Chained to the Enemy Alpha
Chapter 54: Ticking Time

Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Ticking Time

“Lily? Lily!”

Martha’s voice rang across the field, increasingly desperate.

Talia spun at the sound of her voice. She spotted Martha pacing near the edge of the fields, eyes scanning every row like she was searching for something. .com

Her brows furrowed as she walked over. “Martha? What’s going on?” she asked, concerned.

Martha turned quickly, her face tight with worry. “Have you seen Lily? Someone told me she came to the fields this morning.”

Talia’s frown deepened. “No, I haven’t. I’ve been checking around... but I didn’t think she’d come here again.”

“She’s not here,” Martha said, frustrated. “I already asked the workers. She’s not with the harvesters either.”

“I was just at the pack house. She’s not there either,” Talia replied, glancing around. “Where could she have gone?”

Martha turned, spotting Bianca nearby and calling her over. “Bianca! Have you seen Lily today?”

Bianca walked over, slightly out of breath. “I saw her this morning. Ezra came and said Alpha Zayn was looking for her. He took her with him.”

“What?” Talia gasped, surprised, “That’s not possible.”

Bianca blinked. “Not possible?”

“I was with Zayn not too long ago. He never asked for her. He didn’t even mention her,” Talia blinked.

Martha’s expression darkened.

“Then where the hell is she?” she whispered, her voice shaking.

“And why would Ezra lie about it?”

A cold silence settled between them. Talia and Martha exchanged a glance. f|re(e)web.n\ovel. (c)o.m

Talia’s jaw tightened. “Come on. We need to find her. Now!”

Martha’s eyes narrowed as she grabbed Bianca’s arm. “Which way did they go? Think, Bianca. Did you see?”

Bianca hesitated, then pointed toward the woods.

“That way.”

Martha’s stomach dropped. “No,” she whispered, shaking her head slowly. “That isn’t the path to the packhouse. I know those trails. Ezra took her toward the forest. That’s not a shortcut. It’s the opposite direction.”

Talia grabbed her arm. “Wait.”

Across the fields, two figures emerged from the tree line, Ezra and Victoria, walking side by side. Lily was nowhere to be seen.

Fearing the worst, Martha turned towards them. She marched over. But before she could get far, Talia grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her back.

“Don’t,” she said quickly, her voice low. “Confronting them now won’t do us any good. They won’t tell us anything.”

“But they...” Martha started.

“I know,” Talia cut in, already pulling her in the opposite direction. “Let’s go to Zayn. If he didn’t send for her, then chances are, he doesn’t know what they’ve done either.”

Martha looked back again, her chest tight.

“I swear,” she muttered, “if they hurt her...”

“Then we’ll make damn sure they regret it,” Talia promised. “Now come on.”

Victoria and Ezra watched as Talia and Martha crossed the field, quickly picking up their pace.

“They’re going to tell Zayn,” Victoria muttered, predicting where they were headed.

Without wasting time, Ezra pulled a few guards aside. “Stall them,” he said under his breath. “Tell them Zayn’s not available. Do everything to keep them out of the packhouse.”

Victoria smirked slightly. “I’ll handle the rest.”

She didn’t wait. She turned on her heel and strode toward the Alpha’s chambers.

When she reached the guards outside Zayn’s door, she gave them clear instructions, “The Alpha and I are not to be disturbed,” she said. “I don’t care who comes. Just keep them out.”

The guards glanced at each other before giving her a curt nod.

Victoria smoothed her dress, inhaled once, and opened the door without knocking.

Zayn sat slouched behind his desk, one hand pressed to his temple, the other limp on the stack of reports he hadn’t touched in hours.

“Headache again?” Victoria cooed as she quietly shut the door behind her.

Zayn didn’t answer. His silence was enough.

Victoria moved behind him and gently placed her fingers on his temples. “You need to relax more,” she murmured, massaging slowly. “You’re always so tense these days. Let me help you unwind.”

He didn’t move, nor did he respond.

She leaned in closer, letting her hands trail down to his shoulders. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” Her voice dipped lower, sexier. “We haven’t had any time... for us.”

Zayn let out a tired breath, but still said nothing.

Victoria smiled faintly to herself and let her hands slide further down his arms, over his chest. “You don’t have to say anything,” she whispered. “Just breathe.”

Her lips brushed his ear. He didn’t pull away.

