Page 45 of Chained By the Alpha
Heading upstairs to my room, I grab some clothes, my wolf pressing excitedly beneath my skin, urging me faster, and I roll my eyes.
“Your eagerness will scare her off, Zarek,” I warn him, but he ignores me. Hopping in the shower, I have just started washing myself when I hear my phone again.
I step out of the shower, drying off and then reaching for my phone to see another message from Cleo.
Cleo: How about now? I’m headed to your club.
My brows furrow in confusion wondering what happened. I need to sort a few things out first.
Me: What happened? We agreed on 7 PM. I have to stop by and check if my brother has sorted your borders out before heading into the city.
I send back only for her reply to come back almost instantly.
Cleo: That’s fine, I will wait for you there. See you at 7.
I stare at the screen in confusion.
“Something happened,” Zarek chimes in, and I nod in agreement. Maybe her father found out about where she was last night. The thought has me wondering if she is okay.
Me: I’ll get there as soon as possible. Meet me at the bar.
Cleo sends me back a thumbs-up. I don’t like the idea of her being at the club by herself. I’ll message the staff to keep an eye on her. We have a function there tonight for one of the packs.
Drying myself quickly, I get dressed, then mindlink Vance. “Did you sort out Cleo’s borders? I was going to stop by before heading into the city, but something must have happened. Cleo is heading there now,”I tell him.
“Almost. I am struggling with numbers; most are running rampant with the other packs. I’m moving numbers around. I will have to man the doors at the club tonight for the Claymore pack event. I need to send Michael in, most are refusing since Joseph isn’t in agreement. Michael agreed to go,”Vance tells me, and I nod along before Zarek speaks up.
“Claymore, that’s Alpha Dane’s pack, right?” Zarek asks, cutting through the mindlink. I nod to him before recognition hits me.
“Fuck, I gotta go. That means Boyd will be at the club,”I tell Vance before cutting the mindlink. I snatch my phone and try calling Cleo to tell her to meet somewhere else or to come here. I get no answer. With a growl, I snatch my keys up and jog downstairs.
Zarek presses beneath my skin, urging me faster.
“He better not think about touching our mate,” Zarek grumbles at me as I jam the keys in the ignition. I tear out of the pack territory and onto the highway heading toward the city only to come to a screeching stop when I see cars lined up and smoke ahead. “Fuck!” I peer out the window and realize it’s a car accident. I reach for my phone to see I have no reception here. Great, just fucking great.
Chapter 7
• Cleo •
My hands grip the steering wheel tightly as my frustration and anger churn inside me like a storm. I can’t believe my father would even think of marrying me off to Boyd, let alone question my virginity. It feels like a betrayal, a disregard for my own choices, my life, and not to mention absolutely mortifying.
As I park outside Zayn’s club, I notice the flurry of activity in the beer garden where staff and caterers are setting up for what looks like a coming-of-age party. I briefly wonder what the event is about, but my thoughts are quickly consumed by the need to see the video footage of last night and confront Deacon; more so now with my father trying to marry me off. Deacon may get his wish to mark me sooner than he thinks.
I climb out of the car and make my way inside the club. The pulsating music hits me as soon as I step inside, surprising me with its intensity. The place is alive, even at this hour, and I make my way to the bar, perching on a stool where I wave down the bartender and order a can of Coke.
Taking a sip, I scan the increasingly crowded space, my nerves on edge as I wait for Alpha Zayn. When I spot Boyd weaving through the crowd, my heart sinks. Quickly, I turn back to the bar, hoping he hasn’t noticed me. Luck is clearly not on my side today, or this week, maybe ever it feels like.
“Hey there,” says a deep voice behind me, making me jump when I feel hands slide down my arms. I turn to find Boyd smirking down at me, his eyes roaming over my body with an unnerving hunger before falling on my breasts.
“Boyd,” I grit out, trying to keep my voice steady, despite how repulsed I feel right now. “Hi, I didn’t see you,” I state, knowing I can’t cause a scene here.
“Really, you didn’t notice me despite looking directly at me?” he chuckles. “Come on, Cleo, I just wanted to talk to my sexy future bride.”
“About that,” I say, feeling my cheeks flush with anger. “I have a boyfriend, Boyd. This marriage isn’t happening.”
“Really?” he taunts, one eyebrow raised. “Because the paperwork has already been drawn up.”
“Excuse me,” I snap, irritated by his arrogance. “You don’t get a say in this, I am not marrying you. I have a chosen mate.”
