She immediately relaxes, her gaze leaving his. “Thank you, Alpha.”
He steps toward her, his palm wrapping around the back of her neck.
She tenses.
And he pulls her into a hug. “Thank you,” I hear him whisper against her ear. “Thank you for taking care of our Clove.”
She shudders, her shoulders losing their stiffness.
“Alpha Duncan was a good man,” Tieran continues. “He will be honored.”
She wraps her arms around him, returning the hug as another tremble works through her.
He embraces her, lending her his strength for a long moment. Then he kisses the top of her head. “Alpha Pan will be here within the hour. He doesn’t know yet.”
“I’ll tell him,” she replies.
Tieran nods again, slowly releasing her. “Place Alpha Duncan near the water. I’ll take care of the rest.”
She visibly swallows and dips her chin in acknowledgement.
It’s the first true sign of pain I’ve seen from her since she woke up. She’s been holding herself together this whole time, her focus on protection.
Alpha Dirk’s been the same, his expression stoic as he waited for Tieran, Volt, and Caius to return.
Volt carries me into the hallway, leaving Tieran to say a few final words to Alpha Ebony and Alpha Dirk. I don’t know what they are because Volt and Caius start to purr so loudly that their rumbles are all I can hear.
It doesn’t seem intentional, just them wanting to offer comfort as we move through the scene of carnage around us.
“I can walk,” I tell Volt as he reaches another corridor.
He grunts in response. “I’m never letting you go again, Clove. Better just get used to being carried everywhere.”
“Yep,” Caius echoes.
Another battle I really don’t want to fight.
Although, I could point out that they’re both stalking through these halls naked when they just told me I’m not allowed to go without clothes in front of other people.
But I really don’t want to argue about that either.
I just want to revel in their presence.
They’re okay.
They’re here.
They’re alive.
I nuzzle Volt’s chest, inhaling his coppery scent and sighing at the hint of ash in its wake.
He smells like death.
A death I would not mind experiencing.
Caius’s peppermint essence tickles my nose next.
Followed by the strong fragrance of pine and male.
Tieran is suddenly there, taking me from Volt’s hold and hugging me with a fierceness that makes it hard to breathe. “Ours,” he growls, taking off in a run that has me wrapping my arms around his neck to hold on for the ride.
I almost repeat my ability to walk, but midnight air touches my neck, causing me to curl further into Tieran’s heat.
I breathe him in, relishing his existence.
He takes me to the den, running through the cave with purpose and not stopping until he reaches the main bedroom.
Caius is already there, warming the shower. Apparently, the underground generators aren’t impacted by the power outage on the island.
It’s something I almost ask about, but I’m distracted by the onslaught of testosterone and strong male scents.
My shirt disappears to the floor and Tieran’s intense blue eyes meet mine.
“We’re going to bathe you. Dress you. Then claim you before the pack.” His palm cups my cheek. “You’re ours, Clove. Never again will we be without you. Never again will you be alone. The ceremony is set. We’re biting you at three beneath the moon.”
34
TIERAN
The shock in Clove’s gaze tells me how badly I’ve fucked this up.
She’s surprised we’re going to claim her.
She shouldn’t be surprised.
She should be expectant.
Instead she’s gaping at me.
I slowly lower her to her feet. Caius is immediately there behind her, grabbing her hips to provide balance. Not that she needs it. She’s fully healed, just has a bit of dry blood on her.
And Alpha Kin’s saliva.
My wolf growls inside at that.
He had no right to touch her, let alone lick her. If he wasn’t already dead, I would kill him again.
I cradle Clove’s face between my hands as Volt enters the shower last. I walk her backward into Caius, trapping her between us. “I should have bitten you the moment I knotted you,” I tell her. “You’ve been ours from the moment that Volt pulled you out of the water.”
“But… but we don’t know if…” She trails off, swallowing. Then her brow furrows as her gaze drifts to the side. “Well, my mom did. So maybe…” She blinks back at me. “Is that what you’re basing your claim on? That Alpha Kin’s father was able to impregnate my mother?”