Marked By the Pureblood Alpha (Deanna and Luis) novel Chapter 173

**TITLE: The Heart I Buried for You by Serene Lockwood**

**Chapter 173: Not Taking the Project**

In the tense atmosphere of the conference room, Ryan found himself frozen, a statue caught in the crosshairs of Luns’s piercing gaze. A shiver crept up from the very tips of his toes, coursing through him like icy water. His lips quivered, but the words that needed to escape his mouth remained trapped in his throat, refusing to come forth.

Luis, lounging with an air of casual dominance in his chair, leaned forward, his interest piqued. He lifted Ryan’s chin with his phone, scrutinizing him as if he were a mere insect pinned under glass. “Explain what you meant by ‘subjective.’ What precisely is it that you dislike?” His voice was smooth, but the underlying menace sent a fresh wave of dread coursing through Ryan.

The oppressive atmosphere felt like a noose tightening around his neck, and with every passing second, Ryan’s heart raced, pounding against his ribcage. Panic surged within him, and he sank to his knees, the cold floor biting into his skin. “Mr. Eaton, I swear I won’t do it again! Just this once, please forgive me. I promise my personal feelings won’t interfere again.” His voice trembled, desperation lacing every word.

Luis shifted his gaze to Maurice, who stood awkwardly to the side, barely managing to maintain his composure. With a cool detachment, Luis delivered his ultimatum. “You have two choices: either you handle him, or you handle yourself.” With that, he rose from his seat, his exit deliberate and unhurried.

The conference room erupted into chaos, the sound echoing like a thunderclap. Maurice, fueled by fury, unleashed a vicious kick at Ryan, who lay crumpled on the floor. “You bastard! You’ve tarnished my company’s reputation!” His words dripped with venom.

Meanwhile, Felix paced the hallway, his agitation bubbling to the surface, each step echoing his rising frustration. He halted mid-stride, fists clenched tightly at his sides, his eyes wild with turmoil. In a fit of rage, he slammed his fist against the wall, the impact reverberating through his bones.

Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!

His assistant, trailing behind him, couldn’t suppress a nervous gulp, instinctively retreating a safe distance of six feet, fearful that Felix’s wrath might be redirected toward him.

“Get lost!” Felix snapped, the frustration spilling over. “So it’s Luis, is it? The Alpha of Mooncrown Pack? He’s feared merely because of his privileged upbringing. Without all those advantages, could he truly be better than me?”

The assistant, eager to appease, nodded vigorously. “Exactly, Mr. Vax! If you had even half of his background, you’d be ten times the leader he is!”

Felix’s gaze fixated on Luis’s retreating figure, determination igniting within him. “That’s why I need to become stronger! I will crush anyone who stands in my way!”

Meanwhile, in stark contrast to the tension in the hallway, Maggie was practically bouncing with excitement. “Deanna, you were absolutely incredible! This is the first major contract we’ve secured since I joined Bluewave Studio! Hey, Zelena, why do you look so down?”

Zelena halted her steps, turning to Deanna, her expression contemplative. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke, her voice filled with uncertainty. “Deanna, I… I probably won’t be taking on the Skyline Construction project.”