The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate-Chapter 14: In the cold palace

"Yes, I wanted to flaunt my mark to Nina, who drugged me in my room so that she could sleep with you," Zenna pronounced with a mocking tone.

"You are so eager to lock me in a dungeon. Why don’t you just free me? If this mark bothers you so much, then reject me. I don’t need your..." her voice quivered and tears brimmed in her eyes, "mark on my body. I will choose to die by my father’s hand rather than living with you. Yes, I accept death over this relationship."

Zenna let go of the duvet, revealing her body to him. Radulf saw the red marks he had left on her body in the state of his rut. He saw her leaving the bed like that, not taking any robe when he stopped her.

"Where are your clothes?" Radulf asked, averting her gaze from him.

"A crazy wolf tore them just because he couldn’t control himself. He charged on me saying I’m his mate!" Zenna raised her voice at him before heading to the cupboard. Taking a robe out, she put it on and slammed it shut with a loud thud.

"Why aren’t you rejecting me?" Zenna glared this time at Radulf. Her eyes turned golden yellow, a rarity of color in any omega’s eyes, which didn’t go unnoticed from Radulf’s eyes.

’If I reject her, I’ll be in pain. I will be the one crushing every second because my wolf is already attracted to you. And I can’t reject you, yet.’ Radulf thought to himself.

"Why would Nina drug you?" Radulf finally asked.

Zenna didn’t respond to him and walked out of his sight. She was a fool to give him her first time like that. Now, she was unable to comprehend what Radulf truly was. Was he what he showed last night? Or was all that in a heat of a moment to get rid of that rut?

Zenna arrived in her chamber and Pia followed her immediately. "Luna! How was the night? I told Beta Savio to help you out, but he said we should not disturb you and Alpha," she said with a worried gaze.

"Just prepare the bath for me," Zenna said.

Pia understood something bad had happened, so without arguing she did what she was asked.

Zenna entered the warm bathtub after removing the robe and took a long dip while controlling her breath. She came out and gasped for air, reality hitting her again. "I—I won’t let him trample on my dignity like this anymore. If he wants to live like this, then I shouldn’t care for this marriage either," she murmured.

~~~~~

"Savio, why did you allow Zenna in here?" Radulf growled, his voice brimming with anger. His piercing eyes locked onto his Beta. "I explicitly instructed you to keep her away from me."

Savio stood firm, though a flicker of guilt crossed his face before he spoke. "Alpha, Nina wanted to claim your mark," he revealed cautiously.

Radulf’s eyes narrowed dangerously. "What?"

"Yes," Savio continued in a steady tone. "I suspect you’ve blamed Luna Zenna again. But, Alpha, why do you hurt her like this? She’s not the woman you think she is. Nina drugged her for an unknown reason and entered your chamber last night. When Luna Zenna discovered what was happening, she came to protect you from Nina, all drenched in water. I dragged Nina out myself, but before Luna Zenna could follow me, the door shut behind her from the inside."

Radulf froze, the weight of Savio’s words sinking into his mind. His breath hitched slightly, disbelief warring with confusion.

Savio’s lips twitched into a sly smile. "Alpha," he began, his tone lighter now, "did you do it?"

"Did I what?" Radulf snapped, irritation bleeding into his voice as he turned a sharp glare on his beta. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Did you do what two married couples do?" Savio asked, grinning unabashedly. "I heard you calling Luna Zenna your mate."

Radulf stopped blinking, his body rigid as the realization hit him like a thunderbolt.

"Since you aren’t in rut anymore, so I believe you and Luna Zenna finally slept together," Savio asserted with a smile.

Radulf, on the other hand, felt guilty. He ended up saying a lot of things to Zenna. It was him who shut the door from inside and called her mate.

"Alpha, the pack had crumbled after what happened four years ago. Luna Zenna may be an omega, but she has built this pack in your absence. She worked tirelessly and attended events in your absence to make sure that the other packs would not look down on you. I think you are gravely mistaken about Luna Zenna. She’s not like the Alpha King. What I have heard is that Luna Zenna spent eighteen years of her life in the cold palace, abandoned and forgotten."

Savio revealed whatever he could do to Radulf, so that he could truly work for this marriage.

"She was locked in a cold palace?!" Radulf’s brows furrowed deeply with disbelief. "Why would she be locked away? She’s a princess, isn’t she?" he muttered, trying to piece it together.

Savio hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Alpha, don’t you know? Your wife isn’t truly a princess—not in the traditional sense. She’s only one by name. Zenna is the daughter of an omega servant with whom Alpha King Phillipe had an illicit affair."

Radulf’s fingers curled into tight fists at the information. A strange, unfamiliar rage stirred within him, his wolf snarling in the back of his mind.

’Apologize to Zenna. If you don’t, I won’t speak to you again,’ Black growled in the back of Radulf’s mind.

Radulf clenched his jaw, shutting out his wolf’s reprimand. "Don’t think Zenna is innocent in all of this," he retorted coldly. "I was punished with this marriage, and she’s here to fulfill her father’s ambitions. She enjoys watching me in this miserable state. Don’t you dare take her side."

Savio held his ground, his expression remained unwavering. "Forgive me, Alpha, but I think you need to open your eyes. Zenna isn’t who you believe her to be. She’s not your enemy." He paused, his tone softening slightly.