Chained By The Alpha Jessica Hall

My heart sinks as I watch Zayn slam the car trunk lid on Deacon's head, his face contorted in anger. Zayn steals Deacon's phone, the screen lighting up as he stands at the back of the car before moving out of the camera's view, yet I see him pocket the phone as he looks toward the club. He then nervously glances towards the entrance as if fearing he's being watched. In one swift motion, Zayn grabs me from the back of Deacon's car and stuffs me into his car

A car pulls up beside us, and my breath catches in my throat as I recognize the driver - it's Vance. He seems equally apprehensive, tossing Deacon into the trunk of his car and stealing a worried glance around. He seems to be hoping no one is watching. Zayn then shoves me into

his vehicle, and the scene ends, proving nothing. What did he expect to show me with this footage? It wouldn't be the first time Deacon and I slept in the back of his car when we were too drunk to drive home

"See?" Zayn says, stopping the video. "He was trying to hurt you, Cleo. I was protecting you." My mind races as conflicting emotions surge within me. I want to desperately believe Zayn's explanation, but doubt gnaws at the edges of my thoughts. The evidence before my eyes seems to contradict his words, leaving me torn between trusting who I know as Deacon and giving Zayn the benefit of the doubt

I shake my head, anger boiling inside me. "This proves nothing, Zayn! It just shows you attacking him. How do I know you didn't set this up?"

Zayn's face falls. "Cleo, why would I do that? I have Deacon's phone. It has the pictures he sent to Lydia. I can show you."

My anger flares even more. "You could have sent those pictures! How am I supposed to believe anything you say now? You had his phone and were using it; I saw you!"

"Cleo, please. You know me. I would never-"

"Wouldn't you?" I ask. My voice is barely a whisper as tears threaten to spill over. "Or were you just trying to control me? To ruin my father?"

"Never! That's not who I am, Cleo." His voice is desperate, his eyes filled with anguish. "I would never hurt you like that. And I never meant for any of this to happen. You know me. You have to believe me." "That's the thing, Zayn... I don't know you! I barely know you at all, and this entire time, you've been lying to me." My voice trembles with the weight of betrayal. "I need to leave."

Zayn's eyes widen 1n shock as I tell him I'm leaving. He steps closer to me, his hand reaching out to touch my arm, but I take a step back. I can't let him touch me, not after what I've just discovered

"Leave? No, Cleo... Where will you go?" His voice 1s filled with worry and fear, and I can see the pain in his eyes. But I can't let that sway meCopyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

"Anywhere but here," I reply, my voice trembling slightly. "I can't stay with someone I can't trust."

The hurt on Zayn's face only deepens, and I can see the desperation in his eyes as he pleads with

me. "Please, Cleo. I'll do anything to make things right. I can't bear the thought of losing you.

Despite myself, my heart aches at his words. I know that deep down, he has grown to love me, but I am not sure that was his intention from the start. But love isn't enough to make up for the lies and betrayal

He runs his fingers through his hair, desperation etched deeply into his features, as Zayn's pleading gaze seems to bore a hole straight through me. The way his silver eyes seem to shimmer, reflecting the unshed tears of someone so vulnerable and desperate for my understanding, is a sight that sears into my heart, leaving it twisted and wrenched in a painful, aching way

"Damn it, Cleo," Zayn swears, his hand moving

through his dark hair in a frustrated, restless gesture. "You're just going to walk away? Just like that?" His words hang in the air, heavy with the weight of our history together. My heart aches, and I struggle to maintain my resolve

The internal conflict raging within me like a storm of emotions - love, betrayal, pain, and guilt. Especially knowing I have been an idiot fooling around with Zayn when all along he is the reason Deacon 1s missing

I take a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil within me. "Zayn," I begin, my voice wavering despite my determination. "What choice do I have? You've given me every reason not to trust you." The image of Deacon dead and locked in the freezer flashes through my mind, filling me with an overwhelming mixture of anger and betrayal

Zayn's face falls at my words, his eyes filled

with pain. "But Cleo, you have to understand...I never meant for any of this to happen," he pleads, taking a step closer to me. His silver eyes are dark with emotion, and I fight the urge to reach out and comfort him

"You never meant for it to happen? What about Deacon?" I snap, unable to control my anger any longer. "Did you mean to him to be missing? Did you mean to kill him?"