The Alpha's Curse The Enemy Within

I had no way of knowing exactly how many hours had gone by since my mother's spell room was located underground in the castle. But | knew with the long, torturous hours that had wandered by, it had to be dusk by now.

inhaled, resting against the wooden frame of the bed. Killian still hasn't returned, and | haven't seen Kaiser nor Valerie since | had woken up. The only people that had wandered around were Lorenzo and Zena when they came to fetch my blood, and I could feel Leonardo's presence behind those doors, but he couldn't muster the strength to face me again.

I closed my eyes, and tears rolled out. They never stopped coming, even so now that | could feel the end was near. | had made a choice already, one Killian would never forgive me for, but | would never forgive myself, knowing | was the cause of so many deaths including my family. | had chosen to just let go. To stop fighting, to stop trying, and for once accept my fate.

I burst out in tears; | couldn't hold it in anymore. What | was about to do was the hardest thing | had ever done. And | was not okay with it, but I had no choice. It was either me or everyone | loved.

The time was already drawing close, as | could feel the magical shield weakening, and | was slowly regaining my magic. But | was suppressing it all, including Adie. It made it easier to fight the voice in my head. | kept hearing the darkness speak to me. It was now like a part of me. An opposite version of me that was dark and evil, and wanted to break free.

1 was up from the bed, dragging my weak body to the golden ring that formed the shield. lifted my hand, pulling it to the shield, and my hand passed right through. I was right, my magic was slowly swallowing up the magic from the shield.

I returned to the bed, and the door opened, ushering in Lorenzo. He had brought me a glass of water, but | shook my head. I had earlier refused the food Denise had brought for me. | couldn't stomach food or water right now.

“What time is it?" | asked Lorenzo, who moved closer to the shield.

“Almost midnight,” he replied and folded my arms against my chest.

No wonder | was feeling this way. “Sheila,” He drew closer again and | could see his unshed tears. “I am sorry," he added, and | felt my heart jam at his words, and my tears began flowing.

“It's not your fault or anyone else,” | said.

“It's not your fault either, and I wish | could do something to help you, but everything leads to nothing,” he uttered.

“I know, Enzo, and believe me, | appreciate everything everyone has done," | walked to the shield, *I know that there's nothing anyone can do to help me and we need to accept it” I said. “I have accepted it" 1 watched his tears fall, and his eyes didn't blink at all. "Thank you for being there for me all this time,” told him.

“So what's now?" he asked, exhaling deeply.

“I need to see my brothers," | said and pain pierced my heart.

“Everyone,” He held my gaze for a painful second before nodding. “Alright,” 1 watched him leave, pulling up the sleeve of my dress. My eyes fell on the dark lines that had begun to form in my veins.

“What happened? Lorenzo said—" | snapped my head to the door where Leonardo came from, and immediately, he stopped talking as his eyes fell on the dark lines on my body. I saw the tears that were quick to gather, he couldn't hide it away this time. "Sheila," he spoke barely above a whisper, moving closer, and just then, Kaiser stepped in.

“Finally, I am able to see you both," I said, almost chuckling, pulling down the sleeves of my dress. My blue eyes moved from Leonardo's blue to Kai's deep hazel ones and I smiled. “I wish | could give you both a hug right now,” | uttered, fighting my tears. “I uhm... just want to say...”

“Sheila, please don't,” Kaiser stopped me immediately. "I beg you don't” he pleaded and the instant tears that fell from his eyes made me break.

“I have to say this, Kai. We can't keep deceiving ourselves anymore.

We know what's going to happen and the painful truth is there's no way, I'm going to make it," I said, and hearing the words leave my lips, 1 realized how badly | wished this was only a nightmare that | could wake up from. “It's stupid to risk everyone's life for just mine, and | would never be able to live knowing | caused the deaths of those | love dearly. If this darkness wins this war, everyone will die by my hands and I do not want that so please, save me from that fate,” “You must be crazy, Sheila. After everything, how could you just give up like this?" Kaiser was stalking the floors, vibrating with intense rage and pain. "How could you say something like that to us?" “It's not only the truth, Kai, but the reality of things,” I muttered, and he stopped pacing. His blurry vision on me.

