The Villain Alpha's Cursed Mate-Chapter 198: Watching The Aurora

Esme pulled Donovan toward the window, her excitement barely contained as she pointed upward, her eyes gleaming as they reflected the swirling lights of the Aurora. Donovan followed the direction of her hand, making no reaction at first, but then, his lips parted slightly as if he, too, was momentarily caught in its brilliance.

"It’s beautiful," he admitted, his voice softer than usual, almost reverent.

"I’ve never seen one before," Esme said to him in a hush voice, as if speaking too loudly might shatter the fragile magic of the moment. "I’ve only read about them, and seen paintings of them. I never thought I’d actually be standing beneath one at the end of the day."

But Esme wasn’t satisfied with just watching from the tall glass. Her pulse quickened with restless energy, and without warning, she seized Donovan’s wrist. "Come on! We can see it better outside."

"Esme, grab your shoes first—" he started, but she was already pulling him toward the door, her laughter echoing down the hall as she dragged him downstairs. He helped her with her shoes and managed to grab a coat along the way.

Outside, the night was crisp, the air electric with the faint hum of the celestial display above. Below the peak, lights still flickered in homes scattered along the mountain side, signaling that others too, had woken to witness the spectacle. But while others watched from the warmth of their windows, Esme stood in the open, dragging her helpless victim alongside her. But not that he was complaining either.

The dark starry sky unfurled above them, a vast canvas awash with ribbons of emerald and violet, shifting and dancing like something out of a dream.

Esme spun in a swift, breathless motion, her eyes alight with wonder as she faced Donovan.

"See?" She whispered, the crisp air turning her words to mist. "Isn’t it even more breathtaking out here?"

Donovan didn’t answer at first. He merely watched her– the way the celestial light reflected in her wide, enraptured eyes, the way the cold had kissed her cheeks a delicate rose. His gaze softened as a smile ghosted over his lips. Without a word, he stepped closer and draped the thick coat over her shoulders, the warmth encompassing her frame.

"Yes," he murmured at last, though his eyes weren’t on the sky anymore.

Esme let out a quiet laugh, tilting her head back up once more, utterly captivated by the swirling lights above. It was either that, or she couldn’t bring herself to meet Donovan’s intense stare.

"We’ve both never seen one before," she mused, her voice full of quiet wonders. "Yet here we are, standing beneath it together. Do you think it means something?"

Donovan slid his hands into his pockets. He had only managed to grab one coat on their way out, leaving him exposed to the night’s chill. But the truth was, it didn’t bother him as much as he assumed.

A rare silence stretched between them, though it wasn’t uncomfortable.

"What does it feel like to you?" Donovan finally asked, his voice quieter too, though his eyes never moved from Esme.

Esme turned to look at him, blinking. "The aurora?"

He gave a slight nod, and then she smiled, looking back up once more. "Like magic," she murmured. "Like something greater than us... but still ours, in some unexplainable way."

Donovan exhaled softly, his gaze equally drifting back to the sky, the swirling lights painting his face in ethereal hues. "I think it feels... impossible."

"Hm?" Esme frowned slightly, studying him. "In a bad way?"

His lips quirked in the barest hint of a smile at her question. "No." He paused. "Just in the way that some things shouldn’t exist, and yet, they do."

This time, Esme didn’t look away from him, and Donovan couldn’t let himself look at her. Though his eyes were fixed on the aurora, she could tell his mind wandered far beyond it. Still, she didn’t press, didn’t demand to know where his thoughts had carried him. Instead, she nudged him lightly with her shoulder. "Then I suppose we should enjoy the impossible while it lasts."

Donovan said nothing to that. But when he looked down, he found her palm already open, waiting— expecting. Without a word, he placed his hand in hers, fingers curling around hers in quiet understanding.

"I’ll carry you instead," Donovan suddenly murmured, his voice calm yet commanding. "Get on my back."

Esme hesitated for a moment, expecting him to crouch for a piggyback ride. But before she could question it, Donovan began to shift.

She had to take a step back as his fur sprouted and his bones shifted, but it happened so quickly that in the next second, a massive Alpha wolf now loomed in the spot where he stood, its presence both formidable and breathtaking. His fur was as dark as the night, with streaks of silver catching the glow of the Aurora.

Mist.

That same mist had him enveloped again.

She took a cautious step forward, feeling the heat radiating from the wolf’s powerful frame. Then, Donovan’s voice resonated in her mind, rich with amusement.

"The stubborn beast is currently at your service, My Lady. Care for a special ride?"

Esme blinked, momentarily startled by the telepathic link before responding. "Where are we even going?"

"It’s our first time seeing the aurora together, isn’t it?" His tone carried a teasing lilt. "Let’s make it unforgettable. We’ll get closer."

Esme watched as the Alpha wolf lowered itself, a silent invitation for her to get on his back. She carefully reached out after much thought, her fingers sinking into the thick, luxurious fur at the base of his neck. With measured caution, she hoisted herself onto the wolf’s broad back, the warmth of his body immediately seeping through the thin fabric of her nightgown.

Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her fingers in his fur while her legs pressed firmly against his sides, gripping for balance.

A deep rumble echoed through their bond, and Donovan’s reassurance enveloped her like a third layer of warmth.

"Don’t worry. We won’t let you fall."

And with that, he surged forward into the distance.

The first lurch sent an unexpected thrill through her, the sudden burst of speed making her heart leap to her throat. The ground blurred them as Donovan bounded forward, his powerful muscles shifting fluidly beneath her. The wind tore through her hair as he leaped forward, the icy air biting her cheeks, but she barely noticed. All she could feel was the steady, rhythmic motion of him beneath her, fast, untamed and exhilarating. He moved like a storm, and she was caught in its embrace.

Every leap sent a gasp slipping from her lips, but not out of fear, but from the sheer rawness of it. She could feel every ripple of his movement, the controlled power in each stride. Snow kicked behind them as he moved on, the world narrowing to nothing but the heady rush of the ride, the wild pounding of her heart, and the steady warmth of the beast carrying her.

She clung tighter, pressing her cheek against the thick, silken fur at the base of his neck. Her breath hitched, uneven, but for the first time in what felt like forever, she felt weightless, unbound— like she could fly.

"It’s easier to feel free here," Donovan’s voice resonated in her mind, smooth and quiet, as if he, too, could sense the change within her. "Don’t you feel it too?"

Esme closed her eyes, letting the sensation wash over her, whilst a slow, contented smile curved her lips.

It was unnatural for a wolf– especially an Alpha wolf, to allow someone on their back, and it was totally unheard of. Every werewolf see themselves as gods, not even the lower ones would do this. They were no one’s steeds, they were literal predators to be wary of. And yet, tonight, Donovan had given her this rare gift, had let her ride him, something no wolf of his starture would ever do because they find it degrading.

How much more could this man love her?

It wasn’t long before they reached a vast clearing, where a pristine lake stretched before them, its glassy surface mirroring the sky’s celestial display.

The Alpha wolf lowered itself once more, and Esme slid from its back, her boots sinking slightly into the snow. As she lifted her gaze, even clearer ribbons of emerald, violet, and even sapphire weaved through the night like ethereal flames, casting an otherworldly glow up on the frozen landscape.

A frozen river wound it’s way through the valley, its icy surface reflecting the luminous dance above. Towering evergreen stood in solemn witness, their dark silhouettes contrasting against the shimmering snowfall.

In that moment, it felt as though the heaven’s themselves have spilled their radiance upon the earth, draping the world in a celestial glow.