Claimed by the Alphas: Part Three Read Online Free Page A

danger. But any animal could catch a fish from the river. Not only was it unimpressive, but it was also beneath her station to do such things.
    Caim gave her a dry look. “You smell disgusting. You are not to go fishing again.”
    Her face reddened, and without warning, she hurled the fish at him. Caim caught it just before it made impact with his chest. He frowned, perturbed by her bizarre reaction.
    “I am so sick of you,” she yelled. “If I want to fish, I’ll fish. And if you try to stop me—”
    “You’ll what?” Caim asked, genuinely curious.
    She blanched at him. He knew that she was just making idle threats, but he didn’t feel any satisfaction at pointing it out. Caim had always enjoyed asserting his superiority over others, but she looked so distressed. He found it unsettling.
    Asch approached then, placing an arm around her shoulders and a hand on her chin. He turned her face away from Caim.
    “Mila, calm down,” he coaxed.
    Through gritted teeth, she said, “He makes me so mad.”
    “I know, but he means well.”
    “By telling me I stink?”
    They were talking about him as if he was not standing right in front of them. He felt a fine tremor of rage course through his body at the insult. His claws dug reflexively into the fish in his hand.
    Lotus ca me up beside him, but could not take his eyes off of the spectacle before him. Lotus put a soothing hand on his shoulder. The human’s eyes registered the movement, and her gaze flickered between the two of them, her posture stiffening.
    “How would you like a hot bath?” Ash asked, recapturing her attention. Her jaw slackened.
    “You have those here?”
    “It can be arranged,” he said, nodding to Brae.
    “I’ll go get some water heated for you,” Brae offered, before departing the group.
    Asch motioned to Caim’s favorite. “Lotus brought your bags back from Tye. They’re waiting in your room.”
    “Thanks,” Mila said tightly.
    “It was my pleasure,” Lotus replied graciously.
    The four of them stood in a tense silence for a moment. Caim’s blood was boiling. He wanted to resolve this…whatever it was, so that he could move on with his evening. Instead, he had to watch as Asch led her away.
    “ Come on. Let’s take your bags to your room while Brae gets your bath ready.”
    He stared after their retreating forms, watching as Asch led his mate away from the cavern, away from him. His mate. She was his, and Asch should not have interfered.
    Lotus elbowed him in the side. “If you keep looking at her like that, your face will get stuck that way.”
    Ignoring her comment, Caim said, “Come with me to my chamber.”
    “I do not think so,” she said, pinching him.
    Caim smacked her hand away. “Now you defy me as well?”
    He drew in slow, steady breaths, determined to keep his rage in check. It was not fair. He was never given the opportunity to please her. Every time he upset her, Asch would appear with all of the right words to make her hap py. Now, Asch would be the one spending time with her. He would bathe her and then they would likely couple without him. If they were allowed to couple without him, he should not be bound by their arrangement either.
    Lotus stepped in front of him, catching his gaze.
    “Your mate looks like she wants to scratch my eyes out. If you think things can be the same between us now, you are mistaken.”
    Caim cocked his head. “She does not matter to me.”
    “Well you matter to her.”
    “She threw a fish at me,” he said, holding up the offending trout.
    “You know very well that the ones we care for the most can make us the angriest.”
    Caim exhaled and ran a hand through his disheveled hair. Lotus was making no sense. How could the human possibly care for him? He had done nothing to warrant her affection. He clearly did not understand her needs as Asch did.
    He looked from side to side, ensuring that none of the pack was in earshot, before giving Lotus an even look.
    After a moment’s