My gaze shifted to Leonardo whose gaze was glassy as well, and his hands clenched tightly behind his back.

“We can't fight this," I said, wanting to make this less hard than it was for me.

“You have no idea what | would give, just 50 to have that thing inside of me, and save you from this,” Leonardo counted each word of his, and they only made me cry harder.

“I know,” | nodded, knowing he meant each word. *1 know if it was up to you both, you would save me from everything,” | added, breaking a smile. “Even with all those years apart, both of you never stopped searching for me until you found me. I am grateful for that, and | love both of you," *So do |” Leonardo closed his eyes and his tears slipped down.

*I do too, and will always love you. And | am sorry, but I will fight until the end to keep you alive,” Kaiser said with his eyes filled with tears, before exiting the room.

“I am really sorry, sister. You deserve to be happy with Killian and have as many pips as you want,” he said, and | smiled at the happiness | would have felt if only that could ever be mine.

The door pulled open and Morgan and Valerie came in. | didn't have much strength in me as it was getting harder and harder to say goodbye, especially to people I had learned to call my own. | could feel Valerie's pain, but | made her know it wasn't her fault, and | was grateful for everything. And Morgan made it much harder, and | wished | could just embrace him.

I felt the hair on my skin rise as Killian came in and Morgan excused us while Killian insisted Valerie lifted the shield to allow him in.

1 took a step back as Valerie pulled down the shield and allowed Killian in, before pulling it up.

The instant he was in, | hurried into him and his large arms engulfed my frame. | closed my eyes tightly, savoring this moment because it might as well be our last.

“Killian,” I started but he pressed me harder to his chest.

“No. Don't speak. Let's just remain this way, please,” he said, with his voice crippled with sadness and agony. It made my tears roll down.

“I love you,” | said, hugging him tightly.

“I love you so much more,” he replied and | smiled to his chest, believing his words. And somewhere in my heart, | felt relieved because | know my death will make him suffer only for a while, and then he would get a second chance mate, Rhylie as | had seen in Amelie's vision. | couldn't see her face, but | could remember Killian's happiness, and that was enough for me.

“You will be fine, | promise,” | said, and felt his small smile against my cheeks.

“We will be. | am not leaving you in this. Whatever happens to you, I'll be right behind you,” He said, and his words caused fear within me.

1 pulled away, bringing my eyes to his. “What do you mean?" He released a sad smile. "Don't you worry, love,” “No,” I shook my head, knowing what nonsense he had in mind.

“Killian, you have to live," | said and his sad smile only deepened and his eyes held unshed tears.

“Then you have to as well,” he muttered, wanting to say more when the door burst open in panic, and Zena stepped in.

“The Council army is here,” She rushed and Killian's eyes met mine.

“I will be right back,” he muttered, as Zena pulled down the shield.

He was about to leave when | held him. I stood on the edge of my boots and kissed him.

Killian held me tightly and kissed me back, conveying so much more

than words could describe.

1 pulled away from him, and as soon as he stepped out, Zena pulled the shield back up. My eyes didn't leave Killian until | saw him exit the door with Zena behind.

1 sighed, holding my dress tightly. And now, more than ever, my decision was firm and | have to leave. | glanced at the floor, and | began chanting, absorbing as much magic as I could from the shield.

I felt Adie’s presence within me, and | could also feel the faint sinister laugh of the darkness within me, infesting my soul.

I went to the wall near my bedside, placing my hand on it, briefly.

stepped back a little, and channeled my magic to my scream, tearing the wall down. With every use of my magic, | could feel the darkness grow stronger. There wasn't much time like everyone thought and in no time the war will begin and this darkness will be reborn. And I had 0 do everything | could to stop it.