The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate

"Aria was here?" Radulf’s demeanor shifted instantly, deep frowns etching across his forehead.

"But I sent her away," Zenna quickly assured him. "Her tone with me has suddenly turned soft. You need not worry about it," she pointed out, as if that alone was enough to dismiss any concerns.

Radulf let out a low, frustrated exhale. "And how am I supposed to be worry-free?" he demanded, his voice laced with irritation. "Who allowed that bitch to enter the chamber?" he growled.

"Who allowed that bitch to enter the chamber?" Radulf growled, his voice thick with anger.

"Radulf, watch your tone when speaking about a royal," Zenna raised her voice this time, turning to face him while holding a book in her hand. "I know you don’t like the royals, but you have to be careful. Cursing won’t change anything. Why ruin your own mood over it?" she reprimanded him.

Radulf scoffed. "I will say it to Aria’s face one day," he declared without hesitation.

Zenna opened her mouth to argue, but no words came out. She simply shook her head, knowing it was impossible to make him see reason when he had already made up his mind. Without another word, she turned back toward the shelf and slid the book into its place.

Just as she lifted her hand to grab another, Radulf caught her wrist and spun her around, pinning her gently against the shelf. Before she could react, his lips crashed onto hers, stealing her breath away.

Zenna gasped, startled, but Radulf didn’t relent. He coaxed her lips with slow, teasing nibbles, his warmth drawing her into the moment. Despite herself, she found her body responding, her lips parting to return the kiss.

His grip on her shoulders loosened, his hands trailing down to her waist before circling around it, pulling her closer.

The heat between them intensified, and she felt herself getting consumed in this feeling. Radulf slowly withdrew from the kiss and rested his forehead against hers as he breathed the same air as hers.

"What—what was that?" Zenna stammered, her breath still uneven from the unexpected kiss.

Radulf smirked, his eyes dark with amusement. "I got the urge to kiss you. I realized we didn’t kiss today," he stated matter-of-factly. Then, as if nothing had happened, he asked, "Are you done in this mini library of yours?"

Zenna blinked, trying to gather her thoughts. "Umm... no. I still need to take that book with me," she said, lifting a finger toward the book she had intended to pick earlier.

Radulf arched a brow. "Did you even finish the one you’ve been reading the entire day?"

"Not yet," Zenna admitted, shifting slightly as she reached for the book.

Before she could grab it, Radulf plucked it off the shelf with ease and handed it to her. His gaze flickered over the cover, reading the title aloud. "The Curses in Wolves." He narrowed his eyes. "What kind of book is this?"

Zenna tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and explained, "It tells the epics of wolves who were cursed—stories of those who suffered under powerful spells, some who overcame them, and others who were doomed by them."

Radulf hummed in thought. "And what exactly are you trying to find in a book like this?"

Zenna bit her bottom lip, hesitating for a moment.

"You’re not cursed," Radulf stated firmly, reaching for the book, but Zenna tightened her grip, refusing to let go. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"I know," she admitted, "but my wolf doesn’t respond to me. That’s as good as a curse." Her voice was quiet, laced with frustration. "I just want to read and see if any of these cases were similar to mine—if there’s a remedy for it."

Radulf exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "I know the remedy," he said with certainty.

Zenna arched a brow. "And what is it?"

"You need to heal, Zenna," he said, his tone softer this time. "You were abused, tortured, and locked away, far from everyone. Internally, you’re still wounded, and that’s why your wolf has never woken up."

Zenna swallowed hard, her grip on the book loosening slightly. She wanted to argue, to insist that there had to be something more—some forgotten spell or ancient cure—but deep down, she knew Radulf wasn’t wrong.

"And how will I be healed?" Zenna asked, looking into his eyes, searching for an answer.

Radulf smirked. "Well, I will pamper and spoil you," he replied in a teasing tone.

Zenna couldn’t help but laugh. Radulf watched her, captivated by the way her eyes lit up. She looked breathtaking when she laughed, and he silently vowed to make her do it more often.

