Chained By The Alpha Jessica Hall

Book 2 Chapter 6

Falling into the driver's seat, I drive in silence, Cleo following me into the city and over to her pack, which I suppose 1s also my pack now since they've merged

We arrive at the mansion, its silhouette imposing against the night sky. The place looks more like a haunted house than a home, its grandeur a hollow echo of what must have been

I park the car, a sense of trespassing washing over me as we approach the front door

I knock, waiting with bated breath for a sign of movement inside. But the house remains as

silent as a grave, the only response the soft echo of the knock in the empty halls. A frown tugs at my lips, worry creeping in. Where could she be

at this hour? Shaking my head, I move back to her car to fix the wiring. I sigh, knowing that I'll have to call her in the morning or pop over. It takes us another twenty minutes to fix the wiring from me hot wiring it. Glancing at the mansion, all the lights are off, and she still hasn't returned from wherever she went

Leaving a note feels oddly intimate, but necessary. I scribble quickly on a piece of paper,

Maya, fixed your car. Call me if you need anything else. -Vance and I leave my number

I tuck the note under her door, my hand hesitating as I withdraw

"Come on, man. Let's go," Leo urges, sensing my reluctance

As we drive away, I wonder where she went

Maybe she is visiting a friend?

Halfway home, Leo's voice cuts through the quiet, interrupting my thoughts. "Hey, we should hit the strip club tomorrow night. We haven't gone out in ages." His attempt to lighten

the mood is well-intentioned, but my mind is elsewhere

"Maybe," I reply noncommittally, the image of Maya's dark house lingering in my mind. But the suggestion sticks; perhaps a distraction is exactly what I need

oh ok ok ok ok ok ~Maya~

Stepping into the main area of the club, I take in the crowd, a mix of people, mostly young and dressed in club attire. I take a deep breath and

step inside

The atmosphere is thick with the scent of cheap perfume and sweat, the air vibrating with the bass of the music that pounds through the space

Patrons leer from their tables, their gazes hungry and calculating as they scan the room

I'm late ten minutes that cost me dearly. My boss, a sleazy man with a permanent leer, intercepts me immediately as I move to the staff locker room. His greasy hair is slicked back, and his ill-fitting suit does nothing to hide his paunch. The stench of cigar smoke clings to him, mingling with the overpowering cologne he uses to mask it. His eyes narrow as he sneers, "You think you can just waltz in here whenever you feel like it?"

"My car broke down on the highway. I had to catch the damn bus. It's not my fault!" I snap at

him. His eyes flash with anger, and he takes a step closer, invading my personal space

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"IT don't care about your excuses," he growls, his voice low and menacing. "If you can't be reliable, there are plenty of others who would kill for your spot."

"T'm sorry, Trevor. It won't happen again." I tell him, knowing I need this damn job. He presses his lips into a thin line, and a growl escapes him. Trevor is not part of any pack in the city but one from outside the city. He has been a right jerk for the past month since I turned down his offer to be his mate. The man is old enough to be my father

"Fine, but you're behind the bar tonight, Maya- no pole for you," he grunts, dismissing my protest with a wave of his hand. Frustration seethes within me; the bar is busy, but the tips

are measly compared to what I could earn dancing under the spotlights or in the shadowed corners of the VIP section. I've never worked the VIP section, and I am now dreading having to ask him if I can

I take a deep breath and lower my head in resignation. I force a smile and nod, knowing that I have no other choice. Reluctantly, I move to the locker room and quickly put my handbag away and coat. On the plus side, I won't have to freeze my ass off because behind the bar, I can wear my dress. I begin my shift behind the bar, feeling the disappointment and frustration weighing heavily on me

The night drags on, each minute a stretch of dodging groping hands and pouring drinks. As the club begins to empty in the early hours, I approach my boss again, who 1s now in his office, desperation edging my voice

"Trevor?" He looks up at me. I take a deep breath