The Villain Alpha's Cursed Mate-Chapter 126: Isn’t It Suspicious?

Thirty Minutes Earlier...

In the grand ballroom, an imposing figure sat silently at the head of the hall. He was known not for his brute strength, but by the sheer mass of his broad, rotund body.

He occupied the throne-like chair with an air of quiet authority, his sharp eyes scanning the room as guests indulged in the evening’s lavish refreshment.

His face was full, almost cherubic, and his belly stretched the seams of his finely embroidered tunic.

He was the Alpha of the North, Alpha Thadius, and though his appearance often evoked muffled snickers or covert grins from those gathered, none dared voice their thoughts aloud.

Beneath his jolly facade, Thadius was a man of sharp intellect, known for turning tides of battle with a well-placed whisper, or outwitting enemies who have tried to steal his pack with strategies none would expect from someone of his stature.

The ballroom was filled with a sea of delegates, nobles, esteemed guests from distant regions, and scholars alike exchanging pleasantries. Amid the lively atmosphere, Jason, his beta, approached him with a quiet urgency and whispered a message in his ear.

Thadius’s gaze never shifted, his voice a low murmur as he waved Jason away with casual indifference. "Tell the guards to kill the girl. She knows too much," he ordered. "I want her executed. If she escapes, kill the guards for their incompetence."

Jason’s expression was grim, but he gave a curt nod and swiftly moved through the crowd to relay the orders to the guards who would carry out the task.

Thadius could feel the mark on his neck slowly spreading, the heat from it creeping beneath his skin. Since he wore a high collar tunic, the mark remained invisible to the gazes of others. His muscles tensed as he fought to maintain his composure, suppressing the discomfort that gnawed at him. Lennox noticed the subtle shift in Thadius’s demeanor, and his sharp gaze narrowed in concern.

"Is everything alright?" the king asked, his voice low and probing. Thadius turned to meet Lennox’s eyes, and a practiced smile settled on his lips as he straightened in his chair.

"Not entirely," Thadius admitted, though his tone remained light. "I’ve been under quite a bit of stress lately. But not to worry, your majesty. After tonight, I plan to rest well. It’s been sometime since I hosted such an event, and I saw this as an opportunity to invite everyone."

After answering the king, he rose from his chair. Standing tall — or as tall as his stature allowed — Thadius tapped his glass against the table to draw the room’s attention. The murmur of conversation quickly died down, all eyes now focused on him.

"I trust you all enjoyed the evening’s delights," he began, a mischievous grin on his face. "But tonight, I present you with something far more potent than wine or dance." His voice dropped, and a palpable hush fell over the room as he revealed a small vial from the folds of his robe.

"This," he announced, raising the small vial in his hand for all to see, "is called the Lycobane serum. When it was first created, it took four or five doses to kill a demon shifter wolf. But in recent months, it has been perfected, due to the unique ingredients it contains."

His voice was steady, commanding the attention of the room as he continued, "Now, a single injection of the serum is enough to bring even the mightiest wolf to its knees — especially demon shifters."

A wave of gasps and murmurs rippled through the gathering, the weight of his words settling heavily over the crowd. Thadius allowed a satisfying smile to creep onto his face as his keen eyes scanned the reaction around him, taking in the shock and awe. "And tonight, you, my esteemed guests will no longer have the fear of demon wolves raiding your home. Cause a single shot of this would leave them powerless, never to rise again."

"I have a question," someone from the crowd raised a hand. "How exactly does the serum work? Is it a poison or a curse?" freeωebnovēl.c૦m

"Ah, a fine question," Thadius smirked, pausing to let their curiosity build. "The Lycobane serum is a precise combo of rare herbs and magical compounds, and it’s specifically designed to target the energy coursing through a demon shifter’s wolf form. It’s not a curse, it’s science with a touch of alchemy. The moment it enters a demon shifters bloodstream, it targets the energy flowing through their wolf form, severing the bond between their natural state and his beast within. Once that connection is cut, they’re left helpless, stripped off their beastly power."

