Marked By the Pureblood Alpha (Deanna and Luis) novel Chapter 301

**Chapter 301: Something About Deanna Had Changed**

**Deanna’s POV:**

Once Erik departed, a wave of silence enveloped the room. I moved to the kitchen, filled a glass with cool water, and retrieved the medicine from the counter. The air felt heavy as I made my way back to the bedroom, a sense of purpose guiding my steps.

Perched on the edge of the bed, I cast a gentle gaze upon the man who lay there, his form still and vulnerable. “Time for your meds,” I spoke softly, my voice barely a whisper, yet it felt like a lifeline.

Luis stirred, his eyelids fluttering open. He blinked slowly, a hint of confusion clouding his eyes. “Feed me,” he murmured, a plea wrapped in a fragile tone that tugged at my heartstrings.

Seeing him in such a state was like watching a flickering candle, its flame fighting against the wind. I felt my heart soften, the warmth of compassion swelling within me. I helped him sit up, propping him against the headboard, and brought the pills to his lips, my fingers brushing against his as I offered them.

In that fleeting moment, as he accepted the medicine, I felt the delicate caress of his tongue against my palm. A shiver raced down my spine, igniting a warmth that spread throughout my body before I could even process it. When I looked into his eyes, they seemed clear and steady, leaving me to question if my senses were playing tricks on me.

“Lie down and rest,” I urged, tucking the blanket snugly around him. “Call me if you need anything.” I prepared to rise, ready to reclaim the space around me.

“You’re not staying with me?” Luis’s voice held an edge of desperation, his grip tightening around my hand as he looked up at me, his eyes pleading.

A flash of Erik’s words echoed in my mind, making me hesitate. “I’ll just go grab another cup of water and be right back,” I replied, my voice steadying as I pulled my hand away.

I walked to the kitchen, the sound of the water filling the cup a soothing backdrop to my racing thoughts. What was happening between us? Why did everything feel so charged, so different?

Upon returning to the bedroom, I placed the fresh cup on the nightstand beside him. But instead of retreating, I lifted the blanket and settled down beside him, curling onto my side.

As soon as I found a comfortable position, I felt the heat radiating from his body, his form pressing against me. His arms encircled me, drawing me closer, enveloping me in a cocoon of warmth and safety.

“Does anything else still hurt?” I asked, curiosity lacing my voice, though a part of me was acutely aware of the intimacy of the moment.

He leaned in, kissing my neck softly, his breath warm against my skin as he drawled, “Down … there.”

The shrill ring of my phone sliced through the tranquility of the morning, sunlight streaming through the gray curtains, casting a soft golden glow across the room.

As I blinked awake, I found Deanna curled up on my thighs, a wave of contentment washing over me. She looked peaceful, her breathing steady, and it filled me with a sense of satisfaction that I hadn’t felt in a long time.

The phone rang again, pulling me from my thoughts. “Yeah?” I answered, my voice still thick with sleep.

On the other end was my Beta, Aaron, updating me on my schedule. I absentmindedly ran my fingers through Deanna’s hair with one hand while holding the phone with the other, my tone calm and authoritative as I issued orders. “Got it. Set everything up.”

After hanging up, I noticed Deanna’s lashes fluttering, a sign that she was stirring awake.

Then she wrapped her arms around my waist, her cheek nuzzling against my thigh in an affectionate gesture that made my heart swell.

I savored this rare moment, her reaching out to me, and raised an eyebrow in surprise. Something about Deanna felt different since last night, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. The shift in our dynamic was palpable, and I was both intrigued and apprehensive about what it meant for us moving forward.