The Villain Alpha's Cursed Mate-Chapter 121: Their First Move

The Northern Land’s main gate loomed ominously ahead, and it was a formidable barrier of stone and iron, which was encrusted with layers of frost that gleamed in the dim light. It stood as an imposing testament to the harshness of the land, watched over by the Alpha’s patrol.

The guards, draped in thick furs to shield themselves from the biting cold, had a grim and hardened look about them, despite observing them from afar.

Their breath curled upward in pale mist, eyes vigilant and unyielding as they scanned the horizon.

Esme counted four guards stationed at the gate, each gripping a spear, their stances rigid and purposeful. Their gaze offered no comfort or leniency, and apart from these four, there were no other defenses at the gate, a fact that confirmed why this gate was the weakest point in the Northern stronghold. It was a vulnerability that had been debated amongst Donovan and his inner circles when planning routes into the Alpha’s territory.

Outsiders were a rarity in the North, a detail Esme had discerned from Leonardo’s explanation.

Due to the rising bandit threats, only few dared to venture into these lands, and after learning of the region’s unforgiving nature, it was easy to understand why many avoided it altogether.

"Leave this to me," Leonardo murmured as he dismounted his horse with quiet confidence. Esme’s attention shifted, and she caught sight of her brother and his friends clad in gowns. Her eyes widened in disbelief, her pupils dilating as the absurdity sank in. She quickly glanced at Althea, who, in typical fashion, placed a finger to her lips, signaling for silence while stifling her own laughter.

Donovan had never mentioned anything about dressing the boys like girls, but when it came to Althea’s eccentricities, nothing was ever predictable.

Revana shot her sister a questionable glance, raising a brow, and Althea responded with a mischievious shrug, feigning innocence as the group of boys, now the center of attention, moved forward. The only ones without a reaction on their faces were the Morgrim brothers, whose aloof expressions betrayed nothing.

"Are you ready?" Leonardo asked the boys, and he covered their heads with a veil. He sighed and turned to Donovan who was still seated on his horse, looking as majestic as ever.

"You’re definitely going to have to compensate me for this generosity," he remarked, and Donovan merely tsked in response, but said nothing more.

As Leonardo approached, the guards stiffened the moment they sensed he was near, their eyes narrowed. They raised their spear slightly in caution, and one of them, who was a man with a ugly scar across his cheek, stepped forward.

"And you are?" he growled as he demanded, his voice as rough as the Northern wind. If Leonardo had his way, he would have used his curse to force them into doing his bidding, and getting inside through the gate without any hassle.

But unfortunately, only his brother understood the intricacies of the safe curse language, and since everyone else weren’t aware of it, communicating with them while his curse was still active would prove to be a challenge. Though his cursed speech granted him immense power, the risks were just as great.

For now, he was forced to adopt his role as a priest, a corrupt one, no less.

Clearing his throat, he steadily met their piercing gaze. "I’m here to conduct the business we’ve agreed upon," he said, his expression as blank as a sheet. " Frozen Hollow I believe is the name of the place, and I bet the nobles in the Alpha’s den wouldn’t be pleased if I keep them waiting."

The four guards exchanged a look amongst themselves before turning to Leonardo. He had donned a black robe, and around his wrists were imitation prayer beads. The resemblance to the real ones was so convincing that none of the guards suspected a thing.

One guard nudged his comrade and muttered, "Didn’t beta Jason say a priest was supposed to show up today?"

The other two acknowledged Leonardo’s presence with subtle nods, though it was obvious they have never met with the actual priest before. There was no flicker of surprise in their eyes, and it was clear the grim trade of young girls was well-known to them. Yet, despite their familiarity, there remained a palpable sense of unease in the air, as if they were all treading carefully.

"Let’s see them," the scarred guard said, his voice dripping with suspicion, and with a snap of his fingers, Leonardo allowed the boys to step forward. Their faces remained lowered, concealed beneath the delicate veils as they obeyed silently.

Two of the guards approached cautiously, their eyes scanning the veil, but none daring to touch. It was a taboo to lay hands on the merchandise before the deal was finalized, and these men were well aware of the consequences for breaking such a rule."

"Demand has increased," Leonardo said curtly, his tone brisk and cold when one of the guards tried to lift the veil. "The nobles want more... varieties, and they’ll get their varieties. If you wish, you can verify their papers from beta Jason, but under no circumstances are you permitted to lift their veils."

The guards hesitated, locking eyes with Leonardo, whose steady, unyielding gaze left no room for argument. He knew about the rules concerning Frozen Hollow, and that was enough assurance they needed to fully confirm he wasn’t an imposter. Finally, the scarred one gave a curt nod, signaling for the gates to be opened.

"Take them in," he ordered, his voice rough and stern, "I’ll lead them directly to the beta."

As the heavy gates groaned open, Leonardo could hardly believe the absurdity he’d just spouted had actually worked. The words had been conjured at the spot, yet the guards had bought every lie without hesitation.

Not much of a stronghold after all, he thought, barely suppressing a smirk.

Meanwhile, his companions, watching from a distance, felt a surge of hope as the gate swung wide, allowing Leonardo and the veiled boys to be ushered inside. But just before the door could fully close, they creaked to a halt, leaving a gap the guards failed to notice themselves.

"Once we’re inside, everyone knows their role. Split up, but keep formation tight. If something feels off, don’t hesitate to inform the others. We’ll wait a few minutes, then proceed. Esme, you’re sticking with me."

Esme nodded with a determined look. Despite the tension surrounding them, there was something exhilarating about being a part of this plan, to be able to feel the adrenaline pulsing through her veins along with everyone else. If she felt like this, she wondered how Finnian must be doing.

After waiting a few tense minutes to ensure their safety, they finally made their move. Esme pulled the hood of her fur-lined cloak over her head, concealing her hair beneath its fold. As they passed through the gate, the distant silhouette of the Fang Fortress loomed ahead, its towering spires just visible on the horizon. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

The group began to split up as planned, leaving their horses somewhere secluded outside the gates and taking whatever assets they needed from the wagon. Althea and Acheron slipped away silently, following the narrow path that led toward the frozen Hollow, the same path Leonardo and the guards had taken. Meanwhile, Revana and Lothar took the route that would guide them through the fortress’s hidden passage, everyone communicating with themselves using their telepathy to stay in touch.

The warriors were divided among them, leaving Esme to realize she was now alone with Donovan and the remaining guards.

They were the only ones left still astride their horses.

The air grew colder, and the weight of the coming mission settled over her like a shadow.

As they pressed on, drawing closer to the main city first, Esme’s eyes widened in alarm, and everybody else halted. Ahead, the king himself appeared, riding a majestic white steed, flanked by a few dire wolves. Her heart skipped a beat, and not in a good way. Instinctively, she tugged her horse back to retreat, but in her haste, the sword Donovan had gifted her shifted from where it hung in her waist, its sharp, angular tip angled upward.

It inevitably grazed her arm.

"Ow!" she hissed, recoiling from the stung. The unexpected pain caused her to let out a small yelp, catching Donovan’s immediate attention.

"Are you alright? What happened?" He asked, and Esme shook her head, silently cursing Lennox in her mind for the distraction.

"It’s nothing, just got a bit careless," she muttered, inspecting the minor scrape on her arm. The wound was superficial, but she remained unaware of what happened beneath her gaze.

The drop of blood that had touched the sword’s sharp edges slowly trickled down its length, coming to rest on one of the white petals. Within moment, the blood was absorbed, transforming the petal into a delicate shade of pink.