"Can it be administered in different ways?" Another one of his guests followed up, eager for more details. "Must it always be injected?"

Thadius hummed in response before facing the entire curious crowd, "That was the case when the serum was first crafted, but we’ve made advancements," he explained, his voice taking on a tone of authority. "With proper modification, it can now be delivered by dart, arrow, or even inhaled as fine mist. Its versatility is what makes it truly dangerous."

Lennox listened attentively, and his thoughts flashed back to the moment Donovan was injected with the serum. A gnawing question rose in his mind, one he couldn’t suppress, and he asked, "What about immunity?"

His voice cut through the murmur of the room, drawing every gaze towards him. "What if the demon shifters develop immunity? Could they adapt to the serum over time — perhaps absorb it slowly, giving their bodies a chance to heal and resist?"

"We’ve anticipated that concern," Thadius moved from his seat and went to stand before the king. "By the time they think they’ve built a resistance, we will have a stronger version ready. Besides, they won’t live long enough after being injected to worry about such things."

After listening to his explanation, the room buzzed with a renewed sense of urgency, and the crowd’s earlier shock morphed into eagerness. Delegates and nobles exchanged hushed words, clearly eager to stockpile the serum, as none of them wanted to suffer the same fate as the Therondia pack.

"There’s plenty for all," Thadius announced, his voice carrying over the rising chatter. Then, with a sly smile curving his lips, he added, "But, of course, it will come at a price."

Meanwhile, Althea and Acheron moved swiftly through the Alpha’s quarters, taking out the guards with silent precision. Each takedown was quick and efficient, leaving no trace of disturbance.

The ballroom lay four floors below, but with the guards neutralized, no one would suspect a thing was amiss in the upper levels.

Suddenly, Althea stopped mid-step, her brow furrowing as she glanced over at Acheron, who quickly scanned the corridor to ensure they weren’t being followed.

"Archer, do you feel that?" she asked, her voice low but urgent.

"What do you mean?" he replied, and Althea shook her head.

"Something’s off. The energy here... it’s wrong," she said, her expression tightening with concern. "We need to find the others. Maybe they’ll know what’s causing it. This isn’t just bad energy — it’s almost like..." her voice trailed off, as if searching for the right word.

"I sense it too," Acheron’s eyes narrowed as he focused on the energy circulating the floor. "It’s faint, but familiar. It’s similar to when a demon shifter is around, but this one’s weaker, somehow. Remember what we were taught concerning the ranks of demon wolves? The stronger the scent, the stronger the demon wolf. Whatever it is we’re sensing is obviously nowhere around here, but we can still feel it. We need to finish what we came here to do before whatever owns this energy finally reveals itself. Come on."

Althea nodded in agreement, their senses heightening as they continued down the corridor.

Upon arriving at the Alpha’s main chamber, a wave of relief washed over Acheron at the sight of Esme, Donovan, and the warriors stationed by the door, standing guard against any unexpected arrival.

"You’ve already found the vault?" Acheron asked in amazement as he took in the scene. He watched as the warriors were busy filling up bags they had brought with countless vials, each one disappearing from sight the moment it was secured.

"What about Revana, Lothar and the boys?" Althea asked, scanning the room anxiously for her sister, Lothar and the boys who were currently absent.

"I was able to get a hold of them," Donovan uttered, his expression turning sour. "Based on the report Lothar got from Kangee, demon wolves are headed North as we speak, and it’s not just a few of them."

"We sensed their presence," Althea murmured, her voice tense.

Donovan nodded. "It appears we’ll have to fight our way out of here," he said. "I have no doubt that this attack was carefully orchestrated. Given their numbers, they’ve been planning this for a while. After the fall of the Therondia pack, it seems the North is next on their list."

Esme joined Donovan and voiced out her own worries, "Don’t you find everything happening a little strange? How’s it possible that we’re the only ones sensing it and not the people downstairs? You said you were finding it difficult to mind-link Finn earlier. Isn’t it suspicious?"