Carnage Island (Reject Island)(57)

He seems almost disappointed, like he expected me to try it, but the expression is gone in the next second as he begins to shift into his massive wolf form.

I’m bewitched by his presence, the Alpha in him dwarfing my Omega wolf by at least a hundred pounds.

He’s huge.

And he’s magnificent.

All white fur and ebony irises, with perked ears and a snout that could easily take down prey twice his size.

He nips at my nose, the gesture playful. Then he bounds off down the tunnel, his sharp yip a command to follow.

My wolf takes off after him, elated by the chase and longing to show off her speed.

I’m surprised by how agile I feel on four feet now, my first shift having been awkward and clumsy. But I feel powerful now. Right.

I chase him without stumbling, avoiding the traps laying in wait for those who don’t belong here. He points to them with his nose, warning me before leaping in a new direction to avoid another one.

Caius explained that these are here to protect the den, ensuring only the clan knows how to descend into the heart of the cave.

It’s their most cherished home on this island, but it’s also stocked with items and enough beds to house the pack should an emergency situation arise.

It’s unique and beautiful and rather fun.

I dance along in Volt’s wake, following his tail like a moving stick.

My wolf is panting in excitement, her spirit right alongside mine as we run together as one.

The outside air is a welcome chill as we burst free of the cave. Then Volt takes off up the hill on a jog that has me itching to keep up. There are no traps out here, just solid earth and a terrain dusted in a fresh sheet of snow.

I roll in it, thrilled by the frigid texture, then chase him down with a happy pant parting my jaws.

This is what being a shifter is all about, the freedom and excitement of nature. Embracing our wolfish souls and flourishing.

My heart is soaring, my spirit feeling full of vivacious energy and life.

I want to run forever.

Volt must suspect that because he takes me on a full tour of the island, darting past other shifters and showing me their homes. Most of them live in log homes similar to the one I stayed in on the first two nights. Others have dug out caves, creating their own dens.

He shows me the real docks and all the speed boats tucked into the hidden cove—it’s really just disguised by leaves and a curling stream that heads inland. It’s barely big enough for the yacht, which I suspect they built with specific sizing in mind to be able to push it up this stream.

After exploring the docks, he takes me to another area of the island where a few more buildings stand, One is a library. Another is an internet cafe of sorts. And the third appears to be a little coffee shop. All items I did not expect on this island, but they’re hidden by lush pine trees making them not visible off the island.

So I’m guessing the Elders don’t know this exists at all.

Just like the abundance of power—which is sourced from the middle of the island, something else Volt shows me—and other advanced features.

It’s a whirlwind tour that leaves me breathless.

A howl pierces the air, causing Volt to pause for a moment. He howls back, then leads me back to the docks rather than to the den.

I don’t understand until I find Caius and Tieran waiting for us with bags and a basket of what smells like fresh food.

Oh.

We ran all day.

It went by so quickly that I didn’t even notice the sun beginning to set in the sky.

Volt shifts back into his human form, his expression filled with mischief as he looks at Tieran. “Clove’s wolf needed a run.”

“I see that,” Tieran says, his blue eyes meeting mine with a warm smile before focusing once more on Volt. “But we should go. I don’t particularly enjoy navigating the water at night.”

My heart stutters a little. We spent all day running, which means Volt can’t live up to his part of the deal.

I’m mildly disappointed.

But also elated that we ran all day.

So I’m conflicted on how I feel about that.

Volt’s dark eyes find mine as he runs his fingers through his dark hair, making his tattooed arms bulge alluringly. “We’ll play on the yacht instead,” he tells me. “Assuming you can shift back.”

Oh, my wolf approves of this challenge. As do I.

He folds his arms, giving me his full attention.

Caius and Tieran both stare at me intently, too.

I swallow, suddenly nervous. Do they think I’ll fail? I don’t scent any concern on them, just their usual scents of peppermint, pine, and coppery ash.

A delicious blend that makes me sigh.

I want to roll in their scents and bathe in their Alpha essence.

“Shift, Clove,” Volt dares, his gaze glittering with wicked promise.

I take a deep breath, intimidated by the process of shifting.

Because the last several times I tried, my wolf refused to let me go.

However, this time she urges me on.

No, she does more than that. She guides me through it, helping me return to my human form. It doesn’t hurt. It… it feels natural. And completely different from before when I felt blocked beneath another being’s power.

Because Tieran only encouraged my shift the other day, he didn’t maintain his hold. He literally set me free.