Marked By the Pureblood Alpha (Deanna and Luis) novel Chapter 30

Chapter 30 What Is Wrong With You?

Chapter 30 What Is Wrong With You?

Jake’s POV:

“Has Deanna come looking for me?” I asked Axel, keeping my tone light, almost indifferent.

He was driving, but the question clearly rattled him. “Deanna? Well, she…”

I cut him off. “Spit it out.”

He hesitated, then finally said, “Mistbane Pack secured their investment. I–I don’t think she’s coming.”

My brows drew together. “That’s impossible. We’re talking about four billion dollars—there’s no way Mistbane Pack pulled that off without my help. What really happened?”

Axel cleared his throat. “There’s a story trending online. Mooncrown Pack just invested eight billion into Mistbane’s Moonline Expansion Project.”

I immediately grabbed my phone and searched it up. Headlines flooded my screen.

‘Mooncrown Pack pours eight billion into Mistbane’s Expansion Plan!‘

‘Alliance formed between Mooncrown and Mistbane Pack!‘

‘Deanna Wiley vs. Jillian Wiley! Real and fake heiresses battle it out for investor gold!‘

“This round, the true heiress Deanna Wiley secures the billion–dollar deal for Mistbane Pack.

Front and center was a photo of Deanna on stage, beaming as she signed the contract. Her smile was dazzling, confident, and victorious.

By the time I scrolled to the end, my blood was boiling.

Deanna, you really pulled it off, huh?

You actually went behind my back, found Luis, and closed the deal–just to prove you didn’t need me.

Well done. Seriously. Well played.

I could almost respect it–if I wasn’t this furious.

I yanked out my phone, ready to call her. Then it hit me–she’d deleted my number last week.

The thought alone made my chest burn. I pulled at the knot of my tic, nearly strangling myself.

“Axel,” I snapped. “Give me your phone.”

“Alpha?”

I snapped, voice rising with frustration, “I said, give your phone to me. What? Did you leave your hearing back at home?”

He scrambled to unlock his phone and handed it over without a word.

I didn’t even think–my fingers moved automatically, dialing her number from memory.

She used to call me all the time. That number was engraved in my brain.

Two rings in, she answered.

But instead of Deanna, a stranger’s voice came through.

“Ms. Wiley, the eight billion investment from Mooncrown Pack should arrive within the week. Alpha wants you to finalize the Moonline Expansion Project budget as soon as possible.”

I let out a dry, bitter laugh. “Deanna, you’ve really outdone yourself.”

Then, her voice came through–cool, clipped, cold. “There’s nothing left for us to talk about.”

And then she hung up.

I stared at the phone, still buzzing in my hand, vibrating with finality.

I ran my tongue over my canine teeth, fury rising until it spilled over. I hurled the phone to

the floor of the car.

Axel let out a choked cry. “Alpha? That was my phone.”

I growled, “I’ll buy you a new one.”

Pause.

“No–I’ll buy you ten.”

Deanna’s POV:

?

I answered the call by mistake.

The moment I heard Jake’s irritating voice, all interest in continuing the conversation vanished. Without hesitation, I hung up.

I accepted the file my assistant handed me and walked straight to my office.

Once I sank into the couch, I pulled out my phone and opened my chat with Luis.

Before the banquet, I’d sent him a message. ‘Can you make sure the Mooncrown Pack investment contract has to be signed by me?‘

I expected him to ask why.

Instead, he replied almost instantly with an “okay“.

I stared at that one–word response, absentmindedly brushing my thumb across the screen.

A smile tugged at the corners of my lips. I typed, ‘Thanks for today. Are you free tonight? Dinner’s on me.‘

In seconds, he replied, ‘Someone’s in a good mood today!‘

My grin widened. I wrote back, ‘All thanks to you, Alpha. I secured the Moonline Expansion Project investment–and I got exactly what I wanted.‘

Luis replied, ‘So, that’s it? One dinner for all the good things that happened today?‘

I paused, genuinely considering it.

Considering I scored a 30% share in Mistbane Pack because of him, one dinner hardly seemed fair.

I replied, ‘How about two dinners?‘

Luis texted back, ‘If both are hosted at your place, I might be persuaded.‘

My heart gave a sudden jolt.

Is he really talking about dinner–or hinting at something more?

Trying to compose myself, I took a sip of iced water and typed, ‘My place is too small. I can’t afford to entertain a big–shot Alpha like you.’

Luis didn’t miss a beat, ‘Small’s fine–as long as it doesn’t interfere with the real business.’

The real business? Is he implying… bedroom business? Ugh! This man is such a shameless flirt!

I hammered out three exclamation marks in protest.

Luis replied, ‘What’s going on in that head of yours? I meant having dinner. Obviously!

Then, he added, “But if there are additional services, I’m open to suggestions.

Flustered and fuming, I swatted the air a few times in sheer frustration.

This man! That’s not what I meant at all!

The afternoon meeting dragged on endlessly.

By the time I got back to my apartment complex, it was nearly 8 p.m.

As the elevator doors slid open on my floor, I spotted a familiar figure standing outside my door.

It was Jake.

He was still in a sharp black suit, tie slightly loosened, looking like he’d just walked out of some high–stakes boardroom–stern, composed, and radiating that cold authority he always carried.

His brows were furrowed, and dark shadows clung beneath his eyes. He looked like he’d been waiting for hours.

What the hell is he doing here?

He’d never once set foot in my apartment before–always said it was too cramped, too modest for someone like him.

Even from across the hallway, I caught the sharp scent of alcohol clinging to him.

I instinctively took a step back.

Jake had always been arrogant, obsessed with control. And when he drank, his temper went from bad to worse.

Is this because I hung up on him earlier? Has he come to pick a fight?

I paused, took out my phone, snapped a photo, and sent it to Peggie.

‘Jake showed up at my place tonight. Guess he’s here to say sorry. Peggie, looks like we’re patching things up. Bet you’re fuming right now.‘”

Then, I slipped the phone back into my bag.

I figured I’d just walk past him, unlock the door, and act like he didn’t exist.

But the sharp click of my heels caught his attention. He turned around slowly, eyes locking onto mine like a predator spotting prey.

I ignored him and strode toward my door.

Just as I pulled out my keys, his hand shot out and closed around mine.

Before I could react, he yanked hard.

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