The Villain Alpha's Cursed Mate-Chapter 133: Less Than Thirty Minutes

As the gate creaked open, the feverish roar of the mob abruptly fell into silence, as if they had never truly believed the gates would yield to them.

The men in the crowd instinctively tightened their grips on their weapons, bracing themselves for the ambush they feared might be lurking.

But instead of the cursed shifters, a lone young woman stepped forward from beyond the gates.

Her unexpected presence unsettled them, whilst their eyes darted across the area, searching for any hidden threats, but no one else seemed to be lurking.

Tension rippled through the crowd as their suspicion deepened. Though the woman before them moved with calm confidence, her appearance made one thing clear, and that was the fact that she wasn’t a Northern like the rest of them.

Bewildered and cautious, the crowd exchanged wary glances, uncertain of what to make from her arrival. The winds howled, breaking the silence.

"Who are you?" a voice rang out from the crowd, eyes narrowing as they assessed the unfamiliar woman standing before them.

Then, another voice broke through the murmurs. "Wait... isn’t she the king’s former betrothed?" The question sent a ripple of recognition through the gathering.

"She’s a Montague, look at that hair! It’s just like Late Alpha Damon’s!" Someone whispered, and his words sparked a wave of hushed conversations that spread rapidly through the crowd.

Esme bristled under the weight of their scrutiny, but she remained physically composed. She knew well how much Illyria owed her father for his sacrifice. Her father had taken the fight against demon wolves into his own hands when others faltered, and during his prime, the death toll had significantly dropped.

Now, it was time to see if the people truly understood the depth of his legacy, or if they would continue to bask in ignorance.

"Civilians of the North, I am Esmeray Montague, daughter of the late Alpha Damon of the Therondia pack," she made a quick introduction, her voice calm and clear, despite the tremor of nerves she hid beneath the surface.

Her words cut through the crowd like a biting wind, sending ripples of unease through the Northerners.

Without preamble, she continued, keeping her tone firm and direct. "I know you’re confused and afraid, but whatever you choose to believe won’t change the threat that is aiming for your home. Demon wolves are coming for the North, and if they succeed, they will show no mercy to your families, your homes, or your lives. And I should know — I’ve seen the destruction they’re capable of causing."

A murmur of discontent swept through the crowd, with several casting hostile glares in her direction. The leader of the mob stepped forward, his voice filled with resentment.

"You are a Montague, how can you work hand-in-hand with the same monsters that your father tried to destroy during his reign, the same monsters who are responsible for this chaos!"

The crowd rallied behind him, their anger palpable. "Your actions consider you a backstabber! Not just to your father, but to the people of Illyria! So why should we listen to you?! You’re a traitor!"

"The Alpha owes us his protection, and our lives are at stake. We’re not ready to die, so get out of our way!"

The angry mob, desperate for an escape, tried to move, but then they stopped abruptly, sensing something far more dangerous than their own fears.

Their gazes instinctively drifted upward, locking onto the cursed shifters who stood guarded at the gate. Their eyes widened in disbelief, and a suffocating silence fell over them, whilst no one dared to move an inch.

Esme followed their gaze and saw Donovan, Leonardo, Althea, Revana, Acheron and Lothar stationed at the gate’s peak, an imposing sight that gave her the strength to stand firm. Their presence, and their unwaveringly stance reassured her that she was not alone in this.

With newfound resolve, she clenched her fists at her side and faced the crowd, her voice cutting through the stillness. "If you think barging into the fortress will save you from what’s coming, then you’re more delusional than you think. You keep saying you want to see your Alpha, right? Then let me break it to you, your Alpha is dead!"

Her tone became surprisingly steady, stronger than it had ever been. She raised her voice, ensuring that even those at the farthest edge of the crowd could hear her clearly.

"Your Alpha is gone, and your defenses are falling apart. Don’t speak to me about betrayal when everyone here has betrayed something or someone in their own way. If survival is your goal, then you’ll have to rely on each other and fight!"

"The Alpha is dead?"

