The Villain Alpha's Cursed Mate

Donovan’s expression flickered with surprise as the sudden assault caught him off guard. The strike had come perilously close to landing, a near miss that only occured because he hadn’t sensed the threat quickly enough to evade it.

Shock registered briefly on his face, but Esme caught the subtle curve of his lips, a satisfied smile only she happened to catch before it faded from his lips. He showed no signs of distress at being nearly struck by a child, almost as if the attack had amused him rather than infuriated him. Could he even perceive that he had just been inches away from being struck by a child?

What if he fights back?

Esme immediately turned to Finnian to stop him from attacking, but she halted when his transformation began. All eyes were trained on Finnian, and the visceral sound of bones breaking and rearranging filled the air. Silver-white fur erupted from his skin, and within moments, he was a full wolf. His appearance differed from his first shift, where he had been a pure, unadorned white. But now the tip of his tail was tinted blue, and a faint blue halo encircled his head.

This new form held a majestic quality Esme had never seen before. As Finnian growled with his teeth bared, his golden eyes blazed fiercely, an intensity that made his aura pulse outward, commanding the attention of the room.

"Finnian... is an Alpha?" Esme’s voice was thick with disbelief as she gazed at his wolf form, her mind struggling to grasp the revelation.

Finnian’s wolf snarled at Donovan, its claws gouging deep into the stone floor. In a blur of motion, it launched itself at him with a speed that left even the seasoned warriors unprepared. Yet, Donovan merely chuckled as he sensed the incoming attack. Rather than standing his ground, he pivoted and bolted, matching Finnian’s speed with effortless agility.

"Impressive, little one." Donovan remarked, narrowly avoiding the savage strike that threatened to rip him apart. His tone was almost playful, though the danger was clear. The onlookers remained frozen, and Leonardo stopped Lennox from joining in on the fight.

"Let him," he said, keeping his gaze locked on Finnian. "Everyone wanted proof of his capabilities. Let him prove it to them, so he can live to do it again." His words this time confused Lennox, but knowing his advisor, and trusting his judgment, Lennox fought against his will to end Donovan and allowed Finnian to have the win.

The remaining onlookers were stunned with disbelief, as they had never witnessed such a clash between demon shifters until today. Finnian’s wolf form was majestically different from what Esme remembered it to be, and it had grown, now towering slightly larger and more imposing than she could have ever imagined. Still, despite being in his wolf form, Donovan made no attempts to shift or fight him. He has never once shifted during battle, and Esme took that into notice.

Finnian snarled and lunged yet again, but rather than meeting the attack, Donovan swiftly bolted towards the door. It wasn’t out of fear or his reluctance to fight him, but because he couldn’t risk harming the shifter. Donovan knew that any misstep on his part could lead to unintended injury, and considering how much Finnian meant to the woman he truly desired, he couldn’t afford to take that chance.

As Finnian pursued him relentlessly, the entire palace seemed to stir, with everyone and guards alike following the chase. They burst out of the moonstone hall and into the open air, just in time to see Donovan leap onto the palace walls, ascending to a height beyond Finnian’s reach. The guards, reacting quickly, drew their bows and let loose a volley of arrows aimed directly at him. But Donovan let himself fall backward from the wall, the arrows slicing through the air where he had been only a moment before. And in the blink of an eye, he vanished.

His disappearance was so clean, that a thorough search was conducted after his ominous exit.

Esme sprinted toward Finnian as his body began to revert back to its human form, catching him as he started to collapse. His body swayed, but Esme wrapped her arms around him before he could hit the ground. She clutched his unconscious form tightly, overwhelmed with relief that he wasn’t hurt, and Leonardo’s expression softened at the sight.

The silence that followed was heavy, as everyone present knew that nothing could be done to erase what they had just witnessed. The decision that had to be made concerning Finnian was clear in their minds.

When Finnian eventually awoke, his gaze settled on Esme and Leonardo, who were with him in his chamber. As the memory of what transpired came rushing back like a whirlwind storm, his eyes flew open, and he bolted upright with such force that it startled his companions. Before he could ask the question that had been stirring in his mind, Esme pulled him into a firm hug, her voice trembling with concern.

Finnian’s tense expression softened, moved by the depth of her worry of him.

"You did it Finnian," Esme exclaimed, her voice overflowing with relief. "I’m so glad you woke up okay."

A maid quietly entered the room, setting down a tray of nourishing meals on the nightstand before silently slipping out.

Esme gently pulled back, her eyes scanning his face. "Are you... in any pain, do you feel uncomfortable?" She asked, and Finnian shook his head, surprising them both. Esme went further to ask.

"What about the voices, do you hear them?"

