The Villain Alpha's Cursed Mate

As dusk fell, the journey to the East commenced.

Esme had put on a lightweight beige dress for easy movement. Without the multiple layers or cumbersome hem, she could walk around with ease and swiftly mount, then dismount her horse when needed.

Lennox had expertly maneuvered his dark horse to ride alongside hers, slowing down a bit so she could catch up and then follow at her horse’s pace. His presence beside her forced her to remember the lingering tension from the previous night, the way she acted, and pang of guilt and self disgust took over.

She mentally berated herself for responding to the advances of a man who, no matter how captivating, was ultimately unattainable.

The king had been nothing but kind, gentle, and handsome, eager to take a wolf-less wolf like her as his queen. So why couldn’t she muster the same level of attraction? Was it simply a matter of time, or was she rushing into things? Perhaps, she thought, she should give her feelings space to develop, and see where they would ultimately lead her.

What lingered in her mind was Leonardo’s parting comment: Did she truly desire to be queen? It seemed a ludicrous question to her – who wouldn’t want such power and prestige? Yet, a nagging voice within her, a voice that was undeniably her own, whispered that she wasn’t prepared for such a daunting responsibility.

What should she do? What does she really want?

As she wrestled with her doubts, the king’s concerned voice pierced her reverie. "Are you alright? You look pale again. Is there something troubling you?" His gentle inquiry and worried gaze only added to her emotional burden.

Should she confide in him now, and risk altering the course of their relationship?

"I’m fine." She lied, her mind racing with the secrets she’s kept hidden. The real challenge wasn’t confessing her infidelity, but finding the courage to reveal the truth without destroying their fragile bond. Shame and guilt prevented her from meeting his gaze.

Before she could gather her thoughts, Lennox asked a piercing question. "Is this about last night?" Esme’s heart skipped a beat as she struggled to maintain herself at his inquiry. "I apologize if I overstepped," he continued, his low chuckle and gentle expression only making her feel more trapped. "As my future wife, there’s a high possibility that we could become mates, don’t you think?" Esme’s grip on the reins tightened as he kept going, her anxiety palpable.

"Your Majesty, I–"

"Is this about your glowing hair?" Esme’s eyes widened when he mentioned her hair, and he continued, his tone thoughtful. "I’ve been pondering on your ignorance on the matter since last night. To be honest, I was surprised you didn’t know about it yourself. My father had left me a note he wanted me to read when I came of age. It mentioned the alliance he’d arranged with your father, and described the Montague women: Blue hair, blue eyes, a goddess-like face, and an alluring figure." He cast a playful glance at Esme, who looked away, flustered.

"I already knew what a Montague female looked like, thanks to our childhood encounters," he said with a hint of nostalgia. "It’s a shame you don’t recall those moments, I’m sure it would have deepened our connection." Lennox sighed, and Esme nodded solemnly in agreement.

Why can’t she recall half of her childhood memories anyway?

When nighttime arrived, the group finally made it back safely to the East, with zero ambush along the way. While Esme wasn’t thrilled about returning to her family’s main pack house, she was eager to reunite with Finnian and Vivienne again. However, as they approached the gate marking the Therondia pack’s territory, a sense of unease settled over them.

"Halt!" Lennox raised a hand, halting the group. Their eyes were fixed on the flames that illuminated the night sky, and Dahmer poked his head out of the carriage when he heard the king’s command, curiosity getting the better of him.

Thick smoke billowed into the sky, casting a dark, ominous shadow. Esme’s pupils dilated in horror as she took in the scene, unable to comprehend the sight of smoke behind their gate. The warriors around exchanged worried glances, their murmurs filling the air, and their horses seemed to back up as well, a grunt escaping most of them.

"Is that a fire?"

"Did someone’s house catch fire?"

"Hey, what’s that awful smell?"

The warriors’ whispers grew more urgent as Lennox’s nose twitched, his face grim. He had caught the unmistakable scent of blood and sulfur, a metallic tang that sent shivers down everyone’s spine.

