Carnage Island (Reject Island)(25)

I shiver at the dark promise in those words.

Caius and Volt both glance at each other, then at Tieran. “Where?” Volt asks.

“I’m still debating,” Tieran mutters. “Her cries are going to call the wolves to her regardless of where I do it. But we need a place where we can properly protect her.”

My cries? I repeat. He expects me to cry?

Does he think I’m weak because I can’t shift? Because Canton has a hold on my spirit?

How is that even my fault?

My pack never taught me how to fight, and the whole ceremony is about letting his wolf bond with mine. How was I supposed to know this would happen?

I went through with the ceremony because I was the strongest eligible female of my pack. It hurt like hell, but I didn’t scream, did I?

I honestly can’t remember much beyond the pain.

And the agony of losing my mother right after.

My heart aches just thinking about it.

Her screams will haunt me for the rest of my days.

“She’s strong,” Volt says, interrupting my thoughts. “She’ll take it.”

“I’m more concerned about how she’ll react afterward and what she might do to any of the wolves that come to investigate.” Tieran sets down his fork, his tone flat.

Caius stands to join Volt at the sink, his gaze on Tieran. “It’s their own hide if they come up uninvited, T. Let them pay the price for disobeying your directive.”

“I mean, watching her attack them would be fun,” Volt puts in. “A total fucking turn on, actually.”

“I’m not worried about her attacking or killing anyone,” Tieran bites back. “Her mother was easy prey. I’m more concerned about the others scaring her, or doing something worse.”

My mother… I trail off, blinking at him. My mother was easy prey?

Did he really just say that?

Their conversation continues, but I can’t hear it over the thumping in my ears.

What does he know about my mother?

Why does he consider her easy prey?

Does he know who raped her? Who… who sired me?

Or is this about how she died?

A palm lands on my scruff, the fingers digging in as Tieran suddenly squats before me. “Do not growl at us, little one. You will not like the consequences.”

I blink. Growl? When did I growl?

“Better,” he says, his gaze hard. “I don’t have a choice. I either force your change, or you remain a wolf. And the latter isn’t acceptable.”

He thinks I’m growling because he wants to help me back into my human state?

I snort.

Which causes his eyes to narrow, the irises suddenly resembling ice.

Oh, moon, that is not the response he wanted to hear… But it wasn’t in response to his statement. Well, it was, but not for the reasons he probably thought.

If I were human, I would explain.

But as a wolf, all I can do is grumble—which I do—and that just worsens the situation entirely.

“All right.” He releases me and stands abruptly. “I guess we’re doing this here.”

“Uh, T, maybe—”

“No, Caius. I’m done with the disobedient act. I want a person to scold, not a wolf.”

What the hell? I want to snap. I’m not being disobedient!

Which of course comes out as another grumble.

And earns me an icy glower from the Alpha.

Okay, yeah, and I’m a dead wolf again. Awesome.





10





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Tieran growls, the menacing sound wrapping around me in a thunderous vibration that pierces my heart and shoots lava through my veins.

It burns.

I immediately cower, trying to hide from the venom in his aura. It flows around me, ensnaring me in his Alpha web and demanding my full focus.

Moon…

I was right about him dampening his Alpha energy these last few days. Because this feels like a whiplash to my senses, his power an avalanche threatening to suffocate my entire being.

He growls again, this one even more intimidating than the last.

I can feel my wolf whimpering and my soul screaming for mercy.

But he merely squats again, blocking any escape attempt I may make.

This is the monster I’ve been warned about. The savage beast who slaughtered his mate.

He probably did this to her before ripping her apart with his teeth.

I’m going to die here.

My animal growls, refusing to go down without a fight.

Which only makes the Alpha snarl, demanding obedience.

I can’t breathe.

It’s all too much.

My body is breaking beneath the power of his wrath and he isn’t even touching me.

My fur is melting, morphing, leaving me behind as a shell of nothing but skin and shattering bones.

He’s only growled three times. Maybe four.

But my body is responding to his demand, shifting back into human form in the most excruciating display of submission.

I hate him.

I despise his growl.

I loathe his Alpha powers.

I want to kill them all. I want to shred them for making me feel so small and alone and helpless.

This is the worst punishment of all, the degradation of my spirit and taking all the control away from my mind. Forcing me to morph into a state without my permission.