Free Twin Alphas: Claimed (A BBW Werewolf Romance) by Georgette St. Clair Page B

because of that mean look on her face. I was too busy trying to remember how to breathe.”
                  “Is this…typical behavior at the Claiming Festival?”
                  “No!” Mackenzie let out a long, shuddering breath. “Not at all. An Alpha is never supposed to lie or lead a woman on. If he’s only looking for a fling, he’s supposed to say that up front. And they always do. They have no reason to lie to a woman, they’ve got girls everywhere who are eager to jump into bed with them.  Alphas are generally true gentlemen. They’re expected to lead by example, and being honest is a big part of that. Lying is really frowned on with werewolves. It shows weakness.”
                  Amelia stifled a groan. Great. Her whole presence here was one big lie. Clayton and Holt would absolutely hate her if they knew the truth.
                  She couldn’t let this go on any longer. She needed to go home.
                  “Something must have happened,” she suggested to Mackenzie. “He seemed fine when he went to get you food, and then he disappeared? He never came and told you personally. There must be a reason for that. He didn’t strike me as the cowardly type.”
                  Mackenzie shrugged unhappily. “Me either. I don’t know. Maybe there was some kind of alliance that I don’t know about. Sometimes a pack that wants to ally for political reasons, or business reasons, makes an arrangement with a wealthy or powerful human family. An arranged marriage. They’re not the happiest of marriages, but they’re done for the good of the pack.”
                  “Ugh. Sounds awful. But it still wouldn’t excuse him leading you on.”
                  “No, it wouldn’t. Maybe it was just me. Maybe I read too much into…everything.” She let out a long, heavy sigh. “It’s too bad it’s too early to start drinking. Although I’m tempted.”
                  “I swear to God, if I see him…”Amelia was furious on Mackenzie’s behalf. “Do you still have to stay here? Are you allowed to go home early?”
                  “Of course not. The rules very specifically say that. However, I can stay in the women’s quarters and sulk for the rest of the festival, which is what I plan to do.”
                  “I’ll come visit you,” Amelia promised. “You want me to come with you now?”
                  “No, but thank you. Just being able to talk it out made me feel better. Thanks for being there for me.”
                  “Absolutely. And seriously, if I see Ajax, I’m going to give him what-for. What a douche.”
                  Mackenzie managed a smile. She glanced at the love bites on Amelia’s arm, and said “Congratulations, by the way, I didn’t mean to be so wrapped up in myself.” She got up and headed off to the women’s quarters.
                  Congratulations?
                  What exactly did those love bites mean? Amelia wondered uneasily.
                  Amelia headed over to the Love Shack.  She kept snapping pictures on the way; she desperately needed to get her mind back on her mission here. She had a great memory, she’d be able to write an entire research paper just on what she’d seen already, but that was no excuse for slacking off.
                  She needed to make some kind of excuse to Clayton and Holt, and then sneak off. She really should leave without even meeting them, but somehow, she couldn’t bring herself to do that. She just wanted to see them one more time, to fix them in her memory forever.
                  With an aching heart, she forced herself to walk faster. No sense in delaying the inevitable.
    At the Love Shack, she found Clayton and Holt already waiting for her.  They’d both been cheerful earlier; now