OUTSKIRTS OF ALPHA ISLAND

ALPHA ISLAND PRIVATE POOL

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16

8:09 PM

Taz's POV

Taz took yet another pina colada from an Alpha and stared glumly at the yellow drink. He couldn't stop thinking about what it would be like if Skye were here.

A soft whirring sound caught his attention. Several jealous Alphas glared enviously at the landing PAP, and the girl that emerged from it. Allie A. Abbot and Mel.

Girls that emerged from it.

A tall person was unfolding herself from the back of the bubble-shaped craft—one with long platinum wavelets, a tanned dancers' body, and turquoise eyes. Taz shook his wet black locks out of his face. He would recognize those dancing blue eyes anywhere. Skye!

Skye walked purposefully down the slick poolside floor, balancing on her heels. She took a cracker from one of the Alphas walking around bearing trays. Leaning over and asking, she learned that Laine was paying them in clothes.

She spotted Taz at the end of the pool. He had his eyes on her. Her heart leaped and she walked faster, careful not to slip.

Chop-chop-chop-chop.

Skye snapped her head up. Around her, Alphas were doing likewise—eyes fixed on the silver helicopter moving steadily toward them. It was much too close to be passing the island entirely—so the pilots and passengers would be staying on Alpha Island.

As the chopper faded away, Skye returned her gaze to Taz. But he was there, arm around another girl.

Her heart sank. She forced herself to keep walking, making a round around the pool. Anger and sadness made her slip on the tile, and she toppled toward the water. All the dancers' expertise couldn't save her.

A hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. Skye looked. A boy with black hair, deep blue eyes…

OMG! Taz!

"Are you okay?" Taz asked, pulling her to safety.

"Yeah, I—" she broke off, studying his face closer. Wait. This wasn't Taz—this was—

"I'm Dingo," he said, hand lingering on hers a second longer than he needed to. Immediately, Skye saw how she would be able to get Taz back.

"I'm Skye," she said, flashing him a blinding grin.

Taz watched as his twin grabbed Skye's arm and prevented a spill. He wished that he was the one instead of his twin doing that. He saw her smile at Dingo, the kind of smile she used to reserve for him. Anger and sadness bubbled up inside him as he swam away from the girl he'd been holding. What had he done wrong?

Suddenly, it hit him. There was a way. A way to get Skye back.

Pulling out his phone, he sent Dingo a text.