The Alpha's Curse The Enemy Within

From the top mountains, we could already see the troop of warriors from Vladimir's army roar their way into North Central. | heaved a deep sigh, holding tightly onto my horse's reins, feeling my blood turn dreadfully cold. This was it. The time we battle for our lives, and either win against fate or lose.

My deep, worried amber eyes lifted to the dark sky, and the giant full moon in it. Sheila has escaped, and right now, almost half of the Council's army were searching for her. They were all scared, believing the darkness had taken full control of the vessel.

I sighed again, wishing that wasn't the case and | hoped Valerie and Lorenzo were having better luck than we were. Zeriyah had called for them urgently, requesting their presence immediately. It had something to do with Shota's magic. | wanted to be there as well, but Sheila was still missing, and we had to find her, hopefully before the war ended and the full moon turned red.

took in a long breath, glancing to my left where Kaiser and Morgan were. | could see the same worried gaze on them. No one knew exactly what tonight would hold for us, but one thing | was certain of was, | was going to be with Sheila every step of the way.

“We don't have much time,” I pulled both of their attention back to me. It was only a matter of a few minutes before the war started and the first blood spilled on the earth, and we had to find Sheila before then. Every death in the course of this war only made that bloody darkness a step from being reborn.

1 could feel the pounding ache against my skull and Ryker's anguish just at the thought of what that would mean for Sheila and us all.

badly hoped Sheila was fine.

I turned to Morgan, and his green irises met mine, holding my gaze.

The pain and sadness beneath them could not be mistaken, but | had to do what | must, and | was glad he understood that. Sheila was my life, and | was as good as dead if something happened to her, and

Morgan knew that. | meant every word | told her back at her brothers’ pack, until the end, | would be right behind her, even though it costs me my life.

“Stay safe, brother,” | drew him in for a deep embrace, holding him tightly. I felt his heavy breathing against my firm hold, even as we pulled away. His fathomless gaze was becoming glassy.

“Take care,” he muttered, and | nodded. Kaiser and | began to move on our horses. We were going to search for Sheila, and hopefully find her before the Council does.

Zena and Xavier joined us soon, we were going together. We had no way of knowing where Sheila could be. The witches tried a location spell but couldn't trace her, she had intentionally cloaked herself.

We began moving, spreading out to possible places she could be. | tracked her with her scent. It was weak and led us to multiple dead ends. We were heading south when Kaiser was suddenly mind-linked.

He stopped abruptly on his horse for a minute and so did I. As soon as the white fog vanished from his eyes, he pulled his hazel eyes to me.

“Have they found her?" | asked, hurriedly.

But he shook his head, "It's Leonardo. Zeriyah wants us back at the Council.

“What? No, we have to keep searching for her," | shot at him.

“Leonardo sounded urgent. Zeriyah has something to tell us, and it has to do with Sheila,” he said again and his last words sent a jolt of indescribable feeling running down my spine.

Sheila's point of view

I moved as quietly as | could through the castle hallways. It was dead silent that any sound could easily alert the warriors that didn't join the Council's army, and remained behind to protect our territory and those that couldn't fight in the war.

1 took a sharp tun to the hallway that led to Killian's and my chamber, moving quietly, but as fast as | could, even though | could barely walk straight.

1 was shivering hard, feeling the coldness seeping into the walls of my mind. My body was vibrating intensely. I couldn't tell if it was from the cold I felt or the excruciating pain that was eating me up. | groaned aloud, pushing the door open. I stepped into the darkness. | didn't bother turning the torches on, I could see just fine with Adie’s sight, and besides, the last thing | needed was to use my magic. This was the only way to slow the fast rate at which the darkness was consuming me. The more | used my magic, the more | felt it grow and its sinister voices became clearer, attempting to cast out what little sanity | had left.

I rushed to the drawer at the end of the wall and began rummaging through it. | could hardly stop the trembling of my hands and the pain was getting worse by the second. | crashed on the floor, gripping both sides of my head with my shaking hands. | clenched my jaw tightly, imprisoning the cry that wanted utterance as | wrestled with the force that wanted to pull me to the deepest cave of my mind and gain control of my mind and body.

After a few minutes, | hungrily gasped for air, pulling myself off the ground, and continued searching for the little wooden box | had stashed here after Killian and | returned from Oasis. | pulled out the bottom of the drawer, rummaging through its contents, | could barely stop the sigh of relief that escaped my lungs as my trembling hands fell on the wooden box. I pulled it out in a haste and opened it.

Everything | needed was in there.

I closed it at once, grabbing my blue cloak from the rack and donning it over my dress. | pulled the hood over my hair, grabbing the box. | left the chamber, sneaking out of the castle unseen. |

moved with haste into the woods and kept going until | left the Pack’s territory.

1 lifted my gaze to the giant full moon that was hanging up there in the dark sky. It was getting redder with each second. The war had already begun, and with every blood that spilled on North Central, the moon was getting redder, and Shota's magic was growing stronger. It was only a matter of a little time before I couldn't fight it anymore.

Before that happened, | had to find a way to end this. Since | had destroyed the oaken dagger which was the only thing that could end the magic, even if it meant killing me. Now the only way | could think of to put an end to this thing inside of me was the Vortex. A magical prison world | had created in Oasis Incase the darkness was unleashed. If only | had known that the darkness was in me all this time, things wouldn't have gotten to this point. Cora wouldn't be dead, and Shota's magic wouldn't be a second from being reborn.

