Page 71 of Chained By the Alpha (Claimed Duet #1)

· Zayn ·

As the night cloaks us in its inky void, my eyes found Cleo’s.

She is more radiant than ever, her eyes glowing brightly.

The moon casts its soft light, creating an ethereal glow around Cleo.

Her green eyes seem to sparkle in the darkness, filled with both fear and anticipation.

Her blonde hair cascades over the pillow like a golden halo, reflecting the moon’s soft glow.

I trace her cheek with my knuckled hand, the softness of her skin and the warmth of her body emanate from her. She shivers slightly under my touch, her body betraying her nervousness.

“Are you sure?” My voice hitches slightly. I am already battling my wolf, who is howling in need to claim his mate, I don’t want to hurt her. I can feel her nervousness, even though she hasn’t recognized it above her own instincts and desire.

Her scent of honey, jasmine and musk lingers in the air, mingled with the faintest hint of fear and arousal. It is a heady mix, intoxicating and primal. She nods, biting her lower lip, and my gaze slips down her petite frame, her nipples hard and scraping against my chest.

“I’m sure, Zayn,” she whispers back, tugging on my hip.

I can see the fluorescent glow of her wolf’s amber eyes.

Luna is pressing beneath her skin, and I feel Zarek just as strongly, but he understands to be gentle.

Luna won’t, so Zarek doesn’t try to press for control, not wanting to risk Luna taking it from Cleo.

Pressing my lips to hers; I nod before resuming what I was doing.

The taste of her lips lingers on my tongue, sweet and addictive.

I can practically taste her desire, a tantalizing hint of what’s to come.

Slowly, I began to explore her body with my hands and lips, earning soft gasps and moans from her.

As I move lower, Cleo’s hands tangle in my black hair as she squirms beneath me, gasping my name wantonly.

Her scent intoxicates me more than any alcohol ever could—like summer rain and sweet honey—and I revel in it.

My eyes find hers as I spread her legs, my breath moving over her sensitive flesh.

She shudders, and I smirk, loving the way she squirms in anticipation before I run my tongue across the seam of her lips, groaning at the taste of her on my tongue.

She gasps my name, her fingers tightening in my hair as I continue to explore her.

“Cleo,” I growl against her, the vibrations causing her to moan again. My body reacts to her noises, my heart pounding in my chest and an ache growing in my abdomen. I want—no, need—her like I’ve never needed anything before.

Cleo’s back arches off the bed, a breathy moan slipping from her lips as my tongue explores her. Her fingers dig into my shoulders, and I have to bite my lip to stifle my own moan. The scent and taste of her is driving me wild, every inch of my body is on fire with need.

I slip a finger inside her, testing her readiness. She gasps and squirms beneath me, whimpering my name. Her nails dig deeper into my skin as I add another finger, setting a slow, torturous pace.

Her body clenches around me, and she lets out a strangled groan. “Zayn,” she whimpers, her voice breaking with need. “Please.” It’s all the encouragement I need.

Her breath quickens as I rise to hover above her once more, claiming her mouth with my own. She kisses me back passionately, one of her legs hooking around mine as if trying to pull me closer. “Zayn,” she breathes into my mouth between kisses.

All restraint is lost at her words, and I growl, shoving down my jeans and kicking them off the side of the bed. The way she looks at me, so innocent yet trusting, sends waves of authority roaring through my veins.

I run a hand up her thigh slowly, feeling every inch of her silky skin beneath my fingers before positioning myself at her entrance. Our eyes meet again, and in that moment, all conflict disappears. It’s just us. Just Cleo and Zayn. Luna and Zarek. And nothing else matters.

Through heavy-lidded eyes, Cleo reaches out for me, tracing the outline of my tattooed arms with trembling fingers. A hint of fear in her eyes tugs at me, and despite everything raging within me, I reach out and brush a stray curl from her face.

“We don’t have to do this,” I say softly, my voice filled with concern and tenderness.

Cleo’s eyes lock onto mine, and she shakes her head.

