“You can’t take my daughter’s phone,” my father growls. Alpha Zayn glances at him before pocketing it.
“I already did,” he states, giving me a pointed look. I turn back in my chair, and my father looks like he is about to leap out of his chair when Samuel speaks up.
“Joseph!” Samuel shakes his head, warning my father to back off. Reluctantly, he does, while Alpha Zayn retakes his seat across from me.
The meeting continues, and I notice some other future Alphas sneaking off. They’re using the bathroom as an excuse to leave. It is that boring. No one seems to have noticed they haven’t returned, so I decide to chance it. Glancing around, I lean closer to my father.
“I need to use the bathroom,” I whisper. He nods for me to go, and I quietly push my chair out, making a quick exit. Once in the hall, I go to retrieve my phone before remembering Alpha Zayn took it from me.
Great, I’ll find Deacon either way; I will just have to mindlink Dad to grab my phone from him on his way out. Moving toward the top landing and the stairs, I run into one of the Alpha’s sons from the meeting.
“Cleo!” he calls out, and I stop, fisting my hands and turning back to face him.
“You escaped?” Boyd laughs.
“Trying to, but your intent on getting me caught if we are going to be lingering outside the door,” I tell him. He glances back at the conference room door.
“I’m not taking over. My brother is. No purpose for me in those meetings,” he says, draping his arm across my shoulders. “I heard your father is handing down the pack to you. I’m surprised it’s not going to Lydia, since Samuel’s pack is bigger. It would make sense if they joined packs,” he tells me.
However, this time, I try to step away. I may not like having to attend these meetings, but there is no way I would letthat bitch take over my mother’s pack. I couldn’t dishonor her like that.
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. Come on, let’s get a drink. My father wants to discuss alliances with your father, anyway. It seems we’ll be getting to know each other better soon,” he says, and I stop in my tracks at his words.
“Excuse me?”
“Your father hasn’t told you?”
I step away from him. For some reason, I remember what Lydia had said earlier and wonder if this is what she meant. Boyd stiffens as I bump into somebody. A warm hand falls to my hip, and tingling rushes over my skin, sending a shiver up my spine.
Glancing over my shoulder, I find Alpha Zayn behind me.
Damn it! I try to step away from him. He presses closer until I feel his entire body pressed against my back, and his grip on my hip tightens holding me against him.
“Shouldn’t you be in the Council meeting?” Alpha Zayn asks Boyd, who stares at him like a deer in headlights.
“My father let me leave,” he stammers, quick to defend himself.
I remain frozen in place. Some part of me is grateful that Zayn stepped out before shit got awkward with Boyd. The other part of me knows I’ll be dragged back into that damn meeting, my opportunity to escape ruined.
“Good, now leave,” Alpha Zayn growls when I feel his hand on my hip move slightly, brushing beneath my blouse. Boyd also notices the Alpha’s hand and reaches out.
“Come on, Cleo,” Boyd states, reaching his hand toward me. Yet after hearing what he said, I don’t want to go anywhere with him. Honestly, I’d rather put up with the boring meeting and this mysterious, somewhat bossy Alpha whose grip only seems to grow tighter.
“Cleo is using the bathroom. She is required to attend since she’ll be Alpha. Isn’t that right, Cleo?” his fingers dig into my hip harder. No Alpha has ever embarrassed me like this. I glance up at him and swallow when I find his eyes glaring daggers at Boyd.
“I guess I’ll see you later, Cleo, if you come down to the ball,” Boyd quickly states before rushing off down the stairs.
I gulp, peering up at Alpha Zayn, who leans down and points behind me.
“Bathrooms are right there,” he says. I glance back toward the conference room door, where the unisex bathroom door is located.
I give him a nervous look.
“You weren’t sneaking off now, were you?”
“Just using the bathroom, then I ran into Boyd,” I say, awkwardly turning for the bathroom when I stop. “May I get my phone back, please?”
He raises an eyebrow at me. “Why, so you can message Boyd?” he asks, and my face falls.
