The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate

After a long wait, it was finally Zenna and Radulf’s turn. Pushing aside the curtain, they stepped into the dimly lit space, where a woman sat gracefully behind a wooden table.

Her fingers, adorned with rings of various gemstones, lightly traced the surface of a crystal ball that rested at the center.

Zenna and Radulf took their seats across from her.

The woman’s piercing gaze shifted toward Radulf. "It seems you don’t believe in this," she observed in a calming tone.

Zenna’s eyes widened in awe. "How did she know?" But Radulf remained unfazed.

"You’re right. I don’t," he admitted without hesitation. Then, tilting his head slightly, he asked, "Are you a witch? I’m surprised witches are allowed in the capital." His words were blunt, carrying sharpness.

The woman didn’t flinch. Instead, a faint smile played at her lips. "I am not a witch. I am a fortune teller."

Zenna hastily reached for Radulf’s hand, squeezing it gently as she turned to the woman with an apologetic expression. "Please forgive my husband," she said softly.

"It’s quite alright," the fortune teller replied. "Great warriors often carry great doubt."

Zenna leaned toward Radulf, whispering, "Don’t say such things to her. It might hurt her feelings."

Radulf turned to look at his wife, his lips twitching as he suppressed a chuckle. "Zenna and her unwavering belief in such things..." She was naive in the most endearing way.

The fortune teller turned her attention to the crystal ball, her hands hovering just above it. A swirling mist began to form within the glass. Her brow furrowed as the mist twisted into strange, unrecognizable patterns.

Then, suddenly, she pulled her hands away, her breathing uneven as she lowered her gaze.

"I see nothing in your futures," she declared.

Zenna’s heart sank. "What? Why?" A sense of unease gripped her. She had overheard other couples leaving the tent, their voices filled with excitement over what they had been told. Yet, for them, there was nothing?

The fortune teller hesitated before answering, her voice measured. "It’s blank to me. Perhaps because your futures together are uncertain."

"Oh..." Zenna murmured, though she chose not to push further.

Radulf, however, didn’t miss the flicker of something else in the woman’s eyes. A secret she had chosen not to share.

Zenna reached into her pocket and retrieved a silver coin. "Here’s your fee," she said, extending it toward the fortune teller.

The woman shook her head. "No. I couldn’t provide you with an answer. I won’t accept payment."

Zenna nodded in gratitude, slipping the coin back into her pocket. She stood up, ready to leave. With a slight pout, she stepped outside first.

Radulf lingered, his sharp eyes still fixed on the woman. "You lied," he said in a low voice. "What did you really see? Tell me, and I will tell my wife."

The fortune teller smiled. "She is not an ordinary wolf," she said. "I have never seen anything like her before. It is better left unspoken, at least for now. But I will give you one piece of advice—never let your wife leave your side."

Radulf’s jaw tightened. "You could have told her that yourself."

"It is not yet time for her to know." The woman leaned back in her chair, studying him. "Do you believe me now?"

Radulf scoffed. "You read people’s faces well."

He turned on his heel to leave, but just as he reached the curtain, her voice rang out once more.

"Radulf," she called, "beware of your actions when you reach that city for your answers."

He froze for the briefest moment before stepping out. "Trickster," he told himself. "Anyone with a keen ear could find such things out." And yet, it unsettled him. How had she known he was headed for the City of Herah?

Stepping outside, his eyes immediately found Zenna. She stood near a cotton candy stall, surrounded by a group of children, whose faces were bright with excitement.

"Ten cotton candies, please!" Zenna chirped, handing a few coins to the vendor.

Radulf approached her, raising an eyebrow. "What are you doing?"

At the sound of his voice, Zenna and the children turned to him in unison. She smiled, her expression as radiant as the moon. "Buying cotton candies, of course. They’re said to be the best here! Do you want one?"

Radulf exhaled, watching as she handed out the sweets to the children, her happiness so simple, which made him chuckle. It made him wonder why Zenna remained as she always was—warm, kind, and full of life.

"Thank you, Sister!" the children chimed in unison before running off, their laughter fading into the bustling marketplace.

Zenna watched them disappear into the crowd, a fond smile on her lips as she waved.

"Here’s yours, Lady," the vendor said, handing her the last cotton candy. She accepted it with a grateful nod before turning to Radulf. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Are you sure you don’t want any?" she asked, tilting her head.

Radulf’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before he smirked. "If you insist, then feed me."

Zenna blinked at him before sighing in mild exasperation. "You really can’t just take a bite yourself?" she muttered, though her voice lacked any real irritation.

Plucking a small tuft of the cotton candy, she lifted her hand toward him. Radulf leaned down, his lips parting as he took the offered treat.

But just as he did, his lips brushed the tip of her index finger. Then, before she could react, he flicked his tongue against it, licking away the stray sugar.

Zenna gasped, her entire body stiffening as a deep flush crept up her neck. She quickly withdrew her hand as if burned, her fingers curling into a fist against her chest.

She shook her head and ate the candy slowly. Once finished, she threw the bamboo stick into the bin and looked at Radulf. "Our futures are uncertain together," she said.

"I told you not to believe in such things. The future has always been unpredictable," Radulf explained to her and held her hand, taking her ahead in the market.