The Villain Alpha's Cursed Mate
Chapter 88: Meeting His Wolf

Chapter 88: Meeting His Wolf

Leonardo made no attempt to ease the tension between them; instead, he chose to focus on the subject that had been weighing on his mind. He knew it would stir old wounds, but it couldn’t be avoided any longer.

"Did you ever learn about how Father became a demon?" Leonardo’s voice was measured, but his gaze was searching, hoping to catch even a flicker of reaction from Donovan. Yet, his brother’s face remained a stoic mask, betraying nothing.

"If I knew," Donovan replied coldly, crossing his arms, "I wouldn’t be here." His attention drifted to the untouched drink before him, one that Clandestine had made for the both of them, though Donovan hadn’t so much as considered tasting it.

Leonardo exhaled slowly, frustrated but determined to continue the conversation. "I overheard something once, when Father was speaking to Mother. It’s a memory I recalled after activating my curse. I wasn’t eavesdropping on that day, but I passed by their chamber just as they were talking."

He paused, recalling the moment vividly. "Father sounded... remorseful. He said he regretted what he had become. Mother asked him how it had all begun, and that’s when he mentioned the three witches to her. He found them when his health was beginning to fail. But they weren’t from Illyria, he made that clear."

Donovan’s expression didn’t shift, but Leonardo pressed on. "I wanted to hear more, to understand what happened. But then..." his voice trailed off. "The stupid curse overtook his rationality again. That should have been enough sign that Father wasn’t even the true bearer, the true bearer should be able to control the curse as they are the ones who own it, but Father wasn’t able to do that. It was his fault, but he was struggling with the curse just like everyone of us before we eventually found a way to tame it."

He shook his head. "Father never finished telling her everything, or maybe he did, but by then, I was gone. I never learned the full truth." Leonardo’s eyes remained fixed on his brother, waiting, though he feared his brother’s silence more than any answer he might receive.

Donovan reflected on everything Leonardo shared with him, a familiar weight settling on his chest.

It was only natural his younger brother would be aware of something like that, he was the favored one, the only one who could physically meet with his parents, and him? Well, he has always been kept at a distance, a burden... not because they said so, but he felt it. Leonardo had the gift of hiding his curse, mastering it in ways Donovan never could.

He was cursed beyond saving, a monster in his own skin, with no way to escape the truth of what he was.

"Three witches, you say?" Donovan’s tone sharpened, his full attention honing in on that singular word. "The demon I met with the other day mentioned something very similar. He spoke of three witches, which means he wasn’t lying."

The more Donovan pondered on it, he couldn’t help but suspect something was at play.

Leonardo gave a brief nod before continuing, "I went through some ancient texts while serving the king in the palace. I was able to get my hands on the keys due to my status, and I came across records of three dark mages residing on the shore of Mariana. It’s in the neighboring realm, the closest one to Illyria – a land of mages. If we journey there, we might uncover what they did to Father. According to what I read, they were known as the ’three ugly sisters’ who eventually became witches after they violated the laws of their realm by practicing forbidden dark magic... or something along those lines."

"So you’re not even certain about this information?" Donovan pressed, arching his brows.

Leonardo bristled at the challenge, feeling a twinge of insult. "This is the most reliable lead we have. I’d say it’s a solid 70/40 chance."

"But to reach the other realm, we’ll have to cross through the waters," Donovan hinted to his brother. "If we have any intention of making it there, the Damned is our best and only quickest route. It’s the most direct way to the west coast, but with the rainy season upon us, the journey may be far more dangerous. Even sailors retreat from the waters at this time of the year."

Leonardo hadn’t yet considered his brother’s observation, but he was grateful Donovan brought it up.

"You’re right," Leonardo replied, "the storm grows violent at this time of the year. That detail had slipped my mind."

"The journey will have to wait," Donovan said, finally reaching for the glass of juice. "I have matters to attend to in the North. Once I’ve handled things, I’ll let you know when we can start planning the trip to the other realm. Truthfully, I’d prefer you to stay out of it entirely, but I know you won’t listen, will you?"

Leonardo shook his head, "No, I want to help, and I’ll do whatever it takes to catch the true bearer, so we can all be free from his evil clutches. Don’t mind me asking but what exactly are you dealing with in the North? Maybe I can be of use."

"It’s nothing for you to concern yourself with," Donovan replied, draining the glass before standing. "As I said, I’ll reach out when it’s time to discuss the trip. Before I leave, I have one thing to ask."

Leonardo looked up at his brother’s towering form. "What?"

"The ancient text you found," Donovan began, "you didn’t leave it lying around in the palace, did you? It could turn into a disadvantage for us if someone in the palace finds it and learns about the location of the three witches."

