The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate

"No." Zenna gently pushed him away and took a step back. "You can’t sway me like that." Without another word, she turned and walked out of the gazebo, leaving Radulf alone.

Radulf stood motionless for a moment, the sting of rejection sinking in. He ran a hand through his dark hair, his lips twisting into a wry smile.

"Why? Why did she refuse to kiss me?" he muttered under his breath. His brow furrowed, yet his thoughts snagged on something else she had said. "Wait... did she say I sway her?" he mused aloud, his smirk returning as a flicker of intrigue lit his eyes.

Shaking off his thoughts, he headed back to the mansion, where his loyal beta, Savio, awaited him at the entrance. Silently, Savio fell into step beside Radulf, escorting him to his private office. Reaching the grand double doors, Savio pushed them open, allowing Radulf to enter first.

Radulf strode to the polished mahogany desk, taking his place in the leather chair. His sharp gaze met Savio’s. "Did you uncover anything unusual about Kade and Vivian?"

Savio stepped forward as he began his report. "Yes, Alpha. Both Kade and Vivian have been meeting the Alpha King at the palace regularly once a month. While you were conversing with the Crown Prince, I managed to gather information from the palace guards and reviewed the official records. According to the logbook, they visited the palace a day before your return."

Radulf leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled as he processed the information. A plan was already beginning to take shape in his mind.

"There’s more," Savio continued, his voice tinged with gravity. "Victor mentioned that on the night the unknown rogue attacked the South Camp, Vivian was seen there. Although other servants were present, she remains our prime suspect."

Radulf’s eyes narrowed, his sharp mind honing in on the critical detail. "Summon everyone who entered the South Camp that night," he ordered.

Savio hesitated, confusion flickering in his gaze. "But, Alpha, I thought the plan was to set a trap specifically for Vivian and Kade?"

Radulf’s lips curled into a cold, knowing smirk. "That’s exactly what I intend to do. This will be the perfect stage for my trap." He paused, then added, "Before we proceed, does Vivian have any family?"

Savio inclined his head, responding promptly. "From the information I gathered, she’s an orphan. She’s been serving as a palace servant since her teenage years. Kade’s background is identical."

Radulf chuckled, though there was no humor in the sound. "Phillipe was meticulous in planting his spies," he remarked.

