Chained By The Alpha Jessica Hall

Zayn's shoulders sag as he looks down at the ground. "No, of course not. I lost it when I found out what he was doing. I am not some psychopath that goes around killing people, Cleo, not without reason," he murmurs quietly

"Then why didn't you tell me what happened?" I ask, tears stinging at my eyes. "Why did you let me believe that everything was fine when it wasn't? How could you let me sleep upstairs knowing he was underneath us? Your story makes no sense! None of this does!" I scream at him

He looks up at me then, his eyes filled with tears of his own. "Because I knew you wouldn't believe me, you didn't know me, and you saw

the video. What does that prove besides me losing my temper?" he admits softly

"Absolutely nothing, but the only truthful thing you've said so far is that I don't know you. And you are right about that!"I turn to leave when he speaks again

"Stay here, then I'll leave," he tells me, and I scoff

"Please, Cleo!" he begs, taking a step closer to me. His silver eyes are dark with emotion, and I fight the urge to reach out and comfort him. "Let me do this for you. Just let me keep you safe."

"Safe?" I scoff, feeling the bitterness rise within me. "Do you think I feel safe with you now? After everything?"

"Look, I know I messed up," he admits, his gaze

locked on mine. "But I was trying to protect you, Cleo. I swear, I would never hurt you."

His words wrap around my heart like a vice, squeezing it painfully. But I can't especially knowing Deacon is frozen below our feet. "I don't know if I can believe that anymore, Zayn," I whisper, my voice breaking "Then let me prove it to you," he pleads, his hands gripping my shoulders. I shiver at the intensity of his touch. Memories flooding back to me. "Stay at least until your birthday, please."

"TI..." [ hesitate, my resolve wavering. But then I remember the lies and the betrayal, and I force myself to pull away from him. "No, Zayn. I can't

Not until I know the truth."

"Please, Cleo," he whispers. His breath warm against my neck as he pulls me close once more

His lips brush against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine. "I can't lose you."

"Stop," I choke out, tears forming in my eyes

My whole body trembles with desire and frustration, my emotions warring within me. "I can't do this, Zayn. I don't know whom to trust anymore, and you were the one person I hoped I could count on."

But the distance between us feels insurmountable, the gulf of lies and secrets too wide to bridge. My body trembles with the effort of holding back tears - and the undeniable urge to run into his arms and forget everything. He must see the conflict on my face because he sighs heavily

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"Alright," he relents, stepping back and releasing me. His silver eyes are filled with pain, but he swallows hard and nods

"Fine, but I'm not letting you sleep on the streets or without guards."

But he ignores my protests when I tell him I don't want guards, dialing a number on his phone. "I'm booking you a room. You'll be safe there. I won't have you on the damn streets, Cleow

As I watch him make arrangements, the cold knot of betrayal tightens in my chest. The man I once thought I knew seems like a stranger now

How could everything have gone so wrong?

Suddenly, Zayn 1s speaking calmly to the person on the other end of the line, arranging everything for me

A short while later, I find myself standing in the lobby of a modest hotel, a room key card in my hand. The receptionist gives me a sympathetic

look, but I ignore it. My jaw set as I march toward the elevator, Zayn chasing after me trying to convince me to come home with him

As the doors close, Zayn forces his way into the elevator. I let out a shaky breath, trying to process everything that has happened

"Seriously, Zayn, this is not giving me damn space."

"Just let me walk you up, Cleo." He argues, pressing the button to the second floor

We step out of the elevator but he insists on walking me to the door, we walk along the balcony stopping at my door

The cold key card in my hand bites into my skin as I swipe it through the reader. The door clicks open with a soft beep. Stepping inside, the room is small but clean. Its peaceful atmosphere is a stark contrast to the turmoil raging within me. I drop my bag on the floor unceremoniously and Zayn tries to talk to me, but I shut the door in his face. He bangs on the door while I sit on the edge of the bed, burying my face in my hands

How did it come to this? How did everything spiral so far out of control? Eventually, he gives up and realizes I am not going to speak to him, at least not tonight, and I move to the window. I see Zayn talking to one of his men downstairs pointing to the room, before he climbs into the car. I sigh, knowing he assigned me a babysitter, when the door to the Chinese restaurant opens, drawing my attention across the road to see my father staring after Zayn's car. I suck in a breath, then his gaze goes to me 1n the window. I stagger back, letting the curtain close, wondering if he saw me, though I know he did

He looked directly at me

The bitter sting of betrayal threatens to suffocate me, and I struggle to keep my emotions in

check

An hour later, a knock on the door startles me from my thoughts, my pulse pounding in my ears