The Alpha's Curse The Enemy Within

“Hello! My name is Sheila. Welcome to the Crescent North Pack,” | said with a warm smile, holding out my hand to the new family that just arrived at the pack. "You must be exhausted, so I'll take you straight to your chambers, so you'll get settled in," They were part of the survivors from the West regions that were forced into hiding when Vladimir began to make attacks on the regions.

These last few days, the pack had opened its territories to anyone needing refuge during the war. We had no idea how or when the war would be, but we were ready.

led them to one of the vacant quarters near the Packhouse. | showed them to their chambers and helped them settle in, before leaving.

I kept catching Killian staring at me, now and then. He hasn't left the Pack today. He's been training with the warriors from our pack and the Grey Wolf pack, but I knew he was only keeping an eye on me and that was beyond frustrating.

Even with the few tasks | had been using to try to keep my mind busy, | just couldn't stop thinking about some things. For a start, Cora's death. | leaned against the shade of a tree. | couldn't remember anything from last night, and regardless of what Killian said, | knew | had something to do with Cora’s death. He was hiding something away from me. They all were.

Earlier this morning, when | walked into Killian's office, it felt ike | was walking into a funeral. | didn't miss the saddened gazes of everyone, including my brothers. And | felt similar sadness from Killian last night behind the door when he finally returned from Lorenzo's place after many hours. | knew then that something was wrong and this morning confirmed it. And it worried me.

"Hey," | jerked from my thoughts, feeling Killian's arms around me as he joined me under the shade, lowering himself against the tree.

“What happened? Are you feeling alright?” My blue eyes met his deep amber. They had this faux brightness within them, masking his sadness and pain, and no matter how much he tried to hide them, | could still feel it, along with the troubled feeling in my chest. It was sickening, feeling as though a terrible storm was heading my way and was going to destroy me and everyone I loved.

leaned into his broad arms and he was quick to wrap his arms around me. “No, I am fine, Killian. 'm just—" | drawled in. "So tired," | muttered against the fabric of his shirt, burying my face in it to imprison my unshed tears.

Killian didn't utter a word as his protective arms tightened around me, and | felt safe. Safe from everything out there.

“I will never let go of you,” he whispered through our mate bond, and I felt Ryker's presence through him.

“Something is indeed wrong, Sheila. They know something,” Adie muttered and I simply wrapped my hands around him, enjoying this feeling for a second, somehow, it felt like it may be the last.

“Alpha,” One of the young warriors interrupted us. “| am sorry, I—" “It's alright. What is it?" Killian asked, not letting go of me.

“More warriors have arrived from Alpha Regan’s pack, and they are asking for you," the young warrior said.

“Find Mor—" Killian began, but reluctantly, I pulled away from him.

“No, Killian. You should go, I'll just stay here for a while,” I said, and he hesitated for a while, regarding me.

The conflict in his eyes was evident. He didn't want to leave me. After a second, he nodded, leaving with the warrior.

“He's gone now. Are we staying here or...” Adie rose to the surface.

“We are leaving?" I shut my eyes, making a decision. "We are leaving," | was up on my boots, walking into the Packhouse, trying to evade the warriors Killian had kept an eye on.

1 left the Packhouse through one of the backdoors and made my way to the village in the pack. | found a horse, and took the path through the woods, leaving the Pack's territory.

Killian would go crazy when he realized | had left the pack, but I had to do this. I held the reins of my horse firmly, unable to fight the fear in my bones, making me more terrified of what | was about to do, and what | may probably discover. It scared me deeply.

1 was on my way to the Council. It was time | faced the growing fear within me. It had dominated me last night with a thought when Killian left for the witches’ quarters to find Lorenzo.

I had been trying to dismiss the thought but | knew | would never have any peace until | found out the truth for myself. | wanted to tell Killian this morning but | decided against it.

I drew in some air as | reached the Council. | got off my horse and sauntered to the castle, taking the path to Amelie’s chamber. She was the only one that could give me the answers | needed.

| could feel growing suffocation in my chest and every piece of me was insisting | didn't go through with this, but I had to find out the truth, even though it killed me.

Last night | couldn't stop thinking about everything that had been happening. My memory lapses. The ancient symbols that had appeared around North Central. Cora’s death. The missing dagger.

Unfortunately, everything led back to me.

I stood for a minute in front of her door, shutting my eyes closed to stop the tears that welled in them. I still didn't want to believe it, but itt was a possibility | had to consider. Every time | can't remember a memory, Shota's vessel does something. My eyes fell on the burn on my palm made from the dagger, and | couldn't help but consider if all this time, that darkness was inside of me. What was the possibility that | was the vessel all this time and | hadn't realized it? | closed my eyes, wiping off my tears, before pulling the door open and stepping into the darkness. | found Amelie seating on the chair closest to the window and even as | moved closer, she didn't turn to me. She had gotten much worse than | remembered.

I crouched down next to her chair, placing my hand on hers.

“Amelie,” | breathed out, gently, closing my eyes.

Then I felt the warmth of her other hand on mine. | pulled my eyes

open, my blue watery crystals met hers.

“Things are getting worse, Amelie, Cora is dead,” | said, holding her weak gaze, but she only nodded in sadness.

The pain in her gaze made a tear slip past my eyes.

“You are scared, | can feel it,” she said gently.

“I feel so much more than that. | need answers, Amelie,” | told her honestly, and her gaze moved back to her precious black ball.

“What do you want to know?" she asked, quietly.

“I want to know what my future holds,” I said, firming my hold on her hand and her eyes never left her black crystal ball.

“It shows you everything you want to know,” she pulled my hand from hers and placed it on the black crystal ball. "Just think of it.”

I closed my eyes, holding the crystal ball tightly. And the only thing that crossed my mind was my future with Killian. A sudden brightness covered my vision, and | felt my mind spin around in a fast motion.

Then | found myself somewhere else. The place looked very different, beautiful, and peaceful but | recognized it was my pack.

I glanced around and I saw Killian from afar. He was standing in front of the castle. He looked more mature and older, but still as handsome as ever. Suddenly, he turned to his left and a huge smile appeared on his lips. “My love,” he called in a contented and happy tone which made my heart flutter.

I followed the trail of his gaze, thinking he was referring to me, but all my hopes turned into a nightmare when | saw another woman running to him instead. “Rhylie," Killian called, and received her in his arms, laughing and kissing her forehead.

I couldn't see her face clearly, but | could tell she was a beauty with long black hair. | felt my heart speed in fear.

“What the hell was happening? What happened to me?" 1 yelled but everything began to change.

“No. Take me back," I screamed with tears rushing through my eyes.

“It only shows you what you ask of it” | heard Amelie’s voice in the corner walls of my mind. The sudden brightness began to take a shape, and then all | saw around me was the familiar vision of chaos and death. My brothers’ lifeless bodies, as well as Killian and everyone I loved.

1 was struck with terror at the sight, suddenly feeling a presence around, followed by a disturbing evil cackling of a female's voice. It was loud and held the darkest kind of magic. Shota's magic. | felt my heart pound harder and slowly, | turned around, and | froze upon the sight of the woman before me, covered with blood, having an evil, sinister smile at the chaos around and it felt as if she had been reborn.

She was me.

| remained frozen in my spot. It was me all along. | was the vessel. | was the destruction of everyone.