The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate

"We are supposed to pluck the strawberries before eating them," Zenna explained.

"But I’m here to only eat. The workers are employed. They will pluck a basket full of strawberries and give us to them. Till then, we can sit here in solace from everyone’s eyes," he asserted, a grin appearing across his lips.

"Then, why don’t you sit here and I’ll fetch them?" she suggested.

"I’ll come," Radulf said, turning serious suddenly.

As they walked through the aisle, Zenna stopped him. He turned and found she already got on her knees, plucking the strawberries one by one. He, too, got on his knees and forwarded the basket, into which she put the strawberries. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

The workers employed in the work looked at them from the far end while gossiping among each other. "Aren’t they a lovely couple?"

"Yes, they are. I thought our Alpha doesn’t like such things. He is such a devoted husband."

"Even our luna has been a loyal and devoted wife to our Alpha."

Zenna smiled as she was able to hear their gossips even when they were so far from them. "Why don’t you pluck them, Radulf?" Her sparkling eyes gazed at him with encouragement.

"Sure. But there aren’t any bugs in these, right?" Radulf asked her.

"What?" Zenna mused. "The strongest Alpha in the kingdom is scared of bugs," she began teasing him. She laughed eventually and held his hand. "There are no bugs," Zenna told him. She directed his hand into the plant and asked him to pluck them. Radulf quickly did that and put them into the basket.

"I am not scared. I was merely asking," Radulf said, not wanting her to think him as a weak person. "I asked for you. What if the bugs bite you?" he muttered.

Zenna kept smiling, not trusting his words. However, she didn’t say anything and filled the basket soon.

"Let’s go!" Zenna said, standing up. She hooked her arm around Radulf’s and dragged him to the place, where they were supposed to sit and enjoy the strawberries.

"I need to wash them first. Wait here, I’ll be back soon," Zenna said, disappearing from view. He settled on the picnic blanket, which had already been laid out for their comfort.

He waited for her a while before deciding to check on her. However, by then, she returned with a cheerful smile on her face. "I am back. Did I make you wait for long?" she asked, removing her heels and settling on the blanket.

"No," Radulf replied.

"Let’s eat then," Zenna stated.

"You feed me," Radulf demanded.

She plucked the green part at the strawberry top and moved it closer to his mouth. Radulf lowered his head and took in the strawberry, chewing it slowly, savoring its taste.

Zenna fed him a second strawberry, and he ate the same way, but this time his lips brushed the tip of her index finger. She stopped blinking and gulped. Getting out of her strange thoughts, she ate one strawberry slowly while Radulf watched her. He didn’t realize his focus was more on her lips rather than the strawberry.

Shaking his head, he averted his gaze from her.

"Radulf," when she called his name, he again glanced at her and a strawberry was put between his lips.

Eating it, he saw how she was smiling suddenly.

"Are you happy?" Radulf questioned.

"Yes," Zenna answered promptly. "Isn’t the atmosphere so calm here?" she asked, taking in the beauty of their surroundings.

"Will you ever forgive me for not writing to you?" Radulf inquired.

His question not only startled her, but even surprised her. Meeting his gaze, she replied, "I understand now why you never wrote to me. So, I never blame you for not thinking about me while you were always in my heart and mind."

"You are too understanding," Radulf murmured and looked at the basket. "I did recall you once," he said. "It was the time of dry winter. I was gravely injured and healers were unable to heal me."

Zenna’s heart ached to learn with how much difficulty Radulf was surviving that war. "And what did you think?" she asked curiously.

"Will you cry for me if I pass away?" Radulf replied, "that’s what I thought."

Her eyes brimmed with tears immediately. To prevent them from falling, Zenna picked one strawberry, but before eating it.

"Are you upset that I recalled you at such a time?" Radulf wanted to know what she had in her mind.

"I’m happy that you recalled me in such a vulnerable time. The scar on your back, is it from that time?" she inquired.

"Yes," Radulf answered. "But I made it. Perhaps even heaven wanted us to unite one day," he pronounced, smiling a little.

"Hmm." Zenna finally ate the other half of the strawberry. At that moment, Radulf brought his hand to the back of her head and bit a small portion of the strawberry while gluing his gaze to hers. Flustered, Zenna took in the remaining half and chewed it, but Radulf didn’t move away.

Her other hand gripped the blanket beneath them as she pressed her lips against his.

Instinctively, his fingers tangled in her hair, pulling her closer as he welcomed the kiss. Setting the basket aside, Radulf drew her onto his lap, claiming her lips with a hunger. His tongue explored her mouth, tasting her deeply as if he were a predator savoring his prey.

Zenna wanted to breathe, but he wasn’t ready to let her go. As if he read her thoughts, he gave her a little time to take in the air before again kissing her, this time more passionately.

His hand on her head moved to her nape, and he tilted her neck to an angle. While his other hand moved to her back, trailing along the zipper. However, he didn’t open it and just felt the warmth of her skin through the fabric.

After a moment, he finally pulled away, satisfied. "I think I’m going back on my words, Zenna. You’ve driven me to the edge that my body has started craving for you," he whispered in her ear.