Chapter 2
“Is there an issue, Joseph?” Alpha Zayn demands. Only then do I
glance at my father, who is shooting a look of daggers in his
direction. I kick him under the table, and my father sits back in
his chair, folding his arms across his chest while shooting me a
glare.
“Behave!” I mouth to my father. Gee, now I need to tell him how
to act!
“Not at all, Alpha Zayn,” Dad denies quickly.
Looking back at the Alpha, I quickly avert my gaze when I
realize that me kicking my father under the table didn’t go
unnoticed. Yet when I dare to look up, Alpha Zayn is still staring
at me as if I am some puzzle he is trying to solve. He shakes his
head and moves toward his seat. My eyes follow him to take his
seat. When he does, his gaze finds mine for a heated moment
before he turns his attention away, clenching his jaw. I feel my
cheeks flush and quickly turn my attention to the huge board
Alpha Samuel spent a good ten minutes writing on earlier.
I swallow, not liking the way he is staring so intensely, and I can
once again feel his gaze on me. A shiver runs up my spine.
Thankfully, Alpha Samuel clears his throat, drawing his
Chapter 2
attention away, and I let out the breath I didn’t know I was
holding.
My eyes wander around the room, taking in the tense.
expressions of the Alphas as they discuss alliance strategies and
resource management. All this talk about pack politics and
territory borders is exhausting. I can’t wait to escape back to my
life outside these walls.
“Alpha Joseph, your input on the new trade agreement would
be appreciated,” Alpha Samuel says, his voice cutting through
my thoughts. Was I close to dozing off again? My dad
straightens up in his chair, preparing to speak, but I can’t bring
myself to care about whatever he’s going to say. Instead, I find my gaze drifting towards Alpha Zayn, who sits across the table,
every bit as disinterested as I am.
“Very well,” my father begins, launching into a lengthy explanation about supply chains and tariffs. I try to focus on his
words, but it’s hard not to get lost in my own fantasies,
especially when they involve the enticingly dangerous Alpha
Zayn. His dark hair and the Alpha’s steely gray eyes make it
difficult to concentrate on anything else when my phone
vibrates on the table. I snatch my phone off to glance at the
message lighting up my screen.
Leaning down, I look at it under the table to see it’s from
Chapter 2
Deacon, making me grin mischievously.
‘Meet me outside in ten minutes‘
I quickly type a reply. ‘You decided to go?‘ I reply back to my
boyfriend. His reply is just as quick.
‘Jailbreak, meet me downstairs! I can’t help the goofy smile that
splits onto my face.
I quickly reply, telling him I will find an excuse when my phone
is suddenly snatched from my hand. I grit my teeth, expecting it
to be my father, but I am shocked to find it is Alpha Zayn. He
raises an eyebrow at me.
“Is there something you’d like to share with the rest of us?”
Alpha Zayn asks suddenly, his gaze piercing through me. My
cheeks flush with embarrassment, but I can’t deny how my
heart races at his attention. I shake my head, staring at the man
wide–eyed.
“Um, no,” I stammer, trying to regain my composure. “Sorry for
the interruption.”
“I’ll hang onto this until after the meeting,” he tells me, and his eyes flicker to his wolf as he peers down at my phone, reading
my text messages. I reach for my phone, but he pulls it away,
and I glare at him.
Chapter 2
“You can’t take my daughter’s phone,” my father quickly
growls. Alpha Zayn merely glances at him before pocketing it.
“I already did,” he states, giving me a pointed look. I turn back in
my chair, and my father looks like he is about to leap out of his
chair, when Samuel speaks up.
“Joseph!” Samuel shakes his head, warning my father to back
off, and reluctantly, he does while Alpha Zayn retakes his seat
across from me.
The meeting drags on, a mind–numbing cycle of posturing and
politics. A few future Alphas sneak out, using the bathroom as
their excuse, and no one bats an eye. The temptation is too
much. Leaning closer to my father, I murmur, “Bathroom.”
He nods without looking, and I’m out of my seat in seconds. The
hallway feels like a breath of freedom–until I remember Zayn
still has my phone. Fantastic. I’ll have to find Deacon and sort it
out later.
Heading for the stairs, I nearly collide with a tall figure. Boyd-
one of the Alphas‘ sons, and the guy who’s been practically
burning holes in me with his stare all night. His smirk says he’s
been waiting for this.
“Cleo!” he calls out, and I stop, fisting my hands and turning back
to face him.
Chapter 2
“You escaped?” he laughs.
“Trying to, but you’re intent on getting me caught if we are
going to be lingering outside the door,” I tell him. He glances
back at the conference room door.
“I’m not taking over. My brother is. No purpose for me in those
meetings,” he says, draping his arm across my shoulders. “I
heard your father is handing down the pack to you. I’m
surprised it’s not going to Lydia, since Samuel’s pack is bigger. It
would make sense if they joined packs,” he tells me.
However, this time, I try to step away. I may not like having to
attend these meetings, but there is no way I would let that
woman take over my mother’s pack. I couldn’t dishonor her like
that.
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. Come on, let’s get a
drink. My father wants to discuss alliances with your father
anyway. It seems we’ll be getting to know each other better
soon anyway,” he says, and I stop in my tracks at his words.
“Excuse me?”
“Your father hasn’t told you?” Boyd’s voice is low, laced with
intrigue.
I take a step back, my heart picking up pace. Lydia’s earlier
taunt echoes in my mind–could this be what she meant?
Before I can press him, Boyd’s gaze sharpens, his posture.
stiffening. I bump into someone behind me. Warm fingers grip
my hip, the touch electric, igniting a shiver that races up my
spine.
Turning, I meet the intense gaze of Alpha Zayn, his dark eyes
locking onto mine.
I try to step away, but Zayn’s grip tightens, pulling me closer
until every inch of his body aligns with mine. His fingers brush.
under the hem of my blouse, igniting a trail of heat on my skin.
“Shouldn’t you be in the Alpha meeting?” Zayn’s voice cuts
through the tension, calm yet razor–sharp. Boyd freezes, his
confidence draining as he meets Zayn’s piercing gaze.
“My father… he said I could leave,” Boyd stutters, sounding
anything but convincing.
I stay still, caught between wanting to thank Zayn for
intervening and cursing him for ruining my escape. But then his
hand moves again, firmer, sending a shiver down my spine.
“Good,” Zayn growls, his tone dripping with authority. “Then
leave.”
Chapter 2
Boyd’s eyes flick to Zayn’s hand on my hip, his expression
darkening. He steps closer, his hand reaching toward me in a
weak attempt to assert control.
“Cleo, let’s go,” Boyd says.
My heart pounds as I glance between them. Boyd’s outstretched
hand feels hollow. Zayn’s presence, on the other hand, feels like
a storm, dangerous and impossible to ignore.
Zayn leans down, his breath warm against my ear. “Do you
really want to go with him?”
