Page 5 of Claimed By the Alpha Wolves

“Where are you from?”

I think about it for a moment. My best asset is my cabin, located far enough out in the wilds that most people from the city wouldn’t see a reason to venture out there. I can’t reveal its location to anyone, even if this omega seems harmless, if I have any intention of escaping and running back there. It’s bad enough that Charles knows.

“The border. Pack Ivory,” I say finally, thinking that’s vague enough to keep me safe, but specific enough to answer her question.

“Oh,” she says, eyes widening slightly. She’s gone back to knitting, and I notice that the garment in front of her has gotten increasingly longer since we started our journey, while the ball of yarn sitting between us dwindles. “I’m from here, from the outskirts of the city. I’ve never even been to the wilds. My brother and dad go sometimes, to hunt, but I’ve never been good at hunting.”

“Oh,” I say, non-committal, hoping the conversation might just die out there. It doesn’t. This omega is committed to talking to me.

“Are you good at hunting?”

I think of living out at the cabin by myself, hunting and catching rabbits, collecting mushrooms, making my own food,and minding my own business. For the first time on this entire journey, I grin.

“Yes,” I say, “I’m decent at it.” Even if the winter can be a bit lean.

“Wow.” She shakes her head. “That’s impressive.”

A moment of silence lapses and we bounce along on the bus. My head itches to turn, to look out the window, but at the same time, the thought of watching my life get further and further behind me fills me with an overwhelming sense of anxiety. Motion sickness swirls in my stomach and I hold onto the seat in front of us to steady myself.

“Are you excited? You must be nervous—my mom says it’s completely natural to be nervous.”

When the omega speaks again, I jump, having already fallen back into my own thoughts. I wonder how I can answer her without seeming like a complete nutjob.

“Honestly,” I say, turning a bit in my seat so I can see her, head-on. She’s pretty, with long hair that hangs straight over her simple dress. “I am nervous. But not excited. I just want to go home.”

“You want to go home?” She sounds shocked.

“Yes,” I say, leaning back into the seat and closing my eyes, picturing my little bed, simple stove, and the books I’ve managed to collect over the years. “I just want to go home.”

Where I should be. Where Iwouldbe, if the hunting party hadn’t caught me unaware. Every second my mind goes idle, I go back to thinking, trying to figure out what I could have done differently. If there was a way for me to get away.

“But… won’t you go into heat soon?”

I clear my throat. If it’s possible, my face gets even hotter. Going into heat. I hate the thought.

“Yes,” I say confidently. “But out at my cabin, I’m safe. Far enough away from everyone else that I’ll never have to take a mate if I don’t want to.”

“Wow,” the omega says, shaking her head. “I’ve never heard of anything like that before.” She laughs. “My mom is going to flip when she hears this–an omega who doesn’t want a mate. An omega who thinks she can go into heat alone. It’s so strange.”

I know it’s strange, but I don’t understand why. The only thing scarier than being dragged from my safe home to The Selection is being linked with a mate. Becoming their property. Being treated however they want to treat me and having no choice in my life from this point forward.

When she sees me looking at her, she lets out an awkward laugh. “I’m sorry,” she says, “I didn’t mean to offend you. I have a tendency sometimes to just say whatever I’m thinking. My mom says I don’t have a filter. I’m so, so sorry.”

“No.” I force a laugh, shaking my head and waving a hand at her. “It’s certainly not the first time someone has called me strange. I’m used to it.”

The bus starts to slow, and I realize talking to this omega has helped to calm my nerves, just a bit.Thank the gods for that.As we roll to a stop outside the castle, my anxiety starts to pick up again, and I can’t shake the feeling that I’m being watched.

Glancing around, I see nothing but the massive castle, built of tan stone. It has large steps leading up to the front door, and spreads out in all directions. There are people waiting for us, but none of them are staring at me. I squint up at the castle windows, wondering if someone is staring down at me from one of them, but I don’t detect any movement.

Maybe it’s all in my head.

It’s probably just nerves.

“Well,” she says, gathering her things and standing up from the seat. Her knitting needles hang loosely from her hands. “Itwas nice to meet you. Thanks for chatting with me. And I wish you the best of luck in there, with whatever you’re trying to do.”

“Thank you I say.” Then I add on, “You too.”

And I mean it. I don’t begrudge any of these omegas their opportunity to find mates, or to write their futures filled with babies and packs. I just don’t want that future for myself. Whatever they do here, my goal is to stay out of sight, not gain the notice of any alphas, and to be sent home unattached at the end of this.

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