Page 43 of Venom Island
And it does nothing for me.
“Bariloche Sector no longer exists,” I tell them all. “The Alphas from Andorra Sector, Winter Sector, and Norse Sector burned it all to the ground. Carlos right along with it. And I helped.”
Xavier arches a dark brow. “Helped how?”
“I provided security protocol details and killed several of Carlos’s generals. Then I watched as Sven Mickelson put a bullet through Carlos’s brain. And later, I observed him removing Carlos’s head from his body.” He didn’t burn it, though. Instead, he stuffed it into a box and said it was a gift for Kari.
My jaw flexes, my need to get to Caja building with each passing second.
“That doesn’t tell us why you’re here,” Xavier says, a growl in his tone.
“Part of dismantling Carlos’s operation involved moving all the Omegas to other sectors,” I growl right back at him. “I was piloting a jet full of Omegas, and one of them—an Ulv wolf—lost control of her abilities and created a lightning storm that struck an integral part of the jet. Everyone jumped into escape pods, and I crash-landed the jet here.”
The three of them exchange looks.
“You can believe me or not,” I go on. “But I chose Venom Island because it’s full of X-Clan Alphas. Not because I knew any of you were here. I just thought it would be better to face feral beings of my own kind than other supernaturals.”
Francesca takes a step back, her attention on Xavier. “He smells truthful to me. And trust me, I know when he lies.”
I grunt. “I’ve never lied to you, Fran.” She was one of my best friends, once upon a time.
Her lips curl. “Exactly.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re just as squirrelly as ever.”
“You missed me, huh?” she teases.
“No,” I say, purposely lying.
Her smile widens. “Nowthatwas a lie.” She looks at Xavier again. “He loves me.”
Xavier doesn’t look nearly as amused as Francesca does.
And Philippe… his expression is hard.
“Who were the other Omegas on your jet?” he asks me, the drawl no longer coloring his tone. He’s more intent now. Serious. And very much on edge.
“They were Omegas of various origins,” I tell him. “All of them recent additions to Bariloche Sector. Young. After your time.” Because I suspect he’s only asking for one reason—to locate the Omega he desired long ago.
Did he actually mate her?I wonder, my nostrils flaring.He doesn’t smell mated.
Except…
I breathe in again. There’s an underlying hint of apple altering his spicy scent, one I nearly missed. But it grows stronger with every inhale.
He mated her,I realize.He mated one of Carlos’s Omegas.
“Where did the other Omegas go?” he asks, his wolf flashing in his irises.
“How are you lucid?” I counter, running my gaze over him. “My brother’s a feral mess right now, thanks to Carlos’s bullshit. But you…”You’re fine, I almost say aloud.
Only, Philippe isn’t fine.
I can see it now in his eyes, the way his inner beast is clawing at him from the inside.
“Shit,” I breathe, running a hand over my face.
“Whereare the others?” he demands, his voice deeper now, more gravelly.
