Bound by the Alpha's Chain

Chapter 3: "Shadows of the Past"

I placed the USB drive carefully into my purse, feeling a surge of nervousness as I made my way back to Draven’s office.

It felt like I was carrying something dangerous. Liam's warning was replayed in my head: "Don't trust anyone. Especially not Draven Stone."

While I walked towards the door, the noises of heated disputes became progressively clear. I stopped and drew nearer, pressing my ear against the door to listen attentively to the dialogue unveiling within.

"...can't keep this charade up forever," a man's voice hissed. It wasn't Draven.

"I don't need forever," Draven replied, his tone icy.

"Just long enough to secure what's mine."

"And the girl? What if she remembers?"

There was a pause. "She won't. I've made sure of that."

My blood ran cold. What had Draven done to me? Before I could process this, the voices moved closer to the door. I quickly stepped back, composing myself just as it swung open.

A tall man with salt-and-pepper hair exited, giving me a calculating look before striding away. Draven appeared in the doorway, his face a mask of calm.

"Ah, Aria. Feeling better?"

I forced a smile. "Yes, thank you. I'm ready to discuss the contract now."

He waved me in and shut the door after we entered. I found a seat and looked at his desk. There was a new folder there, one I hadn't seen earlier when I was in the room.

It caught my eye right away, sitting on top of the usual papers and stuff. I wondered what was inside and why it was there now. The folder seemed important somehow, like it might hold answers to some of my questions.

I made an effort to avoid looking at it directly. I didn’t want him to realize that I was interested in it.

The label read "Project Phoenix."

Draven caught my gaze and smoothly slid the folder out of sight. "Now, where were we?"

I took a deep breath. It was time to get some answers. "Actually, Mr. Stone, I have some questions first."

His eyebrows arched. "Oh?"

"Who was that woman earlier? Evelyn? And what did she mean about a fire ten years ago?"

Draven's jaw stiffened slightly. "Like I mentioned, she's a former worker who likes to make a scene."

Nothing more."

"And the fire?"

He leaned back, studying me. "A tragic accident at one of my family's properties. Ancient history."

But something tugged at the edges of my memory. Smoke, screams, a secret passage...

"I think..." I began hesitantly, "I think I might have been there."

Draven's eyes flashed with something – alarm? – before his face settled back into its usual impassive mask. "Impossible. You must be mistaken."

"Am I?" I pressed.

"I'm starting to feel like I might be wrong about a lot of my past, or maybe I've been made to forget things." The room felt colder suddenly.

Draven got up and went to the window. "Ms. Sinclair, I'm starting to question if you're really dedicated to this deal."

Perhaps we should reconsider—"

"No!" I said quickly, thinking of my mother. "I... I'm sorry. I'm just trying to understand."

He looked at me again, his face easing a bit. "I get that this is a lot for you to handle."

Why don't you take the contract home, review it overnight? We can finalize everything tomorrow."

I acknowledged, feeling grateful for the momentary pause.

As I got up to exit, my purse brushed against the desk, causing its contents to scatter all over the floor.

The photograph of young Draven and me fluttered to the floor.

Time seemed to freeze as Draven's eyes locked onto the image.

Within the span of a moment, he swiftly seized it. "How did you come by this?" he inquired, his earlier composure vanishing entirely. "I... it dropped from my stepfather's pocket," I faltered, struggling to find my words.

"Mr. Stone, who is that little girl? Is it me?"

Draven's knuckles were white as he gripped the photo. "Your stepfather had no right to this.

Forget you ever saw it, understand?"

But I couldn't back down now. "No, I don't understand. I want the truth, Draven. Who are you to me? What aren't you telling me?"

For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of anguish in his eyes. Then it was gone, replaced by cold determination. He pressed a button on his desk.

"Security, please escort Ms. Sinclair out."

"What? No!" I protested as two burly men entered. "Draven, please!"

But he had already turned away.

As the security team walked me out, I noticed him looking at the photograph. His shoulders were slumped, and he seemed to be feeling a deep sense of defeat.

Lost in thought, I found myself standing outside Stone Enterprises. My head was spinning with questions. What was Draven keeping from me? And why did it seem like the answer was hidden somewhere in my own memories?

I hailed a cab, eager to return home and examine the contents of Liam's USB drive. As I settled into the backseat, a shiver ran down my spine. Glancing in the rearview mirror, I saw a black SUV tailing us closely.

"Sorry to interrupt," I told the driver, "but I believe we’re being followed."

The driver glanced at me in the mirror, and I was shocked to see that his eyes were as piercingly blue as Draven's.

“I'm aware,” he said, a menacing grin spreading as he engaged the door locks. “That’s precisely what’s intended.”

A wave of fear washed over me. I yanked on the door handle with all my strength, but it remained firmly shut. The taxi accelerated, weaving aggressively through the traffic.

"Who are you?" I shouted. "What do you want?"

"You ask so many questions, Aria," the driver replied, his voice eerily familiar.

"Just like your mother."

My blood ran cold. "My mother? What do you know about her?"

He chuckled darkly. "Oh, sweetheart. I know everything about her.

"Considering everything, I've been the one keeping her unwell all these years."

It felt like the world was spinning. "What do you mean?"

"Did you really think it was a coincidence that your mother fell ill right when Draven needed an heir?

"That your stepfather unexpectedly had a link to one of the most influential people in the world?"

Tears filled my eyes as the shocking reality started to hit me.

"You've been poisoning her? All this time?"

"Let's just say we've been... managing her condition. Insurance, to make sure you played your part."

"My part in what?" I choked out.

The driver's eyes gleamed in the mirror. "In bringing down Draven Stone, of course.

"And getting back what we rightfully deserve."

Then, a huge crash shook the car. The black SUV had slammed into us, making the cab spin around.

When we finally came to a stop, I seized the opportunity. I kicked through the window and climbed out onto the street.

Cars honked and dodged around me as I sprinted, my heart pounding loudly. I could hear yelling and heavy footsteps coming closer. I slipped into an alley, desperate for a way to escape.

Then, just when I needed it most, I saw him. Liam was urgently signaling me from a motorcycle.

“Aria, come quickly!”

I raced toward him, hearing the sounds of footsteps getting nearer.

As I jumped onto the back of the motorcycle, I glanced back and saw the people chasing me. My stepfather was there, his face twisted with anger.

Liam revved up the engine, and we sped away into the darkness. The rush of wind through my hair made it hard to think clearly about everything that had just occurred.

Everything I thought I knew about my life was false. My mother’s sickness, my stepfather’s intentions, and even my own recollections had all been twisted for some larger purpose.

And at the heart of this deception was Draven Stone, a man who felt both completely foreign and deeply known to me.

As we navigated the winding city streets, one question consumed my thoughts: In a world where appearances were deceiving, who could I rely on?

I had no idea that the answer would challenge everything I believed to be true—about myself, Draven, and the shadowy forces that had been manipulating my life from behind the scenes.

The truth was waiting for me. And it would change everything.