Carnage Island (Reject Island)(51)

Caius and Tieran both glare at him saying “No” at the same time.

But I find myself smiling instead of shivering. My wolf innately trusts Volt, and he’s been rather sweet to me since I arrived. Sure, he may be a killer with some psychotic undertones, but I’m not sure I mind.

Actually, I find myself intrigued.

Which is why I say, “I look forward to learning more.” Because I do. I want to understand him, to know him. Even if it’s dangerous. Because my animal says that while he may be deadly to others, he isn’t to us.

He isn’t to me.

Something his eyes seem to display now as his dark irises meet mine with a smile. “I think she’s ready to meet the pack,” he says, his smile reaching his mouth now. “She’s going to slay them.”

“No,” Tieran replies, causing all of us to look at him. “She’s going to rule them.”

He utters it with confidence.

Something I didn’t realize I needed to hear until he said it because we’re not mated yet. He hasn’t even touched me since he knotted me during my heat. A part of me had begun to question his interest. Yet he slept in the bed each night in wolf form, and his gestures suggested otherwise.

But all of this is just so new and foreign to me.

So it’s easy to let a sliver of doubt creep inside.

However, his words now help wash that way.

As does the kiss he places against my mouth. “They all know I intend to claim you,” he says against my ear. “Own it, Clove. They’re going to love you.”

I shiver, melting into his strength and thanking him for his confidence by brushing my lips against his chin.

“We should go.” He pulls away, his smile still in his sapphire eyes. “It’s time for the pack to greet you and show you what sets Carnage Wolves apart from the wolves of your past.”





20





CLOVE





The Carnage Wolves are nothing like the savage beasts depicted by Alpha Bryson.

They’re intimidating, yes.

But there’s an intelligence to them that I admire. They’re also polite and respectful. Even the Alphas treat me kindly, gazing upon me with an interest very unlike the wolves back in Nantahala Pack.

These Alphas are curious about me, the person. Not me, the woman. Well, there may be some of that intrigue, but several have remarked how they’re looking forward to me mating Tieran’s clan.

It’s formal, yet laid back.

And I feel safe with Caius and Volt on either side of me with Tieran at my back. There’s been a few times he’s possessively placed his hand on my hip or kissed my neck.

Which just makes my wolf preen.

Because Tieran is very clearly the Pack Alpha on this island. His dominance is a blistering heat against my senses that makes me want to kneel at his feet. But he keeps me upright with his soft touches and subtle commentary.

“Alpha Duncan is the security master I told you about,” he says, his mouth against my ear. “These are his clan mates, Alpha Ebony and Alpha Pan.”

I nod to them all, a bit surprised to meet an Alpha female among all these Alpha males. I don’t need Tieran to tell me that it’s rare for a female to be a Carnage Wolf Alpha.

It’s still a unique concept for me to grasp that Carnage Wolves have multiple Alphas, not just one single Alpha in charge.

In the Nantahala Pack, we only called Bryson the Alpha. There were other wolves with alpha-like tendencies, but they were never given the designation.

Whereas here on Carnage Island, pretty much seventy percent of the wolves are Alphas. The rest are all Betas, and then a handful of rogue wolves.

The rogue wolves don’t attend the ceremony, something Tieran mentioned as we wandered to the beach.

While he keeps them in line, they are free to roam the island at will so long as they don’t interfere with pack business.

Those rogues are part of the reason the Elders created the Reject Islands—the rogues were the ones who went crazy upon being rejected. And several were sent here to Carnage Island because the Elders felt the Carnage Wolves were among the few who could keep them under control.

Seeing all these Alpha males together, I can understand why.

They’re much larger than the Nantahala Wolves. Even Bryson would appear somewhat short compared to Alpha Duncan’s clan. Ebony is over six feet tall with long dark hair braided down her back. Her muscles are lean, but I can sense the power in her brown eyes. She’s polite, just like the others, smiling at me in welcome.

“Don’t let all the testosterone overwhelm you,” she says quietly. “They’ll tone it down once you’re properly mated.”

I shiver. Properly mated.

I want that. I want Tieran to claim me. It’s an instinctual need driven by my wolf, her desire to be mated by the strongest Alpha a palpable presence in my mind.

But I can feel him holding back for now.

Because of my insufficient heat cycle..

He needs to know that I can properly mate him.

And part of me isn’t so sure that I can.

However, I push that away for now and continue the introductory tour. I meet several Betas, all of whom are not in a clan. Tieran explains that Betas can join an Alpha’s clan when compatible. I’m not sure what drives that connection, however, I suspect it’s related to power signatures.