Noah’s The moment I stepped out of the Ashford mansion, I felt like I could finally breathe again.
The cold evening air touched my face as I carried Ethan toward the car.
He had fallen asleep before we even reached the front door.
I carefully settled him into his seat and pulled the blanket over him.
Adrian stood beside the car, watching me.
“You don’t have to come with us.” “I know.” “Then why are you still here?” He looked at me.
“Because I want to make sure you get home safely.” I sighed.
“You always have an answer.” “I usually do.” I almost smiled.
Then the scent of his pheromones reached me again.
It was faint, controlled, nothing like an Alpha deliberately releasing his scent.
Adrian was clearly wearing a scent suppressant, probably because of the family dinner.
My own body reacted anyway.
I immediately adjusted the scent blocker beneath my collar.
Adrian noticed.
“Are you feeling uncomfortable?” “I’m fine.” “You’ve said that three times tonight.” “And I mean it.” He studied me.
“My mother upset you.” I looked away.
“She didn’t do anything wrong.” “That’s not what I asked.” I was quiet.
Evelyn’s words were still in my head.
Adrian may not be as certain as you are.
I didn’t know what she meant.
Or maybe I did.
I just didn’t want to admit it.
“She asked about your intentions toward me,” I finally said.
Adrian’s expression changed.
“What did you tell her?” “That I didn’t have any.” He was silent.
I looked at him.
“That’s the truth.” His gaze stayed on mine.
“Is it?” My heart skipped.
Before I could answer, Ethan shifted in his sleep.
I immediately looked toward him.
“Let’s go.” Adrian didn’t argue.
He closed the car door and stepped back.
The drive home was quiet.
But my mind wouldn’t stop.
For two years, I had built my life around one simple rule.
Keep Ethan safe.
Don’t look back.
Don’t return to the university.
Don’t get close to Adrian.
And most importantly, never let Adrian discover that the little boy sleeping peacefully in the back seat was his son.
Now every one of those rules was beginning to fall apart.
When we reached my apartment, Adrian got out and opened Ethan’s door.
“I can carry him.” “I know.” He still carefully lifted Ethan from the car.
I stared at them.
Ethan looked so small against Adrian’s broad shoulders.
For one dangerous second, the image felt natural.
Like it belonged.
I immediately looked away.
“Thank you.” Adrian carried Ethan inside.
I followed.
He placed him gently on the bed.
Ethan didn’t wake.
Adrian stood there for a moment, looking down at him.
Then his eyes moved to me.
“Good night, Noah.” “Good night.” He left.
I closed the door behind him and leaned against it.
My heart was still beating too fast.
I didn’t know what was happening to me.
I couldn’t let myself become comfortable with Adrian again.
Because if I did, losing him a second time would hurt even more.
The next morning, I woke up feeling exhausted.
My cycle symptoms had grown stronger.
I wasn’t in heat yet, but my body was clearly preparing for it.
I checked my cycle-management supplements before leaving the apartment and made sure I had enough scent-blocking patches in my bag.
Working around powerful Alphas during this period wasn’t something I took lightly.
Especially not around Adrian.
The company had designation-neutral policies, and employees experiencing severe cycle symptoms could request remote work or use the private medical rooms.
I knew the rules well.
Still, I didn’t want anyone knowing my cycle was approaching.
I wanted to be treated like an employee.
Not a fragile Omega.
I dropped Ethan at daycare and headed to work.
The moment I stepped into the building, I noticed something different.
Several employees were gathered near the reception area.
A company announcement had been posted on the digital screen.
DESIGNATION HEALTH POLICY UPDATE I stopped to read it.
The company was increasing access to cycle-management support, scent-neutral rooms, and private medical consultations.
I couldn’t help appreciating it.
Ashford Biotech was strict about designation safety.
No Alpha was allowed to intentionally release pheromones in shared workspaces.
No Omega could be discriminated against because of their cycle.
And employees experiencing heat or rut symptoms were permitted medical leave without having to disclose private details to coworkers.
I continued toward the elevator.
“Good morning, Mr.
Everhart.” I turned.
One of the HR managers smiled at me.
