Chapter 12
\nMarked By the Pureblood Alpha (Deanna and Luis) novel Chapter 12<\/p>\n
Chapter 12 Peggie Takes the Plunge<\/p>\n
Deanna\u2019s POV:<\/p>\n
44<\/p>\n
+10 Free Coins<\/p>\n
Look at you, Jake. That tone, that face\u2013like you\u2019re some kind of savior swooping in to fix everything.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s almost funny, really.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve stood by you for five long years, and you still don\u2019t have the faintest clue who I am.<\/p>\n
You actually believe I faked a kidnapping just to get your attention? What a joke.<\/p>\n
It struck me hard\u2013five years with this man were completely wasted.<\/p>\n
I backed away, my heels edging dangerously close to the pool. Being near him felt unbearable right now.<\/p>\n
\u201cJake,\u201d I shot back, my voice sharp enough to cut, \u201cdo you really think tossing me a fancier ceremony is going to fix this? You think I\u2019ll just sit around and wait like before?\u201d<\/p>\n
I let out a bitter laugh. \u201cI\u2019m done. Honestly, I hope you and Peggie get stuck together for life. Forget your fake little ceremonies\u2013why not just make it official?\u201d<\/p>\n
His jaw tightened, his tone low and rough. \u201cDeanna, enough. I\u2019m done playing games. Say what you want, and it\u2019s yours. Just this once.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before I could fire back again, something flickered in the corner of my eye.<\/p>\n
Oh, look at that. Peggie. Perfect timing.<\/p>\n
Draped in white like some delicate little dove, she glided into the place. That faint trace of her Dualborn scent\u2013human tangled with wolf\u2013was so subtle you\u2019d miss it if you weren\u2019t paying<\/p>\n
attention.<\/p>\n
I almost smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cJake,\u201d I told him quietly, \u201cI\u2019m not asking for anything. Just one thing\u2013choose me. Right here. Right now. No hesitation. Do that, and maybe we can start over.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then, Peggie was there, closing the distance between us.<\/p>\n
She looked pale, though the breeze still played with her flawless hair. Not a single strand out of place, her makeup picture\u2013perfect.<\/p>\n
1\/4<\/p>\n
20:10 Wed, Nov 5<\/p>\n
Chapter 12 Peggie Takes the Plunge<\/p>\n
44<\/p>\n
+10 Free Coins<\/p>\n
\u201cJake.\u201d Her voice came out soft, trembling. Then her gaze slid to me, and she let out a strained, \u201cDeanna.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jake\u2019s brows knitted. \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n
Peggie bit her lip, lowering her gaze just enough to look helpless. \u201cI\u2026 I came to apologize to Deanna about the ceremony. I didn\u2019t know the Mistbane Pack is hosting a celebration tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
I nearly snorted. Say sorry? Please. I hardly ever set foot in this pack, and now you just magically show up?<\/p>\n
Nice try, Peggie. You flashed that invitation on purpose. Don\u2019t pretend this isn\u2019t exactly what you planned.<\/p>\n
Kathryn arrived then, two maids trailing her like shadows.<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Pearson,\u201d she spoke briskly, \u201ctonight is an important night for the Mistbane Pack. If this isn\u2019t urgent, I\u2019m going to have to ask you to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
Peggie didn\u2019t even flinch.<\/p>\n
Instead, she turned those wide, tear\u2013glossed eyes up at Jake. \u201cJake, am I in the way? I swear I had no idea it was Mistbane Pack\u2019s founding anniversary. I wouldn\u2019t have come if I\u2019d known. I\u2019m so sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
I folded my arms, smirking. Showtime. Let\u2019s see how far she takes this.<\/p>\n
Kathryn\u2019s patience snapped. \u201cGuards! Show Ms. Pearson out!\u201d<\/p>\n
The guards stepped forward, but one sharp glare from Jake froze them in place. That Alpha presence slammed down like a storm, thick enough to choke the air. None of them dared move. They backed off in an instant.<\/p>\n
He turned to Peggie. \u201cYou don\u2019t look well. I\u2019ll ask the driver to take you back to the hospital, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
