The Villain Alpha's Cursed Mate

Esme turned her head away before their lips could meet, her actions catching the king off guard. Her cheeks flushed quickly with embarrassment as she scrambled for an excuse. "I apologize but perhaps we can wait until after our wedding ceremony. I wasn’t expecting us to get married so soon, but I hope you can understand my need for a little patience in this matter."

Esme cleared her throat and darted her gaze away, unable to meet his eyes, for she was afraid of what she might see in them. The previous time, her emotions had been clouded by the thoughts of another. But now, with a clearer mind, she wasn’t ready to engage in intimacy with Lennox, not like this, and certainly not at all.

She’s probably doomed to hell at this point.

"Are you shy?" Lennox asked, tilting her chin upward so she could meet his steady gaze. Esme’s cheeks burned, but she knew it wasn’t from shyness. She was frustrated with herself for being so affected by a man she barely knew. And to make matters worse, that attractive demon who claimed she was his mate had sparked a familiar response in her. More reason she didn’t pull away from his touch when he snuck in through her window to meet with her.

Wait... no, it couldn’t be... could it?

Esme mentally shook her head, denying the possibility. How could a blind man be so skilled in intimate encounters? Aside from the ruthless killing, he didn’t seem like the type to be wild and passionate regarding stuff like this... at least not while he’s blind.... right?" freёweɓnovel.com

Lennox’s gentle touch on her cheek brought Esme back to reality, dispelling her fanciful thoughts. "It’s fine if you need time," he said. "Considering the turmoil in the palace, I wouldn’t want to rush you into anything. But I promise, it won’t be long before I bring that demon to his knees before us." He kissed her knuckles, leaving Esme speechless by his vow.

Together, they stood in silence, watching the stars twinkle above. Unnoticed by Esme, a fleeting glimmer of discontent crossed Lennox’s eyes, but his usual gentle expression returned in an instant.

That same evening, Esme returned to her room, and the raven was still perched in its cage, just as she had left it.

—----～⁠♡～--------

In the Land of the Damned...

Everyone had gathered around the central hall to celebrate the Lunar event. Unlike how it was celebrated with quiet grace in the palace, the central hall buzzed with celebration. The atmosphere was lively, with music and drums filling the air. The shifters outside took turns in transforming to their wolf form, entering a race to know who amongst them is the fastest.

Drinks, wines and all that is needed was present at the central hall dining, and the open roof allowed the stunning night sky to shine down on the revelers.

However, the arrival of five demon warriors caught their attention, and it wasn’t them who entirely captured their attention, but the man walking in their midst. The room paused, mesmerized by the presence of their alpha as he strode in.

The young females, in particular, were entranced, their eyes fixed on him with admiration.

He wore a dark, furry attire that accentuated his physique to the event, but as an Alpha, it was part of their culture to embrace the cursed mark, hence, his torso was bare beneath the fur coat, showing off his cursed marks. However, it was his powerful build and commanding presence that truly drew the gaze of those around them.

His movements were natural, befitting a true Alpha. His five entourage followed him through a separate door, leading to a private area where the highest ranking members of the damned hierarchy. As the door closed behind them, the murmurings began.

"I swear my ovaries cried," said a female omega as she giggled to her friends. "Can you imagine giving birth to his offsprings?"

The group swooned, whispering amongst themselves."Those five are so lucky! Having to stand so close to the Alpha and visit the shadowspire."

Someone amongst them mentioned, "I don’t recall Alpha Zephyr’s son looking this good in the past."

"You wanted to crush on a little boy?" joked her friend, and the endless giggles continued.

Meanwhile, in the separate chamber, seven individuals sat around a round table, including a blondé with forest green eyes. From her face, it was quite easy to make her out as a pampered, spoiled brat, but at the current moment, shs looked irritated.

"is he coming or not?" she demanded. "I told everyone I’m not interested in being with a blind man. Alpha or not, I have some worth left in me to mate with a–"

"This alliance must happen, Naya," came her father’s measured tone as he interjected. "As the most noble-ranked female in your age, you’re the only one suitable to bear him an heir. Do you really think the Damned will keep us hidden forever? Securing an heir is crucial. You don’t have a mate, he doesn’t have one, so you two must pair up."

"This is ridiculous," Naya bit back a laugh, refusing to risk offending the others, and she snorted. She couldn’t believe she was being paired with a blind Alpha, when there were plenty of other eligible nobles around.

She hadn’t met her Alpha before, only during their childhood and she certainly didn’t like him then. What could she expect from someone who had spent his entire life imprisoned? She planned to make it clear to him that she wasn’t the least interested in being paired with him. And to make matters worse, how can she marry someone whose father was clearly responsible for the curse that plagued them all.

Naya’s internal ranting was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. She lifted her gaze to see the protectors of the damned walk in, followed by Donovan. But she was completely unprepared for the sight of him.

Her eyes dilated as his presence hit her like a ton of bricks, his Alpha scent already making her swoon almost immediately. She took in his powerful build as he approached the table, her gaze fixed on him in disbelief.

That was Donovan?

Everyone at the table rose from their seat to their feet, and they acknowledged his presence with a slight bow. His aura was unlike anything they’ve felt, to the point it commanded the room’s attention. Naya equally had her head bowed respectfully, and what ended her was his voice as he said,

"Sit down." The commandment in his voice was unmistakable, and they all obliged.

Naya blinked in bafflement. She wondered how he knew they were up on their feet.

Naya shot a sharp glare at her father’s way, but he was more focused on entertaining Donovan. "We almost assumed you’d never show up," he said. "You’ve been back for quite sometime, but you never bothered to contact the rest of us—"

"I’m here now," Donovan interjected. "It’s the Lunar event, but I don’t recall choosing to attend whatever meeting this is. I have more pressing matters to attend to, like finding a certain raven. So why did you bother me?" The underlying annoyance in his tone made them exchange uneasy glances, and one of them finally spoke up.

"We were thinking about finding you a mate, since you’ve come of age and... what better time to set everything up if it isn’t with the daughter from the house of Terrain. She’s here, and since you two haven’t found a mate—"

"For your information," Donovan cut in again, his voice gentle but firm. "I do have a mate, so what alliance are you talking about?" He demanded, and the room fell silent.