Marked By the Pureblood Alpha (Deanna and Luis) novel Chapter 272

**Chapter 272: An Empty Restaurant and a First Meeting**

**Erik’s POV:**

The atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically, almost palpable, as the pure-blood Alpha energy emanating from Luis became a chaotic storm. It oscillated between an icy chill and a searing heat, like a wild beast ready to pounce.

He sat there, his gaze fixed on the ice cubes clinking softly in his glass, as if they held the secrets of the universe.

After a heavy silence, he finally broke it, his voice a rough whisper, as if he had to claw his way through the words.

“Erik,” he began, each syllable laden with weight, “if I knew how to let go, I wouldn’t be stuck here, listening to your nonsense.”

Suddenly, he snapped his head up, and I was taken aback by the intensity burning in his green eyes. There was a wild determination there, a kind of madness that sent shivers down my spine.

“She’s mine,” he declared, each word punctuated with fierce conviction. From the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew she was my fated mate.

“She’s carrying my pup… Our first pup.”

His voice softened, a bitter smile creeping across his lips, a mixture of joy and despair. “You ask me what my next move is. Honestly? I don’t have a clue. All I know is that I love her. No matter what happens, I can’t bring myself to let her slip away.”

Holy hell.

The crimson depths of his eyes sent goosebumps racing across my skin.

This was the first time I had witnessed fear in Luis—not the kind that comes from facing death, but the paralyzing fear of losing something precious.

I let out a long sigh, suppressing the urge to revel in the unfolding drama.

“Alright, alright,” I said, reaching for the bottle and pouring more into his empty glass.

“It’s not the worst-case scenario just yet.” I raised my glass to clink against his. “For now, you’re still in control. You know what you want. The curse hasn’t fully taken hold. You still have time.”

“What you need to do now is figure out how to navigate this situation while you still have a grip on yourself. Remember, you’re not just living for yourself anymore.”

**Deanna’s POV:**

I had been buried in work lately, feeling the weight of my responsibilities pressing down on me.

I was on the verge of making a significant decision.

Given my plans to leave, I needed to find a professional manager for the corporation and sort out all related matters within the next two months.

In truth, selling off my shares would be the quickest route, but that would mean handing them back to Philip, and I couldn’t bear the thought.

Ever since I had stripped him of his power, he had been reduced to throwing his Alpha weight around within the confines of the Mistbane Pack.

That evening, I rushed to Luminara Restaurant, my heart racing with anticipation and nerves.

However, I found myself stuck behind a Werewolf Enforcement Bureau vehicle, which delayed my arrival by ten frustrating minutes.

As soon as I stepped inside, the waiter approached me with a respectful nod.

“Ms. Deanna, please follow me.”

I felt a wave of confusion wash over me. My eyes scanned the restaurant, and to my surprise, it was completely empty.

Malcolm occupied a window seat, and as soon as he spotted me, he stood up and pulled out the chair opposite him with a welcoming gesture.

“Thank you,” I said, settling into my seat, still glancing around in bewilderment. “Why is there no one else here?”

A smile danced on Malcolm’s lips. “I wanted to ensure we wouldn’t be disturbed.”

Curiosity piqued, I asked, “But why this place?”

He froze momentarily, as if caught off guard, before hastily explaining, “I’m sorry. I just thought this was where we first met. If it stirs up any unpleasant memories, we can easily move somewhere else.”

His sincerity touched me, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that tonight held more significance than either of us anticipated.