Page 14 of Chained By the Alpha (Claimed Duet #1)

· Zayn ·

I glare at the thrashing bodies on the dance floor, my heart pounding with frustration.

After handling the fight, I head upstairs to watch those dancing below and to keep an eye on Cleo.

However, when Cleo rises from her seat, I instantly know something is wrong as she stumbles to the bar, and my stomach twists with unease, feeling the flickering of my bond to her.

Zarek nervously presses beneath my skin, urging me to go to her, but she has no idea who I am to her. Cleo, vulnerable and unaware of our bond, struggles to maintain her balance at the bar. Her green eyes are unfocused, and her blonde hair clings to her flushed cheeks.

“Hey!” I mindlink Courtney, the barmaid. “Don’t serve her. She’s already drunk.” My finger jabs in Cleo’s direction, and Courtney’s concerned gaze follows.

“She wants water, not liquor.” Courtney mindlinks back a moment later.

Where the hell is Deacon? I growl inside my head, my body tense. He should be taking care of her, yet he’s nowhere to be found.

My wolf, Zarek, presses restlessly beneath my skin, urging me to intervene. I resist. It’s not our place—not yet.

“Boss?” Courtney’s voice penetrates my thoughts again.

“Stay with her, ” I order, my eyes fixed on Cleo. I can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong, which eats at me.

“Boss?” Courtney mindlinks, drawing my attention back to the bar. “I don’t think she is drunk. She can barely talk. Is she on something?”

I peer down at her to see her sway, and Courtney reaches over the bar, grabbing her arm to steady her. “No, she’s only been drinking, ” I reply.

“She’s only had two drinks all night, and I don’t know, boss, something is off with her; she seems really out of it.”

Cleo shakes Courtney’s hand off her arm and stumbles into the fray of people grinding on each other.

“I’ll handle it,” I mindlink back, moving toward the stairs when another fight breaks out.

This time between two men when one glasses the other one.

I am shoved backward and turn, grabbing the man who shoved me.

Recognizing me, he freezes and places his hands in the air. “Sorry, Alpha Zayn,” he stammers.

“Get out of my club,” I snarl before shoving him.

He nods, and one of the bouncers comes up the stairs.

Meeting him halfway down, I pause. “Handle them for me.” The bouncer nods, and I continue down the stairs looking for Cleo.

She isn’t on the dance floor or at the bar.

Moving toward the bathrooms, I bang on the ladies’ twice before pushing the door slightly open.

“Cover up!” I order before hearing shrieks. Stepping in, I stalk around.

“Any of you seen a girl wearing a black leather jacket, a blue cami, and black leggings?”

The women shake their heads, some looking concerned, others irritated by my intrusion. “Damn it,” I mutter under my breath. Leaving the restroom, I try to think of where Cleo could have gone. My wolf, Zarek, is growing increasingly restless, picking up on my own mounting anxiety.

I moved to the men’s bathroom when I remembered her phone. Pulling mine out, I find hers, which I linked to mine to keep tabs on her. It takes me a few seconds to realize she is outside somewhere but hasn’t left the parking lot.

I walk to the front, bumping into people as I am too busy watching my screen. The moment I step outside into the cool night air, Zarek is frantically pressing against my skin, and my blood boils when her fear hits me.

“Where are you, Cleo?” I snarl to myself, storming through the crowded parking lot until I spot her car. My heart races as I move toward it, only to hear a whimper from the car beside it, and something flashes in the back.

Moving around I get to the car beside it and find Deacon texting when I spot her. Her leggings are pulled off and discarded, her shirt torn open, and I can see claw marks down her left breast when I notice she hasn’t got any underwear on.

Her legs are pulled apart, her knees held flat against the carpet of the trunk and her stitches torn wide open.

Blood cascades down her leg onto the carpeted floor.

That is not the most disturbing part; it’s the glazed-over look on her face, and I realize he is taking pictures of her in such a vulnerable state.

Cleo whimpers when he leans down to fondle her breast. And she tries to say no, though her words are garbled. Looking at Deacon, he pockets his phone and shoves his pants down his legs. I rip the back hatch open, and he jumps, startled.

Deacon shrieks. “What the fuck, man,” he snarls.

“She said no!” I roar, grabbing the back of his shirt and ripping him from the car.

“Whoa, calm down, man! You can have a go after me,” Deacon retorts. A whimper escapes her lips, and I want to comfort her and let her know she is safe. First I need to deal with this prick.

My fist connects with his face as I fight against my wolf from shifting.

