The Alpha’s Curse: The Enemy Within
Chapter 68

Killian's point of view

I watched Sheila as she slept peacefully. After a while, she stirred awake in my arms. Slowly, her blue eyes opened and fell into mine.

"Killian." Her weight shifted onto my chest, her gaze fixed on mine. She still sounded weak. I brushed her tender cheek, implanting a kiss on her cheek.

"Shh, don't say anything." I stroked her damp locks away from her face. "How do you feel?" I asked, tilting my head to her. Sheila's face turned red, and she buried her head in my chest.

"Tired and embarrassed." Her soft breath settled on my skin. "It's so embarrassing to know that the entire pack knew what just happened, you know, between us." She muttered slowly.

I smiled, stifling a throaty chuckle at her words. Yeah, I guess everyone does. That, however, was the least of my worries. I was concerned more about my mate than anything else. I pulled her up a little, wrapping her naked body in my large arms.

"Do you feel any pain?" I asked her, and she shook her head.

Even in the darkness, she still looked beautiful and flawless. I couldn't stop myself. I pulled my lips to hers, kissing her gently until she could no longer breathe.

"We should go back to the castle." I said, "You need more rest in your chamber." I rubbed her skin to provide some warmth.

Sheila nodded, too exhausted to speak further. I got dressed and helped her get dressed as well. Instead of having her tire herself walking back to the castle, I carried her in my arms. We reached the castle, and I took her to her chamber, settling her securely on her bed.

I brushed her hair back. Her blue eyes gleamed at me.

"I will be back, I promise. I just need to tend to some things." I told her, kissing her smooth forehead. I left her chamber and hastened towards my office. I rushed inside my office, heading to the end of the room, where my table stood. From behind, I heard the door open hastily, and then it shut closed, accompanied by a clicking of the door. I spun around to replace Thea standing inside my chamber, and the door was locked.

"Why are you here?" I asked, almost in a bored tone. She was the last person I wanted to see. I pulled my gaze back to the papers on the table that I needed to work on before joining Sheila in her chamber.

"To talk. Why? Am I now forbidden from entering your office, Killian?" She said, her voice getting closer to me, but I didn't turn around. I didn't want to say anything or do anything that would upset her.

"No, Thea. You can come whenever you want, but it's midnight. Do you need something?" I asked her.

"Everyone in the pack is talking about you and that woman." She muttered, standing next to me.

"She needed me, Thea," I said, taking a deep breath.

"I know. And I understand, Killian. You know I always will." She placed her hand on my shoulder. "There's nothing I can do about it. She's your mate destined by the goddess, and I am just someone you need because of a curse. Someone that shouldn't even be in your life. I am just a nuisance, I know."

"Thea-" I started but she silenced me, shutting her eyes closed, I could see she was fighting back some tears.

Her words hit me hard in my chest. That was a lie. She was neither a nuisance nor just a curse breaker to me. Even though I couldn't have anything more with her, I will always care for her. "Frankly, seeing you next to her, caring for her, hurts me beyond anything." She voiced, not looking at me.

"Thea," I called, dropping the papers on the table. I turned to her to face me and found only sadness and pain in her gaze. It made my heart ache. I cupped her face, and she began crying.

"I'm sorry, Killian, I just..." she struggled to speak as tears streamed down her cheeks. "I just wish everything would go back the way it was between us before she came." She wrapped her hands around me. "But I know it can't. Even though it hurts me, just remember that you are all I live for, Killian. I love you." Her brown gaze bored hard into mine, reflecting her words to me. My hands on her face caressed her cheeks tenderly and Thea leaned closer. She was about to bring her lips to mine, but I pulled away from her, quickly. I promised myself I wouldn't hurt Sheila again. "No, Thea. I can't."

Her eyes stared at me in disbelief, and an emotion I couldn't recognize. I could also see a flash of rage in her eyes, but her sudden words surprised me.

"Fine. I understand." Tears slipped down her brown gaze, and she took a step back. "Good night, Killian." Her lips brushed my cheek. And she left my office. I exhaled, settling onto my chair.

****

Unknown person's point of view

I was racing through the hallways hurriedly. I could no longer subdue the rage seething through my bones and infesting my mind. I felt my blood becoming hotter than a volcano. I reached for the door and pushed it open. I shut the door behind me. My heart was thudding in an unfamiliar rhythm, showing the intensity of my anger. Even the air around me was charged with a burning heat.

Bloody imbecile!

I cursed more, remembering everything that happened a few minutes ago.

I roved to the tall window at the corner, pulling it open. I shut my eyes and began muttering low chants using magic. Soon, a black owl emerged from the darkness and flew towards the window.

My brown gaze watched it impatiently until it stopped on the metal railing of the window.

I ripped off a blank piece of paper and plucked a feather from the black owl, moving to the dressing table. I pulled out my dagger and sliced my left palm. My blood began to drip on the blank paper. I wriggled my fingers in the air while muttering some chants. The blood on the paper began to move, forming the words I wanted to convey to someone. I folded the paper and moved back to the window.

"Take this to the Alpha," I whispered to the black owl. Placing the paper in its beak, its eyes gleamed brightly before flying away, blending into the night's darkness.

I returned to pacing the floors. The Alpha was becoming too difficult to control. I hated this. I hated it when things were out of my control.

I was beyond furious. I could feel my brown gaze burn brightly in raging flames. I groaned and yelled inside the corner walls. The loud intensity of my yell carried so much power that it caused the torches glued to the wall to burn brightly out of control. Its wild flames grew so intense that they spread out to the light green color of the draperies that covered the windows.

Soon, the flames began to spread around and the smell of smoke began to fill the air. That, however, was the least of my concern. I wasn't worried about that. The only problem that seemed to exist in my life was that bloody b***h of a mate. The Alpha's mate. I couldn't tolerate her presence anymore in the pack. It had completely shattered my entire plan.

I screamed again in a rage as the fire burned more. The door suddenly jerked open, and I spun around to meet my only ally in this godforsaken place.

His wide gaze widened at the fire consuming the inside.

"What the hell is happening here?" His deep voice sounded with the usual concern as he rushed around trying to stop the burning flames from swallowing the whole place. I gripped his hand firmly, stopping him.

"Stop this at once. Have you completely lost your mind?" He was screaming at the top of his voice. Concern and fear for my life were embedded in his gaze.

Yes. I had completely lost my mind and it was infuriating. I had to replace a way to keep that bloody Alpha by my side. I couldn't let him go to the other woman, or my entire plan would shatter before my eyes. I would never allow this. I had to think of a way to turn things in my favor.

A wicked smile found my lips as an idea popped into my thoughts, and it met the gaze of my lover.

"We have so much at stake if we do not do something fast," I said, and his face was crippled in confusion.

"What do you mean?" He asked, unsure of my words. But my smile only deepened as the flames now surrounded us. I could feel the heat already.

"I am willing to do whatever it takes to keep him next to me." I lowered my voice. My words held so much seriousness that he could recognize

"What do you need?" he asked, ever ready to please me. My lips brushed against his.

"Bring your Alpha right here," I muttered, a dark smile forming on my lips.

He studied me for a second before nodding, and with a wave of my fingers, I parted the wildfire around us, allowing him to walk through. A dark smile found my lips.

I will do whatever it takes to ensure you remain next to me, at least not until I gain my revenge first, Killian Reid.