Carnage Island (Reject Island)(61)

Silence falls on the heels of that pronouncement, followed by Clove’s eyes rounding at what she just said.

“So that’s the other thing you need,” Volt muses after a beat, glancing at me before focusing on the blade at her throat. “Is that why you’re all bent out of shape? Because you’re craving our knots?”

I can see the denial forming on her lips

Volt sees it, too.

So he presses the blade a little harder against her throat. “Think about what we’ve been trying to tell you before you answer that, sweetheart.” He’s not cutting her, just reinforcing his position.

It’s not my favorite method.

But we’re a clan.

A team.

And therefore I’ll let him play his role while I engage in my own.

I carefully join them on the bed, lying alongside Clove and tracing her jaw with my fingertip. “Are you upset with me, little one?” I give her an easier question to answer as I gently coax her gaze to mine.

Volt lets up on the knife a little, making sure the movement of her chin doesn’t cause a superficial wound.

“Yes,” she whispers. “I don’t like this at all.”

“Which part?”

“Being held down with a knife at my throat. Being chastised like I’m a child,” she says, swallowing. “I said I was fine because I am fine. I’m… I’m disappointed that I’m not the Omega you need. But I’m healthy and safe, which makes me fine.”

I frown. “Healthy and safe, yes. But emotions matter, Clove. If something is upsetting you, it’s okay to admit that you’re not all right.”

“To what point?” she asks. “So I can complain about something none of us can change? It seems like a waste of time.”

“It’s not a waste of time at all. It’s important to know how you’re feeling so we don’t make something worse.” I slide my palm to her cheek, cupping it. “You’re upset that we haven’t knotted you, and now you’re trapped beneath Volt with his knife at your throat. I think we can all agree that makes this much worse.”

“Depends on if she enjoys knife play,” Volt says.

I ignore him, my focus on Clove. “I can only imagine why you were taught to suppress your emotions, but that’s not how Carnage Wolves work. We’re shifters. We’re passionate. We discuss our emotions freely. And most importantly, we trust each other to help us heal.”

Which is exactly what I’ll do for her now.

If she’ll allow it.

“I want to knot you, Clove,” I tell her. “Fuck, it’s all I can think about. I’ve refrained because of my wolf. He’s…” I trail off, searching for the right term. “He’s voracious. I’m not sure what he’ll do when I’m inside you again.”

“And I’ve refrained because I’m enjoying your mouth.” Volt lifts the blade to trace her bottom lip. “I’ve also been giving you time to understand our preferences and to learn your limits, something I can’t do when you lie.”

He removes the knife, sliding it back into the sheath built into his jeans before releasing her hands. Volt rolls to her side, trapping her between us and allowing me to take the lead.

I glide my fingers down to her throat, tracing the pink line left by Volt’s dagger. He didn’t break the skin, just marked it enough to leave a subtle claim behind.

“It’s okay to be distressed,” I tell her softly. “I think we are all a little on edge right now. But it’s how we come together that matters.”

“I just don’t want to dwell on it,” she whispers. “I want to enjoy the moment for however long it lasts.”

My lips curl down, not liking the way she said that. “This isn’t temporary, Clove.”

“It will be if I can’t give you an heir,” she replies, making me wince.

That’s not something I’ve admitted directly to her, which means she overheard one of us discussing it.

Perhaps she isn’t as deep of a sleeper as we thought.

“See?” She gives me a sad smile. “It ruins the moment, which is exactly what I wanted to avoid.”

All my frustration with her little lie disappears in the face of the truth. She hid her distress from us because she didn’t want to taint the experience. It’s an honorable notion, but still a flawed one.

Because this is something we all need to discuss, not hide from.

“It’s true that I need an heir,” I say, clearing my throat. “And it’s something we should discuss more.”

Volt’s midnight gaze meets mine, approval radiating in his depths. “Let’s discuss it while we eat,” he suggests. “Caius packed a meal for us in the baskets since Clove and I went all day without food.”

Her stomach rumbles in response, making my lips twitch. “A sound idea,” I reply, reaching out to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear.

There’s a glimmer of disappointment still lurking in her features, confirming she’s still sour with me.

But I’ll make it better.

After we eat.





24





CLOVE





Volt gave me a shirt.

Then he fisted my hair and tilted my head back to examine my neck, his gaze intent as he bent to kiss the mark he left on my throat.