Page 121 of Chained By the Alpha
“I…” My protest dies on my lips, the reality settling in like a winter’s chill.
“This is the only thing you have left of your mother, Cleo. You’re not just any wolf—you’re an Alpha’s daughter. You were born to lead and make difficult decisions.” Tears blur my visionas the weight of my impending fate anchors me to the spot. “True love is selfless. It puts the needs of others above its own.”
“Don’t fucking guilt-trip me, Dad. You’re not the one being forced into a marriage,” I spit at him.
“Promise me you’ll consider this, Cleo. For the pack.” His voice is agonized, but the resolve in his eyes doesn’t waver. My heart splinters under the weight of the impossible choice before me.
“I don’t know if I can love him,” I finally whispered. The admission is painful, seeing the disappointment in his eyes.
“Love is… overrated.” He sighs. “Respect, loyalty, and a partnership built on shared purpose—that’s what lasts.” I want to argue that he’s wrong, that love should be all-consuming. Yet, I understand the magnitude of the sacrifice he’s asking of me. Vaguely, I nod, as if agreeing to even consider this atrocity isn’t an affront to everything I believe in.
“I promise,” I whisper, sealing my fate with the word, the very essence of my freedom slipping through my fingers like grains of sand. Relief washes over his features, yet the sorrow in his eyes reflects my own.
As I leave the room, each step feels heavier than the last, my mind reeling from the enormity of the decision before me. I am to be bartered away, my happiness is a currency for peace, and to ensure I don’t lose my mother’s pack or see my father behind bars.
Yet, it has me curious about what my father did, that he believes Zayn would kill me for revenge. That revelation now has me questioning whether Zayn knows and whether this was his plan all along to divide us and watch our pack crumble to expose the truth.
Despite the turmoil within me, I know my duty—to protect my pack, to honor my family, to be the leader I was raised to be, even if it means standing beside Boyd instead of Zayn.
I never thought I would spend my birthday picking out a wedding dress so I could marry someone I can’t stand. All for an unwanted marriage agreement because my father is being blackmailed.
As I stand in the wedding dress shop, I’m overwhelmed. Linda offered to come with me, though I think more out of ensuring I pick a dress and not run off. I refused. This was hard enough without her flaunting it in my face. The only plus side of today is that sometime tonight, I will get my wolf, and maybe I won’t feel so lonely in this decision.
The chiffon of the wedding gown whispers against my skin like a lover’s secret, and I spin slowly in front of the mirror, watching the fabric billow around me. Nightshade City buzzes just beyond the boutique’s windows, alive with a heartbeat that seems to mock my own erratic pulse.
“Stunning,” Sarah, the assistant coos, clasping her hands together as if in prayer. “You look like an absolute vision, Cleo.”
“Thank you,” I murmur, the words feeling hollow. The reflection staring back at me is a carefully constructed façade – blonde hair cascading in soft waves. My green eyes should sparkle with joy, instead flicker with uncertainty, all hidden beneath layers of white, a symbol of freedom now ensnared.
“Are you okay, honey?” Sarah asks, tilting her head, her brow furrowed in concern.
I smile tightly and nod, trying to convince both the assistant and myself I am fine. The truth is, I am far from it. My heart is heavy and the thought of spending the rest of my life with a man I don’t love makes me nauseous.
My teeth bite into my lip. “Just… overwhelmed.”
The truth is more complicated, tangled like the intricate lace on the bodice of this dress. It’s supposed to be the happiest day of a person’s life. How can it be, when every choice feels like a betrayal?
“Would you like to try another one?” Her voice cuts through my reverie, and I nod, desperate for distraction.
“You’ll love this one, though it may need some adjustments.”
I feel like an outsider observing my life unfold. Sarah leads me back to the dressing room where another dress is waiting for its final alterations.
“It’s going to be perfect,” she assures me with a smile.
No matter how many times I hear those words, they do little to ease the knot in my stomach. I stand there in my ill-fitting dress, surrounded by people who are planning a wedding that means nothing to me. I wonder how different things would be if I had just stood up to my father.
It’s too late for regrets now. The deal has been made, and backing out would only bring more disgrace upon our family name – something my father cannot afford.
I retreat to the changing room, the silkiness of the gown I slip off feels like an unearned caress. I’m playing dress-up, pretending to be a blushing bride when I’m anything but. Shadowcrest Pack—my pack—would never understand.
“Beautiful dresses can’t mask ugly truths,” I whisper to my reflection, watching as another version of myself emerges in a dress with more beading, more promise.
“Everything okay in there, Cleo?” The assistant’s voice is muffled through the curtain.
“Almost ready!” I call back, my voice steady despite the storm raging within.
I step out once more, presenting myself for inspection. The new dress hugs my curves. I think of Boyd, the man I’m bound to marry, and then, unbidden, Zayn’s image flashes in my mind.
