The Villain Alpha's Cursed Mate
Chapter 73: His Wolf’s Presence

Chapter 73: His Wolf’s Presence

Esme retreated to her chamber where she had earlier sought refuge, her mind still reeling from the revelation about Lady Emily. She couldn’t fathom why Finnian would mention Emily’s name in connection to the palace’s sinister activities.

She must have been really close to the king to know so much or give such cruel orders. Or was it, in fact, a mandate from Lennox himself?

As Esme entered the room, her thoughts were abruptly derailed by the sight before her. Donovan stood before his wardrobe, his back to her, his shirtless torso gleaming in the soft light. Droplets of water clung to his silver-white hair, which cascaded down his back like a river of moonlight. The air seemed to thicken as Esme’s gaze lingered on the strong lines of his physique, her breath catching in her throat.

The flickering flames of the hearth casted a golden glow on his bare back, and it illuminated the intricate, dark runes that danced across his skin. Her gaze was irresistibly drawn to the powerful curves of his physique, tracing the contour of his muscles as they rippled beneath his skin. Her eyes lingered, mesmerized, at the lean definition of his waist, where the waistline of his pants seemed to be tantalizingly low.

What was it about him that made him so breathtakingly attractive?

Donovan’s soft humming as he selected a robe, seized, and he asked, his voice tinged with amusement. "Are you planning to stare at me all night? I can feel your gaze boring holes into my back, you know."

He paused, his tone deceptively innocent as he continued, "Since you’re already here, would you mind helping me with this?" He held out his translucent robe, sounding as if he genuinely required her assistance.

Esme’s initial instinct was to refuse, but since he treated her to a hearty meal, and saved her from Lennox’s clutches, the least she could was return the favor by helping him with his request.

With deliberate steps, she crossed the room and took the robe from his outstretched hand.

She assisted him in slipping it on, her fingers grazing against his bare skin as she worked the fabric into place. Though she didn’t catch it, a faint, teasing smile played on his lips, only to dissolve whenever she looked at him.

As her fingertips made contact with his skin, the memory of that illicit night at the inn surged to the forefront of her memory, sending a flutter through her chest. It was more vivid than she remembered, with his mouth all over her, their skin flushed and molded into one on that bed.

She shoved the recollection aside when it was starting to make her dizzy, focusing on the task at hand.

With meticulous care, Esme reached for the belt, her fingers dancing across the ridges of his abdomen as she tied the sash in place. Donovan’s body responded with a subtle, almost imperceptible squirm, a fleeting reaction that Esme both saw and felt. The touch, innocent as it was, sent a quick shiver down her spine, leaving her wondering if she was the only one affected by this proximity.

"Why are you here?" Esme asked, her question hanging in the air, and Donovan’s eyebrow arched in amusement.

"Isn’t it obvious?" he replied, his voice low and smooth. "This is my chamber, and I’m not one to invite just anyone into my room. But for you, I’m willing to make more than an exception. We can share a bed together, if you’re not opposed to the idea."

Esme’s hand instinctively withdrew, but his fingers closed around her wrist, holding her in place. His voice dripped with seduction as he whispered, "It’s a chilly night, don’t be selfish and share your warmth with me." He brought her hand to his lips, his kiss sending shivers down her spine, and then he used her hand to caress his cheek.

Esme’s heart raced with reckless abandon, pounding against her ribcage like a drum. She couldn’t recall a time when her pulse had raced so furiously, and her cheeks were all heated up. Donovan’s deliberate seduction was working its magic, and she was helplessly succumbing to his charms.

Why did he have to smell so invitingly good as well?

Her lips yearned to meet his, to taste the promise of pleasure in his kiss. But her mind screamed a desperate warning; NO.

Esme jerked her hand free from Donovan’s grasp as the dissenting voices in her mind shouted a strong disapproval. She swiftly created distance between them, her desire to escape his presence growing with each passing moment.

