Marked by the Pureblood Alpha: Opening Chapters 1-5

Deanna's POV:

The smell hit hard. Rust, blood, and rotting wood mixed with thick, choking dust. It clawed down my throat and turned my stomach.

In a city where werewolves and humans barely tolerated each other, this place was off-limits. Even the most desperate wouldn't set foot here. It was forgotten land, hollow and dead.

But right now, I was here—bound with vines soaked in wolfsbane. My wrists burned from the sap, and the pain crawled up my arms like fire. I couldn't move.

A strip of coarse hide jammed in my mouth stole my voice, turning my cries into faint, broken whimpers.

Nyra… I had never hated being an Omega more than I did right then.

One of them crouched in front of me. A Rogue. He wore a bone-white mask, jagged and twisted, and his voice rasped like gravel grinding in his throat.

"Ms. Wiley," he growled. "Future Luna of Jake Olson, Alpha of Olsendreich Pack, huh? Thirty million shouldn't be a problem. Make the call yourself."

He dropped a battered phone at my feet.

Then, he ripped the gag from my mouth and sliced the vines from my wrists. Before I could move, before I could even breathe, a black obsidian blade pressed cold and sharp against my throat.

The line rang.

And rang.

Then, I heard his voice—calm, smooth, and low. "Hello?" My whole body shook.

"Jake…" I stammered. "They took me. These Rogues want thirty million. Please… can you come get me?"

There was a pause. A breath, maybe. Just a second of silence.

Then, his voice came back—calm, but colder than ice. "Deanna, I told you. Peggie is sick. Her only wish is this ceremony. Stop acting out."

So, it was today.

The ceremony.

Peggie Pearson. His first love.

She was half-wolf, half-human. Her blood was thin, her body too fragile. Her health had been failing for years. Now, even her heart was giving out.

She had said her dying wish was to hold a mating ceremony with Jake.

And he said yes. When I first heard, I'd snapped. I had screamed at him. Begged him to think about what he was doing.

But not this time.

This time, I hadn't done anything.

I shook my head hard. "Jake, I mean it. I'm not lying. Please believe me!"

His voice came back like steel. Cold. Clean. Unfeeling.

"You're still the Luna. That hasn't changed. Why can't you just understand that? I'm running out of patience."

My voice cracked. "Jake… do you really not care whether I live or die?"

Tears filled my eyes. I forced the words out through clenched teeth. "If you don't come, we're done. I swear it—by Nyra!"

Silence again. Heavy. Endless.

The Rogue yanked the phone away. He'd had enough.

"Alpha… Jake, sounds like you don't care much about your Luna, huh?" he said. "Thirty million's pocket change to you. So, what's it gonna be?"

Jake's answer was flat. "Not a chance."

I saw all three Rogues stiffen. Their eyes widened with disbelief.

Then, another voice came through the speaker. A soft, frail whisper. Peggie.

"I'm glad you're going through with this, Jake," she said. "Even if it's not real, it's enough for me. But if Deanna's really faking a kidnapping just to stop it… maybe we should cancel."

Jake didn't hesitate. "Peggie, I gave you my word. I'm not backing out."

The Rogue holding the phone snapped. His hand shook with rage. "Jake! Your fiancée smells so d*mn good. You're not worried we'll take turns marking her?"

Jake chuckled. Cold. Cruel. "Do it if you can. I might even throw in an extra ten million."

I stopped crying.

I blinked away the tears and let the ache in my chest settle into something cold and final.

I was Deanna Wiley. I had loved him for five years.

I worshipped him. I shaped myself into the Luna he needed. I worked, fought, and bled to prove I was worthy of his side.

And just when I thought he might finally see it…

Peggie came back.

And he gave her everything.

Even a public mating ceremony.

All my efforts were for naught.

The Rogues laughed. Ugly, twisted laughter that made my skin crawl. "Well," one of them said, grinning, "if Jake says so, guess we've got no choice."

He ended the call and looked right at me, his gaze filled with disgusting lust. "Sorry, Ms. Wiley. Your man gave the green light. Guess we're doing this."

