Marked By the Pureblood Alpha (Deanna and Luis) novel Chapter 168

**Chapter 168: The Nude Photos**

As Zelena’s gaze fell upon him, a tempest of fury erupted within her, a storm of emotions that threatened to consume her whole. The memories of betrayal and resentment flooded back, igniting an inferno of feelings she fought desperately to contain. Her fists clenched tightly, sharp nails digging into her palms as she battled the urge to hurl herself at him, to unleash the torrent of rage that had been building inside her for far too long.

Beside her, Maggie was a coiled spring of indignation. “I can’t believe that jerk is here too,” she hissed, her voice low and fierce, resonating with Zelena’s own feelings of outrage.

Zelena took a deep breath, trying to steady the frantic pounding of her heart. With gritted teeth, she replied, “When my family’s Stormwind Pack ran our design studio, we were among the elite, ranked in the top three across all of Lycanland. Then Felix swooped in, stealing everything from us. He had the audacity to rename the studio, and now he’s competing for this Skyline Construction project like he’s entitled to it.”

Deanna, ever perceptive, sensed the turmoil roiling within her friend. She reached out, squeezing Zelena’s hand with reassurance. “Don’t worry, Zelena. We will create a magnificent new studio in the future, one that will outshine anything he has ever touched.”

Zelena nodded, though a tempest of emotions churned in her chest. She was resolute; she would not allow her feelings to cloud their path forward. With determination, she stood up, excusing herself to the restroom, hoping to splash some cold water on her face and regain her composure.

But as she stepped out of the restroom, her heart plummeted at the sight of Felix loitering just outside the door. He was smoking, the tendrils of smoke curling around him like a dark shroud, and when he noticed her, he extinguished his cigarette with a flick of his wrist, a gesture that felt almost theatrical.

Felix’s lips curled into a mocking smile as he clicked his tongue. “Zelena, that look in your eyes when you see me—you’re terrified, aren’t you?”

“Felix, you jerk!” she shot back, venom lacing her words like a poison.

His laughter was cruel, slicing through the air with a sharpness that made her skin crawl. “Go ahead, hurl your curses at me. Didn’t you once profess your undying love? Remember when you said losing me would shatter your wolf?”

Zelena’s eyes blazed with fury as she spat, her words deliberate and cutting. “I wish I had been blind! Then I would never have been deceived by a worthless piece of trash like you.”

“Fooled?” he echoed, a cruel grin twisting his lips. “You and your father always acted so high and mighty. You deserved to experience the pain that we lower-class wolves endure. My father was an elder of the Stormwind Pack, a position of respect. What happened to him? Your father banished him from the territory. What I did was merely payback!”

Zelena struggled against his hold, her spirit unyielding. “You bastard, let go of me! Why should I listen to you? And it’s not just my studio; even if it were, I still wouldn’t comply!”

Felix’s hand lingered on her face, applying just enough pressure to intimidate her. “Then go ahead, try me. Don’t forget, I possess those nude photos of you. One moment, and they could be plastered all over the city. Hahaha.”

With a forceful shove, he pushed her away, strutting off with an air of triumph, leaving her reeling.

Zelena stumbled back, her back hitting the wall as she fought to steady herself. Tremors coursed through her body, leaving her barely able to remain upright, the weight of his threats pressing down on her like a suffocating fog.

In the aftermath of her confrontation with Felix, something profound began to unfurl within Zelena. The fury that once surged through her veins was now tempered by a steely resolve, as she recognized the depths of her own strength. No longer would she allow the sins of the past to dictate her future or the legacy of her family. As she steadied herself against the wall, the tremors of fear slowly subsided, replaced by a fierce determination to reclaim her narrative. With Maggie and Deanna by her side, she felt the warmth of solidarity, an unwavering reminder that she was not alone in this battle. The weight of Felix’s threats, while heavy, could not extinguish the fire ignited within her—a fire that would propel her forward, not just to build a new studio, but to forge a new identity free from the shadows of betrayal.

Zelena’s heart, once buried beneath layers of hurt and resentment, began to beat with a renewed purpose. She understood now that her worth was not tied to Felix’s cruel games or his twisted legacy. Instead, it lay in her resilience, creativity, and the love of those who stood with her. As she prepared to face the challenges ahead, she felt a sense of liberation wash over her. The nude photos, once a source of shame, transformed into a symbol of her defiance against Felix’s manipulation. With each step she took toward her future, Zelena vowed to rise above the past, to reclaim her power, and to create a life that honored her true self. In the heart she buried for Felix, she found the strength to rise anew, ready to embrace the beautiful chaos of her journey ahead.