Chained By The Alpha Jessica Hall

"How did you get here so quickly?" I ask him as he nears cautiously, like he is waiting for me to tell him to leave

Zayn's silver eyes pierce through the darkness, his messy hair falling effortlessly over his forehead. He stands tall and muscular, his presence commanding yet comforting. As he watches me, I can see the concern etched on his face, like he's observing a caged animal, careful not to startle 1t but ready to protect it at any moment. Zayn doesn't make any sudden movements, though I know from Lydia's shifting she was rabid in the hours before; we are dangerous before a shift; all instincts and emotions to merge, then the pain. Everyone reacts differently. However, I don't feel any

different

"You were never alone, Cleo." He points to the mountain through the trees. "I was watching," he tells me. I let out a breath, and he steps closer, opening his arms. "Get over here; I am warmer than that rock," he tells me, and before I realize I am even moving, I crash against him

He wraps his arms around me and pulls me closer. I sink into him, my breathing slowing as I feel his warmth. He whispers in my ear, "You' Il never have to be alone with me."

He gently wipes the tears off my cheeks with his thumbs before cupping my face in his hands. I close my eyes, seeking comfort in his warmth and scent. He kisses my forehead. "Everything will be alright," he tells me. I take a deep breath and nod, trusting in his words

"It's alright to be scared," he whispers

soothingly. "Everyone's first shift is terrifying."

"L know it's just... I don't want to be a disappointment," I admit, looking down at our joined hands. He smiles, understanding and reassuring me. "You'll be fine," he says, and I can feel the warmth of his words

"You could never be a disappointment to me."

Another wave of heat washes over me as our gazes lock, and I feel a tingling sensation between my thighs as our eyes meet. He seems to notice my discomfort and clears his throat, standing up and helping me to my feet "Let's keep moving. I'm sure your wolf is just as anxious as you are to come out," he says, leading me into the clearing where the full moonlight shines brightly. The cool breeze brushes against my bare skin, and I shiver slightly, goosebumps forming on my arms. The combination of the moonlight and the river's calming sounds helps me relax enough that when the shift finally hits me, it catches me off guard

A sudden pain lances through my abdomen as if someone had plunged a dagger into me, doubling me over. My bones cracked and shifted beneath my skin as fur sprouted all over my body. I let out a patned moan as my body contorted and grew, my limbs becoming longer and my snout more pointed. My vision blurred as my body transformed, and I could feel my senses becoming sharper. Zayn tugs at my clothes, trying to help remove them as my body twists and morphs. "Breathe, you're fine. It will end," he assures me as I scream. "I'm right here,

Cleo. Right here."

The excruciating pain washes over me, its

intensity sharp enough to make the world blur

My vision tunnels as I clutch at my abdomen, the bones shifting, reshaping beneath my skin with a chorus of unsettling cracks. Fur begins to prickle out, spreading rapidly as my body contorts. Zayn, steady and strong, holds me, his arms a comforting prison as I transform

As the shift completes, the pain subsides into a dull ache, replaced by a surge of primal energy that courses through my new form. I'm on all fours, the world around me exploding into vibrant colors and smells that tug at the corners of my consciousness. My wolf, whom I instinctively know is named Luna, emerges to the forefront, her presence overwhelming yet exhilarating as my vision warps like its refocusing my eyes, looking through lenses in a sense as my vision merges with

hers

Luna is giddy, her new senses tingling, and

when she catches Zayn's scent, his fingers rake through her fur and to me its like running fingers through moving water, feeling my wolf form is far different to feeling touch in a human form. Yet the moment his fingers do touch us, it's like a spark igniting. Heat runs across our skin, tingling, like an alarm being set off in our body that has her jumping and growling

"Shh, you're fine," Zayn assures her as she spins around; she sniffs the air, and his hand trembles as he reaches it out toward her like he is afraid my wolf may bite him. Luna sniffs his outstretched hands eagerly, her tail wagging uncontrollably, as she licks his fingers, making him chuckle, yet I want her to look at him, see him through her eyes, but she is too distracted by his scent. "Hm, he smells nice, tastes nice too." she purrs like a cat devouring catnip

"He isn't food," I tell her, trying to urge her to

look at him, yet nothing I try works like I am detached from her

Zayn grabs two handfuls of her black fur, forcing her head up, and a wave of undeniable recognition and relief washes over us both-he is indeed our mate. Which she confirms seconds

later, her voice rattling through my, no, her? Our skull?Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

"Mate, mate." I cringe at how loud she is. "Can I lick him? I'mma lick him, lets lick him," she doesn't give me a chance to answer. Her joy bubbles over, and she can't help but tackle him playfully to the ground

He laughs as we tumble, and a new voice echoes in my head, startling me as Zayn ruffles her fur

"Hello, Luna," Zayn's voice resonates within our shared mental space, warm and amused