Chained By The Alpha Jessica Hall

The depth of his deception is beyond comprehension, and I can't help but wonder what else he has lied about

My heart clenches with the realization that I may not have truly known him at all. The foundation of trust we built is shattered, and I'm left wondering what else he has lied about and what other secrets he's hiding. All this time, while I've wondered where Deacon was, he was right under the very house I have been fooling around with his murderer all this time. Disgust washes over me

The evidence was there, but I didn't want to believe it. Now, I can't help but question everything Zayn has ever told me. The chill of

the basement is nothing compared to the ice flooding my veins as I stare at Deacon's lifeless form, his face pale and haunting beneath the frost as I slam the freezer door shut, looking for another exit frantically, but the only way out is up the stairs right next to the front door

"Cleo!?" I hear him call out upstairs before hearing the door shut. "Your phone must have

cut out," he yells out before everything falls silent

As I stand frozen in the basement, my heart pounds in my chest like a relentless drumbeat

The air feels heavy with betrayal and my mind races with a whirlwind of emotions. Fear grips me as J realize that I am trapped, caught in a web of lies and deceit. Every fiber of my being screams for escape, but I am paralyzed by the weight of what I have discovered. The suffocating darkness of the basement mirrors the

suffocating grip that Zayn had on my heart, and I can't help but wonder if I will ever truly be free from his manipulation

"Cleo?" He says, though there is nervousness in his voice this time, when I hear the door to the basement creak, and I know I've been caught

~Zayn~

I stare at the phone. "Cleo?" I say while unclipping my seatbelt

Vance looks at me. "What's wrong?" Vance asks

"Nothing, the phone cut out; I think she dropped her phone. I better check she isn't burning down the house." I laugh, opening my door. Vance drives off as I fiddle with the keys, unlocking the place and stepping inside

Silence greets me like an unwelcome omen as I step into the foyer, my pulse quickening with a strange foreboding. "Cleo?" I call out, my voice echoing off the walls, unanswered

I glance around as I step into the vast mansion foyer, its empty halls echoing with my footsteps

Worry gnaws at me as I call out Cleo's name, but there is no response. The silence is suffocating, amplifying my concern for Cleo's safety

I clutch the phone tighter, still blank like the phone is connected; it's just dropped service

"Cleo?" I call out. My heart hammers against my chest as I press the end-call button. Something's wrong

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"Damn it," I mutter under my breath, tossing my phone on the nearest table. I make my way through the silence, every nerve in my body on

high alert. It's too quiet-the kind of quiet that has my wolf on edge. I check the kitchen, but she isn't there, before making my way back into the hall. I take a deep breath and scan the living room-no sign of her. I creep into the hallway, my heart pounding in my chest

"Cleo?" I call out, wondering if she is upstairs or playing a prank

My eyes dart across the room, and they settle on the basement door, slightly ajar. I stop in my tracks, my gaze going to the open door. I take a deep breath and slowly walk towards it. My stomach knots as I take in the scene before me

A cold shiver runs down my spine. I never leave that door open. Panic courses through me I know before I even move that she is in the basement

With heavy, urgent steps, I rush toward theCcontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

doorway, taking the stairs two at a time down into the dimly lit basement. The basement is dimly lit, with flickering overhead lights casting eerie shadows against the cold concrete walls

The air is heavy and musty, carrying a sense of foreboding that sends a chill down my spine. As I descend the stairs, the silence becomes even more palpable, intensifying the feeling of dread that hangs in the air. The sight that meets my eyes steals the air from my lungs

There's Cleo, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs, her blonde hair cascading over her face like a curtain hiding her pain. She's staring at something-or someone-in front of her. My fists clench as I follow her gaze to the closed freezer

Cleo, usually vibrant and full of life, now appears fragile and broken, her vulnerability emitting an aura of despair. Panic engulfs me as

I realize the gravity of the situation, my mind racing with dark possibilities. As my eyes meet Cleo's, the realization dawns on me that she has already looked inside the freezer, and that she knows what I did

"Cleo?" My voice cracks, rough with barely contained rage and fear, but I'm careful to keep my distance, remembering how much she hates being cornered when upset. Her green eyes, usually so vibrant, are dull with betrayal and hurt, and it claws at me. I step closer, and she steps back, frightened of me

"Don't come closer," she snarls, her eyes narrowing as she glares at me

"I would never hurt you, Cleo," I tell her, trying to remain calm when all I want to do is grab her

"You think killing Deacon didn't hurt me?" she

scofts despite her heartbreak

"You looked in the freezer..." I know she did

She just admitted, but it wasn't a question, but just an acknowledgment of what she found in it

"Stay back!" she hisses, her voice laced with betrayal as I reach for her. "Don't touch me,

Zayn!"