Chained By The Alpha Jessica Hall

Book 2 Chapter 5Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Vance

The road home feels longer than usual tonight as I make my way home. Each mile is haunted by the look on Maya's face when she walked away from me earlier the deep sadness masked by defiance. I can't shake the image of her and the defeated look on her face, nor the guilt that knots my stomach. Her life was turned upside down because of a court case that my brother heavily influenced, and now her own pack practically abandons her. It's not right. I can't explain it, I should hate her, but I can't bring myself to

Seeing her in the courtroom and how everyone reacted to her. I shake the memory away. She

isn't my issue. But seeing her with her broken down car, her anger at me. It all plays on my mind. I somehow feel responsible because it was my brother's actions that led to Maya's current predicament. As much as I try to distance myself from the situation, I know that my family's influence played a pivotal role in her suffering

Despite my attempts to rationalize my feelings, the image of her struggling and the impact of my brother's decisions weigh heavily on my conscience

By the time I pull into my driveway, my mind is made up. I grab my phone and start making calls, reaching out to a few contacts who owe me a favor or two

"Hey, Mike, it's Vance. Listen, I need an alternator for a 2005 Mustang. It's urgent. Can you help me out?" The line crackles as Mike

checks if he has one

"Since when do you drive a shitty Mustang?" he grumbles

"T don't, it's for a..." I pause, contemplating what she is. "A friend?" I tell him

With the alternator secured, I call my friend Leo. "I need your help with a car. Are you in?" His agreement comes quickly, before his hesitation

"You own a car?" he asks

"No, I don't. [need someone to help me; it's already dark, and I don't feel like being splattered on the road." I tell him

"And this can't wait until morning?" he asks. I sigh, and he curses

"Alright, I'll come over. You got tools, or I gotta bring those too?" He says

"Yeah, bring 'em. I also need you to pick me up

The car is broken down on the highway just outside the city."

An hour later, we're back at the spot where Maya's car is abandoned. The sun has long set, leaving us to work under the dim glow of his headlights and the flashlights on our phones

Leo whistles lowly as we approach the car

"She's been riding around in this?" he asks, and I nod. The state of her car makes it debatable if

it is worth fixing; the paint has faded, and it has more dents than a golf ball

He holds his hands out for the keys, but I move to the window instead. With a swift motion, I pull out a slim jim from my back pocket, sliding

it expertly between the glass and the weatherstripping

"We're breaking into a car, Vance? This is new," Leo chuckles

"I'm not stealing it!" I tell him. "It's for a good cause," I mutter

"And what good cause is that for, trying to get into Maya's pants?" he asks with a laugh

"No!"

Within seconds, I've unlocked the door and popped the hood, my movements precise and practiced. Leo raises an eyebrow, impressed

"Old habits die hard, I see," he comments dryly

Planning your weekend reading? . The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively available on our site. Happy reading! "Though the state of it, you probably could have just pushed on the roof and broke into it." I

glare at him. What part of, we are trying to fix it, not break it further didn't he understand?

We open the hood, and I'm handed the new alternator. Leo and I have known each other since high school when we spent countless afternoons tinkering with old cars in his dad's garage. Our bond runs deep, built on trust and shared experiences, which is why he didn't hesitate to help me tonight despite the odd request. As he passes me tools and we work in sync, it feels like old times, reminding me why I can always count on him

Replacing the alternator takes less time than I thought. "Alright, let's get this baby running again," he says, his tone satisfied. I nod, feeling a slight ease in the tightness in my chest

Slipping into the driver's seat, I reach under the dashboard, feeling around for the ignition wires

Carefully, I strip the ends and twist them

together, a spark flying as they make contact

The engine roars to life, and I can't help but smile as the headlights flicker on, illuminating the night. "I'll have to replace the ignition switch after returning it," I say, glancing at Leo, who nods

"Let's drop it off at her place," I decide. The need to ensure she has one less problem is weighing heavily on me