The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate

"I heard you went to see Zenna," Aria remarked, watching as Nina carefully examined the necklaces sent by the Queen.

"Yes," Nina replied without looking up.

Aria tilted her head slightly, curiosity flashing in her eyes. "Are you two close friends?"

Nina shook her head. "No, we aren’t. I went to see her for a particular reason. I wanted to ask about Crown Prince Leon. I thought she might know more about him."

Aria let out a soft chuckle. "Then you went to the wrong person, Nina." Crossing her arms, she added, "I’m surprised you didn’t come to me first. Am I not trustworthy? Or is it because of what I did to Zenna?"

Nina finally met her gaze and quickly shook her head. "No, Princess Aria, that’s not the case. I just didn’t want to disturb you. I’m sorry if it seemed like I overlooked you. I should have come to you first."

Aria studied her for a moment before exhaling softly. "It’s fine. But Zenna probably didn’t have anything good to say about us, did she?"

Nina remained silent as Aria continued, her voice tinged with resentment. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Father locked her in the Cold Palace for eighteen years. She resents all of us for it, but what she refuses to understand is that she’s the daughter of a woman who tried to destroy my mother’s family. That’s why my mother insisted Father keep Zenna away from us. It wasn’t about cruelty—it was about justice."

Nina could now understand why Zenna had been so desperate to save her marriage to Radulf. If no one in her family wanted her, perhaps she saw Radulf as her only escape. Though illegitimate, Zenna wasn’t to blame for her mother’s actions, yet she bore the weight of that sin.

After a brief pause, Nina voiced another thought. "But why was Zenna chosen to marry the strongest dominant Alpha of the Kingdom? Doesn’t that seem... odd?"

Aria’s expression darkened. "Radulf’s parents were executed for committing treason against my father. He should have died too, but he begged for mercy. Father granted him life under three conditions—one of which was marrying Zenna." She leaned back, lowering her arms to her lap. "Honestly, I don’t think any other woman in the kingdom would have willingly married Radulf. He was an outcast. But my mother once said that Zenna was never meant to stay in the palace forever. Marrying Radulf was her only escape."

Nina frowned, processing the complexity of it all. "That’s... quite a tangled situation. Radulf is undeniably strong, though. No one can question his prowess in battle."

Aria smirked. "Ah, so you still admire him, do you?"

Nina quickly composed herself. "I was only stating facts."

Aria chuckled. "Many women in the kingdom desired him once. But after the incident with his family, no one wanted anything to do with him. I heard his mother was hanged, and his father... beheaded in front of the people in the capital."

Nina’s breath caught in her throat. She had always known Radulf carried a heavy past, but she had never imagined it to be this brutal. While staying at the Shadow Hunter Pack’s estate, no one had spoken of it. Radulf himself had only ever mentioned that his past was painful, but nothing more.

"What exactly did his father do?" Nina asked. "Did he try to kill the Alpha King?"

Aria shrugged. "That’s what we were told. The official claim was that he conspired with a witch to perform dark magic that would destroy the royal family."

Nina narrowed her eyes. "Was there any real evidence?"

Aria nodded. "Yes. A witch testified against him."

Nina remained silent, something about it not sitting right with her. "Radulf doesn’t seem like a man who would come from a treacherous lineage. Perhaps that’s why he was granted mercy."

Aria leaned forward. "Radulf is fiercely loyal to my father. He would never dare to betray the throne." With a small sigh, she shifted the conversation. "Anyway, we ended up talking about Radulf instead of my brother."

Nina blinked at the sudden shift.

"Brother Leon is different," Aria continued. "He doesn’t speak much, but he is fiercely protective of those he cares about. Unlike my father, he has no mistresses or scandals. He doesn’t indulge in affairs." Her voice grew quieter, more bitter. "I hate my father for what he did to my mother."

Nina didn’t respond immediately. It seemed that everyone in the royal family carried their own wounds, even Aria.

Nina sighed, her fingers brushing over the delicate necklace in front of her. "Hmm... I don’t think the Crown Prince likes me," she admitted, voicing the thought that had been lingering in her mind.

Aria glanced at her, a knowing look in her eyes. "Maybe that’s because he hasn’t found a mate in you," she said simply. "You and my brother were arranged to be married, but wolves are happiest when they are with their fated mates."

Nina’s lips pressed together. She had always known that, yet hearing it aloud made the reality of her situation feel heavier.

"But," Aria continued, leaning in slightly, "I think if you make an effort to truly understand Leon—if you try to connect with him beyond duty—he might open up to you. My brother doesn’t trust easily, but once he does, his loyalty is unshakable."

"I would like to see that loyalty," Nina whispered.

Aria tilted her head, observing Nina closely. "Why don’t you ask my mother to help you?" she suggested. "She may arrange for you to spend time with my brother. That way, you two can grow closer."

Nina hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. "I don’t want to take up the Crown Prince’s time unnecessarily," she said with a small, polite smile. "But thank you, Princess Aria, for telling me so much."

As she spoke, she recalled Savio’s advice to stay away from the royal family. *Every family is crooked in their own ways.*

Looking down at the shimmering jewels before her, Nina let out a sigh again. *Maybe I don’t need a perfect family. Maybe I can still find happiness with Leon.*