Page 20 of Chained By the Alpha (Claimed Duet #1)

“Pack emblem,” he says, patting one side of his chest. Though I did notice the other side was bare. “My arms?” He shrugs. “My father had the same ones; I got them for him.” Confusion settles over me.

“I thought you hated your father?” I ask. My eyes widen and I cover my mouth before quickly apologizing. “Sorry, that’s none of my business.” “What made you think that?” he asks curiously.

“No reason.” I shake my head, not wanting to answer. He raises an eyebrow at me.

“Then why would you assume?” he chuckles. I sigh heavily, knowing he won’t drop it now.

“Rumors, everyone says you killed him.”

“I did, but I don’t hate him. I loved my father; he was a good dad, husband, and Alpha,” he tells me. Now that confuses me more.

“He changed the last couple of years. Werewolves do that when they lose their mates, he was unstable,” is all he offers in the way of an explanation.

The woman returns with our food, and I glance down to see what Zayn has ordered and sigh in relief, thinking for sure it would be salad or something.

“You look shocked,” he laughs as I pick up a fry.

“Yeah, most people assume since I’m a girl I like salad. I think Deacon forgets I’m a werewolf, not a rabbit,” I chuckle.

“Why do you let him order for you if you don’t like what he orders?”Great, back to Deacon again we go.

I shrug, “I think he finds it intimidating that I’m Alpha born and he is a regular wolf. He said he liked ordering for me, like he has control over something, I think… I don’t know. I just allow him to, if it makes him feel better,” I say, shrugging and putting another fry in my mouth.

“He should be intimidated, you’re an Alpha. And you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your nature just because he is uncomfortable.”

“You ordered for me!”

“Because you weren’t here and I know you’re eager to get home. Besides, I am not much of a salad eater so I just ordered what I normally do. I don’t think I’ve met anyone who doesn’t like burgers and fries.”

He does have a point. “Next time you can order for both of us, I don’t feel intimidated by you.” He smirks.

“Because you’re an Alpha.”

He shrugs. “Even if I weren’t, I still wouldn’t be intimidated by you.

Deacon should have realized if he is so insecure around you, he doesn’t deserve you; he shouldn’t want to intimidate you, that’s not how relationships work.

Couples shouldn’t want to dominate each other; they’re meant to be a partnership, not a boxing match. ”

“How can you say that? You’re an Alpha. I know it’s hard to walk away when challenged, it’s why you couldn’t when my father challenged you,” I remind him.

“I did, though, didn’t I? I didn’t want to, but I did for you.”

“So you’re saying your wolf doesn’t want to challenge me knowing another Alpha is sitting across from him?” I laugh.

“Oh, he does. That doesn’t mean he will, also he doesn’t mean it in the same way you think he does,” he snickers, taking a bite of his burger.

“What do you mean?”

“You really have to ask?” he laughs harder. “I’m still a man, Cleo, and you look like sin in that dress.” I glance down at what I’m wearing, with my boobs on display, and my face heats.

“So you’re saying if I challenged your wolf, he wouldn’t try to kill me?” I probe.

“You’re a female Alpha, and I don’t mean that in a bad way, just saying my wolf is huge, he doesn’t find many people a threat. Honestly, if you actually challenged him, he’d probably roll over for you,” he states. I look for any deception on his face but don’t find any.

“Then something is wrong with your wolf; he should hate me since I’m an Alpha.”

“You have no wolf, ask me again when you have her.”

“Maybe I’ll challenge you.”

“Or maybe you’ll roll over and submit? I guess we’ll have to wait and find out.” He smiles.

“You seem so sure of yourself,” I taunt.

“Maybe I am just hoping you will be easier to deal with regarding your border issues. Hopefully you are more compliant, I already fight with your father enough.”

“Wait, you’ll handle the borders?” I ask him. He leans back in his chair, watching me for a second.

He seems deep in thought. “Your father will eventually find out, you’re aware of that, right?” he asks me. I nod slowly, my father is being irrational and putting the entire pack at risk.

I sigh heavily. “You’re scared of him,” Zayn asks, and my gaze darts to meet his.

“Not in that sense, not how you’re probably thinking. My father won’t hurt me.” He raises an eyebrow at me, his eyes darting to my cheek, almost like he can see my father’s handprint there. Instinctively, my hand goes to my cheek and my face flames.

