Es sighed softly and fixed her gaze ahead. By now, everyone else had noticed Lennox, halting in place before cautiously retreating on their horses, careful not to draw his attention.
She was relieved that the group had taken Neville’s advice seriously, using the potion he brewed to mask their scent from others.
He had assured them that the potion would suppress their scent for at least two days, which ant the effect would fade by dawn.
"Of course he’d be the first to make an entrance," Donovan muttered with evident disdain laced in his tone, easily recognizing the overpowering scent of a lycan, one that could only belong to Lennox.
"What is he looking for in the city? Shouldn’t he be getting settled in the Fang Fortress by now, being entertained as their guest?" She mused out loud, her voice tinged with frustration. "Entertaining their male guests with silly shows was how they normally welcod them, and Dahr had attended back when he was still Alpha. It was practically tradition. He even went so far to reduce to a re plaything after one of those Northern won entertained him."
The bitter mories of the tis Dahr would return from the North surged through her, stirring a storm of emotions she could barely contain. Dahr had done more than just disgrace her — he had robbed her of her dignity, shad her body, and had the audacity to pin bla on Finnian. She knew she was capable of forgiveness, but not for him.
Dahr would never receive her pardon, not even if he lay on his deathbed, pleading for rcy.
Es’s hands clenched on the reins so tightly that her knuckles turned white. It wasn’t until a gloved hand covered hers that she realized how hard she had been gripping them. The contrast between her tension and Donovan’s calm touch was palpable, a reminder of how deep her resentnt ran.
"It’s okay," he comforted her gently. "I don’t know what it is you’re thinking, but I don’t want you to let the mories of your past hold you trapped. Don’t think about it if it will only cause you pain, and whoever you’re thinking about, is certainly not worthy of the space in your thoughts."
Es glanced down at his hand resting on hers, the warmth of his touch seeping into her skin like a gentle current, grounding her in the present and washing away the weight of her past burdens.
Without thinking, she placed her other hand over his, a small gesture of the connection between them. "You’re right," she admitted with a quiet sigh. "Whoever I was thinking about doesn’t deserve the ti or energy. Thank you for reminding ."
A small smile tugged at her lips. The more ti she spent with Donovan, the clearer it beca — he wasn’t the villain everyone made him out to be. But if society was that determined to cast him in that role, then perhaps it was only natural for him to live up to their expectations. Her deepest hope was that one day he could be free from the curse that bound him, to live as he chose – maybe even explore other realms. They had both endured so much already.
"His scent is gone," Donovan muttered, imdiately drawing the attention of the warriors. "We should be free to move out now, but we need to stay vigilant at all tis. Kangee will do a quick sweep of the main city. We can’t make a move until we get word from the others that their mission is complete.
"But what are we supposed to do until then?" Es asked, her concern slipping in her voice. She silently hoped that Finnian and the rest would be safe from the patrol’s clutches. Being here already left her with so much to worry about, and there’s the event too.
"Blend in," Donovan replied, pulling his dark hood over his head. "Don’t worry, the Northerners have enough distraction as it is."
Es understood. The event the Alpha of the North was hosting would bring guests from all four regions, making it easy for them to pass as just another group of travelers.
"Let’s go," Donovan added quietly, and they urged their horses forward, maintaining a low profile as they moved cautiously through the snow-covered cobblestoned paths ahead.
anwhile, the four guards escorted Leonardo toward the Frozen Hollow. He really wanted to spare them so logical sense and inform them that all four guards don’t need to follow him like he was so important dignitary arriving in town. But their dumbness was aiding his brother, so who was he to voice his objections?
The Frozen Hollow lay at the end of a winding, snow-laden path deep in the northern wilderness, concealed from the eyes of most. Leonardo had to admit to himself, it was definitely the perfect hideaway for shady dealings.
The place was as bleak as its na suggested – a scattering of crumbling stones structures and rickety wooden stalls, huddled together beneath the looming shadows of jagged cliffs.
Dimly lit torches lined the area, their weak, sputtering flas barely pushing back the oppressive darkness that clung to every corner, whilst the air hung with the unpleasant stench of desperation.
He could hear yelling coming from a certain structure, and there was a man who stood at the entrance, towering over a middle-aged figure, his voice booming through the air as he rcilessly kicked the man again and again.
"UNGRATEFUL INGRATES! THE DEAL WAS MADE! YOU AGREED TO HAND OVER YOUR DAUGHTER, AND WE PAID YOU A FAIR PRICE! HOW DARE YOU STAND HERE AND ACCUSE YOUR BETA OF TRICKERY?! DO YOU WANT TO SLICE YOUR PATHETIC NECK NEXT, OLD MAN!"
Leonardo halted mid-stride, his gaze fixed on the violent scene unfolding before him. The beta, satisfied with the beating, finally stepped back, leaving the man crumpled and broken. Monts later, two guards arrived, roughly lifting the man’s weakened body and dragging him away.
When the beta’s gaze shifted toward him, Leonardo imdiately snapped out of his thoughts, his posture straightening as he approached him. Without allowing the guards to explain who he was, Jason waved them off dismissively, a smug grin plastered across his face as he greeted Leonardo.
He was draped in a thick fur cloak, the luxurious material brushing against the ground beneath him. His hair was slicked back, revealing his sharp, angular features, and it gave his face a cold, almost predatory appearance.
This man was Emily’s father?
He looked as though he’d long since abandoned any trace of morality, and his eyes glead with a sinister glint as he extended a hand toward Leonardo.
"Well well, look who’s finally decided to join the ga. If it isn’t the man himself," Jason sneered, his voice dripping with self-satisfaction. "After all these years of our secret dealings and transactions, we finally et in person. I trust you’ve brought so fresh stock, as usual?"
Leonardo glanced at his outstretched hand but made no move to accept it. The temptation to crush it beneath his grip flickered in his mind, but he held back, his restraint masking the rising urge to make this man vanish from the universe entirely.
"I have," Leonardo replied evenly, his voice calm and composed, though a subtle undercurrent of tension lingered. "But as always, Jason, I expect discretion."
Jason’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if weighing Leonardo’s words. Then, with a sudden chuckle, he waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. "Of course, of course, I don’t care who they are or where they ca from as long as they sell well. You should know by now I’m only in this for one thing – gold."
His eyes glead as he glanced at the veiled figures, "Let’s not waste ti then, eh? Show the rchandise, and I’ll make sure they’re taken off your hands in no ti."
Leonardo offered a tight smile. No doubt, Jason was irritatingly predictable – quite arrogant, and mostly driven by all the wrong motives.
When he lifted their veils, his eyes scrutinized their faces, and he humd quietly, a wordless sound of approval, but his expression remained unreadable.
"They’re mute," Leonardo interjected, his voice cool. "aning, they, physically can’t speak."
Jason’s lips curled into a dismissive smirk. "Not an issue," he replied, his tone laced with indifference. "In fact, it’s a blessing — I won’t have to deal with the wailings like the last one I received yesterday." With a sharp snap of his fingers, two guards appeared at his side.
"Take these three to the Fang Fortress and hand them over to the maid first. Let’s see if they got what it takes to survive in that pit."
Leonardo suppressed a knowing smirk as he watched the guards take the boys away. It was obvious Jason trusted this priest quite a lot to literally accept anyone from him, and If there was one thing he was certain of, it was that Jason made a grave error by accepting them.
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