The Alpha's Curse The Enemy Within

Chapter 14 Fourteen

Sheila's point of view

The sounds of owls hooting and insects chirping were all around me in the gentle night air, and the moon shone in its full glory, illuminating every path and step I took. After much time, I realized that I had been lost, walking round and around in circles.

"Where the hell am I now?" I thought to myself, confused. Now I was running up north in hopes of finding some trail leading out of this damn forsaken forest.

Quickly, I stopped in my tracks. Although I hadn't yet discovered my wolf, I had a better-than-average sense of hearing. I wasn't alone now. Someone was indeed in this forest with me.

I tense up, grabbing the small dagger I held for protection, gripping on tightly to it like it was my only form of life line. I wandered into the forest all alone at night. Somehow, I had a feeling that whatever and whoever was in this forest with me wasn't coming in peace.

"Hello, is there anyone out there? " I inquired, spinning my head around in search of whatever was present with me. This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

"Hi," I heard an almost angelic, soft voice say from behind me. Startled by the voice, I turned around to face a pair of surreal emerald green eyes staring right at me with wrinkled eyebrows.

"Fuck!" I screamed, "You almost ripped my heart right out of my chest." I swallowed some air, regaining my composure and stance.

"Ahh, my bad, that wasn't really my intention. I was passing through and I noticed someone taking what seemed like a fucking midnight stroll around the forest. Are you crazy? Do you have a death wish or something? You should know you shouldn't be out here alone at night," his emerald green eyes searched the place. He had slick black long hair that was trimmed right below his ear and a well- chiseled jawline.

"First of all, I'm not insane." I saw him roll his eyes while he murmured something. I'm just not really sure what it was. "And secondly, what makes you think that I was just taking a fucking stroll? I was trying to run away," I retorted, not lowering my small dagger held to my chest.

"Well, whatever it may be, we better leave right now, unless you want to end up dead," he suggested, still looking around a bit frantically.

"What exactly do you mean—? No, who are you? " I asked, getting confused about what was actually going on. The buzzing sound of flies was growing nearer.

"I'm afraid there's not much time for that; they are approaching," he said, placing his hand at the head of his sword and studying the environment. I had a lot of unanswered questions. Who was he and what was coming? I don't understand what was happening.

My words were brought to an abrupt stop by the sound of his sword unsheathed.

"They are here." He looked straight at me with his emerald green eyes.

"Who is here?" I quickly asked him.

He looked at me like I had asked the most stupid question he had ever heard. "Don't you know where you are?" When I couldn't reply he shook his head. "This forest belongs to some rogues. Believe me when I say they are dangerous" He looked around again. "They're coming, we need to move now," he replied. Rogues were coming? How could he tell?

Before I could ask, his green eyes shut me up. "We do not have the time for unnecessary questions we need to get moving now," he said. A series of howls went off from all around us, and jumped behind him.

"I suggest you shift into your wolf and start running and don't look back," He yelled quickly after pushing me out of the way and shifted into his wolf, his eye changing from its usual green gemstone color to a golden yellow color, reminding me of someone I'd rather not think of. It was his fault I'm in this situation.

I obeyed the green-eyed stranger. But since I couldn't shift, I ran for my life. I could hear his wolf trailing behind me, accompanied by howls of the rogues that wanted us for dinner, but that was seconds ago. Now he was out of sight and I was left alone with the thick canopies of trees surrounding me.

Oh, goddess! I obviously didn't think this escaping through.

I heard a loud painful howl. I wasn't sure, but it seemed it came from the stranger. The wolves might have surrounded him, or maybe injured him. I was confused whether to keep running or go back and probably die alongside him since I could barely help in any way.

Fuck, I felt utterly useless.

I had to go back to try and help him. If he was harmed because I didn't even try to do something, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself. So, I stopped in my tracks and headed right back. I heard growling coming from behind me and immediately, I was blocked by a big gray wolf. I snatched a wood laying on the ground, and hit the wolf, but it didn't back away.

