Chained to the Enemy Alpha
Chapter 35: The Voice in The Howl

Chapter 35: Chapter 35: The Voice in The Howl

The river was quiet, save for the gentle sound of flowing water and the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. Lily sat waist-deep in the stream, arms wrapped around her knees, eyes staring blankly at the water’s surface. The moon’s reflection shimmered there, soft and silver.

She let the water run over her skin, scrubbing harder than she needed to wash away everything—grime, sweat... shame. But the memory clung stubbornly, like a stain beneath the surface.

The burning need coursing through her had gotten so bad, she’d done the only thing she could think of to stop herself from completely unraveling—she’d pleasured herself. Alone, shaking, and desperate.

The release had dulled the edge, but it hadn’t erased the truth that haunted her even more—at the worst of it, in the haze of the aphrodisiac, it was Zayn her body had craved. \

That realization clung tighter than anything else.

She dipped her head under the water, holding herself there longer than necessary. The cold numbed her face, but not her thoughts.

When she came back up, hair dripping and chest heaving, she exhaled shakily.

She wasn’t sure what felt worse—the ache the drug had left behind... or the fact that some part of her wanted him.

‘What do I do now?’ she thought.

She didn’t know where she belonged and didn’t know whom to trust anymore. She wasn’t even sure she trusted herself. Her body didn’t feel like hers lately. Not after what they’d made her wear. What they’d made her drink and what she had gone through tonight.

She leaned back slightly, letting her fingers drift through the water.

That’s when she heard it—howling in the distance.

A chorus of wolves. Faint, but clear.

She stiffened, ears straining.

It wasn’t unusual this deep in the forest. They always howled on full moons.

But then came another one.

A single, broken howl. Louder. Closer.

Wounded?

It made something deep in her chest twist.

She froze.

That one... it sounded different.

It wasn’t just a sound. It felt like it echoed inside her.

She looked around, confused.

Then came another sound.

A voice this time.

Not spoken out loud. Not carried on the wind.

It was inside her head.

‘Please... stop the pain.’

Lily gasped and clutched her head. Her breath hitched. The voice wasn’t hers, but it was real.

‘Stop...?’ she mouthed, confused.

The howling came again—louder now, raw and full of agony. She could feel it in her bones. Then the voice pleaded again.

‘It hurts. It hurts. Make it stop.’

She stumbled backward in the water, suddenly lightheaded. The air grew colder. Or maybe it was just her body reacting. Her heart pounded.

‘Who is that?’ she thought. ‘Why can I hear them?’

She grabbed her bandaged arm tightly. The pain that had been dull earlier and easy to ignore now flared up, hot and sharp. She gasped again, sinking to her knees in the river.

The pain wasn’t just hers anymore. She could feel what he was feeling. Whoever it was.

Pain. Agony. Death.

It crashed into her like a wave. Her breathing grew shallow.

‘Stop,’ she mouthed. ‘Please, stop...’ fre/ew.ebnovel.c om

But the voice didn’t fade.

‘Help me. Please.’

She clutched her head again.

‘What’s happening to me?’

Then a whisper in her own mind—one she couldn’t explain.

Her chest tightened.

It wasn’t possible. Zayn had rejected her. How could the mate bond still connect them both?

And yet... the pain kept pouring in. Like he couldn’t help it. Like some part of him had reached out, and some part of her had answered unintentionally.

She crawled toward the edge of the river, water dripping from her naked form, her hands shaking.

She couldn’t see him and didn’t know where he was, but she felt him.

Bleeding and begging.

Lily collapsed to the forest floor, her body hitting the cold earth hard. The pain continued spreading through her limbs like wildfire. She clutched her chest, gasping soundlessly, her mouth opening in a silent scream.

It was unbearable.

Like something inside her had snapped and now burned from the inside out.

She writhed, fingers clawing at the dirt, wet and cold beneath her.

Then, as suddenly as it came, the pain faded.

Not completely—but enough for her to breathe again.

She rolled onto her back, chest rising and falling in shaky bursts.

That voice again.

Clearer now. Sharper.

“Please come—”

Lily blinked up at the sky, stunned.

Zayn. That voice belonged to him.

“Help me. It hurts. Please—”

Lily sat up slowly, gripping her arms to stop them from shaking. Her thoughts spun in circles. She didn’t know if she should run to him and help or leave it be. After all, what could she do? What monster might he turn into this time?

He’d hurt her before.

Lily pushed herself to her feet, unsteady but determined.

She didn’t think. She just followed the pull.

Her bare feet padded through the forest, wet leaves sticking to her skin. The night was quiet, but the voice in her head kept guiding her.

Lily stared up at the building from the edge of the trees. The packhouse stood quiet in the moonlight, still and imposing. Her body trembled. It was fear. It was from something deeper in her bones.

She crossed the grounds slowly, her heart thudding harder with every step.

She didn’t know if she was walking into another trap.

But she had no choice.

The front door creaked open easily beneath her hand. She stepped inside, silence greeting her like an old enemy.

No guards. No footsteps. No voices.

She moved through the halls like a ghost, dripping wet and barefoot, her heart echoing in her ears.

Up the stairs. Down the long corridor.

She stopped at his door.

Zayn’s room.

The last time she was here, she’d been ordered, then left bruised and battered.

Now, she was here by choice.

Lily reached for the handle. Her fingers hovered for a second, then she pushed it open.

Empty. Her breath hitched.

She stepped inside and then slowly scanned the room.

Sheets half-tossed. The window opened. Moonlight spilled across the floor.

And then—boom.

The ground shook beneath her feet.

Lily stumbled, catching herself on the doorframe. The tremor was brief but strong enough to rattle the shelves and send a vase crashing to the floor.

Her eyes widened.

What the hell was that?

Then another wave of pain hit her chest.

It hit harder this time. Like his soul was torn apart.

Urgency clawed at Lily as she raced through the packhouse, following the sound of Zayn’s howls. She flew down the basement stairs, the air growing colder and thicker with each step. Candlelight flickered weakly along the stone walls.

The moment she reached the bottom, the sharp scent of blood hit her.

Victoria lay slumped on the floor, her gown soaked red, deep claw marks slashed across her chest and arm. She groaned.

The moment her eyes landed on Lily, she screamed, voice ragged and sharp. “You! What are you doing here?”

But Lily didn’t even flinch.

Her eyes were locked on Zayn.

He was chained at the center of the room, part man, part beast. His body was massive, fur-covered, and trembling. Claws curled from his hands, and his face was caught between human and wolf. Thick silver chains dug into his limbs, glowing faintly.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, he stilled.

“Lily?” Ezra shouted from the side, disheveled and sweating. “What are you doing here?”

Lily took a step forward, ignoring the panic in his voice.

Ezra stormed toward her. “Get away from him! Are you trying to get yourself killed? He’s lost all control!”

When she didn’t back off, he grabbed her arm.

“Get out!”

She tried to pull free, but he shoved her hard. She hit the ground with a soft thud.

A roar ripped through the room. Chains rattled violently as Zayn lunged—his clawed hand clamping around Ezra’s throat.

“Zayn—!” Ezra choked, legs thrashing.

Lily scrambled up and ran toward them without thinking. She grabbed onto Zayn’s arm with all the strength she could muster, trying to get him to let go.

‘Please,’ she mouthed again. ‘Let him go.’