Marked By the Pureblood Alpha (Deanna and Luis) novel Chapter 408

Deanna's POV:

The moment he pulled me into his arms, my hands moved on instinct, pressing against his solid chest.

I left a sliver of space between us.

Luis froze, lowering his gaze to me, eyes narrowing slightly. "What's wrong?"

I didn't answer right away.

I knew that photo had been sent with bad intentions. Someone was deliberately trying to bait me.

I couldn't let myself be used—and put Luis in a position where he could be threatened.

That was why I'd sent him that message. "Don't worry about me. I'm at Zedowood. Focus on the corporate summit today. Come see me after you're done."

But even so, my heart still felt uncomfortable.

Just thinking about Luis—about Lindsay standing that close to him, looking at him with that kind of greedy longing—made my chest tighten. It bothered me far more than I wanted to admit.

So much so that the idea of going back to the Mooncrown estate made me resist on a physical level.

That was why I'd come to Zedowood instead.

Before this, I'd never realized I could be this possessive.

That resistance in my heart quickly turned into a physical reaction.

My stomach clenched without warning.

I covered my mouth and gagged softly.

Luis's POV:

Seeing Deanna retch, I immediately pulled a few tissues from the table and reached out to wipe the corner of her lips.

Before my hand could touch her, she took the tissues herself and lowered her head, wiping carefully.

My gaze lingered on her lowered profile, trying to read what she was thinking.

I could feel her resistance clearly.

It was subtle—but enough to sting.

After a moment.

She picked up her phone from the table and handed it to me, her tone calm to the point of distance. "Explain."

I took the phone, puzzled, and unlocked it.

The moment I saw the photo, I froze.

Deanna's POV:

She'd appeared in that phone call before. She'd shown up at Crestwood Park.

She'd even lived under the same roof as Luis when they were children.

I knew all of that was in the past.

Everyone has a past.

And I knew the person Luis loved now was me.

But I still couldn't help it. I cared too much.

I knew it was childish. I didn't like this version of myself either.

But those unspeakable emotions—the jealousy, the pettiness—I didn't know how to put them into words.

Warm fingers suddenly lifted my chin, forcing me to meet Luis's eyes.

"Do you remember what I told you? When I was young, my mother was kidnapped. Lindsay's father was my mother's driver. During that incident, he died protecting her.

"That's why Grandma took their family in out of guilt and raised Lindsay by her side. To me, the Mooncrown Pack has countless members. One more or one less never mattered. I never paid her any attention.

"As for what you called childhood sweethearts—if I recognize any, it's only you. From the beginning, it's always you."