Salvation (Wild Heat)

Chapter 7 – B R O O K L Y N

Camden carefully dragshis towel over my face and neck. Every few minutes, he uses his water bottle to rinse off the mud before he starts again. I can’t remember the last time anyone touched me so gently. Like I’m something fragile that he wants to keep safe.

It’s been more than a year since anyone has been this close to me. It’s strange, but honestly, not as strange as it should be. I’m basically letting a complete stranger give me a sponge bath, letting my head loll back so my neck is exposed to his touch.

There’s something about Camden that puts me at ease. He’s so gentle, so precise, so meticulous. Unlike the others, he’s willing to give me some space. He hasn’t pressured me to talk to him or explain myself. For an Alpha, he’s surprisingly willing to let me take the lead. I’ve never met an Alpha so ready to hand over control. Normally, they expect to be the one in charge by default, barking out orders and making executive decisions. Even Daddy tended to be a little bossy at times, though he always backed off when Mom gave him one of her looks.

Not Camden. He’s relaxed and easygoing and seems more than willing to let me set the pace in our interactions. If his insane height and his fresh, sea-salt and stone scent didn’t give him away, I might even think he was a Beta.

Then again, the ones he called Denver and Memphis backed off from me when he told them to. I didn’t get the feeling he was the leader of the group, but they still listened to him. I guess there’s more personality types to Alphas than I thought.

Camden brushes my loose hair behind my shoulders, then pushes at the edge of Denver’s jacket. I’m assuming he just wants to take it off me so he can clean the rest of me, but for some reason, I actually snarl at him. The jacket might smell like Denver, but it’s mine now, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let anyone take it from me.

When I tense up, Camden drops his hands immediately. “It’s okay,” he says in a low, calm voice. “You don’t have to take it off if you don’t want to. I just thought you might be uncomfortable with all that mud on you. If you take the jacket off, I promise I won’t take it. You can have it back once you’re cleaned off. But if you don’t want to, that’s fine. Whatever you want is fine by me, Brooklyn.”

His expression is so earnest that it almost hurts. It’s like even the idea of hurting me is too horrifying for him to endure.

So I slide the jacket off my shoulders, folding it carefully and setting it on the ground beside me. Camden watches my every movement. His eyes are deep set and a rich, vibrant blue. The color of the salty Mediterranean sea that matches his scent.

I reach my hand out to him, and he takes it. Slowly, he cleans the mud from my hand and wrist. His eyes move between his work and my face, checking in with me.

“Have you been out here the whole time?” he asks. His voice is so quiet, I have to lean close to make out the words. “How did you manage to make it this long?”

I don’t answer him. I can’t, really. Even though Camden won’t hurt me right now, he still works for Roger Castle. The only reason I’m still free is that my stepfather has no idea how capable I am. There’s no way I can tell Camden about my shelter, about how well I know these trails and the way I’ve perfected sneaking into campsites to get what I need. Once I’ve escaped these Alphas, that information will go right back to my father.

Because I’m definitely escaping. Not now, when they’re all watching me so closely. I’ll have to wait until they drop their guard, maybe after they go to sleep. I might have to wait until tomorrow, but I hope I can get away even sooner. These Alphas smell too damn good, and my slick has already started seeping through my panties.

My heat is coming. Which means the sooner I can run home, the better. I’ll have to ride it out in my shelter.

Alone. The way it has to be.

“You’re shy, huh?” Camden says, smiling again. His smile is crooked, and I’m close enough to see the little gap in his front teeth. It’s adorable.

When I don’t answer again, Camden just keeps talking. His voice soothes me. It’s so rich and smooth, like melted butter.

“I used to think all Omegas were shy,” he tells me. “That’s when I was a kid. Then my oldest sister presented, and I didn’t know what to think. Because you could call Ariel a lot of things. Argumentative, know-it-all, sarcastic, and a pain-in-the-ass. But she’s definitely not shy.”

He stops to dampen the towel, then starts cleaning again, focusing on my hands. He’s careful with my fingers, cleaning around the nails and in between the cracks. It’s relaxing, like getting a hand massage during a manicure. Back when I used to get manicures, anyway.

“Ariel presented first, and let me tell you, that was tough enough. Suddenly, we had to worry about chaperones and picking up scent-blockers and figuring out how to pay to send her to an Academy. It drove my Dads up the wall because Ariel was always ditching her chaperones, sneaking out by herself. Mom was sure she was gonna get arrested or jumped by some rogue Alpha. I don’t know if Ariel was smart or just lucky, but she never got caught.”

Camden’s eyes look fond and wistful when he talks about Ariel. I could tell that he admired her rebelliousness. Once my left arm is clean, he switches to working on my right one. His touch feels good. Really good. He probably thinks I’m shivering from the cold, but I’m actually uncomfortably warm. Really, I’m just melting under his hands. I want to lean into him and sit with my back against his sturdy chest, letting his heat seep into me and his delicious saltwater scent surround me.

But I can’t. I can’t let him draw me in like that.

“Then Erica and Lila presented as Omegas, too,” Camden goes on. “Those are my other big sisters. Ariel taught them all the tricks. The three of them got into all kinds of trouble together. I thought my dads heads were going to explode when they all snuck out to that Firebrand concert. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of them.”

I can’t help rolling my eyes at that. Everyone knows about Firebrand, the all-Alpha band who topped the charts the last few years and made headlines with their hard-partying lifestyles. Last I heard, they had smashed up a bar or something. Camden catches my expression and grins.

