The Villain Alpha's Cursed Mate-Chapter 160: Dahmer’s Confinement

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"Hey!"

The sound of Dahmer’s boots slammed repeatedly against the iron door, each strike echoing in the enclosed space he was locked in. The space reeked of damp stone and neglect, and the biting chill seeped into his skin, gnawing at his bones.

No food, no warmth — not even the thinnest scrap of cloth was given so he could ward off the cold. He had only the unyielding darkness to keep him company.

His eyes, bloodshot and haunted, burned with the sharp sting that came with losing a wolf. His wolf was gone, and the image of Esme’s cold face flashed in his mind.

He never imagined she could be so heartless. When he had her locked in the pack house, at least he didn’t starve her to death. And somehow, she had managed to woo even the cursed Alpha. With that monstrous power shielding her, any attempt to gain control was futile.

"Damn you, Esmeray! Get me out of here!" His voice cracked as he continued to slam his boot against the door. His hands were tied behind his back, and he didn’t have the strength to break free from them.

If he had his wolf, it would have been easy.

"You conniving witch!" He snapped, slamming the door continuously. "Open this fuckin’ door or I swear—"

A sudden creak splintered the silence, bringing Dahmer’s tirade to a halt. The door shifted ajar, spilling a thin line of golden light into the room.

Orion and Atticus stepped through, their eyes narrowing as they took in the sight before them. Dahmer, who appeared more disheveled and wild-eyed, glared back, his chest heaving with ragged breaths.

Orion’s lips twitched at the sight, a shadow of a smirk playing at the corner of his lips before he stifled it. Beside him, Atticus exuded a palpable irritation, his gaze cold and assessing.

"You’ve already killed my wolf from me," Dahmer spat with rage. "What else do you want from me? Once the king finds out about what you’ve done to me, he won’t spare either of you! I’m doing the both of you a huge favor. Get me out of here, and you’ll be rewarded for it. That is something I can promise you."

"And betray Miss Esme?" Orion gasped, a look of incredulity crossing his face. "Now why would we even consider that?"

"Listen," Atticus pointed at Dahmer with the whip he held, his voice stern. "Everyone else is trying to get some sleep, and your racket is disturbing the peace. Stay quiet or I’ll be forced to silence you myself. One more word from you, and you’ll be tossed in the blizzard so you can be buried in the ice. Do you understand?"

"You should have thought about the outcome before mistreating Miss Esme," Orion folded his arms. "Are you even a man, striking such a woman as gentle as her? You’re the only person she’s tortured to this extent, and after hearing about everything you did to her, it made so much sense. You don’t deserve to rule a pack, and that’s why it got taken from you."

"I heard his wolf wasn’t even an Alpha," Atticus said to Orion. "The younger one... what’s his name? Yes, young Finnian. He’s the one with an Alpha wolf. Meanwhile this scum sitting here doesn’t even have the decency to be grateful for being related to such a loving family."

Orion clicked his tongue, a flicker of cold amusement dancing in his gaze. "He doesn’t carry the Montague blood in his vein. Jealousy really does wonders to people. As the saying goes, you don’t miss what you have until it’s gone. And you, sir, lost everything."

"I wasn’t jealous!" Dahmer raged, the shout ricocheting off the stone walls. Their eyes shifted to where he was sitting on the floor. "Esme is a very conniving woman. You don’t know her better than I do. I’m the one who has lived with her and we grew up together. She is deceiving all of you and you’re blindly following her like lambs to the slaughter. But, I’m not surprised, a cursed being would always heed to the whispers of another cursed being."

He drew in a ragged breath, a sneer painting his visage. "When I get out of here, you’ll all pay for what you’ve done to me! Mark my words," he hissed, a chilling smile splitting his face, "when Dahmer makes a promise, he doesn’t fail to fulfill it."

"I felt goosebumps," Orion looked amused at the rage in Dahmer’s bloodshot eyes. "I should go hide under my bed covers because you threatened me." fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

"We may be cursed, but not so unlucky to have a life like yours," Atticus couldn’t help but rub it in. "Not only are you wolfless, but you have no pack, no family. You’re like a stranded puppy. I almost feel sorry for you, but you don’t deserve my empathy."

"And for your information," Orion chimed in, "The king already left. He didn’t even ask about you. He didn’t even consider your existence. You should stop placing your hopes on someone who has more than enough worries on his plate."

"And here," Atticus threw a stale bread at him. "Eat that and stop making noise. If I come back here, you will get a taste of this whip I’m holding. Be warned."

Orion chuckled at Dahmer’s helplessness before following Atticus out, and they banged the door, causing Dahmer to flinch. Left alone, Dahmer picked up the stale bread, and he crushed it in his grip. His eyes burned with vengeance, and he knew that one day, he would not only get his revenge for this embarrassment, but he would get his hands on Esme, and then, he would show her no mercy.

-_-_-⁠♡-_-_-

In the lavish confines of the Palace, Lennox sat at the chaise lounge in his private chamber, the soft drapery framing the window beside him. His gaze shifted to the view of the tended garden below, the morning sunlight peeking from behind the horizon. His mind was far from the present, but he only regained his bearing when Emily sat at the far end of the chaise lounge, joining him.

Words had spread quickly of the devastation in the North, and Emily had heard about the fall of her homeland, including the death of her father. She had wept for days, but her eyes grew steely whenever those tears dried, reflecting a fury that simmered beneath the surface.

"I can’t believe you just left," Emily turned to Lennox, her swollen, red eyes filled with frustration. "You had the enemy right in front of you, and you just left. They killed my father! Those monsters ruined and took away my home!"

"They’re not the ones who killed your father, Emily," Lennox corrected. "Thadius did... right after he got infected."

"What’s the difference?" Emily couldn’t believe Lennox was trying to cover up for the cursed shifters. "They stole my father’s life’s work, and now they’re basking in the rewards that should rightfully be ours. If we so much as think of crossing the North, all they need to do is fire the serum and we’ll be powerless. Do you have any idea how serious this is? It won’t be long before they move beyond capturing the remaining regional packs — they’ll come for your throne when that is accomplished. If that happens, we’re done for."

"Why do you always assume the worst?" Lennox gritted his teeth the more Emily went on. "Do you really think I would stand by and let Donovan take what’s mine? I’m only laying low because of Esme."

"Of course, it’s always her," Emily’s smile turned frosty. "Esme is all that ever matters to you. What about me? Does my feelings not matter? I lost my father, Lennox."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Gather all the warriors from across every region and use them to take down Donovan now that they’re no longer in hiding. Lay waste on them. If you don’t get rid of them, we’ll be the ones to suffer it in the end. You need to do something before it’s too late, Lennox. Are you going to keep listening to Esme? You’re king for a reason. Protect your people."

"But did you forget what the elderly mage told us," Lennox remarked. "The only way to end all of this is to get rid of the true bearer. If Donovan isn’t the true bearer, then we need to locate the one responsible for starting it all in the first place. Only then can I truly protect my people."

"Your Majesty," A guard suddenly knocked on the door, interrupting their tense conversation. Emily, who was already furious, rose from where she sat and turned to the guard.

"Can’t you see I’m having an important conversation with his Majesty? Get out!"

"Forgive me, your Highness but–"

"Emily," Lennox interjected, his tone firm and authoritative. "Let the guard speak."

"Thank you, your Majesty," The guard gratefully said before approaching Lennox, handing him some papers. "We discovered these in sir Leonardo’s chamber after unlocking the drawers. It appears to be some sort of ancient text, Your Majesty."