Volt and Clove are waiting for me in the largest cabin, which happens to be the one I typically sleep in when we do an overnight trip somewhere.
“I brought the cargo to the room, just like you requested, Captain,” Volt announces, making me roll my eyes.
Yes, I’m technically the Yacht Captain, but I don’t use the title. It’s pompous and ridiculous, something Volt definitely knows. Hence why he loves using it.
“Can I at least have a shirt?” Clove demands, taking in my boots, jeans, and navy sweater before looking pointedly at Volt’s pants.
I consider her a moment before glancing at Volt. “Do liars deserve clothes, V?”
“No, T. I don’t think they do,” he drawls, smiling as he takes in her hardening nipples.
She blushes, the color going all the way to her breasts. But it’s not a flush of embarrassment, it’s one founded in a fiery energy that has my wolf standing up and taking notice.
“I didn’t lie. I’m fine and I meant it,” she snaps.
“You don’t sound fine,” I point out, irritated by her continued lie. “Something’s bothering you. I can smell it, Clove. Your distress disturbs my wolf. And lying about it pisses me off.”
“Maybe I’m distressed because I’m now trapped on a yacht with two angry Alphas that apparently want to punish me for truthfully saying I’m fine,” she bites back.
“I’m talking about your distress after you shifted, not the furious energy coming off you right now,” I clarify as I shut the door and lock it. “I’m talking about you clearly lying to me when I asked if you were all right. And now I’m going to talk about why this is a problem and what we’re going to do abo—”
“It wasn’t a lie,” she interrupts, speaking through gritted teeth. “I am fine. I just had a few unwanted thoughts. But they don’t matter. I’m safe. I’m protected. I’m fine.”
I narrow my gaze.
“And I want clothes,” she adds. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I even won Volt’s challenges. But now I’m not in the mood for my reward because you both are being Alpha assholes.”
I arch a brow at Volt. “Reward?”
“I said I would pleasure her until it was time to go, but only if she shifted without my help and went on a run with me.”
“And then we ran all day,” she mutters.
“Because you needed the run, sweetheart.”
“Yes,” she agrees. “Since I clearly won’t be getting the other thing I need.”
I frown, glancing at Volt and then at her.
“What other thing?” I ask.
She huffs and starts pulling the blanket off the bed. “Since I can’t have clothes, I’ll—”
Clove shrieks as Volt lifts her up off her feet and tosses her into the center of the bed. He’s on her in the second second, capturing her hands over her head and pinning her to the mattress with his thighs.
“What other thing?” I repeat.
But she mutinously snaps her jaw closed, her teeth clenching so hard I can hear it.
“I see,” I murmur. “Well, while you’re being silent, I’ll explain why lying isn’t acceptable in our clan. You’re an Omega. That makes you inherently weaker than us.”
Her cheeks darken with fury, her brown eyes glowing with the need to rebuke my statement.
“It’s a fact, Clove. We are bigger and stronger. And while you may harbor some alpha-like traits, they are not of the physical variety.”
“She was pretty quick on her paws today,” Volt offers, causing some of her ire to bleed out of her expression. “Definitely nimble and agile.”
“Fantastic traits,” I admit, “but they don’t detract from the reality that she’s an Omega.” I walk up to the bed to stare down at her, but she’s too busy avoiding my gaze and biting her tongue to look at me. “Can you move, Clove? Can you push Volt off of you?”
He wiggles in response to my words, daring her to try.
She doesn’t.
“You can’t, can you? Because we are much stronger than you physically.” I infuse a hint of dominance in my tone, making her shiver. “You’re helpless to us. If we want to fuck you, we will. If we want to kill you, we can. And if we want to hurt you, there’s nothing you can do to stop us.” I grab her chin and force her gaze to meet mine. “Except for one thing.”
She swallows, her eyes filling with furious tears. She hates being put in this position. But that’s the point. This is what I need her to understand.