He pulled something from his pocket. A small, blood-red pill. Before I could scream, he shoved it past my lips and forced me to swallow.

The taste hit my tongue like acid. I knew what it was. A heat inducer. A drug that forced female wolves into estrus.

…

Jake's POV:

On the Olsendreich Pack's altar, I stood still in a white suit. Peggie stood across from me, dressed in a long white gown meant for a bride.

The second the call disconnected, I forced down the knot of unease pressing against my ribs.

Deanna had done this kind of thing before.

She had never accepted Peggie. Her hostility toward her was always loud, always sharp.

The moment she found out about this symbolic ceremony, she didn't speak to me for days.

Now she had taken it even further. Faking a kidnapping?

Completely reckless.

I had clearly let her get away with too much for too long.

After this ritual ended… if Deanna came back and admitted she was wrong, I would give her something even grander. A real ceremony.

One so luxurious it would put this one to shame. I'd let the entire Olsendreich Pack see her status, loud and clear.

Peggie's voice broke the silence. It was gentle, nearly a whisper. "Jake, I'm sorry. This happened because of me."

"It didn't," I replied.

She looked at me, eyes wide and shining with hope. "So… are we still going through with it?"

I paused for a moment. Then, I replied, "Yes. Let's continue."

…

Deanna's POV:

The second the line went dead, the last thread of hope I held for Jake vanished like smoke.

I reached for my wolf, begged her to wake up, but Mila was still unconscious. The wolfsbane in my system had taken her down hard.

D*mn it. I had to get out myself.

My eyes darted across the floor. Then, I saw it—an obsidian blade lying a few feet away.

I grabbed it with both hands, waited, and when the rogue wasn't watching, I drove the dagger straight into his side.

His body jerked. A scream ripped out of him.

I ran for the doors.

"Get her! Don't let her escape!"

The heat drug had started working. I could feel the fire crawling under my skin, but I kept going.

I didn't care that my lust was eating me alive. I didn't care that I lost my shoes. I didn't care that the rocky ground tore my feet apart. I ran barefoot through the ruins and threw myself into the open night.

The wind hit me, cold and sharp. It burned against the fever rising in my blood.

Behind me, the sound of claws scraping earth and angry roars told me they were closing in. My heart slammed against my ribs so fast it hurt.

This land was cursed. Abandoned. Not a soul lived here.

Then, something shifted. I felt it. A surge of pressure rolled through the air, thick and suffocating. An Alpha's aura crashed into me like a tidal wave. My body froze.

Then, I heard it. A car engine roared in the distance, getting louder.

A black Porsche shot into view, moving like a predator on the hunt. Its sleek frame shimmered under the moonlight, and I knew what kind of car it was. One of those ultra-rare models that only the rich and powerful ever owned.

I didn't hesitate. I ran toward it and threw myself in its path.

Better dead than dragged back by those monsters.

Tires screamed against the pavement. Brakes slammed hard. The Porsche skidded violently and stopped just inches from my body.

The force of the air knocked me over. I hit the ground in front of the car, hard and fast, skin scraping open on jagged gravel.

The door opened.

A man stepped out.

Black pants. Sharp cuts. Long legs. His steps were heavy and calm, each one echoing with command. That Alpha aura hit me again, full force. It surrounded me—intense, cold, and dominating. It wrapped around my body like iron chains. I trembled under it. I couldn't tell if it was fear or something else.

He crouched down in front of me.

And the moment I looked up and saw his face, my heart dropped. My vision narrowed.

It was him.

Deanna's POV:

The man who stepped forward was Luis Eaton, Alpha of the Mooncrown Pack.

In this world where a werewolf's place depended on the purity of their blood, no one could ignore his name.

Luis was the sole heir of the oldest and strongest pureborn line among all packs. His heritage gave him strength, and his strength gave him power. When he spoke, the rest of the werewolf world listened.

Compared to him, Jake and the Olsendreich Pack were just newcomers. Their blood wasn't pure enough, not to the standards of the old families. And they had always been seen as outsiders.

But Luis had more than blood on his side. His pack controlled wealth beyond imagination. Real estate, tech, finance, communication—they ran everything. Half the continent's economy answered to Mooncrown.

