Marked by the Alpha’s Love

Chapter seven

Sierra’s POV

I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was in over my head, that there were things in this house far more dangerous than I realized.

I stood up from where I had been sitting on the edge of my bed and rubbed my eyes, trying to refocus. Jayden’s cold, dismissive attitude, the way he had practically warned me to stay out of the family’s business—it felt so out of character from the boy I used to know. Yet, maybe I had been naive to expect anything different.

A knock at my door pulled me from my thoughts, and I took a steadying breath. I half-expected it to be Jayden again, coming to deliver more of his cryptic warnings. But when I opened the door, it was Mrs. Lawrence, standing there with her usual grace.

Her eyes warm but with a trace of something I couldn’t quite read. “I was hoping you’d join me in the garden. Fresh air always helps clear the mind.”

I hesitated. The garden sounded like a place where secrets could hide, but her invitation was hard to refuse. “Sure,” I said. “I’d love to.”

She led me through the twisting hallways and out into a lush expanse filled with blooming flowers and meticulously trimmed hedges. The air smelled sweet, but it didn’t put me at ease. Instead, it felt like even the garden was part of the house’s spell.

Mrs. Lawrence turned to me, her smile fading slightly. “You’ve had a lot to take in since you arrived, haven’t you?”

I nodded, unsure of where she was going with this.

Her gaze shifted to a cluster of white roses. “This house is old, filled with memories—some good, some bad. I understand how overwhelming it can be.”

I felt my pulse quicken. Was she trying to warn me? Or was she subtly trying to manipulate me, to draw me deeper into whatever secrets the Lawrences were keeping?

Before I could respond, a sudden rustling from the hedges made us both turn. Out stepped Zoe, her presence as sharp and unwelcome as a thorn. Her gaze locked onto me, and for a moment, her perfect smile twisted into something cruel.

“Sierra,” she greeted, her voice laced with false sweetness. “I didn’t know you’d be gracing us with your company in the garden too.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly, and I could feel the tension crackle between us. Before I could respond, Jayden appeared behind her, his expression as cold and distant as it had been during breakfast.

He looked at Zoe, then at me. “What’s going on?” he asked, but his tone was indifferent, as if he was already tired of dealing with me.

Mrs. Lawrence’s smile returned, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Just some morning company, that’s all,” she replied, her voice smooth but firm.

Zoe shot me a look, one that screamed you don’t belong here. Jayden, meanwhile, didn’t even bother to acknowledge me further. It was as if I were invisible.

“You know,” she said slowly, “I’d stay out of family matters if I were you. There are things here that you don’t want to get involved in.” Her eyes narrowed as she sized me up.

I held her gaze, trying to keep my composure. But something about the way she said it—like a threat veiled in a sweet smile—sent a chill down my spine.

Before I could respond, I heard another rustling noise from the direction of the house, followed by the faintest smell of something metallic—like blood. My stomach twisted in response. I tried to shake it off, but the feeling of unease only deepened.

Jayden and Zoe seemed oblivious, but Mrs. Lawrence’s eyes flicked over to the house, her smile wavering for a split second before she turned back to me.

“Why don’t you take a walk through the garden, Sierra?” she suggested, a little too quickly. “It might help clear your head.”

But I wasn’t sure if I wanted to stay here anymore. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to trust any of them. But something told me that if I wanted answers, I had to dig deeper.

And just as I made up my mind to confront the mystery of this house, I heard something—a soft but unmistakable thud coming from one of the forbidden rooms. The sound echoed in the garden, and my heart skipped a beat.

What the hell was going on here?

As soon as the sound reached my ears, I froze, my body stiffening instinctively. The others didn’t seem to notice, still casually talking as if everything was normal, but my mind was already racing, trying to make sense of what I’d just heard. It hadn’t been loud, just a faint thud, but it was enough to send my pulse racing.

Zoe’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Sierra?” she said, her tone sweet but with an edge of amusement. “Are you okay? You look a little pale.”

