Marked by the Alpha’s Love

Chapter one

Sierra’s POV

Life had always been a blur of moving trucks and goodbyes for me. My father and I never seemed to stay in one place long enough to put down roots. I could barely remember the first place we lived, but each new city and each new house felt like a fresh start—except they never were. Just when I started to settle in, make friends, and build a life, Dad would drop the bombshell: we were moving again.

I glanced around my room, feeling the ache of nostalgia wash over me. Posters plastered on the walls, trophies from high school, and the countless photos of me and my friends filled every corner. I had just turned nineteen a few weeks ago, and for once, everything felt like it was finally falling into place. I was accepted into college, and my friends and I had made plans for all the adventures we would embark on together. But just when I thought I could breathe easy, Dad had to ruin it all.

“Another move?” I had said, disbelief coating my words. “Dad, we’ve been here for four years! I’ve finally built a life, made friends…you can’t just expect me to leave everything behind!”

He sighed, his warm brown eyes full of regret. “I know, honey. But this move will be different. You’ll be closer to college, so you won’t have long commutes. It’s for the best, I promise.”

New York. The name rang in my head, heavy and suffocating. “Where are we even going this time?” I asked, my heart racing with dread.

He looked down, fiddling with his hands. “We’ll be staying with an old friend of mine. The Lawrence family.”

The mention of the Lawrence family sent a chill down my spine. I barely remembered them from when I was five or six, but the memory of their two sons—who were so snobby and dismissive—came rushing back. They had made me feel invisible. Why did my father want to expose me to that again?

“Dad, I don’t want to go there,” I protested, the anger bubbling inside me. “The last time I saw them, they were awful!”

His expression softened, and he leaned closer, his voice low and soothing. “People change, Sierra. They’ve probably grown up since then. This is just temporary, and it’s a good opportunity for us.”

“Temporary?” I shot back, frustration boiling over. “You always say that! And then we end up moving again in a few months. I can’t just keep starting over!”

But there it was, that familiar look on his face—the kind and protective dad who always did his best for me, even when I felt like he was making all the wrong choices. He was my rock, my superhero. Since my mother passed away when I was too young to remember, he was all I had. But sometimes I wished he would listen to me, just once.

I plopped down on the edge of my bed, hugging my knees to my chest. Thoughts of my friends filled my head—our plans for summer, the college excitement, the late-night study sessions. The idea of leaving all that behind felt like a punch to the gut. I had built a life here, and now it was slipping through my fingers.

The last time we moved, I was fifteen. I remembered that transition well. I had felt lost and abandoned in a new country, struggling to find my place. And now, here I was again, facing the same heartache. My friends didn’t deserve to be uprooted from my life without warning. How could Dad expect me to just leave it all behind?

“Just give it a chance,” he said, as if reading my thoughts. But I couldn’t let his words sink in. The weight of my frustration hung over me like a dark cloud. I didn’t want to start over; I didn’t want to be the new girl again.

And as I stared at the packed boxes lining the walls, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this time, things might be even worse than before.

I took a moment to look around my room, feeling a mix of nostalgia and frustration swirl inside me. This place was my sanctuary, filled with memories of laughter, late-night study sessions, and the friends who had become my family. But now, I was about to leave it all behind.

I, Sierra Smith, had just turned nineteen, and while I was still navigating the complicated world of adolescence, I felt the weight of expectations pressing down on me. At first glance, I was the kind of girl every boy dreamed of—long, wavy chestnut hair, bright hazel eyes that sparkled with determination, and a smile that could light up any room. But beyond the surface, I was just a girl trying to find her place in a world that constantly shifted beneath my feet.

“Hey, Dad,” I called, finding him in the hallway, packing up boxes. “Are you sure about this move? I mean, New York? The Lawrence family? Do we really have to stay with them?”

He paused, glancing back at me with those warm brown eyes that always managed to soothe me, even when I was on the verge of a meltdown. “I know it’s a lot, Sierra. But trust me, this is a good opportunity for us. You’ll be closer to your college, and it’s a nice area. You’ll see.”

I sighed, frustration bubbling up again. “But what about my friends? We had plans! Everything was perfect here, and now it’s all just… gone.”

