Chained By The Alpha Jessica Hall

"Support is one thing," Stanley interjects, his brow furrowed. "But what about our businesses? If we're cut off from trade with other packs, we'll suffer."

I bite my lip, watching Zayn handle each worry with the grace of a true Alpha, yet still managing to dominate the room, too. I feel like an unwanted bystander listening to the mess I've made

Needing to escape, I slip away, grabbing the keys to Zayn's car, which he told me last night I could use. Needing to get my clothes and books, I head to campus, leaving Zayn to handle his pack. The college campus is quieter than usual, a contrast to the turmoil back home. But as I

insert my key into the dorm door, it refuses to turn. A cold knot forms in my gut-I try again before huffing, knowing I will need to check with the administration. Wandering down to the front of campus, I pass a few classes, yet I am thankful most are in class. I don't think I could handle their glares today. Entering the front office, I close the door gently

"Miss Carter?" The administrator at the desk looks up, pity etched into her features. "Hey, Samantha, my key isn't working," I tell her, holding it up. I watch as she bites her lip nervously, glancing down at her computer she pushes her glasses up her nose and slides one of her fiery red locks behind her ear as she types my name into the system

I watch as her brows furrow before she glances up at me where I stand, looking suddenly nervous. "I'm sorry, but your tuition has been

canceled. Your enrollment... you're no longer a student here."

"By who?" My voice comes out sharper than intended

"Your father," she replies, her gaze dropping. He cut my tuition. I knew he would, but I wasn't expecting it to be done by the next day. What if I had nowhere to go? What would I have done? Does he truly hate me that much? Tears sting my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall

I storm out, slamming the car door behind me as I slump into the driver's seat. How could he? My entire future is gone with a single decision; I stare at the campus office, trying to figure out what to do

That's when I notice my own car is missing from the parking lot. Panic flares up inside me like a

wildfire. Everything is spiraling out of control, he's even taken my car. I can't even retrieve my belongings from my room

"Hey." Zayn's sudden appearance beside the car startles me, concern etched across his handsome face as he opens my door, scaring the living daylights out of me. I clutch my chest in fright, wondering when he got here. Glancing at the clock on the dash, I realize I have been lost in my thoughts in the car for over an hour. "What's

wrong?" he asks

"Everything," I choke out, the walls I've built to contain my emotions crumbling down

"Zayn, I have nothing left, he's taken everything now and completely cut me off." I confess, the weight of my world is heavy on my shoulders

"No school, no car... my own father..." I feel humiliated knowing I will have to ask for his

help further now, because I don't even have a place to go if Zayn gets bored with me or wants me gone

"Shh," he soothes, pulling me out of the car into his chest. His heartbeat is steady against my ear, a grounding rhythm in the chaos. "You have me," he tells me

"Is that supposed to fix everything?" I retort,

even as I cling to him, desperate for his soothing scent

"Maybe not," he admits. "But we'll figure it out

Now get in," he tells me, and I sigh. I slip into the passenger seat when I notice Vance's car next to Zayn's. Vance waves. I nod back as he leans across the seat when Zayn leans down, speaking to Vance for a moment

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"Head back to the club." I hear him tell Vance

Vance gives us a curt nod and disappears, leaving us alone. As Zayn takes the driver's seat, I can't help but stare out the window, feeling adrift in a life that's suddenly unrecognizable. "I have nothing left," I admit, the weight of my new reality pressing down on me. "No money, nowhere to live... I feel like such a burden to

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you

Zayn''s hand finds mine, his grip reassuring

"You're not a burden, Cleo," he says firmly. "If you want, you can come work for me or just stay at home until you figure out what you want to do. You have options."

His words are meant to comfort, but they remind me how completely my world has tipped on its axis. We drive in silence, the hum of the engine a soothing background sound to the chaos of my thoughts. Once back on pack territory Zayn drives past the packhouse and pulls up at a massive oval field, dotted with figures moving in synchronized patterns-his pack training

"Tll be back," he says, stepping out. "Just need to drop off this patrol roster for Andrea to give

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out

I nod and watch him climb out of the car and head over to his pack. My gaze flits across the field where his pack spar and sprint, their forms a blur of power and grace. When Zayn returns, I can't contain my curiosity

"Why aren't they training in the city?" I ask

"Because I won't risk exposing my pack to other packs right now," he explains. "Not until things settle down."

"Shouldn't you be training with them?"

"You're still getting comfortable with all of this, so we'll train back home until you're comfortable training with the rest of the pack."

As we drive back to the packhouse, I'm acutely aware of the man beside me his presence has been constant lately. His scent envelopes me, a mix of pine and something that is uniquely Zayn, grounding me in the here and now "Thank you," I murmur, unsure of how else to express the gratitude and tumultuous emotions churning within me

"Don't thank me yet," he replies with a wry smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. "We've got a lot of training to do, and I won't go easy on you."

"Wouldn't expect anything less," I respond, the corners of my mouth lifting in spite of the

situation