"Don’t worry," he reassured her. "We’ll wake up your wolf soon. You’re not cursed, so books like these are useless. If there were something important in them, I would’ve told you already." Without waiting for her protest, he plucked the book from her hands and slid it back onto the shelf.

"Let’s go to our chamber," he suggested, offering his hand.

Zenna held his hand. Together, they walked out, leaving the library behind.

~~~~~

Gregor halted at the entrance of the cave, his sharp gaze fixed on the trail of wolf paw prints that vanished into the darkness. A strange pull urged him forward, compelling his feet to step onto the uneven stone floor.

Then, a scent hit him—intoxicating and utterly irresistible. It was fresh, like the first bloom of spring after a long winter, stirring something primal within him. His pupils dilated, shifting in silver color as a realisation hit him.

"My mate?" he murmured.

He quickened his pace, following the alluring scent deeper into the cave. His breath hitched the moment his eyes landed on the fragile figure before him—a woman, lying motionless on the dusty ground.

She was bare, her delicate skin marred by a deep wound across her back, blood pooling beneath her. Even in her weakened state, she exuded an ethereal beauty, her lashes fluttering as she struggled to remain conscious.

"Gregor, the rogue wolf is—" Beta Oliver’s voice cut through the silence but abruptly faltered when his gaze fell upon the woman’s exposed form.

Gregor was quick to react this time. "Turn around," he commanded, his wolf growling showing his possessiveness toward his mate.

As soon as Oliver turned around, Gregor shrugged off the robe draped over his shoulders and knelt beside her, carefully covering her trembling body. Her eyes flickered open, which were hazy and unfocused as she struggled to make out his face.

As Gregor brushed past Oliver, he said, "Stop the search immediately."

Oliver frowned, quickening his steps to keep up. "But why?"

Gregor didn’t slow down. "Because the rogue wolf has already been found."

Oliver’s brows furrowed in confusion until his gaze flickered to the unconscious woman wrapped in Gregor’s robe. His eyes widened in disbelief. "This woman?" he asked, his voice laced with shock. "But we’re not supposed to protect a she-wolf from the rogue pack. She tried invading our territory," he stated.

Gregor didn’t waver with his remark. His grip on the woman tightened protectively. "Just do as I said," he ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Without another word, Gregor quickened his pace toward the mansion to give the treatment to the woman, who turned out to be his mate.

"Call the pack doctor right away!" Gregor commanded the servant the moment he stepped into his chamber.

He gently laid the unconscious woman on his bed.

With a swift movement, he pulled the duvet over her, shielding her from the cold.

The servant, sensing the gravity of the situation, gave a quick nod before hurrying out to fetch the pack doctor.

It didn’t take long for the pack doctor to arrive. As soon as she entered the chamber, she greeted Gregor with a nod before turning her attention to the unconscious woman.

"I’ll need you both to step outside," she instructed. "I must examine her properly."

Gregor didn’t hesitate. Without a word, he turned and stepped out of the chamber, the servant following closely behind. The door shut with a quiet thud, leaving him standing in the dimly lit corridor.

Moments later, Oliver approached with a tense expression on his face. "Gregor, the search has been called off. But what if the Alpha asks about it in the morning?"

"I’ll speak to my father," he assured, his voice steady. "Don’t fret over it."

Oliver hesitated before nodding. "But she’s from the rogue pack. You know the rules."

Gregor’s gaze hardened. "The lady was injured, and leaving her untreated would’ve been reckless," he stated firmly. "Regardless of where she came from, she’s under my protection now."

"Your protection? Did you not hear what was discussed in the council meeting in the morning?" Oliver couldn’t believe the words of Gregor.

"Well, I remember. However, the lady inside is turned out to be my mate," Gregor finally revealed to him. "Rogue or not, I will protect her. I cannot let her get punished without knowing her story to enter our territory," he affirmed.