Chapter 172 Estelle’s Fate
Estelle’s POV
Zayne’s lips wrapped around the fork, and I watched, completely mesmerized, as he slowly pulled back. A tiny bit of chocolate frosting clung to the corner of his mouth.
My breath caught in my throat.
Without breaking eye contact, Zayne ran his tongue along his lower lip, catching the frosting. The simple action sent heat flooding through my entire body.
“Delicious,” he said, his voice low and smooth.
I knew he was teasing me. His eyes held my gaze, and there was a slight curve in his lips. Everything about his expression told me he was fully aware of the effect he was having on me.
And despite knowing it, I couldn’t help but respond. My cheeks burned, and I could feel my pulse quickening.
I cleared my throat and set the cake aside on the coffee table.
“We should watch the movie,” I said, my voice coming out slightly breathless. My mouth felt dry, and the room felt hotter than it did before.
“You’re not going to finish it?” Zayne asked, that same teasing tone in his voice, gesturing to the cake.
“I’ll eat it later,” I replied quickly, focusing my attention on the TV screen.
The movie had already started, but I was having trouble concentrating on the plot. I was hyper-aware of everything about Zayne sitting next to me.
The solid warmth of his body pressed against mine. I could hear the steady rhythm of his breathing right by my ear. Whenever the scene turned dramatic, I could feel his hand on my shoulder tighten its grip slightly before relaxing.
Through the thin fabric of my sweater, I could feel the outlines of his muscles. His chest was firm and broad, and every time he shifted slightly, I became more aware of just how strong he was.
Heat seemed to radiate from his skin, spreading to mine wherever we touched. The mark on my neck began to tingle. The sensation was subtle at first, but it grew stronger as the minutes passed. I shifted slightly, stretching my neck back and forth in hopes it might help soothe the burning ache that was quickly building.
I pressed my lips together and forced myself to stare straight at the TV screen. I had to focus on the movie. In fact, I had to focus on anything other than the man who was sitting beside me.
But it was impossible. My body seemed to have a mind of its own, unconsciously pressing closer to Zayne’s warmth.
The buzz he provided was not uncomfortable. If anything, my body seemed to crave it. I instinctively leaned closer to him, breathing in his comforting scent. Quickly, my body began to relax.
***
Third POV
The movie was more than halfway through when Zayne glanced down at Estelle. For most of it, she had been squirming around the couch as though she couldn’t find a comfortable spot no matter what. But she had gone quiet about twenty minutes ago, and now he could see why.
She was fast asleep, her head resting against his shoulder. Her breathing was slow and even, her face completely relaxed. In sleep, she looked like a delicate doll.
Zayne’s phone buzzed softly against his leg. He carefully pulled it out, making sure not to disturb Estelle, and checked the screen. Mason had sent him several messages.
The first was a series of photos. Zayne scrolled through them, his expression growing darker with each image. There was Estelle walking through the gates of Moonveil Pack territory.
Another showed her standing in front of the Moonveil Packhouse, talking to a young boy and a woman. From the angle the photo was taken, he couldn’t see Estelle’s expression, but judging by the young boy’s hysterical cries, it couldn’t have been a pleasant conversation.
Mason had also sent detailed reports about what had transpired during Estelle’s visit, but Zayne didn’t bother reading through the text. He already knew enough.
He knew that Estelle had believed herself mated to Asher from the Moonveil Pack. On top of that, this idiot of an Alpha was now desperately trying to win her back after realizing what he had lost. By the looks of it, Alpha Asher wasn’t aware that Estelle was the new Luna of the Blackmoon Pack, nor the fact that Estelle was engaged to Zayne.
Alpha Asher still thought that Estelle was a small fry, now probably living as a rogue. There were several rumors about the fate of Estelle after she had left the Moonveil Pack. The one that made Zayne roll his eyes the hardest was that Estelle was now the lover of the Tidal Valley Pack’s Alpha.