Chained By The Alpha By Jessica Hall

“Wow,” I murmur, feeling a mix of emotions churning inside me

“That’s… quite a story.” The weight of his words settles on my chest, making my heart feel heavy with the knowledge of their shared past. I glance at Zayn, taking in the determined set of his jaw and the shadows in his eyes

As we pull up next to a quaint café and boutique clothing store, Zayn climbs out of the car and gestures for me to follow him. I hesitantly move around to head into the café, feeling foolish in the oversized clothes he lent me, when he suddenly grabs my hand and tugs me in the direction of the boutique instead. He pushes the door open with a jingle from the bell

above, revealing an array of colorful summer outfits on display

“Andrea!” Zayn calls out, his voice echoing through the small store. A woman around my father’s age appears, her face lighting up with Joy upon seeing Zayn. She rushes forward and embraces him tightly, her eyes sparkling with affection

“Oh, I’ve missed you! I haven’t seen you in

weeks! How’s your brother?”

“Doing much better, picked him up last week,” Zayn replies, his voice softening

“Who is this lovely young lady?” Andrea asks, her gaze shifting to me. Her expression 1s warm and welcoming

“This is…” Zayn begins, but Andrea interrupts

him

“Gosh, you look like your mother,” says the woman, her eyes lighting up. “Hello Cleo, I’m Andrea, Zayn’s mother’s twin sister,” she tells me

“You knew my mother too?” I asked, always eager to meet someone who knew her. Back home, hardly anyone mentions her and when I do, I always get told not to bring up the past, or not to upset Linda by speaking of his previous marriage

“Of course, honey. Your mother and I were close friends,” Andrea says warmly, her gaze softening as she looks at me

I swallow hard, trying to keep my emotions in check. No one has ever spoken so openly about my mother before, and it feels both thrilling and

forbidden. Last time I heard anyone speak of her I was eleven years old, but then Linda got upset, rarely does anyone mention her now

“Yes, very well. I was devastated to learn she passed, many regrets. I should have intervened earlier, I did warn her, but…” Andrea’s voice trails off under Zayn’s disapproving gaze, changing the topic swiftly

“T take it you need clothes,” she laughs, switching subjects with skill and pulling clothes from the shelves. I glance at Zayn, wanting to know what she was going to say, when he nods for me to follow her

“Really? You already gave me a phone, showered me, healed me, and now you’re clothing me?” I am baffled by his generosity

He chuckles. “At this rate, you might as well

move in with me,” he mocks, then laughs but nudges me to follow his aunt

I comply, and Andrea hands me a long, flowy dress. I avoid looking at the price tag and glance at Zayn for reassurance

“Go on, this place was my mother’s. Pick what you want,” he shrugs, and the ease of

his

generosity battles me, especially since I am from a rival pack. Why is he being so nice?

I slip into the fitting room and change into the dress, admiring how it hugs my curves yet finally feeling better in clothes. I don’t have to worry about them falling down to my ankles when I am walking

“Looks like you’re ready for breakfast,” Andrea says, her eyes twinkling with approval as she takes in my appearance. “Go on, Zayn’s waiting for you at the café next door.”

Heading next door into the cafe, I spot Zayn seated at the back of the cafe. When we arrived at the boutique store, this place had been bustling with people. Yet I find we’re the only ones here now. I peer around wondering if I drove them off being that I am not from here

Zayn notices me, sets his phone down and rises from his seat coming over to me

“You found something you like?” he asks, eyeing me up and down with approval. I nod, still peering around at all the empty tables

“Yes, thank you,” I tell him and he places a hand on my lower back. “Where did everyone go?” I ask as he leads me toward the table he was sitting at

“Patrols, home, we have the place to ourselves

besides the staff.”

My eyes narrow at him. “I scared them off didn’t I? They don’t like rival packs around,”

I frown feeling terrible when Zayn pulls out my chair. I reluctantly sit 1n it

“I would hardly call you a threat to my pack,” he chuckles

“[ never said a threat, just that I’m not from here and it’s obvious,” I tell him

Zayn grips my shoulders, making me look up at him, only to find his face barely an inch off mune

His lips are so close, my eyes dart to them and his scent floods me, making me instinctively lean in

“L asked them to leave, you didn’t scare them off,” he whispers. My face heats at his

words

“You didn’t have to do that,” I blurt, horrified

“Your pack doesn’t bother me, this is their territory,” I tell him and he smirks

“You were worried about people seeing you, I asked them to leave, stop stressing besides most had duties to attend anyway.” He squeezes my shoulders before sitting

down across from me

“You don’t like being alone with me,” he chuckles

“It’s not that I’m just worried about being seen with you,” I admit

“Here? Your father wouldn’t dare, besides my pack won’t snitch on you,” he adds. I chew my lip

“They may not, but I know Deacon would have stopped by home looking for me by

now, which in turn will have my father questioning my whereabouts.”

“You seriously like that little weasel?” he questions, his eyes narrowing

“Well, he is my boyfriend,” I admit. Zayn leans back with his arms folded across his chest, eyeing me