Marked By the Pureblood Alpha (Deanna and Luis) novel Chapter 297

**Chapter 297: Kathryn’s Warning**

**Deanna’s POV:**

As I returned to the villa that evening, the tantalizing aroma of a home-cooked meal enveloped me like a warm embrace. It was as if the very scent beckoned me to the dining room, promising comfort and familiarity.

On the table, a feast awaited: a velvety cream mushroom soup, perfectly pan-seared salmon glistening under the soft light, a vibrant roasted quinoa veggie bowl bursting with colors, and succulent rosemary venison steaks that seemed to call my name.

Just then, Kathryn appeared from the kitchen, her apron tied neatly around her waist. With a graceful motion, she removed it and handed it off to a servant, her demeanor shifting from chef to matriarch.

“Come eat dinner,” she urged, her voice warm yet tinged with an undercurrent of something more serious.

My mother and I settled into our chairs at the dining table, the clinking of cutlery creating a rhythm that felt oddly comforting. She ladled a generous portion of soup into my bowl, her movements deliberate, as if she were trying to convey a message through her actions.

As we began our meal, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Kathryn was watching me closely. Her glances were laden with unspoken words, a mix of hesitation and curiosity swirling in her gaze.

Even if I were oblivious, it was clear that she had something weighing on her mind.

“Mom, is there something you want to talk about?” I finally asked, breaking the silence that had settled between us.

Kathryn paused, setting down her knife as if she were carefully selecting her next words. “Last night, a friend of mine spotted Violet at a five-star hotel.”

In that instant, memories of my own deceitful excuse rushed back to me. I had never anticipated that my lie would unravel so swiftly.

Kathryn’s eyes narrowed with concern. “Deanna, where did you go last night?”

I pressed my lips together, the words catching in my throat. “I—”

“Did you go to Mr. Eaton’s place?” she pressed, her voice firm but laced with worry.

There was no point in hiding the truth any longer. I nodded slowly, the weight of my decision settling heavily on my shoulders.

“I knew it. You’ve been acting strangely lately. Why are you involving yourself with him again?”

“Deanna, you made a choice to leave Nordvale with me,” she reminded me, her tone shifting to one of urgency.

“We are leaving,” I reiterated, though my voice faltered slightly.

“Then why are you seeing him again? Do you no longer wish to go?”

Kathryn studied me intently, her expression shifting. “Are you sure?” she asked, her tone light yet probing.

The words “I’m sure” almost spilled from my lips, but the memories of my unpleasant encounters with that formidable old woman silenced me.

Kathryn sighed once more, her demeanor softening. “Well, we haven’t left yet. Use this month to think it through. I’m not unreasonable. If he truly wants to be with you, he should at least adhere to the customs of the werewolf marriage and formally visit our family, ensuring you and your child are given the proper status.”

With that, she rose from the table, leaving me to ponder her words in the silence of the room.

In my bedroom, I took a long shower, letting the warm water wash away the tension of the day. Afterward, I sank onto the bed, a pregnancy handbook resting on my lap, its pages untouched.

Yet, as half an hour slipped by, I found myself lost in a whirlwind of thoughts, unable to focus on a single word.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed, breaking the stillness.

I glanced at the screen, my heart racing as I answered.

“Hey, it’s Luis,” his voice came through, casual yet with a hint of something deeper. “I’m at your door. Wanna come out?”