Page 27 of Claimed By the Alpha Wolves

“Don’t light that,” Faye and I say at the same time, then exchange a glance.

Cayson frowns. “I won’t. Imostlyquit. I just like to play with them.”

“Well, do it away from us,” I tell him, and he gives me a look and tucks the cigarette back in his pocket.

I paddle our boat a little further away from Cayson’s and catch him moving our way again. He’s like a damn magnet that’s drawn to us.Is he just trying to annoy me? Or is there something more going on?Either way, I keep trying to paddle away from him, and he keeps following my every move.

When my eyes drift back to Faye, I see that she’s staring into the water, a small smile on her face. I can tell that she likes to be in nature, that it puts her at ease. Without meaning to, I trace my eyes over her figure, from the soft curve of her jaw down to her collarbone.

My fingers twitch, my brain urging me to reach out and touch the soft, pale skin there, but I hold the oars tighter, shaking my head at myself.There will be no touching collarbones today. There will be no touching the pretty omega, no matter what.

“It’s a beautiful night,” the girl in his boat says, brushing a hand through her hair.

I’m annoyed that we’re close enough to hear them again. This isourexperience.Wewere paired together, to spend timealonetogether. Cayson should be focusing on his own date.

“Yes,” Cayson says, that smooth voice of his carrying across the water, “but I would argue that it’s what’s out on the water tonight that’s truly beautiful.”

Serra blushes, but I see Cayson glancing over at Faye, as though he meant that compliment for her and wants her to notice. She doesn’t look his way, but he continues to stare, his gaze oddly possessive for a man who has never cared about any particular woman. Ever.

Serra sees this glance, too, and leans forward, her cleavage popping from her dress. “Cayson,” she says, in a whiney, little voice, “tell me a little about your pack. Is it big? Is it powerful?”

When I paddle our boat away, Cayson paddles his closer. And I maneuver just in time to avoid our boats smashing into each other. It’s clear to me now that Cayson has his sights on Faye, as annoying as that might be, and that we won’t be rid of him until he gets her. Unfortunately for everyone, she doesn’t exactly seem interested in him.

Which makes me smile.

“Faye,” he says, now completely ignoring Serra, “you look cold. I’ll give you my jacket.”

He starts to pull the jacket off, and I see it for what it is: an excuse to bare his muscular arms for Faye. I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes. Yes, the man is in good shape. No, Faye doesn’t need to get an up close and personal look at it.

I angle our boat further away so he can’t reach her over the water, debating about trying to escape him in earnest. But the idea of me paddling like a madman across a quiet lake while he chases us makes me feel like a fool.Besides, why am I so hellbent on keeping Faye away from him?

“Cayson,” Faye says, a laugh in her voice, “it’s warm out here. I’m fine.”

“Oh, well,” Cayson says, folding his jacket over his lap as he flexes his big arms. “I guess that’s alright. I wouldn’t want to cover up your pretty dress anyway. Blue looks good on you, by the way. It brings out the blue in your hazel eyes.”

“I didn’t even notice what you were wearing,” Faye quips, and Cayson does a fake pout at her.

“My clothes don’t matter to you?” he asks, a strange note in his voice.

She gives him a wicked smile that I wish was directed at me. “Not at all.”

“Are you saying I should just go ahead and take my clothes off then?” he asks, reaching for his belt.

“No!” Faye says, laughing and putting her hands over her eyes. It’s unbearably cute. “I’m saying you should pay attention to your date.”

“I don’t need your help,” Serra snaps, crossing her arms over her chest, her dark eyes glaring at all of us.

“I’m not trying to—” Faye starts, but I’ve had enough of this other omega being nothing but rude when Faye’s been kind to her since the moment Cayson brought their boat over here.

“Don’ttalk to her like that,” I say, shooting a glare at Serra, who immediately lowers her gaze.

I catch Faye giving me a heated glance, and it shoots straight to my loins. I shift in my seat, trying to ease some of the pressure, but my eyes wander over her low-cut dress and it’s hard to draw in a full breath.

Why the hell does she have to be this beautiful?

The breeze picks up, bringing Faye’s clean, sweet scent over to me, and I decide I’ve had enough of Cayson bombarding our date. I reach out, anchoring our oars on a nearby embankment, and grab the hull of his boat. Our eyes meet and Cayson shakes his head.

“Oh, come on man—” he starts, but I push, catapulting his boat back through the water. He grabs for his oars but accidentally drops them in the water, and Serra has to move so he can grab the spare.

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