Chained By The Alpha Jessica Hall

Cleo The next morning

My father promised me an answer today, and all night, I was up trying to find the reasoning behind his decisions and why he needed me to play along, yet I came up empty. The moment Lydia and Linda left for the day to go goddess, knows where, I went hunting for my father

I didn't have to search long before I found him in the study. His yelling at someone over the phone was a dead giveaway. I found him in his office, and my heart sank when I saw his face

He was wearing a serious expression, and I knew something was wrong. There's a faint

scent of coffee and cologne lingering in the air, but it's overpowered by the smell of stress and tension emanating from my father. It's almost suffocating

He hangs up when I enter, and I fall into the seat across from him while he runs his fingers through his hair and sighs heavily

My father's face 1s tense and drawn, and his brow furrowed with worry. I can see the exhaustion in his eyes, the lines of stress etched into his features. His fingers run through his hair 1n frustration, and his shoulders sag as he exhales heavily "So?" I begin, but he leans back in his chair, his dark eyes watching me. He steeples his fingers under his chin like he is trying to work out where to begin. "You promised me answers," I remind him, and he nods reluctantly. The air is

thick with the musty scent of old books and secrets. "Why am I suddenly engaged to Boyd? I don't understand. Why would you even agree to that in the first place?"

He shuts his laptop screen, a silent signal that he's giving me his full attention-an act so rare it heightens my anxiety even more

"Cleo, I know this is a lot to take in, and I wish I could have protected you from it for a little longer. But you're my heir now, and you need to know the truth." His words hang heavily in the air like an ominous storm cloud, dampening the musty scent of old books and secrets that permeated the room

"What truth?" I press, my heart pounding a little bit louder in my chest than before. "Why me? Why not Lydia?"

The look that flashes across his face is equal parts pain and fury, but it's gone as quickly as it came. "I should have told you earlier-prepared you better for this day, but I was selfish. I wanted to keep you innocent for as long as possible."

"Wait, how long has this been planned for?"

"Roughly 2 years now," he answers, and my brows raise. Two years and he never said anything?

My breath catches in my throat at his admission

My father was never one for displays of affection or vulnerability. But the seriousness in his eyes tells me that he means every word he says

He gets up and pours himself a glass of bourbon, gesturing to me with the bottle. I shake my head

no; I couldn't stomach it right now if my life depended on it. He takes a long swig before placing the glass back down on his desk with a thud that rattles 1ts very foundation

"Cleo, when your mother was alive, she would have killed me for the mess I've made. I'm supposed to keep you safe no matter the cost, and this is part of that. Not only that, but I can't risk the pack." He begins, his voice trembling slightly with emotion, as though even after all these years, losing her still affects him just as much as the day it happened

"T never wanted this for you, and I will try to find a way out of it." His voice is gentle, but there's an undercurrent of steel in it

Reluctantly, I watch him carefully, my hands clenching the armrests

"Your engagement to Boyd was never suggested

initially, but it is the only way to ensure we don't lose the pack." He pauses, rubbing his temples as if to ward off a headache or perhaps the guilt gnawing at him. "If you back out right now. We will lose the pack, Cleo."

"The pack?" I echo, incredulous. "How can marrying Boyd be keeping the pack? It's our pack."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

He leans forward, clasping his hands on the desk. "Alpha Dane has... leverage over me, Cleo. If we do not comply with his wishes, he will use it to destroy our pack and my position within the council; the pack will be dismantled or taken as collateral."

"You're being Blackmailed?" My heart races, fear and anger swirling in my gut. "You would trade me to keep your secrets?"

"Secrets," he murmurs, almost to himself, "that date back years before you were even born, until not too recently." There's a haunted look in his eyes now, one that chills me to the bone

"Years?" My mind races, trying to piece together the fragments of overheard conversations and whispered rumors, but I come up empty. "What did you do?"

"Some more pressing and recent than most. It's not just what I've done, but what could be revealed." His gaze holds mine steady and imploring. "Cleo, I need you to trust me

Marrying Boyd is the only way to ensure the safety of our pack-your future, your mother's legacy."

"And what of my happiness? My choice?"

"Choice 1s a luxury we can't afford right now."

He stands, coming around the desk to place a hand on my shoulder. "I know this 1s hard to accept, but it's necessary, at least until I find some way out of it or something to use against Alpha Dane."

"And if you don't, I'm what? Just stuck and married to that fool?" The question hovers between us, with heavy implications. "Or is this Just another sacrifice on the altar of power and politics, another leg up for you?"