I had met him once. It was during a formal gala. I was there as a company rep under the Mistbane Pack. We barely exchanged a few words.

Now, none of that mattered. I reached out and grabbed the fabric of his pants, clinging to him with the last strength I had.

"Luis… please… help me."

…

Luis' POV:

The first time I saw Deanna, my wolf, Griffin, made it clear—she was mine. My fated mate.

But when I heard her name again, she was already promised to Jake from Olsendreich.

I was angry, but I didn't act. I waited.

Old bloodlines and rising packs had already started to pull apart. Olsendreich was the face of the new generation.

If I took Deanna from him, it would be seen as an act of war.

I couldn't drag my people into that—not for something personal.

Jake wasn't worth it. I knew who he was—an arrogant fool. Sooner or later, he would screw it up. He would walk away from her, and that would be my chance.

But now I saw her—her dress ripped and filthy, her legs covered in blood from the gravel. Her face burned red with heat. The drug was already in her.

Someone had drugged her.

B*stards.

How dare they try to drug my mate!

The fury inside me snapped loose. Griffin broke free and shredded through my self-control.

Screw the waiting.

Rules meant nothing when she was in danger.

I bent down, lifted her in my arms, and carried her to the car. I laid her in the passenger seat and shut the door just as footsteps came up behind me.

I rolled up my sleeves and pulled off my watch without a word. It was worth more than most men's homes. I tossed it onto the seat.

Three Rogues came into view. Big. Filthy. Laughing. I looked right at them. My voice was calm but sharp. "You gave her the drug?"

The one in front smirked. "Yeah, we did. What're you gonna—"

He never finished. My bones shifted and cracked as Griffin took over. Black fur spread over my skin. My hands turned into claws.

I shifted into my wolf. A roar ripped through my chest and filled the air.

They saw me and turned to run. They didn't make it.

...

Ten minutes later, I sat in the driver's seat. My shirt was soaked in blood. I pulled it off and threw it out the window.

Deanna lay next to me, her eyes shut. Her face was burning with fever. Sweat gathered on her brow. Her lips trembled.

I stared at her for a while, then picked up my phone. "Get to the villa in the western outskirts. Bring every d*mn thing you have. You've got thirty minutes."

On the other end, Erik Harding's voice groaned. "Bro, the city to the outskirts takes two hours even if I speed like hell. I'm not a hawk. I don't have wings."

"Then, use your private jet. Or has that become a prop?"

Silence.

I ended the call and turned the car toward the coast.

When I parked in front of the villa, I felt a sudden weight crash into me.

Deanna had woken up. One strap of her dress slipped off her shoulder, revealing pale skin. Her eyes were cloudy. Her lips parted in a daze.

She climbed over the center console and straddled my lap.

Her hand slid across my chest, soft and unsure. I swallowed hard. One arm wrapped around her waist. My other hand caught her chin and tilted her face to mine. "Deanna," I asked, my voice rough, "do you know who I am?"

She wrapped her arms around my neck and nuzzled into my chest.

"You're Luis," she whispered. "I'm burning. I can't handle this. Please. Help me."

Then, she kissed my neck and moved slowly upward until her lips met mine.

Her kiss was wild, clumsy, and full of heat. It pulled something out of me I couldn't hold back.

Griffin roared in my head. She's our mate! What the hell are you waiting for? Take her!

I looked down at her flushed cheeks. The heat in her body hadn't faded. Her skin burned against mine. Her breath came fast and shallow.

I held her close and whispered, "Deanna… are you sure you won't regret this?"

She kept shaking her head and whispering, "I don't regret it. I want Jake to regret it…"

I raised an eyebrow. "What, still got someone else on your mind?"

"No," she said quickly. "No one. Never again." Her voice trembled, but there was no hesitation.

That made me feel a little better. I leaned in, letting my voice drop just enough to tease her. "Say it. Beg me."

Her eyes opened slowly. They were soft, a little glassy, and full of something that pulled at me.

"Luis," she whispered, "please… f*ck me."

A slow grin tugged at the corner of my mouth. I pressed a light kiss to her lips. "Alright, my sweetheart."

