The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate-Chapter 38: Use my name

"What are you making me do?" Zenna’s voice trembled and so did her hands.

"What you desired earlier," Radulf replied. "Do it. I am giving a chance to make me suffer too... To make me fight for the life," his eyes never leaving hers.

She pressed her hands on his neck, her thumbs pressing on his skin as she glared at him. However, the next second, Zenna released his neck and yanked her hands away from his grip.

"Don’t make me do things like this," Zenna urged, looking away.

Radulf took a step closer to her, his hand gripping her chin gently. "You wanted to thank me through the dinner. Why did you suddenly get upset? I am unable to understand your mood swings," he said.

"Pia didn’t mention that the dinner was for Black, not you," Zenna said sternly.

Radulf stared into her eyes for a moment and then chuckled. "Fine. Then, Black will starve tonight," he said and turned to leave.

"Hey!" Zenna held the edge of his sleeve, thus stopping him. "You can’t do that," she pointed.

"Only if you agree to dine together with me," Radulf stated, looking over his shoulder.

’I didn’t want to have dinner with me after how hideous he have been,’ Zenna thought. She let go of his sleeve and brushed past him, walking ahead of him.

Radulf followed her lead, wondering why she suddenly acted different. Didn’t they already end the differences between them? ’I never started making real efforts. She is still upset that I forced her to jump into that lake,’ he thought. He wouldn’t want to feel low, but that one thought kept bothering him even during the work.

As they arrived at the dining hall, Radulf took his seat while Zenna sat a little far from him. He didn’t point out and let the servants serve.

"Where’s Nina?" Zenna asked. "Shouldn’t she be here having dinner with you?"

Radulf paused mid-motion, setting his spoon down carefully. Clasping his hands together, he leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on the table. "What is it that’s bothering you?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her.

"Nothing," Zenna replied curtly. She had no intention of starting an argument over dinner. "I was only curious why the woman you brought from the west isn’t here," she muttered, lowering her gaze as she began to eat.

Radulf decided not to press further and kept himself composed, eating quietly in her presence.

Once dinner was over, Zenna was the first to rise, excusing herself and leaving the room without a glance back. Radulf watched her go, his jaw tightening slightly before he pushed back his chair and followed her.

Before the doors to her chamber could close completely, he slid his shoe between them, stopping the heavy wood in its tracks.

"I’m tired," Zenna said, her voice tinged with irritation as she looked at him.

"I’m also exhausted," Radulf replied evenly. With a slight push, he opened the door wider, using just enough force to make Zenna stagger back a step.

His arm shot out instinctively, wrapping around her lower back to steady her. Her breath hitched slightly as their eyes met, her hold on her arms tightened.

"What happened to you? Do you want me to summon Pia and ask her?" Radulf queried. "I may even punish her since her Luna is getting on my nerves," he asserted.

Zenna pulled herself away from him. "Why didn’t you punish Nina after finding out she drugged me? And... Why didn’t you tell me that the Luna Queen sent that drug to her? How did you find out all of that?" she crossed her arms across her chest, waiting for his response.

"Is that why you are upset?" Radulf mused. "Well, Nina isn’t eating with us anymore. That’s her punishment. I am smart enough to find out it was the Luna Queen," he said.

"You should have shared it with me," Zenna looked at him in disbelief. "It concerned me and you hid it from me."

He decided to tease her a bit. "A few were praising you in front of me, saying how smart you were. I thought you would have found out by now," Radulf remarked.

Zenna turned to walk inside the bedchamber when Radulf spoke, "What will you do now since you’ve found out the truth. Will you kill her?"

She abruptly halted and shot a glare at him.

"Answer me. What will you do, Princess? The Queen wanted to destroy your very own marriage while the Alpha King wants you to stay in this marriage," Radulf said, approaching her. His fingers brushed away the loose hair strands, his eyes meeting hers.

"Would you have mated with Nina if I hadn’t come that night?"

"I don’t know," Radulf replied.

"I would have definitely killed you if you had slept with her," Zenna stated.

Radulf smiled to hear her response. "It’s you with whom I wanted to mate with that night. You have no idea how strong your scent is. It’s strange that the Moon Goddess decided to keep us together when she knows we both don’t even like each other. You may do, but I don’t," he stated with a smug.

"I also don’t like you. So, don’t be in an illusion that I-I feel anything for you," Zenna said.

"But you do get jealous because of Nina," Radulf pointed, his body pressing hers, the small distance between them diminishing.

Zenna wryly laughed. "Even you get jealous when Gregor talks to me, cares for me," she retorted.

"Why did you let Loretta hit you that day?" Radulf suddenly switched their topic of conversation.

Zenna stopped blinking, wondering how he found out. She thought he didn’t notice the bruise on her cheek, except for the time of his rut. ’Did Pia tell him?’ she wondered.

"I hope you fight with such defiance with your family. You can use my name in front of them if they try to harm you in my absence. I’m sure they will think twice before raising their hands on you," Radulf stated before turning on his heels and leaving the chamber.