"Amber Crest Restaurant, private dining room, seven o'clock tonight. Is this acceptable?"
Her response came quickly: "Fine."
My heart hammered against my ribs. She had agreed to meet with me. After everything I'd done, she was giving me a chance.
I typed another message, hope making me bold: "Shall I escort you tonight?"
"No need, I'll drive myself when I'm ready."
The rejection stung, but I couldn't afford to display my usual Alpha dominance and possessiveness. She had agreed to meet - I had to seize this opportunity to show her I had changed.
"Understood, seven o'clock tonight, I'll be waiting for you at Amber Crest Restaurant. Until then."
Olivia didn't reply, leaving me staring at my phone screen. My wolf paced anxiously within me, desperate to know her state of mind.
Was she angry? Resigned? Did she plan to tell me definitively that our mate bond was over?
I pushed those dark thoughts away. I had one chance to prove myself worthy of her forgiveness.
I immediately contacted Theodore Barnes, the restaurant manager. "I need the entire third floor reserved for tonight. Private dining, no other guests."
"Of course, Alpha Stone. Any special arrangements?"
"White moonflowers. Soft lighting. Everything she prefers."
Theodore's voice carried understanding. "I'll handle the details personally, Alpha."
I had Maxwell drive me to Amber Crest Restaurant immediately. I needed to supervise every detail myself.
My wolf's instincts demanded perfection for this crucial encounter with my mate. Nothing could be left to chance.
The restaurant staff worked efficiently under my watchful gaze. White moonflowers were arranged in elegant vases throughout the private dining room.
Soft candlelight replaced the harsh overhead lighting. The table was set with Olivia's favorite crystal glasses and the finest silverware.
Everything had to be perfect. This might be my only opportunity to win back her trust.
After ensuring every detail met my exacting standards, I returned to my Alpha's Private Residence. I needed to prepare myself as carefully as I had prepared the venue.
"Alpha," Maxwell finally ventured, "time is running short. Lateness would be disrespectful to Luna Winters."
Only then did I cease my display and return to the first outfit I had tried - a simple black suit with a white shirt. Classic, respectful, not trying too hard.
Maxwell looked even more baffled but didn't dare show his amusement. He drove me to Amber Crest Restaurant twenty minutes early.
The establishment had been transformed according to my specifications. Moonflowers created a romantic atmosphere, and soft lighting cast everything in a warm glow.
Maxwell excused himself diplomatically, leaving me alone in the private dining room.
I took my seat facing the entrance and fixed my amber gaze unblinkingly on the doorway. My wolf was alert and anxious as I waited for my mate to arrive.
Every minute felt like an hour. My hands rested on the white tablecloth, occasionally clenching into fists before I forced them to relax.
This was it. My chance to prove that I could be the mate Olivia deserved.
The Alpha King who had once commanded armies now sat nervously in a restaurant, waiting for his estranged mate to give him one final opportunity to make things right.
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