Chapter 5

• Marked As Theirs
• Chapter 5
• Veronica's POV
• I had encountered psychopaths and weirdos, but never had I seen one as crazy as Cecilia Whitlock.
• She was asinine with her stupid tactics. Because, why the hell would she say something like that while going practically naked?
• I exhaled, blowing my hair away from my face as I pressed my palm against my chest. The way Adnam had looked at me before Cecilia barged in… No. I wasn't going to dwell on it.
• I turned, ready to get as far away from this madness as possible, when I almost bumped into Martha. Her eyes immediately narrowed.
• “Veronica”, she called, giving me that motherly-scolding look. “You went into the Alpha's room?”
• “No,” I waved her off with a nervous laugh. “I think I just lost my way.”
• She arched a brow, watching me more than I preferred. I glanced toward the doorway and noticed there was no sign of Adnam or Cecilia. Thank goodness.
• “I see,” Martha said finally, dipping her hands into her apron pockets. “Well, Alpha Adnam isn't the most patient of men. When he arrives, try not to get on his nerves.”
• I almost scoffed. As if I'd even try.
• “Come. You might as well wait in the study,” she said and turned.
• I walked faster and fell into step beside her, my head reeling with what happened.
• Adnam had held me. Not for long, but long enough for me to feel the heat of his skin, the dampness of his hair, and the intoxicating scent of his soap.
• I shivered.
• Not because I liked it. Of course not. It was just…unexpected. Yes. That was it.
• The way Cecilia walked in… like she owned the place. Well, she did. In a way.
• I rolled my eyes as I remembered what she said. She was delusional if she thought Adnam would ever mate with her. It was obvious that he didn't like her, yet she held on to him like a leech.
• Not that I cared.
• Not even a little.
• Martha opened the door and gestured inside. “You can wait here. I’ll bring some tea.”
• I nodded and stepped in. The room was almost the same size as his room. This one had a bigger bookshelf.
• I sat down and rested my head on the headrest.
• I should have just told Miss Vee I wasn’t comfortable doing this project with Adnam. Then again, what excuse would I have given? That I didn’t like the way he looked at me… or worse, the way he didn’t?
• I groaned and pressed my fingers over my eyes. This was going to be a long few weeks.
• The door opened, and I looked up. My body tensed immediately, and I knew it wasn't her.
• Adnam’s gaze swept over me as he entered. He was in a grey hoodie and sweatpants.
• I cleared my throat as he sat across from me. “We should probably get—”
• “Don’t come into my room like that again, Veronica.”
• My heart leapt for a mixture of happiness, sadness, and anger. I wasn't even sure what was wrong with me.
• So, he knew my name all this while, yet he had acted like I was invisible? Like I wasn't worth his attention?
• I almost laughed. What a joke.
• “That’s funny,” I said. “I don’t remember wanting to be in your room in the first place.”
• He smirked for a brief second and leaned back in his chair, his legs spread.
• “And yet, you were,” he said, completely relaxed.
• “I got lost.”
• He tilted his head. “Lost.”
• His gaze scanned my face like he was looking for something.
• And again, I felt that thing. A pull. It was a strange familiarity that made my breath hitch before I sent it away.
• My thoughts wandered to that night. I couldn't remember his face because I was drunk.
• I wasn’t going to make the same mistake again.
• I straightened in my seat and lifted my chin. “Can we just focus on the project?”
• His eyes looked unsettling before he blinked. Shrugging, he replied, “Sure.”
• We worked in silence for about 10 minutes, but I could feel him. Ridiculous.
• I had met guys like him before. Cocky, used to people fawning over them (like Beau). Okay, not exactly like Beau.
• There was something different about Adnam. Or maybe it was just that stupid pull again.
• I refused to acknowledge it.
• “Why psychology?” he asked suddenly.
• I glanced up and frowned. “What?”
• “You’re a psychology major,” he said, beating his pen against the table. “Why?”
• I hesitated.
• It wasn't too personal. Just that the person asking me…
• I sighed. “Because people are interesting.”
• His lips quirked. “People are a mess.”
• “That too,” I admitted.
• He hummed. “Do you think I’m interesting?”
• I chuckled. “I think you’re exactly what everyone thinks you are.”
• He smirked deeply. “And what’s that?”
• “A playboy with too much time on his hands.”
• He laughed.
• Like he had heard it a thousand times before, but hearing me say it was kind of different.
• I bent over, pretending not to notice the way my heart had picked up speed again.
• “Why do I feel like you were hoping I'd be something else?” he asked, leaning forward.
• “Trust me, I don't like guys that are arrogant or overconfident.”
• “Well, I am the Alpha.”
• I rolled my eyes. “Yes, Alpha.”
• He chuckled. “So, what part of this project is supposed to be interesting?”
• “It’s a behavioural study.”
• “So you’re basically here to study me,” he said, amused.
• I gave him a look. “No, we’re studying each other,” I pointed to him and me. “And how interactions differ under different social dynamics.”
• “You really picked the wrong guy for that.”
• “Trust me, I know.”
• Adnam laughed again. “Come on, Veronica. What happened to don't judge a book by its cover?”
• “Right. Your cover is loud as hell. It’s even screaming.”
• “What’s it screaming?”
• I rubbed my chin and pretended to think. “Hmm. ‘I’m Adnam Sergio, the big bad Alpha of Alder Pack, feared and desired, baby. I break hearts, though.’”
• He grinned, clearly enjoying himself. “Not bad.”
• “So I’m right?”
• His eyes changed slightly. “It depends. You think that’s all there is to me?”
• I didn't answer right away.
• Because I thought I saw something beneath that expression. I quickly looked away.
• I cleared my throat.
• “Alpha”, someone called from the other side, knocking.
• The door opened, and a man—the same guy I saw with him on my first day—and I glanced at Adnam.
• “Did you handle it?” Adnam asked, meeting his eyes.
• He was about two feet shorter than Adnam, with short black hair, green eyes, and a scar that ran across his right eyebrow.
• “Yes, Alpha,” he grunted, his voice deep. “It was nothing serious.”
• “Good, Gareth,” Adnam said and stood up. “I’ll walk you to the border.”
• I narrowed my eyes, surprised at his not-so-kind gesture. I wondered how many surprises would hit me as I journeyed through the night.
• “I can find my way,” I said as I grabbed my bag from the other chair.
• “Of course you can, Princess,” he said.
• Before I could ask what the hell that was supposed to mean, Gareth stepped aside.
• I hadn’t really paid attention to him before, but now that I was seeing him up close, I noticed his gaze. It was the kind of gaze that took everything in but gave nothing away.
• I straightened instinctively. There was a level of awareness we felt anytime an Alpha or Beta came near us.
• The scar on his brow made him look even more severe.
• Adnam slapped his hand on his back and said, “Get some rest, Gareth.”
• “See you around, human,” Gareth said suddenly after Adnam left.
• “I’m not human.”
• Gareth smirked. “You sure?”
• I rolled my eyes as he stepped closer to me. An unfamiliar feeling crawled over my skin, and without thinking, I scratched at my arm.
• What the hell was that?
• I straightened my shoulders. “I think I know what I am. Thanks.”
• Adnam's head popped in. “Coming, Princess?”
• I glared at him and stepped out, but that feeling—Gareth’s words—stayed with me.