Chapter 4

• Marked As Theirs
• Chapter 4
• Veronica's POV
• Like he could feel my presence, his head snapped up. He stared at me with those almond eyes, and my heart raced.
• “I’m finally going crazy,” I muttered in my head.
• Cecilia turned, and her brows furrowed in irritation. “What the hell—Ohh…the Northland stray,”
• She trailed her hands down Adnam's chest, her gaze not leaving mine. Her hair was dishevelled, her shirt crumpled. I could see her cleavages, and my face heated up.
• “Did you get lost, or did you just want to see what's out of your league?”
• Adnam said nothing, and that made my stomach tighten more.
• I cleared my throat and lifted my chin. “I don’t care what you two do. I just came for a book.”
• Then I turned and walked away. When I reached out, I leaned against the wall. The fact that he remained quiet infuriated me.
• Right. His girl had said it all, and truthfully, I had enough problems already.
• I left the wall and walked down the hallway to the park.
• “Beau and Seth should be done with their basketball practice,” I murmured, checking my phone for any new messages.
• I sighed when there wasn't. My sister, Bellarosa, had been distant since I left home. Maybe it was because of the guilt she felt.
• ‘All my fault. We shouldn't have,’ she had rushed in tears a year ago when I discovered I was pregnant.
• “Veronica”, I heard from behind me.
• I stiffened.
• Beau.
• He was the most easygoing person among us, but that didn't mean he wasn't strict sometimes, even more than Seth. So, I schooled my expression before I faced him.
• “What?” I asked, slipping my phone into my bag pocket.
• “You tell me, Veronica.”
• I sighed and bent my head, my ponytail falling down my shoulder. My hair was long up to my waist, and I mostly wore it in a ponytail. It was one of the things I had freedom with.
• “Beau, where's Seth?” I asked, ignoring his question. I wanted to go home, freshen up, and be with my baby.
• He moved closer. “Was it him?”
• I froze.
• Beau rarely dropped the act, but when he did, it meant he was serious.
• I met his gaze, but before I could respond, another voice cut in.
• “Of course, it’s him.”
• Seth.
• I turned as he approached, his backpack in his hand. “Adnam?” he asked, though it wasn’t really a question.
• I huffed. “I said it’s nothing.”
• Beau's playful expression returned. “Let me guess. You walked in on his highness and his queen in a compromising situation?”
• I stiffened again, and that was all the confirmation they needed.
• Beau whistled. “Ouch.”
• Seth’s hands curled into fists. “Did he say anything to you?”
• I hesitated.
• That was the worst part.
• He hadn’t.
• Not a damn word.
• And that somehow hurt more than anything Cecilia had said.
• “Why do you two even care?”
• “Because you’re our pack.”
• Beau grinned. “And because we like to see you squirm, obviously.”
• I groaned. “Beau, I swear—”
• He laughed and took some steps to the car, while Seth muttered so low that I almost didn't know he was talking to me.
• “It’s not him you should be worrying about.”
• *************************************************
• “For this project, you'll be working in pairs,” Miss Vee said after she wrote something on the board.
• A female student raised her hand, and Miss Vee ignored her. “Before anyone asks, no, you don’t get to pick your partner.”
• She and her friends groaned.
• I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms as she called out names.
• There were over twenty students in my class, so the chances of getting paired with someone I actually wanted to work with were fifty per cent.
• Taylor muttered something under her breath, but I was too preoccupied to hear.
• Because Miss Vee had just called his name.
• Adnam Sergio.
• I didn't need to turn my head to know every single person in the room was waiting to see who she would pair him with.
• The strongest in the school. At least, that was true until a few weeks ago.
• Until Aaron arrived.
• When he joined us, people started comparing him to Adnam. And the thing was… was….they didn't even know him.
• Not really.
• Just like they didn't know anything about me.
• I had been here for weeks now, and besides Seth and Beau, Taylor was the only one who had genuinely spoken to me. (I didn't tell her much. She wasn't even aware that I had a son)
• Miss Vee called the next name. My name.
• “Veronica Sebastian, you’ll be working with Adnam Sergio.”
