The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate-Chapter 35: When she smiles

’It’s because she’s hurt,’ Black reasoned softly. ’You’re the one at fault here. You asked Nina to join me for the run,’ he growled, his voice edged with irritation.

Before Radulf could shift back into his human form, Black lowered himself to the ground, his dark fur gleaming under the sunlight. His red eyes fixed on Zenna as he gestured with a slight nod. ’Zenna, sit on my back. I’ll show you around,’ he attempted to communicate through the mind link.

But the connection didn’t establish. Frustrated, Black turned to Radulf for answers. ’We could talk to Nina earlier. Why can’t we speak with Zenna like this?’

’Maybe because she is wolf less. Mind links only work among those connected to their wolves.’

The revelation left Black unsettled. He didn’t want Zenna to walk away, not misunderstanding him again. Lowering his ears slightly, he tilted his head, his gaze softening into what could only be described as pleading puppy eyes, silently begging her to stay.

Zenna, meanwhile, felt a strange pull in her chest. The way Black looked at her stirred something deep within her. Though she couldn’t quite understand why, she found herself hesitating, as if leaving would mean more than just stepping away from him.

’Why does it feel he wants me to sit on his back?’ Zenna thought.

’I wish Zenna had a wolf. Then, I would have talked with her and tell her not to hate me,’ Black murmured.

No matter how many times Radulf tried to convince himself otherwise, Zenna’s cold treatment affected him deeply. Each time she gave him the cold shoulder, a dull ache settled in his chest, one he couldn’t ignore no matter how hard he tried. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

However, he also knew how deeply he had affected Zenna with his actions. For his past, he was blaming her. Because of him, she tried to harm herself and even take her own life. He still had no idea how to make up for that.

"Do you want me to sit on you?" Zenna asked abruptly, her thoughts slipping out before she could stop herself.

Black’s ears perked up, and he nodded vigorously, his large frame trembling slightly in excitement. ’Please, Zenna. Honor me with that. I would love to carry you around,’ he murmured internally, his mind already painting vivid images of her trusting him enough to do so.

Tentatively, Zenna stepped closer. Her fingers brushed against Black’s fur, and a shiver of delight ran through him. He closed his eyes, savoring the warmth of her touch. It was as if her fingers carried a magic that soothed every restless part of him.

In that moment, Black wished he could stay in this form forever.

’Radulf’s wolf is better than him,’ Zenna thought, a soft smile tugging at her lips.

Black’s sharp eyes caught the fleeting smile, and his tail wagged ever so slightly. ’She smiled, Radulf! Did you see? I think she likes me!’ Black’s voice brimmed with joy as he relayed his excitement to Radulf, practically glowing with pride.

Zenna, unaware of the wolf’s inner celebration, let her thoughts wander. ’I wish I had a wolf,’ she mused, a pang of longing echoing in her chest. Despite her complicated feelings about Radulf, his wolf was undeniably different—gentle, earnest, and endearing in a way that made her heart soften.

Feeling a sudden surge of affection, Zenna decided to reward Black for his kindness. Leaning down, she pressed a soft kiss to the side of his face. Black froze for a moment, stunned, before his tail began wagging in an uncontrollable blur of happiness.

If wolves could blush, Black would have turned scarlet. ’Radulf, she kissed me! I’m the happiest wolf alive!’ he exclaimed internally, feeling as though he was soaring above the moon.

’So, this is how she looks when she smiles,’ Radulf thought, captivated by the rare softness on Zenna’s face. Her smile had a way of disarming him, peeling away the layers of his hardened exterior. Deciding to reciprocate her silent gestures, he took action without hesitation.

Before Zenna could react, Radulf gently but firmly nudged her onto Black’s back.

Zenna gasped as her feet left the ground. Fear coursed through her, her heart thundering in her chest as she clutched Black’s fur tightly, her fingers tangling in its soft thickness. Her body instinctively leaned forward, bracing for what was to come.

Black, steady on all fours, began to move. The shift in his posture was followed by a sudden burst of speed as he dashed alongside the lake’s shimmering edge.

Zenna let out a muffled squeal, burying her face into Black’s fur. Fear and exhilaration mingled within her.

Despite her initial fright, a laugh bubbled up in her chest, and she peeked out from her hiding spot, her eyes wide with wonder as the scenery blurred past.

For the first time in a long while, Zenna felt alive. She could even look at her reflection in the lake’s water. She tightly held Black and took in the scenery. Zenna had never imagined a run on a wolf’s back would be this fun, especially with Radulf.

Under Radulf’s instructions, Black veered toward the mansion, his strides slowing as they neared the grand structure. Finally, he came to a stop in the courtyard, lowering himself slightly to let Zenna dismount.

Carefully, Zenna slid down and stood on the ground, her legs still trembling slightly from the thrilling run. "Thank you. I enjoyed it," she said softly, her lips curling into a faint smile as she glanced at Black.

Black’s tail wagged enthusiastically, his red eyes shining with happiness. He stepped closer, his large head dipping down to brush his cheek against hers in an affectionate gesture.

Zenna froze for a moment, startled by the wolf’s closeness. Her fingers curled tightly at her sides before she tentatively reached out, running her hand through Black’s fur, feeling its warmth and softness. It was a moment of an understanding, one that neither needed to explain.

But before she could say anything more, Black stepped back and disappeared. Zenna blinked, a strange sense of longing lingering in her chest, before turning toward the mansion’s entrance.

She hurried inside as she made her way to Radulf’s chamber. But just as she reached the door, she stopped abruptly.

Her hand hovered above the door, hesitation taking hold of her. Radulf was nothing like his wolf, he had no warmth in his heart for her and lacked all the feelings he should have felt for her.

Would he dismiss her presence, or worse, react coldly to her gesture? Uncertain, Zenna bit her lip, and decided to leave.

However, the moment she turned on her heels, the door opened. "Aren’t you here to see me?" Radulf asked, stopping her.