It came closer to me, cornering me up against a tree trunk, growling at me with sharp canines. It was later joined by two other wolves that had the same intent. to kill their prey.

"Get away, me!" I screamed, using my dagger to point at them all in a rather pathetic attempt to stop them from attacking me, which was failing because they kept advancing toward me.

'I'm fucked up', I thought as the wolves made progress in getting close to me. "No! Stay back!" I continued struggling, but I knew it was just a matter of seconds before I was brutally attacked and killed.

Just then, one of the wolves growled and lunged at me. I looked away, covering my eyes with my hands, bracing myself for the inevitable horror that awaited me. But instead, I heard a snapping noise. Quickly, I opened my eyes and saw the now dead rogue wolf laying on the ground with its head chopped off. And standing above me was a big brown wolf, the stranger, whatever his name was. Strangely, this scene and this wolf reminded me of Killian.

He mightily growled at the two remaining wolves, causing them to growl an equally frightening response. Another wolf attacked the brown wolf, which he easily brushed off with his claws and, in return, severed its head. My stomach churned at the gory scene.

The gray wolf and the brown wolf began circling each other, both growling loudly. After stalking and circling, they both attacked each other, sending several hits, but lastly, the brown wolf pinned it to the

ground, growling, and the gray wolf whimpered in submission and it was killed.

He then shifted back into his human form. "I thought I told you to shift and then run, and not to look back," he said, changing into some clothes.

"I didn't see you behind me, so I became worried and, against my better judgment, I came back for you," I said, dusting my clothes.

"Aww, isn't that so sweet?" he said with a light chuckle. I rolled my eyes at him but found myself smiling just a bit.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" I asked, inching closer to him. He had some blood on him, but I could tell it wasn't his. I just wanted to be sure he was okay.

"No, I am not hurt. The rogues were no match at all. But you look shaken up. Let's just camp and rest for tonight," he suggested, and I acknowledged with a nod. I felt mentally and physically drained tonight from all the running for my life. It was wise to camp and rest, then continue with my journey the next day.

"Stay here, I'll go gather some wood." He smiled, walking away to do that which he said.

He arrived shortly and he started a fire. While we sat there in silence, I kept looking at him. There was something about him that felt eerily familiar.

"You know it's considered rude to stare, right?" He laughed, looking up at me, making my face turn red in shame.

"Sorry," I quickly apologized.

"It's okay. It happens quite a lot," he said with a proud smirk, which made me scoff.

"And thank you. You know, I didn't really get to say that earlier," I stated, feeling grateful for him saving my life. I wonder what would have happened If I had not run into him, I would have been dead for sure.

"No worries. By the way, what is your name and what the hell are you doing out here?"

"I'm Sheila and I was running away from my idiotic mate," I replied, remembering that I needed to get away from here as soon as possible before Killian and his pack found out.

"I haven't heard that before. What happened now? What did he do?" He asked, looking genuinely interested.

"It's what he didn't do. He doesn't love me and disregards me as his mate. To make it even worse, he has a lover," I replied to him, looking down to the ground.

"Well, whoever he is, he is a bloody fool if he lets you go." I laughed at his words, earning a confused look from him. "What?" He asked.

"Nothing, just the first time I've seen anyone address an alpha in such a manner." I tried to suppress my laughter.

"So, he is an alpha. Of what pack?" He asked me.

"Alpha Killian of the Crescent North Pack," I stated. His green eyes widened for a second, nodding. His

eyes twinkled with something in them.

Was it amusement?

"I see," was all he said. I decided to ask some questions of my own.

"It's your turn, who are you, and what are you doing here? "

"My name is Morgan, unlike you, I was actually returning to a place I haven't visited for a long time." His voice lowered a bit, and he seemed to have drifted unto his thoughts.

I guess we all have our stories.

"It's almost daylight; let's sleep and reserve our energy for tomorrow. Then we'll see what we can do about your situation," He said suddenly, lying down.

Somehow his last words confused me.

"Good night, Sheila." His green eyes on me. "And it's really a pleasure meeting you."

He said, confusing me all the more.