“But what if he’s not?” I pushed his hands off and undid the laces.
“He grew up in Chicago. He knows how to deal with snowy weather.” Jason didn’t look at me as he said it. He was staring out the window.
Yeah, he was feeling it too.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s dark. Anything could have taken him by surprise.” Panic was starting to chew at my nerves. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to Ozzi. He was making the mail run for me. I was so stupid to think we should go out in this awful weather.
Flashlight. I started pulling open drawers. “Where did Miss Eloise put the flashlight?”
“Lyla, you’re not going back out there.” Jason’s words had that Alpha hardness to them. He wasn’t commanding me yet, but he was on the verge.
He couldn’t tell me what to do. No one could order me around! I spun to face him with my hands on my hips. “I’m going to find a flashlight and then find Ozzi. You can’t stop me. It would be nice if you came along, if you even showed an ounce of worry for your friend.”
“You don’t think I’m worried?” He grunted and breathed out a hissing breath. “Of course I am. He’s my fucking pack brother. But I also know he would be majorly pissed off if I let you back out into the cold.”
“Well then he can just be pissed off. I’m still going.” I went back to yanking open drawers. Where was the freaking flashlight?
“And what happens if you’re hit by another bad bout of pain from your heat? What if it’s worse? You have to stay here.”
“Don’t tell me what to do!” I snapped and tossed aside a dish towel that was in the drawer. My hands shook and my throat thickened. No. I didn’t want to cry. Stupid Omegahormones! “You can’t make me stay here just because I’m an Omega. I’m stronger than you think.”
Jason’s jaw worked back and forth. “I’m not making you stay here just because you’re an Omega. It’s safer for you—”
“Because, in all your big Alpha glory, you’re trying to protect me. Your Alpha instincts are prowling around making you act like an overprotective ass. I don’t care that we shared a bed. It gives you no authority over me. I need to go find Ozzi!” My words were growing shrill, and yup, my tears broke free. But it didn’t matter. I couldn’t just bake cookies while Ozzi could be dying out there.
Jason gathered me to him and pressed me to his chest. His heart pounded, echoing in my head, taking the reins of my own racing heart and breaths. He rubbed my back. His voice came out more slowly, low and measured. “Where did you grow up, Lyla?”
“What?” I wanted to pound my fists against him. We were wasting time, but fuck, I couldn’t seem to move away. “Everywhere. Mostly in the south. I was in New Mexico before I moved up here.”
“So you didn’t grow up in Wisconsin.” He continued to run his fingers up and down my back, making slow circles. “I did. Ozzi grew up in Chicago. We know how to deal with weather like this.”
It didn’t matter. Ozzi was out there somewhere…
“I’m going to get changed and go looking for him. You’re going to stay here,” he said firmly.
“No!” I pushed back from him but he didn’t let me rip free from his arms. Our gazes locked.
“You’re going to remain in the house because one of the basic rules of survival is to always have someone at home base. You need to stay here in case he makes it back and needs some help.” He nodded his head once. “I’m a trained paramedic. It’smy job to rescue people in treacherous situations. If he needs it, I’m the best person to help him out there.”
Dammit. He made sense. I didn’t want him to make sense!
“You have no clothes.”Ha ha! Take that!
“My uniform should be almost dry by now. And I’ve got that wonderfully warm sweater you made.”
I wiped my cheeks and shook my head as my shoulders sagged. “What if something happens to you too?”
Jason gently nudged my chin up and flashed me a smile. “Nothing is going to happen to me. I was born here. I’ve got snowflakes in my veins and the winds off Lake Winnebago reside in my lungs.”
I wanted to go, but he was right. What if Ozzi returned to the house and no one was here? I’d leave the door unlocked, but what if he needed help? I sniffled and felt my panic ease as I gave in. “So you’re like Fond du Lac’s own Jack Frost?”
“The one and only!” Jason grinned wider and kissed the top of my head. “I’m going to get dressed. Can you find me a flashlight?”
“Yes.” I tore through the kitchen and finally found the big LED lantern flashlight in the pantry. Once I was sure it worked, I hurried to get Jason dry gloves, hat, and socks. Since he didn’t have any snowpants, I also brought down a pair of leg warmers from my collection.
“My legs are going to look like candy canes.” He complained, but he put the leg warmers on. “I thought these went out with the nineteen-eighties.”
“I’m bringing them back into fashion.” I helped him wind a scarf around his neck and lower face. Just before I covered his mouth, I tugged him down to me and kissed him. “Please, come back. And bring Ozzi with you.”