"The king has no clue about the witches," Leonardo assured his brother. "Even if he sees those texts, they’d be of no use to him. But to quell your concern, I kept it in the middle of a book I used to read and shoved it into one of the cupboards in my chamber, locking it. You need a key to unlock it, and I lost the key."

Donovan wanted to say something else, but refrained from doing so. "Tell Irwin and his wife that I’m grateful for the hospitality. I won’t stay any longer."

Pulling his hood over his head, he turned and exited the building without looking back.

Once he was out of sight, Irwin and Clandestine joined Leonardo in the parlor, their eyes immediately settling on their son.

"He agreed to the plan," Leonardo confirmed, though they had already heard since they were eavesdropping on the conversation.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he added, "I feel assured now, that Donovan and I can rekindle the bond we once shared. He mentioned having something important to take care of before we can move forward with the trip. I’m not sure what he’s up to, but I wish him well."

Meanwhile, Donovan sauntered through the woods with ease, but beneath his calm exterior, his wolf was a storm raging within him.

’I’m picking up something, let me out!’

Donovan could feel his wolf clawing desperately at his insides, trying to tear right through him. Unable to contain the rising urge, he broke into a sprint, ripping his blindfold from his face as he plunged deeper into the forest.

"Wait!" he growled underneath his breath, but his wolf was insistent.

’Let. Me. Out!’

And with one swift leap over a falling tree, Donovan’s control snapped. Mid-air, his entire body began to shift, black and white fur bursting from his skin as the transformation took hold.

Massive paws tore into the earth, propelling the creature through the dense forest with terrifying speed. Its long, thick tail swayed behind, cutting through the air in a rhythmic motion. The wolf had no thoughts of slowing down or stopping.

From its fur, dark swirling mist rolled off in ominous waves, signaling danger long before Donovan could fully grasp what his wolf had already sensed.

A demon wolf was barreling towards them, its singular purpose clear as it headed for the direction that led to Irwin’s home.

A target?

The inevitable clash between the two wolves came swiftly, dust consuming the area. In mere moments, Donovan’s wolf overpowered the creature, its jaw snapping around the demon’s wolf throat. With a brutal twist, it tore out the flesh, casting it aside as the wolf whimpered in pain, only to crumple to the ground eventually. The threat had been snuffed out as quickly as it had come.

—----～⁠♡～--------

Evening fell on the damned, casting a soft orange glow on the shadowspire. At the path leading to the garden, Finnian’s eyes widened, his pupils dilating in excitement as Esme told him he could attend Shadowbrook Academy.

"Do you really mean it?" he asked, his voice filled with hope. Esme playfully pretended to mull over the decision, tapping her chin in mock thought.

"Well... I’ve given it some thought. I visited the academy today, and it seemed like a really wonderful place. We can go tomorrow and get you registered before it closes," she replied with a small smile.

Finnian’s blue eyes lit up, practically glowing with excitement. "That means we get to stay here in the shadowspire with Van Dan?" he blurted out, his excitement bubbling over.

Esme sighed, amused, and she gently corrected him for what felt like the hundredth time. "Finn, his name is Donovan, and yes, we’ll be staying here for the meantime. But mind you, no troubles, okay?"

"Yes! You’re the best, sis!" he exclaimed, grinning as he raised his hand for a high-five. Their hands clapped together with a satisfying smack before he continued out of sheer excitement, "I’m going to tell Lothar, Revana and Althea that you agreed!"

With that, he dashed off, disappearing into the sprawling corridors. Esme could never quite figure out he always managed to navigate the labyrinthine structure, a maze that could easily lose a thief if one knew its hidden routes.

With a soft sigh, Esme decided to explore the garden, a part of the shadowspire she hadn’t yet ventured into. Opening the huge double doors, she made her way in, the scent of flowers hitting her nostril.

As vast as the rest of the estate, the garden stretched in all directions. The gentle trickling of a fountain nearby reached her ears, a calming sound amidst the stillness. She scanned the greenery, ponds, eyes searching for herbs that might prove useful.

As she rounded the grand fountain at the center of the garden, her steps faltered. Her breath hitched as her body froze in place, sensing the looming, dark presence behind her. It seeped right into her bones to the point it gave her instant chills.

A large shadow moved behind her, creeping across the ground, with something swirling out of it, though she couldn’t tell what it was. Her heart raced as her pupils dilated, eyes fixed on the dark form looming nearby.

Was that an animal? A beast? Or something far more dangerous?

She spun around quickly, her pulse quickening, and she came face-to-face with a massive wolf silently approaching her.