Lennox’s voice was laced with venom as he whispered, "Demons." freewebnoveℓ.com

Esme’s grip on the reins tightened as she took in the smoke-filled scene, her heart racing in fear upon hearing the king utter the name she dreaded most. When he gave the signal to move, Esme’s horse surged ahead, overtaking everyone else and carrying her through the broken gate.

They entered, but the sight before them was far from welcoming.

Esme’s face constricted in shock as the coppery scent of blood hit her nostrils. The houses were invaded, flames engulfing what was once a thriving pack. Lifeless, mutilated bodies littered the ground, but Esme didn’t hesitate as she rode on, her focus fixed on the main pack house where her family resided. The destruction was a catastrophic view, and the sight of severed bodies filled her heart with dread. She silently prayed that Finnian and Vivienne were safe, that they somehow escaped before the commotion struck.

They better be safe! Please be safe! Esme could feel tears spring in her eyes.

"We need a team to stay behind and extinguish the flames! Check for survivors and see if there are any demon wolves lingering around." Lennox called out, and his warriors nodded before spreading out.

Dahmer, who couldn’t move yet due to his injury, was screaming at the coachman to take him to his house.

"ARE YOU DEAF?? MY MOTHER AND BROTHER ARE IN THAT HOUSE! MOVE THE GODDAMN CARRIAGE BEFORE I BREAK YOU INTO PIECES!!" His face was red with rage and pain, his eyes flickering with worry, but the coachman did not budge. He was not ready to lose his life and venture that deep into where the scents of demon wolves grew stronger.

"Esmeray!"

Lennox’s eyes darted to Esme, who was already racing ahead, unprotected. He knew exactly where she was headed, and his face contorted into immediate worry.

Leonardo swiftly volunteered, "I’ll go, Your Majesty," before taking off after Esme.

As Esme arrived at the main pack house, she swiftly dismounted her horse, a shiver coursing down her spine as she took in the sight of her home. The Montague house now lay in ruins, its walls collapsed as if something huge had struck it, but there was no fire.

"Finnian! Vivienne! Luna Percy!" Esmeray called out, a sweat breaking out on her forehead as she ran towards the spot where the door once stood, but to her dismay, what lay in front of her was nothing but a pile of rubble.

The silence that accompanied her call made her legs tremble, and she tried to think that maybe they had escaped before the building collapsed. The apprehension in her eyes wasn’t helping matters either, and the destruction surrounding her was overwhelming.

"Finnian!" She called out again, sounding desperate for answers. "It’s me, Vivienne! I’m back!" but to her neverending dismay, the only response she received was the ominous crackle of fires, and she fought back tears. With a surge of adrenaline, she plunged into the wreckage, pushing aside heavy debris to search for survivors. Her hands trembled as she uncovered the dead bodies of servants and guards, their bloodied form making her stomach churn uncomfortably.

Bile rose to her throat, but she kept searching, her fingers bleeding from the heavy debris and sharp blocks. Just then, a faint voice called out her name.

"Esmeray!" Esme’s head jerked up, and she locked gaze with Luna Percy, whose blood-soaked form was struggling to crawl away from an unseen horror. Luna Percy’s eyes were wide with terror, and her legs were gone, her body twisted in a futile attempt to escape from what was coming. The sight was nothing short of appalling.

"Help me!" Luna Percy’s desperate cry pierced the air, her eyes streaming with tears as she stretched out a bloodied hand. Esme’s heart went out to her, and she sprinted towards her, ignoring their past conflicts. In that moment, all that mattered was saving a life.

Before Esme could reach her, her feet came to a halt when a monstrous black wolf emerged from the rubble, its massive claw pinning Luna Percy down with a bone crushing weight. Her screams of agony still echoed in Esme’s ear when the unthinkable happened.

CHOMP!

The wolf’s jaw snapped shut, severing Luna’s head from her body. Blood gushed out like a fountain, and Esme’s blood ran cold as the demon wolf devoured the rest of Luna Percy’s body in one swift, brutal motion.

Its eerily glinting red eyes noticed Esme’s frozen form.