My trembling hands pulled up to my horse when suddenly, | felt a presence in the woods, watching me discreetly.

“What do you want?" | spoke into the unfading darkness, unable to keep my rage from my voice. He was the last person | wanted to see at this point. My question was greeted with a snappy cry of a broken twig, and almost instantly, | felt him a few distances behind me.

“Hello mate,” his deep accented voice filled the darkness, and | could note the similar anger and maybe hatred that laced his tone.

I spun around and my eyes met with his piercing golden eyes.

“What do you want, Vladimir?" | asked again in the darkness.

“That's certainly no way to greet your mate, little witch, especially after your betrayal,” He spat, taking a few steps closer to me, but | remained silent and unmoving. “You betrayed me, Sheila, and ruined every chance | could to possess that magic.”

“That's the least you deserve, imbecile,” | said, "I should have had your heart ripped out instead after everything you've done. You are responsible for the death of my parents, and you ruined my life, Vlad.

I hate you!” | watched the golden flame deep within his eyes twitch, and then, he released a small smile.

“The latter was all done by that scoundrel Lucius when he took you,” he defended in a lazy tone, that only managed to enrage me, and with my growing anger | felt the darkness within me a second from emerging, whispering ways | could put him through so much pain that | have been through. But unfortunately, none of that could put a permanent end to him.

“Leave me alone, Vlad," | turned to my horse but his sudden words caused me to pause on my boots.

“I cannot do that. Even after your betrayal. | still want you by my side,

Sheila, as my mate and queen.” I couldn't help but chuckle at his stupidity. “That will never happen, Vladimir. Killian is my one and only mate, and until the end, I will remain his," | counted my words slowly and his gaze torched with anger.

In fast motion, he used his vampire speed and groped me, pinning me against the trunk of a tree, his burning gaze pierced mine. He parted his lips about to say something but suddenly, he froze. His eyes glided from my dark gaze to my neck, shocked. But as quickly, that shocked gaze morphed into delight.

“Bloody witch," he muttered in elation. "You are the vessel,” his eyes pulled up to mine. “Do you still not get it, darling? We belong together. | have always been your destiny, Sheila Black, and together we could do so much. Join me, Sheila. You can't deny it, we do share a bond far deeper than anything.”

I thought briefly for a second. “You are right. We do share a bond, Vlad, and it's time | get rid of it" I said, and the glow in his eyes died instantly.

1 used my magic and sent him flying across the woods. But he regained his balance quickly.

I, Sheila Black of the Crescent North Pack, reject you, Vladimir as my mate,” | said quickly before he neared me. He may be more inclined to his vampire side, but he knew what this meant and I had severed whatever bond we could possibly share as mates. *1 am getting rid of this darkness, permanently, and trust me, you wil lose this war,” | hurried to my horse feeling a strong tug in my chest as a result of the magic | just used. The pains coursing through my veins were unbearable.

“Even if you tried, you can't fight it, Sheila. And I will not let you ruin everything,” | heard him say sharply. “It's a good thing | didn't come alone,” He whistled and immediately, | felt the magical energy that

raced through the woods without even seeing them. And then, the cackling in my head became louder, and the dark whispers echoed in my head. "Contain her, but do not harm her,” Vlad instructed and the presence in the woods became known. Witches.

At Vladimir's command, they nodded, and my eyes met briefly with Vladimir before scanning over them.

“Leave now, and you won't have to die,” | warned, but instead, they charged at me using their magic, but none of their attacks could affect me, instead | felt the dark magic inside of me draining off from their magic. They attempted again to fight me, and effortlessly, | focused on their beating hearts, and without even a whisper, | sucked the life from them. All at once, every of Vladimir's witches fell dead to the ground. My dark eyes moved to Vladimir, and for the first time, | could feel the fear emitting from him.

My lips curled into a sinister smile, as I broke every bone of his, crippling him to the ground. | used my magic and focused on his

palpitating heart. | began to use my magic to squeeze the life out of it. His screams were music to my ears, and with a swift tilt of my head, | made it stop. But | knew it was only a matter of seconds before he regained consciousness again.

I turned to my horse, instantly feeling a sizzling surge of energy in me, emerging. | groaned, collapsing on my knees, fighting off the darkness that had grown stronger. But at every attempt, | felt my magic being channeled as well by the darkness within.

| screamed, writhing in so much pain as | felt myself losing control and the darkness and coldness filling the void within me.

“Hey, hey. | am here," | felt myself being pulled, and a voice penetrated deep into my mind. "Stay with me, love,” | focused only on the sound of his voice, refusing to succumb to the darkness.

“Take me to the Council. | can't hold on any longer,” | gasped, wanting to feel anything but the deathly coldness around me.

“Keep talking, Sheila, we can fight this," | heard him mutter, and | wanted to speak again. | wanted to tell him I loved him, but | couldn't. The words got stuck with me in the pit of darkness. “Fucking hell, Zeriyah. Please hurry, she's losing control,” I heard Killian's voice in a blur, along with several drones of voices that | couldn't make out.

Then | felt a biting pain around my neck, and | was swallowed up by the darkness.