My Fated Alpha's Cruel Game (Elena and Marcus) novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Shelves Packed Full

Elena’s POV

The manager kept scribbling notes on his clipboard throughout my shift, but his attention remained fixed on me rather than his paperwork. His constant staring made the other workers uncomfortable too, and I could feel their curious glances bouncing between us.

My overnight guard eventually entered the trailer, and I watched the manager bare his neck in submission to the warrior. The hierarchy was clear - this guard outranked him significantly.

"Elena, I need to speak with you," my guard requested. I set down my tools and followed him to the door.

His grip on my arm was firm as he guided me around the building’s corner, away from the surveillance cameras. Marcus stood waiting in the shadows, his presence both expected and unwelcome.

"Are you seriously following me around now? This feels like stalking," I confronted him.

"Jett has been mind linking me throughout the day. I’ve witnessed everything he’s observed," Marcus replied coolly.

"Which is what exactly? Me doing my job?" My voice carried more bite than intended.

"The manager’s behavior toward you. His interest seems excessive," Marcus’s jaw tightened.

"I honestly don’t know why he acts that way. Go ask him yourself if you’re so curious," I shot back.

"That’s impossible. He cannot discover any connection between us," Marcus’s tone grew serious as he glanced at Jett. "He’s under Alpha command to keep your mate status confidential."

"He’s been creepy since my first day here. I ignore him completely and focus on the work I was hired to perform," I explained.

"Why choose to work in this environment?" Marcus questioned.

"What’s wrong with it? I have minimal contact with pack members, which suits me perfectly. They don’t respect me anyway. I need to help my mother financially because we’re considered the lowest ranking members here. And if you remember correctly, I’m still considering college options," my frustration was mounting.

"Which colleges have offered you acceptance?" he pressed.

"I’m waiting for scholarship notifications. That’s my only realistic path out of this place," I stated bluntly.

"There’s a werewolf institution nearby. I can secure a scholarship there for you. You could attend classes and return to the pack each day, maintaining your residence here," he proposed.

"I’m already accepted at that college. I never said I’d chosen to attend there," I clarified.

"Elena?" His confusion was evident.

"Did you fill my kitchen with groceries?" I asked directly.

"No, Hugo handled that task," he admitted.

"Why would he do that?" I pressed.

"Jett informed me you were starving. I hadn’t realized the situation was so severe," Marcus’s voice carried guilt. "Why didn’t you tell me about this?"

"You know exactly why I couldn’t. But thank you for this," I responded before severing the connection before he could continue the conversation.

Looking through the window, I watched Jett relax and settle onto the ground while maintaining his watchful position. His posture suggested contentment or satisfaction, and I found myself smiling at him despite everything else. The simple gesture of having food in our home meant more than Marcus could possibly understand, even if his motives remained complicated and unclear.

The manager’s strange behavior, Marcus’s protective interference, and now this unexpected generosity created a web of complications I wasn’t sure how to navigate. But for now, with a full stomach and a guard who genuinely seemed to care about my wellbeing, I allowed myself a moment of gratitude amid the chaos surrounding my life.