Page 3 of Claimed By the Alpha Wolves

He sighs, which he seems to do a lot around me. “Are you going to make this difficult?”

Difficult? Difficult? Sure, because why the hell would I make my kidnapping difficult on him?

“Haven’t I already?” I joke, trying to cover my terror.

My legs are shaking almost uncontrollably. He gives me a droll look, his fingers flexing.

Finally he sighs. “You certainly could have made it easier simply by coming to town when you knew your time had come, but no bother, you’ll come now.”

“No,” I say after a long moment of silence stretches out between us. Then I flinch. No one disobeys alphas, least of all someone like me.

There are five other shifters surrounding me, and I know they’re scowling within their wolves. They probably think this isa waste of their time, dealing with an omega. Coming all the way out here for one omega that nobody cares about. I just wish my alpha’s sense of duty hadn’t outweighed his desire not to trek out here and waste all of their time.

He sighs again, releasing my arm, and I immediately try to bolt away from him. I know it’s useless from the first step. They caught me because I'm slow. I can’t outpace alphas. But I have to try. I don’t know why.

I get a few feet away at max before his arms wrap around my waist, and he’s hoisting me up over his shoulder like a bag of potatoes. Crying out, I struggle, panic unfolding within me.

“No,” I say, squirming, trying to wriggle out of his grasp.

For a brief moment, I think I might actually do it—his grip loosens and I slip an inch closer to the ground.Maybe I’ve caught him by surprise.I kick my feet, trying to gain purchase, thinking that if I just don’t give up, I might get away from them… but he’s just adjusting his grip, and once he has a good purchase, it’s like I’m in a straight jacket. I can hardly move.

Damn it. Damn it!

“You’re twenty-one, Faye,” he says, and I’m glad that he’s at least breathing a little heavily. “The Selection requires that all omegas of age attend. Those are the rules. You’re not special—you don’t get to ignore them just because you don’t want to.”

Struggling like mad only seems to tire me out and make his grip tighter, cementing the fact that this chase is over. The predators have won. The prey has been caught.

Fighting tears, I say, “You don’t have to tell me I’m not special.” I sigh, slumping against his back as he carries me. “I’m very,veryaware of that fact.”

“If it means anything, I am sorry,” he says, his voice quiet so only I can hear it. I trace my hand along the fabric on his back absently, bouncing with his steps.

“It doesn’t,” I say, and then, “If I said I’m not twenty-one yet, would you let me go?”

Without hesitation, he responds, “I wouldn’t believe you.”

I let out another long sigh, trying to feign being calm, but inside, my head is spinning. I am running out of options. Hell, I’verunout of options. If my alpha has his way, and he always does, I’m going to The Selection, whether I like it or not.

After a moment of quiet walking, he speaks again, his voice low. “You’ve made it clear you don’t want to find a mate.”

I almost laugh.Don’t want to find a mate?It’s more than that. So much more than that. But, yes, I don’t want to find a mate. Ineverwant to find a mate. I want to stay in my quiet cabin until I draw in my last breath, letting every meaningless day blur into the day before it.

“Respectfully, I don’t think you understand it at all.” Again, I find I have to swallow down my tears.

After a moment, he says, “If it helps, I don’t think you’ll have to worry about ending up with one.”

I’m surprised. “Oh, and why’s that?”

He’s quiet for a second, like he’s trying to figure out the nicest way to put it. Apparently deciding he can’t sugar-coat it, he just comes out and says it. “You’re just… so weak. I doubt the bond will actually take with anyone. It may be a few years of selections before someone accepts you as a potential match, and that will only be if they’re very desperate for an omega.”

“Wow,” I breathe, “thank you.”

And I mean it. For other omegas, the prospect of not finding a mate is terrifying. For me, the opposite is true. Being too weak to form a bond is the best I can hope for.As long as I don’t go into heat any time soon.Sarcasm is an easy coping mechanism, but deep down, I’m sending up a prayer that he’s right.

Let me be too weak for the bond to form. That’s my only hope.

TWO

Faye

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