Marked by the Alpha Team (Luna Merrick) novel Chapter 129

Chapter 129

Luna’s POV

In less than twenty minutes, I had finished the two sandwiches that Theo, had broughene, and I had not realized just how hungry I had really been until now Looking back, it was honestly ridiculous how much my rood had improved after eating. Perhaps the reason I had been feeling sostressed, emotional and generally miserable throughout the day was because I had spent most of it running around on an empty stomach.

My problems had not magically disappeared, but they no longer felt like they were crushing me under their weight. As soon as Theo noticed I was done eating, his attention shifted toward the unopened cookies sitting inside the paper bag between

us

“Do you want the cookies too?” he asked as he glanced toward the package resting beside me.

I shook my head before responding, “No, I’ll save them for later.”

He simply nodded and accepted my answer without arguing, which was surprisingly mature of him. Usually, he always hard some:hing to say about everything. He always seemed ready with some teasing comment or ridiculous observation that forced me to either roll my eyes or argue with him. This time, however, he simply leaned back against the bench and allowed me to enjoy my juice in peace.

The silence that settled between us wasn’t uncomfortable either. It was strange because I normally preferred being alone. especially when I was already overwhelmed, but somehow Theo’s presence wasn’t making things worse. If anything, it was making things slightly easier. For several minutes I simply sat there drinking my juice and trying not to think about how badly my life had spiraled recently. It wasn’t a complete success, but for the first time all day, my thoughts weren‘: threatening to drown me.

Now that I wasn’t running entirely on stress and panic, my brain seemed capable of functioning properly again. Looking back, it was almost embarrassing how close I had been to breaking down earlier. Theo had accidentally helped more than he realized.

After about five more minutes of silence, curiosity finally got the better of me. The whole reason Theo had appeared out of nowhere still didn’t entirely make sense. Nobody chased someone halfway across campus just to deliver sandwiches. Well. nobody normal did. Theo was admittedly not normal, but still, I found it difficult to believe that he had no other reason for showing up.

“Aren’t you going to tell me what you really came here to ask?” I asked while lowering the juice bottle from my lips and turning toward him.

Theo immediately looked confused. “What are you talking about?” he asked.

I scoffed lightly before shaking my head. “Oh please,” I responded. “Don’t pretend. You’re probably here to ask me about the picture with Jace as well.”

The confusion on Theo’s face somehow deepened rather than disappeared. He looked genuinely puzzled by what I had said, which immediately threw me off because that had seemed like the most obvious explanation for his appearance.

“First of all,” he responded, “I had no intention of talking about it or asking you any questions.”

He paused briefly before narrowing his eyes slightly, looking far more interested in something else entirely.

“And second of all, for you to say ‘as well, does that mean one of my friends already came to question you today or something?” he asked.

I sighed and looked away before answering. Just remembering the encounter was enough to make me cringe.

1/4

00 am

Chapter Tre

My Love Reiteratier. Fresponded

or I ran off before ) got the chance to speak because Lavsumed he wanted to ask

ase about the picture and I didn’t want to dear with that

For a second Theo smugly stared at the as through he wasn’t sure he had heard correctly. Then to my annoyance, he burst into a short laugh that looker entirely too gemine for my liking

“Damn.” he said while rubbing the back of his neck Your reaction would have definitely hurt Pyder’s feelings

I frowned slightly at that. It wasn’t that bad. I argued

Theo looked completely unconvinced “Knowing you, I’m pretty sure it was bad, he responded 1 probably shouldn’t be putting in a good word for my competition, but trust me, Ryder would have never asked you about the picture

I blinked and turned toward him fully. “What makes you so sure?” I asked.

Theo shrugged casually as though the answer was obvious. “Because I know him,” he responded. ‘Hell. I even doubt he knows about it, and if he does know, he’d probably pretend he doesn’t.”

His answer immediately made me think back to Ryder’s face. At the time I had been too busy panicking to property pay ittention, but now that I replayed the memory in my head, he really had looked more confused than anything else He hadn’t looked angry or accusatory. He had simply looked surprised that I had practically fled from him.

The memory sent a small wave of guilt through me that I really did not appreciate. Maybe I had overreacted, and treating him like he carried some contagious disease had been excessive. Unfortunately, admitting that would require me to acknowledge that Theo might be right, and I wasn’t particularly eager to do that.

‘Maybe,” I admitted quietly.

Theo immediately looked pleased with himself, which only made me regret saying it.

I rolled my eyes before returning to the original subject. “Fine,” I said. “But that still doesn’t explain why you’re not asking me questions.”

Theo blinked once. Then, completely out of nowhere, he asked, “Do you have feelings for me, and if yes, would you like to be my girlfriend?”

My eyes widened immediately. “Dude, what the hell?” I blurted out.

Theo looked far too amused by my reaction.

I pointed directly at him. “For fuck’s sake,” I continued. “How did we arrive at this conversation from my question? What the

ľ hell is your problem?”

Theo let out a low chuckle that instantly irritated me. “See?” he responded.

I stared at him blankly. “See what?” I asked.

He leaned back against the bench and folded his arms behind his head. “With how you reacted, you clearly don’t have me in your heart,” he said. “Which means you don’t owe me any explanation about who you hugged, and I have no right to question you.”

For several long seconds, I simply stared at him. The annoying thing was that the ridiculous logic somehow made sense. I hated that it made sense, and I hated it even more because Theo clearly knew it made sense. The smug expression slowly returning to his face made that painfully obvious.

“I’m also well aware that I’m not the only one interested in you,” he continued. “Trust me, I know exactly who my competition is.”

8:00 am P

Chapter 199

Hoided

my amewekass my ciest. “Compermont” I repeated

Theo nodded without hesitation. Rather than worrying abot who you re talking to, who you re hugging or what you’re dong with the others. Let rather focus on beng the one that successfully seduces you and wins your heart be responded

I physically cringed, actually cringed “That was a horrible line. Don’t ever say that to the again. I informed him

Theo laughed

“No, seriously,” I continued. “That sounded like something from a terrible romance move)”

Theo looked completely unbothered by the criticism. “I thought it sounded good and honest, he responded

“It didn’t.” I replied.

“I disagree,” he responded.

I groaned and rubbed my forehead. “Well, you are unfortunately wasting your precious time trying to seduce me. I told

him.

His expression softened slightly at my words, and the teasing faded just enough for something more serious to show through. Then he turned his head fully toward me and held my gaze. For several seconds he didn’t say anything. He simply watched me, and for some reason that silence felt heavier than all his jokes combined.

“Keep saying it until you believe it,” he finally responded.

I frowned immediately. “I do believe it,” I argued.

Theo slowly shook his head. “No, you don’t,” he responded.

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