Page 84 of Chained By the Alpha (Claimed Duet #1)

“Love?” Zayn scoffs, pulling out another document.

His tone turns icy, each word dripping with scorn.

“Is that why you called Samuel the day before she was killed, asking if he knew any rogues who could handle a problem? Or why you transferred money to him the same day? All council calls are recorded. You tried to delete them but couldn’t access the backup drive. ”

“Horse shit, where’s your proof?” my father exclaims.

“Right here,” comes one of the rogues, stepping forward—one of my mother’s old pack members. “You kicked us out when we confronted you about it.”

“You’re a rogue. What good is your word?” my father roars.

Samuel laughs, drawing attention. He shakes his head.

“I can’t believe this. And I can’t believe you’re trying to talk your way out,” Samuel says before standing. “Fine. If I’m going down, I’m taking him with me. I wouldn’t even be in this mess if it weren’t for you asking me to get them rogues for you,” he snarls at my father.

Gasps fill the tent, people stepping away from my father, showing their distaste.

“All this because Clara petitioned for full custody of Cleo. You knew once my father signed off on it, you’d be exposed for forcing her to sign. Cleo was your leverage. You had no pack without her, so you killed Clara,” Zayn chimes in.

The crowd turns to my father, horror and disbelief in their expressions. I stare at him, heart breaking under the weight of his betrayal. My legs go weak. I struggle to keep my balance.

“I can’t believe it,” I whisper, voice trembling. Zayn looks at me in apology, like he knows how crushing this is for me.

The room stays silent until people begin to speak up. Some ask for more evidence, others express disbelief, whispering what this means for our packs.

I watch as my father’s followers turn against him, disgust on their faces while he tries to convince them he didn’t do it. Desperation has him turning to me.

“He’s lying, baby girl,” my father pleads. “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” He moves closer. I step back.

“Cleo?” he pleads. Tears stream down my face.

“No,” I whimper, shaking my head. The betrayal is too much. My vision blurs. I shove away from him. “You’re not my father,” I choke out.

The room falls silent again, tension pressing down on my chest.

“Cleo,” he pleads once more, voice cracking. His desperation doesn’t move me anymore. My knees weaken, and I nearly crumble. Zayn is there by my side, his touch grounding me as he takes my hand.

Linda, silent until now, stands, her expression horrified. “Joseph?” she whispers.

My father turns to her, fear and guilt on his face. Linda’s eyes search his for answers but only find betrayal.

“How could you?” she asks. “All these years, and you kept this from me?”

“I had no choice,” he stammers. “I was doing it for our pack.”

“And what about our bond? Us? Your daughter!” Linda asks. “Did you think about what this would do to her? To us?”

My father looks at me, visibly shaken. It’s clear he knows he’s been caught.

“I did it for us—for the pack! She was taking everything!” he exclaims, voice hollow.

Zayn steps forward. “And here,” he says, holding up another paper, “is the proof. The original title of the pack, signed over to Cleo by Clara.” He turns to my father.

“She was three steps ahead of you. She signed off on it the day before you forced her before my father. That’s why my father agreed to witness.

Clara no longer owned the pack. Cleo did.

And this document was just another Alpha Dane used to blackmail you.

What he didn’t know was that Greyson had the original, which Clara gave him for safekeeping. ”

The evidence is overwhelming. The room is thick with betrayal. My father collapses to his knees, defeated.

“This wedding will not proceed. And as ordered by a founding council member.” Greyson looks at Zayn, who nods. His gaze watches me.

“Arrest them!” Greyson orders.

Dane tries to speak, but the murmurs grow louder, turning against him.

“Arrest them,” someone shouts. The officers, once hesitant, move forward toward my father, Samuel, and Dane. As Zayn passes Lydia— “And her!” Zayn nods.

“What?” Linda stands abruptly. “We had nothing to do with this!” she yells as officers approach Lydia.

“You had nothing to do with this. But your daughter had her mate Deacon attempt to rape Cleo. Everyone here has seen the footage.”

“What? That’s ridiculous. Why would she do that?” Linda asks, looking around. “Right, sweetie?”

“Because Samuel was forcing her to marry Boyd’s other son,” Maya says. Lydia stands in outrage.

“You!” Lydia screeches.

“Deacon wasn’t just your mate, Lydia. You got him killed for that stunt!” Maya screams.

Linda looks between them. “Whose mate?”

“Deacon!” they shout.

Deacon had two mates, and both were going to let him rape me?

“All because you thought you could disgrace Cleo and convince her father to hand the pack to you!” Maya snarls.

Linda shakes her head. “No. Lydia wouldn’t. Tell them she has it wrong.”

“Go on, Lydia,” Zayn tells her. “The only reason you aren’t dead is because you helped Cleo last night when Boyd tried the same thing. Maya is willing to testify. Lie all you want, but the verdicts are out,” Zayn says, pointing to the cameras.

Lydia falls back into her seat.

“Lydia?” Linda asks. Lydia waves her off. Linda turns her anger to Samuel. “You were going to sell our daughter off!” she screams.

Samuel cringes. It’s clear Linda is collateral damage in this.

Zayn walks down the aisle, the crowd parting. Dane roars, stepping forward when my father holds him back. “No, Dane. It’s over.”

The cameras capture it all. Officers handcuff Dane and Samuel. The room buzzes. Zayn moves with calm purpose, gaze steady on me. When he reaches me, I’m shaking. He pulls me into his arms.

“I’m sorry you had to find out this way.”

Tears threaten to spill. The crowd is a blur. My world has shrunk to this moment—Zayn’s silver gray eyes.

Officers round up my father, Dane, Samuel, and Lydia. The crowd watches justice in real time.

My mother’s killer, those responsible for my near-rape, the ones who tried to steal my pack—all led away in handcuffs. When they approach Maya, she doesn’t argue.

Zayn speaks.

“Not her. She has immunity for her testimony. Hands off.” I nod. Maya smiles. The officer steps away.

Zayn doesn’t leave my side. He turns me from the scene. “This isn’t for you to watch.”

His embrace shelters me. I let out a shaky breath and bury my face in his chest. He kisses the top of my head. His heartbeat is steady.

“You’re safe now,” he murmurs. “You’re safe.”

Linda’s pleas rise above the noise, falling on deaf ears. Her family is gone. Her world, like mine, shattered.