Jordan We have “No we about it. Alpha Pan did all the work,” I correct him, then show Jake the loop in question. “He was able to override the glitch, which iswhat led us to find this.”The image changes to depict Alpha Kin on a satellite phone.“That’s not one of ours,” Jake says immediately.“No, it’s not,” Alpha Pan agrees. “But we were able to hack into the frequency to listen in.”“I gave him permission,” I add, meeting Jake ’s gaze. He tasked me with keeping an eye on Alpha Dirk’s clan, but told me not to jeopardizetheir privacy.It’s a demand I clearly disregarded when I asked Alpha Pan to hack the satellite phone frequency.But Alpha Kin’s suspicious demeanor tipped me off.Coupled with the strange loop in the feed, it was obvious he wanted to hide something. So, as acting Alpha on the island, I made the executivedecision to fully monitor him. I clear my throat. “Normally, I would have called to ask you first, but as Alpha Kin is in charge of telecommunications on the isl
JordanHe considers her a moment, his expression thoughtful. There’s still so much Vanessa has to learn about our kind. It’s a good thing we have aneternity to teach her.“It’s common for Carnage Wolves destined to be Pack Alphas to venture into the wild to find themselves, to prove themselves worthythrough a series of challenges,” Jake explains slowly. “Accepting my fate from the Elders was the first challenge in my journey. Killing Bryson will be my final challenge, making it time for me to finally return to the Black Mountain Pack.”“Oh.” She swallows. “So everyone will, uh, leave with you?”“Not everyone,” he says. “There are wolves who need to be kept on Carnage Island. And we’ll ensure they survive and prosper. It’ll be asecondary base for our kind, a shelter of protection.”“I see.” She sounds breathless. “A-and me?”He stares at her. “What do you think?”“I…” She clears her throat, some of that confidence seeming to seep back into her stature, the wolf inside her reminding
Jake love’s safe with Alpha Duncan in his den,” I say, reading the message from Alpha Ebony.It’s accompanied by a photo of Vanessa sitting on a couch, staring at security screens. Alpha Edwin is beside her, pointing at one of the monitors, probably explaining the technical jargon to her.He’s one of the other lone wolves on the island, similar to Alpha Mackin. They’re brothers,actually. So it must be a family trait.I run a palm over my face. My wolf isn’t pleased. He didn’t want to let Vanessa leave. Fuck, I didn’t want to let her leave. But this is the right way to do this.Except I hate it.So it feels wrong.Because we’re not connected. If I bit her and completed the link, I would be able to talk to her right now. Find out what Alpha Edwin is reallysaying. Make sure she’s okay. Happy. Healthy. Safe.Instead, I have to rely on my pack to protect her. Something I normally wouldn’t question, but Alpha Kin has proven not everyone can be trusted. We’ve been going through surveillanc
Vanessa Alpha Ebony sets a plate down before me, her brown eyes smiling. “Eat.”My stomach churns, the notion of food making me ill. But I know she’s right. I haven’t eaten all day. My nerves are all tied up in knots and my mind is fully focused on Jake , Kev , and Jordan .They checked in again about an hour ago before turning off their comms.We’re all waiting now for the trap to play out. Alpha Pan and Alpha Lance are in position.Alpha Duncan has them up on the feeds. And Alpha Ebony is busy trying to distract herself by feeding me. I can sense her concern, the scent subtle but there. So I try to calm her by picking up the sub and taking a bite. She has her own plate as well, one she focuses on when she sees me eating.Alpha Duncan wanders over to press a kiss to her head, his lips going to her ear. “He’ll be fine,” he says, the words low but easily heard via myenhanced senses.I pretend that I didn’t overhear it, though, not wanting to intrude on their moment.Their clan is dif
Kev Jordan gestures for me to lead, aware that this is my sort of playground.I take point, using my nose to lead the way. We’ve already doused our scent in mud, using defacing leaves and other woodsy items to make us smell more like the forest around us and less like Carnage Wolves.But a strong shifter will be able to scent us coming. Which is why we keep a good distance between us with me leading about twenty-five yards ahead. It’ll make it seem like I’m a one off at first, potentially encouraging any enforcer-types in the area to attack.I have two guns loaded with silver bullets and over a dozen knives tucked into various places in my jeans.One ballsy shifter won’t be an issue.Fuck, I could probably easily take down a dozen enforcer-types in my current mood.I move on silent feet, my boots barely touching the ground as I run through the trees. They’re as familiar to me as the island.Because Drone technology is fucking amazing.I’ve never actually been here, but I’m navigating
Vanessa Several Minutes Earlierhe silver burns against my neck, but I don’t stop staring up at the man I once called father. There’s something different about him, a sense ofindifference that feels wrong. He’s looking at me like he doesn’t even recognize me.Like he didn’t spend two decades raising me as his own. Most males leave the child-rearing to the females, but he often helped with my training as a child, ensuring I was the fastest female of my age. He pushed me, perhaps not kindly, but I am who I am today because of his influence.Yet his expression registers absolutely nothing as he holds the knife to my throat. It’s like he’s frozen there, demanding I stay without evenrequesting it.“Good job, Gafton,” a new voice says, the source of it making my stomach churn. Alpha Kin.He steps into view, his intimidating size immediately making me want to shrink into a corner. It’s also the look in his eyes that has me almost cringing. His fractured irises are blazing with fragments o
Jake Several Minutes Earlier our lives or hers, Bryson said.I choose neither, I think as he enters the clearing with the phone near his side.It’s a mistake. He’s still hooked up to the speakers, allowing me to hear Vanessa ’s response.She’s in pain and she’s furious. But he doesn’t seem to realize that because he’s grinning triumphantly.The three enforcers at his back don’t appear nearly as confident because they are all who remain of Bryson’s team.Meanwhile, all my wolves are still alive.Because I have something he doesn’t heart.He uses hive mind manipulation and enslaved pussy to tame his wolves.That only allows for so much loyalty in a pack. And those wolves at his back don’t appear too keen on dying for their insane leader right now.Because they know that’s what’s about to happen. A roar comes through the phone, the source of it all Vanessa , and a loud crash follows. Beta Gafton dropping the phone, I translate.Kev is moving before I can even lift my weapon.He has two bl
Vanessa They’re here.It’s an intrinsic reaction, one that causes the hairs along my nape to stand on end. Alpha Dirk must sense it as well because he perks up in his chair.“They’re going to try to kill you,” Alpha Ebony tells him conversationally.“I know,” he replies with a sigh. “I probably deserve it.”“You don’t,” she replies.And I agree with her. After Jake ’s howl came through the phone, Alpha Dirk fell to his knees and bowed his head.Not for Jake .But for me.He remained that way as we listened to the aftermath of that howl, overheard Jake ’s conversation with Alpha Crane, and his inevitable frustration over the phone not working on his end.Not once did Alpha Dirk stir.As the phone went quiet, my wolf started to move, sniffing the alpha male with interest.He didn’t move, allowing her to circle him while scenting the air for any signs of malcontent.She found none.I eventually stepped away from him with a grunt.Only then did he start to sit up, his dark green eyes inte