The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate

The Wedding Day

Zenna gently touched the necklace resting against her collarbone, the one Radulf had given her the night before. The heirloom shimmered with an emerald green stone that matched the hue of her wedding gown perfectly, as if it had been crafted just for this moment.

"It’s time to place the veil over your head," Pia said softly, her tone warm and reverent.

Zenna turned to face her and looked at her mother, Karina, whose eyes had already begun to glisten with tears.

"You look so beautiful... so radiant," Karina whispered, stepping forward to gently place her hands on Zenna’s arms. "I’m so proud of you, my sweet girl." She reached up to wipe the corners of her eyes.

Zenna held her gaze, her own eyes softening. "Will you walk me down the aisle, Mother?"

"Yes, I will," Karina responded without hesitation, her voice brimming with excitement.

As Karina stood proudly beside her daughter, Pia stepped forward and offered a bouquet wrapped in silk ribbons.

"Alpha Radulf picked these flowers himself," Pia said with a warm smile.

Zenna looked down at the bouquet, a delicate arrangement of red roses, and she smiled.

With her hand gently resting on her mother’s arm, Zenna stepped out of the room. The soft rustle of her gown accompanied her as they made their way toward the garden, where the wedding ceremony awaited.

The moment she appeared at the entrance of the estate’s blooming garden, a hush fell over the guests. Everyone’s heads turned, their eyes widened, and their collective gasps filled the air at the beauty of the bride.

At the altar, Radulf stood rooted to his spot. His breath caught in his throat as his eyes met hers. His eyes turned watery seeing her in that wedding gown. This was the moment, they both were waiting for a long time. In the past, he was so devastated, and angry but now, those negative emotions had left his mind. His eyes, his mind and his heart only carried the love for her.

As he watched Zenna coming to her, he also walked up to her. Taking her hand from Zenna’s mother, he held it firmly.

With utmost care, Radulf brought Zenna to the altar, where the priest was standing. The moonlight cast a glow right above them as if the Moon Goddess herself came to witness their union through this wedding.

Now, facing each other, the priest began chanting the vows.

However, Radulf had something else in his mind.

"Zenna, my mate, you have blessed me by your presence in my life. The pain in my heart... I never knew it would ever diminish. I burned in the fire of hatred and vengeance. I questioned the Moon Goddess, why she chose you for me? But I got my answer as I spent the time with you and got to know the beautiful you."

Zenna was astonished upon hearing those words.

"Today under this night sky, where the moon is shining and is witnessing our marriage, I vow to cherish you, to protect you and to never let the light in your eyes to dim. I, Radulf De Lagrange, promise you that from now onward you’ll always stay in my heart till my last breath."

The vows came from the bottom of his heart, showing the deeper aspect of his feelings.

The priest realized he didn’t have to speak the vows for Zenna.

"When the first time I saw you, I knew you were the one who will grant me the freedom. Though you never expressed your love through your words, but your actions justified them all the time. When you called me your mate, I felt I found my home. I vow to stay by your side in every moment of your life. I, Zenna, give you my heart, my body and my soul to you. Not only in this life, but in every life, I want to be yours."

Radulf didn’t wait. He lifted her veil with reverence, his hands gently cupping her face. A soft smile formed on both their lips before he leaned in, sealing their vows with a kiss.

A wave of applause rippled through the garden, echoing under the moonlit sky, as joyous voices cheered for their union.

His hands slid down to her waist, pulling her closer, while Zenna’s hand found its place behind his neck. They kissed like two souls finally reunited, lovers bound by fate and they were no longer apart.

Radulf’s eyes fluttered open briefly, only to witness the brief shimmer in Zenna’s gaze, her hair turning a soft silver before returning to their natural hue.

His wolf, Black, howled with uncontained joy, while Pearl purred in delight within Zenna.

At last, they parted, their breaths mingling as they looked into each other’s eyes.

