Chained to the Enemy Alpha-Chapter 156: The Real You

Though Talia and Ragnar were still hesitant, they respected Lily's decision and stepped aside.

"We'll be here if you need us," Talia whispered to Lily before stepping back into the hall to stand guard.

Zayn walked out to the balcony, welcoming the cool night breeze. Away from the chatter in the ball, he felt like he could finally breathe. Lily walked back to the balcony railing, leaning against it while she watched Zayn carefully.

She saw how nervous he looked, how his brows furrowed. He had something to ask her, but he didn't know how to say it.

'You want to ask me a question?' Lily signed.

Zayn looked at her in surprise. Had she read his mind?

"Yes…"

It took Lily a moment to realize Zayn understood her sign language. Perhaps it was a sign that her Zayn was still in there.

'You can ask me anything.'

Zayn nodded as he walked over to her side. She didn't move or flinch. She stayed still.

"What were you looking for in my room?" He asked.

Lily bit her lip. Hesitant to give her answer. She told him he could ask her anything, but it was still up to her to decide if she wished to answer.

"You took something," he continued, his tone firm but lacking the hostility from the night before. "I have a right to know what it was."

Lily retrieved the coin from her pocket and showed it to Zayn.

"A coin?" Zayn's brow furrowed, "Why was it so important? Important enough for you to risk your life to get it?"

'It was given to me by a friend. He told me I could use it to leave the pack if I wanted to.'

Zayn clenched his jaw. He seemed hurt.

"Why are you still here? Why haven't you used it yet?"

Lily put the coin back in her pocket. She met his gaze directly.

'I thought about it, but I decided not to. I only kept it because you told me to. If not, I would have thrown it out long ago.'

"I told you to keep it?"

Lily nodded, 'You told me to keep it. You said maybe there will be a time when it would come in handy.'

Zayn stepped back, his mind racing. That didn't sound like him at all. Why would he allow his enemy, the one whom he kept purposefully close to torture, to keep a means of escape?

"I don't understand," he admitted, running a hand through his hair. "Why would I care so much for you? You're the daughter of my worst enemy. Your family destroyed everything I cared for, everything I loved."

Lily looked at him with such tenderness that it made his chest ache. 'I've often wondered about that too. You even learned sign language so that you could understand me.'

Zayn froze.

"I don't."

'You do.'

"No… I don't. I'm sure of it."

Lily could not help but chuckle.

"What's so funny?"

'If you don't understand sign language. How are you understanding anything I'm saying right now?'

Zayn froze. He understood her. Every movement of her hands, every subtle expression – he comprehended it all without effort.

"Sign language," he whispered, more to himself than to her. "I understand sign language."

'Yes,' Lily nodded. 'Why would you go through the trouble of learning an entirely new language just to understand me if your opinion of me had not changed?'

Lily's question hit him hard. Memories that seemed to have been locked away were resurfacing in his mind. He held his head in his hand, wincing as he recalled fragments of a distant memory.

He remembered conversing with Lily in sign language, her laughter, and her patient smile as she corrected his form.

"Zayn!" Victoria's sharp voice shattered the moment between them, "I've been looking everywhere for you!"

Talia and Ragnar quickly intercepted her.

"This is a private conversation," Talia warned, blocking her way.

"Private?" Victoria scoffed. She glanced over their shoulders to see Lily with Zayn. Her expression grew dark.

"All y'all are doing is hurting Zayn! Look! He is in pain because of her!" She protested.

Ragnar stepped forward, a low growl emanating from his chest. "Watch yourself."

Victoria ignored him, fixing her venomous glare on Lily. "What lies have you been feeding him now? Do you think you can manipulate him into forgetting what your family did to him? To us?"

"Victoria, enough!" Zayn commanded, but she was too far gone.

"Have you forgotten what her father did to you?" Victoria spat as she pushed her way past Ragnar and Talia.

She turned to face Zayn. "Have you forgotten how her brother tortured our packmates for sport? How they killed Irene and your unborn child?"

Zayn flinched at the mention of his deceased mate, but his eyes remained fixed on Lily

"Lily isn't her father or her brother," he said slowly, the words feeling right as they left his mouth. "She's not responsible for their deaths."

Victoria's eyes widened in shock. "Are you defending her? After everything we've been through?"

"She helped people even when they didn't want her around," Zayn continued, fragments of memories resurfacing faster now. "She stayed by my side despite what I did to her."

Lily's eyes glistened with tears.

"Stop it!" Victoria grabbed Zayn's arm, nails digging into his skin. "She's poisoning your mind! Don't you remember the pain? The suffering?"

"I remember," Zayn said, gently removing her hand. "But I also remember things that don't make sense. Like what you've been telling me."

Victoria staggered back at Zayn, turned to face her, his eyes narrowing.

"What have you done, Victoria?"

"What have I done?" Victoria laughed bitterly. "I've been by your side through everything! I've supported you, loved you—"

"Did forcing me to forget Lily help me?" Zayn interrupted, his voice dangerously low. "Was digging out all my painful memories helping me heal? Or was it serving your agenda?"

Victoria paled but recovered quickly. "I…I just wanted you to remember who was more important to you!" she hissed, gesturing between herself and Lily. "I was the one who'd been there for you since the beginning!"

A tense silence fell over the balcony. Talia and Ragnar exchanged worried glances, ready to intervene if necessary.

Zayn's expression softened, but not in the way Victoria hoped.

"You're right," he said quietly. "You made me remember who's more important to me."

Victoria's face lit up with triumph.

"It's Lily," he finished.