“We’ll know in the morning.” He starts scrubbing plates, telling me he’s even more distracted than he cares to let on. Because Tieran only cleans when he’s thinking seriously about something.
Volt and I share a look, then clear the rest of the living room while Tieran takes on the domestic chores in the kitchen.
By the time he’s done, I know he has a plan because there’s a strategic glint in his blue eyes. “We’ll test her in the morning, see if she’s ready to take back complete control. If she’s not, we’ll give her another day or two under our protection to see if that helps.”
“And if it doesn’t?” I prompt.
“Then I’ll do what needs to be done.” He doesn’t sound happy about it. I don’t blame him. Commanding a shift hurts the other wolf, and that’s the very last thing any of us would want to do to an Omega.
But part of being an Alpha is knowing when to take charge and force situations for the betterment of the other party.
And, in this case, it’ll be to Clove’s benefit to learn how to shift back.
She’ll hate him for it at first.
However, she’ll eventually forgive him.
Probably around the time he knots her.
No Omega can resist an Alpha’s cock.
Perhaps that’ll be her final test to see if those pheromones are real or not. If she dies, she lied. If she survives, she’s ours.
Tieran’s wrist begins to vibrate, his watch warning him of an incoming call. “It’s my father,” he says, turning off the water. “I’ll let you know what he says about the girl.”
He disappears from view, heading down to his office.
Volt and I share yet another look—something we seem to be doing frequently tonight.
“Want to take bets on which idiot tries to find her first?” I ask him, referring to the Carnage Wolves.
“A bet against you?” He snorts. “They better be good stakes.”
“Winner knots the Omega first?” I suggest. It doesn’t have to apply to Clove, just whoever our future Omega may be. It just happens to be her presence here today that gives me the idea for the bet.
“I think she’ll be choosing T for that,” Volt replies, confirming that he agrees Clove isn’t just an Omega, but our intended Omega. “Her wolf picked his bed, after all.”
“A given. I meant the winner between us knots her first—after T.” Because we’re an Alpha circle. If T mates her, we all mate her. And given how comfortable she seemed with us tonight, I doubt that’ll be much of an issue for her. However, again, this bet applies to whoever the Omega of our future is—which I very much hope is sweet little Clove.
Volt considers it. “All right.” He makes his pick.
I make mine.
And the bet is on.
9
CLOVE
Roughly two days in a den with three Carnage Wolf Alphas has turned everything I know about their kind upside down.
Tieran has a reputation for cruelty because of how he killed his mate.
Yet he’s treated me respectfully, allowing me to sleep in his room on my pile of sheets in the corner, and ensuring I not only eat, but know how to eat. He keeps dropping little hints about how to connect to my wolf, too.
It’s… confusing.
I can sense his feral aura and his need to dominate. His Alpha energy is a thick presence against my skin that demands I submit.
But he’s been almost gentle with me since I arrived.
Even the bath punishment was rather kind.
However, there’s an air about him this morning that has me wondering if everything is about to change. I can feel it coming from upstairs, his dominance a suffocating wave that surrounds my very spirit.
He’s coming for me.
I don’t know how I know that, but I do. It’s a warning in the air. A caution my wolf picks up on just as well as I do.
Am I overreacting? I wonder.
All three males have been kind, a claim I really can’t make about any of the Alphas from the Nantahala Pack.
Volt, Caius, and Tieran, are different. They’re Alphas, yet caring. Dominant, yet tender.
I slept well my first night in their den, then Tieran and I spent yesterday talking about how shifters control their wolves. He attempted to show me how to shift by demonstrating himself, but I was too enthralled by the majestic display to truly follow his advice.
The moment his pants came off, I was captivated.
Something that confused me because I grew up around naked men who frequently shifted into wolves.
But Tieran is a whole new breed of male. He’s tall, lean, and sleek. Yet with white fur instead of black—a trait that only makes him more beautiful.