She slipped around the side of his chair, straddling his lap, one hand tracing the line of his jaw. “You need some fun time, would you like to go out and relax with me?” she asked. “It’s been so long. I’ve missed you.”

But just as she tilted forward to kiss him, a loud thud echoed from the hallway. Raised voices followed.

Zayn’s eyes snapped open. He stiffened.

Victoria froze against him. “Ignore it,” she said quickly. “It’s probably nothing...”

A voice rang from outside. It’s Talia. “Zayn, Lily’s gone! We can’t find her!”

“What?” Zayn said sharply, lifting his head.

Victoria let out a light, dismissive laugh. “Please, this is just another one of Lily’s stunts,” she said smoothly, inching closer and letting her fingers trail toward his waist. “She’s always finding a way to get your attention. Relax... I’ve got you.”

“Move,” he said, his tone firmer now.

“Zayn...” she tried again, her voice breathy, seductive.

“Now.”

His voice left no room for argument. He pushed her off his lap and stood, face tense, eyes already narrowing toward the door.

Victoria stared up at him, stunned. Her hands curled tightly at her sides.

“She was with Ezra and Victoria!” Talia continued shouting, “And when they came out of the woods, Lily wasn’t with them.”

Zayn’s brows furrowed. He turned slowly toward Victoria, who was still standing by his desk, pretending to be confused.

“I don’t know what she’s talking about,” Victoria said with a small, dismissive shrug. “I went for a walk.”

Zayn’s heart slammed against his chest.

He took a step toward Victoria. “You were with her?” he asked tightly. “You know where she is?”

Victoria didn’t respond fast enough.

That was all it took.

In a flash, Zayn closed the gap and shoved her hard against the wall. Her back hit the wall with a thud, her breath hitched as one hand pinned her shoulder, the other gripped her throat.

“Where is she?” he growled, eyes glowing faintly. “What did you do?”

Victoria’s mouth opened in a soft gasp. Her breath hitched as she struggled to breathe. Her chest rose and fell in short, frantic bursts, her eyes wide with panic. And just like that, the tears started. Big, wet, shimmering tears that clung to her lashes and slid down her cheeks.

“Zayn... I can’t breathe... you’re hurting me.”

“I asked you a question.”

“I...I don’t know!” she cried, voice cracking. “I swear I don’t know what they’re talking about! What did I do?”

Zayn didn’t loosen his grip, giving her enough hold to allow her to respond to him. His eyes searched her face, jaw clenched tight.

“You and Ezra came out of the forest without her,” he said coldly. “Talia saw you. Martha too.”

Victoria whimpered. “They’re lying...they hate me. They want to tear us apart.”

Zayn stared coldly at her.

“Zayn, please,” she begged, sobbing. “Don’t let them turn you against me. After everything we’ve been through, after everything I’ve done for you... Doesn’t that mean anything?”

Zayn’s grip tightened for a split second, then he let her go.

She crumpled to the floor, landing hard on her knees, gasping for breath. She clutched her throat with a trembling hand, the other braced against the cold floor as she stared up at him, shaken and wide-eyed.

Tears streamed down her face as she looked up at him with trembling lips, “Why don’t you believe me? When have I ever done anything to hurt you? Does that little wolf really mean so much more to you than me?”

Zayn turned away from her, the muscles in his back stiff. “This isn’t about that.”

“Then what is it?” she snapped, voice sharp with hurt. “You marked her. You chose her. I’ve been by your side through everything, and now what, you’re throwing me away like I’m nothing?”

Zayn spun, his voice low and dangerous. “I’m not arguing with you about this anymore, Victoria.”

She flinched as he stepped closer, his eyes cold.

“Lily is important for my plans. If anything happens to her...” He leaned in slightly, his tone like ice. “I won’t go easy on you. Goddess help you, I won’t.”

Victoria’s face twisted, lips parting like she wanted to protest, but Zayn didn’t wait.

He stormed to the door and threw it open, startling the guards. Talia and Martha were right there.

“Is it true?” he asked flatly, not wasting time.

Talia nodded. “I wouldn’t come here if it weren’t.”

The pain in Zayn’s heart turned up a notch. The unease that had been crawling through him now twisted into dread.

Martha stepped forward. “I’m scared something bad’s happened to her.”

Zayn’s jaw tightened. “Then we’ll find her. Now.”

Zayn turned sharply at the door, his hand on the handle. His eyes burned as they locked on Victoria.

“I’ll deal with you when I come back,” he said, voice low and trembling with rage.