Marked By the Pureblood Alpha (Deanna and Luis) novel Chapter 409

Deanna's POV:

I looked into his earnest eyes, my lashes trembling slightly.

I didn't doubt what Luis said.

A pure-blood Alpha of his status had no reason to lie to me about something like this.

But women are like this—we don't just want facts. We want the safety and the all-in kind of love only a mate can give.

I let out a soft "Mm."

Luis studied me for a moment before speaking again in a low voice. "Deanna, if something bothers you, you need to tell me."

Hearing that, I couldn't help myself. "In the photo ... she was touching your hand. She—"

My hand was suddenly wrapped tightly in his warm palm. "That was just the angle. I was a little drunk then, but the moment I realized she'd come close, I stood up and left."

I lowered my head, saying nothing.

His tone grew more urgent. "Really. I swear—other than you, I've never touched another woman."

I looked up at him. After a long pause, I said slowly, "I believe you."

But he didn't relax right away. His gaze stayed locked on me, sharp with scrutiny. "You don't look like you believe me. You look like you're just brushing me off."

Luis's POV:

I pressed my fingers to my brow, a headache forming.

How could one random photo that came out of nowhere send her spiraling like this?

I'd explained everything so clearly.

She'd even said she believed me.

But that look in her eyes—at best, she believed only half of it.

That in-between feeling was more frustrating than facing a room full of scheming old men at the corporate summit. At least with them, I knew exactly how to deal with it.

"I'm hungry," she suddenly said, her voice muffled, the attempt to change the subject painfully obvious.

"I'll cook," I said at once, getting to my feet. No matter what, feeding her—and the little one—came first.

"But there's nothing in the fridge."

I stopped short.

Aaron glanced into the apartment, and the surprise in his eyes instantly shifted into one clear understanding.

He might be my most trusted beta, but that didn't mean he could stare straight at my mate like that.

I lifted my eyes and shot him a cold look, my pheromones carrying an unmistakable warning to back off.

Aaron's neck stiffened. He immediately withdrew his gaze and took half a step back.

Bang.

I shut the door without hesitation, cutting off the outside world—and any potential interruptions.

Turning around, I set the two large bags on the dining table and opened them.

Inside were all kinds of fresh ingredients—neatly packed cuts of beef, Fruales prawns, and other high-protein foods.

I put some of them into the freezer.

Then, I set aside what I'd need for dinner.

As the cookware heated up, I dialed Erik's number.