Dad set the box down and stepped closer, placing a hand on my shoulder. “I get it. I do. But sometimes we have to let go of what’s familiar to embrace new possibilities. I’ve been doing this for you. You’re the most important person in my life, and I just want you to have the best future.”

I wanted to believe him, but the thought of the Lawrence family sent a shiver down my spine. I barely remembered them from my childhood, but the hazy memories of their two sons filled me with dread. “You really think people change?” I asked, my voice edged with skepticism.

“People can surprise you,” he replied, a hint of encouragement in his tone. “Just give it a chance.”

I had finally started to build a life here, and now I was being torn away from it all. The last time we moved was when I was fifteen, and I still remembered the feeling of isolation, of being the new girl in a strange school. I had hoped those days were behind me.

As I watched Dad resume his packing, I felt a wave of determination rise within me. If I had to face this new chapter, I would do it on my terms. “Okay, fine. I’ll give it a chance,” I said, surprising even myself. “But I won’t let those Lawrence boys push me around. I’m not the same girl I was back then.”

Dad looked at me with a mix of pride and concern. “That’s my girl. Just remember, you’re strong enough to handle whatever comes your way.”

I nodded, feeling a flicker of hope. I would face this new life head-on. Change was coming, and I would meet it with courage, no matter how many hurdles I had to jump over. After all, this was my story, and I was determined to write it on my terms.

With one last glance around my room, I took a deep breath. I was ready to go. Bags packed, room stripped bare, just waiting on Dad to say the word. For the past few days, he’d been rushing me like we had some urgent deadline, so I didn’t think I’d even get a chance to say goodbye to my friends properly, just a rushed farewell and the promise of keeping in touch. But just when I was about to resign myself to a last-minute text farewell, he came into my room with a relieved look on his face.

“Sierra, I need to take care of something before we head out. We’ll leave first thing tomorrow instead,” he said, sounding a little preoccupied. I could hardly believe it—I had a whole day left!

“Really?” I asked, not able to hide my excitement. I could hardly believe my luck. For once, things seemed to be going my way.

“Yes, but just… stay here, alright? I don’t want you out there wandering around.”

It felt like fate was giving me one last chance to enjoy a night with my girls.

“Dad, I’ll just have a few friends over. It’s my last night here, after all.” I said it with my most innocent smile, and he sighed, nodding.

“Fine, but stay inside. Please, Sierra.” There was something in his voice—like an edge of worry that I wasn’t used to seeing. It had started last year, just after I turned eighteen. Suddenly, he was acting like I was some delicate vase that could break at any moment. He’d tell me to be careful, to look over my shoulder, to watch for strange things or people. Like there was something out there waiting to get me. And while part of me knew it came from love, another part of me couldn’t shake the feeling that he was hiding something.

“Are you alright, Dad?” I asked, studying his face.

He looked away, frowning slightly. “I’m fine. Just… promise me, okay? If anything seems out of place, anything at all, you let me know.”

“Yeah, okay, Dad.” I didn’t push it, even though curiosity burned inside me. If he wanted to tell me something, he would. And tonight, he was in full protective mode.

I didn’t waste a second. As soon as Dad stepped out of my room, I sent a message to the group chat: Emergency! Last night in town—my place. Movie, junk food, everything. Be here ASAP!*

Within minutes, Olivia, Kim, and my other friend, Claire, were buzzing with excitement in the group chat.

Olivia replied first with a bunch of emojis. Then Kim texted, “On my way!” And a few seconds later, Claire added, “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Not long after, Olivia, Kim, and Claire showed up, we were all huddled in the living room. We had the whole setup: blankets draped over the couches, pizza, popcorn, ice cream, and a stack of movies to binge-watch. I let the worry fade as we fell into our usual rhythm—laughing, teasing each other, talking about everything we’d done and all the plans we’d made for the future. This was what I’d miss the most. Dad had even left cash for food, so we ordered every bit of junk food we could think of. If this was going to be our last night, we were going all out.

As we settled into the second movie, I went over to the window to close the blinds and block out the streetlights. But just as I reached up to grab the cord, something caught my eye.

There, across the street, stood a man.