Deanna giggled and leaned into me, her breath warm against my ear. "I want to give you my first time."

I froze for half a second.

So, she and Jake had never even crossed that line? A sudden fire lit in my chest.

"Alright," I said, my voice steady. "I've got you."

I slid my hand behind her neck and kissed her again. She responded right away, wrapping her arms around me like I was the only thing grounding her.

A strange heat built under my skin. It was something raw, alive, almost electric.

And that was the moment everything else stopped mattering. I held her tighter and let the world fade around us. My claw tore through her dress easily, and I unbuckled myself as I let out my swollen kraken.

Then, I thrust it into the honeypot.

A gasp escaped Deanna's lips. By instinct, her slit clamped down on my junk and sucked it deeper into her hole.

My eyes darkened, and I started moving.

Hours went by.

I carried Deanna in my arms, wrapped in my jacket. I had made sure not a single inch of her was exposed to the night air.

I brought her into the villa and headed straight to the bedroom.

There was something sacred about sharing that kind of connection with a fated mate. If she hadn't still been bound to Jake, I would have claimed her on the spot.

Instead, I focused on taking care of her. I cleaned her up, dried her hair with a towel, and laid her gently on the bed. The silk blanket settled around her like a second skin.

…

Erik's POV:

I was half-asleep on the couch, flipping through a random magazine I'd found on the table.

Then, Luis finally came out.

He had changed into a printed shirt with the top few buttons undone. A faint lip print stained his collarbone, red like cherry paint. He looked like he'd just walked off the cover of some fashion magazine.

I glanced at the clock. It was almost 10 p.m.

I had been waiting for five hours.

Five. Whole. Hours. D*mn it, Alphas had great stamina.

I dragged a hand down my face.

"Good thing this place is buried in the hills," I muttered. "That million-dollar car of yours was rocking so hard, someone might've called in an earthquake warning."

Erik's POV:

Luis gave me a cold stare without saying a word.

He strolled across the room, pulled a bottle of whiskey from the shelf, filled a heavy-bottom glass to the top, and knocked it back like water.

I watched him, unimpressed. "So that little emergency stash of meds I brought? Guess we won't be needing those, huh?"

I leaned forward. "Who was it? Who finally brought down the great Alpha of Mooncrown Pack? Don't tell me it was your mate."

I had known Luis since we were pups. I knew things no one else did.

His family carried a curse—one that started with his grandfather. Every heir of the Mooncrown Pack, after turning twenty-five, would lose control under the full moon and shift into a violent black wolf. A creature that thirsted for blood.

The only known way to stop it was to find a Healer. But Healers were rare. Nearly extinct.

Luis' grandfather had died without finding one. So had his father. And now Luis was twenty-four. Time was closing in. The elders were panicking. They sent scouts everywhere. They begged him to find a mate.

To have an heir.

To secure the future.

But Luis didn't care.

He hated drama. He hated being tied down. He lived for danger—racing, surfing, vanishing into the forest in his wolf form like it was the only place he could breathe. Talk of mates always went in one ear and out the other.

The elders were losing sleep over him.

The room was silent. Only the heavy thrum of Alpha aura and the strange sweetness that lingered in the air reminded me how much had changed.

Just when I figured he wasn't going to say a word, he tipped back the last of his drink and said it like it meant nothing. "Deanna."

Wait. Deanna? I blinked.

Lately, her name had been everywhere in werewolf society.

Not because she was the Mistbane Pack's heiress. But because she was supposed to become Luna of the Olsendreich Pack.

Jake led the faction trying to break away from tradition and rewrite every rule. Luis? He stood for the old ways, the ancient lineages, and bloodlines so pure they were practically sacred. Those two had always been on a collision course.

Jake had recently thrown a grand mating ceremony for his first love, Peggie. The whole thing had turned into a spectacle, and now every pack was talking about it.

An Alpha tossing aside his fiancée for a half-human? It was scandalous. Deanna had become the center of every cruel joke in the werewolf world.

I couldn't help myself. I leaned forward and asked, "You're not messing around with Jake's girl just to piss him off, right? I mean, if that's what you were doing, shouldn't it be Peggie? Deanna's not even his favorite anymore."

