Whereas here on Carnage Island, pretty much seventy percent of the wolves are Alphas. The rest are all Betas, and then a handful of rogue wolves.
The rogue wolves don’t attend the ceremony, something Tieran mentioned as we wandered to the beach.
While he keeps them in line, they are free to roam the island at will so long as they don’t interfere with pack business.
Those rogues are part of the reason the Elders created the Reject Islands—the rogues were the ones who went crazy upon being rejected. And several were sent here to Carnage Island because the Elders felt the Carnage Wolves were among the few who could keep them under control.
Seeing all these Alpha males together, I can understand why.
They’re much larger than the Nantahala Wolves. Even Bryson would appear somewhat short compared to Alpha Duncan’s clan. Ebony is over six feet tall with long dark hair braided down her back. Her muscles are lean, but I can sense the power in her brown eyes. She’s polite, just like the others, smiling at me in welcome.
“Don’t let all the testosterone overwhelm you,” she says quietly. “They’ll tone it down once you’re properly mated.”
I shiver. Properly mated.
I want that. I want Tieran to claim me. It’s an instinctual need driven by my wolf, her desire to be mated by the strongest Alpha a palpable presence in my mind.
But I can feel him holding back for now.
Because of my insufficient heat cycle
He needs to know that I can properly mate him.
And part of me isn’t so sure that I can.
However, I push that away for now and continue the introductory tour. I meet several Betas, all of whom are not in a clan. Tieran explains that Betas can join an Alpha’s clan when compatible. I’m not sure what drives that connection, however, I suspect it’s related to power signatures.
Tieran, Caius, and Volt all exude a similar authority that feels overwhelmingly dominant when together. It’s what makes them the strongest clan on the island, the wolves no one truly wants to challenge.
Although, a few do seem to hold Tieran’s gaze a beat longer than appropriate.
Including the clan he introduces me to next.
“This is Alpha Dirk,” Tieran says, his voice holding a note to it that sends a chill down my spine. “Alpha Dirk, introduce your clan.” It’s a demand that draws the Alpha’s gaze away from my breasts and up to the male behind me.
I swallow as they stand off, the energy between them causing my knees to shake.
Caius takes my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze as Volt clears his throat. He’s still shirtless beside me, his tattoos gleaming in the sunlight like battle scars. I’ve traced a few of them with my tongue, enjoying the unique patterns.
I asked him the other day what they paint and he merely replied, “They mean I like pain.” Because apparently he has to use a special ink tainted with silver to make them stay, otherwise his wolf heals them. There’s another wolf on the island who does them—a Beta named Christian that I met shortly after arriving.
“This is Alpha Kin,” Alpha Dirk says, his gravelly voice underlined with a hint of irritation as he gestures to the giant male beside him. He’s taller and wider than Tieran, but his aura isn’t nearly as dominant.
However, Alpha Dirk exudes power. Not quite as strong as the male behind me, but enough to certainly give him notice. He smells familiar, too. Like a mud puddle that’s left behind after a storm. I can’t quite place it.
Or maybe that fragrance is coming from the male beside him.
But I’ve definitely inhaled this fragrance before.
I just can’t remember when.
And neither male is familiar at all, at least not in appearance.
Alpha Dirk clears his throat, his gaze landing on Tieran once more. “My clan is not yet complete.”
Ah, so that’s why Tieran made him do the introductions, I realize. It was a power play to show that Alpha Dirk’s clan is inferior since he hasn’t found all the compatible wolves for his circle.
Caius told me three is the minimum.
Hence two wolves being an incomplete clan.
Caius squeezes my hand again as Tieran kisses my neck, that touch of obvious possession warming me once more. “Alpha Dirk’s clan oversees our telecommunications,” he reminds me, repeating the detail Caius mentioned before we arrived. “They’re our technical experts for phones as there is no prominent cellular network out here.”
“Yes, we use satellite tech,” Alpha Dirk adds, some of the gravel in his tone disappearing as he speaks up about his work. “It’s how we access the internet as well.”