Marked By the Pureblood Alpha (Deanna and Luis) novel Chapter 255

**Chapter 255: Face Off**

Dressed in a cobalt blue shirt that clung to him like a second skin and sleek black slacks, Robert strolled into the room with an air of confidence that suggested he believed he owned the very space he occupied. His swagger was unmistakable, as if he were the king of this gathering.

“I heard it’s your birthday. Not inviting me? That’s cold.” His voice dripped with mockery, a smirk playing on his lips.

Violet shot him a glare that could have frozen fire. “What the hell does my birthday have to do with you? I told you—I’m not interested. Get out.” Her words were sharp, slicing through the tension like a knife.

Robert had clearly indulged in a few too many drinks earlier, his bravado fueled by alcohol. Without Jake around to temper his arrogance, his true nature—a Beta bully—began to surface, raw and unfiltered.

He narrowed his gaze at Violet, recalling the months he had spent pursuing her, showering her with attention, only to be met with indifference. Each moment of rejection stung, and now, he was ready to abandon the sweetness that had failed him. He thought to himself, Women are like that—saying no with their lips while their hearts scream yes.

Deanna, who stood off to the side, frowned deeply. Memories of her time with Jake flooded back—of all the Betas in the Olsendreich Pack, Robert had been the absolute worst. He was sleazy, arrogant, and took pleasure in belittling the Omegas around him. She could still hear his mocking laughter echoing in her mind.

As Robert’s gaze caught Deanna’s, his lip curled in disdain. “Well, well. Deanna’s here too. I heard you dumped our Alpha and went crawling into Luis’s bed instead. Is that true?” His tone was dripping with sarcasm, and the room seemed to hold its breath.

Deanna’s response was as cold as ice. “What’s it to you?” Her words were laced with defiance, but inside, she felt a flicker of vulnerability.

Robert leaned closer to a woman beside him, hooking a finger under her chin. She blushed and looked down, feigning shyness. “I’m just standing up for my brother, that’s all. Weren’t you the one who went all obsessed-Omega over Jake? Now you’re warming another Alpha’s sheets? And a pure-blood one at that. An Omega stained with—”

He paused for effect, letting the weight of his words hang in the air. “You think the Mooncrown Pack’s pure-blood heir doesn’t care? You better crawl back while another Alpha’s scent—Jake still has a sliver of pity for you.”

A gasp rippled through the crowd, a mix of shock and intrigue. Humans and werewolves alike turned their eyes toward Deanna, their expressions a blend of curiosity, gossip, and judgment.

Violet felt a surge of anger rise within her. It was her birthday; why did this jerk have to show up and ruin everything?

Back when Deanna had been with Jake, she had technically been “Mrs. Olson,” and Robert had never acknowledged her then.

With a sneer, Robert retorted, “Me chasing my woman—how is that your business?”

Erik’s gaze flicked to Violet, then back to Robert, his voice silky yet sharp enough to slice through the tension. “Oh, it’s not. But in my eyes, it becomes my business when the woman you’re chasing happens to be the woman I want. So tell me—how should we handle that?”

The temperature in the room plummeted, the air thick with the palpable energy of two powerful male werewolves squared off against one another. No words were necessary; the clash of dominance and pheromones filled the space, crackling like static before a storm.

Violet rubbed her temples, feeling a headache brewing. These two idiots were the last thing she needed on her birthday.

Suddenly, a voice from the crowd broke the heavy silence, snorting with amusement. “Well, if both of you are chasing Violet—why don’t you settle it the wolf way? Winner takes all!” The suggestion hung in the air, a challenge that threatened to ignite the already tense atmosphere.