Luis looked at me with a stare so cold it felt like a blade had brushed the back of my neck.

My whole spine stiffened.

He gave a quiet scoff. "You think Jake's worth that much of my time?"

I let out a shaky laugh. "No, of course not. Jake's not worth it. It's just… Deanna's still his fiancée. And now you and Deanna… that's starting to look a little messy."

It made him look like the other guy.

Not that I had the guts to say it out loud.

Luis' eyes narrowed, and suddenly the air in the room turned heavy. His Alpha aura slammed down like a weight pressing into my chest.

"You've got a real gift for saying the wrong thing."

My mouth went dry. Inside, my wolf was growling, warning me to stop talking. The tension in Luis' voice made it clear—he wasn't being playful.

Then, he said it, low and final. "Leave. Or you're going to lose your tongue."

Message received.

I didn't just leave. I got out fast.

I flew out of there on my private jet and didn't look back.

…

Deanna's POV:

I felt like I was drifting between sleep and waking. The effects of the drug had worn off, but my body ached like it had been broken down and rebuilt.

Somewhere nearby, the sound of a helicopter's blades echoed through the sky and into my bones.

I forced my eyes open. The pain was gone. Not even a scar was left behind. I had healed faster than I ever had in my life.

Something felt different. I reached inward and tried to call out to my wolf.

After a long silence, a rough, tired voice stirred in my mind. "Deanna…"

"Mila!" I gasped. "You're okay!"

"I'm here. But something's pulling at me. It's strong. I'm so tired, Deanna… I need to rest for a while. Don't worry. I'll come back…"

Her voice faded, softer with each word, until the connection disappeared completely.

That had never happened before. I sat still, unsure. However, I held on to what she said.

She was just drained. The poison must have left her too weak. She needed time.

That made sense. I told myself it did. I sat up slowly. The silk blanket slid down, and I caught sight of the bruises along my skin. Faint, red, and clearly not from combat.

The memory hit me all at once.

I had slept with Luis.

And I had been the one who made the first move.

Heat rushed to my face in a wave of embarrassment.

Then, I heard the soft creak of the bedroom door.

I panicked. I dropped back into the bed and pulled the blanket up to my chin, gripping it tightly in both hands.

Footsteps crossed the room. They were steady, calm, and loud enough to make my heart race.

I held my breath. Even my toes, I pulled them back under the blanket.

Even with my eyes shut, I could feel it—an Alpha's aura, thick and impossible to ignore.

It was suffocating me.

Then, a voice, low and careless, filled the space. "You slept with me, Ms. Wiley. You trying to pretend it didn't happen?"

I opened one eye.

Luis stood at the edge of the bed. Tall. Broad-shouldered. Arms crossed as he looked down at me with unreadable eyes, cool and dark like deep water.

It was the first time I'd really seen him up close while fully awake.

He wore a floral shirt with a few buttons undone. His collarbone peeked out beneath the loose fabric. His whole stance was relaxed, but his presence wasn't.

I pulled the blanket tighter around me and sat up slowly, cheeks burning. "Luis… I didn't mean for that to happen. I was drugged. I wasn't thinking clearly. I just… I don't know how to make it right."

He tilted his head and asked casually, "So, how are you planning to make it up to me?"

"I could buy you dinner?"

He raised an eyebrow. "You think I need your dinner?"

Right. Fair point.

I sat there, silent. I honestly had no clue what else I could offer him.

If this ends in a loss…

The Mooncrown Pack stood at the top of werewolf society. It was the oldest pureborn line and the richest by far. With assets in the billions, Luis had no reason to care about my modest savings.

I lifted my gaze. "How about a clue?"

Luis leaned in, his fingers curling under my chin. He tilted my head up, making sure I looked at him.

"Deanna, I just gave you what you wanted. Now, it's your turn to return the favor."

Everything inside me went quiet.

When the drug controlled my body, I could let go. I could surrender to want without thinking twice.

But now, I was fully awake.

I couldn't bring myself to do it.

He didn't give me time to weigh my fear.

His hand clamped around my waist, and his mouth crashed onto mine.

