I reached out my arm and she took it, her small hands clinging on tight. I carefully pulled her to standing, my other hand going to her side to keep her from falling. She tested putting weight on her injured ankle but immediately picked it up with a grimace.
“It’s fine,” she said quickly when I let out a low curse. “I can just hop.”
Was it sprained? Broken? There was probably too much adrenaline pumping through her system to properly assess her pain level.
“Give me the backpack,” I said gruffly, already moving to take it off her. My eyebrows shot up as I slung it over my shoulder. “This is heavy as fuck.”
“Tell me about it.”
I peered down at her, standing unsteadily on one leg, water dripping down her face. This girl needed someone to take care of her.
I glanced back at the road, clenching my jaw at the small river of mud and water rushing down the mountain. It wasn’t a far walk to my truck—a couple dozen feet, if that—but I didn’t trust her ankle to hold her.
“I’ll carry you.” I tugged on the rope around my waist, making sure it was still holding fast.
“I can walk.” Another shiver wracked her body, and I was struck by the intense urge to bundle her up in front of my fireplace.
She tried taking a step, but her pained whimper made a low growl tear through my chest. I picked her up without warning. I didn’t have time to convince her to let me carry her. We needed to get to safety before half the mountain washed away.
“Or I guess you’re carrying me,” she squeaked. Her chest was plastered to mine and her arms wound around my arms, clinging tight. Even with as cold, muddy, and wet as she was, she felt perfect against me.
I kept one hand on the rope and the other under her ass, supporting her as I took careful steps back to the truck. I swore when my boots hit a patch of mud and we slid a few feet down the side of the mountain. She tightened her hold on me, burying her face in my neck. I fought to get back on a stable patch of ground. I was not about to let her fall, especially when she was showing so much trust in me.
I grabbed a tree trunk for balance, the rough bark anchoring me as I inched back to the road. Fuck, would my truck even be able to make it the last bit to my house? I quickly ran through our various options. Only part of the road was flooded, so the truck still seemed like our safest option.
I opened the passenger door and reluctantly put the woman down on the seat. “My house is just a few minutes up the road.”
She nodded, her eyes wide as I closed the door, untied the rope around my waist, and got in on the other side.
“Buckle up,” I commanded.
Her frozen hands fumbled with the seat belt until I couldn’t take it anymore. I reached over and got her buckled, wishing I had gloves to offer her.
“Hang tight,” I said gruffly. “If we get stuck or start sliding, we’ll leave the truck and walk the rest of the way.”
Her eyes were wide as she nodded. I blasted the hot air, making sure her seat warmer was on high. My clothes were soaked and clammy against my skin, but it took a lot for me to feel the cold. This woman was tiny, shivering, and not remotely dressed for this weather.
I held my breath as I inched the truck forward. The wheels spun in the mud and dread seized me, but then we lurched forward. My arm automatically flew out to protect her, banding across her chest. Her sharp intake of breath brought me back to my senses, and I put my hand back on the steering wheel.
I eased the truck up the road, forcing myself to keep my eyes facing forward when all I wanted to do was check on her again.
I let out a sigh of relief when my driveway came into view.
“Almost there. You warm enough?”
“Starting to thaw.”
I fiddled with the vents, making sure they were pointing at her, when a scent hit my nose. Bright and floral, with a note of mouthwatering sweetness that reminded me of picking plump strawberries, the juice dripping off soft skin…
Fuck. She was an omega.
My grip on the wheel tightened along with every muscle in my body.
Mine.
Her scent fanned the flames of the possessiveness my alpha had felt since I first laid eyes on her. Static filled my ears, and each ragged breath delivered more of her scent into my lungs.
I came to a stop in front of my cabin, mind whirling. I’d been so focused on the rescue, I hadn’t thought about what came next.
