Chapter 22
\nMarked By the Pureblood Alpha (Deanna and Luis) novel Chapter 22<\/p>\n
Chapter 22 Turned Away at the Door<\/p>\n
Deanna\u2019s POV:<\/p>\n
$43<\/p>\n
+10 Free Coins<\/p>\n
I was digging through my office looking for the Moonline Expansion Project file when I suddenly sneezed.<\/p>\n
Someone must be trash\u2013talking me behind my back.<\/p>\n
Seriously though, where the hell did that proposal go?<\/p>\n
I had planned to take it straight to Luis, walk him through the numbers like a pro, and convince him to invest.<\/p>\n
And if that didn\u2019t work? I was fully prepared to shamelessly cash in that favor he owed me.<\/p>\n
But now the whole file was gone.<\/p>\n
I could\u2019ve sworn I left it right on my desk.<\/p>\n
I even pulled an all\u2013nighter finishing it.<\/p>\n
\u201cKylie, has anyone been in my office these past couple of days?\u201d<\/p>\n
Kylie kept her eyes down. \u201cMs. Wiley, no one\u2019s touched your office.\u201d<\/p>\n
I narrowed my eyes, watching her for a moment, but decided not to press it.<\/p>\n
There was no way that file just vanished into thin air\u2013but if she wasn\u2019t going to talk, there wasn\u2019t much I could do.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can go,\u201d I said, waving her off.<\/p>\n
Never mind.<\/p>\n
I had every page of that proposal committed to memory. I could present it without the folder.<\/p>\n
I<\/p>\n
got in the car and headed for the Mooncrown Pack\u2019s headquarters.<\/p>\n
At the front desk, I kept my tone polite. \u201cHi, could you help me get in touch with your alpha?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd<\/p>\n
you are?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDeanna Wiley, from Mistbane Pack.\u201d<\/p>\n
1\/5<\/p>\n
20:12 Wed, Nov 5<\/p>\n
Chapter 22 Turned Away at the Door<\/p>\n
43<\/p>\n
+10 Free Coins<\/p>\n
\u201cThe heiress of Mistbane Pack?\u201d The receptionist gave me a quick once\u2013over, then offered a crisp, polite smile. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, but the alpha isn\u2019t here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan I leave a message? Or maybe schedule an appointment for when he\u2019s back?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her expression turned bland. \u201cWe don\u2019t take walk\u2013ins. If we allowed everyone to schedule a meeting, he\u2019d never get any work done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Are you serious? I grumbled to myself.<\/p>\n
If I couldn\u2019t even speak to Luis, how was I supposed to get this funding?<\/p>\n
I tried one more time. \u201cPlease\u2013this is important. It won\u2019t take long.\u201d<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t blink. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Ms. Wiley. The answer\u2019s still no.\u201d<\/p>\n
Defeated, I walked out of the building, completely deflated.<\/p>\n
That was when my phone rang. It was Philip.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeanna, where are you? I stopped by your office. Your assistant said you went out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m trying to lock down investors.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAny progress?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStill working on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve already got Jake backing you, but you\u2019re dead set on finding outside capital. You think it\u2019s easy to raise four billion?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJake\u2019s not making a fuss about it. His beta\u2013Axel\u2013called today. Said he wants to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jake?<\/p>\n
He was just sitting back, waiting for me to fold.<\/p>\n
I glanced up at the towering glass building above me and muttered, \u201cI\u2019ll figure it out on my<\/p>\n
own.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDeanna,\u201d Philip snapped over the phone, \u201cyou and Jake are about to sign that contract. Stop being immature and just apologize already. You\u2019re blowing this way out of proportion.\u201d<\/p>\n
I let out a cold laugh. \u201cSo that\u2019s it? I only matter because I\u2019m tied to Jake?\u201d<\/p>\n
2\/5<\/p>\n
20:12 Wed, Nov 5<\/p>\n
Chapter 22 Turned Away at the Door<\/p>\n
43<\/p>\n
+10 Free Coins<\/p>\n
\u201cDad, I started at the bottom. I clawed my way up to becoming a manager without anyone\u2019s help. I don\u2019t need the Olsendreich Pack\u2019s support. And how many times do I have to say it\u2013I already ended things with Jake.\u201d<\/p>\n
Philip\u2019s tone turned sharper. \u201cThat agreement affects both our packs. The Mistbane Pack isn\u2019t going to let you walk away on a whim.\u201d<\/p>\n