“Are you sure about that?” he asks.

I swallow guiltily. “I know he hit you, Cleo. I could see the burst blood vessels under your skin when I showered you last night and washed your makeup off.”

“He was angry because I came to you for help. I overstepped.” He nods slowly and leans forward in his chair.

“That doesn’t give him the right to put his hands on you.”

“It’s not like that.” He raises an eyebrow at me, and I exhale, knowing there is no point in arguing. He hates my father and nothing I say to him will justify his actions.

“He apologized; he lost his temper. He isn’t usually violent, he’s never hit me before,” I admit.

Zayn’s jaw clenches. “If you’re not afraid of him hurting you, then what are you scared of?”

“I’m scared of him giving my mother’s pack to Lydia,” I tell him.

He nods.

“And I’m scared of him marrying me off to Boyd.”

“That won’t happen,” he tells me, and I laugh. He has no idea.

“It won’t happen, Cleo,” he tells me; his aura rushes out and I fight the urge to push back against it, knowing there is no point in challenging the man when I don’t have my wolf. Gritting my teeth, I stare down at my plate when he drops his aura.

“I’ll speak to Alpha Dane. I have a meeting with him next week, anyway.” I look up at him, hopeful. If I can’t get Boyd to refuse the marriage alliance, maybe Zayn can convince Alpha Dane not to force it.

“Why would you do that?” I ask. This man has already done enough for me.

“Because no one should be forced into a marriage for treaty agreements,” he tells me. “Now finish eating, you should head back before your father sends out a search party for you.”

“That’s if he hasn’t already.”

He snickers. “I’m sure he has. He’s probably tearing the city apart as we speak, looking for you. Have you decided how you’re going to explain your absence?” I shake my head, and he clicks his tongue.

“Well, you wanna think of something quick.”

I nod, mulling it over. Either way, I know I’ll end up having to come clean eventually. Occasionally, it’s best just to rip the band-aid off.

“I guess I’ll tell him I fell asleep in my car,” I ponder.

“He’ll believe that?”

“No, but it will give me a few days to come up with a better excuse, or I can tell him I stayed at Deacon’s which will not go down well, but Deacon will cover for me.”

Zayn says nothing and we finish eating in silence. When it’s time to leave, he drives me back to his place where my car is waiting and hands me my keys, along with another key and a plastic card. I stare at the swipe key with the small silver key attached to it.

“What’s this?” I ask him.

“That is the swipe card to the gate to get in here, and the key is to the packhouse,” he tells me. My eyes widen, and I try to pass it back to him.

“Zayn, I can’t take that,” I tell him.

“You can, and you will if you want my men watching your borders,” he tells me.

I swallow guiltily. “You still haven’t said what you want me to do. I can’t pay you, my father would notice if I took money, besides, I don’t even know what he pays for pack protection.”

“When do you go back to school?” he asks, and I lean against the hood of my car.

“Next week,” I admit, and I can’t wait to be away from my father, Linda and Lydia.

“And what do you do for work?” he asks.

“Mostly, I work for my father, and only during breaks. I was paying off my car after Lydia almost totaled it, but after my fight with him, I think I’ll steer clear of him since he paid to get it out, especially if he is serious about this marriage alliance.

I know he’ll try to force me to drop out. ”

“He can’t do that,” Zayn tells me.

“He can when he pays for it.”

Zayn sighs, then runs his fingers through his hair.

“Fine,” he says, stepping closer and placing his hands on either side of my hips.

His scent overwhelms me, and he smirks, seeing the effect he has on me.

“You’ve sired my wolf, you know that. My father is going to murder me,” I growl, yet it comes out more of a moan. My eyes widen, and my face heats.

“Keep telling yourself that,” he purrs, giving me a devious smile.

“Zayn, stop playing with me. It’s not funny!

” I growl at him. The shaky note in my voice betrays how hot and flustered this man makes me.

His gaze rakes over me and ignites a pool of desire which has been simmering deep within the entire time I’ve been with him.

I try to remind myself it’s the sire bond from him healing me, yet another part of me can’t deny how attracted to the man I am.

“And what if I don’t want to stop?” his voice is low, barely more than a whisper as he dips his head lower, his lips moving against my ear.

It sends a thrill of anticipation spiraling down to my toes.

The way he looks at me…it says he wants more than just playful banter.

