Page 31 of Chained By the Alpha (Claimed Duet #1)

“Where are we going?” I press, growing increasingly anxious. My father refuses to answer, and as we pull up to a doctor’s office, my stomach drops like a stone. “No!” I exclaim, realizing what he intends to do as I catch sight of Alpha Dane waiting at the nearby doors.

“Cleo, as the next Alpha, you need to make sacrifices,” my father says sternly, ignoring my protests. “This is a small discomfort for the sake of your future pack.”

“Absolutely not.” I refuse, trying to climb out of the car and escape this nightmare. “Cleo!” My father grits out and I glare at him.

“No!” I snap at him slamming the door only to turn around to find Alpha Dane blocking my path with two of his warriors.

“I won’t marry your son, and I’m leaving.” I tell him, trying to step past him when his warriors block my path.

“Your father and I have already signed the treaty agreement,” Alpha Dane replies coldly, his eyes boring into mine. “The paperwork is ready to file. You don’t have a choice.”

“Like fuck I don’t! You can’t force me to marry your son!” My voice is barely audible, yet the defiance in my eyes speaks volumes. I turn away from him, only for his men to grab me.

I struggle against their strong hands, panic and disbelief flooding my senses. “Dad, help me!” I scream, desperate for my father to do something, anything. But he sits there, not even bothering to get out of the car, head in his hands, making no move to save me from this nightmare.

“Get your hands off me!” I spit as Alpha Dane’s men as they drag me toward the door and into the medical room. The sterile smell of disinfectant fills my nostrils, making me feel even more vulnerable and exposed.

“Remove your pants,” Alpha Dane orders coldly, his eyes unyielding as they bore into mine.

I clench my fists and shake my head, unable to speak through the fury and humiliation that chokes me.

“If you won’t do it voluntarily, I’ll have my men do it for you, Cleo,” Alpha Dane sneers.

“Your little scene at the club has raised enough questions. My son won’t have a whore for a Luna,” he spits at me just as a female doctor steps into the room.

I look at her for help and she drops her gaze and finally speaks.

“Your presence isn’t needed here, Alpha Dane,” the female doctor interjects, her voice firm, laced with sympathy. “Please leave.”

Alpha Dane looks like he is going to argue with the doctor. “She is entitled to privacy, Alpha. I can’t perform the exam if she is tense and fighting me,” she quickly adds.

Reluctantly, he retreats from the room, taking his men with him. The door clicks shut behind them, leaving me alone with the doctor.

“Please,” I plead, tears streaming down my face. “I don’t want this exam.”

The doctor looks at me with pity in her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” she says softly. “I’ve been given orders.

If you refuse, Alpha Dane has men who will hold you down.

It’s best if you cooperate, it is uncomfortable, but not painful and will only take a few minutes.

I just need a sample of your slick.” I scoff. Tears burn my eyes.

“Please, I don’t want to order them in, you have every right to feel violated, this is an abuse of power, but I am under command; I can’t let you leave this room without that sample.” she tells me, and I can hear how badly she doesn’t want to force me.

Horrified by the thought of enduring this violation while being forcibly restrained, I comply, feeling my dignity shatter as I remove my pants. Each moment of the exam is an invasion I never would have imagined my own father would force upon me.

When it’s over, Alpha Dane returns for the test results. I rise to my feet, ready to leave. “That wasn’t so hard, was it, Cleo?” he sneers.

I spit in his face.

“You’re a pig. And when I become Alpha, I’ll make you pay for this.”

He laughs cruelly. “How can you be Alpha when you’ll be my son’s Luna?”

I blink. Is that what this arranged marriage is about? The reason my father’s handing this man control of my mother’s pack?

The ride home is silent and tense. My father tries to apologize, and I refuse to even look at him. As soon as we reach the house, I lock myself in my room, wishing I could erase this day.

Morning comes too soon—bringing with it a small glimmer of hope. My phone is back on my nightstand. Dad must be feeling guilty. I waste no time packing for college. I need to escape the suffocating grip of home and finally live on my own terms. I leave before he even gets the chance to speak to me.

At school, I move into my dorm and turn on my phone, surprised to find a barrage of messages from Zayn. I haven’t heard from him since training, and though I wanted to reach out, I didn’t know where to start. As I unpack, my phone rings. It’s Zayn. I let it ring out. It rings again—I answer.

“Cleo?”

I suck in a breath. “Yes. It’s me.”

“Thank God. I saw you read my messages, but you didn’t reply. I wasn’t sure if it was you or your father,” Zayn says, his voice full of concern.

I don’t answer. Emotion swells inside me. This man, who barely knows me, has shown more care than my own family. A tear slips down my cheek.

“Cleo?” he asks softly.

“I should go,” I whisper, trying to hold it together.

“What’s wrong? Where are you?”

“In my dorm,” I admit, sniffling.

“I’m on my way.”

He hangs up. I stare at the screen, stunned.

About thirty minutes later, there’s a knock. I hesitate, how would he know which room is mine? But when I open the door, there he is. His gray eyes brim with worry. He scoops me into his arms without a word, holding me tightly as I burst into tears.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay. I’ve got you,” he murmurs into my hair, kicking the door shut behind him. The intensity of his embrace is overwhelming. My body reacts to his touch, my heart racing. He holds me like he’s trying to breathe life back into me.

“Zayn,” I whisper.

His name on my lips sends another wave of longing crashing through me. Our eyes meet. For a moment, we’re lost in each other. I see the same need in his gaze—but also something more. Tenderness. Understanding.

“I’m right here. What happened?”

Despite the storm raging inside, his presence calms me. He guides me to the bed and sits.

“Are you going to tell me?” he asks gently.

My face burns. Remembering the humiliation and worse, knowing my father stood by only deepens the shame.

Zayn watches me, waiting.

“My father and Alpha Dane… made me take a pelvic exam. They tested my slick to confirm I was a virgin.”

Zayn tenses. A low growl rumbles in his chest. He doesn’t speak, just pulls me closer, like his arms alone can protect me from what they did.

“Everything will be alright, Cleo,” he whispers, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. Drained, I fall asleep in his arms feeling safer than I have in a long time.

The next morning, Zayn is gone. A strange emptiness settles over me that I don’t have time to dwell on. One glance at the clock and I’m bolting upright. I’m late for my first class. Great.

I throw on clothes and race to my science lecture, sprinting down the corridors. Not exactly the first day I imagined. I manage to slip in unnoticed, except by Maya, Lydia’s friend. She nods at me.

Without Lydia around, Maya feels different. Familiar. I settle into my seat, heart slowly calming.

Despite the rough start, the day turns out okay. I even feel a little normal. However, walking through campus, I notice the whispers. The looks. Uneasy, I spot Maya again and hurry toward her.

“Maya!” I call. She waits as I catch up.

“Do you know what’s going on? Why is everyone whispering?” She stops, looking at me like I’ve grown two heads.

“You haven’t heard?”

“Heard what?”

She blinks, then rolls her eyes. “Where have you been? Under a rock?” I frown, anxiety rising.

“It’s all over the radio. Social media!”

“What is? Just tell me.”

I brace myself, wondering if Deacon’s been found. But her next words hit harder.

“Alpha Zayn declared war on the Alpha of Claymore. He pulled all his men from their protection posts. Broke every treaty.”

My breath catches. “Wh-what? Why?”

“Apparently, he punched Alpha Dane. At the council meeting. In front of everyone.”

My world tilts. Everything is different now. The consequences. Mine, and Zayn’s will ripple through our packs.

And yet, buried deep in the chaos and dread, a part of me wonders… Is this my fault for telling him what they did?

Fuck.