Marked By the Pureblood Alpha (Deanna and Luis) novel Chapter 236

**Chapter 236: A Heartbeat Too Late**

**Luis’s POV:**

In the dim light of the alley, I spotted her crouched in the shadows, her fingers tenderly brushing the matted fur of a scrawny, filthy dog—the very creature that would later be known as Puddy. The sight tugged at something deep within me, and I couldn’t help but watch as she cradled the pitiful animal, her eyes filled with a mix of affection and concern.

When she finally glanced up and caught my gaze, there was a moment of hesitation—a brief pause where uncertainty danced in her eyes. Eventually, she stood and approached me, her demeanor a blend of nervousness and determination.

“Um, mister,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper, “do you have any food? I want to feed the puppy.”

I took a moment to study her, noting the dirt smudged across her cheeks and the way her clothes hung loosely on her thin frame. Then, my gaze shifted to the dog, just as malnourished and grimy as its owner. A wave of reluctance washed over me, and I almost turned to leave, but something compelled me to reach into my pocket instead.

My fingers brushed against two sausage sticks—special treats crafted for werewolves like me, meant to replenish our energy in an instant.

Her eyes sparkled with hope as I handed them over. “Thank you,” she said, her voice brightening. She immediately offered one to the puppy, who eagerly devoured it.

But then, an embarrassing sound broke the moment—her stomach growled loudly, a reminder of her own hunger. She bit her lip, hesitating, before finally taking a small bite from the second sausage.

“Are you poor?” I asked bluntly, my curiosity getting the better of me.

Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and she stammered, “I-I’ll pay you back.” In a flash, she scooped up the puppy and dashed away, a mix of shyness and embarrassment driving her escape.

The fourth time our paths crossed, she wore the same faded jeans, their fabric threadbare and worn. Her hands trembled slightly as she extended something toward me—a sausage, much like the ones I had given her before.

“I couldn’t find the same brand you gave me,” she explained, her voice laced with determination. “So I helped the cafeteria lady for a few days and bought another kind to pay you back.”

I glanced at her hands, red and raw from scrubbing dishes, and without a second thought, I took the sausage and tossed it into the nearby trash can.

Her reaction was instantaneous; her eyes widened in disbelief, and fury flared across her features.

“How could you do that! Do you know how many people in the world don’t even have food to eat?” she exclaimed, her voice rising in indignation.

Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she continued, “I didn’t mean to eat your sausage that day. My mom hadn’t spoken to me for a week, and I was starving. I couldn’t help it.”

At that moment, the scruffy dog leaped out from behind her, its skinny paws scratching at me as if it were trying to defend its owner. An unfamiliar emotion stirred within me—something I hadn’t felt in ages.

I hated it.

“Stupid,” I muttered under my breath, turning away and striding off, desperate to escape the feelings she stirred in me.

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