Chapter 23

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 think I’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?

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 solidify their 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 happy with 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?

With that, Ezra takes a seat next to me, putting a protective hand on my knee. Cayson sits on my other side, taking my clammy hand. Both men scream of tension through every inch of them, and my mind is left trying to work this out.

“She should stand up here with me,” Kurt snaps angrily.

Ezra flashes him a dangerous smile. “We’re all quite comfortable where we are.”

They glare at each other, and I wonder if Kurt is thinking of when Ezra kicked his ass in my room. Probably. He’s probably also considering if he can take on Cayson and Ezra, which he can’t.

Something inside of me eases a little. I’m safe with Cayson and Ezra. For now.

Kurt looks absolutely murderous. I don’t know what Cayson and Ezra are up to, but with them sitting on either side of me, I suddenly feel like I’m able to move my body again. Like Kurt won’t be able to hurt me.

“Thank you,” I whisper, a tear streaking down my cheek.

They squeeze me gently, and I look away from Kurt, wondering where we go from here.

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