The robe I wore barely hung on. One tug from him and it slipped open, revealing the pale skin of my collarbone and the faint, blooming marks he'd left behind.

His breath hit the shell of my ear, thick and hot. The heady mix of his Alpha aura and the fresh scent of soap flooded every inch of my senses.

I let out a breath that trembled. It came out shaky and soft, nothing like the voice I knew as mine.

My thoughts spun, then slipped backward—to Jake's birthday.

I had poured myself into that day. I baked his favorite chocolate cake from scratch, and I planned to give him something I had never given anyone. That night, I changed into a black dress, low-cut and short. I wanted everything to be perfect.

But Peggie spiraled again, just like always.

And Jake—true to form—never showed.

Even now, the thought still tugged painfully at my chest.

A sudden sting snapped me back. My earlobe throbbed where his teeth had grazed it, and my eyes shot open.

Luis lifted his mouth from my ear. He held himself up over me, his golden eyes fixed and unblinking. "Thinking about something else?"

That question hit me like ice water. My whole body tensed.

I had just thought about Jake. Right here. With Luis.

No Alpha would forgive that.

"So, I'm not enough to hold your attention, huh?" Luis spoke without emotion, but the room seemed to turn colder.

My heartbeat stumbled. Dread crept in fast.

I had heard what this Alpha could do when crossed.

"I... I didn't mean to," I whispered.

A slow, crooked smile spread across his lips. "It's fine."

I barely managed a breath of relief.

Then, he shifted, rolling me over and lifting me as he moved. Before I could react, I was straddling him, my legs on either side of his waist.

His lips brushed the curve of my ear, and his voice dropped to a whisper. "Your turn to take control."

Deanna's POV:

"What… What did you just say?"

My cheeks weren't just red. They were burning hot, like someone had lit a flame beneath my skin.

A few hours ago, I was still an Omega with barely any experience.

Do what?

How should I...

How was I supposed to even start?

Nyra help me. Could I still pull up a crash course online and study everything in one sitting? Could the hub help me?

"Deanna," Luis said my name with that unmistakable Alpha tone. Deep. Steady. Irresistible. "Kiss me."

His eyes locked on me, and I felt like I was burning alive under that stare. My skin flushed. My mouth went dry. My entire body felt like it was overheating.

In that moment, something inside me clicked.

If Jake could throw me away for Peggie—a woman with mixed blood, not even a full wolf—and never once care how it would wreck me...

Then, why was I still holding back?

Why should I keep silencing the instinct that made me who I was, all for an Alpha who didn't protect me or love me like he should?

Luis was right in front of me. Gorgeous. Strong. Pure-blooded. He had every trait an Alpha should carry. His beauty was sharp, almost unreal, like a sculpture from ancient civilizations. His aura screamed nobility.

And compared to him, Jake didn't even come close.

There were plenty of she-wolves who would do anything just to be near Luis. Who would give anything to be marked by him.

If I slept with him, I wouldn't be losing anything. I'd be choosing something better.

I took a deep breath and slowly bowed my head.

Then, I leaned in and kissed him, just like he had kissed me.

His lips were thin and a little cool, with that faint, clean scent that clung only to him.

I trailed my lips down his neck, brushing his throat and collarbone. However, I wasn't just kissing him—I was memorizing him. Breathing in his scent like I needed it.

Luis stayed still beneath my touch, but I felt his breath get heavier. His throat moved hard beneath my lips.

I was trembling. Every nerve lit up with a shiver, a rush that started from my core and climbed through my veins until my heart couldn't take it anymore.

My pulse was racing. I had to stop just to breathe.

Luis let out a low chuckle, then flipped me onto the mattress in one smooth move. "Fast learner," he murmured against my skin. "Not bad, little one."

Then, he kissed me again.

The heat that followed left me gasping.

I thought about pulling away, but he pinned my wrists gently above my head. His body pressed into mine. The heat wrapped around me. My thoughts dissolved into static.

…

Peggie's POV:

After the mating ceremony, Jake drove me back to the hospital so I could rest.

He stayed in the hallway, talking with my doctor, Jorge Gilbert.

