Chapter Text
When Ghost first met Gaz, he didn’t immediately trust him. It's not that he was untrustworthy; he was quite the opposite. Loyal. Devoted. But Ghost was guarded, and protective over John.
And John seemed to be head over heels for Kyle.
Not that Ghost was necessarily jealous over that fact. Simon wasn’t John’s mate; they weren’t bonded, yet. The only understanding they had of being a pack was the silent agreement they shared.
Kyle’s and John’s relationship was definitely different than his and John’s. Though Kyle was an omega, something Simon wasn’t, so he understood the contrast. However, watching John behave so bashfully, timidly courting the other man was a version of his captain he had never seen before. A version of his captain he wasn’t on the receiving end of.
Kyle accepted John’s courting just as shyly, blushing every time the captain sauntered over and gave him any sort of attention. Every time the captain gifted him with new items bathed in his scent. Items Gaz wore proudly, marked as Price’s.
Watching them behave so affectionately out in the open, every touch or brush made Simon’s heart tighten. He wasn’t like that with Simon, but Simon didn’t exactly give John the chance to be that way with him.
They just couldn’t seem to keep their hands off each other, and not even in a sexual way. The two of them always seemed to figure out how to touch one another. John’s hand rested on his back or shoulders, tucked around his waist, or fingers curled in his belt loops. Scenting him eagerly throughout the day.
Simon genuinely liked Kyle too; the omega was impossible not to like. He was intelligent and meticulous, never became a burden in the field. If anything, he made Ghost’s job easier and followed orders diligently. Someone Ghost could trust with his life. Serious when he needed to be, but joked on the comms alongside him; entertained Ghost’s cheesy jokes.
Comms that now vibrated with Price's deep timber, lowly drawling praises for Simon and Kyle. ‘Good boy’ was no longer reserved just for Simon. Simon was fine with that; he still drank in every praise eagerly, wagging his tail like some pleased puppy.
Simon was hesitant because he didn’t know how the dynamics of his and John’s relationship would change. What if Kyle didn’t want to be part of a pack that had Simon in it? What if John chose Kyle over him? It was more practical; he could mate with an omega.
So, he put distance between himself and the two men. Mentally preparing for the inedible. To be abandoned by a pack once again.
But that never came.
Instead, John read his cues without having to ask Simon. Recognized the withdrawal. So, during practice drills, Price approached him.
“You solid, lieutenant?”
Ghost nodded with a grunt, “Solid, captain.”
John found his gaze, two fingers tapping under his chin just as he did in his office.
‘Still mine?’
Ghost nodded again, licking his lips under his balaclava.
‘Yours.’
John smiled softly, beard scrunching together before he dipped down, running his nose along the curve of his cloth-covered neck. Scenting him for everyone to see, for everyone to smell the other alpha on him. The first time John had ever taken claim to him in public.
It had his heart beating in his chest, stomach twisting with satisfaction as he pushed deeper into his captain's touch. John wasn’t abandoning him. No. He was only that much more proud to have him in his pack. Wanted him to stay his and Simon was more than happy to.