Alpha's Regret: Marked By The Lycan King

Estelle’s POV

The water soaked through the back of my dress completely. Cold droplets ran down my spine, and I could feel the fabric clinging uncomfortably to my skin.

Vivian stood there holding the empty vase, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She didn’t look sorry at all. In fact, she looked proud of what she’d just done.

“Just because you’re engaged to Zayne doesn’t make you better than everyone else,” she said, her words slurring slightly but her voice full of venom. “You’re not married yet. Anyone can take your place.”

Her blue eyes blazed with defiance as she stared at me. The alcohol had clearly stripped away whatever little manners she’d been raised with.

Mavis rushed forward, reaching for her friend’s arm. “Vivian, please, you need to stop—”

Vivian shoved her away roughly. Mavis stumbled backward, barely catching herself against the marble counter.

I walked calmly to the other sink and picked up another crystal vase filled with fresh flowers. The water inside was perfectly clear.

Without hesitation, I splashed it directly into Vivian’s face.

She gasped, her mouth falling open in shock. Water dripped from her red hair, and her carefully applied makeup began to streak down her cheeks.

Mavis’s hands flew to cover her mouth, her gray eyes wide with surprise.

I set the empty vase down gently on the counter. “Are you awake now? Or do you need another splash to sober up?”

“You—you can’t—” Vivian sputtered, mascara running in black lines down her face.

“I can’t what?” I asked coolly, reaching for a hand towel to dab at my own wet hair. “Defend myself when someone attacks me?”

Vivian’s face flushed red with rage. “Everyone knows the lycan council doesn’t want you as their queen! They might not say it openly, but every werewolf knows lycans prefer pure bloodlines. They want their own kind!”

She laughed, a harsh sound that echoed off the bathroom walls. “There’s even a rumor that you don’t have a wolf at all. How can someone who can barely be called a werewolf deserve to be the Lycan Queen?”

Her words hit closer to home than I’d like to admit. The comment about my wolf stirred up old insecurities, memories of years spent believing I was defective.

But I kept my expression neutral. I’d learned long ago not to let my enemies see their attacks land.

“Once Zayne gets bored with your novelty, he’ll toss you aside for someone more suitable,” Vivian continued, emboldened by my silence.

I finished patting my hair dry and turned to face her fully. “You’re absolutely right about one thing, Vivian.”

She blinked, caught off guard.

“If Zayne ever chooses someone else, it definitely won’t be you.” I let that sink in for a moment. “So I’m curious why you’re so concerned about who becomes his wife, when it will never be you anyway.”

The color drained from Vivian’s face, then rushed back in a wave of fury.

“You bitch!” she screamed, lunging forward with her hands outstretched like claws.

Mavis was faster. She caught Vivian around the waist, holding her back as she thrashed and struggled.

“I’m so sorry, Luna Estelle,” Mavis said breathlessly, fighting to keep her grip on her friend. “She’s had too much to drink. She doesn’t mean—”

“Being drunk isn’t an excuse,” I cut her off firmly. “If she’d tried this with someone like Rosalind Vurbont—the woman she seems to admire so much—her head would already be rolling across this floor. Lycans aren’t as forgiving as werewolves.”

I stepped closer to Vivian, who was still struggling against Mavis’s hold. Her makeup-streaked face was twisted with rage.

“You want to know the truth?” I said quietly, close enough that only they could hear me.

Vivian stopped struggling, her eyes fixed on mine with desperate intensity. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

“You’re right. I’m not a normal werewolf.” I let a small smile curve my lips. “Because I’m about to become the Lycan Queen.”

Vivian exploded into motion again, thrashing wildly against Mavis’s arms. “No! You don’t deserve it! You’re nothing! Nothing!”

Mavis struggled to keep her hold, her face red with effort. “Vivian, stop! You’re making it worse!”

I stepped back, satisfied. There was no point in engaging further with someone so far gone in their delusions, especially when they had consumed one too many glasses of wine. I could practically smell it on her breath whenever she spoke.

I flicked my damp hair over my shoulder and walked toward the door. “Enjoy the rest of your evening, ladies.”

Behind me, I could hear Vivian’s continued protests and Mavis’s frantic attempts to calm her down. The door closed behind me, muffling the sound.

The restaurant’s main dining room felt warm and welcoming after the cold tension of the bathroom. Soft music played, and the gentle hum of conversation surrounded me.

I made my way back to our table, still feeling drops of water on my skin. The back of my dress would probably be wrinkled, but it would dry.

But when I reached our table, Zayne wasn’t there.

His chair was pushed back neatly, and his jacket was gone from the back of his seat. Even the gift box with the tie had disappeared.

I looked around the dining room, searching for his familiar silver hair among the other diners. However, I wasn’t able to spot him anywhere.

Had he stepped outside to take a call? Maybe he had gone to the men’s room?

I sat down in my chair, uncertain. The waiter appeared almost immediately.

“Miss, your companion asked me to tell you he had to step out briefly,” he said politely. “He settled the bill already.”

“Did he say when he’d be back?”

The waiter’s expression grew slightly uncomfortable. “I’m afraid he didn’t specify, miss.”

My stomach dropped. Had Zayne left without telling me?