The Villain Alpha's Cursed Mate

Esme looked up at her hands that were not just trapped, but entwined by the demon’s larger hands. The familiar feeling of revulsion had long since faded, replaced by a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.

She was acutely aware that she no longer had a mate, or perhaps she was simply broken, which would explain why she could detect his pheromones.

The realization that he even possessed a wolf stunned her, as he had never shifted or shown any signs of acknowledging its presence.

Deep down, Esme knew she didn’t completely despise the feeling of being trapped like this. Despite the demon’s dark past and the innocent lives lost at his hands, she didn’t entirely hate the way he made her feel. In this moment, the electric connection between them overshadowed her moral reservations, leaving her torn and conflicted.

But she would never acknowledge this feeling. If she did, it would tarnish her father’s legacy and ruin his honor.

Yet, against her will, she found herself inclining her body forward, only to freeze as if she got a good grip on her sanity. The demon’s lips curved into a subtle, knowing smirk, and Esme’s heart raced wildly at the sight. She couldn’t help but wonder what triggered him to smile like that, and she certainly would be lying to herself if she said she wasn’t affected by it.

No! No! No! This can’t be happening to her again! And certainly not with someone who can barely even see! She’s not some desperate cunt! She never was!

Oh! She finally cursed... And at herself for that matter!

Esme’s breath hitched when he used one hand to keep her wrist steady above her head, and the other wrapped around her waist instead, pulling her against him with an urgent intensity. The sudden closeness sent a shiver through her, making her tremble.

Should she just cry out for help and get exposed?

As he leaned in, his warm breath danced around the curve of her neck, sending a thrill through her veins. "I lied to my dark moon about something," he whispered, his voice low and husky. "Can you forgive me? Because I do in fact love biting you."

And with that confession, he sank his teeth into the tentative spot on her neck, where her own scent was the strongest. The bite was firm enough to leave a slight bruise, but not enough to mark her.

"..!!!.." Esme’s eyes widened in surprise, and she let out a startled gasp as pain flashed through her. But beneath the pain, she felt a spark of pleasure, a jolt that traveled south, leaving her breathless and bewildered.

He ran his tongue over the tender pink bruise, his hard body pressing fervently against hers, sending shivers down her spine. Soft, tantalizing kisses trailed down the nape of her neck, leaving tingles at its wake. His actions left no doubt about the attraction he harbored for her, but he was frustratingly gentle with it except for that bite.

Esme’s body temperature soared as she felt his warm, powerful build envelop her, his intoxicating scent assaulting every fiber of her moral senses. Though not brutish, he exuded a refined strength that made her feel diminutive in a way she had never with other Alphas. The sensation she felt was both unsettling and exhilarating, leaving her wanting more of him, despite her better judgment.

"You haven’t pushed me away," Donovan’s honeyed voice broke the spell, his grip on her arm easing as he gently pinned her hands to his broad shoulders. The silken fabric of his clothing felt luxurious against her skin, but Esme’s mind was elsewhere, her thoughts tantalizingly fixated on the prospect of seeing him stripped bare.

Her body was betraying her... she would never forgive her mind and body for doing this to her.

Donovan let out a low chuckle at her hesitation, "Is that your way of saying I should keep going?" His other hand traced a slow path up her thigh as he lifted her leg to his hip, positioning himself between her legs. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply as he savored her heavenly scent.

"Listen carefully, Esme," he whispered her name, sending another jolt of electricity through her. He pulled back, and the pad of his thumb stroked her bottom lip. He was actually struggling with himself and the beast inside him to not let his hands wander anywhere out of line.

"If you don’t want this to go further, you need to stop me now." He cautioned softly, "My wolf will only listen to its mate, and if you want to end this before things spiral out of control, this is your chance. I can put a reign on the damned wolf while I still can, so you better hurry."

He withdrew his thumb and brought it to his lips, kissing it, and Esme had to close her leg at the provocative sight. Tall, dark, sexy, gentle and dangerous he was. She didn’t like that she loved this feeling. What has gotten into her? Where are the saints of the universe?!

"F-for your information, my wedding alliance with the king will be announced tomorrow." Her words tumbled out in a rush as she fought to maintain her sanity. But she stopped when Donovan’s heated body tensed against her. His expression darkened as he processed the news, and he scowled irritably.

He pulled back, and Esme’s anxiety spiked at the sudden change in his aura. But then, his fingers intertwined with hers once more.

"Your hands," he murmured, "It’s bare. No ring, no mating mark. To me, you’re still unclaimed, so it’s no use trying to guilt-trap me with that news. If you’re going to refuse me due to some unsealed bond, then consider it null and void." The finality in his voice had Esme on edge. She wasn’t supposed to feel excited by this, but she was. She slipped away from his grasp, heading towards her window so she could take a deep breath and get her thoughts straight.

"Why did you kill those people?" Esme asked, "I am not interested in someone who has no regard for mortal life, and you don’t seem to care about the lives you take. You showed up at the moonstone hall, and my brother told me everything you two planned. I’m so confused, I feel grateful, but at the same time I just... what drove you to take those lives?"

Donovan’s response took Esme by surprise. "I took the blame to spare your brother," he admitted. "The councilman knew what he was doing when he slit his wrist. I’ve faced similar situations before, and provoking the curse would have only brought more trouble for your brother. I did what I did because they already see me as the enemy – nothing would change that. But your brother could be the start of something new for not just you, but for my people as well

Esme turned to look at him, her brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I mean there are other shifters out there who can control the curse," he explained. "But no one would believe it. I later found out that your people had never witnessed two demon shifters oppose each other before, and I used that information to my advantage."

"I convinced your brother to attack me in front of everyone. That way, they’d see him as a valuable asset they can use to get rid of the demon shifters rather than a threat. Now that I think about it, that would put my people in danger if he can’t make out the good or bad. As someone as powerful as my father, he had one fear, and that was your father. It is only natural I worry that your brother can become just as strong as him."

"But my brother is not a tool, he wouldn’t carelessly take lives." Esme insisted, and he didn’t argue.

"Not to you, perhaps," he said instead, "but think about it. Do you really think they spared your brother because he wouldn’t harm anyone? That could be a primary reason, but it wouldn’t have been enough to save him either. He has to be of some use, and I gave them one. They’ll possibly try to exploit his ability for their own gain, and eventually, they’ll discard him when that is accomplished. It’s all politics, Esme, a game of power and manipulation. Even that king you tend to admire isn’t all what he seems on the inside."

"So you knew giving him that blood wouldn’t get him out of execution?" Esme’s eyes widened as she processed his words, and he clicked his tongue.

"The only way to save him was to give them a reason to do so, and that means turning him into a weapon in their eyes. If I’m not mistaken, that was your suggestion as well. I listened to your speech." He said, and Esme sealed her tongue. "You knew as well, which is why you brought that up. The blood you gave him was to help him control the curse’s influences, not to cure it."

He came to stand beside Esme near the window, but the curtain shielded him from view to those outside. Esme’s breath hung in her throat as he held her hand, opening her palm, and he covered it with his. When he took his hand away, a stunning crescent moon pendant lay in her palm, radiating a soft light that matched the shade of her eyes.

"If you change your mind, just think of me while wearing this." He said, his voice low and warm. "You can also throw it away if you don’t need it. A part of me wants to sweep you away from here. You’re my mate, but I can’t help but give you a choice." His fingers grazed her cheek, and he stepped back.

Esme gazed at the lovely pendant in her hand, and when she looked up, he was gone.