The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate

Hidden behind the thick trunk of a tree, Radulf stood silently, listening to every word exchanged between Zenna and Gregor. His sharp wolf senses caught even the faintest tremor in her voice.

’Zenna will never trust us,’ Black, his wolf, growled in the back of his mind, his voice laced with both anger and sorrow. ’You’ve hurt her too much. Stop making her cry. Pamper her with care, shower her with gifts, and show her she matters,’ he urged.

Radulf remained still as he patiently waited for Zenna’s response to Gregor. Would she accept Gregor’s offer? Would she nod and allow him to free her from this marriage, from him? She might—after all, he had given her more reasons to despise him than to stay.

But then Zenna’s voice broke through his spiraling thoughts.

"Gregor, thank you," she said softly, "but you don’t need to do anything. I promise I won’t take any such step again in the future." She gently pulled away from Gregor.

Radulf blinked, startled. He had expected curses, harsh words directed at him, an emotional plea for freedom from Gregor.

’You think so little of her,’ Black chastised him. ’She isn’t like you, Radulf. She’s Zenna—a kind-hearted soul who endures far more than she should.’

"If that’s your decision, then I won’t force you," Gregor said. His gaze softened as he studied her. "But... is there no way your father can help you in this?"

Zenna let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "Father would beat me if I even dared to bring it up," she replied with resentment. "I would have left Radulf the day he returned with Nina, but because of Father, I couldn’t. He won’t let me live peacefully; he’d make my life a living hell."

Gregor’s heart ached to hear that. "I wish I could do something about this," he murmured. "But going against the king is impossible."

Zenna managed a small, weary smile. "You’ve already done so much for me, Gregor. You’ve always been there, fighting for me when it mattered most. That’s more than enough," she said softly, her gratitude shining through her pain.

Behind the tree, Radulf’s world seemed to tilt. He recalled the day he returned how he had arrogantly questioned her loyalty, asking why she hadn’t run away if she was so miserable. Now, the truth stood before him, he felt guilty.

Zenna had endured so much, not because she lacked the courage to leave, but because she had no choice. She had been trapped—not just by him but by the people around her—and he was a key player in her suffering.

For the first time in a long while, Radulf felt something he hadn’t allowed himself to feel all these four years toward her: remorse.

"Gregor, you should go home," Zenna urged softly. "Your parents won’t be pleased if they find out you’re here."

"Alright," he agreed. "But I’ll come by to check on you every day," he added, his tone firm and resolute.

Zenna managed a small smile, her gratitude shining through her eyes. "Thank you, Gregor," she said gently, watching as he turned to leave. Soon, he disappeared from her sight, and Zenna headed toward the mansion.

Radulf trailed behind Zenna at a safe distance. As they entered the mansion, he noticed her heading toward the staircase. Acting on impulse, he moved quickly, stepping in front of her to block her path.

"The breakfast is getting cold," he said, his tone neutral, though his eyes searched hers for any sign of warmth.

"My appetite dies when I’m with you," she snapped. "Why don’t you eat with your mistress? The one you brought here," she added, brushing past him without another glance.

"Fine," he muttered under his breath, his own anger bubbling to the surface as he turned and made his way to the dining hall.

To his surprise, Nina was already seated there. At the sight of him, she stood and greeted him with a soft smile. "How’s Zenna?" she asked.

Radulf’s expression remained stoic as he walked past her to his seat. "Let’s have breakfast," he replied curtly, unwilling to entertain the question. He gestured for the servants to serve the meal as he sat down.

"I’ve made my decision," she began.

Radulf’s head lifted slightly, ready to hear her answer.

"Let’s be friends, Radulf," Nina said with a warm smile. "Your relationship with Zenna is beyond my understanding. However, I sincerely hope you make a clear decision—either leave her or embrace her properly. You can’t keep her in limbo while doing both at the same time," she pointed out with her steady gaze on him.

Radulf nodded his head. "I understand," he replied. "But first, I want you to apologize to Zenna for mixing poison in her tea," he demanded.

Nina raised an eyebrow, unbothered by his sudden shift. "Is that even necessary?" she asked with a casual shrug, lifting her spoon and swirling it in the soup. "If not for that tea, you and Zenna wouldn’t have mated. You wouldn’t have marked her, and you wouldn’t be so angry about everything now."

Radulf’s lips curled into a smile as he listened to Nina’s response. "Alpha Markal’s daughter is truly brainy," he remarked, his voice tinged with a touch of amusement.

"However, she was about to make a big mistake. Zenna thinks I’ll keep you as my mistress. The tea incident only made things worse between the three of us," he added, his expression turning serious again. "That’s why you should apologize to Zenna," he insisted.

Nina considered his words for a moment. She then looked back at Radulf. "You should have punished me, Radulf, for betraying your trust. Why didn’t you do it?" she asked with inquisitiveness.

"I don’t want you to be my enemy, Nina. As I said, I want us to be friends," he declared.

Nina stared at him for a moment. "Alright. I’ll do as you ask. Zenna may not believe me, so I don’t have high hopes from this apology."

"As long as it’s from the bottom of your heart, it will work," Radulf affirmed.