"Alright. I will summon all the servants from the day who entered the South Camp that day," Savio asserted and left.

~~~~~

Zenna gazed into the deep, quiet lake, her reflection shimmering on its surface. Her fingers brushed lightly against her bare hand as her eyes filled with regret.

"I threw away my ring," she murmured. "What do I do now? It’s not like I can just find it again."

Her mind drifted back to that horrific night. She had been devastated, overcome by a torrent of emotions she could no longer suppress. Removing the band—the one she had worn faithfully for four years—had felt like her only option in that moment of despair before she jumped into that lake.

Yet, this morning, everything changed. Savio’s words echoed in her mind. He had told her how Radulf would often stare at his own wedding ring while fighting for his life in the battlefield.

Her heart clenched at the thought. She had never imagined that something so small, so simple, could hold such profound meaning for him.

"Luna, you’re here!" Pia exclaimed in shock and relief as she finally came to a halt while panting.

Zenna turned swiftly, her gaze meeting Pia’s worried expression. "What happened? Is everything alright?" she asked.

Pia shook her head, her brows knitting together. "The Alpha has summoned all the servants who entered the South Camp on the day of the attack. I think something suspicious is going on," she explained in a hushed voice.

Zenna’s heart skipped a beat. "Let’s go," she said firmly and rushed toward the mansion, Pia following close behind.

As they reached the grand hall, Zenna froze at the sight before her. Over fifty servants were lined up in neat rows, their faces pale with fear.

Radulf sat on the central couch with a menacing gaze. He held a dagger in his hand, turning it slowly, his sharp eyes fixed on its gleaming blade.

"One among you," Radulf began in his cold voice, "helped the rogues infiltrate the South Camp."

Zenna’s eyes widened in shock. Her gaze darted across the sea of faces, searching for any sign of guilt or fear.

A low voice broke her concentration. "Do you know how brutally Radulf kills?"

Zenna turned to find Nina standing beside her, a sly smirk tugging at her lips.

"Whoever dares betray him will meet a fate worse than death," Nina added with a gleeful tone as she glanced at the terrified servants.

"How do you know?" Zenna asked.

Nina leaned closer to Zenna, speaking in a low, almost whispered tone. "He killed two of our greatest hunters in a way no one could even imagine. Radulf... he’s a beast when it comes to things like this. I’ve heard all the rumors from the war—how he dealt with enemies, how he made sure they never returned."

Zenna’s chest tightened at Nina’s words, a chill settling over her as she processed the information. Her thoughts began to race. Two hunters... and no one could even imagine the brutality?

But then, something shifted in her. In a war, you couldn’t show any weakness. You had to be brutal to survive... to win.

"But it’s not a battlefield. It’s our pack," Zenna murmured.

Radulf’s cold gaze swept over the gathered servants. "The culprit should step forward, because I have already laid out the evidence against them," he said. "Every servant’s room has been searched, and I have found some rather disturbing facts. Information has been leaked for four years by someone here."

A collective shiver ran through the servants, their eyes darting nervously between one another. They had always been loyal to the pack—so who among them could betray them so brazenly?

Radulf’s gaze shifted to Vivian, who stood farther away from the rest. Savio had pointed her out earlier, and now, with the dagger still in his hand, Radulf began to walk between the rows of servants. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

When he reached Vivian, he stopped, his eyes locking on hers.

"Look up!" Radulf commanded.

Vivian hesitated, her eyes trained on the floor. "I can’t look into the eyes of Alpha," she murmured, her voice shaky but defiant.

Radulf’s gaze hardened. "You should."

Vivian swallowed, trying to mask the fear that crept up her throat, but her composure faltered. Slowly, she lifted her head, her eyes meeting Radulf’s.

"Speak the truth," Radulf said, his voice echoing with his alpha authority. His green eyes seemed to glow with an intensity that sent a shiver down Vivian’s spine.

"Why did you go to the South Camp when you’re only assigned to provide services in the mansion?" Radulf asked.

Vivian opened her mouth to speak, but her words faltered as she tried to come up with a reasonable answer. "I went there to check the—" Her voice cut off abruptly as Radulf pressed the sharp blade of his dagger against her cheek.

"Say another lie, and your eye will be in your hand," Radulf threatened in a lethal tone. His eyes glowed with a green intensity, his pupils expanding as he used his dominant alpha power.

Vivian realized her lips moving on their own. "I did it on the Alpha King’s order!" Blood trickled from her cheek as it covered the blade and a few drops fell to the floor.

Zenna’s hand flew to her mouth as a gasp escaped her lips, her heart pounding in her chest. ’Why did her father do this?’ The question echoed in her mind, but there was no time to process it.

Radulf’s grip tightened on Vivian’s throat, his fingers digging into her skin as he lifted her off the ground, causing Vivian to gasp for air. "Are you trying to defame the Alpha King?" he snarled in a low, dangerous growl.

Vivian’s eyes widened in panic as she struggled to breathe, her body writhing in pain. Her face turned an agonizing shade of red, her hands clawing at Radulf’s arm in a desperate attempt to loosen his hold.

"Radulf, stop!" Zenna cried out, her voice trembling as she rushed forward, placing her hand on his arm to try and pull him away from Vivian.

Radulf’s eyes flickered with fury as he turned to face her. "Stay away!" he growled, the force of his voice making Zenna take a step back, a cold shiver running down her spine.

For a moment, Zenna froze in fear as she met his glowing eyes. She had never seen Radulf like this—so consumed by his alpha authority that even she felt insignificant in his presence.