Chapter 269
\nMarked By the Pureblood Alpha (Deanna and Luis) novel Chapter 269<\/p>\n
**Chapter 269: You Don\u2019t Have to Do This**<\/p>\n
**Deanna\u2019s POV:**<\/p>\n
I found myself nestled in the warmth of my bed, the world outside still cloaked in the soft shadows of the night. Suddenly, my phone buzzed insistently, breaking the serene silence. I glanced at the screen, and the name \u201cAaron\u201d illuminated my room like an unwelcome beacon.<\/p>\n
A frown creased my forehead.<\/p>\n
\u201cDamn, I forgot to block him too,\u201d I muttered under my breath, annoyance bubbling up.<\/p>\n
I hesitated, not wanting to disturb Kathryn, who was peacefully sleeping just a few feet away. With a reluctant sigh, I swiped to answer the call.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss Wiley,\u201d a voice crackled through the line, authoritative and unyielding. \u201cOur Alpha says he\u2019s waiting outside your house. If you don\u2019t come out, he\u2019ll just go in himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
What the hell?<\/p>\n
My heart raced as I tossed aside the covers, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. I padded across the cool floor, pulling back the curtains just enough to peer outside.<\/p>\n
There it was\u2014a yellow Lamborghini, gleaming under the streetlights, parked not far from the gate. The car was as ostentatious as its owner, a bold statement of wealth and status.<\/p>\n
After a brief moment of indecision, I slipped on a gray knit cardigan over my nightgown, the fabric soft against my skin, and slid my feet into my slippers. With a deep breath, I opened the door and stepped outside.<\/p>\n
Luis spotted me immediately. He emerged from the car, grabbing a suit jacket from the passenger seat. As he approached, he draped the jacket over my shoulders, the fabric enveloping me like a warm hug.<\/p>\n
His jacket was enormous, swallowing me whole, and I couldn\u2019t help but feel a mix of comfort and vulnerability.<\/p>\n
\u201cAren\u2019t you cold?\u201d he asked, concern lacing his voice.<\/p>\n
I gave him a quick once-over, my eyes scanning his form. He looked strong and healthy, a stark contrast to the frail figure the news had painted. It seemed he had fully recovered, and a flicker of relief washed over me, though I quickly buried it.<\/p>\n
I maintained my composure, keeping my face impassive as I avoided his gaze. \u201cIf you have something to say, just say it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luis chuckled softly, a hint of teasing in his tone. \u201cSomeone\u2019s in a mood tonight. Who set you off?\u201d<\/p>\n
I remained unresponsive, my silence hanging heavily between us.<\/p>\n
Luis\u2019s smile faltered, and he took a step closer, his expression turning earnest. \u201cSorry, Deanna. I left early the other night because I felt sick. I came to apologize, but you kept ignoring me. This was the only way to get you outside.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re done, I\u2019m going back in,\u201d I said curtly, turning on my heel.<\/p>\n
But before I could retreat, Luis wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder. His grip was firm, almost desperate, as if he were afraid I might slip away.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t slept well for the past few nights,\u201d he murmured, burying his face in my hair. His voice was tinged with a vulnerability that tugged at my heart.<\/p>\n
My eyelashes fluttered, betraying the turmoil within me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been sick. Aren\u2019t you even a little worried about me? Look, I\u2019m totally wiped out,\u201d he continued, his words laced with a hint of pleading.<\/p>\n
He spun me around to face him, his eyes searching mine, a half-smile playing on his lips.<\/p>\n
I looked away, my voice icy. \u201cYou don\u2019t look sick to me. You seem perfectly fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
So she genuinely believed that my desire to marry her was merely a consequence of her pregnancy.<\/p>\n
Did she really think a child could bind me to her?<\/p>\n
It was absurd.<\/p>\n
I had never been particularly keen on having kids.<\/p>\n
The truth was, I cherished this baby simply because it was Deanna\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Otherwise, I would have never brushed off the elders when they nagged me about producing heirs.<\/p>\n
I looked her straight in the eyes, my voice steady. \u201cDeanna, a baby isn\u2019t enough to make me want marriage. Can\u2019t you believe it\u2019s just because I like you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Deanna\u2019s eyes fell to the ground, her expression clouded. \u201cYou always said you liked my body. I know.\u201d<\/p>\n
That realization hit me like a punch to the gut.<\/p>\n
Why had I ever said something so foolish?<\/p>\n
Now she was holding onto that grudge like a lifeline.<\/p>\n
I ruffled her hair, frustration and affection swirling within me. \u201cI take it back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBelieve it or not, I love you, not just your body. That\u2019s all there is to it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-2351","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/icuow.top\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/2351","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=2351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}