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Xar moves toward us in an instant, his usual confidence replaced by urgency. “Shit. How bad is it?”

“I don’t know.” I feel the words spill out, helpless, desperate. “She’s not waking up.”

Dane kneels down beside her, his hands gentle but quick as he checks her over. His eyes meet mine, and I can see the same worry in his gaze. “She’s just knocked out, Blaise. But we need to get her warm. She might need medical attention too.”

I nod, my heart still racing. “Just get her warm. Please. Make sure she’s alright.”

I feel the pressure in my chest ease slightly as they move to help, but it doesn’t fully lift. I can’t help but stare at her, watching for any sign that she’s waking up.

Please wake up, little omega. I need you to.

XAR

We knew something was off.

Blaise had been on edge all afternoon – more so than usual. There was a restlessness in him, something he couldn’t hide. It was in the way he kept glancing out the window, like he was expecting something, or someone, to appear. I could feel the tension in the air; it was as if the calm before a storm was settling on him. I knew he was about to do something reckless. Ever since we got here, we’d all felt drawn to that farmhouse, like it had a magnetic pull, but Blaise...he was different. He didn’t handle frustration well. It built up inside him, and when it reached its peak, there was no stopping it.

When he slipped out of the cottage without saying much, I didn’t need to ask where he was headed. I knew. And as much as I hated it, I wasn’t about to let him go alone.

So, Dane and I jumped in the car and headed the same way ourselves.

He didn’t know we were following him, of course, and we couldn’t get all the way through because another tree was down across the drive, blocking the way. We had to jump out of the car and come the rest of the way on foot, just in time to see Blaise disappear inside, carrying Eviana in his arms.

“Don’t think, Blaise. Just move,” I snap, jerking myself back to the present and pushing him aside as I crouch down next to Eviana. “Dane, help me here.”

She’s cold to the touch, too cold. My heart pounds in my chest as Dane lifts her into his arms, every second feeling like a lifetime. “She’s not waking up,” Blaise says, his voice tight, and I can hear the uncertainty in it. This is Blaise, usually the first to throw a quip or smile at any problem, but now…now, he’s as rattled as I’ve ever seen him.

I can’t stand the helplessness in his voice, the way he can’t keep it together. It’s killing him. And it’s killing me, too, watching him fall apart like this.

“Stop talking. Let’s get her to the bathroom. She needs to warm up, and fast.”

I can’t think of anything but her now. We’re moving fast – too fast – but it feels like every second matters. We need to warm her up, get her dry, get her to safety. Her head’s bleeding, the wound small but deep, and I can feel her pulse faintly flickering beneath my fingers, but she’s not responding.

Dane follows without question, carrying Eviana in his arms as I race ahead, throwing open doors in search of the bathroom. He’s seen this before, knows I’m not one to wait around. I won’t lose another person from my life that I care about, even if thistime it’s due to an accident. I don’t give either of them a chance to speak. I’m moving too quickly, my mind focused solely on one thing: keeping her safe.

I flick on the light and twist the taps, filling the bath with hot water as fast as it will go. Steam starts to rise, the air quickly misting as I tear off my soaked clothes, peeling the clinging fabric from my skin. My shirt hits the floor with a wet slap, followed by my jeans. I leave my boxer briefs on – I’m not here for comfort. Just speed.

“Give her to me,” I bark, locking eyes with Dane.

He hesitates for just a second, his grip on her tightening. His hands are trembling. Dane never trembles. Right now, I don’t have time to think about why. I just need him to do it.

But then he steps closer, and I can see it – his jaw clenched, eyes burning, his control barely holding. Slowly, reverently, he begins to peel her out of her clothes.

Her shirt is plastered to her skin, heavy and sodden. Dane moves carefully, his fingers gentle as he tugs it over her head, revealing the pale skin beneath, already chilled and starting to take on a bluish tint.

I move in to help with the rest, our hands brushing as we work together in silent understanding. The zipper of her skirt sticks from the damp, and for a breathless moment, I have to force myself to stay focused – this isn’t about want. It’s aboutneed. Ineedto get her warm. Ineedto get her safe.

We strip her down to nothing, every inch of soaked fabric discarded in a heap. My chest aches at how cold she is, how still. I want to shake her, tomakeher come back to us.

“Now,” I say, voice rough, and Dane passes her to me.

I take her into the bath, guiding her limp body into the water with both hands. She’s so cold it makes me flinch, her skin like ice against my own, but I don’t let go. I pull her in close,wrapping her against my chest, letting the heat of the water and my body work together to thaw her out.

Blaise hovers beside us, jaw tight, hands flexing at his sides like he wants todosomething, but when I glance up, he gets the message.

“It’s okay,” I murmur. “I’ve got her.”

He backs off, just a step, his eyes never leaving her.