He wants me. I don’t know if that is his way of getting back at my father, however I can’t say I would turn him down if he requested my body for payment.

It goes against everything I believe in; I’m saving myself for my mate, or for Deacon to mark me, but why do I feel like I would throw all that away for him?

Deacon! Deacon! You have a boyfriend; I remind myself.

Zayn’s arms wrap around my waist, pulling me flush against him. My breath hitches as I feel the hard contours of his body pressing into mine. The feeling of raw power emanating from him makes my blood pulse wildly in my veins, filling me with desire. It’s intoxicating.

“I bet right now I could ask you to do anything, and you’d fall over yourself to do it,” he laughs softly, pulling away to look at my face.

“It’s the sire. If you didn’t want me falling over myself to please you, you shouldn’t have healed me!”

He smiles wickedly. “Or maybe I have you exactly where I want you,” he purrs, and my eyes flutter closed at the sound emanating from his chest. Zayn’s words send a shiver down my spine.

Deacon! I remind myself again. Yet he ditched me, abandoned me in a vulnerable state!

I push Zayn away, trying to regain some control over myself. “We both know this is just the sire bond,” I say firmly, my voice shaking slightly.

He raises an eyebrow at me and smirks. “Is it? Because I have a feeling you’re attracted to me regardless of the sire bond.” He takes a step closer, trapping me against my car with his body once more.

I can feel his breath on my face, and it takes all my willpower not to give in to him. “I have a boyfriend,” I remind him, hoping that will be enough to get through to him.

He leans in even closer, his lips almost touching mine. “And yet here you are, alone with me and you’re really putting up a fight to escape.”

I struggle to find a response as his hand gently cups my cheek. My heart races and my body betrays me in response to his touch. Tension crackles like electricity between us, the raw power of his aura radiates from him making my blood rush and my heart pound against the walls of my chest.

Zayn’s lips brush against mine as he speaks. “What if I said I want you as payment? Would you deny me?” I know I should push him away, remind him I have a boyfriend and this is wrong, yet all rational thought seems to have escaped me at this moment.

He pulls back slightly, his eyes searching mine for any sign of hesitation. I’m certain all he sees is desire burning in them, mirroring his own. “Zayn, please,” I beg him.

A part of me wonders if I am begging him to keep going or asking him to stop.

I bite my lip, trying to regain some control over my body and emotions. “This is wrong,” I whisper.

“Is it really?” Zayn asks, his hand trailing down from my cheek to lightly brush against my neck. “You don’t seem to be complaining.” He smiles smugly then leans in closer until his hot breath tickles my earlobe, causing waves of anticipation to sear through me.

“But you should go before I don’t let you, wouldn’t want that boyfriend of yours to find out you’re sired to another now, would we?” he asks, and hearing him speak of Deacon’s is like he tossed a bucket of ice water over me.

The thought of Deacon makes me stumble back momentarily, Zayn’s swift reaction leaves no room for escape. Strong arms circle around my waist, pulling me close again. The feel of his hard body pressing against mine causes me to take a sharp intake of breath.

He watches me for a second, and I push off his chest. “I should go,” I tell him while also reminding myself how wrong this is. Zayn lets me go and I fumble with my keys to unlock the car. Then I pause.

“You never said how I am supposed to pay you for watching the borders,” I remind him as I climb into my car.

“I have an office near your university. What days do you have free?” he asks.

“None. I have three early days,” I tell him.

“Then you’ll come there. You can help me in the office; I just fired my last secretary,” he tells me.

“Why?” I find myself asking.

“Because she is my ex,” he states. I crinkle my brows.

“Oh, the one you dumped via text?” I snort a laugh.

“Yep, don’t need her moping around work,” he chuckles.

“Who said she is moping? Maybe she is glad to be done with your arrogant ass,” I tell him.

He smiles. “Now I’m arrogant. Only a second ago, you would have let me kiss you,” he tells me, and my face heats. I open my mouth to argue that it’s the sire bond, but he beats me to it.

“Yeah, yeah, it’s the sire bond. Now get home.

You have my number if you need me, and I’ll have my men watch your borders from a distance,” he tells me before turning on his heel and heading back into the packhouse.

Shaking my head, I start my car and turn it around in the huge driveway before driving out of his territory.

Now, to convince my father, I slept in the car or at Deacon’s, because guaranteed, he’ll be looking for me and will be on a warpath.