The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate-Chapter 33: Did Father set a trap?

Melissa turned to face him, her hands instinctively tucking loose strands of hair behind her ears. "Wh-why are you here?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. Her hands lowered, clutching the edges of her gown nervously.

Radulf’s piercing gaze softened for a moment as he replied, "My work is finished. That’s why." He took a step closer to her.

"Let’s maintain some distance," Zenna said quickly.

Radulf halted briefly, but in the next moment, he was standing right in front of her. "I don’t want to maintain any distance," he asserted. "I complimented you earlier, but you didn’t give me the response I was hoping for."

Zenna remained silent, her eyes avoiding his. It wasn’t until he gently lifted her chin, turning her face toward him, that she finally looked at him.

"Why did you agree to join Princess Aria’s tea session tomorrow?" he asked, his tone tinged with annoyance. "You begged me to take care of you, Zenna. And now that I am, you’re running away. Do you want me to chase you, Princess?" His brow arched in mock amusement, though his voice carried an edge of frustration.

Zenna yanked his hand away from her chin, her expression defiant. "I know you were lying. You hate being around me," she accused him.

Radulf smirked, his tone turning playful yet challenging. "You know me so well, do you? Then why don’t you tell me what’s on my mind right now?"

Her brows furrowed slightly as she tried to maintain her composure. "Princess Aria can punish you in ways you can’t even imagine. That’s why I agreed to attend the tea session," she explained.

Radulf’s jaw tightened at her words. "No one can punish me anymore," he declared firmly, his eyes narrowing.

"That’s what you think," Zenna countered, her tone sharper now. "Our pack is still tarnished by what your father did four years ago. It wouldn’t take much for Princess Aria to withdraw the support we’ve managed to hold onto from the other packs. That’s why I told you—don’t provoke her."

"My father didn’t commit treason," Radulf snapped. The sudden fury in his tone startled Zenna.

"You think like the others," he muttered bitterly. Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and stormed off, leaving her standing there in stunned silence.

Zenna’s heart sank as she watched him disappear from sight. The look in his eyes lingered in her mind, which was filled with unspoken pain. She hadn’t meant to hurt him, but her words had struck deeper than she anticipated.

It wasn’t just anger she had seen in his gaze; it was the truth no one else seemed to believe. Yet, how could she deny what she and everyone else had known for years? Radulf’s father had attempted to assassinate the Alpha King—that much was clear.

"Did Father set a trap? But why?" Zenna murmured to herself in confusion.

~~~~~

Radulf stood at the edge of the training grounds, his piercing gaze locked on the warrior wolves sparring in the center. His hands were clenched tightly behind his back.

"How could she think my father committed treason?" he murmured under his breath.

In the recesses of his mind, his wolf, Black, stirred, his deep voice echoing in Radulf’s thoughts. ’Well, she doesn’t know what really happened four years ago, does she? Everyone still thinks our pack is filled with traitors. I think they always will.’

’She was supposed to know, Black,’ he muttered internally. ’She’s the Luna of this pack. It’s her duty to understand the truth. Every time I try to give her the benefit of the doubt, she finds a way to disappoint me.’

A low growl rumbled in his chest, but he quickly suppressed it. Black fell silent, retreating to the shadows of Radulf’s mind, leaving him to stew in his simmering anger.

"Radulf, what are you doing here?" Nina’s voice broke through the tense atmosphere, pulling his attention away from the training ground to her.

"I should be the one asking that question," Radulf replied.

Nina approached him with a soft smile. "Why don’t you take me outside? I’m new to this place, and I’d like to buy a few things from the market. Since I’ll be staying here forever, it would be nice to make some friends in the Alpha society," she asserted confidently.

Radulf’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before he shook his head slightly. "Forgive me, Nina, but I’m occupied this evening," he said politely, refusing her to take her out.

Her smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "You’re going out with your wife, aren’t you?" she quipped, her tone carrying a hint of playful curiosity.

"No," Radulf replied, his tone clipped as he dismissed the assumption. "I have to attend an event, and it’s exclusively for the men."

Nina raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "An event just for men? Sounds intriguing. Well, if you’re busy, I understand," she stated.

"I’ll appoint someone who can assist you with anything you need," Radulf assured her. "They’ll guide you around and help you settle in."

Nina nodded with a fake smile. "Do you want to go for a run in our wolf forms?" Nina asked suddenly. "You seem troubled."

Radulf considered her suggestion, the idea of running across the estate’s vast expanse a tempting one. With a brief nod, he said, "Sure," and gestured for her to follow.

Moments later, they shifted into their wolves. Nina’s wolf was striking—a silvery coat that would shimmer under the moonlight, and piercing red eyes that marked her as a true alpha.

As they raced through the woods, her voice came through the mind link, ’You’re too fast. I understand now why our warriors used to speak of you with awe during the war. They couldn’t track your movements at all.’

Radulf’s wolf let out a soft, amused huff. ’I inherited that from my father,’ he responded.

There was a pause before Nina’s voice filled his mind again, this time tinged with curiosity. ’Your father... I’ve heard gossips. Do you think he was wrongly accused?’

Radulf’s pace slowed slightly as her words struck a nerve. His crimson eyes flickered toward her. ’I think so,’ he admitted, his tone quiet yet firm.

Nina slowed to match his pace. ’Then let’s uncover the truth,’ she suggested. ’Whoever wronged your family deserves to be brought to justice.’

Radulf hummed in agreement but didn’t respond further, focusing on the rhythm of their run. Just then, an unmistakable scent hit him—Zenna.

His wolf stilled abruptly, and his pupils dilated as he inhaled sharply. ’What is she doing here?’ he wondered.

Noticing his hesitation, Nina stopped beside him, her red eyes scanning the area. ’What’s wrong?’ she asked through the link.

Radulf turned to her, his gaze firm but gentle. ’You should head back,’ he said. ’Please.’

Nina hesitated for a moment, her head tilting as if she wanted to ask more, but she decided to leave. With a nod, she turned and began retracing their path which they had followed earlier.

Once he was certain Nina was gone, Radulf followed Zenna’s scent trail, leading him deeper into the estate’s forest.

Finally, he found her, standing right in front of the same lake where she had come a day ago.

"Did you enjoy your run with Nina?" Zenna asked.