Chained By The Alpha Jessica Hall

I spend most of the day in the room, refusing to speak with my father. However, later in the afternoon, I hear a knock on the door. Sitting up, I see it's my father. Though right now, he looks guilty and remorseful. He hesitantly walks over, dropping my car keys on the bedside table

I pick them up, looking at him questionably

"Tm sorry I slapped you, but you were not entitled or authorized to do what you did. Nor do you have the right to speak to Linda like that." He sighs heavily. I say nothing to him. I know he's not in a space to hear what I have to say so I decide to save wasting my breath

At my silence, he scratches the back of his neck nervously, then grips my shoulder

"Anyway, I paid your outstanding bill on the car," he says. I nod, and he presses his lips in a line. He knows he fucked up by hitting me; he can't take that back

I watch as he walks out. I stare at the door where he left before glancing at my keys in my hand. Getting up, I grab some clothes and pull them on, hissing as I pull my leggings up my legs. Ineed to get out of here

Fuck Dad's rules

I am going to enjoy the rest of my holiday before IT return to college. For now, though, I need some time away from them all and to think things through

Without a second thought, I grab my purse and head for the door. Jogging downstairs, I storm into the kitchen, my anger still boiling from the

confrontation with my father and Linda. Despite him apologizing, he still had no right to hit me

The air in the kitchen is thick with tension as Lydia and I exchange barbs. Her smugness irks me, but I can't let her see how deeply her words cut. I grab my drink bottle from the fridge, feeling its cold surface against my palm. I take a long, deliberate sip, letting the silence stretch between us. I can feel Lydia's eyes on me, analyzing, judging, waiting for me to crack

"You really think you can handle being Alpha?" Lydia taunts, her voice dripping with condescension. "You can't even handle a simple conversation without running away."

I turn to face her, my grip tightening around the bottle. "Handling the pack is more than just smooth talk and pretty dresses, Lydia. It's about making tough decisions, something I'm more

than capable of."

She scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest

"You? You're too emotional, too impulsive. You think with your heart, not your head. That's not what the pack needs."

Her words sting, but I refuse to show it. "Maybe that's exactly what the pack needs," I counter

"Someone who cares about them, not just the power and status."

Lydia rolls her eyes, but I can see a flicker of uncertainty in her gaze. I know I've hit a nerve

The truth 1s, Lydia has always been about appearances, about maintaining a facade. But being an Alpha requires more than that. It requires strength, determination, and a willingness to put the pack above all else, something she isn't capable of. Drinking half my drink, it tastes a little off, I set it on the counter

as I rustle in the pantry for something to snack on and chose a beef jerky stick. I bite a peace off when she speaks again

"You're going out?" Lydia asks me, and I glance at her

"I thought you were too?" I ask, and she shrugs

"Lam just waiting for Amber to show up, do you want a lift into the city?" she asks me, and I eye her suspiciously. What Is she sucking up for?

"Not from you," I tell her, holding up my keys. "I

can drive myself."

"How did you afford to get that out?" she demands

"Dad got it out of the shop for me."

"Typical, your father is always rewarding bad behavior," she hisses

"You'd know, your behavior is hardly the little princess you make out in front of him."

Lydia laughs. "I'm not gonna be the next Alpha

You are," she says, unable to hide the bitterness from her tone

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"You're right, I will be, and I can't wait because that means I can kick your freeloading ass to the curb!" I sneer, going to grab my drink bottle from the fridge when I don't notice it on the counter. I could have sworn I left it on the counter. How did it get in the fridge?

"Did you put my drink in the fridge?" I ask Lydia. She looks at me like I'm a fool

"Why would I touch something you've had your

cock sucking lips on?" I roll my eyes, turning back to my task, I rinse the bottle and refill it with iced coffee when I remember that I left my jacket upstairs. With a growl of annoyance, I head for the stairs and cringe every step. Once back upstairs, I snatch it off the back of my chair next to my desk and head back downstairs

My hands shake from the pain of moving down the stairs, but I ignore 1t and move to the kitchen. Lydia stands beside the fridge. "Don't get caught now," Lydia sneers

"I'm sure you'll snitch the first chance you get," I retort when she hands me my drink bottleBelonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

"Sure will, I can't keep my reputation so clear with daddy dearest without muddying yours."

Troll my eyes at Lydia who wears a malicious glint in her eyes. Refusing to pay her any more

attention, I tighten the cap on my bottle and take a large gulp, desperate to quench the fire of rage within me

"Enjoy your night, Cleo," Lydia sneers, sashaying her hips as she walks away. "Oh, and Cleo? Don't get too wasted, you don't want to be too hungover when your father punishes you for sneaking off!" she adds