Marked By the Pureblood Alpha (Deanna and Luis) novel Chapter 276

**The Heart I Buried for You by Serene Lockwood**

**Chapter 276: When Instinct Screams Danger**

**Deanna’s POV:**

I found myself seated in the dimly lit private room, the menu clutched tightly in my hands as I flicked my gaze over the options. Each item seemed to leap off the page, boasting robust flavors and hearty portions that would typically excite a food lover. However, I was not one of those enthusiasts; heavy meals never sat well with me.

In fact, I had shared meals with Maggie on several occasions, and she ought to have known my preferences by now. So, why on earth would she choose this particular place for our dinner? A nagging doubt crept into my mind, stirring unease as I recalled my initial impressions of the restaurant. When I had first arrived, it had seemed almost abandoned, the decor worn and tired, and the waitstaff’s expressions had struck me as peculiar, almost unsettling.

As I surveyed the private room, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was far too grand for just the two of us. A massive round table, capable of accommodating ten guests, loomed in the center, making the space feel more like a setup for a gathering than an intimate dinner.

Frustrated, I tossed the menu onto the table with a decisive thud, my instincts screaming at me to leave this place. Just as I was about to rise, a waft of incense curled through the window, wrapping around me like a thick fog.

But it was too late; I had inhaled enough of it to feel its effects. Instinctively, I cradled my belly, feeling the small life within me shift uneasily, as if it too sensed the impending danger. My body, however, seemed to betray me. My legs buckled, my vision began to blur, and a wave of darkness descended upon me.

The last thing I remember was the sensation of collapsing heavily into the chair, the world around me fading into oblivion.

**Third-person POV:**

Zelena pushed the door to the private room open with a sense of purpose, her hand instinctively waving in front of her face to disperse the lingering odor that hung in the air. As she stepped inside, her gaze fell upon the unconscious figure of Deanna slumped in the chair. A wicked smile curled on her lips, her eyes glinting with a venomous intensity that could rival a serpent’s.

“Deanna, after tonight, you’ll be joining me in hell!” she hissed, her voice low and filled with dark satisfaction.

Without wasting a moment, she reached for her phone and dialed a number with a practiced ease. “Mr. Davenport, I have her ready. I’m bringing her to you now,” she said, her tone dripping with anticipation.

Outside the restaurant, Maggie stood anxiously by the curb, her heart pounding in her chest like a war drum. The unsettling feeling that had begun to gnaw at her earlier was now a full-blown alarm. Zelena’s earlier demeanor had been anything but remorseful; it had been laced with a sinister undertone that made Maggie’s skin crawl.

Suddenly, a cab pulled up, the driver’s voice cutting through her thoughts. “Miss, get in quickly! I’ve got someone else waiting!”

The urgency in his tone startled her, snapping her back to reality. No, she couldn’t leave just yet. Something was terribly wrong, and she needed to find out what was happening.

With determination fueling her, Maggie turned on her heel and sprinted back toward the restaurant, her heart racing with every step. She burst through the entrance, her breath coming in quick gasps as she flung open the door to the private room.

What she saw made her blood run cold. The room was entirely empty, save for the lingering, strange scent of incense that filled the air. As a human, she couldn’t quite place the aroma, but it felt foreign and unsettling. Panic surged through her as she grabbed a nearby waiter, her voice urgent and frantic. “Where did the people from this room go?”

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