Page 55 of Claimed By the Alpha Wolves

I know I couldn’t do it.

“Okay, everyone, these alphas and omegas have certainly been lucky to find each other, but they won’t be leaving yet. We’ll be making sure they don’t end up connecting with any of the other males that will be here in the coming days. But for now, let’s celebrate them finding one another!”

The ballroom erupts into cheers, a whistle breaking out across the crowd, and we watch as they turn to go, leaving the room completely. For now, they’ll get to just spend time with each other, but they’ll be back to join the rest of us when the feral wolves come.

Good luck to all of them.

“Okay, now that those guys are on their way, we’re going to start the claiming process. During the claiming, alphas are given a chance to claim their omegas. After the claiming, omegas will have some additional time here at The Selection to get to know their alphas better to see if they feel the same connections their alphas feel. As we all know, when an alpha claims an omega, that almost always leads to a pairing. If multiple alphas claim the same omega, alphas will need to get to know each other to be sure a successful match can be made. It’s rare—but sometimes alphas are not compatible, in which case the omega simply stays with the alphas who she feels a connection with.”

My fingers are trembling uncontrollably under the table, and Addilyn reaches out, putting her hand over mine. It’s weird. I know I’m not going to be chosen, but just the idea makes me feel panicked. What if I made eye contact with one of these alphas and now they’ve decided they want to have me? It’s almost impossible as an omega to get out of a claim, unless the alphas who chose her don’t get along.

You’re fine. You’re absolutely fine. These alphas can choose from any omega. They’re not going to choose you.

The alphas start going to the front of the room, voicing their claims. Addilyn’s leg is jumping. Alpha after alpha, but nobody has said her name. I briefly feel a stab of sorrow for her. As much as I don’t want to be claimed, she wants to be claimed, and she’s an absolutely amazing woman who deserves only the best men.

Our side of the ballroom has emptied halfway out, with many of the alphas standing at the front of the room with the council. Each time they claim an omega, she comes to stand with them on the stage. The claim is followed by clapping, and more often than not, kisses between the newly paired couple. After the alphas make their claims, it’s mostly just a formality for the omegas and alphas to spend time together, so they can solidifytheir connection. These people have basically just chosen their life partners.

All the alphas seem to be finished when Kurt suddenly stands. My heart leaps into my throat, wondering what poor girl he’s going to choose. I just keep picturing her lying dead on the ground like Serra. Like my brother. Being paired with him is basically a death sentence.

That’s when Kurt strides up to the podium, leans over it, and projects his voice so it echoes throughout the room. “I claim Faye of Pack Ivory.”

My entire body freezes. Bile lurches into my throat, and terror flows through me. It feels like my soul is floating above my body.This can’t be happening. It can’t be. He couldn’t… he wouldn’t.

The terror inside of me begins to change shape into anger… anger at myself.Why didn’t I see this coming? I should’ve never accused him of killing Serra. I should’ve kept my mouth shut. Now, I’m as dead as she is.

It’s just… I never would’ve expected Kurt to do this. Claiming me as his omega means I’ll be his mate. We’ll be expected to have sex. To have children. To build a family together. Surely, there were better ways to hurt me.

Killing me without claiming me as his mate would leave fewer questions. Unless… he plans to keep me as his mate and torture me.The thought of actually being his mate is worse than my fear of being murdered by him. It sends a kind of fear through me that makes my entire body shake and my soul feel frozen in my chest.

When I don’t move immediately, people start to look around, murmuring, glancing in my direction and likely wondering why I haven’t pranced forward, pleased to have been chosen. This doesn’t happen. I know it doesn’t happen. All omegas are happywith the alpha that chooses them. But I can’t do this. I can’t let Kurt choose me.

Even though I have no choice.

“Faye,” Kurt says, staring right at me, “of Pack Ivory.”

I can’t do it. I can’t move. I would rather die in this chair than go and join Kurt on stage.

My mind starts running through all the possible ways I can get out of this, but nothing comes to mind. I can’t directly deny him. The ultimas would simply get angry and make me partner with him anyway. If I run, I’ve already learned they’ll just catch me, and that will make everything all the worse when they hand me to Kurt.

What do I do?

Hector swings his angry glare onto me. “Faye of Pack Ivory has been chosen by an alpha…”

He knows I accused Kurt of murder.How can he possibly stand here and back up Kurt’s claim of me?He has to know that Kurt only wants me to hurt me.Isn’t there any justice? Isn’t there any safe place I can go in this world?

“Faye!” Kurt snaps, red creeping up his throat, and I know I’m going to pay for this.

There’s a noise from across the ballroom, but I can’t turn and look at it. I can barely breathe. All around me eyes are starting to turn my way, and I know that at any moment Hector will use his ability to command to make me stand by Kurt. Then there’s no going back.

A moment later, I watch, shocked, as Cayson and Ezra approach my side of the ballroom. I stare at them, not understanding why they’re coming toward me. Ezra’s jaw ticks, and there’s something dark and dangerous in his eyes. Cayson stands taller, a challenge in his gaze as it sweeps across everyone in the ballroom.

Ezra and Cayson come to stand at my sides. Addilyn scoots to another chair, her eyes wide at the sight, to give them some room. I look from one of them to the other, not understanding what they’re doing. If they’re trying to help me, there’s no way to save me. Surely, they understand that.

“I, Ezra of Pack Azure, claim Faye of Pack Ivory,” Ezra says, loud enough for the entire room to hear.

Without missing a beat, Cayson says, “I, Cayson of Pack Steel, also claim Faye of Pack Ivory.”

What? They’re claiming me? No, they don’t want a mate. What are they doing?

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