The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate

Zenna lowered her arm after waving at Aster, a soft smile lingering on her lips. Radulf observed her with amusement, wondering if she had always lacked a close female friend.

"Radulf, are you excited?" she suddenly turned to him, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"Excited about what?" he asked, arching a brow.

"Gregor and Aster’s marriage," she said, clasping her hands together. "They’ll be married by the end of this month! I’m so happy for my friend. Gregor waited so long for his mate to appear, and now it’s finally happening in the most beautiful way." Her voice carried pure delight, untouched by envy or regret.

Radulf wasn’t surprised by her happiness for Aster and Gregor, but what intrigued him was something else. Had she felt the same excitement when she learned she would marry him? 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Zenna," he began, his gaze locked onto hers, "what was your reaction when you found out you would be marrying me?"

Zenna hesitated for a moment, as if searching for the right words. Then, with a small, nostalgic smile, she admitted, "I was extremely happy. When Father told me my husband would be the strongest warrior in the kingdom, I couldn’t sleep the entire night. I kept imagining what it would be like to meet you."

Her voice softened, and as she spoke, the glow in her eyes dimmed slightly. Her smile faded into a somber expression as she recalled their first meeting, how disastrous it had been, how far it was from the dreams she once had.

Radulf noticed the shift in her eyes, the way her excitement dimmed into something melancholic. He knew the reason behind it. He had ruined that moment for her. He carried a disdainful look in her eyes and didn’t even speak a word to her after they were wedded.

"Can’t we recreate that moment?" he asked.

Zenna exhaled softly. "Marriage happens only once," she murmured. But before Radulf could say anything, she continued, "It’s all in the past now. I understand why you couldn’t be happy on such an occasion. I don’t hate you for that." Her voice held no resentment, only acceptance.

Radulf stared at her, both impressed and bewildered by her maturity. ’How can she forgive me so easily?’ he wondered.

Something inside him stirred. A feeling he couldn’t tell, but it pushed him forward. Ignoring the presence of the guards, he stepped closer, his hands finding her as if they had always belonged there.

One hand cradled the back of her neck while the other pressed firmly against her lower back, pulling her into him.

Before she could fully react, his lips crashed onto hers as he began nibbling at them.

The maids working outside quickly averted their eyes, smiling amongst each other and walking away, while the guards discreetly lowered their gazes, pretending not to notice.

Zenna, ever aware of her surroundings, pressed her hands against Radulf’s chest in an attempt to push him away. But he didn’t budge. His hold remained firm, as if he had no intention of letting go.

Her resolve wavered. ’Why is he like this?’ she thought, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks. Then, finally, she surrendered. Her hands relaxed against him as she kissed him back, her heart hammering in her chest. She could feel the weight of unseen eyes on them, making her blush deepen.

Sensing her compliance, Radulf slowed the kiss, savoring the moment before finally pulling away. Their breaths were uneven, mingling in the space between them.

"Radulf, what was that?" Zenna asked with a flustered expression. She could feel the warmth in her cheeks, and there was no hiding it.

Radulf, on the other hand, looked utterly unfazed, a smug yet affectionate look playing on his lips. "I thought I should shower you with love," he replied smoothly.

As he said those words, a memory surfaced in his mind. One of the many letters she had once written for him– ’How I wish you would kiss me with no barriers? Do you ever imagine kissing me?’

A rare smile tugged at his lips as he suppressed a chuckle.

"Let’s go inside. I feel hungry," Radulf said, as if nothing had happened.

"Sure," Zenna mumbled, still flustered. Without another word, she turned and hurried inside, walking ahead of him.

Radulf watched her retreating figure, the corners of his lips curling in amusement. ’She still gets flustered so easily,’ he mused before following her inside.

After finishing their meal, Zenna and Radulf retreated to their chambers. Zenna sat at the center of their bed, preparing her mind to tell about Leon’s visit.

"Radulf, I need to tell you something important," she said.

Radulf, already making himself comfortable, leaned on his elbow before resting his head in her lap. His fingers idly traced patterns on the fabric of her dress. "Hmm? What is it?" he asked, glancing up at her.

Zenna hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Crown Prince Leon visited me earlier today."

Radulf’s brows instantly drew together. "What? Did he—"

She shook her head before he could finish. "No, he didn’t come to threaten me. He came to ask me for something."

Radulf’s frown deepened. "Ask you for what?"

Zenna took a slow breath. "He wants me to keep a secret from Nina. He doesn’t want her to know the truth about him."

Radulf sat up slightly with confusion. "What truth?"

She met his gaze. "That he’s not the biological son of the Alpha King and the Luna Queen."

Silence stretched between them for a moment before Radulf scoffed. "That’s absurd. Why would he want to hide something like that from Nina? And more importantly, why should it concern us?" He chuckled.

Zenna sighed, lowering her gaze. "But doesn’t that seem wrong?" she questioned, her voice laced with concern.

Radulf leaned back against the headboard, his arms crossed. "Nina brought this upon herself. She never should have gone to the palace. If she had asked me to send her back, I would have done so without hesitation. But she was more interested in marrying the Crown Prince." His voice held no sympathy.

Zenna frowned, understanding his logic but still unsettled. "You’re right... but Nina is going to be furious when she finds out the truth. And while I won’t be the one to tell her, neither should you," she stated firmly.

Radulf arched an eyebrow, intrigued by her certainty. "Why do you think I would tell her?"

Zenna clenched her fists, her old wounds resurfacing. "Isn’t she your friend? You even kissed her," she accused, her voice quieter but filled with bitterness. "You shared a kiss with her just to break my heart."

Radulf’s expression darkened as he sat up, his jaw tightening. His regret was evident in his gaze. "I feel an unbearable rage every time I think about that," he admitted, his voice strained. He reached for her hand, his grip firm yet gentle. "Forgive me, Zenna. I wanted to push you away. I thought it was the only way to make you leave my side."

Zenna remained silent, searching his face for sincerity.

Radulf exhaled, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "And as for Nina... she was a friend only when she was here. I’m not a noble wolf, Zenna. I’m a selfish person." His thumb brushed over her knuckles. "But I regret hurting you. No matter how many times I kiss you, you can’t forget that, right?"

He lifted his head, meeting her gaze.

"I just recalled it out of the blue. Don’t take it to heart," Zenna told him. "But one thing I found out about Crown Prince Leon today."

"And what it is?" Radulf glanced at her with intrigue.

"That he is nothing but a tool to my father," Zenna replied.

"Why do you say that? I thought the Alpha King only bad to the others," Radulf said.

"No, Radulf. That’s not true. You know Prince Leon was the one who used to send good meals and fruits to me when I was locked in the cold palace. Though he wasn’t an ideal brother to me, but I was thankful in those days that he wanted me to eat well," Zenna said with a thoughtful gaze.

"What do you want to say, Zenna? I’m not getting you. Isn’t your entire family evil?" Radulf asked.

"I used to think they all were evil. I think the Crown Prince isn’t evil. He told me something today. He told me not to ever get pregnant. And I understood why he said that. Father will punish you to death and he will take my life too once our pup is born." A terrifying look formed on her face.

"That will never happen, Zenna. I am going rip Phillipe into shards before that," Radulf said with a confident tone.

Zenna hummed as she trusted him.

"Radulf, there’s a better way to bring an end to Father’s reign. Let’s bring the Crown Prince to our team. For now, he is the closest to the Alpha King and the only one who can give us the leverage to bring the Alpha King to his knees."