Page 28 of Denied By the Alphas

It felt like a fire of warmth pulsing in my core before spreading throughout my body. My breath quickened, and my skin became hypersensitive to even the slightest touch. Clutching the arm of the chair with white knuckles, I fought against the rising heat, knowing I was just moments away from being entirely consumed by the pain.

Not here. Not now. Not with two packs who weren’t even mine.

The thought of being so vulnerable in front of Tyler, the alpha who had cruelly rejected me all those years ago, filled me with dread. Memories of his cold dismissal flooded back, how he looked at me with disdain and toldme I wasn't good enough for him. The pain of that rejection still lingered deep in my heart, and now, being trapped in this cabin with him felt like an open wound.

Across the room, Logan’s keen gaze never left me.

He always seemed to sense when something was off with me, and now was no different. His eyes flickered with concern as he picked up on my discomfort.

chapter 10

. . .

Logan

Carmen shifted uncomfortably in her chair.

Her scent was stronger, and I sensed she might be right after all—she was going into heat in a house full of alphas.

I walked over to her, keeping my gaze locked on hers as I sat beside her.

“Carmen?” I said, trying to sound casual while my heart raced. She looked up at me, her green eyes wide and nervous. I knelt before her, my gaze never leaving hers. “You’re starting your heat, aren’t you?”

Carmen bit her lip and nodded, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

“This is a disaster,” she whispered, looking down.

Her hands trembled in her lap, and a low whimper escaped her throat. I couldn’t bear the thought of her suffering through her heat alone, especially without a pack to support her.

A deep, primal need to protect her surged within me.

But Tyler’s presence complicated everything, and I knewshe still cared for him. The possessive flare in my chest was hard to ignore.

I wanted her, but I had always respected our friendship.

“Remember, we’re here. You have six alphas at your beck and call,” I reminded her. “We’ll help you if it comes down to that.”

“Logan,” she whispered shakily, holding her belly. “If we do this… it’ll change everything between us.”

“I know,” I replied gently, my jaw tightening. “But I’ve never been more certain about anything in my life. You don’t have to go through this alone, Carmen. I’m here for you.”

Her uncertain gaze flicked over to Tyler, who stood across the room with his arms crossed, looking tense and jealous. A look of hurt flickered across her face as he quickly averted his gaze from her. She looked back at me, and I felt a surge of sympathy and protectiveness wash over me.

I wanted to shield her from the pain and wrap her in warmth and safety.

“I don’t know,” she said before crying out in pain as she curled onto the floor.

Panic surged within me as I followed her to the ground.

“Listen to me,” I said passionately, placing my hand on her shoulder. “I’ve wanted you for years, but I never pushed you because I respected our friendship. Now, though, I can’t stand by and do nothing while you’re in pain. You will need my knot to get through this heat, and I’m here for you. I'll take responsibility for everything, especially if you get pregnant. You’ll need to trust me, Carmen.”

“Okay,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. With that simple word, I quickly scooped her up in my arms.

“What’s going on?” Tyler demanded sharply.

“She’s in heat,” I barked. “Not that you care.”

His eyes flickered as he leaned back in his chair. I shot a warning glance at Tyler, daring him to challenge my claim onCarmen. But he remained rooted to the spot, his fists clenched at his sides, battling some internal demon that threatened to tear him apart.

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