Chained By The Alpha By Jessica Hall

My father’s face is drawn tight, the weight of his position and the expectations of our pack etched into the furrows of his brow. He’s caught, trapped by his own pride and the pressures around us. I know he’s considering it, the possibility of letting me prove myself or perhaps letting me be sacrificed to maintain peace, and that infuriates me

“Joseph, think carefully,” Samuel goads him

“This might be the solution we need.”

A solution that smells like a trap, one laid out by Lydia. But now, standing here amid the circling alphas and their calculating stares, I know the truth

This isn’t settling a tiff between me and Lydia, but Samuel is trying to prove my father’s pack is better off in his daughter’s hands and not mine

The tension in the air crackles like a live wire, every wolf’s gaze locked on the unfolding drama. Alpha Samuel’s voice slices through the thick atmosphere, Alpha Dane’s suggestion hanging heavily between us all

“Let’s have a duel,” he declares, the words resonating. “A fair fight to submission, not harm. We all stand as witnesses no death blows, no permanent damage. Let the young Alphas demonstrate their skills through strength and control.”

His eyes bore into mine, challenging, daring me to back down. And then they slide to my father, who stands rigid, caught between fury and the unspoken rules of our society and his need to

protect his daughter

“Joseph,” Samuel taunts with a smirk that sets my teeth on edge, “if Cleo is truly destined to be your successor, let her show her skills. Let her prove her right to lead, not by birth, but by worth.”

My heart thunders in my chest, anger and fear mingling with a fierce desire to wipe that smug look off Samuel’s face. I can feel the weight of my father’s stare, the silent plea for me to agree

Yet something inside me refuses to cower or to show any hint of weakness when regarding Lydia. If it’s a spectacle they want, it’s a spectacle they’ll get. If my father is willing to toss me to them, he can deal with the aftermath and live with the guilt because I know Lydia won’t listen to any rules put out

“Fine,” I spit out, my voice ringing clear in the

sudden hush. “Let’s just get this over with,” I growl

Whispers ripple through the gathered packs, the scent of excitement and anticipation rising like a storm. While Alpha Greyson from the Lakeview pack seems to edge closer restlessly, his interest 1s piqued by the promise of a showdown

“Agreed,” my father finally says, his voice steely. “But we do this our way, monitored closely. It ends at submission, Samuel!”

Alpha Samuel nods, a predatory gleam in his eye as 1f already savoring victory

“Prepare the ring,” Samuel commands, and the space before us clears as wolves step back, forming a crude circle in the dirt

Lydia strides forward with an arrogance that

makes my blood boil, her confidence bolstered by Samuel’s conniving. She looks at me with distaste, as if I’m merely an obstacle on her path to power

“Ready to lose, Cleo?” she sneers, relishing the moment

I pay her no attention, trying to will myself to step into that ring, knowing she’ll shift and rip me to pieces

The alphas take their positions around the ring, their sharp eyes missing nothing when I hear my father open up the mindlink

“No shame in submitting Cleo; just submit the moment she shifts. Samuel knows this is an unfair fight and is just being a prick. I will deal with the fallout. I don’t want you hurt,” he tells me, and I scoff

“No, if you didn’t want that, you wouldn’t have allowed it to get this far. I’m not submitting to this bitch. She’ll have to kill me first,” I reply, and I notice my father gives me a panic-stricken look, and he hesitates at the edge of the makeshift ring created by

bodies

“Remember, non-lethal, first round is hand to hand, second round anything goes, just no lethal force.” Samuel reiterates, though his tone suggests he cares little for my well-

being

I step further into the circle, kicking my shoes off, the dirt cool beneath my feet as I face Lydia

She’s already shedding her jacket, her eyes locked onto mine with a sly smile on her

face

“Begin!” Samuel barks, and with that single word, Lydia lunges

Our challenge is one of violence and cunning, a

physical debate where each blow will land. Her moves are sharp and ruthless, but I counter with the precision of one who knows how to use my hands, and I can see Lydia fears catching one of them

“Submit, Lydia!” I pant, my knuckles connecting with her jaw with a satisfying crunch

“Never!” she spits, wiping blood from her lip

“T’ll die before I bow to you!”

“Then you’re a bigger fool than I thought,” I reply, dodging her next swing

“You submit!” she spits at me. I swing at her, and at the same time, she kicks me in the

flank

She falls to the side, and I cringe, feeling my ribs bruise instantly. She is quick to get back up while I stagger

My fists fly, connecting with Lydia’s guarded frame. She’s quick, a fact that I had not expected, and her blocks and counters are sharp but a little sloppy. However, it seems my stepsister has been preparing for this moment after all, making me wonder who she’s been training with

“Didn’t think I’d come unprepared, did you?” she sneers, her foot sweeping toward my legs in an attempt to knock me off balance

I jump back, dodging her attack, and feel the rush of adrenaline fueling my movements. My breath comes out in short bursts, my heart thundering in my chest

“Training with the enforcers, huh?” I grunt, wiping a bead of sweat from my brow as I circle her. “Guess you’re not as helpless as you pretend to be.”

Lydia’s only response is a vicious grin before launching herself at me again. Our bodies collide in a flurry of movement, each of us trying to gain the upper hand, but she heals quickly; I’m not healing at all, and I’m growing tired. I manage to land a solid punch to her midsection, and for a brief moment, I see something akin to pain flash in her eyes when I feel her ribs break

But then, everything changes. She starts to shift