Page 38 of Claimed By the Alpha Wolves

“So,” he says, pulling out a cigarette and rolling it between his fingers. “We don’t beat the shit out of Kurt.Yet. We’re both still in agreement about not wanting an omega, and we both admit that there’s just something irresistible about Faye.”

“I never said that last part,” I tell him.

He grins. “You didn’t have to.”

I settle back in my chair, wanting to argue, but knowing there’s no point. There really is just… something about Faye. Something I can’t put my finger on. But regardless, that strange feeling changes nothing. Once these games are over, I’ll be going home, and I’ll never see Faye again.

Which is what I want…

Even though I can’t help but picture Faye at dinner with my parents, laughing. Or reading books to the school children while they gather around with curious eyes. Or even helping me to figure out grants for our farm equipment. It seems that for all my strengths, Faye has some things I lack. Things that would work well for my pack.

Which is a stupid thought. Unless Faye chooses an alpha from Pack Azure, I’ll likely never see her again after this.

Her smile dances in the back of my mind, and I eye Cayson’s cigarette, wondering if starting the habit might ease some ofthese treacherous thoughts. Yet, I have a feeling not even cigarettes and booze can fix something like this.

SEVENTEEN

Faye

“Have I mentioned how much I hate Kurt?” Addilyn asks me as she covers my bruises with makeup.

I wince as the makeup pad pats my skin, even though I try not to. My face and throat are just so tender. It’s only been an hour since Kurt attacked me in my room, and my injuries are still fresh and painful.Note to self, don’t get attacked by assholes.

Despite how terrified I was of Kurt, my mind keeps focusing on Ezra instead of Kurt. I feel absolutely fascinated by how little effort it took for him to take down Kurt. The bastard is so much bigger and stronger than me, but he’s a shrimp compared to Ezra. It’s a fact that should scare me about the big alpha, but doesn’t.

Do other alphas use their strength for good?I wonder. As much as I hate my alpha for looking the other way when Miles died, a part of me is starting to be able to recognize that he’s not all bad. Maybe he has done good things for my community, I just never saw those good things.

She closes the makeup and takes a step back from me. “All done?”

I blink, looking in the mirror. The coverup isn’t flawless, but it also doesn’t look like I was recently beaten, so I consider it a win. “Thank you.”

“Of course.”

I try to focus on something else. Something better. “How are things going with the two alphas?”

Her face falls. “Both got distracted by other women.” Going to my mirror, she grabs ahold of her breasts and lifts them up so they look like massive melons. “Do you think I should start pushing the girls up more?”

“What?” The word bursts out of me. “No, you look perfect the way you are.”

She frowns and drops her boobs. “It’s just a set of twins came up with knockers as big as my head, and those guys were out of there. They practically left a cloud of smoke behind them.”

I wince. “If those alphas were distracted by some boobs, they weren’t the guys for you.”

“I guess,” she says, but there’s doubt in her voice.

The bell tolls, signaling the next game, and we both jump. Addilyn laughs, and I climb out of the chair, feeling sore all over, but knowing I have to be seen at the next game. We head for the door, then down the hall, wondering what fresh hell they’ve set up for us in the ballroom.

“I’ll stay by your side,” Addilyn whispers to me. “I’ll do whatever I can to keep Kurt away from you.”

I smile. “You’re a good friend.”

When we enter the ballroom, it’s been set up with dozens of little round tables with five chairs at each of them. In the center of each table is a white cake, and there is frosting and different tools spread out around the table.

Omegas and alphas file in and gather near the front, where Lance, the ultima, is standing, patiently waiting with a big smile on his face. When Kurt enters the ballroom, Addilyn moves meto her other side, so she’s standing between me and Kurt, which actually makes me feel a lot better.

Eventually, Ezra and Cayson enter the room. I tense when I see them, even though I don’t know why. Both men look ridiculously good, standing out from the crowd of other alphas that seem to blend in with the background. I almost wish the two men were close enough to smell. Something about their scents seems to put me at ease, even in the worst of situations.

“Okay, welcome,” Lance says, greeting everyone warmly. “We’ll be having this final activity of the day, and then you’ll be enjoying dinner under the stars with the partners of your choosing. Not bad for another day at The Selection, am I right?”

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