Page 42 of Claimed By the Alpha Wolves

Fuck.I need to sleep with this woman. It’s the only way I’ll stop obsessing over every inch of her.I’ll just make sure she’s aware that it’ll be a one-time thing first. I meant it when I told Ezra I didn’t plan to hurt her.

I swallow hard and turn, watching as Reginald makes his way across the field. Crossing my fingers in my pocket, I hope he doesn’t fuck it up.I need to spend the day with Faye. I need to get her out of my head.

It’s a gorgeous afternoon. The sun is shining and the horses neigh cheerfully. Faye leans to the side and says something to the woman standing next to her, and I can’t tear my gaze away from how her shirt stretches to accommodate her chest.

My brain feels foreign to me. This girl is doing something to me that I don’t understand. The other night, when I saw Faye climbing into the boat with Ezra, I’d felt a rush of jealousy, the same rush of jealousy I’d felt when Ezra came to his room smelling like her. My thoughts had gone crazy.Why was she climbing into a boat withhim,when she was supposed to be climbing into a boat withme?

I’d wanted to shout and throw a fit like a goddamn toddler. I wanted to grab Ezra and pull him out of the damn boat. I just wanted to loudly say, for everyone to hear:I saw her first.

And I did. Didn’t I?

Not that it matters. I amnotin the market for an omega. I just want to have a little fun. And for some reason, only one omega will do for me right now.

“Good morning, everyone,” the ultima, Brock, says, from the front of the field. “Today’s event will be horseback riding and a scavenger hunt. It’s a chance to work together as a team and follow clues to a special treat. I guarantee you’ll have a blast and get to know a new potential match. Now, the groupings.”

Reginald steps forward and starts reading off the names. I bounce on my heels, looking between him and Faye, who’s holding hands with her friend. It’s like we’re all playing a game, but I’ve already won it.

It’s just that no one else knows that quite yet.

The friend squeals when her name is called with three other alphas, and goes off to meet with them across the field. Immediately after, Faye’s name is called with mine, and she looks over. When our eyes meet, she raises an eyebrow at me, and I shrug likewhat are the chances?

It’s hard not to smile.What are the chances indeed?

All the rest of the names are called, including Ezra being paired with the irritating girl who he’d gotten stuck with at the cake decorating event. He and I exchange a glance, and I can practically feel his jealousy dripping off of him. Then everyone starts moving.

It might be my ego, but Faye doesn’t lookunhappy to be partnered with me. Which I’ll take, since she seems to be trying so hard to give me an icy reception at every turn.

“I guess we’re partners,” she says, stopping in front of me, brow raised.

“It looks like it,” I say, hiding my smile. “I guess I’m just that lucky.”

“Or I’m just that unlucky,” she banters.

I slide closer to her, ignoring all the people who are being given their horses and sent on their way. “Faye, Faye, we both know you like me, so why keep up with the game?”

She leans in and her delicate scent comes over me. I have to stop myself from breathing her in or I’ll end up like a teenage boy sporting an erection based on just a girl’s scent. It’s not that I’m playing it subtle with her, but I do need to keep in control ofsomepart of this situation.

“I can’t help it if I win every game I play,” I tell her, flashing her a cocky smile.

Her hazel eyes are filled with mirth. “I hate to break it to you, but you’re playing a game by yourself.”

“It’s okay, I’m used to playing with myself,” I say, not missing a beat.

Her jaw drops open and her eyes go round. Then she’s laughing. And even though she’s laughing at me, I don’t mind one bit, because she has a damned beautiful laugh.

My luck just gets better and better when we’re brought out our horse and it’s the one I fed earlier. Remembering the apple I gave him, no doubt, he nuzzles into my hand affectionately.Apparently, I’m impressing everyone today. Now, I just need to make sure I impress the girl Iwantto impress.

“Wow,” Faye says, glancing between me and the horse. “I wouldn’t have thought you'd be good with animals.”

In all fairness, I’m not, but I have a thing with horses. We understand and respect each other. Not that she needs to know that.

“There’s a lot of stuff you don’t know about me, baby,” I murmur, winking at her, and she rolls her eyes.

“Let’s keep it that way,” she says, and I blink at her.

Since meeting her, it’s been shocking that she’s so opposed to my advances. Normally, after this amount of effort, it’s as easy to get a woman eating out of my hand as it was the horse an apple. Faye is different. It’s like she’s not just playing hard to get—she’sactuallyhard to get.

And maybe for the first time in my life, I’m willing to work to get something I want.

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