The Alpha's Curse The Enemy Within

Valerie's blue eyes became heated on me. “What are you saying?" She shifted from the shelf, giving me her full attention.

“The dreams started not long ago, and | thought | had put an end to it—" I started but Valerie cut me off.

“What do you mean by putting an end to it?" She asked, and | could feel the uneasiness in her entire aura, and earnestly it was affecting me.

“I spelled myself, stopping whatever madness that was, and for a while, it worked, but somehow it's back.” I said, looking her in the eyes. "I had a dream about him again, and oh, Val, it felt so real," confessed as the bad feeling in my chest grew more.

Valerie placed two of her fingers against her temple. | could see the flash of fear in her eyes but she was trying desperately to hide it.

“Alright. Let's calm down, Sheila,” she muttered, leading me away from the shelf, and back to her table. "How can you be sure it was the Dark Lord?" She asked, regarding me. “Firstly, it's not even possible.

You don't know him and have no idea how he looks, so tell me, how can you be so sure it's him?" I shook my head. "That's the problem, Valerie, that's exactly what has me like this. | have never met the man in my whole years of existence, so it's remotely impossible to have dreams about him. But he's the one. | really don't know how I even know this, but it's him," | muttered, unable to keep my legs still, | began stalking the floors.

Valerie was quiet. Awfully and disturbingly quiet. "Tell me every one of those dreams, Sheila,” she came to me, pulling my hand gently to the chairs around the table.

I settled on one of the chairs opposite hers. I didn't even know how to start. Every one of those dreams involved me making love to the Dark Lord, a man after my very life,” I sighed, meeting her deep purple eyes. "There's nothing much to say. In every one of those dreams, | either find myself kissing him or making love to him," I shut my eyes. | didn't understand these stupid feelings that always managed to befall me whenever | had dreams about him. I had already found my mate, so why was | feeling all of these? | hated it.

“Does Killian know about these dreams?" | pulled my eyes open and they fell silently on Valerie. I shook my head. Killian would go ballistic if he knew and I didn't want to share something like that with him now when | had no idea what was going on myself. And besides, he looked incredulously happy. These few weeks after the war had made him different. More cheerful, and the happiest | had ever seen. |

didn’t want this to spoil his great mood and that of the pack.

I exhaled deeply. | was strained both mentally and physically. My eyes met Valerie's. "This is bad, isn't it? | can feel it. And with tonight's ball, I'm a nervous wreck, | have this weird feeling from last night's dream,” | remembered the dream and told Valerie about it.

In the dream, he was here, right here in the pack. That alone is terrifying.

Valerie pulled up from her seat and began pacing. She was silent and seemed to have fallen into deep thought. I let her be and simply watched her movements. And then, she stopped suddenly, turning to gaze at me.

“Sheila, | won't lie, what you just told me is something unusual and dangerous. Both for you and the pack,” Valerie's words made a knot in my chest, and | swallowed a lump in my throat, nudging her to continue.

I shook my head, stopping her. "It's him, Valerie...” “And | believe you. And that's all the more reason why this is dangerous. Having such dreams about someone like him is worse than it sounds. | suggest we tell everyone,” she uttered, locking eyes with me.

“By everyone you mean—" “Your brothers, Killian, and maybe the Council,” she added, making me sigh again.

1 pulled my palm to my face, hearing a sigh leave Valerie's lips as well.

“I know your concerns about tonight's ball, Sheila, especially with how your last dream turned out.” 1 lifted my head to her. That was what contributed to my crazed emotions now. Many people from around the region and beyond will be attending tonight's ball. Our defenses and spells protecting the pack will be weakened, and just anyone will be able to get through.

Just anyone. | didn't like this one bit.

Oh, goddess. | was up from my chair, realizing | made a mistake insisting Killian shouldn't cancel the ball.

“Sheila, you have to calm down," Valerie was beside me, and | was doing my hardest to tune my emotions down.

“Don't worry. The pack will be protected tonight, | swear on my life.

Just be calm. Nothing out of the ordinary will happen tonight, itl just be one of those balls we've had,” Valerie's words attempted to soothe me, and they almost did. But | just couldn't get rid of the tug piercing my chest.

I nodded, taking a deep breath. “Thank you so much, Valerie," | said, embracing her. | felt her hands around me briefly, before we pulled apart.

“Now, go and get ready, and have fun,” she said, pushing out a lip- tight smile, but that couldn't fool me. She had a share of worry and maybe fear in her eyes.

But | smiled nonetheless, leaving the spell room, and soon | stepped out into the evening sky. | haven't had anything to eat all morning, and honestly, | didn't care. Nothing would be able to go down my mouth in this state | was in.

1 left the witches’ quarters and went back to the castle in search of Morgan. I had to ensure the pack isn't completely vulnerable during the ball. | couldn't find him, so I headed to Killian's office, finding Killian in a meeting with Morgan, Allen, Xavier, Jax, and some ranking warriors in the pack.

1 joined them. Killian was already instructing them about the patrolling shifts tonight, to keep the pack protected even during the ball.

I sighed in relief, and now he turned to Jax. Jax was now the new head of the defense team in the pack. That was Mason's position, but with what happened during the war, Jax took over.

Killian's final decision on Mason, really took me by surprise. | guess Morgan too. But we accepted it. Mason was asked to leave the pack.

Since no one in the court and pack was aware of his betrayal and involvement in the pack, it was easier to let him leave without facing the punishment that would have been decided by the court. Only Killian, Morgan, Allen, and | knew about Mason and everything he did to help his mate, Thea.

What Mason had done to the pack was cruel, but regardless, in a way, he was also a victim of Thea. It would have been awful having him lose his life, after losing his pup and mate. Regardless of who Thea was, the pain of losing one's mate was unbearable.

1 shook away from my thoughts the second the warriors began to exit the office, leaving just Killian and me.

“It's not long before guests begin trooping into the pack,” Killian said, glancing at the darkness that had settled in from outside the window as he came to me. “You should get ready," his arms covered me.

“Yeah, | wanted to see you first," | pecked his lips, and an ecstatic smile appeared on his lips.

“Missed me already?" He asked, smiling ear to ear.

I couldn't help but smile. “Don't flatter yourself, Killian Reid," | pecked his lips and he deepened it into a kiss.

He pulled away to allow me to breathe, gazing into my eyes. “What's wrong?” He asked, caressing my cheek, tenderly so that | leaned into his sweet touch.

“We have to talk, Killian, but after tonight's ball," said.

“Alright,” he whispered against my lips, kissing me. "1 just want you to be happy tonight, Sheila,” he told me.

“I will be," | sounded, not even convinced with my words, and Killian felt it too.

Before he could say anything, | drew a finger to his lips.

“I have to get ready, Killian," | kissed him, leaving the office.

I sauntered to my chamber, locking the door behind me. My eyes fell on the gold dress that stood on the rack. It was beautiful.

I moved closer to it, running my fingers down its embroidered corset at the top. It matched the white and gold masquerade mask standing next to the dress.

I sighed, my heartbeat fastening. | didn't know why but everything about tonight's ball gave me the chills.