Finnian shook his head yet again. He stretched his hand forth, and long razor sharp nails, capable of inflicting deep wounds, sprouted from his fingers. "I can control the curse now," he said calmly. "I attacked that demon on purpose, and I shifted intentionally. It was my first time shifting into a demon wolf, which took a lot out of me – that’s why I passed out earlier. But I’m actually better now."

A thought suddenly popped in Finnian’s head, and he glanced at Leonardo. "Wait, I’m still alive... Does that mean I’m not going to be executed anymore?" he asked, and Leonardo gave him a reassuring pat on the head.

"Yes," came Lennox’s voice, and their eyes shifted to the door where Lennox stood. He approached Finnian and gave him his own pat on the head. "You showed incredible bravery out there, and no one will see you as a monster anymore. Tell me, do you hate me for taking such a step, little Alpha?"

Finnian shook his head slowly, his voice steady but sincere, "You are the king, and I understand that duty demands difficult decisions. You have many lives counting on you. Even if I was executed, I would not have held it against you."

His words carried such weight that Lennox couldn’t help but smile. "You truly are your father’s son. But why did you hide your wolf’s identity from your family?" He asked. "Having an Alpha wolf is something of pride. Didn’t you witness the rarity of Alphas out of the four regions earlier today? When you’re older, you can continue your father’s legacy."

"There is no legacy left to uphold," came the voice of Dahmer, his presence ruining the serene atmosphere. "You had an Alpha wolf all these time. The Therondia pack only needs one Alpha, and that is me." He stated, pointing at himself, his tone dripping with self-righteousness. "How are you even my brother? I should have—"

"You will say nothing against Finnian," Esme cut him off, her voice sharp with conviction, silencing him before he could utter another word. "If Father were still alive, he would be ashamed of what you’ve become. Have you even looked at yourself? You have lost all semblance of normalcy – you can’t even stand without those crutches." she pointed accusingly at the crutches that propped him up, a visible reminder of his decline.

For the first time, Esme refused to bite her tongue. "Look at where your arrogance has led you. Your own brother was attacked in the midst of the chaos, and not once did you come to check on him, not even for a moment, Dahmer. I get that you and I have our differences, but what did Finnian ever do to deserve your neglect? After everything that has happened to our pack, you never cared enough to see how he was. I’m starting to wonder if you ever had a heart at all!"

"HEY!"

"Before you think of raising your voice at me, try speaking to me the way you always have. Right now, all I feel for you is pity! So leave!" She jabbed a finger towards the door. "No one needs you here. If being Alpha is all that matters to you, then go back to our home and count the bodies of those who perished under your rule. Then, maybe, you can return and preach your superiority to me. Now get out!"

Leonardo, unfazed by the tension, simply picked up Finnian’s juice, taking a slow sip as he watched the drama unfold with mild interest. Finnian, however, was left dumb founded, staring in disbelief at his stolen drink, his eyes narrowing as if questioning Leonardo’s audacity.

Dahmer’s eyes met the unwavering gaze of Esme, her fury unmistakable. The fear she once had for him was gone, replaced by a look of utter disdain and contempt that pierced through his soul.

When the king remained silent, Dahmer had no choice but to accept the painful humiliation. Leaning heavily on his crutches, he staggered out of the room. Esme didn’t hesitate; she slammed the door shut behind him, turning to face the trios who stared at her with curiosity and a lingering question hanging at the tip of their tongue.

"I never knew you could speak like that," Finnian broke the silence with his remark. "Vivienne would be the happiest if she was here to see this."

Lennox, rising from his seat, responded with a faint smile, "It seems your sister possesses her own inner wolf," he said, his tone warm. "I must take my leave for now. Tomorrow will be quite momentus, as I will be announcing our wedding." He gently placed a kiss on Esmeray’s forehead before turning to Leonardo. "Come with me."

As Lennox and Leonardo left the room, Finnian’s frustration resurfaced. "He took my juice!" he exclaimed, pointing at Leonardo who smirked wickedly before closing the door.

Esme sighed and didn’t say anything regarding the two of them, promising Finnian she would get him a new one. She felt a sense of relief knowing that Finnian was back to his normal self, despite still being a demon shifter.

She wondered if the blood that demon gave her was the reason for this change. She regretted not keeping a sample to analyze the cause of such transformation. Why had he helped her?

"Sister Esme," Finnian uttered, and he beckoned his sister over.

Esme sat beside him on the bed, hoping everything was alright.

"Yes, Finnian?"

"That demon, the one I attacked..." he started, "The reason I attacked him wasn’t out of my own will. He told me to do it. He said if I followed his instructions, it would save me from being executed, and he was right. He told me everything through a mind-link. When he was wrecking havoc and slaughtering everyone, he instructed me to strike, and I obeyed without question." Finnian confessed to his sister.

Esme’s mouth hung open. That suddenly explained why he never attacked Finnian.