I frown. “Healthy and safe, yes. But emotions matter, Clove. If something is upsetting you, it’s okay to admit that you’re not all right.”
“To what point?” she asks. “So I can complain about something none of us can change? It seems like a waste of time.”
“It’s not a waste of time at all. It’s important to know how you’re feeling so we don’t make something worse.” I slide my palm to her cheek, cupping it. “You’re upset that we haven’t knotted you, and now you’re trapped beneath Volt with his knife at your throat. I think we can all agree that makes this much worse.”
“Depends on if she enjoys knife play,” Volt says.
I ignore him, my focus on Clove. “I can only imagine why you were taught to suppress your emotions, but that’s not how Carnage Wolves work. We’re shifters. We’re passionate. We discuss our emotions freely. And most importantly, we trust each other to help us heal.”
Which is exactly what I’ll do for her now.
If she’ll allow it.
“I want to knot you, Clove,” I tell her. “Fuck, it’s all I can think about. I’ve refrained because of my wolf. He’s…” I trail off, searching for the right term. “He’s voracious. I’m not sure what he’ll do when I’m inside you again.”
“And I’ve refrained because I’m enjoying your mouth.” Volt lifts the blade to trace her bottom lip. “I’ve also been giving you time to understand our preferences and to learn your limits, something I can’t do when you lie.”
He removes the knife, sliding it back into the sheath built into his jeans before releasing her hands. Volt rolls to her side, trapping her between us and allowing me to take the lead.
I glide my fingers down to her throat, tracing the pink line left by Volt’s dagger. He didn’t break the skin, just marked it enough to leave a subtle claim behind.
“It’s okay to be distressed,” I tell her softly. “I think we are all a little on edge right now. But it’s how we come together that matters.”
“I just don’t want to dwell on it,” she whispers. “I want to enjoy the moment for however long it lasts.”
My lips curl down, not liking the way she said that. “This isn’t temporary, Clove.”
“It will be if I can’t give you an heir,” she replies, making me wince.
That’s not something I’ve admitted directly to her, which means she overheard one of us discussing it.
Perhaps she isn’t as deep of a sleeper as we thought.
“See?” She gives me a sad smile. “It ruins the moment, which is exactly what I wanted to avoid.”
All my frustration with her little lie disappears in the face of the truth. She hid her distress from us because she didn’t want to taint the experience. It’s an honorable notion, but still a flawed one.
Because this is something we all need to discuss, not hide from.
“It’s true that I need an heir,” I say, clearing my throat. “And it’s something we should discuss more.”
Volt’s midnight gaze meets mine, approval radiating in his depths. “Let’s discuss it while we eat,” he suggests. “Caius packed a meal for us in the baskets since Clove and I went all day without food.”
Her stomach rumbles in response, making my lips twitch. “A sound idea,” I reply, reaching out to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear.
There’s a glimmer of disappointment still lurking in her features, confirming she’s still sour with me.
But I’ll make it better.
After we eat.
24
CLOVE
Volt gave me a shirt.
Then he fisted my hair and tilted my head back to examine my neck, his gaze intent as he bent to kiss the mark he left on my throat.
My skin still tingles now with the memory of the pleasure chasing away the pain.
A logical part of me is aware that I should be pissed at him for pulling a knife on me, but my wolf is too intrigued to allow that logical part to gain purpose.
Not once did I feel threatened beneath him. The tension in his body told me he was very much in control.
And the hardness pressed up against my core told me he was also very aroused by the position.
The whole display of power somehow kept me grounded. It made me feel safe despite the lethal blade against my skin.
He didn’t use silver on me, just steel.
Maybe I would have felt more fear had it been the latter.
Regardless, I’m fascinated by the way my body responded to his. There was no fear, only mild interest.