Chained By The Alpha By Jessica Hall

Zayn

As Cleo’s breathing slowed and her body relaxed against me, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment wash over me. Her head rested on my chest, her blonde curls tickling my chin, and I couldn’t imagine a more perfect moment. Yet beneath the surface, there was a gnawing fear that tomorrow would bring an end to this idyllic bubble we have created

I know Cleo will revert back to being standoffish. Her father has far too much influence over her but that is to be expected since he 1s her father

I made a silent promise to myself to savor every

second with her, to memorize the pattern of her breaths against my skin and the feeling of her warmth seeping into my body. She was where she belonged, in my arms, a place I wanted to covet her away from the rest of the world. But for now, she was safest not knowing who I am to her. Not yet, anyway

“Are you awake?” my brother calls through the mindlink

“Yes, what’s up?” I reply while glancing down at Cleo

“We have an issue, meet me in the living room,” he tells me and I sigh heavily not wanting to move but knowing I have to. Carefully I slip out from beneath Cleo, tucking the blanket back around her not wanting her to lose my warmth and wake up

Climbing out of bed, I head for the door and to the living room. The room 1s dimly lit, the only source of light coming from the moon peeking through the curtains. I can see my brother Vance, his arms crossed and his tall frame leaning against the mantelpiece. The scowl on his face deepens as I enter the room

“What’s going on?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest

“You know damn well what’s going on,” he snarls

“No, I don’t,” I retort, “Tell me what the problem

1S

“You just declared war with not one but potentially 3 packs and you brought her here

You can’t just keep her here are you insane, what if her father comes looking for her? Have

you even told her or does she think she is some little pet you’ve decided to keep?” Vance demands, his wolf eye’s flashing silver with anger

“You dare speak of your future Luna like that,” I shoot back at him. “She deserves better than that.”

Vance huffs out a breath. “This isn’t about what she deserves, this 1s about pack business. She is not safe here. You are putting the pack in unecessary risk, you need to tell her and claim her or you need to let her go until she shifts Zayn!”

My wolf howls in protest at the thought of losing Cleo, even temporarily. “I don’t think I can,” I admit

Vance pinches his nose between his fingers

“You’ve really made a mess of things Zayn. You should have told her.”

“Told her what? She has no wolf,” “You’re her mate!” he groans in frustration

“Yes and her father’s rival, as if she would have believed I was her mate.”

“Then popsicle boy, you could have told her that at least, Alpha Grayson has accused Alpha Joseph of attacking Deacon; he never kept his dislike for boy quiet.” Vance argues

“Shadowcrest and Lakeview are on the verge of a pack war. It’s only a matter of time before Alpha Joseph forces her home to keep her safe

If he finds her here…” He trails off. “You should have told her about Deacon at least.”

“Again she wouldn’t believe me, what reason

would she have when the only information she has about me was what her father fed her.” I try to reason

“The video footage.” he growls annoyed

“Showed her boyfriends escorting her to the car, and me following them out minutes later and killing him, it never showed what Deacon was doing to her.” I explain and he

curses

“The phone footage then”

“Again nothing saying I didn’t take that footage of her after I killed Deacon. She had

no reason to trust me back then.”

“And now?” he asks

“She has enough playing on her mind with the entire arranged marriage shit with Alpha Dane and Claymore pack.” I remind him

“So what’s the plan then? Please tell me you have one, Zayn, because everything can

get out of hand really quickly at this rate.”

“For now, I need to keep her safe. They find out she is my mate; Alpha Samuel will use

her to try to take me out.”

“He’s best friends with Joseph,” Vance states

“Is he, though?” I ask. “Only because of Linda, not for any other reason. My relationship with Samuel is only out of desperation. His alliance with Joseph…”

I try to think of why he tolerates Joseph because how can you be friends with your ex-

wife’s mate? I’m not blind, and I know he had a hand in Cleo’s mother’s death. I just don’t know why or how, but it makes sense. And I still remember the argument he had

with my father the week

before their pack was attacked

“We’ll keep patrols at the university to keep an eye on her, but for now, you are best keeping your distance from her, Zayn. If you’re serious about protecting her, you need

to figure out something fast.”

“What do you mean?”

“Alpha Greyson told Aunt Andrea that Alpha Dane and Joseph are still going ahead with the plan for the marriage alliance,” Vance says, stepping closer and away from the

window

“When?” Task, my mind racing with possible options to stop it

“The day after she comes of age,” he responds

“Why the rush, though? It makes no sense,” I mutter out loud, more to myself than to

Vance

“Joseph owes a massive debt to Alpha Dane,” he explains

“How much?” I question, trying to gauge just how desperate Joseph must be. Vance

shrugs in response

“No idea. I wasn’t there,” he admits. “But that’s how I found out about Deacon, from

Aunt Andrea.”

My heart drops at the mention of his name. It’s a reminder of the pain I’m going to cause when she realizes Iam behind Deacon’s death. But it’s also a reminder of how important it is for me to keep her safe now

“It’s also why Greyson believes it was Joseph who killed Deacon,” Vance continues, “to

get him out of the way for the alliance.”

“So he is going to declare war against Joseph?” “I think so,”

“TII speak with Greyson,” I tell him. “Organize a meeting with him.”

“What do you plan on telling him?”

“Everything. I’ve never had issues with Greyson, and he hates Samuel; if I am going to

war, I will need his pack on my side.” I tell Vance

“TII organize it and send you the information,” Vance tells me before walking out just as

I hear footsteps upstairs

“Fuck!” I curse now making me wonder if I can convince Cleo to remain here but I know

I can’t, she’ll refuse. She is too stubborn