The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate-Chapter 181: A man utterly in love

"Mother, this is Jakob Cuvine," Zenna said softly, introducing the young man, her cousin, standing beside her.

Karina’s eyes widened as she stepped forward. "Gosh, boy! You’ve got the eyes of my sister," she exclaimed emotionally, pulling Jakob into a heartfelt embrace. Her hand gently caressed his back in a soothing, motherly way. Jakob closed his eyes, returning the hug with warmth.

Karina slowly pulled away, placing both hands on his face and tenderly tracing his features, as if trying to memorize every detail. Her voice trembled as tears welled up in her eyes. "How did Clara live?"

Jakob nodded solemnly. "Mother always kept herself hidden," he replied. "I never knew why... but after coming here and learning the truth, I understand now. Life was hard for her. Still, she lived with grace, until she passed away."

Tears streamed down Karina’s cheeks as she listened. Zenna placed a comforting hand on her mother’s shoulder, offering silent support.

"You’ve grown up well, Jakob," Karina whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "Your father... what happened to him?"

Jakob lowered his gaze. "He fell seriously ill when I was about five or six. No herbs or treatment worked... and he passed away not long after."

Karina’s heart ached at his words. "You’ve been through so much," she murmured. "But from now on, I’ll give you all the love of a mother. And your sister will take care of you too. You’re still so young..."

Jakob chuckled softly, scratching the back of his head with a shy smile. "I’m eighteen, Aunt Karina... but I won’t mind being pampered."

Karina laughed through her tears, pulling him into another warm hug.

"Pardon me for intruding on. The Alpha has returned!" Pia informed them.

Zenna was quick to go out of the chamber and descended half of the stairs. Radulf had ascended the few and the two stopped, their eyes locking. Their lips curled up into warm smiles and they again resumed walk, this time faster before Zenna hugged him. He held her firmly in his embrace, lifting her off the ground.

In the living room, Savio and the others looked on with smiles, their hearts warmed by the reunion. At the top of the staircase, Karina and Jakob stood side by side, sharing a smile of their own as they watched the heartfelt moment unfold.

Radulf put down Zenna next to him, his hands firmly remained on her back before he kissed Zenna, not caring for the onlookers. She reciprocated the same way, her hands instinctively moving to his nape.

Savio lifted his hands and began clapping for them. Slowly, more hands raised, clapping and cheering for them. Savio even whistled for their Alpha and Luna, who were so in love.

Radulf and Zenna didn’t pull away until they were breathless. "I love you, Zenna. I love you. I love you so much," Radulf confessed repeatedly, the same words he feared speaking for a long time. His eyes glistened with deep love for her.

Zenna’s eyes filled with tears and she whispered, "I love you too, Radulf De Lagrange. I love you."

They kissed each other again.

For the first time, Zenna’s awakened wolf connected with Black.

’I am Pearl. I’m so in love with you,’ Pearl mindlinked.

’Pearl, what a beautiful name!’ Black answered, ’I loved you since the day I caught your scent. I can’t wait to run with you in the vast lands of our territory.’

Both Radulf and Zenna peered into each other’s eyes. The sound of claps and cheering voices had slowly faded in the background as they were completely lost in each other for a while.

Only when Savio called out Radulf loudly, his eye lock with Zenna broke. He turned to look at all the pack members, who had gathered in the big living room.

Holding Zenna’s hand firmly in his grasp, he addressed them.

"Thank you everyone for not parting ways with this pack. More than four years we suffered and I know it must have been difficult for all of you."

He took a brief pause while scanning his eyes in the entire living room.

"After what happened to my parents, I lost faith in people, in trust, in the future. I didn’t know what path my life would take. My marriage was arranged overnight, and I was wed the very next day. Everything in my world felt out of control. I lived only for revenge... for my hatred toward Phillipe. I’ll be honest—I didn’t care for this pack back then. It would be wrong of me to pretend otherwise," he admitted with a faint chuckle, lowering his hand from where it had rested over his heart.

A hush fell over the room as Radulf turned his head to look at Zenna. His eyes softened, and carried only affection and respect for her.

"If not for Zenna, this pack would have crumbled. If anyone carried forward the legacy of my forefathers, it wasn’t me. It was her. My mate, Zenna." His voice was filled with quiet pride.

Then, to everyone’s astonishment, Radulf took both of Zenna’s hands in his. "I want to marry her again. Officially. In front of everyone."

Zenna gasped, her eyes going wide in disbelief.

"Marry me, Zenna," he said. "Four years ago, I married you because I was ordered to. But now... I want to give you the most beautiful wedding as a gift. I want to show the world how deeply I love you. I want to marry you again, not as a duty, but as a man utterly in love with you. Will you marry me, Zenna?"

He left out her surname deliberately, knowing how much she disliked it.

"Yes," Zenna replied promptly, her voice quivering with joy. "I would love to."

"Then the day after tomorrow we’re getting married," Radulf announced.

Zenna let out a soft hum of happiness and flung her arms around him, standing on her toes to wrap him in a tight embrace.

From the threshold of the living room, Gregor had just stepped in. Hearing every word, his eyes glistened. ’Finally, Zenna... your faith triumphed,’ he thought, clapping as the room erupted once more into joyful cheers and applause for both of them.

~~~~

Returning to their chamber, Zenna’s eyes immediately caught the dried blood staining Radulf’s clothes. Without a word, she stepped closer and gently removed his overcoat, her brows slightly furrowed with concern. Her fingers moved to the buttons of his shirt, unfastening them one by one with care.

"I want to organize a tribute ceremony... a grand one, for your parents," she said softly. "If you allow—"

"You don’t need my permission," Radulf interrupted gently. "You’re free to do anything you desire."

Zenna smiled faintly, lifting her gaze to meet his. There was something in his eyes, an unspoken tenderness that made her heart flutter. As the shirt slipped from his shoulders and dropped silently to the floor, Radulf’s hands rose to cradle her neck, his thumbs brushing her jaw with reverence.

"You were so strong... so beautiful, so magical and ethereal in the council hall. I was mesmerized, Zenna," Radulf said, pride shimmering in his eyes as he looked at her like she was the only light in the world.

Zenna smiled, a soft breath escaping her lips. "You believed in me more than I did myself," she replied, her voice touched with wonder. "Even I was surprised afterward thinking how I reacted, where that surge of energy came from... it didn’t feel like me."

Radulf’s gaze deepened. "That is you," he said firmly. "That’s your true aura, the part of you that’s been waiting to awaken."

His eyes dropped to her lips, hunger flickering in his expression before he leaned in and captured her mouth in a fervent kiss. Passion bloomed instantly between them. He drew her close, their bodies aligning as his tongue traced the contours of her lips, coaxing her deeper into the kiss. A low hum of pleasure rumbled in his chest as her hands touched his bare skin, igniting sparks that raced down his spine.

However, Zenna didn’t let the more of it build it as she pushed him gently. Both of them gasped for air. She felt the brush of his lips on her forehead.

"Bathe first. We need to meet each of the pack and personally thank them. It may take the time till the evening," Zenna stated, meeting his gaze once again.

"Sure. And then, we need to prepare for tribute ceremony too. After that, our wedding preparation will start," he stated.

"Yes!" Zenna nodded her head with a smile.

"I love you," Radulf again said and showered sweet, soft kisses on her cheeks, making her giggle.

"Oh, Radulf! Please, stop! You are tickling me," she urged and he did. "We are going on a run tonight. I’m eager to see your wolf. Black is jumping in happiness too," Radulf revealed to her.

"Even Pearl is excited to have a run with Black," Zenna admitted and smiled brightly.