Chapter 5 Nancy's POV

Anderson did not seem like the kind of person who preferred to go that road, so I knew it would be too simple to simply walk away from him. Moments later, he confirmed that to be the case. "Where do you think you're going?" Along with his loud voice hurting my eardrums, Anderson spat curiously, and his ominous, taunting footsteps trailed behind us.

I hissed back, without bothering to turn around and face him, "I'm not staying with you." Instead, I proceeded down the steps while tightly clutching Morgan's warm hand, the simple gesture giving me the inner calm I so urgently needed.

He grunted softly, not appreciating my contentious temperament. He gave me a firm "You're not going with him" command as I abruptly turned around and almost suffered whiplash. Who did he believe him to be? Looking up, I saw the icy blue color leave his eyes and be replaced by an unending ebony hole. He seemed dead and filled with rage, as if there were no spirits behind them. He returned my look, the darkness engulfing the scene so that hardly any white was discernible. He made a careless gesture toward his Beta with lips that were absolutely straight.

I gathered my courage and kept fighting him, oblivious to the danger he radiated. I mumbled, "I don't have to listen to you," instead of speaking with confidence. I attempted to ignore my wolf, who was screaming with me to stop fighting and follow him, as he bit the inside of my cheek. How could she be his caregiver? He didn't deserve our loyalty because he wasn't our partner.

Anderson screamed, his jaws clinching together as he made an effort to remain composed. "Yes, you do." His stern demeanor continued to irritate Morgan, sending his wolf into protective mode. He put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it in an attempt to persuade me to let him handle Anderson, but I refused to do that.

"You're not my mate nor my Alpha!" I yelled indignantly, unconcerned by the mass of their pack mates, who were starting to gather as they saw the action on the stairway.

He laughed as he found my humor amusing. He leaned down and made sure that, as he spoke, his breath would fan my face. He gloated, his evil grin deepening. "That's where you're wrong, Princess; I'm both," which only prompted Morgan to snarl as he approached my side. Anderson appeared to be filled with glee as he observed his Beta become agitated as a result of this. More than ever, it was obvious that Anderson's major objective was to harm Morgan, and the more strongly he hinted that I was his, the more successful he was.

I retaliated once more because I felt the need to defend him. I groaned with disgust as piercing silvers flashed through his eyes like an explosion in the sky. "I don't care if you mark me; you will never be my mate." As I watched him, my body trembled and my jaw fell out of place in utter horror. He was picked for me. Morgan is my mate, I said feebly as his enormous biceps rippled beneath his shirt. His enormous hands started to form fists as soon as he heard about my unpleasant reality, and a vein in his neck started to bulge.

But instead of the enraged reaction I was expecting, he sighed, letting his whole body relax. I can already feel your wolf desiring mine, so think whatever you want for the time being. Soon enough, you'll desire the same, he said, intentionally bumping into Morgan's shoulder as he passed us on the stairs.

I screamed and held my breath as Anderson descended the stairs until I heard the front door slam. I gently turned around to face Morgan once more as I observed the debris from his prior altercation still adhered to his face. For the second time tonight, he assured me, "We will figure this out," and I nodded, hoping to contain the flood of tears that was about to fall.

He took my hand again, this time gripping it tightly as if he were worried he would lose me if he didn't do so. He smiled softly, appearing confused about how to proceed. I looked around me for the first time, trembling as I scanned the house. On the top level, in Anderson's room, where I was, every square inch was spotless, and nothing was misplaced. I was welcomed by a tiny sitting space that seemed welcoming as soon as Morgan walked me down one floor. The dark wood floors and white leather couches begged me to curl up on them. He drew me in further, and four substantial doors appeared. He told me as we passed two rooms, "This floor has all the Beta family." Already, this pack was different from mine because every family in my pack had a home of their own. All of Anderson's gang resided in a sizable home.

He said, pointing to the first door, "That's my parents' room. My brothers' and ours." At this, I immediately flushed. For a moment, I forgot that Morgan was not the one who marked me, since the idea of there being something that was both mine and his made me very happy. As though I might reside here and be the Beta's mate in some alternate reality.

I muttered, "I want to meet them tomorrow," as he nodded in agreement, stretching out a delighted smile and displaying two rows of immaculately straight teeth that belonged in a Colgate advertisement.

He cautiously unlocked the door, showing a sizable chamber akin to Anderson's. Although Anderson's room had a more neutral aesthetic with light grey walls, white rugs, and dark furnishings, Morgan's room felt much cozier. Overall, though, his room felt chilly and unfinished while being neat.

The same dark wood from the hallway met the pale green walls and floors of Morgan's room. Not a single piece of his furniture had a scratch or mark on it; everything was perfectly white and polished. "Do you like it?" He asked anxiously. His encouraging grip on my hand and my heart became larger as I sensed his yearning to have me accept him.

I was honest with him, saying, "It's cozy," as he shut the door behind us, providing us with much-needed privacy. The phrase "and it smells like cinnamon apples" made him laugh heartily and deeply, which sent butterflies fluttering through my stomach once more. I was immediately at peace because of it, even if hearing him be joyful couldn't possibly be the solution to all of my issues.

"Are you okay?" He asked, swiftly waking up to the fact that this whole situation must not have been easy on me. He wanted me to sit and really relax, knowing that I was protected behind his door, so I exhaled softly as he guided me to the bed.

In order to give myself some time while I tried to make sense of all that happened tonight, I peered up and looked at the loose strands of chestnut hair that were resting against his forehead. "Honestly, no," I sputtered while averting my gaze from him. "Why would Anderson mark me?" He moved behind me, and I was forced to ask. In an effort to calm me down, he softly started massaging my shoulders with his outstretched hands.

Morgan groaned, his voice betraying his bewilderment as he added, "Anderson's complicated." "A couple of years ago, his father died and his mother took off with a rogue; since then, he's never been the same," he said gently. My wolf immediately became depressed upon hearing this, and I could feel her growing pity for him. I'd be lying if I claimed I didn't experience the same heartbreak for him, but I wouldn't let that influence how I felt about him. I simply couldn't.