• “No. I can't.” I wanted to shout it out loud when someone beat me to it.
• “I refuse,” Adnam said quietly yet authoritatively.
• Some students gasped, while some exchanged glances, waiting for Miss Vee’s reaction.
• I turned my head, but he didn't look at me.
• I felt a dull and familiar ache. The same way my mate had turned his back on me. Like I was not worthy of them.
• I clenched my jaw. No big deal. It was just a class project.
• Miss Vee sighed and left the front to stand a few feet from us. “You know the rules, Adnam. No switching. You and Veronica will be partners.”
• “Get me another partner.”
• She pressed her lips into a thin line, like she was deliberating on another decision.
• “Yes, please. Just give me someone else,” I begged inwardly.
• “Fine. But only under one condition. You must go to her pack for the project.”
• “What?!”
• He scowled at Miss Vee. If it was another teacher, she could have shrunk back in fear, but Miss Vee was surprisingly bold and strict.
• “Not happening,” he said coldly.
• “Then the pairing stands.”
• The last thing I wanted was Adnam stepping anywhere near my family. Near my son. Near the life I was desperately trying to keep separate.
• “I’ll go to his pack,” I said before he could argue again.
• Surprise flashed across his face.
• “Good. Now, let's move on.”
• Taylor nudged me with her legs. “Are you sure about this?”
• No. But I wasn't about to back down.
• So, I just exhaled and muttered, “It's just work.”
• A lie.
• Because deep down, I had a feeling it was going to be a lot more than that.
• *************************************************
• Convincing my family was an entirely different battle.
• “You are not going,” Seth stated.
• I sighed and rubbed my temples. The same old story. Northland Pack does not mix well with the Alder Pack, likewise the Southlands Pack (Cecilia's).
• Uncle Liam sat in his armchair, watching us argue with a calmness that only made me more nervous. Aunt Indigo stood by the kitchen.
• “This is a bad idea, Veronica,” she said softly.
• “I won't cross any boundaries. Do what we should and leave,” I said, trying not to sound as frustrated as I felt.
• Seth scoffed. “Yeah? And what if something happens?”
• I was getting irritated now. “I’m not weak. Why do you all think otherwise?”
• Uncle Liam spoke. “No one thinks you're weak. I don't like it either, but if it's something you have to do… then do it, dear.”
• As soon as I stepped into Alder Pack territory, I felt a shiver run down my spine. It was…different from where I was coming from.
• “You must be Veronica,” an older woman greeted me with a warm smile.
• He must have informed them. “Uhm, yeah. And you are...?”
• She wiped her hands on her apron. “Call me Martha. I'm Alpha Adnam's nanny.”
• She gestured toward the house. “Come on in.”
• I followed her inside, and I gaped unconsciously at the house. It was insanely big.
• “I've already prepared a space for you to work, but he's not here yet.” She turned and pointed to the right. “His room is just down there if you need to—”
• “Oh my! I have to go check what I left on the fire. The cooks are on a break,” she said quickly and left.
• My feet carried me to his room, and I opened the door as quietly as I could. If his house was beautiful, his room was minimalistic.
• “Woah. We have the same taste," I muttered, stepping in further.
• The walls were ash grey. Large windows that let in the evening sun. A black bookshelf lined at a side with books that looked like they were being read, not just for display.
• The beds…everywhere were neat. No unnecessary clutter. Just like him.
• Suddenly, the bathroom door opened, and I panicked. As I was about to round the corner, I collided with a warm, bare, and wet chest.
• I stumbled back, but his hand gripped my arm. I lifted my head and wished I didn't. His damp hair clung to his forehead and over his eyes. A few droplets of water dropped, and I followed them down to his waist.
• He didn't leave me. He stared down at me…my face.
• I swallowed hard. “I—”
• BAM!
• The door opened, and I pushed away from him.
• Cecilia.
• Oh no. Not again.
• She leaned against the door, amusement in her eyes. “Adnam, love,” she drawled, undressing. “And here I was, thinking I'd be the only one in your bed tonight.”
• She stepped closer, standing in nothing but panties and a bra, her full curves on display. “Or have you forgotten your promise to claim me as your mate?”