Page 128 of Carnage Island

I show him and he smiles, too.

Volt just smirks in response.

More updates and photos continue to arrive as we make the trip to Richmond. Each one helps me relax a little more, especially the last few of Clove sleeping in the corner of the couch. She’s covered in my sheets, not from the den but from the bed we fucked in last night.

It’s not a nest. Not quite. But it’s close.

Volt and Caius both study the photo a little longer than the others, their eyes softening.

“You need to claim her,” Volt says, his voice gruff. “She’s ours, T. We’ll figure out the heir later.”

“I mentioned Clove to my dad earlier when I called him about Alpha Nick,” I admit. “He reminded me that there’s no timeline involved regarding my heir. And that Pack Alphas make the rules more than traditions.”

It wasn’t necessarily his way of blessing the union, just him being wise. A good father. An even better Alpha.

I look at the photo again and the sense of wrongness hits me again. “She should be here,” I admit. “And she would be if we’d bitten her.” I meet Volt’s dark gaze. “It’s my responsibility to make the best decision for our clan. But I’m struggling.”

“So let us help you,” he says. “That’s why we’re here.”

“He’s right.” Caius’s gray irises are highlighted by a rim of gleaming silver. “We understand your burden and need for an heir. But Clove isn’t a normal Carnage Wolf Omega. She’s been raised to process everything differently.”

“Just because she may be able to live with it, doesn’t make it right to produce an heir with another Omega,” I state flatly, irritated by the reminder of what she implied last night.

Caius snorts. “That’s not what I meant, T. I’m saying her heat process is unique. She’s only just met her wolf, it makes sense that there’s a delay. However, in regard to what you just said, is your wolf giving you any reason to doubt her ability to give you an heir? Is he hesitating at all?”

“No. He’s following his instincts and not considering potential repercussions for the future,” I reply.

Caius stares at me. “Maybe because he doesn’t sense any potential repercussions.”

“Mine certainly doesn’t,” Volt says, stealing my phone to type something to Alpha Ebony. I don’t even try to take it back. Not with that wicked blade beside him.

“Mine doesn’t either,” Caius says. “And while I may not need an heir, I certainly want one. Especially if it’s with Clove.”

“A pregnant Clove.” Volt sounds like he’s daydreaming. “Yes. Yes, I like that image.”

So do I,I think.

“You need to consider it, T..” Caius infuses a hint of steel in his tone, something that’s not all that customary for him unless he really wants to make a point. Which he clearly does now. “Consider that your wolf isn’t hesitating because heknowsthere’s nothing to worry about.”

My animal purrs in approval, making my chest ache at the need to release the sound. But I swallow it instead, much to his irritation.

“Hello, gorgeous,” Volt murmurs, my phone at his ear now. “I just wanted to say that I miss you.”

Caius and I share a glance, surprised by the softness in Volt’s tone. He’s usually amped up and ready to kill by now, but he appears to be completely relaxed.

“I miss you, too,” Clove says, my shifter senses allowing me to hear her loud and clear. “Are you being safe?”

“Always, sweetling.” Volt puts her on video chat so he can show her the plane and takes her on a tour.

“I’ve never seen him so smitten,” Caius tells me. “He usually just wants to break women and leave them.”

“He pulled a knife on her last night,” I admit. “But she didn’t even flinch.”

Caius grins. “No, I doubt she would. She knows he’ll never really hurt her, even at his craziest.”

“Her wolf trusts us.” That much has been evident since the start.

“And you keep telling her how important it is to listen to her wolf, yeah?” Caius gives me another knowing look. “Perhaps you should take that advice, T.”