Page 23 of Carnage Island

“I want to see her for myself,” Alpha Pan adds. “Prove to us she’s incapable of shifting and we’ll discuss it more.”

I raise my brows. “We’ll discuss it more?” I repeat the words with a humorless laugh.

This is exactly why I accompanied Caius. Not because he couldn’t handle himself, but because I suspected this female’s scent would addle some brain cells.

“Let’s say she is an Omega,” I say, infusing a healthy dose of sarcasm in my tone. “What would stop me from claiming her? No, hold on, let me rephrase that.Whowould stop me from claiming her?”

My question is met with a handful of growls, mostly from Alpha Kin and Alpha Dirk.

“Do you require a lesson on why I’m the most suitable Alpha for her to choose?” I ask, my English accent thickening my dark tone. “Because I’ll happily oblige.”

It’s been a few weeks since my last challenge. I’m certainly due another one now. It’s how I maintain my status and prepare for the future.

Alpha Dirk mutters something about my cock under his breath. Or maybe he calls me cocky.

He’s not wrong.

I’m not up here by mistake.

I’m up here as a result of my heritage and hard work.

Alpha Kin and Alpha Dirk may be wider and taller, but I’m faster and sleeker. I’m also more intelligent.

“Is she an Omega?” Alpha Duncan asks, his tone holding a touch of aww to it.

“If she was, do you think I’d be down here placating you all?” It’s a carefully worded question meant to disguise the answer.

Because I don’t know.

She doesn’t smell right.

But her wolf certainly acted like an Omega, showing me her belly and calming from Volt’s purr. She seemed perfectly content to let us protect her, something only an Omega wolf could ever do.

However, until I meet the woman beneath the fur, I won’t know for sure.

“That’s not an answer,” Alpha Pan intelligently points out. “I want to meet her, Tieran.”

“And you will, when I decide it’s time,” I tell him, displeased by the lack of respect in his address and in his tone.

These men may respect me on the battlefield, but it’s been hard to win their favor as a leader.

Another reason why my father sent me here.

Well, that and the Elders mandated it.

But that’s another story entirely.

“I’m protecting her as I would one of our pack,” I continue. “If you can’t respect that, then we have other issues to discuss.”

“How do we know that you’re not just keeping her for yourself?” Alpha Dirk demands.

“Because I’m standing here talking to you instead of fucking her,” I retort, mimicking his position by folding my arms. “If I want her, I’ll take her. Regardless of your input or involvement in the situation. So it’s a moot point and you’re merely wasting my time with this bullshit.”

He growls.

I snarl back.

And some of the Alphas take a few steps away from us.