Page 131 of Carnage Island

“Me?” She bats her long, black eyelashes at him. “Never.”

He gives her an indulgent look, his hazel eyes glowing with a warmth that makes his intimidating form a little more acceptable. He’s as wide as Volt, but slightly shorter. However, he maintains a much more serious disposition, which he appears to soften just a bit for Alpha Ebony.

A growl comes from the screen, immediately grabbing the entirety of our focus. I’ve only eaten a few bites of my sub, but I push it away to concentrate on the screens.

Alpha Ebony tenses as a blur of motion crosses the field outside the Senator's home. “I count six,” she says.

“Seven,” Alpha Duncan corrects, pointing to another blur by the fence. “This one is watching.”

“What about Alpha Lance?” she asks.

Alpha Duncan shifts monitors, the two of them studying the footage. “Only two so far.”

“I’m insulted,” Tieran’s voice comes through the microphone. I didn’t realize he was listening again. If they’re on task, then they should be on the outskirts of Nantahala Territory, waiting for the go ahead. I want to ask, but my eyes are glued to the screen.

“I know. Seven to take me down?” Volt grunts. “Not fucking likely.”

“He only sent two after me,” Tieran points out.

“He’s banking on Volt’s attack weakening you emotionally. And he only wants to kill Clove, not you,” Caius says.

Tieran and Volt both growl at that.

But a shout from the monitor silences them, everyone’s focus on Alpha Pan as the Nantahala Wolves attack.

Gunshots fire. Snarls follow. But Alpha Pan anticipated the attack and he’s in a vest. He moves with impressive speed, opening fire in return as Alpha Mackin leaps into action. They’re both dressed in Volt’s clothes to help disguise the scents and mask Alpha Mackin’s presence.

It works.

The Nantahala Wolves are shocked—I can see it on their faces thanks to the night vision tech on the surveillance feed.

I search the feeds, looking for my “father.”

But he’s not there, something I say out loud to Alpha Ebony.

“We’ll find him,” Volt promises via the comms, likely having heard me through the one Alpha Ebony is wearing. “If he’s not there, he’s with Bryson. Which would be my preference.”

“Mine, too,” Caius agrees.

“I would not want to be Beta Gafton in that situation,” Alpha Edwin drawls from his position near the door. He’s another intimidating warrior type, but with a thoughtful side I learned a little about today. He likes explaining things, such as the surveillance tools Alpha Duncan uses. He also told me about the secure line they created to fly under Alpha Kin’s radar. I liked his teaching mannerisms. Something about them made me feel safer.

He’s completely relaxed now, but his eyes dance shrewdly across the screens.

Alpha Duncan and Alpha Ebony are watching them, too. They seem to be holding their breaths, their focus solely on Alpha Pan.

It’s not until he takes down the last wolf with Alpha Mackin’s help that I hear them finally inhale.

Alpha Lance did his part as well, his voice bored as he says, “They shot the bundle of blankets through the glass. Idiots didn’t even notice the missing head, too eager to do damage and run.”

“And you chased them, yeah?” Tieran’s tone has an intensity to it that cascades goose bumps down my arms.

Anything other than a positive response isn’t going to be acceptable to him.

“I wrapped your clothes around two boxes and left them in the driver’s side seat as a decoy before they even arrived. I snuck up behind them and shot them in the heads as they turned to run,” Alpha Lance replies. “No chasing required.”

“Good man,” Volt replies.

“I had a good teacher,” Lance says.