The Alpha’s Flame

Get a grip - Ember’s POV

There’s no visibility as Kate and I work our way through clearing the building.

“Gibbous Fire Department. Anyone here?” I try calling out.

“Girl, in all the times we’ve cleared buildings, when has that worked?” Kate almost laughs.

“I know. Keep trying though.” We make our way up the stair case to the next floor.

“Winston, Murphy. How’s it going in there?” comes over our radios.

“It’s fine captain. We’ve cleared the first five floors.”

“Residents have confirmed there is a middle aged man who’s unaccounted for. “ our radios chime.

“Did they happen to mention what floor?” I ask. I look at Kate as we wait for a reply.

“Yeah. The seventh floor. “

“On it.” Kate responds into her radio. Good timing with that, we just finished clearing the sixth floor.

“So are you going to spill or what Murphy?” Kate laughs again. God she thrives on this. Pushing to be asked questions just so she can squeal about it.

“Come on, you spend all your free time with him. It’s got to be more than friends.” I tease her.

“ I like him.” Gee, that’s not news breaking information. I roll my eyes at her.

“What? No way, really? I mean with him coming by the firehouse the last couple weeks..” I trail off as we open the door to the seventh floor.

“Damon is great. You like him. I can tell. Why are you drilling me about him? Kate asks. I can sense that she’s asking more than just what she asked. I sigh.

“Damon’s a good buddy, but he’s got eyes for you and only you.” I try to reassure her. But she sighs and shakes her head.

“It’s weird. We’ve known each other for over a month, but it feels like I’ve known him for like, forever. It’s like I’m being pulled to him. But it kind of seems one sided?”

“Well that sounds serious. What do you mean one sided? I’ve seen how he looks at you. You definitely have his interest.” I do my best to reassure her.

“Gibbous Fire Department.” I call out again. There’s a muffled sound from behind a door. It’s hard to hear but my hearing is pretty great. “It’s unheard of.” My conscious chides at me.

“Did you hear that?” I ask Kate.

“Hear what? Gibbous Fire Department.” She calls out.

“Help. Please help.” After checking the door we open it. Once we’re through the door, we’re faced with lots of smoke.

“Help!” A raspy voice calls out. Kate and I see the man at the same time. We make our way over to him. There’s a beam pining him down.

“You alright sir?” Kate asks the man as she checks his leg. The man chokes out a cough and gives us a nod.

“Doing better now that you’re here.” He kind of chuckles. Good. If he’s got jokes, he’s doing good then.

“Alright, we’re going to lift this off of you now.” I tell him.

“On three?” Kate looks at me.

“On three.”

“One, two, three.” Kate and I pull the beam off freeing his leg. The man let’s out a loud scream.

“Sir, my name’s Ember. You can call me Em. What’s your name?” I try my best to distract him.

“Ted.” He grunts.

“Alright Ted. You ready to leave?” Kate asks. He just nods his head. Kate and I begin to lift him up onto his feet. With each of us on his sides acting as a pair of crutches, we make for our exit.

I radio our captain. “We got a conscience victim, going to need medical attention.”

“Copy. Bennett and Hill successfully ventilated the roof. Visibility should start to improve.” I look around the room and see a towel folded on top of a laundry basket. I grab that and hand it to Ted.

“Put this over your nose and mouth. It’ll help with the smoke.” Ted nods and uses one of hands to hold the towel in place. Kate and I guide him out of his apartment and to the stairs. We’re a couple floors down when we’re greeted by Bennett coming up the stairs.

“You’ve got another two floors to go guys.” Bennett smiles at us.

“What are you doing in here?” Kate drills him. Bennett turns towards us as he walks away backwards and shrugs.

“Another possible victim.”

“We’ll come back in to help.” I tell him.

“You think it’s a dog? We cleared all the floors looking for Ted.” Kate explains.

“Could be.” Ted nods his head in agreement.

“The Sonnenburg’s have a god. Floor five I think. But the Crane’s have two dogs. They’re floor three. Their kid likes to play hide and seek.” s**t. It could also be a kit hiding.

“Thanks for the inside tip.” We joke with him. We reach the exit. The lights from the aid car and engines shine through. As we come out of the smoke with Ted, there’s applause from the group standing outside.

“Mommy! They saved Mr.Ted!” A small voice cries out. We hand over Ted to the medics with the aid car. Nick strides over to us.

“Nice works girls.”

“Thanks, we’re going back in to help search.

“Check your tanks first.” He nods his head at our tanks. I check and see I still have a little over half.

“I’m good captain. A little over half.”

“What the hell. How are you good? I’m almost out!” Kate quacks at me. I can’t help but chuckle at her comment.

“I guess I don’t breathe as much.” I tease her.

“Murphy, your on hose. Winston you’re good to enter. Bennett is already on five.” Nick nods his head at me and smiles. As I turn my attention to him and walk towards the building. I feel someone grab my arm. What the hell? Who the hell is touching me. I’m fuming. Actually fuming. Who the hell do they think- I’m distracted when I see him. The man holding my arm. My anger just dissipates. He’s shirtless, and I can can see every little bit of muscle his torso and and arms have. He’s talk, dark hair and oh god is he handsome. “Mmm.” My conscious purrs inside my head. Get a grip, we’re on a call I tell myself.

“You’re going back in?” His voice sounds harsh but layered with concern. Odd. I don’t know him. “Yeah, but you want to.” my conscious purrs again.

“Yes. I got a job to do.” I breathe.

“John, she’s working. Sorry miss.” A slightly shorter man comes forward and places his hand on John’s shoulder. I nod and try to remove my arm from John’s hand. I look over John’s shoulder to see another two guys with them. Three out of four are shirtless. Did they not have enough time to throw clothes on? I wonder. I see Damon approach the group.

“Sorry Em, I’ve got this. You do your thing.” He says as he winks at me and removes my arm from John’s grip. John shoots a venomous look at Damon. Okay.. that’s weird.

“You live here right?” I ask Damon. He smiles at me. “Make him stop” my conscious growls in my head.

“Yeah, I got out before you pulled up. Go do your thing Em.” He gives me a crooked smile. If Kate was here, she’d be swooning. I just nod and head in. As I enter, I can’t help but look over my shoulder at the group of men with Damon. The oddest feeling comes over me as my eyes meet with John’s. I shake my head and push myself into the stair case entrance.

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