"You are a very dangerous man," she declared, her words laced with a mix of warning and self-admonition. "I’m leaving." Without hesitation, Esme turned and exited the room, leaving the man to his own devices.

As the door closed behind her, Donovan struggled to stifle a laugh, his amusement stemming from the knowledge that he had successfully gotten under her skin. He reveled in the fact that he could evoke such a strong reaction from her, that her heart raced at his proximity.

Only hers, it seemed, held such allure.

The sound of her feet stomping away, the annoyance etched in her voice, everything about her was far too irresistible for him, and she had no idea that they only added to his delight.

"How adorable," he murmured, biting his lower lip to rein in his mirth.

’Keep pissing our mate and see who gets kicked out.’ his wolf hissed in his mind, breaking its long silence. Donovan couldn’t believe he heard his wolf speak again, and all for that woman’s sake.

"How long have you been silent?"

"It’s not easy counterbalancing your curse, Donovan," his wolf retorted, its growl evident in his thoughts. "It’s been draining me for fifteen years while you heal, and I can only manifest for a short period of time. But whenever you get intimate with our mate, it amplifies not just your strength, but mine as well."

His wolf’s tone turned menacing. "She’s special, and we need to keep her at all cost. If not, I’ll force your hands to do the needful."

Donovan let out a sardonic tsk at his wolf’s threat. He had to admit that his wolf was downright intimidating, which was why he usually kept his aura in check. However, even with his restraint, his wolf’s presence still inspired fear in others. The wedding debacle, where his wolf’s aura had sent guests scattering, was a mere example of that. One could imagine the difference of the situation if he did transform and let his wolf have some fun.

Not to mention but his own anger towards Lennox had fueled the situation, and that alone had amplified his wolf’s already formidable aura.

"This isn’t how you welcome me after our long years of being distant with one another." Donovan drawled lazily. "I still haven’t forgiven you for that pheromone stunt you pulled at the palace. The one where you shamelessly broadcasted my ’come hither’ signal to the supernatural community. This is why we never get along."

His wolf’s response was curt. "I’ve suffered enough being paired with you already, and we can never get along, Donovan. We’re bound together by necessity, and I need to recharge. You ingrate, I absorb half of the pain of your curse, allowing you to stabilize it. Where’s your gratitude?"

"Am I supposed to give you a medal for doing your job?" Donovan’s voice dripped with sarcasm, and his wolf growled at him in return. "Like you said, we’re bound by necessity, might as well suffer for it together."

He sauntered over to his window seat, his hand casually tucked into his pockets, and he settled in a languid pose.

Despite his wolf’s persistent meddling, he couldn’t deny the truth in its words. That fiery night at the inn had been a turning point, and it marked a significant shift in his physical state. After exerting himself to taking down a hundred guardians at the fortress, his body had been at the brink of collapse. If he had run into Lennox then, he knew without much doubt that he would have been caught again.

However, he wasn’t the type who believed in fate, but he just happened to run into his fated mate at the most inconvenient times. Her presence had revitalized him, and she reignited his strength and vitality with just one night of pure passion and bliss. Just thinking about it stirred his lower body, and he sighed, running his hands through his hair.

Asides that, though blurry, those eyes he had seen were a definition of beauty, at least to him. He recalled the fleeting moment when their gazes met, and how, in the blink of an eye, darkness had encompassed his vision before he fell into a dreamless, but peaceful sleep by her side.

Though he couldn’t pinpoint the exact shade of her eye, since he barely knew which color was which, asides black, he was drawn to the vivid impression it had left on his consciousness. It was this mental image that had inspired him to craft the pendant he made from his own core, the pendant he had gifted her.

That wasn’t the reason he wanted to be with her though, maybe a primary reason, but he genuinely yearned for her to like him for who he was. He wanted to be with her, and his wolf selfish inclination won’t get in the way of the bond he hoped to nurture and strengthen with her.

As if sensing the trajectory of his thoughts, his wolf interjected, ’You know I can hear your inner thoughts, right?’ Donovan’s lips curved into a subtle, deceptive smile.