Chapter 49: Obsession
ADRIAN’S P.O.V.
As I strode through the grand iron gates of my estate, the familiar silence wrapped around me like a shroud. I stepped into the lowly lit, cavernous halls of the house, feeling the weight of my thoughts pressing down on me.
Though I was immune to the human affliction of physical exhaustion, my mind felt heavy, burdened by the silent echoes of thoughts I couldn’t shake. Dropping onto the plush leather couch, I allowed myself a rare moment of vulnerability. That’s when I heard the faint but unmistakable sound of Carlos’ footsteps approaching, barely perceptible against the quiet.
"Adrian," he said, his voice carrying a note of caution as if he were measuring my mood. "The mayor has requested your assistance with a so-called ’bear problem’ on the edge of town. There have been more sightings and incidents... and they believe it’s only a matter of time before more people start to gets hurt."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Bears," I repeated, almost amused. "The poor man really believes it, doesn’t he?" This so-called bear issue was really just another byproduct of rogue vampires-nomads ignorant of the fact that these lands were under my protection. They came through thinking they could hunt freely, without respect for boundaries or consequences. It was always a rude awakening when I stepped in to remind them otherwise.
Carlos chuckled, a lightness to his tone. "Well, you do have a certain... talent for handling beasts."
I smirked, though my thoughts quickly drifted elsewhere, landing on a name I couldn’t escape-Teresa. Her image stirred something deep within me, a pull I couldn’t fully understand nor ignore. She was like a magnet, drawing me in despite my every effort to remain detached. I barely registered Harry’s presence until he sauntered in, hands in his pockets, wearing that infuriatingly knowing smirk.
"Oh boy," he said with a grin, his eyes dancing with amusement. "I recognize that look. Thinking about the wolf girl Teresa again, are we?"
Startled from my reverie, I blinked and straightened. "Excuse me?"