If Zarek takes hold, this kid will be dead.

He drops to his knees when I grab the hatch, slamming it down on his head repeatedly until he crumples to the ground.

Bending down I fetch his phone from where it fell on the ground.

I go through it, deleting the pictures only for a message to come through from Lydia.

I glance at Cleo, her stepsister is the only person I know with that name which makes me curious.

I open the text message and see Deacon has sent the photos to her.

My stomach sinks, and I try to unsend the images but can’t since she already opened them.

Now why would he be sending these to her? Pocketing the phone, I nudge Deacon with my foot. He is definitely out cold.

Lifting the hatch, Cleo has passed out. Her leg is bleeding everywhere.

“Fuck!” I curse, pulling my jacket off and placing it across her waist to cover her. She whimpers, “Shh, I won’t hurt you, love,” I whisper while clamping my hand over her leg.

After a second, I decided to take her, knowing I can’t leave her here in this state. Opening the mindlink, I search for my brother, and he answers immediately. “What’s up?”

“Are you still at the club?”

“Yeah, o ut back. What’s wrong?” he replies, a hint of concern in his tone.

“Bring my car around to the front, look for a blue wagon, and hurry,” I command.

“Okay, give me a sec.” Using her leggings, I wrap her leg as best I can.

“Are you by the doors or the other end, ” Vance responds, and I can sense him moving quickly to follow my orders.

“Midway down,” I answer.

As I wait for my brother, I glance down at Cleo, my heart aching at the sight of her battered, vulnerable state.

Her golden hair is matted with sweat, and her once beautiful green eyes are tightly shut, as though she’s trying to block out the world around her.

I want nothing more than to hold her close, and to make her feel safe again.

When headlights light up the parking lot, I peer over the roof of the car, realizing how packed the place is. Opening the mindlink again, I contact the bouncer, seeing the huge group of people waiting out front.

“Let them all in,” I mindlink.

“Pardon, boss? ” Stuart replies, peering around for me. “Let them in. I need this parking lot cleared now!”

“On it,” he obeys.

I stick my head out, peering over at the entrance doors when Vance pulls up with my car. I grab Cleo from the back. “Open the back door,” I order, and he does so quickly while he glances around.

“We’re kidnapping girls now?” he asks.

“No, just my mate,” I answer, and he seems startled by this information. Shutting the door, I pop the trunk, and he follows.

“What’s going on?” Vance gasps, spotting a bleeding Deacon on the ground.

“Grab his legs,” I order, and he does, helping me load Deacon into the trunk.

I go back and shut the hatch of the wagon only to realize Deacon must have his keys on him.

Cursing, I reopen the trunk and fish in his pockets, retrieving his keys and tossing them to Vance when Deacon begins to stir, his eyes fluttering open.

Panic fills them when he sees me looming over him.

“Please,” he begs. “You can have her. Just let me go.”

My anger flares at his words. Grabbing the front of his shirt, I pull him close. “I intend to,” I say, my eyes never leaving him. “Because she’s my mate.”

With a growl, I headbutt him, sending him straight back into unconsciousness. Slamming the trunk shut, I turn to Vance and point at Deacon’s car. “Burn it, then meet me at the packhouse.” Vance doesn’t question me, just moves to do as he is told while I slide into the driver’s seat.

The drive back to the packhouse is tense, each mile seeming to stretch on forever as I glance at Cleo on the back seat in the rearview mirror. She’s still unconscious, making me worry about her condition. Zarek paces restlessly inside me, eager to tend to our mate and unleash on Deacon.

As we drive back to my packhouse, I glance back often to see her chest rising and falling with each shallow breath. Her scent fills the car with that irresistible honeyjasmine fragrance of hers.

Finally, we pull up to the massive stone mansion nestled deep within our gated community that is surrounded by forest.

I carry Cleo inside, cradling her in my arms as I climb the staircase to my room.

Using my foot, I push the door open to reveal a spacious primary bedroom decorated in warm, earthy tones.

A fireplace dominates one wall, while floor-to-ceiling windows offer a breathtaking view of the dark forest. In the center of the room sits my bed, which is where I take her.

I lay Cleo down gently, her eyes fluttering open for a moment before she suddenly vomits onto the sheets. “Shit,” I mutter, quickly pulling her hair back, so it doesn’t get dirty. “Hang on, love.”

I hurry to the bathroom to grab some towels and wet some washcloths in the sink. As I enter the bedroom again, I find her slumped over, laying in her vomit.

“Shower it is then,” I mutter, moving toward her.