Page 2 of Chained By the Alpha
“Make sure you pay attention at this meeting, Cleo. This one is about pack protection,” my father reminds me. “No falling asleep like you did at the last one.”
Lydia snickers behind me, and I clench my teeth, casting a glare at her over my shoulder. How I would love to give her a real piece of my mind.
“Maybe I wouldn’t fall asleep if it wasn’t so boring,” I grumble to myself as we pull up to the meeting place. As soon as the car comes to a stop, Lydia practically vibrates on the spot, her eyes scanning our surroundings like an eager pup for her friends.
“You better get used to them, kiddo. You’ll be attending them a lot more soon,” my father adds. I pull a face, wishing I had an older sibling to take my place.
Climbing out of the car, I wait for my father. “How could you not want to go to the City Ball?” Lydia huffs, tossing her perfectly curled hair over her shoulder.
“I would rather tolerate the ball than the meeting! Wanna trade?” I offer, and she looks at me.
“Ew, no, why would I want to hang out with a bunch of old dudes whining about border patrols when I can be hunting for my mate?” she huffs. I sigh. She’s as dumb as she looks. I swear she was supposed to be Omega. How she ended up with Alpha genes is beyond me when she acts like a bitch in heat.
“You realize you’ll have to attend these eventually when your father gives you his pack?” I remind her.
She pulls a face. “And that is precisely why I will choose a mate. They can attend all that boring crap. I have better things to do.”
“Like what? Your nails?” I taunt.
“You’re just jealous your father is forcing you to go to the meeting, though I can’t wait to see your face at the end of it,” she laughs.
“Well, unlike you, I have better things to do than flaunt myself at guys all night,” I reply, stepping next to my father. Now, he is done speaking with Lydia’s father, Alpha Samuel. I straighten my stolen blouse.
“Have fun, Cleo. I’m sure you’ll meet your destined mate tonight. I can already hear the wedding bells,” she laughs.
“What the heck are you flapping your gums about now?” I ask.
Lydia smirks. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” she chuckles before spotting one of her friends.
“Oh, Maya is here,” Lydia gushes excitedly and immediately prances off to her friends who are hanging out next door, outside the ball’s entrance.
My father grabs my arm. “Stay close,” he says, and I know he is worried about this venue. He did warn the Alphas that we need to change the venue given the heightened security risk in the city. Routine is bad with all the recent attacks, and council meetings are always held here.
He shakes his head and drags me off inside, where the council meeting will take place. The place is already full of Alphas in crisp suits. “Too many of us in one place. We should have changed venues,” my father growls as he leads me upstairs and into a conference room. My father’s jaw clenches when he notices one particular seat is still empty.
I internally groan. Please don’t be late, Alpha Zayn. Great, now my father will be extra moody, if that’s even possible. We take our seats, and my father drums his fingers on the huge table, appearing more annoyed as each minute passes.
“Where the hell is he?” my father hisses. Alpha Samuel looks over at us. He is Lydia’s father, yet she doesn’t have to attend this shit show like I have to.
“Joseph, calm down. He’s on his way,” Samuel warns my father.
Alpha Zayn. The Alpha of the Black River Pack. Rumors have been swirling for months about how he gained his position. One thing is clear—my father hates him. And those who don’t hate him fear him.
Sitting back in my seat, I remind myself that four more hours and the annual council meeting will finally be over, and I can go home. Well, as long as Dad doesn’t force me to go to the ball and babysit Lydia. Dad loves to drag me to these silly meetings, even though I find them boring as hell. Mostly, they just argue or boast about their latest business affairs.
The meeting is held in the main part of Nightshade City, which is neutral territory. All the packs are on the outskirts surrounding the city. So, it makes sense for the city to be a neutral ground because otherwise, movement within the city limits would be restricted. All five packs rely on it not only for business to thrive, also to keep supplies coming in.
I’ve spent all my school breaks in these sorts of meetings. Despite literally nothing important happening in them, my father has still insisted I attend even though my stepmother volunteered to go in my place. Dad, however, wasn’t having it, lecturing that I needed to learn the ropes of running a pack and how these meetings are a big part of it.
I guess I am an accessory, and I’m one step away from becoming his fanny pack at this point. I’m already his notetaker,calculator, mediator, and coffee maker. He might as well just hand the pack over already.
A few of the other Alphas have brought their sons and daughters. It is strategic on their parents’ part, a way to strengthen alliances through marriages.
However, I have no such interest, and it is clear I’m not the only one who isn’t interested in parental antics. The only person I will marry one day is my mate, if I find him or her, that is.
I often wonder what my mate will be like… who my wolf will choose… if I find my mate before Deacon marks me, that is. One part of me is conflicted if I should wait a year to see if I find my mate. Deacon wants to mark me once I get my wolf; we’ve been together two years, though sometimes I am not so sure. Finding my mate, that person who is made for me seem more appealing.
I am brought out of my thoughts by Dad’s irritated voice.
