Chained By The Alpha Jessica Hall

The rogue man swallows his food before answering, "Mitchel the Alpha's Beta said our Alpha would take us back, that we could come home. I haven't met him, but mom didn't want us to go, she said she won't ever bow to him."

"Him? You mean Alpha Joseph?" Zayn asks when I point to the other half of the sandwich, telling him to eat. He shakes his head. "I'll save it for my sister," he murmurs

I look at Zayn, but he doesn't comment about Blake's sister. "You said you didn't know who sent you?" Zayn states

"T don't, it was the first time I have seen the Alpha, I only know the Beta's name because of

Jamie," he states

"And Jamie accepted the deal? Where is Jamie?" The man looks away

"Dead, your Beta killed him when we were trying to escape." Zayn points to the sandwich

"Eat, you'll have food to take home," Zayn tells hin

"Tell us about the other rogues, the ones you're scared of," Zayn demands, his voice a low rumble that resonatesRêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

"We call them the bandits," the rogue murmurs, his voice hollow. "They come, killing our people, taking what little we have." He shudders, the fear palpable in each word. "We're not safe even from our kind."

I can't help but feel a surge of pity for these

outcasts, their eyes reflecting a mix of hope and

dread as they watch us from a distance. Families huddle together, their children peering out with

wide, curious eyes. I couldn't imagine having to

live like that

"What else?" Zayn asks

The rogue swallows quickly. "They... they don't take prisoners," he rasps, the fear palpable in his tone. "They've killed some of us. It's a sort of warning-to stay in line or else."

"Or else what?" Zayn prods, moving closer so his entire chest lines my back

"Death isn't the worst thing they threaten us with, they've taken a few of the women when we've refused them," the rogue whispers, casting a wary glance at Cleo before returning his focus to Zayn. "We live like ghosts, most of

us are banished families clinging to the fringes of Nightshade City, the majority of us were from his pack or so mom says, I don't remember not being rogue. That Alpha... Joseph? He gave us an ultimatum: scare your pack, or remain exiled forever."

"Banished? Why?" I ask, stepping forward with a creased brow, only Zayn tugs me back against him and I sigh. "You said you're from my father's pack?" Task

The man's face drained of color, and he stumbled back a step, as if the very ground beneath him had shifted. "You're... you're the Alpha's daughter?"

"Your father..." The rogue hesitated, his eyes widening as if he'd just pieced together a puzzle

"When his mate your mother was killed, he banished my mother for not submitting to him

along with those that refused."

"Submission is not loyalty," Zayn growls, his silver eyes flashing with a dangerous light. "It's control, fear. That's not how you lead a pack."

"Wait," I say, my voice quivering with a mix of anger and curiosity. "You knew my mother was killed. But why would my father banish you for not submitting?"

"Because we refused to be his pawns," the rogue states, his own anger surfacing. "Just like he's using Alpha Dean and Samuel to manipulate the packs now."

The rogue's revelation hit me like a physical blow, my breath catching in my chest as I struggle to reconcile this new piece of the puzzle. Zayn's grip on my shoulder tightens

"Tell us more," I demand, trying to keep my voice steady. "What do you know about my mother's death?"

The rogue man looks between Zayn and me, his eyes darting nervously, as if the truth he harbored was a dangerous secret itching to break free. "I only know what my mother told me, I had a head injury a few years ago, I lost all earlier memories," he tells us

"What did your mother tell you then?" Zayn asks, his curiosity now piqued with all this information

"Her mother... she was a visionary," he began, his voice a husky whisper. "She saw the potential for peace, for unity between packs. She and Alpha Greyson had been discussing a merger, one that would have strengthened both packs against enemies; my mother believed

Greyson was her true mate."

"Did your mother tell you anything about my father?" The question spills from my lips before I can stop it

"Alpha Joseph..." He hesitates, swallowing hard

"He didn't take kindly to the idea. Said he was alpha, and that if your mother wanted to leave he expected her to give up her pack for him and his new Luna, something about her owing him for something?" the man asks, his brows creasing like he isn't sure on the last part

My heart raced, pounding against my rib cage like a caged animal desperate for release. The implications are staggering. My mother's death, the banishment of these rogues-how much of it was orchestrated by my own father? But it now has me questioning if he had something to do with her death

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"Did he kill her?" The words tasted bitter on my tongue, and I could feel Zayn's silent growl vibrating through his chest, the sound feral and protective

"No," The rogue shakes his head, adamant yet somber. "But when she died, he seized the chance to tighten his grip, to make sure no such union could threaten his rule again. That's why we refused to submit. My mother was one of her warriors. She also said those rogues killed her

The ones that attacked the city a couple of months back. If you need information, you can meet her."

"But you said they answered to Alpha Samuel?" I ask. The man nods, and I look at Zayn, trying to make sense of this mess

"Well then, I guess you need to take us back to your mother," Zayn states

"You won't hurt them?" Blake asks. Zayn shakes his head

"TI do one better; your rogues help me; I'll help them." Zayn offers, and the man looks at me nervously

"He's telling the truth?" He asks, and I look at Zayn

"His word is good," I tell the man, and he nods slowly before pushing out his stool to stand

"Okay, I will take you to them, but you can't hurt them; we are mostly families there, women, children; the only men left were sent here, but your people killed most of us off," he admits, his lips quivering

"I'm not about to hurt women and children, I may be an asshole, but I'm not a monster," Zayn

tells him