The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate

"Radulf, do you hear the sound of a child weeping?" Zenna inquired as they examined the perfumes in the shop.

Radulf paused momentarily before shaking his head. "No, I do not hear anything."

Zenna’s brows furrowed. "I can hear it distinctly. It seems to be a lost child," she stated, carefully placing the perfume bottle back on the shelf. Without hesitation, she exited the shop, with Radulf following closely behind.

"Are you certain of this, Zenna?" he asked.

However, she was already surveying the surroundings, intent on locating the source of the distressed cries. "Yes, I am certain. It is the cry of a baby," Zenna affirmed, her gaze scanning the crowd as people passed by.

Radulf remained unconvinced. "I believe your ears may be deceiving you. I do not hear any crying," he stated. Given his heightened hearing abilities, far superior to those of other wolves, he was confident in his assessment.

However, Zenna was undeterred. Without another word, she continued walking with purpose, determined to find the source of the cries. With a sigh, Radulf followed closely behind.

"Zenna, we have strayed far from the market. Stop," Radulf said firmly, grasping her hand.

She halted and met his gaze. "I believe someone has abandoned a baby in that forest," she said, pointing north.

"Ignore it," Radulf responded without hesitation. "We are not here to rescue anyone," he reminded her.

"I understand," Zenna acknowledged, "but what if wolves attack the baby? I can still hear the faint cries."

With a sigh, Radulf reached out and gently covered her ears with his hands. "Zenna, we do not have time for this. Our priority is to find a way to meet the witch today."

Zenna, however, grasped his wrists and lowered his hands. "We cannot simply turn away. Since we are aware of the situation, it is our responsibility to ensure the child’s safety first," she insisted.

Radulf ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "Fine. How fast can you run?" he asked.

"I can’t run faster than you," Zenna admitted.

A small smile tugged at Radulf’s lips as he firmly took her hand. "Then guide me in the right direction," he said.

Without another word, they took off, gradually increasing their speed. Zenna’s eyes remained on him, a thought lingering in her mind—if she had a wolf, she could have enjoyed this moment alongside him in their wolf forms. But even running like this felt like an adventure, a thrill she had never experienced before.

As they entered the forest, the distant cries grew clearer, now audible even to Radulf. It took them less than ten minutes to locate the baby, lying helplessly in a woven basket beneath the shade of a giant tree.

Breathless, they came to a halt, their gazes fixed on the wailing infant.

Zenna swiftly stepped forward, carefully lifting the baby into her arms. She rocked the infant gently, her touch soothing enough to quiet the cries.

"Who would abandon a child like this?" Radulf muttered, approaching her with a deep frown.

"Perhaps the mother was in a desperate situation," Zenna suggested, her gaze fixed on the tiny face nestled against her.

Radulf scoffed. "What situation could justify leaving a baby alone in the forest?" He watched as the infant settled in her arms. "It stopped crying... You’re surprisingly good with babies," he noted.

Zenna glanced at him, her expression softening. "This is my first time holding one," she admitted in a quiet voice. "Shall we go to the town head? He might be able to help us find the baby’s family."

"If the child was abandoned, no one will step forward to claim them," Radulf stated firmly.

"What are werewolves doing in our territory?"

A sharp, feminine voice cut through the air. Both Zenna and Radulf turned swiftly, their gazes locking onto the woman before them. It didn’t take long for them to recognize her. She was a witch.

"We heard a baby crying and followed the sound," Zenna explained, holding the infant close to her chest.

"Pardon us, we were unaware that this forest belonged to the witches," Radulf added. Zenna nodded in agreement.

"Do not lie," the witch’s eyes gleamed a golden hue.

"We are not lying," Zenna insisted. "We come from the capital." She hesitated for a brief moment before continuing, sensing that honesty was their best chance. "I swear, we mean no harm. Neither of us knew this was forbidden territory."

Radulf stepped forward slightly to protect Zenna and the baby. "I am Radulf De Lagrange, and this is my wife, Zenna," he introduced them with their real names, believing that transparency was the only way to gain the witch’s trust.

"Radulf De Lagrange?" The witch’s frown deepened, recognition flashing in her golden eyes.

"Yes. You must have heard of me," Radulf responded, his voice steady.

Before the witch could reply, the infant in Zenna’s arms began crying again. Zenna instinctively rocked the baby gently, her focus shifting to soothing the child.

"Is this baby of someone from your knowledge, Madam?" Radulf questioned. "It’s not a werewolf’s pup. It must be a witch’s baby," he asserted.

The witch stepped up and touched the baby. As they stopped crying, Zenna looked at her with intrigue.

"Indeed. I will find out who abandoned her baby here," the witch said and glanced at the basket. She took them from Zenna and caressed the baby’s head.

"What’s your good name if we may know?" Zenna politely asked.

Zenna offered a polite smile as she inquired, "May we know your name?"

"I’m Selina Emberveil," the woman replied. Then, shifting her attention to Radulf, she continued, "What brings you to Herah?" She studied him for a moment before adding, "If you’re searching for the witch who accused your father, you are too late. She died two years ago."

Radulf felt as though the ground had been pulled from beneath him. The one answer he had been chasing for years had just slipped through his fingers, leaving behind nothing but emptiness.

"What?" he gazed at Selina in shock. The fragile hope he had clung to, of clearing his father’s name, was now shattered.

Zenna, however, remained composed. Turning back to Selina, she pressed, "Madam, it seems you were aware of the events from four years ago. You said the witch spoke against Radulf’s father. That means the entire witch community knew about the accusation, doesn’t it? They knew that Radulf’s father was innocent."