Alpha's Regret: Marked By The Lycan King

Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Beneath The Stars

Estelle’s POV

I pulled out my phone and typed quickly.

[Where did you go? You settled the bill and disappeared. I thought we agreed that it would be my treat today.]

I hit send and stared at the screen, waiting for a response that didn’t come immediately.

The waiter hovered nearby, clearly unsure whether I planned to order anything else or leave. I gave him a polite smile and waved him away.

Five minutes passed. Then ten.

Just as I was starting to wonder if I should call a cab back to lycan territory, my phone buzzed.

[I have somewhere to take you. Are you free?]

Relief flooded through me. He hadn’t abandoned me after all. I quickly typed my reply.

[Where?]

[You’ll find out. Follow me.]

I looked up to see Zayne walking through the restaurant’s front entrance. His silver hair caught the light as he approached our table, and despite my earlier worry, I felt my pulse quicken at the sight of him.

“Ready?” he asked, extending his hand to help me up from my chair.

“You’re being very mysterious,” I said, taking his hand and standing. “Where exactly are we going?”

A rare smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Patience, Estelle.”

The way he said my name made my heart flutter.

We walked outside together, and I was surprised to see a Range Rover waiting for us. Zayne opened the passenger door for me.

“Different car?” I asked as I slid into the seat.

“Better for where we’re going,” he replied simply.

As we drove, I watched the landscape change outside the window. We left the neutral territory behind and headed toward more remote areas. The road began to wind upward, through dense forests that grew thicker with each mile.

“Are you kidnapping me?” I asked lightly, though part of me was genuinely curious about our destination.

Zayne’s lips twitched. He turned slightly to look at me, light glittering in his eyes. “Would you mind if I were?”

“That depends on where you’re taking me.”

“You’ll see,” Zayne said as he turned his eyes back onto the road. “I promise it’s somewhere with a view.”

The road grew steeper, and I realized we were climbing into the hills that bordered lycan territory. Through the trees, I could catch glimpses of lights in the distance—the glittering cityscape far below us.

Finally, we pulled into a small clearing at what appeared to be a cliffside overlook. Another car was already parked there.

As we got out, I saw a familiar figure standing near the edge of the cliff. Mason turned and nodded at us both.

“Everything ready?” Zayne asked him.

“All set,” Mason replied. “Perfect weather for it too.”

I looked between them, confused. “What’s going on?”

That’s when I saw it. Rising slowly from behind a cluster of trees was a hot air balloon, its colorful fabric catching the moonlight as it expanded.

My mouth fell open. “Zayne...”

“You arranged something romantic for me,” he said, moving to stand beside me. “I wanted to return the favor.”

I shook my head, still staring at the balloon in amazement. “But I didn’t even get to treat you to dinner. You paid the bill.”

“If you indulge me in this hot air balloon ride, we’ll call it even.”

Mason helped us climb into the basket, and soon we were rising slowly into the night sky. The ground fell away beneath us, and the view took my breath away.

To one side, the lycan city sparkled like scattered diamonds against black velvet. Tall buildings reached toward the sky, their windows glowing with warm light. To the other side stretched an endless forest, dark and mysterious under the star-filled sky.

“It’s beautiful,” I whispered, gripping the edge of the basket as I leaned forward to get a better view.

Up here, away from the city lights, the stars seemed brighter than I’d ever seen them. The Milky Way stretched across the sky in a pale ribbon, and I could make out constellations I’d only read about in books. It was never this clear, even in Moonveil, which was significantly further out into the forests than Blackmoon was.

“Is this what you left the restaurant to arrange?” I asked, turning to look at Zayne.

He was watching me rather than the view, his electric blue eyes reflecting the starlight. “Partly. It was already arranged beforehand, but I had to tie up some loose ends.”

The balloon drifted silently through the night air. Below us, the world looked peaceful and small. All my worries about pack politics and lycan councils seemed insignificant from up here.

This felt like the perfect moment.

I reached into my small purse and pulled out the velvet jewelry box I’d been carrying all evening. My heart hammered against my ribs as I turned to face Zayne.

“Actually,” I said, my voice slightly breathless with nervousness, “I have another present for you.”

His eyebrows rose in surprise. “Another one?”

I nodded and held out the box. “I saw these and thought of you.”

Zayne took the box carefully, his fingers brushing mine as he did. He opened it slowly, and I watched his expression change as he saw the cufflinks inside.

“They’re a matching set,” I explained quickly, suddenly feeling self-conscious. I pulled my hair back behind one ear to show him the earrings. “See? They go with these.”

Zayne’s eyes went wide. His whole body went very still, and for a long moment, he just stared at the earrings I was showing him.

The silence stretched between us, broken only by the gentle sound of wind against the balloon’s fabric.

His reaction wasn’t what I’d expected. I’d hoped for pleasure, maybe surprise, but not this frozen shock.

“Do you...” I started, then stopped, my confidence wavering. “Do you not like it?”