The Villain Alpha's Cursed Mate-Chapter 188: Saved Me

[Looking at the last Chapter I posted, I realized I made a mistake and forgot to erase the unedited paragraphs. I’ve made some revisions, so for some of the readers, please clear your cache and read the Chapter again to see the updated version. Apologies for the inconvenience.]

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Donovan fell silent the moment he noticed Finnian approaching. An unspoken tension lingered in the air between them, thick and undeniable, and Finnian could sense it immediately. His gaze flickered to the Morgrim brothers, both of whom exchanged wary glances as they silently hoped he hadn’t overheard their conversation.

"Alpha?" Finnian began, "everyone is downstairs waiting for you in the main hall. Aren’t you going to join us?" he asked, his tone gentle but curious. He noted the subtle exchange of looks between the brothers, but couldn’t quite decipher the meaning behind their shared glances.

"That’s precisely what I came here to remind him," Leonardo murmured, standing from the bench. His voice was calm, but there was a hint of exasperation as he gestured to Donovan. "This brother of mine has a fondness for solitude. But now that you’re here, perhaps you’ll succeed in convincing him for me."

Finnian turned his attention fully to Donovan, and his expression softened as he spoke. "I know you might think I’m too young to say this but... with everything we have endured so far, I truly believe we can overcome whatever crises you’re worrying about, Alpha. So please, it’s not healthy to carry the weight of a future you’re not sure of by yourself. I thought we were a team."

A soft smile lingered on Donovan’s lips when he heard Finnian say that. The boy obviously knew he was stressed and was making an earnest attempt to reassure him.

Though Donovan doubted these kinds of situations could be rectified on a whim, he appreciated Finnian’s thoughtfulness to comfort him, and in the most manliest way possible.

"A team we are, little Alpha," Donovan murmured, lowering himself into a crouch. He gave Finnian’s shoulder a firm pat before they exchanged their signature handshake, the unique sight managing to draw a faint, reluctant smile from Leonardo.

That is true," Esme’s voice rang out from the entrance, commanding their attention as she approached with an unusual air of quiet authority. She came to stand beside Finnian, placing a steady hand on his shoulder.

"No matter what challenges come our way," she started softly. "We’ll always find a way to turn the odds in our favor. Isn’t that right, Finn?"

Finnian nodded vigorously, his enthusiasm unshaken.

Esme’s expression shifted, and she requested, "Can you and Leo make sure everyone knows their Alpha is doing well? I’ll bring him inside once we’ve finished our conversation."

Finnian glanced up at her and gave a short nod before heading off with Leonardo.

Esme lingered in the yard after they had left, their retreating figures vanishing from view. Turning back to Donovan, her expression softened with quiet concern.

"Did something happen?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Donovan shook his head, the corners of his lips curving into a reassuring smile, and Esme didn’t miss the way his eyes followed her from head to toe. Without a word, she reached for his hand, her fingers threading through his as she gently led him forward. They stopped beneath the open sky, where the sun timidly peeked from behind the clouds, its light spilling over them like a warm embrace.

"You see that?" she murmured, her tone laced with awe. "At night, this very sky transforms into a sea of stars. The moon will then reveal itself in all its splendor, but to me, the Damned holds more stars than the North ever could. To be honest, when I first arrived at the Damned, I didn’t want to leave after seeing what it looked like, but—"

She paused, and Donovan’s knowing smirk interrupted her hesitation. "But you were stubborn," he teased, playfully poking her small nose. "You couldn’t risk staying with a bunch of cursed shifters, am I right?"

Esme huffed, crossing her arms as she looked away, her defiance adorably evident. "You cannot blame me for that!" she protested, her voice rising just enough to betray her flustered state.

Donovan chuckled softly, the rich, velvety sound drawing her attention back to him. His eyes gleamed with a light she hadn’t seen moments before, and the shadows that lingered were no longer present.

Seeing the subtle transformation in him, Esme felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had succeeded, even in this small way, in bringing him a fleeting moment of peace. That was all she wanted now, to see him happy, just like how he made everyone else around him happy.

