Chained By The Alpha Jessica Hall

Sitting back in my seat, I remind myself that four more hours and the annual Alpha meeting would 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, but also to keep supplies coming tn

I've spent all my school holidays 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 had no such interest, and it is clear I

wasn't the only one who wasn't interested in parental antics. The only person I will marry one day is my mate, if I find him or her, that 1s

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 but occasionally, I am not so sure. Finding my mate, that person who was made for me, sounds so exciting and enticing

I am brought out of my thoughts by Dad's irritated voice

"This is ridiculous. Where is he?" he growls, smacking the table with his fist. Alpha Zayn is notoriously late, and as Dad had explained earlier, he doesn't seem to care much for these

meetings. Well, that is one thing we have in common, I guess. But that explains why I've never met the man, since he's apparently too busy to attend

Maybe now's my chance to slip out to the bathroom and not come back. Dad seems preoccupied enough with Alpha Zayn's tardiness. I peer around the room, only to find the young man across from me staring. He smirks, and I bite back the urge to ask him to stop staring when he leans over the table

"Have you heard the good news?" Boyd asks

My brows furrow when his father elbows him harshly, giving him a look that seems to tell him to shut his mouth. Boyd leans back in his seat and folds his arms across his chest, looking rather smug like he knows something important I don't. Confusion washes over me, we don't have much to do with their pack. My father

never really liked Alpha Dane, who is Boyd's father. I glance at my father, who is suddenly stiff as a board beside me

"Dad?" I elbow him

"Well, discuss it later," he whispers back before diverting his attention back to the conference room door. "For frig sake, where is he?" my father snaps angrily, glancing at his watch

"Hush, Joseph, I would prefer no bloodshed at this meeting," Alpha Samuel states, glancing at the other Alphas nervously

Rumors have spread that Alpha Zayn's father met an untimely death, and the circumstances surrounding it remain quite murky. Yet, Alpha Zayn looks guilty as sin. His father goes missing, and he is suddenly ruling over the largest pack in the country. Yeah, that doesn't

sound shady at all

Dad groans at his words, drumming his fingers on the oval table. We are one of the smaller packs surrounding the city, and we rely heavily on alliances, especially when it comes to rogues and hunters. Without alliances, we would never have won the last rogue attack. It was sheer luck that Alpha Samuel's pack was visiting at the time because otherwise, we would have been completely destroyed

That's the subject of today's pack meeting

Rogue numbers have grown out of control, and packs are constantly under threat or being attacked. Even the city has been targeted a few times

If something does go down at this meeting after my dad warned against it, I'm blaming the alphas who refused to listen

The double doors swing open as if summoned, and Alpha Zayn stalks in. The room stills, all eyes turning to him. He exudes power and confidence with every step, those piercing gray eyes taking in everything and the energy in the room, waltzing in like he owns the place. My breath catches as I drink him in. Messy dark hair, stubble accentuating a sharp jawline, and tattoos peeking out from his open collar. He looks like sin personified. Maybe this meeting won't be boring after

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