The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate

"Let’s go back," Radulf said, slowly pulling his hand from Zenna’s. She hummed and quietly followed her before closing the doors behind her.

As they walked silently through the corridor, Radulf asked, "Would you like to go to the garden with me if you aren’t tired?"

"No, I am not," Zenna answered. And shortly, they descended the spiral stairs which led faster to the garden. The lamps illuminated the paths carved in the garden.

"I didn’t tell you before, but you maintained my mother’s garden well," Radulf complimented her.

"What’s gotten into you suddenly? You are exceptionally soft today. I wonder if you will change your attitude toward me tomorrow," Zenna murmured.

Radulf raised a brow and slowly halted. Seeing him, she also stopped. He pivoted on his heels and gazed at her. "I’m doing what a husband does. Live the present moment and don’t care about the future."

He took a few steps back before turning around and admiring the blooms in the garden. Walking to the blooms of roses, he touched one before plucking it. "Zenna," softly he called her name and faced her.

She was standing next to him when she felt his hand moving to her head.

"Don’t move," Radulf said, fixing the rose in her hair. Lowering his hand, he traced her jawline with the tip of his finger, noticing the subtle shift in her demeanor.

"I want us to look our best tomorrow evening at the ball. I doubt you know the dance," Radulf mused and gracefully extended his hand. "Shall we dance, Princess?" he asked, peering deep into her eyes.

Her heart skipped a beat to hear that and she clutched her dress. Zenna wondered if she was true or was it a dream?

"What if I know the dance? Your claims about me have been wrong so far," she murmured, feeling a bit angry because the grin on his face reflected he was mocking her.

"Not all claims have been wrong though. You are scared of Phillipe and others in your fucking evil family," Radulf reminded her.

"You saw what happened when I tried not to be scared of my father," Zenna muttered and twitched her lips, looking away for a moment.

"That’s because you opened your mouth at a very wrong time. Learn to be smart in front of them. If they can use you, then learn to use them too," Radulf stated.

"Only my father is using me against me. And I feel guilty every time I think about it," she said and huffed, hitting a tiny pebble on the ground casually with her heel.

"See, you are foolish to think that only your bastard father is using you," Radulf stressed the last two words. "Your stepmother is also using you and your half-siblings are doing the same. Loretta does one thing in front of Phillipe but behind his back, he tries to find ways to humiliate you. Aria called you to know what’s going on in your life. While Leon..." He paused, not wanting to speak something which made him furious every time he would think about it.

"Why did you stop? Finish what you were saying," Zenna said.

"Hold my hand. I will teach you how to dance," Radulf ignored her question as if he didn’t hear it.

"I know how to dance. So, don’t bother me about it," she murmured, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Fine. Your confidence tells me that you excel in dance," Radulf stated.

"Yes, I do. I’ll tell you about an incident that happened to me when I was sixteen," Zenna began. It piqued his interest and he keenly listened to her.

"When I was sixteen, I was called to the palace. Princess Aria called me because she wanted to humiliate me in front of so many girls. It was a dance class where everyone needed to show how good they were. The teacher was impressed with me, but she didn’t compliment me in front of them. Also, I used to dance most of the time in the cold palace since it would give me peace of mind," Zenna asserted, recalling a memory from her teenage years.

"So, you are a talented dancer," Radulf said with a smirk.

"Yes, I am. Lady Raya once told me I can charm any man if he sees me dancing," Zenna ended up saying only to realize later what she uttered as she finally lowered her hands to her side.

A flicker of amusement crossed Radulf’s face. He took a step closer to her and she felt his hot breath hitting her lips. Her eyelids fluttered and she attempted to take a step back. However, she paused in her movement as Radulf lifted her chin with his calloused fingers.

"Then, you should try charming me. Let’s see if something happens to me to see you dance," Radulf said.

"I don’t want to," Zenna refused promptly.

"But you claimed a moment ago how good a dancer you are. Someone, who can enchant anyone with her moves," he stated. "You want to win my heart, then you should make every possible move to sway me."

Letting go of her chin, he brushed past her. "I feel hungry. Let’s have dinner," he said.

Zenna let out a deep breath before shaking her head. "I would never dance to sway him. That seems so wrong," she murmured and turned to look at him. She followed him inside to the dining room only to encounter Nina in the middle.

"The rose looks good in your hair, Zenna," Nina complimented her. "I can join you for dinner, right?"

"Yes."

"Did Radulf give that rose? Umm... As far as I know he hates roses," Nina said, shocking Zenna before walking inside the dining room.

"Radulf made me wear the rose because he hates it!" Her blood boiled with anger. She reached her hand to the left side of her head but stopped. "It’s not the fault of a flower," Zenna mumbled and made her way inside. She shot a glare at Radulf, who was smiling with Nina while conversing.

"I also got an invitation for the ball," Nina said. "But I don’t have any dress to wear." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Zenna will give you one," Radulf replied and gestured to the servants to serve them meals.

"Will you, Zenna?" Nina asked.

"Yes," she replied. "I’ve plenty of dresses."

"Then, in the morning, please show them to me. I’ll select one for myself," Nina said.