"I love you," Radulf whispered, lifting her hand to his lips. He kissed her knuckles.

Then, turning toward their guests, he kept his arm firmly wrapped around her shoulder, holding her close as if to let the world know, she was his, and he was hers.

~~~~~

After the guests had departed, Radulf rushed to his chamber, eager to see Zenna.

As he approached the door, he stopped abruptly, spotting Nina standing there with several other ladies in tow.

"Nina!" Radulf exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

Nina smiled mischievously before speaking. "You need to answer one question before you can see your mate, Radulf. If you fail, you’ll have to wait an hour. That’s what Zenna told me to say."

Radulf’s excitement faltered, his brows furrowing in confusion. "What? Why would she say something like that?" he muttered under his breath, his restlessness growing with each passing second. He was desperate to be with Zenna, and now he was faced with this unexpected challenge.

Another young lady, standing beside Nina, nodded in agreement. "Yes, your mate did say it," she added with a teasing smile.

Radulf sighed, his impatience mounting, but he couldn’t help. Zenna always had a way of keeping him on his toes and she was doing the same now.

"Ask. Quick," Radulf urged, his patience thinning.

Nina, undeterred by his tone, grinned and began reading the riddle aloud.

"I beat without making a sound,

Without me, you will end.

I am always near, yet you can’t touch it or see it.

What am I?"

Radulf’s brows furrowed as he listened, his mind racing but coming up blank. "What kind of riddle is this?" he muttered to himself, frustration creeping into his thoughts.

He scratched his head, eyes darting around as he tried to piece the riddle together, but nothing clicked.

He felt the annoyance build in his chest, the urgency to see Zenna growing stronger by the second. Why did he have to solve some ridiculous riddle just to be with her? If he wanted to, he could simply make these women leave with a snap of his fingers.

But his pride kept him from taking that route. He wasn’t going to let a riddle let him be a loser in their eyes.

"It’s such a simple riddle, Radulf. Answer it, or wait here for an hour," Nina teased, her smirk widening as she crossed her arms.

Radulf’s impatience bubbled over. "Why don’t you just tell me? I won’t tell Zenna," he whispered, lowering his voice as if to make the offer more tempting. "It’s not like Zenna will get angry if you do."

Nina raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "That’s not right, Radulf. You, the invincible warrior of Nalveri, asking me to help you cheat?" She chuckled softly, amused by his desperation.

Radulf let out an exaggerated sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Ah, because I’m dying to see Zenna," he admitted, his voice filled with raw longing.

From a distance, Savio, Leon, and Gregor watched the scene unfold, chuckling amongst themselves.

"I can’t believe Radulf is acting like such an impatient man," Leon muttered, shaking his head. "He knows the answer, but his excitement is clouding his mind."

Gregor smirked, nudging Leon. "I don’t think Radulf knows the answer. Should we help him?"

"Are you saying we should help him cheat?" Savio raised an eyebrow, his voice laced with amusement. "I thought you’d rather see Radulf waiting here for an hour than rushing to Zenna."

Gregor, however, seemed less entertained. "Well, my views about him have changed," he said with a thoughtful gaze. "He’s clearly desperate. You should give him the answer through the mindlink," he whispered, glancing over at Savio with a knowing look.

Meanwhile, Radulf’s frustration peaked. He squeezed his eyes shut, pushing himself harder to crack the riddle. His brain was racing, every possible answer flitting through his mind until, suddenly, it clicked.

"It’s a heart," Radulf exclaimed, a sense of relief flooding over him.

"Correct!" Aster’s voice rang out, full of approval. "You may en—"

Before she could finish, Radulf was already gone. The door slammed shut with a heavy thud, leaving the group staring in stunned silence.

From inside the chamber, Radulf’s voice boomed. "Everyone should leave!"

The ladies exchanged glances, then hurriedly backed away, giving Radulf his space. Meanwhile, Savio, Leon, and Gregor couldn’t help but chuckle as they made their way down the hall.