The Villain Alpha's Cursed Mate-Chapter 213: Rare Wolf Blood

Esme returned to the front of the building, and her gaze settled on Donovan, who stood near the entrance. Just beyond him, on the opposite side, were Lady Arabella, and her daughter, Marissa. Lady Arabella greeted Esme with a faint smile, a strange warmth flickering in her blue eyes.

But Marissa’s expression was unusually somber– a stark contrast to her usual demeanor.

Donovan shifted his weight off the doorframe, and he spoke first. "She came to me, wanting to see you before you leave for the palace," he said, his tone neutral, but carrying an undertone of observation. "I need to go over everything again to make sure there are no complications along the way. That should give you more than enough time to speak with them."

Esme gave a small nod in response. As Donovan passed her, he leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "If anything goes wrong, you know where to find me, okay?" His words carried both reassurance and expectation, whilst Esme acknowledged his words with a brief but appreciative glance in his direction.

Without another word, he turned and left, leaving Esme alone with Lady Arabella and her daughter.

Looking at Marissa, Esme extended her arms in an open invitation, silently urging Marissa forward. The girl hesitated, her uncertainty evident as she glanced at her mother. Lady Arabella offered no protest and gently nodded her head in encouragement, but there was a stern look in her eyes that was fleeting, and that prompted Marissa to finally step toward Esme.

Lowering her head in a polite bow, she finally placed her hands in Esme’s.

"Is something wrong?" Esme asked softly, her voice laced with concern. "Is there something you want to say?"

At that, Marissa lifted her gaze, meeting Esme’s eyes for a fleeting moment before quickly looking away, her silence speaking louder than words. Esme’s brows knitted together, sensing the hesitation in the girl’s demeanor, and it was a familiarity that made Esme’s heart ache slightly.

Before she pressed further, Lady Arabella suddenly stepped in, cutting the moment short.

"The thing is," she began with practiced politeness, her voice measured yet carrying an undertone of concern. "My daughter has grown quite fond of Finn and his good friends. Their absence has left her feeling rather lonely, so... I made the decision that we will return to our home and see the developments being carried out."

Lady Arabella paused, gauging Esme’s reaction before continuing. "You will be away for the next few days, and I thought it best to inform you before my daughter and I depart tomorrow. Also..."

For a moment, Lady Arabella hesitated before she could even get the words out. Her usual confidence wavered as she carefully chose her next words. When she finally spoke again, her voice had softened into something almost regretful.

"I know I had no right to ask you to sacrifice your own happiness for the sake of Illyria. If you can, please forgive my conduct yesterday. I was out of line. And to truly express my remorse for my behavior, I will tell you everything I know about the rare wolf blood. The things I can remember."

Esme frowned at her words. "The what?"

Lady Arabella inhaled deeply, as if fortifying herself. "Do you remember the day after your training? You asked me if I knew anything about fire— if there was a history of it in our bloodline. I told you I didn’t." She paused. Then, her voice became quieter. "That wasn’t entirely true."

Esme simply straightened, her pulse quickening as she looked at lady Arabella intently.

"In our lineage, there exists one destined to inherit a werewolf blood," she continued. "Only few knew of its existence, and Alpha Thadius was one of them. When we assumed your father had to be the one who would get it, he was forced at some point to summon his wolf using fire, but he could not do it. There were many failed attempts, so we all agreed that we must have misinterpreted the prophecy."

Esme’s brows knitted together. "What are you saying?"

"A wolf’s blood is more than life— it is power. And in the prophecy, it was said that one of us would inherit this unique trait. It is said to be the only force capable of bringing down the true bearer. At first, neither of us understood the meaning of it, because Alpha Zephyr could still be affected by a normal weapon. We had no clue that the prophecy was only hinting at the fact that Alpha Zephyr wasn’t the true bearer. He was just another pawn. Clearly, the true bearer is more of an entity now than a man. No sword, no weapon forged by us can defeat him. Even our wolf form would be useless against him, considering the amount of wolves he’s deceitfully stolen."

Lady Arabella’s face contorted into one of disgust, and Esme swallowed, absorbing the gravity of her words.

"I know I should have told you sooner," Lady Arabella admitted, regret laced in her tone. "I’ll also admit that perhaps the reason no one ever shared these secrets in our family with you was because we never thought you’d be capable of solving it. We can’t even call ourselves your family, but there is no more time for hesitation."

From the folds of her scarf, she pulled out a small, worn book, its cover bound in a material that shimmered faintly. Wrapping it back, she extended it toward Esme.

"This should help you," she said. "It contains magical components, including the prophecy. I don’t know why I kept it all this time, but now I can understand the reason behind it. Only open it when you’re alone."

Staring at the book, Esme hesitated before taking it. She felt its unexpected weight in her palms. "And when I do... what will happen?"

Lady Arabella’s lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "You’ll see."

She then took a step back, inclining her head. "Send my regards to the King and Queen when you see them. I wish you a safe journey, Esme."

As Lady Arabella turned and disappeared into the house, Esme instinctively took a step forward, intending to follow her. However, before she could act, Atticus and Orion appeared behind her, their demeanor resolute.

"Luna, it’s time to leave. If we wish to reach the palace on schedule, we mustn’t delay any further," Orion informed her, and Esme exhaled softly, nodding her head in acknowledgement before joining them.

She wasn’t making this journey alone, as Revana had willingly agreed to accompany her at Donovan’s request. A small crowd had gathered to see her off, their presence a quiet yet meaningful display of support to Esme and her goals.

Before departing, Esme turned to Donovan, pulling him closer, and she whispered. "I need you to handle Dahmer’s report in my absence. We still don’t have answers about his death, and you’re the only one I trust to ensure we get the actual results. You know what you have to do, right?" frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

Donovan nodded reassuringly before responding in a soft tone. "I’ve already spoken to the healer. I’ll collect the results myself once they’re ready. You just focus on your journey, and always be conscious of your environment. Orion, Atticus and Revana are by your side, which give me some peace of mind. Be safe, Esme."

A small smile played on Esme’s lips. Without hesitation, she cupped his face gently, her touch lingering for a moment before she stood on her toes and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, in front of everyone. Donovan stilled at the unexpected warmth of the gesture. When she pulled away, a faint pink flush dusted his cheek, one even he didn’t notice, and Esme, who was already turning toward the carriage, didn’t seem to notice it either. She stepped inside the carriage, and moments later, the carriage rolled forward, carrying her away.

As the crowd disperesed, returning to their daily routines, Donovan couldn’t bring his heart to still itself. The memory of Esme’s touch still lingered, and now that she was gone, he realized he wouldn’t be able to stop worrying about her since he isn’t there with her.

"She’ll be fine," he uttered to himself, knowing that she had improved better and should be able to handle any situation she finds herself in. When she returns, he’ll finally give her the ring he bought. He had been hesitant at first, but now, he didn’t need to be. He should have given it to her sooner, but he wasn’t going to delay it any further. He’ll set up something romantic for her, and then—

"Don!"

Donovan’s thoughts came to a halt when he heard Althea call after him. He turned around to see her heading his way.

"Althea?" he questioned, surprised by her sudden appearance.

"Come with me, please," she said simply, grasping his wrist without warning. "There’s something important I need you to see." And with that, she led him away, her urgency leaving no room for hesitation.