Peggie\u2019s eyes went wide, glistening with perfectly timed tears. Not a single word of protest. Instead, she turned those fragile little eyes on me, voice trembling.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeanna, please don\u2019t be mad at Jake. My heart\u2019s failing\u2026 I don\u2019t know how much time I\u2019ve got. That ceremony was the only thing I wanted. I can\u2019t stand seeing you two at odds because of me. Please, tell me what I can do to make you forgive me.\u201d<\/p>\n
God, she was good. That act could melt stone, but too bad I\u2019m immune.<\/p>\n
Even though I was over Jake, I could never forget the crap Peggie had dragged me through.<\/p>\n
2\/4<\/p>\n
20:10 Wed, Nov 5<\/p>\n
Chapter 12 Peggie Takes the Plunge<\/p>\n
She had sent me 999 texts. I could still picture each of them as if it were yesterday.<\/p>\n
\u2018Deanna, Jake loves me. You\u2019ll always be second best.\u2018<\/p>\n
Jake stayed with me again. Guess that says it all.\u2018<\/p>\n
44<\/p>\n
444<\/p>\n
+10 Free Coins<\/p>\n
The memory burned hotter than the sun.<\/p>\n
I smiled, slow and sharp.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright, take a dive into the pool. Do that, and we\u2019re good,\u201d I replied, my tone sugar\u2013sweet.<\/p>\n
Gasps erupted around us. Guests were starting to gather, whispers spreading like wildfire.<\/p>\n
Jake\u2019s face darkened, his voice low and sharp. \u201cDeanna! I\u2019m the one who agreed to the ceremony. If you\u2019re mad, aim it at me! Why drag her into this?\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked straight at him, calm and steady. \u201cOh? Now you\u2019re worried about her? Then stop feeding me lies that make me think you still care.\u201d<\/p>\n
Peggie\u2019s POV:<\/p>\n
The pool shimmered under the lights, and I didn\u2019t hesitate.<\/p>\n
Weak? Sure. Dualborn heart, not exactly perfect, but I\u2019ve been fine lately. It doesn\u2019t matter. It\u2019s summer, the water\u2019s warm, and I can swim.<\/p>\n
This is nothing to me.<\/p>\n
A slow, confident thought slipped in. And Deanna? She has no idea she\u2019s handing me the perfect chance. Jake\u2019s going to hate her for this.<\/p>\n
I murmured, \u201cI\u2019ll do it, Jake. If this will stop Deanna from being angry at you, I\u2019ll jump.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then I drew a breath and launched myself forward.<\/p>\n
Splash.<\/p>\n
Water exploded everywhere.<\/p>\n
A voice shouted from the crowd, \u201cIs she drowning? She\u2019s sick, right? What if she dies?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jake didn\u2019t even hesitate. He dove in like a bullet, slicing through the water.<\/p>\n
3\/4<\/p>\n
20:11 Wed, Nov 5<\/p>\n
Chapter 12 Peggie Takes the Plunge<\/p>\n
44<\/p>\n
+10 Free Coins<\/p>\n
He reached me in seconds, strong arms wrapping around me as he hauled me to the edge.<\/p>\n
When we finally climbed out, I coughed and gasped for air, trembling.<\/p>\n
My voice cracked, tears blurring my vision. \u201cJake\u2026 I\u2026 I was so scared I\u2019d lost you for good.\u201d<\/p>\n
He draped a towel around me and lifted me like I weighed nothing.<\/p>\n
As he moved past Deanna, his voice came out like ice. \u201cDeanna, I never thought you\u2019d sink this low. Peggie\u2019s sick\u2013she could\u2019ve died. You crossed a line.\u201d<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t even look back.<\/p>\n
Deanna\u2019s voice rang out behind us, cold and final. \u201cDon\u2019t say I didn\u2019t give you one last chance, Jake. We\u2019re done.\u201d<\/p>\n
For a split second, he paused.<\/p>\n
I instantly pressed my face to his chest, soft and trembling. \u201cJake\u2026 my heart\u2026 it hurts. I can\u2019t breathe.\u201d<\/p>\n
That was it. He kept moving without another word.<\/p>\n
I let my lips curl into a satisfied smile, hidden against his shirt.<\/p>\n
4\/4<\/p>\n
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland\u2019s breathtaking cold.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-2095","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/icuow.top\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/2095","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/icuow.top\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/icuow.top\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/icuow.top\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}