Logan’s POV
“Get her out of those uncomfortable clothes. I’ll find something for her to sleep in and grab more cold rags,” Liam instructed the moment the doctor left. I just stood there, frozen, unable to move. He turned to leave, focused on his own tasks, but then stopped abruptly when he noticed my inaction.
“Logan! Why the hell are you just standing there?” he snapped, frustration lacing his tone. He was in full Alpha mode, commanding and unyielding, leaving no room for hesitation.
“I… she wouldn’t want me to touch her, Liam,” I choked out, barely keeping my emotions in check.
Liam exhaled slowly, his gaze softening. “Brother, I know exactly how you’re feeling. Trust me, I feel it too. But I’m choosing to focus on what I can control right now.” His voice was steady but firm. “You heard what Dr. Hawthorne said-her wolf needs us close. She needs our touch to heal. If we don’t do this, Logan, she could die.” His eyes bore into mine, pleading. “I’d rather have her alive and angry than dead.”
She could die…
That was all I needed to hear. The fear of losing her lit a fire under me. “On it! Go grab one of my t-shirts,” I told him. If we were doing this, I wanted her wrapped in my scent.
“She packed for two weeks. I’m sure she has her own sleepwear,” Liam countered, clearly amused by my sudden shift in attitude. I could hear him rummaging through drawers as I carefully removed her shoes. Then, with gentle hands, I slid her jeans down her toned legs, easing them off. I peeled her shirt away, lifting it over her head, and-
Fuck.
I stilled, swallowing hard as I took in the vision before me. She lay there, clad in nothing but a delicate white lace bra and matching panties. She was absolute perfection-soft curves, a toned waist, full, round breasts, and hips that flared just right.
A raw ache surged through me.
Not the time, Logan. Not the time!
I barely registered that my mental link with Liam was still open until I heard his voice.
“What? What’s wrong?” He turned abruptly, his eyes searching for danger.
“No, she’s fine. It’s just…” I exhaled sharply. “Look at her. How the hell are we supposed to lie in bed with that and keep our hands to ourselves? She’s the literal definition of temptation.”
Liam groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. “Believe me, I know. I’ve seen it.”
His words sent a bolt of rage through me.
“What the fuck do you mean you’ve seen it?” My voice dropped into a dangerous growl. “You saw our mate naked before I did?” Fang rumbled in my head, on the verge of snapping.
“No! Not like that!” Liam quickly clarified. “The first time I met her, she wasn’t exactly… covered up.”
He went on to explain how he had walked in on her unexpectedly, but I was still working to calm my wolf.
Once I got a grip, I noticed Liam frowning down at something in his hands.
“Does she own anything resembling proper pajamas?” he muttered, holding up a ridiculously small pair of boy shorts and a tiny crop top. “This is basically what she was wearing when I first saw her.” He shook his head and grabbed one of his own t-shirts instead.
Together, we carefully dressed her, slipping the oversized shirt over her head and guiding her arms through the sleeves. We were just about to climb into bed when a voice interrupted us.
“Sorry to bother you, Alphas,” Nikolai’s voice echoed in our heads. “Some kid named Silas is at the gate. Says he’s here to pick up Lia. Claims she asked him to come.”
Liam and Teague both growled at the same time.
“Let him through, Nikolai. I’ll meet him out front,” Liam ordered through the link.
I narrowed my eyes. “You know this guy?”
“Met him earlier at Crystal Moon. Lia introduced him as a ‘dear friend’-but the way he kept his hands on her? He’d like to be more than that,” Liam growled, his jaw tight.
Fang bristled, and I felt the same fury rise. “Then why the fuck did you let him through?” My fists clenched at my sides.
Liam shot me a warning look. “Logan, calm down. We need to handle this the right way. We’re negotiating an alliance with their pack, and if we send him away without an explanation, he could raise the alarm with Lia’s father before we’ve had a chance to talk to him. And trust me, that is not what we want right now.”
I gritted my teeth, still not liking it, but I understood his reasoning. “Fine.”
“Just get in bed with her and keep her comfortable. I’ll deal with him and call Oberon,” Liam said as he headed for the door.
I exhaled slowly before sliding under the covers, pulling Lia carefully onto my chest. The second our skin touched, tingles shot through me, warmth spreading through every inch of my body. The sensation was intoxicating-pure bliss.
A few stray tears escaped as I held her close.
How could I ever have convinced myself I didn’t want this? How could I have risked losing something so precious? I had been a fool, mistaking shallow indulgences for real pleasure. If I never got more than this one moment with her in my arms, it would still be more joy than my entire life had ever given me.
I closed my eyes and silently prayed to the Moon Goddess. Please… give me a chance to prove myself. Give us a chance-Lia, Liam, and me.
Just as sleep started to pull me under, Liam returned, looking irritated.
“That was fun,” he said sarcastically. “The idiot wouldn’t take no for an answer. Thought he could challenge me of all things. I had to call Bastian for backup before he backed off.”
I smirked slightly but stayed quiet, waiting for the rest.
“Oberon wasn’t too happy either,” he admitted, running a hand through his hair. “I managed to convince him to hold off on coming, but I promised him an update first thing in the morning.”
I raised a brow. “How’d you pull that off?”
“Told him the truth-about you showing up and the attempted rejection. He wasn’t surprised,” Liam said. “I may have let him think the emotional stress caused her to collapse. No need to mention her wolf yet. Not until we know more. Besides, her best shot at healing is us staying close, and I doubt he’d be thrilled to find us in bed with his daughter.”
He stripped down to his boxers and climbed in on her other side, reaching out to pull her against him. But I tightened my hold, keeping her right where she was.
“Dude, share,” Liam grumbled. “I’ve been dealing with everything while you’ve been lying here, all cozy with my angel. My turn!”
I sighed. “Liam, she hasn’t even accepted us yet, and we’re already fighting over her. We need to figure this out.” I exhaled. “She’s comfortable. Just snuggle up behind her. We’ll switch later.”
“Fine,” he huffed, pressing up against her back and draping an arm over her waist.
A deep groan left him. “Damn, that feels good.”
I chuckled. “Right?”
With our mate nestled between us, warmth spread through the bond, and for the first time in a long time, peace settled over me.
Sleep took us both, but I knew one thing for certain.
We weren’t letting her go.