Her words hit the crowd like a hammer blow, leaving them stunned. The color drained from their faces as the weight of his declaration sank in. Behind the gates, the warriors who overheard Esme’s speech exchanged uncertain glances. They knew for a fact that Thadius was not dead, and they wondered what Esme was truly up to.

"The North has fallen to an Alpha who commands the Damned," she continued, her voice cold and unyielding. "And as the law of Illyria dictate – when an Alpha falls, the entire pack must submit to their new ruler. In other words, your refusal to accept the reality before you can lead to your death if the Alpha so wishes."

Esme continued, her fears and earlier hesitation nowhere to be seen. "By now, I’m certain each of you understand that Alpha Thadius is no noble leader. He made you slaves in your own home, lured you here under false pretense and drugged his guests, including the king. Moreover, he made a pact with an actual demon wolf. He is the one responsible for the catastrophe you face, and believe me, those demon wolves won’t be easily slain."

She tilted her chin up with pride, "Right now, there’s only one way out."

With that, Esme raised a hand, and their gazes moved to the shifter who stood at the peak of the gate. Their presence was as menacing as the aura that hanging over the scene. Donovan was flanked by others, and the crowds could feel the raw power emanating from him alone.

"Like it or not," Esme declared, her voice cutting through the fear and uncertainty, "these cursed ones are your best chance at survival. If you fight together, you might make it through this alive. But if you remain divided, everyone will fall."

A ripple of hesitation spread through the crowd. They stepped back, fear and defiance mingling in their expression. Esme could see the uncertainty in their eyes – no one wanted to die, not even the proud Northerners.

"I’m not asking for your loyalty, but if you truly consider the North your home, and you wish to see the next sunrise, you’ll follow my lead. Work with us."

A sudden caw shattered the tense silence, and Kangee swooped down from the sky. "Thirty minutes before the demons arrive!" the raven announced, sending another ripple of panic through the crowd.

Gasps erupted, and from her vantage point atop the gate, Revana, who stood beside Donovan, could already sense the approaching threat.

"It’s pointless," she muttered under her breath. "These fools won’t listen. Let’s leave them to their fate."

"Their fate is no different from ours," Donovan said firmly. "There isn’t enough time to retreat, so let Esme finish."

Below, Esme’s urgency sharpened, and her voice rose with authority. "You all need to steel yourselves! Your enemy isn’t going to wait for you to decide!"

The Northerners fell into a heavy silence, their faces a mix of anger, doubt and reluctant resolve. Then, from within the crowd, a lady stepped forward.

"We’ll fight!" Cora called out. "The North is our home, and we’ll do whatever it takes to defend it!"

One by one, the angry mob began lowering their weapons, reluctant but resigned. Despite their distaste for aligning with cursed shifters, their Alpha’s silence has left them with little choice but to follow the strange woman’s lead if they truly wish to survive.

"We’ll fight alongside you," the leader of the crowd stated firmly, his gaze hard. "But you must keep your word."

Esme felt a wave of relief wash over her at their willingness to cooperate. Without wasting time, she led them through the gate.

The Northerners came to an abrupt halt as they found themselves face-to-face with Donovan. There was a faint sense of relief among them when he wasted no time getter into business.

"I need defenders to organize the archers, set traps, and man the ballistae," he commanded. "There should be a shelter for those who can’t fight. As some of you lead them to safety, the rest of you must begin preparations. We have less than thirty minutes to make this happen."

"I found their armory," Leonardo spoke up, and everyone’s gaze shifted to the fortress, where warriors were hauling out weapons. "We can start setting up immediately, while the others escort the non-combatants to the shelter."

"We know the way to the underground shelter," one of the courtesans called out. "We’ll lead the people there."

Esme cast a quick glance at the gate as it was swiftly shut. "Then let’s get to work."

As everyone moved out, Esme pulled Donovan to a corner and whispered, "The demons are coming for Lennox. This might be too much to ask for but you’ll have to protect Lennox at all cost. He cannot die tonight."

"What do I get in return if I choose to save him?" Donovan asked.