Carnage Island (Reject Island)(52)

Tieran, Caius, and Volt all exude a similar authority that feels overwhelmingly dominant when together. It’s what makes them the strongest clan on the island, the wolves no one truly wants to challenge.

Although, a few do seem to hold Tieran’s gaze a beat longer than appropriate.

Including the clan he introduces me to next.

“This is Alpha Dirk,” Tieran says, his voice holding a note to it that sends a chill down my spine. “Alpha Dirk, introduce your clan.” It’s a demand that draws the Alpha’s gaze away from my breasts and up to the male behind me.

I swallow as they stand off, the energy between them causing my knees to shake.

Caius takes my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze as Volt clears his throat. He’s still shirtless beside me, his tattoos gleaming in the sunlight like battle scars. I’ve traced a few of them with my tongue, enjoying the unique patterns.

I asked him the other day what they paint and he merely replied, “They mean I like pain.” Because apparently he has to use a special ink tainted with silver to make them stay, otherwise his wolf heals them. There’s another wolf on the island who does them—a Beta named Christian that I met shortly after arriving.

“This is Alpha Kin,” Alpha Dirk says, his gravelly voice underlined with a hint of irritation as he gestures to the giant male beside him. He’s taller and wider than Tieran, but his aura isn’t nearly as dominant.

However, Alpha Dirk exudes power. Not quite as strong as the male behind me, but enough to certainly give him notice. He smells familiar, too. Like a mud puddle that’s left behind after a storm. I can’t quite place it.

Or maybe that fragrance is coming from the male beside him.

But I’ve definitely inhaled this fragrance before.

I just can’t remember when.

And neither male is familiar at all, at least not in appearance.

Alpha Dirk clears his throat, his gaze landing on Tieran once more. “My clan is not yet complete.”

Ah, so that’s why Tieran made him do the introductions, I realize. It was a power play to show that Alpha Dirk’s clan is inferior since he hasn’t found all the compatible wolves for his circle.

Caius told me three is the minimum.

Hence two wolves being an incomplete clan.

Caius squeezes my hand again as Tieran kisses my neck, that touch of obvious possession warming me once more. “Alpha Dirk’s clan oversees our telecommunications,” he reminds me, repeating the detail Caius mentioned before we arrived. “They’re our technical experts for phones as there is no prominent cellular network out here.”

“Yes, we use satellite tech,” Alpha Dirk adds, some of the gravel in his tone disappearing as he speaks up about his work. “It’s how we access the internet as well.”

Tieran nods, his chin touching my shoulder. “Their work is impressive. It makes Alpha Dirk and Alpha Kin invaluable to our efforts here.”

It’s a compliment.

One I watch register in Alpha Dirk’s features, his dark eyes lighting up. “Thank you. We take pride in our work.”

Alpha Kin doesn’t appear as impressed with the praise. He merely nods, his thick neck bulging with the motion.

That scent slithers around me again, making me wonder why I recognize it. Maybe I smelled them when I first arrived? Or were they among the wolves that attacked the other day when I started to go into heat?

I’ll have to ask about it later. Tieran hasn’t given any indication on who those wolves were, and it wasn’t something I thought much about with them surrounding me.

But the way Alpha Kin is eyeing me has me somewhat concerned.

Alpha Dirk, too.

My wolf doesn’t like them. She’s huffing in annoyance and telling me to snuggle back into Tieran more, to demonstrate her mutual claim.

Fortunately, we don’t remain long, the introduction complete, and we’re moving again to another clan. This one has five Alphas in it, something Tieran says is rare but can happen. “The largest clan in Black Mountain Pack has seven Alphas and one Omega,” he adds.

My eyes widen at that concept.

That’s a lot of knots, I nearly say.

But I refrain and meet the final clan of two Alpha males and a Beta female. Their dynamic reminds me a bit of what I saw with Alpha Ebony. There was another Beta female as well, but she appeared to be with a lone Alpha—one Tieran didn’t force to introduce his “incomplete” clan.

We’re just wrapping up when a boat arrives at the docks off the beach. I wince, worried the rusted old wood won’t function properly, but one of the large males exits the boat with ease. He looks at Volt and waggles his auburn brows. “Dinner’s here.”

Volt grins. “Excellent.”

I frown, wondering if they caught a fresh batch of fish.

Then understanding dawns on me when the fresh aroma of greasy cheese hits my senses. I nearly moan, the food one of my favorites—something I told Volt the other evening when he asked if I had any preferences for dinner.

I glance at him and find him grinning triumphantly. “She approves,” he says, the words for Caius.

“I knew she would. That’s why I didn’t take the bet,” Caius replies.

“What bet?” I ask, frowning again.

“Terms weren’t discussed,” Caius replies.

“This time,” Volt murmurs.