“Good morning.” “President Ashford asked me to remind you that if your cycle symptoms worsen, you can work remotely.” I froze.
“He asked?” “Yes.” I forced a smile.
“Thank you.” The elevator doors opened.
I stepped inside.
As they closed, I stared at my reflection.
Why was Adrian paying so much attention to me?
Before I could answer myself, the elevator reached the research floor.
I stepped out.
Adrian was standing outside his office.
He looked at me immediately.
“You’re late.” I checked the time.
“By two minutes.” “I noticed.” “You really do notice everything.” His mouth twitched.
“Apparently.” I walked past him.
Then his voice stopped me.
“Noah.” I turned.
“Yes?” “Are you sure you should be working today?” “I’m fine.” His eyes narrowed slightly.
“You’ve been saying that since yesterday.” “Because I’m fine.” He didn’t look convinced.
Before he could say anything else, his assistant approached.
“President Ashford, your mother is here.” My stomach dropped.
Adrian’s expression darkened.
“Why?” “She said it’s urgent.” Then Evelyn appeared at the end of the hallway.
Her gaze immediately landed on me.
She looked calm.
Too calm.
“Adrian, I need to speak with you.” Her eyes shifted toward me.
“Privately.” I took a step back.
“I’ll go to the lab.” But Evelyn stopped me.
“Noah.” I looked at her.
“I’d like to speak with you first.” My heart sank.
Adrian’s expression immediately hardened.
“Mother.” “It’s only a conversation.” I remembered what she had told me last night.
I swallowed.
“That’s fine.” Adrian looked at me.
I gave him a small nod.
“I’ll be okay.” Evelyn turned and walked toward the private meeting room.
I followed.
When the door closed behind us, she took a seat across from me.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she placed a document on the table.
“Do you know what this is?” I looked down.
My breath caught.
It was an Alpha-Omega compatibility report.
And at the bottom of the page was a name I hadn’t seen in two years.
Adrian Ashford.
I slowly looked up.
Evelyn’s expression was unreadable.
“I think,” she said quietly, “we need to talk about my son.” I couldn’t move.
The report lay between Evelyn and me.
My eyes remained fixed on Adrian’s name.
For a moment, I wondered if I had misunderstood what I was seeing.
Then I looked at the date.
Two years ago.
My fingers went cold.
“Where did you get this?” Evelyn didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, she watched my reaction carefully.
“Do you recognize it?” I swallowed.
“No.” The lie came too quickly.
Evelyn noticed.
“You should know that lying to me won’t help you.” “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She leaned back.
“Adrian’s designation records are private.
His medical information is protected.
Yet somehow, this particular report ended up in my possession.” My heartbeat grew louder.
“Why are you showing it to me?” “Because I want to know whether you have anything to do with it.” I stared at her.
“I don’t.” “Then why does your name appear in the research notes?” My blood ran cold.
She turned the report around.
There, beneath several lines of technical information, was my name.
Research Assistant: Noah Everhart.
I couldn’t breathe.
I remembered this document.
Not the entire thing.
Just pieces.
The laboratory.
The computer screen.
Adrian standing beside me.
His voice explaining the compatibility results.
My hands trembling as I entered the final numbers.
Then — nothing.
A blank space in my memory.
I looked away.
“I worked on the project.” “I know.” “I didn’t know Adrian’s information would be included.” Evelyn’s expression remained unreadable.
“Did you know the results showed an unusually high compatibility between you and my son?” I froze.
She continued.
“Your research notes indicated that the compatibility was exceptionally rare.” My heart pounded.
“That research wasn’t complete.” “It was complete enough.” I shook my head.
“Professor Hale said someone altered the project after I left.” Evelyn’s eyes narrowed.
“You’ve spoken to Professor Hale?” “Yes.” “When?” “Yesterday.” She was silent.
Then she asked, “Did he tell you about Project E-17?” I nodded.
Evelyn’s expression changed.
Only slightly.
But I noticed.
“You know about it.” “I know enough.” “What is it?” She didn’t answer.
Instead, she picked up the report.
“This is exactly why I’m warning you.” “Warning me about what?” “Adrian.” I stared at her.
