The Villain Alpha's Cursed Mate-Chapter 203: Room To Play

Althea’s lips parted slightly, but before she could say anything, her wolf’s voice rippled through her mind, firm yet cautionary.

"Don’t tell her, not yet." The voice was resolute, and it was a quiet command laced with urgency. "The Alpha must hear it first."

Swallowing the words that had nearly slipped past her tongue, Althea forced a smile, smoothing her expression into something unreadable. She then gave a small shake of her head, silently reassuring Esme that all was truly well, that she had nothing to worry about.

"I only wanted to speak to the Alpha," Althea said lightly, keeping her tone casual. "There’s something I need to inform him about, and I also wanted to know if we’ll be returning to the Damned anytime soon, since the boys are leaving tomorrow. That’s all, but since he isn’t available, I won’t bother you."

Bowing her head politely, she turned to leave, but Esme’s voice halted her.

"Althea."

There was something about the way Esme said her name– it sounded soft yet insistent– and that made her stop in her gait. Reluctantly, she turned back, meeting Esme’s gaze. Althea could tell that Esme was busy scrutinizing her, as if searching for something beneath the practiced composure she had put on, and she hoped Esme didn’t find it.

"Do you sleep at all?" Esme’s voice held a quiet concern as she asked. "You look exhausted, Althea. When was the last time you had a decent night’s rest? I can see it in your face– the dark circles, the strain. And now that I think about it, I’ve barely seen you train lately. There’s something wrong with your sparkle. Are you truly alright? If there’s a problem, you can always share them with me."

For the briefest moment, Althea’s resolve wavered, and that did not go unnoticed by Esme. Her gaze dipped slightly before she gathered herself, inhaling through her nose.

"...yes," Althea finally admitted. "I’ve been having trouble sleeping, and it has affected my daily schedule. Don’t tell anyone about it though, especially my sister. She’ll get worried for no reason."

"For how long have you been suffering from this?" Esme couldn’t help but worry. "Do you need me to do a proper examination on you first? You know I have to assess your condition before deciding on the right remedy to help you sleep. Just wait for me, I won’t be long."

With that, Esme gestured for Althea to step inside her chamber. The moment Althea crossed the threshold, a peculiar sense of comfort washed over her, and she had to stop for a moment. The room was warm and inviting, carrying a pleasant scent that unmistakably Esme’s.

It wasn’t hard to understand why Donovan always chose to rest here instead of his own chamber. If given the chance, Althea wouldn’t mind staying either. Perhaps, if she did, her own restless nights and lingering nightmares would fade.

"Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be quick," Esme said before gathering a fresh towel and a change of clothes. Without another word, she disappeared into the adjoining bath chamber, leaving Althea alone with her thoughts.

Althea sat quietly at the dressing table. Images of what she had seen last night resurfaced in her mind, but she shook her head, clearing the disturbing thought from her already overstressed mind. She had to stop being afraid and gather herself for once.

Meanwhile, Donovan, Leonardo and Acheron were doing a quick scout within the areas Donovan had claimed to have seen the girl he was looking for. They were currently riding through the woods, retracing the path where Donovan had last seen the girl he sought. Their horses wove between towering trees, their hooves kicking up snow as they crossed the river.

Yet, despite their effort, there was no sign of her.

Kangee’s sharp caw tore through the air before the raven swooped down, settling onto Donovan’s shoulder with effortless grace. It fluffed its dark feathers as usual before delivering its report in a voice as rough as gravel.

"No sign of the girl matching your description, Master. I’ve searched beyond the perimeters, but she’s nowhere to be found."

Hearing this, Leonardo let out a slow breath, his brows knitting together as he studied Donovan. He had long since given up on this person Donovan mentioned, but this time around, it was starting to seem particularly absurd.

"I don’t get it," he finally began. "Why would a child be spying on you? Even if she was, children are naturally mischievous. That girl you saw was probably playing a prank, or whatever the children call it now."

Acheron gave a curt nod, his tone practical as he joined in. "We scoured four areas already, rounded up all the silver-haired girls we could find, but none of them matched. If you insist on continuing this search, then we should check the village near the capital. Perhaps we missed something."

Donovan said nothing to either of them. A muscle in his jaw tensed as frustration simmered beneath his calm exterior.

If Kangee had failed to spot the girl, what were the odds that he would ever find her? It had to be she was either a mole, or something else. Nothing felt right about her, and he was the only one who understood that.

Or had he simply imagined last night’s encounter, and was he making too much of this? He wanted to agree that he was, but something gnawed at him. Better to be safe than sorry.

"Let’s return to the capital," he finally said, his voice even but firm. Without another word, he turned his horse around, leading the way as Leonardo and Acheron fell into step behind him.

Back in the capital, the bustling streets barely registered in Anita’s mind as her gaze locked onto the approaching riders, hence, she paused mid-step. Her eyes narrowed slightly as they swept over the three men, but it was Leonardo who held her attention the longest. A strange familiarity tugged at the edges of her memory, a recognition she couldn’t quite place.

"Is that really the King’s advisor they declared missing?" she murmured to herself. Wanted posters had been sent out, but none had reached the North. Even so, the news of his disappearance did.

Her lips parted slightly as she took in the sight before her. "Why are they all so damn attractive?" She exhaled, barely above a breath. Then, her thoughts sharpened. She needed a plan, one that wouldn’t be ruined by that meddlesome Cora again. The last time she had tried to approach, Cora had swooped in as if she had been waiting for the opportunity. For her to act that boldly, there had to be something between them.

Anita clicked her tongue, pushing the annoying thought aside. "Doesn’t matter," she mused with a casual shrug. "As long as they’re not together, there’s still room to play." A slow smile curled on her lips as her fingers brushed against the hidden vial tucked safely in her cloak.

"Hopefully the aphrodisiac will do the trick," she murmured before slipping into the crowd once more.

*************

Hello, my wonderful readers!

As this novel approaches its conclusion soon, which should be next month, I’d love for you to add my WSA work to your libraries and share your thoughts through comments! Your support means the world to me and is truly appreciated.

Title: Caged in Moonlight: The Courtesan’s Bargain

Thank you all! <3