Our Fated Mate

Melissa stood on the balustrade and looked at the setting sun. The entire mansion was being decorated for their Alpha's return, but her heart was empty.

Nina challenged to break her marriage, but she couldn't not allow a third person to do so. "I will make sure Radulf sees the real me. I think he hates me because my father, the Alpha King, ordered his father to be hanged to death."

"Melissa!" Her childhood friend, Gregor, called her name and she turned to look at him.

"Wh-What are you doing here at this hour?" Melissa asked with a surprising tone. She tried to mask the ongoing turmoil, but Gregor saw through that.

"I heard Radulf has returned. So, I thought of visiting you both. But seeing you here, I feel things aren't good," Gregor commented. If there was anyone who was more concerned for Melissa than anyone, then it was Gregor Tarquin, her childhood friend.

"No, that's not true," Melissa lied. She couldn't let such a thing get out. From the beginning, her relationship with Radulf was tainted. People had always gossiped how she could never get the attention of her husband even if he was in the war.

"Melissa, if you find it difficult, then you know I'm always there for you. Radulf never truly cared for you. I even heard he got a fated mate. He's going to keep an affair in front of you. Do you think that's acceptable at all?" Gregor asked, his eyes full of concern.

"There's a misunderstanding. Nina isn't Radulf's fated mate. Radulf and I have a lot of misunderstandings because we both never communicated. I appreciate your concern, but trust me I won't let my marriage fall apart," Melissa said with a determined gaze.

Gregor was aware of how the Alpha King treated Melissa. Even if she wished to run away from this nameless marriage, it was difficult for her. How he wished he could confront Radulf and ask him to take care of Melissa.

"Are you sure they aren't fated mates?" Gregor asked to confirm.

"Yes, she hasn't been marked. If they were fated, Radulf's wolf would not be able to resist. You know people don't like me, so they must have spread this rumor," Melissa said with a confident tone.

Gregor could not help, but hug Melissa, his arm wrapping around her tightly.

Just then, Radulf saw them and he curled the fingers of his both hands. 'Who is this bastard hugging her like that?' he asked himself. 'Did she have a lover behind my back?' he chuckled and walked back into the chamber.

"If you think you need any kind of help, just tell me without any hesitation," Gregor said as he pulled away. He patted Melissa's head and continued, "I know you are strong and will handle everything on your own, but I want you to consider my help. If your husband hurts you, tell me. I'll punch him for you," he stated.

Melissa ended up smiling to hear that. "Thank you, Gregor. You really lifted my spirits. Stay for the feast tonight. Please," she requested.

"I will," Gregor said with a smile.

~~~~~

Radulf had just returned from a cold water bath, but the image of Melissa embracing another man still lingered in his mind.

Something weird was happening to his wolf too since the moment he had seen Melissa after so many years. But he didn't pay much attention to it, except for this feeling stemming from the anger that was buried inside him.

"She dares to speak of divorce the moment I return? Over my dead body will I let her leave my side," Radulf growled under his breath, his fists tightening until his knuckles turned white.

"Alpha, your clothes have been prepared," a servant announced respectfully from the doorway.

"Leave them there," he ordered curtly, his back still turned to the servant.

The servant obeyed, placing the neatly folded garments on the bed before retreating silently. Radulf dressed swiftly, his mind still clouded with anger.

As he stepped into the living room, he was met with the sight of Nina waiting for him.

"I instructed Miss Nina to remain in her chambers and rest," Radulf said as she approached him.

"I am not tired. The servant informed me that there's a grand feast in the mansion on your return and victory. Will the Alpha introduce me to everyone tonight?" Nina asked with a hopeful gaze.

"Yes, I will," Radulf said, his lips curled up into a small smile.

"I wanted to do this for a while. I hope you will not mind," Nina said and took a step closer to him. She pressed her soft lips on his cold, dry ones and nibbled on them gently.

Radulf lifted his hands to grab her arms, but at the very moment, the doors opened and Melissa walked in. His eyes glued to Melissa's and he cradled Nina's neck with one of his hands while the other remained on her back. He kissed Nina, but kept his gaze fixed on Melissa.

That sight could infuriate anyone. Melissa watched her husband kissing another woman right in front of her eyes. He was stabbing her heart in the most ruthless possible way.

Nina smiled as Radulf reciprocated her kiss when she felt a foreign grip on her shoulder.

The next second, she was pushed meters away from Radulf. Nina prevented herself from falling and saw Melissa standing before her.

"Guards! Throw this woman out of the mansion," Melissa commanded, her eyes turned golden in color, showing her authority as Radulf's Luna.

"What are you doing?" Radulf intervened.

"Stay quiet!" Melissa said and turned to look at him.

Nina shouted as two tall guards dragged her out of the chamber and the doors closed behind them.

Radulf stepped up to go out, but Melissa was swift. She locked the door with the key and pushed it inside her blouse.

"Melissa, stop this child's play," Radulf said, "and give me the key," his voice followed a low growl.

"Take it yourself," Melissa challenged him. She knew he would never touch her, so taking the key from her was impossible.

"Do you think that I won't do that?" Radulf arched his eyebrow, his both hands rested on either side of her head, trapping her between them.

"Yes. Because you hate touching your own wife," Melissa said, keeping her gaze fixed on him.

Radulf wryly laughed. He could have used his alpha authority again, but he moved his hand to her neck. The pad of her fingers touched her collarbone, noticing her facial expression. Her breath hitched and she gulped hard. Something about his touch was different. It was as if her whole body got into a heat.

Radulf, however, found himself equally unsettled. A strange sensation stirred within him again, but this time, it was accompanied by an intoxicating fragrance.

The scent was unlike anything he had encountered before. It was a heady blend of roses, honey, and cinnamon, wrapping around him and his wolf like a siren's call.

'She is our fated mate, Radulf,' his wolf's voice echoed in his mind.