“No,” she interrupts gently, laying a hand against my chest. “I want this. I want you.” I lean down and capture her lips in a deep kiss, pouring all my love and desire into it.

With that spoken assurance, I position myself at her entrance once more.

She’s wet and ready for me. As I slide into her slowly, inch by inch, I let out a growl of satisfaction.

When I fully enter her, Cleo’s breath hitches before she lets out a soft cry.

Her eyes clench tightly, then flutter open as I thrust slowly into her, her gasps and whimpers filling the air.

My body is on fire, every muscle tense with restraint.

I want to take her hard and fast, but I can’t bring myself to hurt her.

“Are you okay?” I ask anxiously, staring into her eyes for any signs of discomfort.

“Yes,” she breathes out after a moment, wrapping her legs around mine encouragingly.

She pulls me closer, and our rhythm is slow and sensual at first; however, with each thrust, I find it harder to control my wolf. Zarek is an incessant presence at the back of my mind, pushing me to claim Cleo, to re-mark her as ours.

Cleo is close. Her breaths are coming out in pants, and she’s digging her nails into my back. I increase the pace of my thrusts, and soon, we are moving together like a welloiled machine.

Her moans fill the room, mingling with my own low growls of pleasure. With one final, desperate thrust, we both shatter into ecstasy. The world around us fades away, leaving only the raw, untamed emotions swirling between us.

As we come down from the peak of our shared euphoria, I collapse beside Cleo, our bodies still humming. We lay there in silence for a moment, breathing in sync as we bask in the aftermath.

“I love you,” Cleo whispers softly, her voice filled with sincerity and vulnerability.

I turn to look at her, seeing the depth of emotion reflected in her eyes. My heart swells at her words, and I pull her closer to me, kissing her forehead.

“I love you, too,” I reply, my voice barely above a whisper.

In this moment, all doubts and fears melt away, leaving only the certainty of our bond.

I can feel her fear, and I know where her mind goes instantly; her father, her pack, her anxiety gnawing at me through the snippets I get through our bond.

She doesn’t trust that I can fix this. I brush my lips against Cleo’s forehead once more before getting up reluctantly.

She looks over at me, but I am already moving to scoop her up off the bed.

“What are you doing?” she asks.

“You’re not running from me yet; I know you want to go home, that you fear your father,” I tell her, and she falls quiet.

Her eyes, once so fiery and full of life, now seem dull and resigned.

They reflect the flickering light of the fireplace, casting an ethereal glow on her delicate features.

“You’re not marrying Boyd,” I tell her, and tears prick her eyes. She doesn’t want to marry him.

“I have no choice,” she whispers as I move toward the bathroom.

I set her on the sink basin and turn on the taps for the bath.

She cradles her head in her hands, her tears silently falling onto the white marble countertop.

“Zayn, I can’t stay here. I need to go home; my father will come looking for me and—”

“And what, Cleo?” I ask her. Her father can’t hurt me; he certainly won’t win challenging me, and my pack outweighs his easily, yet she is scared of something. I know it’s not for my safety, leaving only one conclusion. She is scared for him or her pack.

“Let him; I think it’s about time he and I have a chat,” I tell her.

“You want to talk to my father?” she asks hesitantly, her nervousness obvious, and her fear perfumes the bathroom. I nod, and a look of understanding crosses her face.

“Okay,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.

I kiss her on the forehead, and she stands and moves away.

I feel anger bubbling inside me at this archaic tradition.

It’s one thing for arranged marriages between two consenting adults, but forcing your own daughter into an unwanted marriage just for the sake of an alliance?

“I don’t know why you think it will help.” She looks like she wants to say more yet hesitates, and I know she is hiding something, protecting him or his pack; I am not sure.

“Yes, because I need to know what Alpha Dane and Samuel have over him because if it is what I think it is, he doesn’t have to fear retribution from me.

It would have come out eventually anyway, and he’ll have no excuse to force you to marry Boyd,” I tell her.

Her brows furrow. It’s one question I’ve always danced around, one I always evade, and that is why I killed my father.

Her father knows exactly why since he is the reason he is dead.