The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate

Radulf escorted Zenna to the mansion before heading to see Gregor as he promised her. When he arrived at the estate of White Moon Pack, the guards at the giant gates stopped him.

"I’m Radulf De Lagrange. I am here to meet Gregor Tarquin," Radulf informed them.

The guards greeted him and allowed him to go inside. Radulf stepped inside as a guard led his way to Gregor’s chamber.

About his visit, Gregor had already found out, so as he exited his chamber, he found Radulf in the corridor.

"Thank you for showing me the way," said Radulf to the guard, who bowed not only to him but also to Gregor and left their sights.

"Radulf, what are you doing here?" Gregor looked more shocked than surprised.

"You can visit my mansion any time, but I am not allowed to do the same with you," Radulf taunted.

"No, that’s not what I meant," Gregor said, asking him to follow him to the living area.

As Radulf settled on a couch, Gregor sat across from him. "So, what brought you here? Is everything alright? How is Zenna? I hope you’ve been taking good care of her." He remembered how, at the ball, they both enjoyed the dance and Radulf even protected her from Aria.

"She is doing well," Radulf’s answer was crisp. "I am here at her request," he added.

"What do you mean?" Gregor gazed at him with confusion.

"Did you find a mate, or did you lie about it to Aria?" Radulf asked rather than explaining the meaning of his statement.

"Radulf, tell her not to be worried for me. I will handle it on my own," Gregor said, hoping for understanding.

"I wish I could do that," Radulf chuckled. With a reluctant tone, he finally said, "I will help you. Zenna wants that."

Gregor smiled to hear his words. "You have changed, Radulf. Thank you, but I can handle it. I don’t want to bother you or Zenna with my matters."

"Aria is wicked. She will do everything to get what she wants," Radulf pronounced. He felt no one’s presence around them, so he added further, "The entire royal family is cunning. So, you better take my help."

"Radulf, I appreciate your help. However, if anyone in the royal family finds out that you provided me with a helping hand, they may harm you or Zenna. I will find a mate soon." Gregor didn’t want anything to happen to the Shadow Hunter Pack because of him when it had already suffered hell in the past.

"Don’t worry about us, especially Zenna. She is now immune to any kind of punishment or torture from any of the royal family members. Explaining it will take time. Finding a mate isn’t an easy task. You might have to travel too. Why don’t you do that? If you do not find your fated one, then you can find a chosen one too," Radulf suggested.

Gregor liked the idea proposed by Radulf. But what feared him was that Aria might try to harm the woman he would choose.

"Your family has a good relationship with the King. Ask your father to talk to the Alpha King. And don’t fear Aria when you have the support of the Alpha King," Radulf stated with a smirk.

"You are right," Gregor agreed with his words.

"If you need my help with this, see me any time. Refrain from meeting Zenna. My mansion has some spies from the palace, so whatever Zenna does, the royalty is informed. I hope you understand, Gregor."

"I do. Thank you for your kind concern and help. I will surely think about it," Gregor stated.

"Hmm." Radulf lifted from his seat. "I should leave then," he added.

"I’ll show you the way out," Gregor offered.

"It’s fine. I can go," Radulf asserted and walked out of the chamber.

~~~

Zenna ran her fingers on the water’s surface as a small smile played on her lips. Today, Radulf was unusually soft and unguarded before her. He shared a lot about himself, things she never knew, especially the incidents from the deadly war.

"Should I make him wait more?" Zenna murmured.

Her eyes lifted as she heard faint noises. Moving away from the curtain, she found Radulf was undressing. "What are you doing here? I’ve not done bathing yet," Zenna shouted at him.

"You need not leave the bathtub yet. I am going to join you," Radulf replied with a smirk.

"Wait! No. Let me finish first. And you have your own bathhouse. The bigger one. Go there," Zenna insisted. Still, he removed his shirt and fumbled his hands on the belt around his trousers.

"You are acting like you’ve not seen me naked before. I want you to help me wash. I took you outside. Can’t you do this small favor for me?" Radulf met her gaze and removed his trousers too.

"You could have waited in your own bathhouse," Zenna murmured and averted her gaze from him. "It’s not like I’ve refused to help you," she complained. She heard him moving closer, and soon he was inside the bathtub. It was a huge one, but not like the one he usually used.

"You would have refused to help me wash," Radulf said. "I met Gregor," he added, and Zenna promptly gazed at him.

"Look at you! Looking at me when I took Gregor’s name," Radulf wryly laughed in irritation, his fingers threading through his hair.

"What did he say? Tell me everything," Zenna urged him.

"Wash me first, then I will tell you," Radulf answered.

"Turn your back and don’t do anything. If you try touching me, I will leave," Zenna told him.

"Your demands are crazy sometimes," Radulf affirmed and sighed before turning to her. Zenna picked up the bamboo bottle, which had body wash in it. Taking some of the gel on the loofah, she squeezed it to create the foam.

Applying the lather formed on his back, she slowly moved to his shoulder. Rubbing the other one, she moved the loofah to the front of his chest. There was a bit of hesitation in her, but she somehow did it.

Radulf held her hand to guide it when Zenna reminded him of the condition he agreed to.

"I never said, ’I agree, My Lady,’ did I?" Radulf tilted his head to meet her gaze.

Zenna pushed his head to the front. Radulf removed the drain, and water quickly moved out of it.

Zenna gulped as the water quickly drained out, and she moved away from him. He placed back the drain and let the fresh water fill into the bathtub. He didn’t turn around despite the urge to look at her, just to respect her. A silence prevailed, and none of them spoke.

"My patience is wearing thin day by day," Radulf told her.

"Then, be a gentleman and win my heart," Zenna said. By now, the water had completely filled the tub, and Radulf closed the tap before turning to her.

Zenna crossed her arms across her chest and moved her legs closer beneath the water. A hue of red appeared on her cheeks, and her eyes blinked rapidly on their own.

She shut her eyes when she found Radulf moving closer to her. However, he just walked out of the bathtub, put on a robe, and walked away.