Marked By the Pureblood Alpha (Deanna and Luis) novel Chapter 232

**Chapter 232: Secrets Beneath the Moon**

**Deanna’s POV:**

My heart felt like it was about to leap out of my chest, a frantic rhythm pounding in my ears. Instinctively, I wrapped my arms around my waist, an almost primal gesture of self-preservation that spoke of both vulnerability and desperation.

Just when it seemed the ground was about to rise up and embrace me, a strong arm snaked around my waist, halting my unceremonious descent. The air filled with a familiar aroma, earthy and rich, like cedar trees drenched in rain—a scent that was both nostalgic and comforting.

In an instant, I found myself colliding against a solid chest, the warmth radiating from him enveloping me in a cocoon of both safety and alarm.

I tilted my head back, my gaze locking onto his strikingly handsome face—a visage that seemed as though it had been chiseled by divine hands, flawless and captivating.

Luis’s voice, smooth and teasing, brushed against my ear like a whisper of smoke curling in the air. “What were you thinking? Not paying attention to where you’re going?”

His deep, penetrating eyes sent a shiver coursing through me, tightening my chest with a faint ache that felt both painful and all too familiar—like a needle pricking my heart, awakening feelings I had buried deep.

After a moment of stunned silence, I managed to stammer out a simple, “Thanks,” my voice barely above a whisper.

It was only then that I became acutely aware of how I was still nestled against him, the warmth of his body radiating into mine. A rush of embarrassment surged through me, and I quickly pushed him away, creating a necessary yet painful distance between us.

Luis, however, remained unfazed, his demeanor calm as he reached into his pocket for a cigarette. He tapped the box twice, a practiced motion that spoke of habit, before slipping one between his lips, the act casual yet deliberate.

The flicker of his lighter sprang to life, casting a warm glow that danced across his features, enveloping him in a haze of smoke and shadow. He took a slow, deliberate drag, his movements unhurried, as though time itself had decided to stand still.

I took a few steps forward, compelled to distance myself, yet I found myself glancing back, unable to resist the magnetic pull of his presence. There was something utterly captivating about him standing there—tall, lean, and effortlessly relaxed, with that chiseled profile and an air of careless grace that seemed to defy the very laws of nature.

Before I could think better of it, I found myself saying softly, “I heard you’re getting married. Congratulations.”

Luis’s narrow eyes squinted slightly, his gaze scrutinizing me as if searching for hidden meanings beneath my words. His voice dripped with a hint of mockery. “Do you care?”

I replied flatly, the words escaping my lips with a dullness that surprised even me. “Does it matter if I do?”

He stepped closer, the intensity of his dark eyes slicing through the distance between us like a knife. “If you tell me you care, I’ll call it off.”

My heart stumbled, a sudden jolt of confusion coursing through me before I even had time to process his words.

I held his gaze, searching for any sign that he was joking, but all I found was a seriousness that sent a flicker of hope spiraling through my chest.

Yet, reason quickly smothered that small spark, reminding me of the walls I had painstakingly built around myself.

With a determined effort, I met his gaze and forced a small smile, one that felt more like a mask than a genuine expression. “Mr. Eaton, you must have forgotten what we are. Do you still have the inclination to joke?”

—

**Luis’s POV:**

I stood a few paces away, watching her with a tumult of longing and frustration swirling within me.

Her head was slightly bowed, long lashes casting delicate shadows over her cheeks, concealing the storm of emotions roiling in her eyes. Only the tight line of her lips betrayed the stubbornness that defined her.

I dropped the cigarette, crushing it under my shoe, the glowing ember extinguished with a finality that mirrored the resolve swelling inside me. Then, I took a step toward her, my heart racing as I closed the distance between us.

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