Alpha's Regret: Marked By The Lycan King

Estelle’s POV

I blinked at Oliver, certain I’d misheard him. “Zayne’s grandmother?”

“Yes, his grandmother Josephine,” Oliver confirmed, seeming amused by my obvious confusion. “She’s been feeling under the weather lately.”

My mind raced. In all my interactions with Zayne, he’d never mentioned having a grandmother. The few times I’d visited the royal palace, I’d only ever seen him, the lycan council, and the palace staff. Even the nobility didn’t live at the palace itself.

“I didn’t know Zayne had any living family members,” I said slowly.

Oliver chuckled at my bewildered expression. “Well, you wouldn’t necessarily encounter her during your official visits. She keeps to her own wing of the palace, especially when she’s not feeling well.”

I tried to process this information. Zayne’s grandmother was still around. Why had he never mentioned her?

“You look quite confused, my dear,” Oliver observed, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “I need to head to lycan territory now. Would you like to come along?”

Before I could respond, I heard footsteps approaching. River appeared at my side, slightly out of breath.

“Everything alright, Luna?” he asked, glancing between Oliver and me. “The others are waiting for you at the celebration.”

Oliver’s expression shifted, becoming more considerate. “Ah, I see you have plans. I shouldn’t disturb you then.”

I hesitated, torn between my original plans and this unexpected opportunity to learn more about Zayne’s family. I couldn’t deny that I was very curious about Zayne, especially when this was something that concerned his family, a topic he rarely touched.

“River,” I said finally, making my decision. “Go celebrate with the others without me. I’ll make up for it another day.”

River raised an eyebrow, but wore an understanding smile. “That’s going to cost you a few drinks next time, Luna.”

I laughed despite my conflicted feelings. “I promise.”

He nodded and headed back toward the celebration, leaving me alone with Oliver again.

“I’ll come with you,” I told Oliver.

He smiled and nodded approvingly. “Excellent. Let’s be on our way then.”

***

When we arrived at the palace, the staff immediately escorted us through corridors I’d never walked down before. The wing felt different from the formal areas where I usually met with Zayne. It was warmer somehow, more lived-in.

“Have you been here before?” I asked Oliver as we followed a maid through the elegant hallways.

Oliver traveled often, and Killian had occasionally talked about the various adventures Oliver had been on whenever we met up for coffee or meetings. However, I had never heard of him entering the lycan territory before, much less serving as the physician for the previous Lycan Queen.

“On occasion,” Oliver replied easily. “When the royal physicians are unavailable, or when I’m in the area. Josephine prefers familiar faces when she’s not feeling well.”

The casual way he spoke about her made me even more curious. There was clearly so much about Zayne’s life that I didn’t know.

We finally stopped before an ornate door. My stomach tightened with nervousness. I had no idea how this woman would react to me. The lycan council had made it clear they preferred Rosalind as their future queen. There was always a possibility that Zayne had never talked about her grandmother because she could’ve thought the same way.

But I also didn’t want to assume the worst without meeting her first. No matter what, she was still Zayne’s family.

The maid knocked softly, then opened the door. “Dr. Jones has arrived, Your Grace.”

Oliver stepped inside, and I followed closely behind.

The room was elegantly furnished but comfortable. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, illuminating an elderly woman sitting in an upholstered chair near the fireplace. Despite her obvious frailty, she carried herself with unmistakable grace and dignity.

When she looked up at Oliver’s entrance, her face lit up with genuine warmth.

“Oliver,” she said, rising slowly from her chair. “How wonderful to see you again.”

“The pleasure is mine, Josephine,” Oliver replied, moving forward to greet her. “How have you been feeling?”

“Better now that you’re here,” she said with a smile that transformed her entire face.

Oliver turned toward me, gesturing for me to step forward. “I’ve brought someone with me today. This is Estelle Harper, the Luna of Blackmoon Pack.”

I felt my breath catch as Josephine’s eyes met mine. They were sharp and intelligent, the same electric blue as Zayne’s. Even in her weakened state, she radiated the kind of authority that came from royal blood.

She studied me for a long moment, her expression unreadable.

“So you are the woman my grandson has chosen as his mate,” Josephine said finally.

Her tone was carefully neutral, giving nothing away. I couldn’t tell if she was pleased or disappointed by what she saw.

***

Third POV

In his office across the palace, Zayne barely looked up when Mason entered.

“Your Majesty, Dr. Jones has been summoned to attend to your grandmother,” Mason reported.

Zayne made a sound of acknowledgment, continuing to review the documents spread across his desk. His grandmother’s health had been declining recently, but Oliver was an excellent physician. He wasn’t particularly concerned. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

“Luna Estelle accompanied him,” Mason added casually. “They’re with your grandmother now.”

Zayne’s head snapped up immediately. The papers in his hand forgotten, he rose from his chair with sudden urgency.

“What did you say?”

“Luna Estelle came with Dr. Jones. They’ve gone to your grandmother’s quarters.”

Zayne was already moving toward the door, his mind racing. His grandmother was sharp-tongued and had very particular opinions about everything, especially when it came to his personal life. She’d been asking pointed questions about his love life for months.

The thought of Estelle alone with his grandmother, unprepared for Josephine’s direct manner of speaking, sent alarm bells ringing in his head.

Mason hurried after him. “Your Majesty? Where are you going?”

Zayne paused at the door, his jaw tight with determination.

“To make sure my grandmother doesn’t say anything out of line.”