I smirked. \u201cIf you\u2019re that eager to partner with the Olsendreich Pack, maybe you should marry Jake.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou-\u201d His voice shot up. \u201cAre you trying to send me to an early grave? Fine. I\u2019ll give you a bit more time. But if you still can\u2019t secure the funding, I\u2019ll drag you over there myself to make things right.\u201d<\/p>\n
With that, the line went dead.<\/p>\n
I stood there for a moment, staring at the blank phone screen.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t doubt him. For the sake of the Mistbane Pack, he would absolutely force me to grovel. Again.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s done it before.<\/p>\n
Back before I turned eighteen, I\u2019d been raised like a normal human\u2014no combat training, no real connection to my wolf. I was weak and unprepared.<\/p>\n
When I finally returned to the Mistbane Pack, I had to start from scratch. I trained for ages to awaken and strengthen my wolf form.<\/p>\n
One day, I sprained my wrist during a sparring drill and went to the hospital.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, Peggie was there too.<\/p>\n
She lured me into her room, waited for the perfect moment, then flung herself onto the floor just as Jake walked in.<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t ask questions.<\/p>\n
All he saw was Peggie, crumpled on the ground, fake tears running down her cheeks.<\/p>\n
His face darkened.<\/p>\n
He rushed over, shoved me out of the way, and scooped her up into his arms.<\/p>\n
My shoulder slammed into the wall. The force jolted down to my wrist, and I heard the crack<\/p>\n
3\/5<\/p>\n
20:13 Wed, Nov 5<\/p>\n
Chapter 22 Turned Away at the Door<\/p>\n
before I felt the pain.<\/p>\n
My face went ghost\u2013white, and sweat drenched my back.<\/p>\n
43<\/p>\n
+10 Free Coins<\/p>\n
I clenched my jaw and forced the words out. \u201cI didn\u2019t touch her. Peggie threw herself down. She framed me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jake\u2019s expression darkened. \u201cSeriously, Deanna? That\u2019s the best you\u2019ve got? You think anyone\u2019s going to buy that she just tripped? You\u2019re unbelievable. She\u2019s already not well, and you\u2019re still picking on her.\u201d<\/p>\n
In that second, the guy I had adored for five years felt like a complete stranger.<\/p>\n
Behind him, Peggie clung to his arm like some delicate flower, weeping like she was in a drama. \u201cIt\u2019s okay\u2026 I deserved it. I made Deanna upset. Jake, please don\u2019t be mad at her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jake turned and walked over to me, his tone sharp and final. \u201cApologize to Peggie.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t do anything wrong. I\u2019m not apologizing.\u201d<\/p>\n
And just like that, I bolted, hot tears spilling down my cheeks as I ran.<\/p>\n
That injury? It should\u2019ve healed in a week. But because of that hit, my wrist took two months<\/p>\n
to recover.<\/p>\n
Eventually, Philip forced me to apologize to Jake.<\/p>\n
At the time, I was head over heels for Jake\u2013completely spineless.<\/p>\n
So, when Philip offered to go with me and smooth things over, I stupidly agreed. I tagged along like some love\u2013struck fool.<\/p>\n
He gave this long\u2013winded speech, basically begging Jake to forgive me for having a \u201cbad attitude.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jake looked me over, then gestured with his hand. \u201cCome here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eyes rimmed red, I shuffled over.<\/p>\n
He pulled me into his arms. \u201cNo more tantrums, alright? Don\u2019t act out like a spoiled kid. I hate girls who can\u2019t control themselves. Deanna, I\u2019m only taking care of Peggie because I feel responsible for her. Don\u2019t let that make you insecure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thinking back on it now, I seriously wonder if I had been hit in the head back then.<\/p>\n
4\/5<\/p>\n
20:13 Wed, Nov 5<\/p>\n
Chapter 22 Turned Away at the Door<\/p>\n
How was I ever that girl, so obsessed with him that I thought I\u2019d die without him?<\/p>\n
But here I was. Still breathing. Still standing.<\/p>\n
443<\/p>\n
+20 Free Coins<\/p>\n
20:13 Wed, Nov 5<\/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-2105","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/icuow.top\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/2105","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=2105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}