Chained By The Alpha Jessica Hall

Chapter 82

The engine purrs to a stop and the world outside Zayn's car fades as we pull into the packhouse grounds. The familiar sight of towering trees and a sprawling house greets me, but this time, it feels different. It's not just a place I'm visiting: it's my new home

My heart thrums in my chest as Zayn leads me inside. The door shuts with a soft click behind me

"Go get changed; Andrea dropped clothes over before I left to find you. They are in the walk-in closet." Zayn tells me, his voice a calm command that somehow makes the chaos inside me still for a moment. I nod my head once and he wanders into the living room.

In the privacy of Zayn's bedroom, I rifle through the clothes, my heart in my throat. The closet is filled with leggings, t-shirts, jeans, hoodies, and dresses. I change into the first thing I see, black leggings and a loose sweatshirt. A quick look in the mirror reveals I look like a mess, but I have much more significant problems right now

Leaving the room, I find Zayn has moved all the furniture aside in the living room and has already changed out of his jeans and button-up and 1s in all his shirtless glory, abs rippling with muscles as he stretches like he just woke up looking sexy as hell for good measure

My gaze trails over the ridges and valleys of his abs, and I'm caught-snared in the sight of him

"Enjoying the view?" His voice rumbles, teasing and warm

[roll my eyes, feigning indifference. "Seen better."

"Sure you have," he chuckles, stepping closer, pulling me into the cleared space. "Let's get started."

"I'm shocked you are seriously going to make me train with you. After everything?" I ask, even though the heat of his body draws me in like a moth to flame. "Haven't I been embarrassed enough? And now you want to hand my ass to

me

"You can hold your own. And it's about being prepared." He grasps my wrists gently, his silver wolf eyes glinting. "And I need you prepared with everything going on."

"Fine," I concede, my pulse dancing as he keeps hold of me, guiding me through defensive

stances. Each touch ignites sparks along my skin, and each brush of his fingers against mine sends shivers up my spine

"Good, now try to pin me," he instructs, a playful edge in his tone

"Like I could," I scoff, but the challenge lights a fire within me. I've seen him fight three alphas, yet he's pretending that I could actually cause him harm

We move around each other, part combat, part me evading his reach. His body is a force of nature, and every move is precise and potent

Yet, he allows me close and lets me think I might have a chance. Our bodies collide, and I find it invigorating. He may have skill, but I'm a lot smaller and faster as I escape his grip and duck under his arm with a laugh. I kick the back of his knee, and he drops to one knee, and I

pounce on him

"Got you," I pant as I manage to jump on his back. He laughs

"Got me how?" he laughs, but he only has to lean forward, and my feet no longer touch the ground. Reaching back, he grips my arm; a shriek leaves my lips as he rips me over his shoulder. The air leaves my lungs in a rush as I hit the foam

mats

"T got you," he laughs. My breath hitches as I look up into his eyes, molten gray

"Seems you do," I murmur. "Helps you have a lot more reach than me!"

"And heaps taller, I could wear you as a backpack," he snickers. I glare up at him, and he pushes off the ground to stand when I turn,

kicking his legs out from under him. He hits the ground hard, and I scramble to pin him while he stares at the ceiling, having the air knocked out of him

"Fine, you aren't short, you're compact-You 're fun-size," In one swift motion, he rolls, reversing our positions with an ease that leaves me breathless. Now pinned beneath him, I can't help but marvel at his agility, so at odds with his size. His eyes, gleaming with a playful glint, meet mine. "Seems the tiny predator has become the prey," he muses

I try to throw him off as he pins my hands above my head, his lips tugging in the corners as he watches me struggle against him before I give up with a huff

"See? Size does have its advantages. Height for reach and weight," he shifts slightly,

emphasizing his point without putting his full weight on me

"Well, I thought you were supposed to be showing me how to defend myself, not show me how utterly defenseless I am against someone your size?" I laugh and squirm beneath his weight

His eyes, dark and intense, lock onto mine with a gaze that could command the moon. "You might think being smaller puts you at a disadvantage," he murmurs, his voice low and husky, sending a thrill through me. "But remember, you have the big bad wolf always ready to defend you."

His smirk 1s a shadow, playing at the edges of his mouth, but his eyes-oh, they burn with a lethal promise. "Let them come for you," he says, his voice low and cold. "They'll quickly

learn I'm the last shadow they ever cross."

My hands roam across the expanse of his chest, tracing the lines down his abs. Zayn's breathing

grows ragged, matching the erratic beat of my heart

"You're really not helping my training here," I say, my voice shaky, as I try to focus on the task at hand and not the sinful thoughts creeping into my mind

"No?" he asks, his eyes twinkling with mischief

"I could always..." His lips brush against my ear, sending shivers down my spine. His lips press below my ear gently, his lips grazing his mark on my neck; my back arches at the sensation it causes, like I could suddenly feel him everywhere at once, his lips travel along my jaw before meeting mine

Our lips meet in a clash of passion, tongues fighting for dominance. He tastes like wildness and promises, I drink him in greedily. The room spins, and everything narrows down to the feel of his body pressed against mine, the sound of our mingled breaths