The Alpha's Curse The Enemy Within

I couldn't stop groaning in pain. This time, the pain came from everywhere, tearing me up inside. | groaned again, curling up against a warm softness. My head felt lightheaded, my eyelashes felt so heavy to pull open, my bones aching against their joints, and my energy completely drained.

With so much effort, | pushed my eyes open, fluttering them consistently to keep my vision clear and steady for a second. The instant | got a clear view of the blank air, memories of my conversation with Amelie flooded my mind mercilessly, all at once, that caused my breathing to become rough and erratic and the tears from the deep sadness | felt drowned my blue ocean gaze and | couldn't stop it as | was reminded of my reality. | was the end for everyone and the war was in two days. | had to tell everyone.

I tried to pull myself up but | couldn't, it was then | took notice of my surroundings. | was on a bed, but the last thing | remembered was leaving the Council, and then, the darkness took over.

My eyes widened, and instantly, | shot up in fear, feeling the heavy pounding of my head against my skull.

“Easy,” | heard the unmistakable voice of Killian. | turned my head sharply, and my blue eyes connected with his amber ones. He was standing a few feet from me, and his eyes were dull, almost as if he had been crying. Regardless, | could see past the guise, taking a peek at the sorrows that dwelt behind that gaze of his that held mine.

| couldn't stop the tears that rushed down again, and slowly, | took a glance at my surroundings. This wasn't in our pack, | could recognize this place even in my dreams. It was my mother's underground spell room. But it looked quite different. There was definitely not a bed in here before. | was at my brother's pack, and this only meant one thing.

My blue eyes found Killian's again through its blurry vision. “What happened? How did | get here?" | asked, and Killian took only a step closer, gaining my instant attention and my eyes fell on the floor which had a golden ring of ash circling the bed where | was.

I swallowed the lump in my throat as | forced myself up from the bed, moving to where Killian was standing. | pulled my hand up in the air about to touch him but he shook his head calmly as tears began to gather in his eyes.

“Don't,” he whispered, confirming my suspicion, but I still pulled my hand forward, and instantly, | was zapped with a powerful force of magic that sent me crashing against the floor. Just then, the door pulled open and Lorenzo and Leonardo rushed in.

“Are you alright?" Leonardo was by my side on the other side of the shield and | simply nodded, my blue eyes rising to meet Leonardo's blue crystals.

“I am fine," I held my hand, sniffing back as more tears rushed down.

“When did you all find out?" | asked in a low tone and Leonardo's blue eyes softened. He was up on his feet immediately, turning his back to me, and | knew it was to hide the tears that had welled his gaze.

“Last night,” Killian replied. “Lorenzo found the anomaly in your blood,” he added and | kept nodding, realizing the reason for the meeting in Killian's office.

“How did | get here?" | asked again.

“The darkness took over, and you came here to stop the supposed ritual that was to take place,” he replied again.

“In other words, | tried to kill Valerie the same way | killed Cora,” | stated flatly, biting back my tears, even though the attempt was useless. "I was at Amelie’s,” | started, and Leonardo turned to me.

“She told you,” Leo muttered, and | released a bitter chuckle, wrapping my hands around my arms.

“She showed me," | said, "I saw it all. The chaos, and deaths. | caused it all. I killed you all," | added in tears.

“It's not your fault, Sheila, it's that thing inside of you, and we will get rid of it,” Lorenzo moved forward, gazing down at me with his

hooded eyes.

I shook my head, "The war is in two days,” | informed them and their eyes widened, while my tears flowed more. Even if we had all the time we needed, there was no way to figure out how to get rid of Shota's darkness without getting rid of the vessel. | knew that much, and even though no one wanted to admit it, we all knew what this meant.

“We still have time, sister. Every witch in our packs is working on it.

We will find a way, please don't give up,” Leonardo sounded, holding my gaze, and all | wanted right now was to embrace him.

I nodded, quietly, hating the feeling of loneliness in the comers of my mind.

“I can't feel you,” I said to Killian, and he brushed his face with his palm, wiping off the tears on his face.

He nodded. "It's the spell.” “The golden ring blocks out magic, including your wolf, and whatever magical connection. It's to keep the darkness at bay, because it feeds on your magic, Sheila," Lorenzo explained gently.

“No matter what, | am here with you, Sheila, and I'm never leaving your side,” Killian voiced, and | wished | could feel some kind of comfort, but | couldn't, not when | knew what was going to happen.

I nodded, wiping off my tears. Just then, Leonardo was mind-linked, and his eyes rounded in fear at whatever he was told.

He turned to us in a haste. "The Council knows Sheila's the vessel.” “How did that happen?” Killian was up from the floor.

“Zeriyah dug into Cora’s last moments,” Leonardo shook his head.

“That's not fucking important. Kaiser said the Council's army was headed here and also to your pack to find Sheila and bring her in."

“What!” Lorenzo began to take a step back in shock. “We are running out of time. Tomorrow is the war, and the Council are not thinking straight at the moment, if they find Sheila, we all know how that will end.” Killian sighed, and his eyes met mine briefly, before pulling to Leonardo. “I will deal with them,” he said, “I swear, Il be back as soon as I'm done with them,” Killian told me, and 1 smiled, imprisoning my tears.

I watched him leave, and shortly after, Leo and Lorenzo left to deal with the Council's army that had arrived.

1 pulled myself to the bed, hugging my knees to my chest and my arms around as | thought about everything with a clear head, and Amelie was right. | had to make a choice, and do what | must, otherwise, | will watch everyone | love die at my hands.

I closed my eyes, and tears rolled down from their corners as | came to a decision, one that will hurt everyone, but at least, keep them safe, and alive.

Killian's point of view Even from afar, | could see two Elder wolves, Alex and Philip, along with the Council's army which was scattered around my pack, and Morgan was with the Pack's army, stopping them from stepping through.

1 got down from my horse and joined my people.

“What are you doing here?" | asked the elders, getting straight to the point.

“You know why we are here, Alpha Killian. It's about Sheila, we know she's Shota's vessel,” Elder Philip said.

“Amelie informed us that the coming war is tomorrow, and Shota's vessel will be reborn with the darkness. | know this is much harder for you than anyone else, but this isn't just about the fate of one person.

Every supernatural life is at stake if this darkness wins, and considering the vessel, it will, if we do not end it before it becomes unstoppable,” Elder Alex uttered, and Ryker's rage was growing at his every word.

“She isn't here and | don't know where she is," | said, knowing they didn't believe any word | said. “Your army isn't searching my territory, and if you insist, my people will not hesitate to fight back." “There's no need for that, Alpha Killian,” Elder Philip voiced, pushing a small smile. "We are about to face a war tomorrow in which we may not survive. It's stupid to fight amongst ourselves.” “Be with her,” Elder Alex spoke up. “But you have until midnight to bring her to the Council and we resolve this as we've always done,” He added.

“By killing her,” Morgan voiced, standing next to me.

“Don't you think this is hard for us as well? Sheila isn't just a vessel.

She's one of us. But someone has to think rationally and make a hard choice. And believe me, it's better it's us than to be any of you.

Sheila's sacrifice will save us all, and perhaps that has always been her destiny,” Elder Alex uttered, and | remained frozen on my boots, even as they retreated away and left our territory.

I couldn't stop the hot tears that escaped my eyes. That couldn't be her destiny. The goddess could never be that cruel to give her such fate. Never.