The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate

"I have a wolf. I awakened it after Radulf marked me," Zenna announced with a bright and fake smile.

The pavilion fell into a stunned silence. All the eyes turned to her in disbelief. Nina, seated nearby, furrowed her brows. She doubted Zenna’s claim, as she knew Zenna hadn’t awakened her wolf. Still, she chose to stay quiet, observing the scene unfold.

"Don’t lie, Zenna. You’re wolf-less," Aria stated bluntly, her skepticism evident in her tone.

Zenna’s expression remained composed as she murmured, "What would I gain from lying to Princess Aria?" She lifted the teacup from its saucer, gently blew on the steaming surface, and took a deliberate sip, exuding an air of calm.

"Then you must join us for a run," Aria challenged, her tone daring Zenna to prove her claim.

Zenna’s heart thundered against her chest, but she kept her features neutral. "I will, Your Highness," she replied smoothly. "But not today. I need to see Radulf as soon as this event concludes. He was quite upset yesterday when I told him I couldn’t accompany him, so I promised to return to him promptly after my visit to the palace." Her words were careful to evade such a complex situation.

Aria narrowed her eyes slightly but didn’t push further. Roseline, sensing the tension, intervened with a teasing smile. "It seems like you’re finally enjoying your married life."

"Yes, a lot," Zenna responded with a practiced smile. She set her cup down on the saucer and added, "But let’s not focus on me. We have more interesting topics to discuss, don’t we?"

Aria shifted her attention to Nina, her gaze sharp. "Miss Nina, why didn’t you accept my mother’s offer to stay in the palace? She wanted to host you properly as our guest."

Zenna froze, her smile faltering for the briefest moment. ’The Luna Queen invited Nina to stay in the palace? Why hadn’t I heard about this?’

"I suppose Radulf must have stopped you," Aria continued, her tone calculated as her eyes flickered between Nina and Zenna. "After all, he’s the one who brought you here in the first place."

Zenna clenched her hands under the table. Aria subtly glanced in Zenna’s direction to see her reaction.

"Radulf wants me to stay back, Princess Aria. That’s why I had to politely refuse the Luna Queen’s kind offer. I hope your mother isn’t upset about it," Nina responded with grace.

"Not at all," Aria replied, waving her hand dismissively, a reassuring smile on her lips.

Annette, who had been quietly munching on a cookie until now, decided to join the conversation. "It seems you and Radulf are close," she said with curiosity.

"Yes, we’re close friends," Nina answered with a subtle smile, choosing her words carefully.

Roseline chuckled softly, her tone laced with a hint of mischief. "A man and a woman can’t just stay friends. That’s an old saying, and it always seems to prove itself true," she remarked, her gaze lingering on Nina.

"There was a time when women would flock to see Radulf at high society events. His charm and status made him the center of attention. Now that he’s regained his former glory, I imagine there are still plenty who would love to be by his side." Roseline gazed at Zenna with a mocking smile.

Zenna’s grip on the teacup tightened imperceptibly. She maintained her poised expression, but inwardly, her thoughts churned.

Nina, however, remained unruffled. "Old sayings are not always universal truths, Lady Roseline. Friendship, after all, depends on the individuals involved," she replied smartly.

As the time passed, Zenna’s spirit sank lower and lower. The lively conversation in the pavilion revolved almost entirely around Nina, and Zenna felt forgotten.

It wasn’t the attention on Nina that bothered her, but how often Radulf’s name came up in their discussions. Each mention left her feeling a gnawing unease she couldn’t shake.

By the time the tea session ended, Zenna felt drained. She and Nina prepared to take their leave, and Zenna was ready to escape this suffocating atmosphere.

Just as they reached the entrance, a servant approached Zenna and bowed respectfully. "Lady Zenna, the Alpha King wishes to see you."

Zenna hesitated briefly before turning to Nina. "Miss Nina, please wait for me in the carriage," she instructed.

Nina nodded, sensing Zenna’s unease. While Zenna followed the servant, carrying the fear in her heart.

Reaching her father’s chamber, Zenna greeted him with a slight bow, her hands clenched tightly at her sides.

"You may raise your head," Phillipe said, his tone commanding as he examined the sharp blade of a dagger in his hands. Without looking up, he asked, "Did you get the mark?"

"Yes, I got the mark," Zenna replied, keeping her voice steady despite the tension coiling in her chest.

Phillipe’s lips curled into a faint smile. "Good. And the consummation? Did it happen?"

Zenna hesitated for the brief moment before replying, "Yes, Father."

"Then give me a son soon," Phillipe ordered as if he were speaking about a business transaction rather than his own daughter’s life.

Zenna’s brows furrowed, and her chest tightened. The sudden and strange command pierced through her growing resentment. Her voice rose slightly, trembling with suppressed emotion.

"Why is Father doing this? I was no one to you for eighteen years!" she exclaimed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Keep your voice low, Zenna," Phillipe said sharply, his cold eyes narrowing as he set the dagger down on the table. "For eighteen years, I have fed and sheltered you in this palace. Do you think you would have grown into such a woman if I had thrown you into the streets the day you were born?"

Zenna’s chest heaved with the weight of her emotions, her fists trembling as she fought to keep her composure. But the bitterness she’d suppressed for years boiled over.

"That would have been much better, Father!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the chamber. "You should have thrown me out and spared me from carrying your name!"