I forced a smile, hoping it would cover the unease swirling inside me. “Yeah, I’m fine,” I said, though I couldn’t quite make my voice sound convincing.

Jayden glanced at me, his eyes cold as ever. “You sure? You don’t look fine.”

I clenched my fists at my sides, biting back the urge to snap at him. “I’m sure,” I replied, trying to keep my tone even.

Mrs. Lawrence, still standing beside me, gave me a polite smile. “Why don’t we all sit for a bit? You could use some rest, Sierra.”

But I wasn’t so sure I wanted to rest—not when my mind was firing on all cylinders, trying to figure out what had made that noise. The last thing I wanted to do was ignore it.

“No, thanks,” I said quickly, a little too fast. “I think I’m going to take a walk. Alone.”

Mrs. Lawrence seemed a little taken aback but quickly masked it with a smile. “Of course. If you feel like talking later, we’re here for you.”

I nodded, backing away slowly. As I turned to leave, I heard Zoe’s voice call after me, smooth and taunting. “Enjoy your walk, Sierra. But don’t go wandering into places you shouldn’t.”

Her words hit me harder than I wanted to admit. Was she warning me or threatening me? Either way, I wasn’t about to back down. I had to know what was going on.

I walked briskly across the garden, trying to keep my mind from spiraling. Every step I took felt like it was leading me further into the unknown, and the farther I got from the others, the more the unease inside me deepened. That thud—whatever it was—had come from the house, and it felt like a sign.

I glanced toward the mansion, my eyes drawn to the second-floor windows, the ones I hadn’t dared to approach yet. The forbidden rooms. I could almost hear the whispers in the air, like the house itself was alive with secrets. What was hidden in there? What were they trying to keep from me?

As I passed a large stone fountain in the center of the garden, I saw a shadow flicker in one of the windows. My heart skipped a beat. Was it someone watching me? I tried to calm myself, telling myself it was probably just the wind or my imagination, but the feeling of being watched wouldn’t go away.

Without thinking, I started walking back toward the house. I had to see for myself, even if it meant stepping into one of those forbidden rooms. I didn’t know what I was hoping to find—answers, maybe. Or maybe I just needed to prove to myself that I wasn’t losing my mind.

The closer I got to the house, the heavier the air seemed to grow. The temperature dropped, and I shivered involuntarily, even though the day had been warm. I stood at the base of the steps, staring up at the front door, but I hesitated. Should I really do this? Was I ready to confront whatever lay hidden inside?

Then, I heard it again—the faint thud, louder this time. My breath caught in my throat. It was coming from the second floor.

This time, I didn’t hesitate. I climbed the stairs quickly, my pulse pounding in my ears. I reached the second floor, my hand shaking as I pressed it to the banister. The house was eerily quiet, and my footsteps echoed too loudly in the silence.

I was getting closer.

I approached the first forbidden door I could find—one that was tucked away behind a long, dark hallway. The door was old, its wood worn with age, but there was something about it that seemed… off. Like it didn’t belong. My hand hovered over the doorknob, my fingers brushing against the cool metal.

Then I heard a voice.

“Don’t.”

The voice was soft, almost a whisper, but it stopped me in my tracks. I spun around, heart pounding. There was no one there. No one I could see, at least.

But the air around me felt thick, charged with something I couldn’t explain.

I slowly turned back to the door, my heart racing in my chest. The thud had stopped. But the voice was still in my head.

*Don’t.*

Just as I was about to reach for the doorknob again, I heard footsteps approaching quickly from behind. I spun around once more, but this time, I wasn’t alone.

It was Jayden.

And his eyes, normally cold and unreadable, were now narrowed, an unsettling look in them.

“What the hell are you doing here?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Before I could answer, there was another sound—a loud, echoing bang from behind the door, making the entire house tremble.

Jayden’s expression shifted, his jaw tightening. Without a word, he grabbed my wrist, pulling me away from the door.

“Get away from it,” he hissed. “Now.”

And just as I pulled against him, trying to break free, I caught a glimpse of something through the crack in the door—something dark and moving.