“I’ll take care of it,” Caius says. “Alpha Duncan has some toys I can play with. But I’ll keep it minimal and surface level.”
Tieran dips his chin. “I don’t want to invade their privacy, I just want to keep an eye on them when Clove’s around.”
I snort because they’ll claim even that is an invasion of their privacy. But I agree heartily with his desire to keep them in line. They’ve disrespected Tieran one too many times, and Clove is the last straw.
“If they can’t learn to heel when appropriate, they forfeit their right to privacy.” That’s my stance, anyway. I don’t give two fucks about their self-decided importance. They’ve insulted Tieran with their constant disregard. “They broke into our den with the intent of taking our Omega. That alone is an offense that should have them exiled from the island.
“They were lost to the rut,” Tieran replies.
I grunt. “As were many others, but they were the two who broke in first. And Dirk’s strong enough to be a secondary clan for leadership. He should be able to fight the rut, just like we did.” The fact that he couldn’t says so much about his intentions. “He acted on the opportunity as a way to best you. His privacy is the least of my concern.”
“He’s right,” Caius agrees. “They forfeited their right to privacy when they challenged us for Clove. She’s not yet claimed. Even if we didn’t intend to keep her, it’s still our duty to protect her as the lead clan.”
I press my nose to the back of her head, loving the way her soft hair tickles my lips. “We are definitely keeping you, sweetling,” I murmur.
Tieran says nothing for a long moment. Then finally he concedes with, “Just keep the monitoring light. If they complain, I’ll handle it.”
“They won’t even know I’m there,” Caius promises.
“I know.” Tieran runs his fingers through his blond hair, then blows out a breath and meets my gaze. “And on a similar topic of surveillance, I agree with taking her with us on your next assignment.”
My lips pull up into a grin. “I knew you would eventually come around to my side of things.”
“But she’ll remain with me in a safe place over a mile away, and we’ll watch you through the cameras,” he continues, ignoring my commentary. “It gives us an opportunity to show her a bit more about our lives while keeping her safe as well.”
“Because I can’t do that here without you?” Caius asks, arching a brown brow.
“Of course you can,” Tieran replies, sighing. “But my wolf is feeling…”
“Needy?” I offer. “Possessive? Hungry?”
Tieran narrows his eyes at me. “All of the above.” The confession leaves him on a rumble, his purr momentarily taking over before he can clear his throat.
Caius smiles. “You should just bite her, T.” It’s a taunt, one I fully approve of.
“Yeah, T. Just bite her.”
He glowers at us. “Yeah, fuck both of you.”
“If that’s what it takes,” I offer, shrugging.
He just grunts in response.
I know what’s holding him back—his need to extend the Alpha line.
If she can’t go into a proper heat, then she can’t procreate.
Which means he has two choices: claim her and fuck another Omega to obtain an heir, or search for another eligible Omega.
The problem is, his wolf wants Clove. I can smell it. My wolf wants her, too. As does Caius’s. Which makes her ours.
And that presents a conundrum.
One Tieran appears hellbent on shouldering himself. Yet it’s me he’s worried about. A fact that pisses me the fuck off. He’s also probably worried about what it would do to Clove if he has to fuck another Omega to create an heir.
His wolf may not even allow it.
Her wolf will despise him for it.
Our clan will suffer.
And it may all end in death.
Or that’s been my experience, anyway. My father took an Omega to create an heir, yet he mated a Beta. Then he expected her—the Beta—to raise me as her own.
Mommy dearest didn’t approve.
She used me as a punching bag instead.
She loathed me.
The feeling was fucking mutual.
I dreamt of killing her so many times. But my father did the honors for me.
And my real mother, the Omega, was happily mated to a clan in another pack—the Black Mountain Pack.
Which is how I ended up on Alpha Umber’s doorstep. His Omega wasn’t my mother, but she lived in his pack. He took me in as his own, raised me with Tieran, and I maintained a very distant relationship with the female who birthed me.