"I will take you on a tour," she promised, her voice carrying an excited warmth. "I don’t know many places yet since I’ve only been out a few times, but we’ll explore the North together. Oh, there’s this place I—"

Her words faltered when Donovan turned her gently, his hands tender on her shoulder. In one fluid motion, he pulled her back against him, her body pressed to the solid warmth of his chest. His arms circled her waist with an intimacy that made her breath catch. Esme’s heart raced as his chin came to rest lightly on her shoulder, his presence overwhelming yet comforting all at once.

"Is this why you sent me away earlier?" Donovan’s voice was low, his breath warm against her, and it carried a teasing, sultry tone that made her cheeks burn. "Did you think I wouldn’t notice the way you dressed yourself?"

Esme batted her lashes in a nervous attempt to conceal her flustered reaction. She was wearing a flowing, deep blue dress with delicate silver embroidery. Her hair was loosely braided, with a few strands framing her face, giving her an effortless elegance that blended with her natural graceful nature.

"I fear if I look at you for too long, I might lose myself. As it is, I’m already tempted to see what you’ll look like when I take it off." His lips brushed against her earlobes, sending shivers down her spine.

Esme’s blush deepened as her confidence faltered under his intense gaze. Turning in his embrace, she placed her hand gently on his face, her fingers brushing over his cheekbones.

"You’ve done so much for me already," she said softly before shaking her head. "Let me be the one to protect you from now. If there’s something bothering you, you don’t have to keep it to yourself anymore. It’s fine if you don’t want to share it with everyone, but you can share it with me. I don’t want you to suffer alone anymore. I’ll let you lean on my shoulder as many times as you want. You can always rest, and I’ll take it from where you left off."

"As long as you don’t leave me," Donovan murmured, brushing his nose intimately against hers. "I can handle everything else. The biggest contribution you can offer to me is to stay with me, by my side, and you have given me that. What else could I possibly want?"

His gaze lingered on Esme for a moment before meeting her blue eyes, so striking and vivid to the point they pierced through him. The emotions in her gaze stirred something deep within him. He had longed to see that look directed at him for what felt like an eternity. The moment felt almost unreal, a fragile dream he was terrified might dissolve into the shadows of his imagination.

Since he was a boy, he’d only ever known darkness both in sight and in spirit. Yet, whenever he was near Esme, it was as though her very presence cast a light strong enough to banish his inner void. Even that had been stolen from him once, but she had somehow come back to him, all thanks to the silly bond.

"Tell me," Donovan began once more, his gentle voice breaking the silence. "You said your illness was cured, right? How did it happen?"

Esme’s gaze drifted from his, and her hesitation wasn’t lost on him. "Well," she said, her voice laced with discomfort. "It’s not a time I enjoy remembering. Dahmer... he wanted to sell me off to some barbarian in exchange for warriors to build a stronghold in the pack. I refused, of course, but I was foolish to think my decision would mean anything to him. Let’s just say it nearly killed me..." her voice trailed off as she recalled that horrible experience, but what Esme didn’t know was that Donovan also remembered that moment with her, hence, his breath hitched at the images that flashed through his head.

She continued, "I thought I wouldn’t survive the night. But when I woke up the next morning... I was alive, and from there on, my health gradually improved on its own." She exhaled sharply, as if releasing the weight of those memories. "At first, I didn’t understand why it happened. But I think I do now."

Her voice softened as she turned to meet Donovan’s frozen reaction. He snapped out of it when he felt Esme embrace him warmly, and his hands balled into fists of restraint at his side.

"It was because of you," she said, her eyes bright with certainty. "The bond you created with me, saved me. Not only did it keep me alive, but it healed me , just like the marking that cured your sight."

"You... remember it too?" Donovan’s voice was barely above a whisper.

"I do," she nodded, whilst Donovan’s arms went around her waist as he embraced her tightly in return. Before he could say anything, the jealous Kangee flew right past their middle from nowhere, breaking them apart.

"What the—"

"Master! Master! There’s a royal courier heading this way," Kangee reported.