Chapter 130
\nMarked By the Pureblood Alpha (Deanna and Luis) novel Chapter 130<\/p>\n
Chapter 130: What Are You Afraid Of?<\/p>\n
Deanna\u2019s Perspective:<\/p>\n
I lifted my chin defiantly, refusing to back down. \u201cViolet really needs me right now. I should stay with her,\u201d I said firmly.<\/p>\n
Luis\u2019s gaze sharpened, his eyes narrowing with unmistakable intensity. \u201cI\u2019m not going to repeat myself,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n
I lowered my head in silence, unwilling to argue further.<\/p>\n
He remained standing just outside the car window, motionless, his eyes locked onto mine with unwavering focus.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, the blaring sound of car horns erupted behind us, growing louder and more impatient by the second.<\/p>\n
Our vehicles were blocking the exit of the underground parking garage.<\/p>\n
Violet leaned close, her breath warm against my ear. \u201cBabe, I wish I could back you up, but I\u2019m in the middle of filming a horror movie. The director\u2019s made it clear I need to stay out of the spotlight. Please don\u2019t make me end up on the news. Just go with him, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
I let out a helpless sigh and pushed the car door open.<\/p>\n
Luis slid into the driver\u2019s seat and started the engine with ease, steering us toward Crestwood Park\u2014the most prestigious and secure neighborhood in the downtown area.<\/p>\n
At the gate, the guards recognized his license plate immediately. Their expressions softened into respectful nods. They didn\u2019t even bother to check further; the barrier lifted smoothly, and we were waved through without a word.<\/p>\n
The sleek sports car glided past rows of opulent mansions before stopping at its assigned private parking spot.<\/p>\n
I\u2019d never been here before.<\/p>\n
But I knew Crestwood Park wasn\u2019t just about wealth\u2014it was exclusive to the highest echelon. Even the rich had a hard time securing property here.<\/p>\n
Only the alphas of the top packs owned homes in this elite neighborhood.<\/p>\n
Packs like Mistbane were nowhere near this level.<\/p>\n
Still seated in the passenger seat, I was lost in thought when the door opened from outside.<\/p>\n
Luis stood there, one hand casually tucked into his pocket. The subtle scent of cedar wafted over me.<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Wiley,\u201d he said smoothly, tilting his head slightly, \u201cwould you like me to carry you upstairs?\u201d His amber eyes reflected my face, calm yet intense. The weight of his Alpha presence wasn\u2019t overwhelming, but it was enough to send a shiver down my spine.<\/p>\n
Frowning, I stepped out of the car and followed him into a private elevator that whisked us straight to the 66th-floor penthouse. One floor, one unit\u2014yet the building boasted six elevators.<\/p>\n
The luxury inside was beyond anything I could have imagined.<\/p>\n
When the elevator doors slid open, I was taken aback by the warmth of the interior\u2014it wasn\u2019t the cold, sterile space I had expected.<\/p>\n
Massive floor-to-ceiling windows wrapped around the entire living room, flooding it with natural light. Outside, a long rectangular pool stretched across the balcony.<\/p>\n
A cream-colored sofa anchored the center of the room. The open kitchen, done in soft shades of gray and white, gave the space a cozy yet elegant feeling.<\/p>\n
Luis tossed his keys and access card onto the kitchen counter, then moved straight to the fridge to grab a bottle of water.<\/p>\n
Tilting his head back, he drank the entire bottle in one smooth motion. His Adam\u2019s apple bobbed as he swallowed, the low, husky sound echoing softly in the quiet, dimly lit room\u2014carrying a hint of something intimate.<\/p>\n
When he finished, he tossed the empty bottle into the kitchen trash can with a perfect arc.<\/p>\n
Then he turned, his eyes locking onto mine with a sharp, searching intensity.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeanna,\u201d he said slowly, \u201cwhy don\u2019t you want to live with me?\u201d<\/p>\n
My throat tightened as I swallowed hard. My heart pounded so fiercely it almost hurt.<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t tell if the rapid beating was from fear or the intensity of what was about to unfold.<\/p>\n
Biting my lip, I whispered, \u201cLuis, I think we need to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLater,\u201d he said, his voice low and husky. \u201cAfter this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Without hesitation, he shrugged off his black shirt and let it fall to the floor.<\/p>\n
His sharply defined abs came into full view\u2014impossibly perfect. The sight alone sent a rush of heat flooding my cheeks.<\/p>\n
His Alpha presence pressed down on me, heavy and consuming, threatening to shatter my last thread of control.<\/p>\n
I raised a hand to push him away, but the moment my palm touched his chest, the searing warmth made me shiver instead.<\/p>\n
\u201cLuis, y-you need to calm down.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t.\u201d His voice was rough, almost a growl. He bent his head until his lips brushed against mine\u2014not a full kiss, but close enough for his warm breath to spill across my skin.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeanna,\u201d he whispered, \u201cwhat are you so afraid of?\u201d<\/p>\n
Yes. What was I truly afraid of?<\/p>\n
Afraid of losing myself all over again. Afraid of surrendering to something that was never meant to be mine. Afraid that I would end up broken, scattered in pieces.<\/p>\n
Because if I stumbled down this path one more time, I might never find my way back.<\/p>\n
So before it could happen\u2014before the pain consumed me\u2014I had to pull away.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-2213","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/icuow.top\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/2213","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=2213"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}