The Villain Alpha's Cursed Mate-Chapter 118: The Wrong Kind Of Attention

After traveling relentlessly through the night, the group decided to halt in a small, secluded clearing off the road, eager to catch their breath and rest their horses before pressing on.

They had to reach the Northern land’s main gate by noon, and this brief pause would give them just enough rest to get through the rest of the day.

As they dismounted, Esme was still seething over Donovan’s words, so she distanced herself from the others. Once the tents were set up, she sat in silence in her own personal tent, wrapping her cloak tightly around her shoulders to shield herself against both the cold and her turbulent thoughts.

Leonardo soon joined her in her tent, knowing she needed company. Looking up, Esme was half-expecting Donovan to show up instead, but she wasn’t disappointed to see Leonardo either. Meanwhile, the Alpha and the other warriors were busy refining their strategy for the night’s infiltration. The final plan required precise coordination.

Leonardo stayed silent for a while before popping the question, "Is this really about those children?" he asked, though Esme remained silent, refusing to acknowledge his inquiries. "You know we wouldn’t have stopped you if there wasn’t a valid reason for it."

Esme’s eyes narrowed as frustration welled up inside her. "I’m still waiting to hear that reason," she said, her voice carrying the weight of her anger and guilt. "Didn’t you see their faces? They were in dire need of our help, and yet no one spared a thought for what they were going through."

She closed her eyes, trying to suppress the emotions bubbling to the surface. "I understand that Donovan and his pack might hesitate since Illyrian civilians aren’t exactly their concern, but those were little children. The least we could have done was give them something — money for food, or cloaks to keep warm. But if we all continue to ignore those in need, especially the innocent, then what sets us apart from those who have already failed them?"

Esme couldn’t help but pour out her feelings to Leonardo. Those children really depended on them, but for reasons still unclear to her, Donovan had forbidden her from intervening when they asked for help. What would those children think of them now? Would they feel abandoned or hurt?

"I understand what you’re feeling," Leonardo said, sounding naturally neutral, but acknowledging her concern at the same time. "It looks unfair, but you have to realize you haven’t seen much of the world yet. Your heart is still tender when it comes to situations like this. It might seem like Donovan’s decision was influenced by his past, but that’s not the truth. I know why he told you not to assist them – I’ve been to the North, and I’ve seen things you haven’t. His reasoning, though it may seem cold, makes sense in a way that’s hard for any normal person to grasp, unless you’ve experienced it firsthand."

Esme finally turned to look at Leonardo, "So what is this reason I’m unaware of?"

"Do you know that in some northern villages, it’s quite common for beggars, or rather children, to be in league with local bandits? he began gently, his tone cautious but firm. "By giving them money or any valuable resources of ours, you could unintentionally put all of our lives in jeopardy."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "We may be outsiders in these parts, but we’ve learned from experience to be wary of deceit. Resources here are scarce, which has driven the people to desperate and well... sometimes ruthless means for survival."

Esme’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "You mean those children are working for bandits?" she asked, though Leonardo’s facial expression already answered before he could.

"It was obvious. Why do you think Donovan told us to keep moving?" he leaned back, his gaze thoughtful as he explained. "The way the locals kept watching our every move gave them away. Some of the warriors were able to notice the bandits, and if we weren’t traveling in a large group, we’d be in big trouble. If you had given those little children even a dime, we would have been surrounded, and the last thing we need right now is drawing unnecessary attention to ourselves."

He shook his head pitifully. "I honestly don’t blame them for what they’ve become. Their Alpha isn’t doing much to help them, and it’s his fault. But then again, we’re just outsiders, we can’t afford to take any chances."

Esme took her time to absorb Leonardo’s words, and gradually, his reasoning began to resonate with her. Acts of generosity in a place like this could easily attract the wrong kind of attention.

In a land where desperation lingered in every corner, openly displaying wealth — even through a seemingly small gesture, like offering money or draping a cloak over someone — could quickly draw dangerous eyes. Such actions could mark them as outsiders with resources, turning them into prime targets for thieves, bandits or even corrupt officials who might question their presence or, worse, follow them with harmful intent.

Blending in wasn’t just a suggestion; it was essential for survival. Esme was starting to understand that Donovan’s reasoning, though pragmatic, stemmed from an understanding of the grim reality of this world — a place where even the smallest acts of kindness, if misinterpreted or exploited, could spiral into deadly consequences.

While her frustration came from her compassion, Donovan’s refusal was born from a need to protect not just himself, but the people who depended on him.

Still, Esme felt those children were innocent and were probably being misled. She couldn’t help but wonder if they were forced to act that way, maybe driven by fear or desperation. The thought that such terrible acts went unpunished made her determined to confront the Alpha directly, to ask her himself what he had been doing all this time. His pack was in mayhem, yet he wanted to throw an event.

And to think she had believed no one could be more worse than Dahmer.

"I understand now," she said softly to Leonardo, her voice laced with concern. "But is there really nothing we can do to help those children?"

Leonardo let out a deep sigh, his expression shifting slightly. He had no easy answer for her. Even when he had served as Lennox’s advisor, he had always raised concerns about the suffering in the North, urging Lennox to act as the king of Illyria. Every time, Lennox had promised to address it. But he never did.

As the camp settled into quiet, with everyone resting in their respective tents, Esme quietly slipped out of hers. There was no sun, and the weather looked too gloomy for her liking. It was cold, but no one seemed to be up and about, making her movements even more deliberate.

She gathered some food and fruits, wrapping it carefully in a warm blanket, before heading down the path she had seen the children take earlier. When she made it to the spot that was a bit more secluded, not far from the tent at all, she was relieved, as well as surprised to see the children. Their eyes lit as she approached, and they hurried towards her without hesitation. Esme then knelt down to meet them at eye level.

"You came back, Miss?" the boy asked softly, and Esme nodded, unsure of why they looked delighted to see her when she had ignored them earlier.

"I did, are you two—"

"Miss, we wanted to thank you for feeding us today. My sister and I hadn’t eaten for days, so we’re glad we ran into you so we could thank you properly" The boy said softly, lowering his head in gratitude.

His unexpected words caught Esme off-guard, and she blinked, confused.

"I did what?"

The little girl beside him nodded, her eyes shining with appreciation. "You sent someone with food for us," she explained. "He was very, very tall — like a tree — and he wore a blindfold over his eyes. We saw him riding ahead of you earlier today. He gave us food and said it was from you. We thanked him, but he told us we should be thanking you instead."

Esme’s confusion deepened. "What did he say exactly?"

The boy glanced at his sister before responding, "We thanked him for the food," the boy replied. "But we can’t tell you what he told us after that, we already promised we wouldn’t tell anyone."

"Oh," Esme was momentarily speechless, taken aback by the sudden gesture. That means Donovan already came to see the children?