The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate-Chapter 25: Supposed to be loved

Radulf took a step back from Gregor. "I need to be with Zenna at this time. You should go home," he said, turning on his heels.

"I want to see Zenna," Gregor said.

"You can’t ask me to let you see my wife," Radulf stated.

Gregor’s fists clenched at his sides, his silvery eyes blazing with anger. "Your wife? The same wife you don’t even respect an ounce?" he shouted, his voice echoing through the corridor as he took a step forward.

Before he could get closer, Savio moved between them. He raised a hand to stop Gregor and said calmly, "Mind your boundaries, Gregor. This is not your place to demand anything."

"I’ll stay here until the morning," Gregor said.

Radulf didn’t respond to him and walked inside the chamber. Savio understood what Radulf wanted and showed Gregor a guest room.

Once inside, Radulf’s eyes fell on Pia, who was placing a tray on the bedside table.

"It’s a tonic, My Lord. Doctor Josiah said I should give it to the Luna," Pia explained, her tone tinged with worry for Zenna.

"I’ll feed her the tonic," Radulf said firmly as he moved toward the bed. He carefully lifted Zenna’s head, cradling it against his chest as he settled on the edge of the bed. Reaching for the bowl of tonic, while ensuring Zenna’s comfort.

Radulf didn’t look at her but spoke, "Do you have something to say to me?" He paused, stirring the tonic with a spoon. "Speak your mind, Pia. Even if it’s harsh, I won’t punish you for it."

Pia hesitated for a moment. "Alpha Radulf was never unkind. Did the past change him this much? I’ve been in this pack long enough to know how much the Luna has endured—for you and for us all."

Radulf’s hand froze, but he didn’t interrupt her as he listened to her.

"She was ridiculed every day," Pia continued, turning heavy slightly, "not because she failed, but because she wasn’t acknowledged by her own husband while her family had abandoned her long ago. She swallowed every drop of that humiliation and kept working tirelessly for the Shadow Hunter Pack. For you, Alpha. For us. She wanted to restore this pack to its former glory, and she did it with her blood, sweat, and tears."

Radulf’s grip on the spoon tightened, guilt rising like a tide as he realized how blind he had been to Zenna’s struggles. He had never stopped to ask, never bothered to understand the life she led while he was absent.

"Did Leone ever come to see Zenna?" Radulf suddenly asked, switching the topic of their conversation.

Pia blinked at the unexpected question but answered quickly, "Yes, My Lord. A few months back Prince Leone summoned the Luna to see him."

"And he hit her?" Radulf asked.

"When she returned, she had a deep wound on her wrist. Luna Zenna didn’t say much, but she said it was to remind her place," Pia replied.

"I see," Radulf murmured as he gently spooned the tonic to Zenna. Though unconscious, her body reacted instinctively; she flinched slightly in her sleep, her brows furrowing deeply with each bitter dose that passed her lips. Yet, even in this vulnerable state, she swallowed it without resistance.

Radulf set the spoon down for a moment and turned his gaze to Pia. "You can leave now," he said.

Pia hesitated, wringing her hands before speaking again. "I have one more thing to say to the Alpha. If he allows me, may I speak?"

Radulf leaned back slightly, his green eyes studying her for a moment. "Hmm. Go ahead," he stated, placing the bowl on the bedside table.

"Luna Zenna has lived a tough life, My Lord. She endured 18 years in the cold palace, waiting for the day she’d meet her mate and finally live the life she dreamed of. But when that day came... it wasn’t the life she imagined. Still, she stayed strong—for you in the hope you would see her with a deep affection and respect."

Pia lowered her gaze but continued, "I hope Alpha can heal the heart of our Luna. She deserves that much after everything she’s endured. And... I hope, in doing so, the Alpha heals his own heart too."

With that, Pia bowed respectfully and turned to leave. She closed the chamber doors behind her, leaving Radulf alone with Zenna.

Radulf lay beside Zenna, his hand gently brushing her hair back from her forehead. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from her pale face. He thought about Pia’s words, about everything Zenna had suffered in silence.

Suddenly, Black’s voice pierced his thoughts, soft but laden with emotion. ’Did you hear what kind of life Zenna has led?’

’I will not help you if you treat Zenna like trash. She could have died today, Radulf. If we were one minute late, we would have lost her forever. Is this what you desired? You think only you suffered after the loss of your family. But there was someone else too, who is still suffering. Look at her. She is supposed to be loved for what she did for us, for you.’

Radulf closed his eyes, his breath catching in his throat as Black’s words echoed in his mind. He had never stopped to think about the burden Zenna carried. Never once had he considered the years of torment, the loneliness, the humiliation she endured, all for the sake of a mate who was blind to her pain.

’If you truly cared for her, you would have seen it. You would have known she was suffering, but you ignored her. You let her fight for you, for the pack, and you stood by and watched. Is that what you wanted, Radulf?’

’She deserves more than this. She deserves love, care, everything no one ever gave her.’ Black’s voice softened now. ’You need to fix this, Radulf. You need to fight for her. Don’t let her slip away from us like this. Don’t let her think she was never worth anything to you.’

Radulf gazed back to Zenna, watching her chest rise and fall with each shallow breath. For the first time in years, he felt truly small, humbled by the enormity of the mistake he had made while silently listening to wolf’s lecture.