I didn't change into the usual hospital gown.

I waited in bed, still wearing a black lace dress, watching the door like it was the only thing that mattered.

Not long after, the door opened. When I saw Jake walk in, my whole face lit up.

He had changed out of the ceremonial outfit, but he still wore a crisp white suit.

The lights in the hallway spilled behind him, casting soft shadows over his sharp profile. That glow made him look gentler, even more beautiful than I remembered.

If I hadn't left Jake five years ago...

There wouldn't even be a Deanna in his life right now.

I bit down hard, holding back the bitterness in my throat.

But I knew—deep down—I still had a place in Jake's heart. That wouldn't disappear so easily.

The way I looked—fragile, soft, always in need of protection—combined with my half-human, half-wolf blood… it stirred something deep in him. A need to shield. To guard. To hold.

And this ceremony had proven I still mattered.

Tonight, I didn't want him to walk out again. And I wouldn't let him.

Since I came back, Jake had spoiled me. He was gentle. Patient. Kind.

But he never took the last step. It was making me uneasy.

There was always a gap between us. And I knew why.

Deanna. That woman. She was getting in my way.

I turned toward the door as he stood there and reached out my hand. My fingers were pale, a little unsteady. "Jake… will you stay with me tonight?"

Jake stepped forward and gently tucked the blanket around me. "The doctor said you need rest. I'll leave once you fall asleep."

A wave of disappointment swept over me.

Every time I had a flare-up, he'd stay… but he always left before morning. Not this time.

I pushed myself upright, kneeling on the bed. The lace slid off my shoulder, revealing a stretch of smooth skin and the dip between my collarbones. I let every soft, feminine part of me take over. I moved slowly, hands brushing his belt. "Jake," I whispered. "You know what I want."

Jake froze, then caught my hands and pushed them away.

"Peggie," he said quietly. "Don't." He didn't sound angry. He didn't even raise his voice. But it still shook me. Still, I didn't give up.

I raised my eyes, already shining with unshed tears. "I'm sorry. I got carried away. I forgot… Deanna's still your fiancée."

His face softened. He reached up and smoothed my hair.

"Don't think too much. Just get some rest."

…

Jake's POV:

After I left the hospital, I opened my phone and checked the call log.

Aside from that ridiculous kidnapping call earlier, there was nothing.

The silence was starting to get under my skin.

"Take me to Spade A," I told the driver.

Spade A was the Olsendreich Pack's base downtown. On the surface, it looked like a nightclub, but everyone in the inner circle knew it was a front for gathering intel.

The second I walked in, sound slammed into me like a wave. The bass shook the walls. The air was thick with alcohol, pheromones, and the mixed scents of humans and wolves packed into one space. I headed straight to the VIP lounge.

"Well, look who finally showed up," Robert Scott, Olsendreich Park's Alpha, smirked. "Jake in the flesh. Shouldn't you be enjoying your wedding night right about now? You know what they sa—"

Before he could finish, I smacked the back of his head.

"Ow! Come on, what was that for?"

I tossed my jacket aside and sat down.

"Has Deanna contacted any of you?"

Jake's POV:

"Nah, still no word from her?" Robert rubbed the back of his head. "She's been mad for nearly three days, hasn't she? Deanna never stayed mad this long before.

"But listen, Jake. That's just how female werewolves are. Don't give her an inch. She's testing your Alpha authority. If you back down once, you'll be backing down forever. Don't give her that power.

"I mean, come on. You've crossed way more lines before, and didn't she still come running back? Begging you not to walk away?

"And let's be real. With how awkward her status is in Mistbane Pack, she can't just leave you. If she does, they'll probably throw her out."

That actually eased my tension a bit.

Maybe she really was just throwing a bigger tantrum than usual. Even faked a d*mn kidnapping. No wonder something felt off.

Then, Terence Quinn spoke, cutting straight through the noise in the room. "Jake, don't let Robert fill your head. You went too far this time. I know the mating ceremony wasn't real, but the way you handled it humiliated Deanna in front of every pack.

