The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate

Zenna removed the jewelry and looked toward the door in the hope Radulf would come to the bedroom soon. However, ten minutes passed but he didn’t return.

Standing up, Zenna went to the door when she heard the loud thud of the footsteps and realized it was from the balcony. She went there when she saw Radulf transforming back into his human form. In the darkness, she could only see his silhouette when he entered in and put on a robe from the cupboard.

"You went for a run!?" Zenna looked surprised.

"Hmm." After returning from the palace, Radulf wasn’t feeling better, especially after the conversation with Phillipe.

Zenna held Radulf’s gaze, her brows furrowing slightly. She could still sense the tension radiating from him, even after he pulled away.

"He doesn’t own you, Radulf," she stated firmly, refusing to let his words settle as truth.

Radulf sighed in frustration. "Zenna, he does own me," he murmured. "Your father may not have chains around my wrists, but he holds power over me in ways you can’t ignore."

Zenna got upset to hear him. She hated the way Phillipe treated Radulf all this time. "That’s why we have to uncover the truth in Herah," she reminded him. "Once we do, things will change."

Radulf’s expression softened slightly. "Yes, we will," he agreed.

Then, without warning, he pulled her into an embrace.

Zenna caught off guard by his sudden gesture. Radulf had always been composed, guarded, even when troubled. For him to seek comfort like this—it meant more than words could express.

Slowly, she placed her hand on his back, offering him a silent reassurance.

"Radulf," she whispered after a long silence, "you shouldn’t have told my father that we were leaving the capital."

"It was necessary," he said firmly. "Phillipe would have thrown a tantrum if he found out too late. You don’t know him like I do, Zenna. He will use every small excuse to harm us."

Zenna couldn’t agree less to him. Her father mind would work in a way that no one could imagine. "Let’s go to bed," she said, holding his hand.

Radulf wanted to stay alone but he decided to just sleep with Zenna. They needed to leave tomorrow and he couldn’t tire out himself. He walked to the bed and lay on the mattress next to Zenna. She snuggled to him, wanting him to feel that he wasn’t alone.

Radulf had intended to be alone, but he was terribly exhausted. Instead of retreating into solitude, he chose to rest beside Zenna. They had a long journey to go on tomorrow, and he couldn’t afford to wear himself out.

Silently, he approached the bed and lay down on the mattress beside her. Without hesitation, Zenna snuggled closer, as if trying to remind him that he wasn’t alone.

"Radulf, I’m sorry for not taking you inside the Cold Palace," she whispered.

"Don’t apologize. I should have spoken to you first," he murmured. As he inhaled her scent, his pupils darkened into a deep green.

Before she could react, he shifted, gently yet firmly rolling her onto her back, his gaze locking onto hers.

Zenna gripped his arms before trailing her hands up to his nape. With a gentle pull, she brought him down to her and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.

"Aren’t you tired?" she asked.

"I am," he admitted, his gaze flickering over her face. But instead of pulling away, he took her hand in his, bringing it to his mouth. He kissed her fingertips, then traced his lips along the back of her palm, lingering there before finally burying his head in the crook of her neck.

"Zenna," he murmured against her skin. "You suddenly smell like fresh blooms in spring." His warm breath caressed her neck, sending a tingling sensation rippling through her body. She closed her eyes, ready to embrace him.

But instead of taking things further, Radulf simply pulled her closer, resting by her side. His strong arms wrapped around her, holding her as if shielding her from the world.

"Zenna, you are safe with me," he murmured.

The tenderness in his touch wasn’t just for her, but for her inner soul, especially her wolf, who was trapped in dormancy and needed warmth and comfort. And whether she realized it or not, Radulf was offering just that.

"I know," Zenna said and smiled. "When I first found out that I would have a mate, I was happy. Though I needed to wait for this warmth, I think it was worth the wait," she muttered.

"Hmm." Radulf brushed her long hair with his fingers and planted a soft kiss on the top of her head. "Good night, Zenna," he whispered, feeling better especially because of the scent she held.

~~~~~

Leon stared at the ring in his finger and took it out. Placing it on the bedside table, he sat on the mattress and ran a hand through his hair before stretching his legs out. His head rested against the headboard, but sleep was the last thing on his mind.

After a few moments of restless contemplation, Leon pushed himself off the bed and stepped out of the chamber for a stroll. The palace was eerily silent at this hour. Most of the servants had already retreated to their quarters, leaving the vast halls hollow.

Leon reached the mini garden near his manor, a place he often visited when his thoughts grew too heavy to bear.

The night jasmine bloomed beautifully under the moonlight, their delicate petals glowing faintly as a soft breeze carried their sweet scent through the air. His ears suddenly moved as he heard the faint footsteps.

"What is the Crown Prince doing here at this hour?" Nina questioned, halting beside him. Her sharp gaze immediately caught the absence of the ring that once adorned his left hand.

"You’ve already taken it off," she remarked, tilting her head to meet his eyes.

Leon finally glanced at her, his golden irises gleaming in the night. Lowering his hand to his side, he let out a quiet scoff. "Does this engagement hold any meaning at all?" he asked, his voice laced with defiance.

Nina studied him for a moment before responding. "Even if it didn’t hold any meaning, you were supposed to wear it."

"What are you doing in my manor at this hour?" Leon asked, ignoring what he said to her.

"I couldn’t sleep. And for the record, I was here long before you arrived," Nina replied. "The ring... You must wear it all the times," she added.

Leon exhaled sharply before taking a step closer. "You like Radulf, don’t you?"

Her expression remained composed as she met his gaze. "No. I don’t like him," she replied promptly.

"Don’t lie, Nina. Whom are you fooling?" Leon questioned, his piercing gaze locked onto hers.

"I believe I already gave you an explanation on that matter," she replied, refusing to waver before him.

"Yes, you did," he admitted. "But deep down, I know you still see Radulf as the hero. Your eyes still follow him."

"No. I don’t believe in breaking homes, and I regret my initial actions to hurt your sister." She paused for a moment before continuing, her voice growing firmer. "What I don’t understand is why my past concerns you. I thought, to you, this arrangement was nothing more than a political alliance."

She held his gaze, searching his face for an answer, trying to decipher what lay hidden behind those golden eyes.

"I don’t trust your words," Leon said.

"Why? What did I do to you?" Nina asked.

"Agreeing to this marriage was your mistake. That’s what you did wrong." He was in no place to say no to his parents. Being the adopted son, he was supposed to follow what Phillipe and Loretta wanted from him.

Nina fisted her palms, but remained calm. "I will take my leave, Leon. Let’s see each other in the morning and keep the ring on your finger," she said sternly before turning around.

"Do you think I’ll listen to you just because my mother is favoring you?" He chuckled. "Nina, don’t tell me what I need to do."

She didn’t argue further with him and walked away, leaving him alone in the garden.

’Everyone wants me to be their puppet. I wish I could refuse for this marriage. I wish I weren’t a crown prince. I would have then left...’ Leon paused as he didn’t let that thought occupy his mind.

Strolling in the garden for a while he went back to his chamber and sat there. Looking around him, he felt there was no meaning to such a luxury when he wasn’t happy with his own life. The main reason was his attraction to Zenna never lessened.

And earlier, when he saw her smiling with Radulf, his heart twisted. He felt like leaving the palace and the name of the son that his adopted parents had given him. He wanted to live freely for once and enjoy his life too.