Chained By The Alpha Jessica Hall

"T-I don't understand," I stammer out, my voice shaking slightly. Zayn turns off the tap and looks at me, his expression serious. "So you know of the money?" I ask hesitantly, and he tenses. He glances over his shoulder at me quickly before shutting the water off

I bite my lip nervously, unsure of what to say

Zayn's piercing blue eyes are locked on mine, and I can feel his confusion through the bond, making me wonder how much stronger the bond will feel once and if I can mark him

"Wait, so you know about the council money?" he asks, and I nod slowly. He turns to fully face me, his expression guarded

"What else did your father tell you?" he asks, and I know he's probing for information. My mind races as I try to come up with a response that won't reveal too much but will also satisfy his question

"He didn't tell me much," I say cautiously. "Just that it was necessary for our pack to maintain alliances with powerful Alphas."

Zayn narrows his eyes at my response, clearly not satisfied with my answer

"That if it got out, he could go to prison, that we'd lose the pack," I shrug. "That's what Alpha Dane has over him," I admit, wondering if Zayn will use that information against my father

"Alpha Dane covered for him, he put the money back, he paid my father's debt to cover for him, and dad put the pack up for collateral."

Zayn shakes his head and offers me his hand

"That bastard, he should be named Alpha Stories, he never lets the truth get in the way of a good conversation," Zayn laughs, though there is no humor in it. I take his hand and he helps me into the huge tub before climbing in behind me "That can't be what Dane has over him unless he is threatening to expose him to the public," Zayn states, pulling me back against his chest. He reaches for the loofah and soap and begins gently scrubbing my back, his touch careful and soothing

"What do you mean?" I ask, now confused. I relax into Zayn's touch and let myself enjoy the warm water and his gentle caresses. But in the back of my mind, I can't help but feel anxious about what secrets lie between Alpha Dane and my father

"Because I paid the debt," Zayn states

"What, why?" I ask, sitting forward and twisting to look at him. He tugs me back down against him

"Your father had been stealing from the council for years, my mother was his secretary, she helped him cover it up for years, wanting to protect your mother and Vance," he tells me. My brows scrunch together, making me even more confused

"T don't understand," I admit, and he seems reluctant to tell me

"Your father took the money and threatened to frame Vance for it. When my mother died, he had no one to cover up for him. That's when my father noticed the books, the human governments audited the city council, and he

realized for years money was going missing, and my mother was covering it up, but when she passed. Your father tried to frame Vance for taking it." Zayn explains

"Tt's why I killed my father. I thought it was because he was accused of stealing the council money since Vance was working at the council and had the clearance to access it since he took over from my mother as one of the secretaries to your father, who was treasurer. It also explains why my father suddenly declared Vance would never be alpha. He said he couldn't be trusted with pack finances, my father took over as treasurer, and your father was removed completely. But then they had a falling out right before my father tried to kill Vance," Zayn explains

"Why would your father even believe that about his own son in the first place?"

"Because Vance spent most of his teenage years in and out of rehab, he was battling drug addiction, it was easy to make it look like him, and that my mother was covering up for him."From NôvelDrama.Org.

"So Vance was supposed to be alpha?"

"Vance is a year older than me, but that doesn't make you automatically Alpha, if I challenged Vance for the spot, I would win. He knows it, and I know it, but Vance had no interest in the position anyway but an alpha can elect someone as alpha doesn't necessarily go to the firstborn, though in most instances it is passed down," ZayNn says

"Then why not take over after your father died?"

"Vance didn't want to be alpha for one, but that isn't the only reason the pack would not accept him, and they would never accept a recovering

addict as Alpha," Zayn explains

I wait for him to continue, but he doesn't; instead, he starts washing me. "You're not going

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to tell me, are you?"

"I'd rather wait because Vance doesn't even know," Zayn tells me. I glance at him over my shoulder

"What do you mean?" I hold my breath, trying to grasp the severity of the situation. Zayn's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched, and his fingers tensed against my skin, betraying the pain he was trying to hide. He took a deep breath, his resolve strengthening before he speaks

"Even the dead have secrets. Those secrets are their ghosts," Zayn murmurs softly

"I loved my father; he was strict, but I loved

him, and he loved us, but after he lost my mother, he changed as one does when they lose their bond. The situation with Vance pushed him over the edge," Zayn whispers. "But I love my brother more," Zayn murmurs

"So my father framed Vance, and your father tried to kill him, so you killed your father?"

"That's most of it," he answers vaguely

"Zayn, please, I know you're hiding something," I tell him. "I can feel it," I admit, and he chuckles