The Alpha's Curse The Enemy Within

“My name is Zena, Kaiser's mate, and | was sent here by your brothers, both of them,” The woman sounded carefully, her brown eyes shifting from me to Morgan as my blue eyes narrowed on her.

“What??" | heard several gasps from Xavier, Jax, and a few warriors that surrounded her.

I couldn't hide the shock and confusion swirling in my depths. | took a step closer, my blue eyes taking in everything about this witch. | also noticed the symbol of the Dark Circle on her arm, and there was a small pyramid symbol on her wrist.

Morgan moved closer to her with his gaze raw with emotions. "What are you saying?" He was struggling to keep his emotions together, and frankly, so was I Zena's gaze traveled around, before meeting Morgan's again. *1 am saying I was sent here by my mate, Kaiser Black, and his friend, Killian Reid,” She paused, “Your brother,” she added, her words shocking us completely.

“My brother is—" Morgan started, vibrating with an unidentified emotion.

“Alive, together with Kaiser,” Zena sounded again.

“This could be a trap. She's with the fucking enemy that killed the Alpha. We watched him die right before our eyes!” Jax shouted, vibrating with a rage that had grown within him since the night of the attack, and Killian was killed. It was like everyone shared similar rage.

But it was understandable. The pack had lost many lives from the attack, including Nate, one of Killian's warriors. | didn’t know him at

all, but he was a close friend of Jax and Xavier.

“Killian is not dead. He survived, and he and Kai are stuck in Oasis as prisoners,” Zena rushed quickly. "1 urge you to believe me. Any more time we waste put all three of them, including everyone in North Central in danger.” “She could be lying,” Xavier started, as Valerie stepped closer.

“Iam not,” she spoke confidently, pulling a hand into her dress, and slowly, she pulled out something, tossing it to me.

| caught it immediately. My eyes rounded at the small object. It was the Blacks’ family crest. Kaiser always had it with him. My blue eyes went back to her.

“He gave me that to give to you. And Killian told me you'll believe me as well. It's understandable for you all to doubt me, but we don't have time. The more we drag this on, many innocent lives within and outside the Fortress are in danger, including your brothers’ and

Sheila's.” “Do you know where Sheila is?" Lorenzo asked quickly, and she nodded.

“I believe you,” My blue eyes pierced hers and | meant it, | believed every fucking word she said. And for the first time in many weeks, | had hope of finding my siblings.

*I do too. But we should take this inside,” Valerie suggested, holding unto her long sword.

1 was forced to pull my eyes on her. And as usual, the biting pain that always stabbed my chest returned. Like | had said, everyone lost something the night those bastards attacked the pack, including Valerie. She was the very reason things hadn't been worse. Right after she lifted the veil restricting the witches’ magic that night, she had sent a call to almost everyone that the white wolf was in danger. It was an old crystal Fortress way of alarming everyone of great danger.

I had managed to arrive just in time before Killian was killed, but the Council and its army couldn't make it on time. Valerie anchored a powerful spell in the witches’ cemetery that wiped off many of the Dark Circle armies and in the process, her magic consumed her and she lost her sight. The witches tried to heal her eyes but her sight couldn't be restored.

“We should,” Morgan's voice shook me out of my thoughts. | nodded and he led us through the castle doors, and into the office with Valerie, Gwen, Xavier, Allen, Lorenzo, and Jax trailing behind us.

Once we were in the office, we settled in and shut the door while | preferred to stand, leaning against the wall.

“Killian,” Morgan said. “I saw my brother die," His eyes never pulled away from Zena and all our attention was on her. “Please, tell me what exactly happened?” “What the hell is Oasis?" Allen asked from behind and the room

became quiet.

Zena's brown eyes went around everyone in the room before she began talking.

“Oasis is Vladimir's prison world," she started, and we all listened. The more she kept on talking, | couldn't keep still | started pacing around with the new information we were receiving.

1 pinched the skin on my forehead. Killian was alive. That was a fucking relief. Oh fuck. | never knew a day like this would come when 1 would be relieved in hearing my worst enemy, Killian Reid escaped death. Oh, goddess, how things had changed so much.

I focused my attention back on Zena, hanging onto her every word.

She had saved Kaiser's life and taken both of our brothers in. Sheila had saved Killian's life the same way she saved the lives of the warriors that died around the meadow. And my poor sister was forced to remain at Vladimir's side.

At every word that escaped Zena's lips, | felt my anger slowly rising.

She shared more insight on Oasis. No wonder we could never find them. That place was almost nonexistent with the magic holding up the boundaries.

Zena also apprised us of the Dark Circles plans to attack the location where those from the southern regions were at.

“We have to tell the Council,” came Morgan's voice, but Zena shook her head.

“No. That is precisely why | came here first. Sheila informed us that there's a traitor within the Council working for Vladimir.” "What?" Valerie bit out in shock at Zena's words.

“It's true. She saw him when he attended one of the Dark Circle meetings in Oasis,” Zena added.

“Who is he?" | asked, impatiently. | always knew it. | knew someone who had to be working within the Council had to be working for the Dark Circle.

“It's Felix." She spoke clearly, and almost everyone in the room gasped in shock.

| remained silent and frozen, and was anything but calm, processing this piece of information as | leaned against the wall. Felix was the fucking traitor. | felt anger mixed with my blood. He was the one all along. He has been ratting us all out and was the reason the Dark Circle learned of Sheila's identity fourteen years ago and that attack led to the death of our parents.

I shut my eyes closed, trying to keep my wolf in control as all he wanted was to have our claws deep within that traitor's heart. And | swear to the goddess, | will.

“There's still more,” Zena calmed the rage and outburst in the room

with her soft voice as she informed us about the Blood moon and Vladimir's plans for it.

I exchange glances with Morgan. This was exactly what Zeriyah was talking about in the meeting. Thankfully, we had a chance to change Amelie's vision of the future.

“So, what's the plan now?" Lorenzo spoke gently from the corner he had quietly been sitting.

1 could see the rage in everyone's gaze and they were as impatient as 1 was to find Killian, Kaiser, and Sheila. But first, we have to take care of Felix's situation and stop the attack on the South.

Zena shared with us every detail of tonight's attack on the South and after we came up with a plan, one that doesn't involve the Council, and doesn't give that traitor an inkling of what we know.

We assembled warriors from both my Pack and Morgan's. Our army

would be waiting for the Dark Circle army at the location of the attack and the South would be informed about it. While Valerie, Zena, and | would inform the Council of what's going on, after which, | would personally deal with Felix.

Morgan had agreed to join the attack on Vladimir's army tonight, taking along Allen, Gwen, Xavier, and some witches from Valerie's coven and those at mine.

It was already dark outside when we were done planning. Morgan had already left with the others for the attack, while Valerie, Lorenzo, Zena, and | prepared to leave for the Council's castle.

I moved slowly in the darkness to where Zena was, saddling her horse while feeding him some hay for the ride.

She tilted her head in my direction as she felt my presence and her sparkling brown eyes fell on me.

“Zens,” | called her name. “I am sincerely sorry to be meeting you

under these circumstances, and for that as well,” I pointed out to the wound on her shoulder.

“It's nothing really,” She replied, calmly.

“Also, thank you for helping all of them,” I said sincerely. If it wasn't for Zena, only the heavens would tell what would have been of my brother and Killian.

She smiled softly, nodding and a small smile found my lips as well.

“You don't need to thank me, Alpha,” she said, and her words made me frown.

“It's Leonardo to you, and welcome to the family," I voiced, smiling, her eyes widened, and her face softened, making me smile. | liked her already and frankly, she was perfect for my brother.