My Fated Alpha's Cruel Game (Elena and Marcus) novel Chapter 70

Chapter 70: Chapter 70 Eyes in Shadows

Elena’s POV

The familiar creak of the packhouse door announced my return from afternoon classes. I barely had time to drop my backpack before I spotted Damien and Gage stationed in the living room like a welcoming committee. Their serious expressions immediately put me on edge.

"Oh crap. Am I in trouble?" The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Damien’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. "What makes you think that?"

Heat crept up my neck as I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. "In my experience, when people are sitting around waiting for me like this, it usually means I’m about to get hauled off to the Principal’s office or dragged before some Alpha for punishment."

"You’re not in trouble," Damien assured me, though his tone remained grave. "But we need to discuss something important."

My stomach twisted as I made my way into the room, settling onto the couch so I could face both men directly. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife, and I found myself bracing for whatever bombshell they were about to drop.

Damien leaned forward, his hands clasped tightly together. "I received a concerning report today."

"About those suspicious men lurking around campus?" I interrupted, unable to keep the knowledge to myself any longer.

His eyes widened. "You already know about this?"

I nodded grimly. "I spotted them today during my break between classes. They were being pretty obvious about photographing every woman with long blonde hair. The really disturbing part? I recognized their faces from Marcus’s pack. They’re definitely scouts."

Gage cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair. "So he knows you’re here."

"Actually, no." I shook my head firmly. "That’s exactly why he sent scouts in the first place. If Marcus knew for certain where I was, he wouldn’t waste time with reconnaissance missions. He’d march right up to our front door himself. The fact that his people are taking random photos proves he’s still fishing for information."

Damien’s expression darkened. "Maybe you should consider taking a break from classes for a while. Just until this situation resolves itself."

"Absolutely not." The refusal came out sharper than I intended, but I didn’t soften it. "I’ve waited years to get into college, and I’m finally living my dream. Some creepy scouts aren’t going to chase me away from my education. Besides, I’ve been successfully avoiding Marcus’s people for years now. I can handle a few photographers on campus."

Gage studied my face intently. "Are you completely sure about that assessment?"

"Trust me on this," I said, meeting his gaze steadily. "They haven’t shown up in any of my actual classes or tried to approach me directly. They’re casting a wide net, hoping to get lucky."

"But they’re specifically targeting women who match your physical description," Damien pointed out. "Long blonde hair seems to be their primary search criteria."

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