Chapter 195
\nMarked By the Pureblood Alpha (Deanna and Luis) novel Chapter 195<\/p>\n
**The Heart I Buried for You by Serene Lockwood**
\n**Chapter 195: The Call That Changed Everything**<\/p>\n
**Deanna\u2019s POV:**<\/p>\n
The chilling, monotonous beeping from the phone stretched each second into an eternity. It felt as if time itself was mocking me, each beep echoing my rising anxiety. My heart was lodged somewhere in my throat, a heavy weight that refused to budge. Deep down, my werewolf instincts were screaming, a primal warning that something ominous was looming just beyond my grasp.<\/p>\n
At last, the call connected, and a voice broke through the oppressive silence. \u201cHello, this is Alpha\u2019s assistant, Aaron.\u201d<\/p>\n
I blinked, momentarily thrown off balance. \u201cIs Luis there?\u201d I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlpha is currently in a meeting. If there\u2019s anything urgent, I can relay the message,\u201d Aaron replied, his tone professional yet devoid of warmth.<\/p>\n
I cast my gaze downward, the weight of my thoughts pressing heavily on my shoulders. \u201cThen when he\u2019s finished, have him call me back.\u201d<\/p>\n
With that, I hung up, the click of the phone feeling like a finality I wasn\u2019t ready to face.<\/p>\n
Alone in my home, I sank into the couch, curling up as if to shield myself from the world outside. For the first time, Crestwood Park felt vast, an empty expanse that echoed my loneliness. The silence wrapped around me like a suffocating blanket, making my skin crawl with unease.<\/p>\n
In a desperate attempt to fill the void, I grabbed the remote, flicking on the television and cranking up the volume, hoping to drown out the oppressive quiet. The news anchor\u2019s voice cut through the air, drawing my attention.<\/p>\n
\u201cRecently, a fire broke out at Mooncrown Pack\u2019s energy-refining plant in Euron,\u201d the newscaster reported with a grim expression. \u201cMooncrown Corporation\u2019s stock has plummeted, erasing over 60 billion dollars in market value. Reporters are gathered outside the headquarters, awaiting Alpha Eaton\u2019s response and trying to ascertain whether the fire was an unfortunate accident or a result of inter-pack conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n
I bit my lip, the realization hitting me like a punch to the gut. Even from the outside, I understood the magnitude of this disaster for the Mooncrown Pack. My heart ached for them, even as I felt a gnawing sense of helplessness.<\/p>\n
Just then, my phone rang, jolting me from my thoughts. I snatched it up, my heart racing.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeanna.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLuis.\u201d<\/p>\n
His voice was low and languid, a familiar sound that usually brought me comfort. Yet today, beneath that casual tone, I could sense an undercurrent of fatigue that tugged at my heartstrings.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy\u2019d you call all of a sudden? What\u2019s wrong?\u201d he asked, his concern palpable even through the phone.<\/p>\n
Hearing him made something sharp and painful throb in my chest. I sniffed, fighting to keep my emotions in check.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just saw the news. How\u2019s your company holding up?\u201d I managed to ask, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside.<\/p>\n
Luis responded with a calmness that surprised me. \u201cWe\u2019re handling it. I just have to fly to Euron for a quick trip.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the living room, Ruth sat regally at the head of the sofa, sipping her afternoon tea with an air of calm authority. The butler ushered me in, and I took a seat across from her, feeling the intensity of her gaze.<\/p>\n
Her face was lined with age, yet her sharp eyes held a piercing clarity. \u201cMs. Wiley. Long time no see,\u201d she said, her voice cool and measured, as if she were assessing my worth.<\/p>\n
I blinked, momentarily taken aback. Earlier that day, I had barely stepped outside when two Gamma-level guards had whisked me away in a car, bringing me straight to this moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know if my grandson has already informed you, but the crisis at Mooncrown\u2026\u201d Ruth paused, her expression shifting as she considered her next words. \u201cIt was caused by one of our own branch families. You could classify it as small or significant, but make no mistake\u2014it\u2019s just the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n
She leaned forward slightly, her gaze sharpening. \u201cSo, I brought you here to inquire: when Luis faces a power struggle within the pack, what do you have to offer him? What can your Mistbane Pack contribute?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her words hung in the air, heavy with expectation. \u201cBut Blackcreek Pack is different. Their bloodline and wealth align perfectly with Mooncrown.\u201d<\/p>\n
A chill swept over me, and my expression hardened at her blatant disdain.<\/p>\n
Ruth\u2019s eyes bore into me, the aura of a pack matriarch pressing down like a heavy weight. \u201cYou and your mother can barely protect yourselves in Mistbane. You can\u2019t do anything for him. You\u2019re just dragging him down. Do you understand that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her words cut deep, leaving me reeling, struggling to find my voice amidst the storm of emotions swirling inside me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-2278","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/icuow.top\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/2278","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=2278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}