“He has spent his entire life surrounded by people who want something from him.
His position, his research, his family’s influence.” She placed the report back on the table.
“And now you have suddenly returned to his life.” “I didn’t plan to.” “Perhaps not.” Her voice softened.
“But coincidence can be dangerous.” I stood.
“I don’t understand what you’re accusing me of.” “I’m not accusing you.” “Then what do you want?” Evelyn looked directly into my eyes.
“I want you to stay away from my son.” My chest tightened.
I had expected it.
Still, hearing the words hurt.
“I work for him.” “You can resign.” “I need my job.” “Money can be arranged.” I shook my head.
“I don’t want your money.” “Then what do you want?” I hesitated.
A normal life.
A safe home.
A future for Ethan.
But I couldn’t say any of that.
“I want to work.” Evelyn studied me.
“You care about my son.” I looked away.
“No.” “You’re lying again.” I clenched my hands.
“I don’t have feelings for Adrian.” She remained quiet.
Then she said something I wasn’t prepared for.
“Neither did he.” I looked up.
“What?” “Until recently.” My heart skipped.
Evelyn stood.
“Adrian doesn’t bring people into his personal life.
He doesn’t invite employees to dinner.
He doesn’t take strangers into his home.” I swallowed.
“He was helping because someone was threatening me.” “Perhaps.” She walked toward the door.
“But I know my son.” She paused beside me.
“And I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you.” I couldn’t answer.
Evelyn opened the door.
“Think carefully about what you want, Noah.” She left.
I remained alone.
My eyes returned to the report.
Two years ago.
Adrian.
My research.
An unusually high compatibility.
I suddenly remembered something.
Not clearly.
Just a flash.
Adrian’s hand around mine.
His voice telling me to stay calm.
His scent surrounding me.
My heart began racing.
I pressed my fingers against my neck.
The mark beneath the scent-blocking patch suddenly felt warm.
I quickly covered it.
No.
I couldn’t remember.
I didn’t want to.
I grabbed my bag and left the room.
Adrian was standing outside.
He immediately noticed my expression.
“What did she say?” “Nothing.” “Noah.” “I said nothing.” He stepped closer.
“You look pale.” “I’m fine.” His eyes narrowed.
“You aren’t.” I moved past him.
“I need to work.” He caught my wrist gently.
I froze.
His touch sent an unexpected shiver through me.
Adrian released me immediately.
“Sorry.” I looked at him.
For a second, neither of us spoke.
Then his gaze dropped to my neck.
“Your scent.” I stiffened.
“What about it?” “It’s different.” My face warmed.
“My cycle is approaching.” Adrian nodded slowly.
“Then go home.” “I have work.” “You’ve already done enough.” “I can’t keep leaving every time my body decides to be inconvenient.” His expression softened.
“Your body isn’t inconvenient.” I stared at him.
He continued quietly.
“You’re an Omega.
Your cycle is part of your biology.
You shouldn’t have to apologize for it.” Something about those words hit me harder than they should have.
I looked away.
“Thank you.” He stepped aside.
“You can work from home today.” I nodded.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message.
Unknown number.
I opened it.
My heart stopped.
Ask Evelyn why she kept Adrian’s compatibility report.
I stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
And ask her what happened the night you were marked.
My hands began shaking.
Someone knew.
Not just about Ethan.
Not just about Adrian.
They knew about the mark.
I slowly lifted my eyes toward Adrian.
He was watching me.
And for the first time, I realized that whoever was behind all of this wasn’t trying to expose me alone.
They were trying to make sure Adrian remembered everything too.
Evelyn has an old compatibility report involving Noah and Adrian, and now someone is telling Noah to ask her about the night he was marked.
And that means whoever is behind these messages knows way more than they should.
Noah has spent two years trying to bury that part of his past, but the past clearly isn’t finished with him.
What do you think Evelyn knows about that night?
And why was Adrian’s compatibility report kept hidden?
Thank you so much for reading and supporting An Accidental Mark: My Cold Professor Is the Father of My Baby!
Every bit of support helps!
See you in Chapter 13!
— Ari1