“Yeah, I get it. You’ve been lost in the forest, not under a rock. Anyway, Mom decided to homeschool them instead of sending them off to an Academy, so they were around when I was growing up. They used to get me to lie for them all the time, even though our parents could see right through me. I’m still a terrible liar, for the record. Don’t tell the other guys.”

He winks at me, and I find tears pricking my eyes. He talks about his sisters the way a brother should—a little teasing, but with respect and brotherly love. They’re clearly a close knit family.

I wish I knew what that was like. Even before I presented, Grayson and I weren’t exactly close. He was older, and already working with his father to take his place in the family real estate business. Grayson had no interest in getting to know his skinny little new stepsister. Not until I had something he wanted.

Suddenly, I realize that if Camden keeps moving up my arms, he’ll get to the scar, lying right where my shoulder meets my neck. I yank my arm away from him abruptly and grab Denver’s coat.

Camden frowns at me. “Hey, did I do something? You okay, Brooklyn?”

I nod, trying to show him that it’s fine. I pull Denver’s jacket tight around me, even though I’m already too warm. Just having the jacket comforts me for some reason—like it’s armor that can protect me from the world.

At the firepit, Memphis and Denver are still watching. Denver’s thick, muscled legs are spread, and his fingers are steepled between his knees. He’s casual, yet vigilant. Memphis, on the other hand, looks alert to the point that he’s almost jumpy. He seems poised to raise his crossbow and take aim, and I can’t help but shiver when his eyes land on me.

“How about we get you some food?” Camden suggests, gesturing to the fire. “Bet you’re hungry. I promise I won’t let the other guys bug you.”

As suspicious as I still am of the other Alphas, Camden’s right. I haven’t eaten since midday and I’m starving. I’ll need to keep up my strength if I’m going to outrun the three of them. So I let Camden lead me to the fire and the mid-sized rock they’re using as a stool.

“She say anything?” Denver asks.

Camden shrugs. “She’ll talk when she’s ready.”

Memphis nods then hands me a metal tin. “Here. Dinner.”

“How come you’ll share with her but not the rest of us, huh?” Camden asks. He’s clearly trying to lighten the mood. Because right now, the mood’s about as heavy as a double decker bus. Denver’s still watching with distrust, and Memphis is straight-up glaring at me.

I decide to ignore it and open my dinner. When I pull back the lid, I practically gasp. Spaghetti with meatballs, and it’s warm. I haven’t had actual pasta since I left home. It’s such an unexpected treat that it practically brings me to tears.

Camden offers me a fork and I dig in, completely ravenous. I know it’s the culinary equivalent of a can of Chef Boyardee, but at this moment, it’s practically a five star meal to me. I’ve spent so long eating trail mix and energy bars, mixed with whatever I could forage, and having an actual dinner is decadent beyond belief. I shovel bites into my mouth at an astonishing rate.

When I’m finished, Denver just hands me another one. Their supplies must be in good shape if they’re not rationing meals yet. I automatically consider stealing more food when I run, but it’s not worth the risk.

This time, I’m able to slow down how fast I’m eating. My body is catching up with me and remembering what it’s like to feel full. I close my eyes to concentrate on the delicious taste—salty, spicy, and slightly acidic. A little moan escapes me before I even realize it.

My eyes pop open immediately, and I find all three Alphas staring at me intently, their pupils blown wide with arousal.

Beside me, Camden’s blue eyes are fixed on my mouth. Denver’s biting on his own bottom lip, like he’s trying to stop himself from saying something. Memphis’s hands are squeezed so tightly around the base of his crossbow that I think it’s possible he could manage to shatter the heavy wood.

I finally realize how badly I messed everything up.

With the mud partially washed off, there’s nothing to stop my scent from filling the clearing. My arousal is unmistakable. Slick is gathering between my legs even faster, now that I’m so close to the Alphas. They’re setting off my body’s responses, urging me toward my heat. I’ve managed to keep it under control for the past few months, but it kickstarted again the minute I caught wind of them.

I walked right into their camp like a lamb to slaughter.

For a tense moment, nobody so much as breathes.

Then, Memphis makes us all jump when he shoots up to his feet. He’s torn his eyes away from me, staring into the heart of the fire instead.

“Excuse me,” he says roughly.

His mouth is pursed, nostrils flared like he’s just smelled something disgusting. He turns on his heel and walks into the trees nearby.

heat rises in my cheeks. He smelled my slick, but he clearly didn’t like it. I thought an Omega in heat was supposed to be irresistible. Sure, if they were scent-bonded, the Omega might smell even better, but the smell was never supposed to be repulsive. Maybe it’s my diet out here in the woods, messing with my biology.

Or maybe Memphis just isn’t attracted to me.

The thought stings way more than it should. I shouldn’t want these Alphas to be remotely interested in me. Not only do they work for my father, they’re each strong and competent in their own right. They could easily force themselves on me if they wanted to. If my scent is so repulsive that it drives Memphis away, it’s a good thing. At least he won’t be ravenously ripping my clothes off.

Right?

Between my embarrassment and the heat of the fire, my body’s getting uncomfortably warm. My instincts are torn between tearing Denver’s jacket off and snuggling even deeper into it.

Is it embarrassment? Or is it the fever from my heat?

I’m just blushing, I tell myself. Anyone would be, if an Alpha as sexy as Memphis all but declared that he found them unfuckable. Once I get away from the fire, I’ll feel just fine.

I have to believe I’m right. Because if my heat really is here, then I’m completely fucked.