The Alpha's Curse The Enemy Within

My heart was jumping in my chest and suddenly, | couldn't breathe, as his golden irises bored down at me with an indescribable emotion in his depth.

I shot upright on my bed, my hair and body damp from sweat under my night dress. It was just a dream. | swallowed several deep breaths, placing my hand over my chest as | tried to calm my heavy panting.

But | just couldn't. | couldn't even quell the vibrations from my body.

I didn't know if it was from fear or confusion.

It's been a long time since Lucius abrupt war | had one of these dreams. And that was almost three weeks ago. | had spelled my dreams and ensured whatever madness was going on in there stopped, and it did. Or at least, | thought it did.

1 sighed, resting my elbows on my thighs while using my hands to rub my face. My heart and thought were in an uproar. | kept on swallowing some air, as my body vibrated more. | couldn't lie, for the first time in my life, | felt angst. Even Adie felt the same way.

Something about this dream was both wrong on different levels, and at the same time, confusing and terrifying.

jerked on the bed in shock from hearing the knock that came at the door.

It took a short while before | could speak. “Come in," the door pushed open, and Ria stuck her head in between the door.

“What? You are not ready?" She voiced with a frown, kicking the door alittle so that she could walk in properly with the large box that stood in her hands.

“Oh Ria," I was undoubtedly happy she was here. She moved to the table, dropping the box before coming to the bed. The second she

was within my reach, | collapsed in her arms, craving a warm embrace, with hopes to stop whatever was going on in my body, and mind.

“Sheila, what's going on?" | heard her speak softly, leaning further into my embrace. But | didn't speak. I couldn't possibly begin to explain anything.

She held on to me for a while before we pulled apart. The vibrating from my body had turned down, and | was grateful for the fact that | had more control over my emotions or this place would be in complete ruins.

“What happened?” Ria's question came at me, her tone laced with worry.

“Oh, forgive me, please,” | brushed my face with my palm.

“It's nothing,” she spoke softly, staring at me. "Are you alright?" I nodded. "Just a bad dream,” | managed to say and Ria's smile

appeared.

“Well, that's nothing. It's just a dream. And good thing | came just in time. You've been sleeping for hours, and the Alpha asked me to check up on you,” at her words, | became aware of everything around me.

I was in the chamber Killian and | now share. My eyes fell onto the draperies, folded against each other, allowing me to see only a little through the window.

My eyes widened. It was way past noon. | can't believe | slept so much.

“Alpha Killian wanted you to have more rest, he said you were exhausted,” she spoke quickly as if reading my thoughts.

I nodded, pulling out from the bed.

“Oh, yes. Before | forget, | have something that would put you in a good mood,” she pointed at the box.

I raised a brow. "What's in there?" “Your dress and everything you'll need for the ball" Ria muttered, almost screaming from excitement.

“What ball?" | blurted out absentmindedly. As the words left my lips, | remembered.

My blue eyes shot up, as my racing heart mounted a race, and panic settled right away.

“Sheila,” Ria was up immediately from the bed, rushing to me.

“No, I'm fine," I stopped her halfway in a breathless voice. “I'l be right back," | hurried to the washing room, splashing some water on my face as | fought hard to control myself.

My eyes fell on the mirror in front of me, no matter how | tried, nothing was working. | had completely forgotten about tonight's feast. It was a ball. We had exhausted ourselves and spent yesterday making preparations for it, as many guests would be attending from the Council and within North Central and beyond.

I pressed a hand to my chest, struggling to breathe. My eyes never left my reflection in the mirror as my emotions kept spiraling out of control and in an instant, a sharp sound echoed within the corner walls and several cracks appeared in the mirror, splitting me into several reflections of myself.

“Snap out of this. Its just a dream. Just a dream. Only a dream and nothing more,” | repeated, my eyes not breaking free from the several reflections in the mirror as | tried to convince myself that the terrible feeling in my chest had nothing to do with my dream.

1 sighed, feeling my body and emotions calming down. It was only a dream, like the others | had back in my brother's pack. | had spelled

myself heavily, so, I didn't understand why it came back.

No matter how much | convinced myself, | couldn't lie to myself nor dismiss the feeling in my chest. Adie was right. None of these were normal, and | couldn't stay quiet. I needed help.

I stripped from my night clothing, opting for a cold shower, and swiftly, | was done. | donned a robe and stepped out.

I didn't find Ria there, but Killian was waiting for me. He came to me, kissing me. I kissed him back. | couldn't stop the guilt that tightened my chest as the image of me kissing that bastard flashed through my mind, and | abruptly broke free from Killian's kiss.

“Are you alright?" He asked, his thumb gently holding my chin and | had no choice but to stare into his beautiful eyes.

“It's nothing, Killian, 1 just—" “Had a terrible dream,” | gazed up at him, surprised. "Ria told me, and she was worried, and that worried me.”

1 smiled weakly. “It's just a dream. I'l be fine,” | voiced, knowing | didn't believe any of my words. How normal is it to have dreams ‘about someone I've never met? “Not very normal. And | had told you, didn't 12° Came Ades voice in my head. But | didn't dare argue with her. I had no strength for that, and, she was absolutely right.

“You don't look well," Killian's large palm cupped my cheek. "We could cancel the ball and have it when you feel better.” 1 would have loved that. Sincerely, | wasn't in any mood to party, and receive guests. It would be great if we canceled it, and also selfish on my part. Everyone in the pack was looking forward to it. This was the first time we were having a party since the war, and I didn't want to un the fun for everyone, and a lot of people were already informed and would be attending.

“Everyone has put in so much work and time already. We can't cancel it" 1 said.

Killian brushed back the damp locks of my hair that stuck to my face.

“What's the point of having a party if you don't feel well? It's not a problem. I will cancel it." “Don't do that. It's fine. | just need to shake this off and prepare for tonight,” I said, kissing him. “You have many things to tend to, so go now, I'l join you soon," | pecked his lips, sending him off.

1 got dressed in one of my blue dresses, giving my hair the attention it needed, allowing it to fall down my shoulders. | fastened my ankle boots and hurried out of my chamber, heading straight to Valerie's spell room.

1 used my magic and opened the door, suddenly stopping abruptly at the door, seeing the mess around the spell room.

“Valerie, what's happening?” | went to where she was next to one of her shelves, tossing around some of the books on it.

“Don't mind me, I'm searching for something,” she sent a glance my

way, focusing back on the shelf. I looked around at the mess created by several books on the floor. Whatever she was looking for was probably very important. “What brings you here?” “I don't know if I'm going insane, but there's something that's been bothering me, Val, and I feel it in my bones. It's bad," I said, and Valerie's eyes darted to me. She stopped what she was doing, taking a good look at me.

“What is it?" She asked softly, and I sighed.

*I'had a terrible dream. Or rather, I've been having some dreams," | began as Valerie's purple eyes held onto my words. "And every one of them is about him," | paused, wrapping my hands around my arms. "The Dark Lord." "What?!"