Clove presses her nose to my chest and I purr for her in response, my arms automatically wrapping around her in a hug.
We stay like that for several minutes, her body melting into mine.
I kiss the top of her head, happy to just exist for a few minutes.
Maybe it’s a moment of silence for the father she never really knew.
Or maybe it’s a moment for the mother she misses.
Regardless of the point, I’m there for her. Holding her. Giving her my strength, just like an Alpha should.
She sighs, her nose coming up to nuzzle my throat. “I love you, Tieran,” she says softly.
“I love you, too, Clove,” I reply, smiling.
We don’t often exchange the words.
But it doesn’t make them any less true.
Our clan’s love pours into Clove every day.
Because she’s our beating heart.
The center of our lives.
The core of our existence.
Tieran’s mother just stole Serena from me, Volt informs us, making Clove smile.
My mother is obsessed with the newborn. So I’m not really surprised by the news.
Clove turns her smile up my way, her chin resting on my chest. “Well, if she’s offering to babysit…” Her gaze twinkles. “Do you want to go for a run?”
I arch a brow. “A run or a chase?”
She bats her long lashes at me. “Catch me and find out.” She spins out of my arms and rips her dress off over her head, revealing nothing underneath.
I’m too hypnotized by the view to focus on my jeans.
It’s not until she’s in wolf form that I start undressing.
I hope you’re both in the mood for a little game of hide and seek, I tell Caius and Volt as I shift into my wolf. Because it seems our mate wants to play.
Mmm, Volt hums in reply. She hides.
We seek, Caius replies.
I grin. And then… we bite.
Thank you for reading Carnage Island!