A HUMAN MATE FOR THE ALPHA TWINS 의 모든 챕터: 챕터 11 - 챕터 20

The cheerful mood in Pine Ridge never quite recovered after the church bell rang.The market remained open, children continued playing around the fountain, and shopkeepers smiled at customers, but Aria noticed the difference now. The smiles looked practiced. Conversations became shorter. Every few minutes someone glanced toward the forest before returning to whatever they had been doing.She lowered her camera and scrolled through the photographs she'd taken that morning. They were beautiful sunlight spilling over wooden stalls, baskets overflowing with fresh fruit, Oliver laughing as the violinist's dog chased him across the square. Looking at the pictures alone, no one would ever guess fear lived here too."Miss Mendoza?"She looked up to find Sheriff Collins approaching. Unlike the deputies she'd seen earlier, he walked without urgency, his weathered face carrying the calm confidence of someone used to solving problems before other people noticed them."I was hoping we'd meet under

The moment the driver's boot touched the ground, the entire square seemed to stop breathing.Oliver stood frozen beside his fallen bicycle, his small hands clenched into trembling fists. His mother rushed toward him, but fear slowed her steps. The man climbing out of the truck wasn't particularly tall, nor was he built like the twins. Yet there was something about him that made every instinct scream caution.He wore a charcoal coat despite the afternoon warmth. Dark sunglasses hid his eyes, and a thin scar traced the line of his jaw. His clothes were expensive, spotless, and completely out of place in a town where people preferred worn boots and flannel shirts. Even the way he walked suggested someone who expected the world to move aside for him.He glanced at the bicycle lying in front of his truck, then at Oliver."You planning to leave that there all day?"His voice was calm, almost polite, but there wasn't an ounce of warmth in it.Oliver swallowed hard."I... I'm sorry, sir."Bef

The walk into town took longer than it should have. Not because Pine Ridge was large, but because Darius couldn't seem to take five steps without someone stopping him.A little boy raced across the street with a loaf of bread tucked under one arm."Darius!"The boy nearly ran into him before skidding to a stop."My mom said to tell you she made too much peach pie."Darius folded his arms."She says that every time.""I know.""And somehow there's never any pie left when I get there."The boy grinned."That's because Uncle Ben eats half of it.""I knew it."The boy laughed and sprinted away before Darius could say another word. Aria watched him disappear around the corner."So..."Darius looked at her."So?""You weren't exaggerating.""About what?""Everyone really does know you."He shrugged as though it wasn't unusual."It's a small town.""Small enough for random children to deliver pie messages?"He laughed."That wasn't random.""It looked random.""My life usually does."She smi

"So... you're the outsider everyone's talking about."The man's voice wasn't unfriendly, but it carried the kind of confidence that made people instinctively step aside. He looked at Aria as though he already knew enough about her to form an opinion.Aria met his gaze. "Should I be flattered... or worried?"One corner of his mouth lifted."That depends.""On what?""Whether the stories are true."She folded her arms. "You'll have to be more specific. Apparently there are quite a few stories."Darius let out a quiet sigh."Victor.""So you do remember my name.""I was hoping today would stay peaceful.""So was I."Victor glanced back at Aria."I've heard you ask a lot of questions.""I like knowing what's going on.""So do I.""Then maybe you can explain why everyone keeps treating me like I've walked into a classified military operation."A few people nearby suddenly became very interested in the fruit stand across the street. Nobody walked away. Nobody interrupted. They simply liste

The question lingered in the air."A pack of what?" Aria asked again.The silence that followed was answer enough.Sheriff Cole cleared his throat and looked at Darius. "We should go."Victor nodded once. "The longer we stand here, the more people start asking questions."Aria gave a short, humorless laugh."Imagine that."Neither man smiled.Darius looked at her. "Go back to the estate.""You've been saying that a lot lately.""Because you never listen.""Maybe because no one tells me anything.""I know."His voice softened."And I hate that."She blinked.For the first time, he looked just as frustrated as she felt.He wasn't trying to shut her out.He genuinely couldn't tell her.Victor tossed his truck keys to Daniel."You drive."Daniel caught them easily."What about you?""I'm riding with Darius."The sheriff looked toward Aria."Miss Mendoza."She turned."I know none of this makes sense.""That's the first honest thing anyone's said to me all week."The corners of his mouth t