The Alpha’s Curse: The Enemy Within
Chapter 53

Sheila's point of view

Oh, my goddess!

My eyes fell back on the mark on Valerie's wrist.

Why did she have that?

Why did the women in my dreams have that?

"Sheila?" I felt warm, soothing hands on my shoulder. I glanced up to replace Valerie next to me, her wide eyes on me now holding concern. "Are you alright?" She asked.

I nodded, even though I was very much not alright. My heart was racing hard right now, and I couldn't slow it down. Valerie was standing right in front of me, but it was as if my surroundings had somehow changed and I was in the middle of fights and deaths from my dream. My breathing became too hard, and before I knew it, I was already choking on my breath.

I could feel Valerie's panic right next to me. Her hand left my shoulder and found its way to my face. She held me tightly, making me stare into her deep purple eyes.

"Breathe, Sheila." Her words sounded normal, but I could feel the magic in them as I began to calm down; my breathing became normal, and my body's vibrations stopped. I looked around, and the horrid scenes from my dream were no more.

I sighed, getting myself back.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

I nodded. "Yes, I am."

Valerie didn't seem convinced; her concerned stare was still fixed on me.

"I am." I sounded more convincing this time.

She nodded, moving back to her previous spot. I watched her closely, my eyes constantly falling on the mark on her wrist. My mind was buzzing with so many questions that were now choking my throat.

"That mark on your wrist," It surprised me when I heard my voice echoing within the room. Valerie pulled her head up, her eyes curious to know what I had to say. "What does it mean?"

Valerie was surprised. Her purple eyes followed my trail to her wrist. "It symbolizes our very existence as witches. It's our identity, it reminds us of our purpose and origin."

"That means there are many who have that mark?" I rushed in haste. My sudden curiosity surprised her even more, but whatever she was thinking, she hid it well. Valerie studied me briefly. She counted her words. "There was."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked quickly again, hating the fact that I couldn't keep myself calm.

"Because many of us died," she said, looking back at her wrist. "A long time ago." She added, replaceing my gaze again.

"What happened?" I asked.

"A tragedy, wiping off so many of my sisters." Valerie placed both her hands on the table. How she spoke told me she also had nightmares haunting her every awakening. I wish I could let her have the moment, but I had so many questions eager to be heard.

"Sisters? Does that mean every one of the witches bearing that mark belongs to a coven? " My lips moved sharply.

"Not a coven. We were more than that. We were the crystal witches of the ancient fortress." Valerie paused, looking at me again as if expecting some kind of reaction. "Does it ring a bell?" She asked more curiously, studying me further.

My brows were crippled at her question. What exactly was supposed to ring a bell? The Crystal Witches of the Fortress?

I shook my head nonetheless at her questions. "No."

She sighed as if expecting a different answer from me.

"We were the witches of the ancient fortress, the very place that birthed the purest kind of magic. We had responsibilities to both the human world and the supernatural world and that is to ensure its safety," She said. "Then what happened?"

She looked at me, unsure if she should proceed with her next words. "We were attacked and murdered. Many of our sisters lost their lives; while many fled."

Everything she said only confused me more. It only explained to me who the witches in my dream were, but I had no answer to any other question.

"Sheila," Valerie's soft call drew my attention back to her. "Why the sudden interest in the Crystal witches and this mark?" She asked, "Have you perhaps seen it before, somewhere else?" Her eyes were unblinking, awaiting my next words as if they mattered. My eyes fell back on her wrist. A part of myself just wanted to be honest, while a greater part insisted I sort through my dreams first.

I chose to go with the former. I sighed, deciding to come clean. My lips parted to speak when we heard a knock on the door.

Valerie's eyes moved to the door, and then back to me. She sent her hand to the door, muttering a few words, and then the door was pushed open.

"Sheila" Ria motioned in, lowering her head to both Valerie and me. "It's time."

"Time for what?" I asked her.

"Tonight's bonfire," Ria said, hoping to jog my memory.

My eyes widened. I completely forgot about it. "Is it twilight already?" I asked, and Ria nodded. Bloody hell!

I was so completely lost in my hunt for answers that I lost track of time here. I turned to Valerie.

"I apologize, but I have to leave now," I told her.

She nodded, understandingly.

I left the spell room with Ria.

"What happened? You look terrible," Ria commented on the dark circles around my eyes.

I nodded in agreement with her words. "I couldn't get enough sleep."

Her worried eyes went over me; "I will meet the pack's physician for some medicine."

I smiled at her sweetness, knowing deep down that not even medicine could help me right now.

"Fine," I said as we made our way back to my chamber. I changed quickly into something nice for tonight's bonfire. It was a regular small gathering that Killian's pack always had. It was like a small feast meant for only the pack members and meant to form a stronger bond.

I wore something casual yet graceful for the gathering.

Ria and I left my chamber and left the castle. Many preparations had already been made. There were several small fires scattered around the pack, and around them were many pack members eating and drinking. Everyone was having fun in their groups. Ria and I took our seats around the blazing fire. My eyes went around, searching for Killian.

"He hasn't arrived yet," Ria said to me, stuffing her mouth with some food.

"Why?" I haven't seen him all day, and I didn't even come into the office.

"He looked for you earlier today, but you weren't in your chamber. I informed him that you were with Valerie, and asked if I should fetch you, but he declined." Ria returned to her food.

"Do you know where he is?" I asked.

"He's been in the dungeon with the warriors. They've been trying to get some information out of the prisoner." That's right. The spy.

I sighed, remaining with Ria and some female warriors. Even after a long while, Killian still hadn't shown up. I was getting worried.

I left Ria in the company of the warriors and some members, roving back to the back of the packhouse. I was told Killian had the prisoner transferred from the castle's dungeon to the one at the pack house, and that's where they were currently torturing him. I kept walking with the guidance of the moonlight. The path to the pack's dungeon was rough and rocky. I grabbed the burning torch hanging on the wall. I used it to light my path as I made my way to the dungeon.

From afar, I could hear painful howls. I kept on moving closer.

"He has confessed he knows, but still won't say who sent him!" I heard Allen yell in a rage, and just then everyone came into view.

I was still a distance away, but I could see Killian. He was with Morgan, Allen, Mason, Jax, and a few more warriors. They circled a figure who was howling in pain on the ground. He must be the spy. And from what I just heard Allen say, he must have admitted knowing about the curse on Killian and the pack and still hasn't confessed who sent him.

The figure on the ground howled again in pain. "No one sent me. I - " He was silenced by Morgan with a stab in his stomach. He screamed in pain. I could smell the foul stench of burning flesh. Wolfsbane. It was laced with whatever they were using to torture him. "Then you die with your secret," Killian muttered coldly. The finality of his words sent frightening chills down my spine. I couldn't see his face, but I could feel the dangerous aura radiating off of him as he grabbed some chains from the ground. I heard Killian hiss briefly, walking closer to the figure on the ground.

Upon seeing Killian move closer to him, he began to whimper, begging for his life, as if the chains held some kind of lethal poison. But Killian didn't listen. Killian crouched beside him, about to place the chain around him, but he stopped, suddenly. He stuck his nose in the air, sniffing around. He tilted his neck sideways before turning around, and his dark amber eyes fell on me.

Killian pulled up on his feet, and began to move closer to me. I couldn't see his face clearly, but his eyes were as dark as the night itself, I felt my whole body stiffened, as the air around turned colder.