Not that she appears all that interested in running.
“I… Okay. But we can’t mate unless—”
I press my mouth to hers, silencing that statement. Because I’m so tired of hearing it. I’m so tired of thinking it, too. Fuck, I’m just so exhausted from this fight.
“You’re ours,” I say against her lips. “The rest will sort itself out.”
She presses her palm to my chest, pushing me back a little. “But I may never be able to give you an heir, Tieran. Then you’ll have to take—”
“Then I’ll have to either rewrite the rules as Pack Alpha or abdicate,” I say, refusing to let her finish that statement.
Because I won’t take another Omega.
Only this one.
Only Clove.
“I’m listening to my wolf,” I continue. “I’m taking my own advice… and letting him lead.”
“About fucking time,” Volt says, picking up the water sprayer and aiming it at Clove’s neck. He does it in a way that doesn’t splash her face, just washes away the presence of another male.
But her gaze is locked on mine, her expression giving nothing away.
“I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to realize what matters most. It’s not my heir or my duty to the pack. It’syou, Clove.Youdefine our clan. You’re the heart we didn’t realize we needed.” I allow her to see my wolf in my eyes, to feel his desire in my touch.
Her gaze searches mine, her lips parting a little at whatever she sees inside me.
“I feel in my soul that you’re meant to be mine, Clove.” I tighten my grip around her nape. “You’re meant to beours.”
She shivers, her pupils blowing wide. “I want to be yours,” she admits on a whisper. “My wolf says you’re already hers.”
I smile. “And what did I say about listening to your animal?”
“To embrace her and let her thrive,” she replies.
I nod. “And I’ve not been doing that with mine. I’ve been telling him to listen to reason, but our wolves don’t care about rules or political discourse. They drive our passion. They drive our need. They tell us how to live.” I push against her palm, closing the distance between us again. “And he’s telling me to bite you, Clove.”
“Then bite me,” she dares.
Volt freezes beside us, a bar of soap in his hand.
It’s not what I planned, nor what we announced with our howls.
But I owe this moment to our intended mate, not to our pack.
If she wants to be claimed here, in this shower, and not out on the beach before the wolves, then I’ll oblige her.
And we’ll present her as ours to the wolves.
I know in my gut they’ll accept her because they already do. She’s our Omega. The heart of our clan. Our future.
“Wash her neck,” I tell Volt, needing her skin fully clean.
Her eyes glitter as she holds my gaze.
Caius hums in approval behind her, his arms slipping between us as he wraps his arms around her waist. “Ours,” he whispers against her ear.
“Ours,” Volt echoes as he uses the soap against her neck.
