The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate

"You carry my blood, Zenna," Phillipe reminded her coldly as if the words meant nothing more than a simple statement of fact.

"Blame your mother for giving birth to you, not me." He looked at her with an expression of indifference. "Your whining has no use before me. Prove your worth to me if you want to live well." With that, he stood up from his chair, dismissing her words as if they were nothing more than a nuisance. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Zenna stood her ground, the bitterness and more resentment bubbling up within her.

"Father, I won’t do anything for you," Zenna declared firmly with an unwavering voice. She knew Phillipe had always seen her as a pawn, to be used and discarded at his whim. And she knew that his intentions were never for her benefit—only for his own gain. It was this very manipulation that had earned her Radulf’s disgust and contempt.

"You think I don’t know what you’ve done?" she continued, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. "Do you even understand the hate I bear from my husband because of you? You destroyed his family, and you used me as leverage against him."

Phillipe’s gaze darkened, but Zenna didn’t flinch.

"Whatever wrong you want to do with Radulf," she added coldly, "I won’t be a part of it."

For the first time, Zenna defied his order and it truly annoyed Phillipe. With long strides, he approached her and almost raised your hand, but stopped midway.

"Guards! Guards!" Phillipe called for them inside as he lowered his hand. Zenna was aware now what would come next. She would be beaten until she couldn’t utter a single word.

"Father, you can kill me if you want, but I won’t do anything you ask me to," Zenna again declared. It was a sign of war against her father.

The doors of the chambers opened and two well-built guards walked in. They grabbed Zenna’s arms, ready to carry out their Alpha King’s order.

"Give her fifty lashes," Phillipe commanded before giving them a dismissive wave.

Zenna didn’t request her father this time to forgive her. She decided to take the punishment and end it here. If she would die all her miseries would end anyway from her family’s side and from her husband’s side too.

The guards yanked her to her knees, their actions calculated and unfeeling. The pot-bellied man, holding the black whip with jagged edges, approached her.

Zenna’s pulse quickened, and for a fleeting moment, fear crept into her chest. But she refused to show it. She squeezed her fists until her nails dug into her palms.

The first strike of the whip slashed across her back, and she bit down a cry, her body jerking from the searing pain. But she didn’t let herself cry out.

With the second strike, Zenna staggered, her hands meeting the ground for the support. The blood started being visible on the gown of her back side. She didn’t let tears spill out of her eyes as the lashes rained down on her.

By the time it was fifth strike, Zenna fell on the floor, her entire back was covered in the blood.

The guards laughed at her state, gossiping among themselves before they left her sight. Zenna’s eyes slowly closed, a tear drop finally escaping her eye. She felt a rain drop fell upon her forehead and she opened her eyes to look above for a moment.

The sky was clear earlier when she came to the palace. When did it turn dark?

"It’s like my life. Dark and painful," Zenna murmured, a soft chuckle escaped her mouth. Her eyes slowly closing once again.

"Zenna!" Radulf’s voice reached her ears. But she had lost the strength to even open her eyes.

’Is it a dream? Why am I hearing his voice now? I don’t want him to see me like this. Perhaps, it was the end of my life. My wish for having a family, having a loving husband and having kids ends here,’ Zenna thought as she fell into an abyss of darkness.

~~~~

Some time ago,

Radulf sat in the chair, a cruel smile playing on his lips as he casually toyed with the dagger in his hand, its sharp edge catching the dim light. "I told you, Sylvan," his voice was cold, threatening, "speak the truth. You seem to forget who I am."

Sylvan’s breath hitched, though he fought to maintain composure. His eyes flickered nervously, beads of cold sweat forming at his brow. "Lord Radulf, if I knew who hid these letters, I swear I would have punished them myself," he pleaded, his voice strained but steady.

Radulf’s smile faded, and with a sudden, fluid motion, he rose to his feet. Before Sylvan could react, he plunged the dagger into his shoulder with terrifying precision. He gasped in agony, his body jerking violently as blood seeped from the wound, staining his clothes.

Radulf’s eyes gleamed as he twisted the blade, the metal grinding against bone. "Tell me the truth, Sylvan," he hissed with a menacing growl.

"I—I will tell you," Sylvan stammered, his voice breaking under the weight of the pain. "Please... Please spare me. Please." His plea was desperate, his body trembling as the agony coursed through him.

"I’m not pulling out this dagger unless you name the person," he said, his tone devoid of any empathy.

Sylvan’s breath came in ragged gasps as he finally gave in, the truth spilling from him like poison. "It was the Alpha Prince Leon," he choked out.

Radulf, without hesitation, yanked the dagger from Sylvan’s shoulder, allowing him a brief moment of respite before swiftly bringing the blade across his throat. Blood spilled in a hot rush, painting the ground beneath them. Sylvan’s body crumpled lifelessly to the floor.

Savio stepped back, his eyes lingering on the fallen body. "Why would Alpha Prince Leon want these letters hidden?" he muttered to Radulf.

"We will find out soon," Radulf said and threw the dagger on the floor. He felt a strange sensation in his body as if someone was hitting him on the back.

"I need to save Zenna," Radulf urgently pronounced and hurried out, followed by Savio. The mark he left on Zenna that night wasn’t an ordinary one. Despite he was not in his right mind, he made sure the mark would protect Zenna and would tell him too whenever she would be in danger.

’Who is hurting her? I told her to use my name. Did she remain silent before them?’ Radulf’s mind raced as he pushed his horse to go faster.

It didn’t take long for Radulf and Savio to reach the palace. Using the scent that was uniquely Zenna’s, Radulf followed it, his heart racing wildly against his chest. But as he neared, a group of warriors blocked his path.

"Alpha Radulf can’t go there," the chief warrior, Kaelen, said firmly, his voice laced with authority. "It’s a punishment ground. Not everyone is allowed there."

Radulf’s fury flared. Without a word, he lunged forward, grabbing Kaelen by the collar and shoving him back with a force that sent the warrior stumbling. "Don’t start a fight with me if you want to leave this place alive," Radulf growled, his eyes flashing a deep green, a dangerous warning.

The other warriors hesitated, sensing the raw power emanating from him. They parted, unwilling to challenge him further. Radulf stormed through them.

As he rounded a corner, his gaze landed on her. His breath caught, and a cold fury coursed through him. Zenna lay on the damp ground, her back bloodied and the torn fabric of her gown exposed it from some places. The sight was a dagger to his heart, and he could feel his entire being burning with rage.

"Zenna!" he cried, rushing to her side. He gently scooped her into his arms, cradling her against his chest.