael wasn’t like that. He was genuine and honest and sweet. Kit had to always be on his guard around him lest he give in to his natural Omega urge to cleave onto the gentle Alpha, seeking his support. No good would come from him developing romantic feelings for the Alpha and Kit kept needing to remind himself of that.

But Michael was right and Kit couldn’t keep the Alpha at a distance anymore. The festival was weeks away. In that time Kit could sort out his feelings. He could even see this as a test. If he can survive a full day alone with the Alpha, then he could hold back and suppress the tender feelings he knew were already developing within him, much as he tried to pretend they weren’t there.

They were soldiers. And Kit was here for a reason. He couldn’t, wouldn’t, let anything ruin that.

“We’ll stop at that tree,” Colt said while he continued his steady pace, pointing to a tree about 150 meters ahead. Nick nodded and suddenly, the Alpha sped up. Colt growled and picked up the pace as well, running at his full speed until he reached the finish line.

“Yes! A tie!” Colt exclaimed, pumping the air in victory.

“You didn’t beat me,” Nick said.

“That’s OK. I’m fine with just being able to tie with you. You’re running with a naturally stronger body. I had to build my muscles and stamina.”

Nick thought about Colt’s words and shook his head. “The more I get to know you the more I don’t get you.”

“That’s ‘cause you’re all dark and twisted,” Colt quipped back, stretching to cool down.

“You’re right about that,” Nick replied quietly before he sat down on a rock.

Colt stopped mid-stretch, his arms extended above his head and looked at the Alpha. In the month they agreed to partner up, he and Nick had been spending more time together. When training, they were able to rely on each other and ended up with better results than before, which made Miller ecstatic. They’d also been spending their free time together. Mostly they just jogged like they were doing today or practiced sparring. Colt wouldn’t mind doing something more fun since Nick was more...agreeable lately. But he didn’t think the Alpha knew the meaning of the word. And sometimes, like now, he’d make comments that revealed a dark past Colt already suspected existed.

“I was just kidding, you know,” Colt said carefully. He could tell Nick was in that dark place in his head, the same one he was in after he attacked Colt. He’d been better the last few weeks but every once in a while he’d go quiet and his eyes would become unfocused and Colt knew he was in a world of his own. It made the Alpha seem so vulnerable, Colt wanted to hug him, tell him it was OK. But he knew the Alpha wouldn’t appreciate it.

Colt had been tiptoeing around Nick whenever he got like this. But maybe that wasn’t the right solution. Slowly, Colt sat next to Nick, keeping about a foot between them.

“Do you want to talk about it?’

“About what?”

“Whatever it is that’s bothering you. I’m not asking to be nosy. I’m asking as your friend and partner.”

Nick finally looked up at Colt, his expression shuttered, “Are we friends?”

Colt swallowed nervously. What was he doing? Did he really want to open the box that was Nick Chambers? The guy obviously had issues. But was Colt the one he should be talking to? Could he even help him? He had other friends. But then he thought of Colin with the constant sneer and Aaron who just wanted to get the job done and realized that Nick really didn’t have anyone he could rely on.

“Yes,” he heard himself say and his voice got stronger. “We are friends.”

Nick continued to gaze at Colt and Colt stared back, barely blinking.

“I’m the second son you know,” Nick finally said. “I have an older brother. He’s an Alpha. He’s working with my dad so he can get ready to take over the family business. I have an Omega older sister. She’s married to an Alpha from another wealthy family. Their marriage was like a business transaction. Nothing new or different from how most families and marriages are in our world.”

Colt nodded. He could imagine the family Nick painted. Growing up, Colt had heard about families who felt pride in their Alpha and Omega status, focusing on accumulating wealth and power. Not all families did that but there were enough that there was a large network of wealthy and powerful families all across the city.

“Since I was born my dad wanted me to join the military. He said he didn’t need me for the family business. And my sister was good enough to form an alliance. But he didn’t really need me. So he trained me.”

“How old were you?” Colt asked, his throat going dry.

“I got my first gun when I was five. I thought it was a toy at first and aimed at a vase on a table. But when the laser hit it and it shattered I got...scared. It was all too real. I cried and my dad got angry. He told me that I’d have to be good at shooting if I wanted to succeed in the military. The rest of my childhood was taken up with training. Fencing, shooting, fighting, survival, you name it, I did it. I had different teachers who came after school and I trained every day, 365 days a year.”

‘You never had fun?” Colt asked, trying to keep the pity he felt out of his voice.

“Not really. My family wasn’t big on fun. They didn’t see the point of it. Everything had to have a point. A reason. Otherwise it was a waste of time.”

“That sounds...sad.”

For the first time that day Nick smiled, “Yeah it was. I didn’t even really have friends. People were just enemies, people I had to beat. It was all about winning with my dad.”

“Winning isn’t everything,” Colt said fiercely, feeling a strong wave of resentment towards Nick’s father. He hated men like him. Bullies who abused their own family, all for the sake of their pride. “Sure, in the military we have to win so we can save people. But there’s more to life than that. There’s friendship, caring for others, having fun and enjoying life. That’s what it’s all about.”

Nick smiled gently, “Your family must really love each other.”

Colt started then looked down at his feet. He could feel himself blushing and tried to hide it by pretending to wipe his face, “Yeah. My parents are pretty good and supportive.”

“That must be nice.”

Colt heard the wistfulness in Nick’s voice and found himself suddenly standing up, pointing a finger at Nick and said in a booming voice, “Well, as your friend, I decided we’re going to have fun. Starting this weekend. We are going to watch a movie. Then go get some food. Maybe even go to the local carnival if we have time once it opens. Any objections?”

Nick stared at Colt in shock, “You don’t have to do that just because you feel sorry for me.”

Colt felt his hand tremble slightly and tightened his muscles, “You’re right. I do feel sorry for you. But that’s not the only reason. In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t have any friends at the base. You’re the only one I can sort of get along with. So, we’re going to go have fun because you need to discover it and I need it. I haven’t had fun in a while and it’s driving me crazy. Don’t think this is all about you. Stupid arrogant Alpha.”

Nick chuckled and stood up, looking down at Colt, “I got it. Annoying Beta.”

The two laughed and started heading back towards the base, and Colt prayed he hadn’t made a mistake in trying to befriend and get more embroiled in the Alpha’s world.