“Logan,” I growled, trying to keep my voice steady. “Carmen got lost in the storm. We need to fucking warm her up.”
“By stripping her down and holding her like that?” he snapped, clearly unconvinced this was a good thing for Carmen.
“I can speak for myself,” Carmen said in a low voice.
“Skin-to-skin contact is the fastest way,” I growled. “She was barely breathing when we found her. You should be grateful we were there to save her. Where the fuck were you?”
Logan’s gaze flicked between Carmen and me, assessing the situation. He clenched his fists at his sides, his jaw tight.For a moment, silence hung heavy in the air, the tension between us palpable. Logan’s jaw tightened as he took in the scene—the fire, the discarded clothes, the intimate closeness between us. His eyes flicked over my bare chest pressed against hers, and something dark and primal flared in them.
“You call this saving her?” Logan growled, stepping closer, his fists still clenched. My eyes narrowed—I wasn’t in the mood to deal with his possessive alpha bullshit right now.
Not when Carmen’s life was hanging by a thread.
“Yes,” I barked. “It’s the only way to keep her warm. If you’ve got a better idea, feel free to share.”
Logan’s gaze shifted to Carmen’s face, and the anger in his expression wavered for just a moment as concern took over. She looked so small and fragile between Jaxon and me, our bodies providing what warmth we could.
“Carmen, how are you feeling?” Logan asked, his voice softening.
“I’m fine. Guys, don’t worry about me,” she whispered, her voice weak from the cold. My heart clenched, realizing how fragile this omega was.
The thought that I had rejected her and broken her heart was eating me alive.
“Damn it, Carmen,” Logan whispered, his voice cracking as he moved to kneel beside her, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You should never have left.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice breaking.
“Hey, don’t,” I cut her off gently, my voice softening despite the possessive edge that still lingered. I could sense in her voice how scared and vulnerable she felt, and I knew it wasn’t the time for harsh words or alpha posturing. “You don’t need to apologize. We’re just glad you’re safe.”
“She’s going to be okay,” Jaxon said. “We just need to keep her warm.”
Logan quickly began to remove his clothes, looking determined to do skin-to-skin with Carmen as well. I shot Jaxon a look to step aside for Logan. I was too exhausted to fight, and Carmen wasn’t mine. As Jaxon moved away, Carmen held out her arms with a whimper, trying to prevent him from leaving.
“Don’t worry, I’m here,” said Logan, taking Jaxon’s place in front of Carmen and pressing his chest against her perky breasts. She sighed in relief.
Her cold backside pressed against my thighs, prompting me to massage her cheeks to warm her up. She began to squirm, trying to get away.
“We need to do this,” I told her. “Don’t move, Carmen. You need to get warm.”
Since she could barely talk, she nodded instead as I continued to knead her soft cheeks. She had certainly grown over the years.
As she warmed up, her omega scent became more pronounced, calling to me. I couldn’t help but bury my face in her hair to savor her familiar fragrance. Carmen smelled incredible, just as she always did. As I rubbed my hand around her backside, I glanced down at her pale cheeks, which were beginning to blush with color.
Very good.
Carmen’s breathing gradually steadied, and her shivering began to subside. It seemed our efforts were working, but I knew we couldn’t let our guard down just yet. She was still weak, and the cold had taken its toll on her fragile omega body.
Omegas weren’t built like alphas. They were the weakest in the wolf hierarchy and required ultimate protection.
“Thank you, both of you,” Carmen whispered.
“Of course,” I replied, and Logan nodded in agreement. Despite the rivalry between us, it was impossible to ignore our unspoken understanding: we would do anything for Carmen.
As I held her close, I was overwhelmed by her scent—like limes and fresh rain. The way her plump rear cradled my cock was intoxicating. My inner alpha growled possessively, but I pushed it down, reminding myself that now wasn’t the time for such thoughts. Right now, all that mattered was keeping Carmen safe and warm, even if it meant sharing her with her best friend.
Carmen
My eyesfluttered shut as I tried to manage my fast breaths, overwhelmed by a secret arousal coursing through me. I was sure they could smell it too, since I didn’t have a shred of clothing on.