Page 12 of Claimed By the Alpha Wolves

“What, you too much of a wimp to do a body shot?” one of them challenges.

Cayson glances back at me. Somehow, the other men haven’t noticed I’m here, but my heart is still hammering away. I managed to back myself into a corner when all I wanted was to get away. Out here on the balcony, there’s nowhere to go.But I have to get out of here. I have to stay away from this man.

“Get the fuck out of here,” Cayson growls at the men, taking another step toward them, herding the guys to the other side of the balcony.

Which offers me an escape.

My body protests the loss of the compelling man, but I use his distraction to slip out around him, edging back into the ballroom, hurrying along, terrified that he’s going to notice I left and come after me. But as I dart into the crowd and away from the man, no one comes after me.

Which is what I wanted. Right?

SIX

Faye

Inside, the crowd is even more raucous than when I first went outside, and I struggle to push my way through the bodies. They press closer, guys and girls alike reaching out, grabbing my dress, telling me to loosen up and dance. It’s like the alcohol and the hormones have made all of them think that tonight is one giant orgy.

I feel like I’m going to be sick. All this touching. All these people. All the smells. There’s no room to just… exist. So, I do the one thing I’m not supposed to do—I slip out into the hallway.

It’s an immediate, sudden relief. The hallway is relatively dark and quiet, and though I can hear the faint noises of the party in the ballroom, it’s so muffled it doesn’t bother me. I slide down the wall, not caring what happens to my gown, letting my head fall into my hands.

What’s so wrong with me that I can’t stand an evening in a ballroom, surrounded by luxury?For most omegas, this is the dream, and I’m out in the hallway, hiding from it.

The thing is, I know what’s best for me. I know I’m notmeantto be linked to another person. I know I can’t handlebeing linked to another person. The council, and all these damn alphas, need to just accept that and let me go back home.

When can I go home? I just want to go home.

It’s only a matter of time before someone comes along and scolds me for being in the hallway when I’m supposed to be in the ballroom, letting the men sniff all over me. A shudder runs through my body at the memory of that man—Cayson—pressing his nose into my neck. It had no business feeling as good as it did, and I try to convince myself that the shudder that went through me was caused by disgust, and not related to the warm, tingling feeling in my stomach.

But why did being touched feel like that? Would I have felt that way being touched by anyone after so long, or was that man special?I don’t like the direction of my thoughts. It feels like I’m shining a flashlight into the corners of my mind that are best left in the dark.

There’s a sound down the hall. I flinch, heart in my throat, but no one comes. No one is there, but I know someone will be soon, and I can’t be caught out here when they arrive.

Forcing myself to stand, I take a few deep breaths, closing my eyes. I need to ready myself to go back into the ballroom. I need to be prepared for all the people, all the sounds, and all the smells. Today is just the first day of The Selection. There’s going to be a hell of a lot more events like this.

I can handle this. I can do this. Seconds will turn into minutes, then hours, and it’ll be over.I just have to stop being a coward.

Before I can move, something wraps around my neck, tight, and I feel my head bounce off the wall as I’m shoved back. When I open my eyes in a panic,he’sstanding in front of me, the man from my nightmares, a wicked grin across his face. The same grin he hadthatday.

I feel the color drain from my face and my heart stop in my chest.He’s here. Kurt’s actually here.

I can’t look at him without seeing Miles’ body. Without hearing the sound of my brother’s neck being crushed. Without seeing the blood and the emptiness in my brother’s eyes.

Kurt cocks his head, tightening his fingers around my throat, cutting off my air supply so I can’t scream, and my hands fly to my neck, trying to pry his fingers away. My movements are rushed and filled with terror, as I try to use all my strength against him.

It’s no use though. I wasn’t strong enough then, and I’m not strong enough now.

His dark eyes hold mine as he squeezes the life out of me. I should kick my feet. I should thrash, go for his eyes. But I can’t move. Can’t think. Just like the day he killed Miles. I’m frozen. Useless.

Grief and dread well inside me as the memories come, unbidden like always. My brother, screaming, begging for mercy, Kurt’s boot on the side of his neck, the sickeningcrackthat echoed throughout the forest. My throat, stinging in pain, ripping open with agony. It took me an hour to realize I had been screaming the whole time, even after Kurt and his goons left.

Kurt had left Miles’ body there on the ground, his head bent at an unnatural angle, his eyes wide-open and bloodshot, his mouth still crying out for help, for someone to save him. I’d sobbed the entire time I wrapped his body in a tarp, dragging it back home.

Shaking and still buzzing with shock, I’d dragged myself to the nearest courthouse, my voice cracking as I explained to the sheriff what had happened. What I had seen with my own two eyes.

I was left in the interrogation room for a long time, then, eventually, the sheriff returned with a kind looking woman ina pink sweater.What did this woman have to do with finding Kurt and arresting him for what he had done?

“Good evening, Faye,” the woman had said, sitting across from me and reaching out, putting her hand on mine. “I understand you’ve been having a difficult time.”

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