"And Peggie? She's been having way too many flare-ups this year. She got sick on your anniversary with Deanna, your birthday, Deanna's birthday, the Harvest Festival, and even the Full Moon celebration. You were always at the hospital with her. No she-wolf would tolerate that much neglect.

"I'm just saying, no matter how much Deanna cares about you, she still has feelings. Hearts grow cold. Don't wait till she's gone to realize what you did."

A cold smirk tugged at my mouth. "You think I'd regret anything over a woman?"

Deanna leaving me?

Not a chance.

Even if the moon split in half and fell from the sky, she wouldn't walk away.

Still, Terence had a point.

She-werewolves get jealous. And sometimes they need to be soothed.

The ceremony might have been for Peggie's sake, but it had made Deanna look like a fool. I could admit that much.

I stood up, grabbed my jacket, and headed out.

Inside the car, I called Axel Lawson, my Beta.

"Get in touch with LA, the top werewolf designer. Have her come to Olsendreich Pack and design Deanna a wedding dress. Also, buy out everything from this week's jewelry auction."

Deanna, I'll give you the grandest bond ceremony anyone's ever seen. That should make up for it.

…

Once I got back to the villa, I tossed my coat on the armrest and dropped onto the couch.

I stretched my legs out and leaned back.

A dull ache pulsed behind my eyes.

Deanna had been calming my headaches with her psychic power for nearly two years now. I hadn't had one in weeks.

But today, I must have hit my limit.

I shut my eyes, letting my messy hair fall across my forehead.

Whatever.

Just for today, I'll let her attitude slide.

She earned it.

I picked up my phone and called her.

It was the first time I'd ever been the one to reach out after a fight.

A robotic voice answered. "The number you are trying to reach is unavailable."

She had turned off her phone.

I gripped the phone tightly until my knuckles turned pale. The anger hit me like a wave.

So, that's how it is, Deanna?

You really wanna play this game?

You're pushing your luck.

I called Axel again, jaw clenched. "Put the wedding dress plans on hold."

…

Deanna's POV:

"Wait… are you showering in the morning?"

I had just woken up. And the first thing I saw was Luis walking out of the bathroom shirtless.

A towel hung around his neck, and droplets of water rolled off his damp hair. His bare chest gleamed slightly in the morning light. His skin was a warm bronze, and every muscle on his body looked sculpted to perfection.

He moved with calm confidence, tall and toned, with a body that seemed built for both elegance and power.

My face burned instantly. My heart skipped.

Luis casually dried his hair. "Who made up the rule that you can't shower in the morning?"

"N-no, I didn't mean it like that. I just… You should put a shirt on," I muttered, turning my head away.

Luis let out a soft laugh. "Ms. Wiley, don't be shy now. You weren't exactly hands-off last night."

I stared at him, stunned.

Seriously?

How could he say that with a straight face?

He had definitely done his share of touching last night. I still had the bruises to prove it.

Ugh, all the biting.

The soreness in my lower back flared up the moment I thought about it.

I curled my fingers into my palm, trying to stay calm.

We'd slept together twice, but honestly, we were still strangers.

This was just casual. Adult werewolves sometimes hooked up. No strings.

So why did I feel so rattled?

Luis finished drying off, tossed his towel into the laundry basket, and threw on a simple white t-shirt.

Then came a knock at the bedroom door.

He walked over and opened it.

One of the maids stood outside with a neat stack of clothes in her hands.

"Sir, the lady's outfit has arrived."

Luis took it from her, then shut the door.

He turned around and came to the bed, placing the outfit beside me. "Your dress from last night got ruined. This is something clean."

As he came closer, the scent of his skin and fresh soap filled the air. It was clean, masculine, and impossible to ignore.

I glanced at the clothes. Right on top sat a set of black underwear.

Realizing he'd carried them over himself made my face flush even deeper.

His presence was overwhelming. He didn't have to say anything.

Just standing near him made my heart race like it was trying to escape my chest.

Even when I was with Jake, it had never been like this.

My throat dried out. I forced myself to remember why I had spoken up in the first place.

"W-We're even now. Okay?"

Luis leaned down, his face close, and lifted my chin with two fingers. A small smirk curved on his lips. "You really believe that?"