Page 33 of Claimed By the Alpha Wolves

Kurt isn’t exactly the kind of guy that women fight over. He looks like a drawing of a villain. The lines of his face are so harsh and so masculine that he looks like the kind of guy who only knows how to fight and kill. I feel like all omegas naturally stay away from alphas like him.

Ezra lets out a small laugh. “She was pretty thankful that I didn’t leave her to drown, I guess. So when I asked her to distract Kurt for me, she was more than willing.”

I nod, noticing how already Ezra is closer to me, our chests brushing as we continue to dance. Ezra is much smoother at dancing than Kurt, who was moving me around kind of jerkily, but with Ezra, I almost feel like I’m being lulled to sleep. I lay my head on his chest, eyes drooping. The sleepiness leaves my body when he speaks, and I feel the warm rumble of his words against my cheek.

“Faye,” he says, cautiously, like he knows it’s not something I want to discuss. “Is that the man who hurt you? Who gave you those bruises?”

I swallow hard, trying to think of something I can say that won’t give it away. If I say no vehemently, he’ll know the truth, but I also can’t just admit it was Kurt. I can’t even begin toimagine the things Kurt would do to me if he found out I was telling other alphas about what happened.

“I…” But words fail me.

What can I possibly tell him?

“You don’t have to say anything,” Ezra says, his hands tightening on me. “I’ll take care of it.”

My brain is back to that sleepy feeling I get when I’m in Ezra’s arms, and I just nod against his chest, hoping he’ll forget about it. I know that no matter what, I’ll always be grateful to him for saving me from Kurt.

Even if I’m only truly safe until the end of our dance.

After the dance I’d been told there will be a series of games that involves charades and switching partners, lunch, more games, and dinner. All of which are perfect opportunities for Kurt to punish me for accusing him of killing my brother. Because that’s what I know: what all of this is truly about. He doesn’t want me as an omega. He doesn’t feel a connection with me. He wants to drink in my terror like the psychopath he is, knowing full well that I’m completely at his mercy.

My breathing becomes more rapid, and I breathe in the handsome alpha who’s holding me, trying to calm myself. I try to remember that, for now, I’m safe. Strangely enough, in the arms of an alpha.

Which is just about the last place I ever thought I’d feel safe.

FIFTEEN

Faye

After my dance with Ezra ended, I was left alone, feeling uneasy. Cayson and Ezra seemed to be constantly trying to make their way toward me, but as the sons to two powerful packs’ leaders, they were a hot commodity, and the women flocking into their arms knew it.

Which felt a little strange.

I knew that the next step of the games would be starting shortly, possibly exposing me to the man I fear. My uneasy feeling built until I couldn’t ignore the overwhelming need to escape any longer, and I bolted for it. I fully plan to be back for charades, but just need a moment to myself.

The last thing I saw as I slipped out of the ballroom was my best friend grinning in the arms of a handsome brunette, while another talked to her nearby. Addilyn was clearly overjoyed… It now seems like she has the interest of two alphas,at least at the dance, even though she’s from Pack Ivory, a weaker pack. We might not be the top pack that alphas want to create alliances with, but the rumor that our women are the most beautiful always tends to circulate among the packs making us sought after in a different way.

Addilyn was doing a great job being seen by the alphas, although I knew this was hard for her. Given how she was when we were girls, she was always good at setting people up, and less good at attracting the attention from men herself.

I just wish Addilyn knew someone who could take Kurt’s interest away from me.

But that’s not true, I think, as I fit the key into the lock on my door. I wouldn’t wish Kurt’s interest on anyone. The entire time he was dancing with Serra, some part of me was worried about what he might do or say to her, even though she was rude to me on the water. Tensions run high during The Selection. That doesn’t mean I would wish Kurt on my worst enemy.

I finally get the door to my room open, already thinking about how good it’s going to feel to fall into bed and relax, when suddenly, pain bursts across my left cheek, sending stars ricocheting across my vision.

The breath is knocked out of me when I hit the floor, and I raise a hand to my face, already feeling how tender the bruise will be when it forms. My mind is not quite catching up to what’s happening.

It’s not until I look up that I realize what, or rather who, hit me.

Kurt is towering over me, breathing heavily, his hand hanging loosely at his side. I stare at it, thinking about how it cost him nothing to hit me. He’s a strong alpha, they heal so fast. But me? This is justanotherbruise that I’ll have to cover up with Addilyn’s borrowed make-up. The mark will linger on me for weeks.

Then my mind starts working and goosebumps erupt on my skin.Kurt is here, in my room, where no one can hear us.A bruise is the least of my worries.

How am I going to get out of this alive?

Glancing up at him, I don’t have to feign the terror that washes over me as he glares down at me. His entire chest is heaving, like he just ran really far, and his knuckles are clenching so hard that they’re turning white.

What does he want? What is he going to do to me?

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