Page 129 of Carnage Island

“I am listening to him. I’m just making sure he’s right first.”

“Except mating is meant to be animalistic. The drive to claim is stirred by our carnal needs, not our mental ones.” He tilts his head. “You can’t be strategic about everything, T. At some point, you have to let the wolf out.”

“Stop trying to psychoanalyze me, C.” It’s a half-hearted statement. He’s good at reading people, especially me.

“Just trying to help you find your way out of your ass,” he replies conversationally. “You stuck your head so far up there, I’m surprised you can even see right now.”

I snort. “Fuck you.”

He grins. “Only if Clove is between us.”

I consider that a moment, my lips curling of their own accord. “V and I tried that last night. Three times. Definitely recommend it.”

Caius’s gaze glitters. “I’m knotting her first during her next heat.” It’s a bold statement, one I can absolutely counter as lead Alpha.

But I nod instead.

He’s been denying himself that sweet pussy all week, taking her mouth instead.

I know it’s part of his kink, his game of delayed gratification. However, it only seems fair to agree since he wasn’t given the opportunity during her short estrus period.

“Oh, it seems we’re missing a fun conversation, sweetling,” Volt says, returning to us. “Caius wants to knot you. I think he’s jealous about last night.”

Her cheeks are pink on the phone screen as Volt turns her toward us. Alpha Ebony is right beside her, studiously ignoring us. But I see the tick in her jaw that says she wants to grin.

“Hi, little one,” I say to Clove. “We’re all thinking about you.”

“We are,” Caius agrees. “I hope you’re being good, gorgeous.”

“I was sleeping,” she says, the sheets still wrapped around her in a nesting-like manner. “So I can’t guarantee I was being good in my head.”

Caius grins. “Oh? A naughty dream, then? Tell us more.”

“I will when you get back,” she replies, baiting us.

“Hmm, no,” I tell her. “I don’t want to hear about it. I want you to demonstrate the naughty dream instead.”

“Yes,” Caius murmurs. “Yes, I like that plan more.”

Her face is bright red now.

And Ebony’s lips are no longer flat, but tilted.

“We’ll see you soon, little one,” I say to Clove, loving that look on her face.

Caius takes the phone rather than hanging up, asking if Clove can give the phone to Duncan for a minute. She does and the two of them start talking about the surveillance update in Richmond.

I listen idly as Volt settles in across from me. “She’s ours, T,” he says again. “Your wolf knows it. Listen to him.”

I don’t reply.

Because I don’t need to.

We both know he’s right.

Claiming her is a risk.

But it’s a risk I need to accept.