Page 54 of Claimed By the Alpha Wolves

“Youwanther!”

“This is great, Cayson. A great conversation,” I drawl out.

“You want tokissher, don’t you?”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, just keep going.”

“Did you fall in love out on the water like a perfect little prince?”

“Are you about done?”

Silence falls over the room, but we’re grinning at each other, and Cayson reaches forward, slipping the bottle from my grip and dripping the last of it onto his tongue.

“It doesn’t matter how I feel,” I say after a long moment of silence passes between us. “I’m not going to do anything about it. I’ve already decided I’m just trying to get through The Selection so I can get home. Being away for this long is already making me nervous.”

Cayson nods, rolling the bottle between his hands.

“I’m not going to do anything, either,” Cayson says, “except maybe try to get under her skirt before this whole Selection is done in a few weeks. But I’m sure as hell not claiming her as my omega. There’s way too much other stuff I’d rather do than bring an omega home for my dad to gripe about.”

I nod, not missing the sour tone laced through Cayson’s words. He may be saying he has no interest in claiming Faye, but the look on his face is saying otherwise. And, despite my best intentions, I relate to the feeling far more than I would like.

TWENTY-THREE

Faye

The ballroom has been set up with a stage at the front and little tables with chairs around them all over the room. I have no idea what’s coming next, but I just pray that whatever it is keeps me far from Kurt. I can feel his eyes on me from where he is sitting at one of the tables across the room, his dark aura like something tangible hovering over him. I’m just glad he’s so far away from me. I don’t think I’d be able to move if he was any closer.

From beneath my lashes, I glance at Cayson and Ezra at another table. They’re sitting together, laughing, both looking ridiculously handsome this morning, even though their gazes keep sweeping to me as if making certain I’m okay. While Ezra tends to wear dark colors, and clothes that are finely tailored but practical, Cayson leans more toward bright colors and styles that dare anyone to compete with him.

I’m honestly kind of surprised that both men are friends when they seem to be such opposites. Ezra is more serious, but with gentle smiles, and gentler touches. And Cayson is all fire, sweet talk, flirting, and laughter. It’s weird. I actually don’t thinkI’d mind being paired up with them for whatever event we’ll be having today.

The ballroom door opens and in strides Hector. Heads lower as the ultima strides through the room, and I gaze up at him, with my head bowed. His grey hair has been neatly styled, and he wears a black formal shirt and slacks. Power radiates from him, but unlike with Lance and Brock, there’s something dark and miserable about him.

I shudder as I think about my meeting with them when I spoke my concerns about Serra being killed by Kurt. Lance had seemed disturbed and open to the possibility. Brock seemed to be constantly trying to get a read on me, and Hector… Hector had been spewing mad at just the idea that I would accuse an alpha of something.

Asshole.

He strides to the stage and everyone falls silent, his power sweeping over us whether we like it or not. A servant hands him a drink, and his gaze moves about the room, lingering on me briefly, before continuing on.

I wish they’d sent one of the other ultimas to do this.

“Good morning, everyone!” Hector says, standing at the front of the ballroom. “Let’s take a moment of silence for Serra Terek. The council stands with her family during this difficult time.”

Yeah, right.

The eyes of far too many people fall on me, and I try not to flinch. It’s weird having everyone know that I accused Kurt of murder, but weirder to know they’re all aware that my concerns were dismissed.Do they think I’m a liar? Or do they all suspect Kurt Baine is just as psychotic as his dad?

The moment ends, and then Hector is smiling, as if that moment was enough to truly mourn a lost life. “Now that you all have had a chance to get to know one another, we’re moving into the best part of The Selection—the first round of selections!”

He pauses, waiting for everyone to laugh, and there are a couple of titters throughout the room. Addilyn puts a hand to her mouth to stifle her laugh, but not because he’s funny, I know, but because of his failed attempt at a joke. But I don’t laugh. I don’t like anything about this guy, including his jokes.

“As all of you know, periodically we will do a round of selections to weed out those alphas who have found their omegas, so we can focus on those who are still searching for their perfect fits.”

At least this is one event I don’t have to pay a lot of attention to. No alphas will be claiming me today, I all but made sure of that by avoiding being paired up with any of the others whenever possible. Now, I just have to be prepared to clap a lot and try not to look bored.

“Anyway,” he says, his tone a little droller. “Let’s start with the mates who have already agreed on their matches.”

A servant pulls up a paper, slowly reading through a list of names. Three omegas stand with the council. One has two alphas, one has three, and the final has a whopping four alphas standing behind her, grins on their faces. It kind of amazes me.How could anyone choose the person they’re going to spend the rest of their life with that fast?

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