Chapter 93: Birthday Present
Rosalie:
Zaiden found a parking spot just a little farther down the road, and together we stepped out into the pleasantly cool night.
This human town had a completely different atmosphere from Shadow Creek. Warm lights spilled from cafés and restaurants onto the sidewalks, laughter drifted through the air, and people wandered the streets with an ease that somehow made the entire place feel welcoming.
We walked side by side without any destination other than finding somewhere cozy enough to celebrate his birthday. After passing two cafés and a seafood restaurant, we finally stopped in front of a small family-owned diner with warm yellow lights glowing through its windows and flower pots lining the entrance. It wasn’t luxurious in the slightest, yet something about it felt... comfortable.
The moment I looked up at Zaiden, I found him looking at the same place, and without exchanging another word, we both smiled and stepped inside.
The diner was surprisingly lively despite the late hour. Soft music played in the background while the delicious scent of grilled food and freshly baked bread filled the air.
A cheerful middle-aged waitress led us to a quiet booth near the window, completely unaware that one of the most powerful Alphas in existence had just taken a seat in her restaurant. I found that strangely refreshing. For once, Zaiden wasn’t being treated like Alpha Nightfang. He was simply another customer deciding what to eat for dinner.
We ordered far more than two people probably should have, mostly because Zaiden insisted I try the famous dishes.
Between bites, our conversation remained easy and unhurried. I found myself telling him amusing stories about the bookstore, especially about the students who had nearly emptied my stationery shelves during the past week. To my surprise, he actually listened with genuine interest, occasionally asking quiet questions or offering short observations that somehow made me realize he had been paying attention to every little detail I shared over the past month.
Somewhere between laughing over my disastrous first attempt at making iced coffee and complaining about Eiden’s impossible training schedule, dessert menus appeared on our table. And before Zaiden could refuse, I quietly asked the waitress whether they happened to have a small birthday cake.
Five minutes later, she returned carrying a tiny chocolate cake with a single candle flickering in the middle.
I couldn’t help smiling.
Zaiden looked... completely out of place.
The calm, intimidating Alpha stared at the little candle as though it were some complicated political negotiation.
"You have to blow it out," I told him with the most serious expression I could manage.
He looked at me. "...I have to?"
"Yes."
"I have never done this before. At least not in a long time."
That answer made my heart clench. He was so young and with so much to shoulder. I could hardly imagine what his life would have been growing up. I held his gaze and spoke softly, "Then tonight is your first."
He continued staring at the candle for another few seconds before finally leaning forward and blowing out the tiny flame exactly as instructed.
The waitress clapped softly before wishing him a happy birthday and walking away again.
I completely lost the battle against my smile. It wasn’t because he had done anything wrong. It was simply the contrast between the terrifying Rogue Alpha and the man obediently blowing out a birthday candle because I had told him to was almost too much for my heart to handle.
Then I noticed Zaiden watching me instead of the cake, and slowly... a genuine smile spread across his face. It wasn’t the tiny almost-smiles he occasionally allowed himself. But a real one. Warm enough to steal my breath. My smile abruptly faded as heat rushed into my cheeks.
Moon Goddess... he looked unfairly handsome when he smiled like that.
After finishing the cake, we wandered back outside beneath the star-filled sky. I naturally assumed we would return to Shadow Creek, but as Zaiden reached for the car keys, my eyes drifted toward a large tourist map standing near the entrance of the diner. A small blue symbol immediately caught my attention.
"There’s a beach..." I murmured. No wonder the air smelled salty and just way too many sea-food stalls and restaurants were filling the streets.
He looked where I was pointing.
"It’s only ten minutes away." An idea immediately formed inside my head. "Can we go there?"
His gray eyes shifted back to me as he asked, "The beach?"
I nodded eagerly and added, "Just for a little while."
Without the slightest hesitation, he slipped the car keys back into his pocket.
"Lead the way."
The short walk allowed us to have a proper experience of the town. It remained pleasantly lively despite the late hour. Couples wandered hand in hand, children begged their parents for one last treat before going home, musicians played cheerful melodies near the boardwalk, and the salty scent of the ocean grew stronger with every step.
The moment the waves finally came into view beneath the moonlight, I instinctively slipped off my shoes and sighed happily as my bare feet touched the cool sand. I took several carefree steps before turning around. Zaiden still stood exactly where I had left him, polished leather shoes planted neatly on the wooden walkway.
"What?" he asked when he noticed me smiling.
"You too."
He glanced down at his expensive shoes. "...Rosalie."
He always addressed me as ’Miss Hale’, so hearing him call me by name made my heart race a little. I put on a serious expression and said, "No arguments."
For a long moment he simply looked at me. Then, to both my surpise and complete delight, he actually bent down and removed them.
The smile returned to my lips. "Oh, we are not done."
He arched one of his eyebrows at that.
I pointed toward his immaculate appearance. "The suit has to go too."
He looked at his tailored jacket. Then back at me. "Are you serious?"
"Very."
Shaking his head ever so slightly, he removed the suit jacket before folding it neatly over one arm. I stepped closer and reached toward the knot of his tie before stopping awkwardly halfway there.
"I..."
Without a word, he finished loosening it himself before slipping it free.
I studied him and shook my head slowly. "Better... but still too formal."
Another sigh escaped him, though I could tell he wasn’t truly annoyed. Then he opened several buttons of his crisp white shirt before rolling the sleeves to his forearms.
"There."
I stepped back to inspect him carefully. He definitely looked much better. No longer the untouchable Rogue Alpha. Just... Zaiden.
Somewhere along the walk that followed, I completely forgot who he was outside this little town. And somehow... he seemed to have forgotten too.
We strolled along the shoreline, occasionally letting the waves wash over our feet while talking about everything and nothing. I learned that he secretly preferred vanilla ice cream despite always ordering coffee-flavored desserts at official dinners because people expected him to. That discovery immediately led us toward a tiny ice cream cart parked near the beach entrance. We stood there beneath the moonlight eating ice cream like two completely ordinary people, laughing when mine began melting faster than I could keep up with it.
Not far away, a small souvenir vendor displayed handmade jewelry, and while passing by, one particular bracelet immediately caught my eye. It had tiny silver charms shaped like wolves, moons, stars, and pine trees hanging from its delicate chain. The charms resembled with my mother’s gold bracelet.
It wasn’t expensive. Still...it was beautiful. So before I could overthink it, I bought it. But holding the little paper bag suddenly made me incredibly nervous.
Compared to everything Zaiden could afford, this gift was practically worthless. Even so, I gathered my courage and held it out toward him.
"Happy birthday."
He looked at the bracelet. Then at me. And something unreadable crossed his eyes.
"I like it."
Relief immediately flooded through me. Then he quietly extended his wrist.
"Put it on."
My heart skipped. "W-What?"
"You chose it." His voice remained calm. "So you should be the one to put it on."
With fingers that had suddenly forgotten how to function properly, I removed the bracelet from its little box before carefully wrapping it around his wrist. My fingertips occasionally brushed against his warm skin while fastening the tiny clasp, sending familiar sparks dancing through the mate bond.
When I finally looked up, I realized he hadn’t taken his eyes off me even once.
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