The Alpha's Curse The Enemy Within

Chapter 21 Twenty One

Killian's point of view

I just couldn't sit still. Ryker was lashing within me, wanting to be set free, wanting to be with our mate. But I just couldn't let it go. Now is the worst time for that. The dark pain in my chest kept on intensifying. I groaned in frustration, thrashing everything that stood on my table.

My mind couldn't take any of this. My rough hands were tugging at my hair tightly as I shut my eyes tightly. Everything is a complete mess right now. Every second of those last hours played over and over again in my head. And I felt constant pain in my chest. Sheila was in serious trouble.

Why on earth did it have to be her?

The same question that had lingered in my thoughts echoed again.

I would be lying if I said I didn't believe her. Hell, I believed everything she said. But the court couldn't. Somehow, they thought only the worst of her, and being Lucius Callaso's daughter didn't help her case. Sheila could be anything but a murderer. That was something those beautiful, yet broken eyes of hers didn't have. She was incapable of murdering someone, especially me. I knew it. But the situation wasn't as simple as that. The Pack's court is involved in this as well. They all want her life for a crime they think she committed. I can't possibly let that happen.

Honestly, I couldn't blame them. If it was another person caught instead, their heads would have been detached from their bodies right there and then without any deliberation at all. But this was Sheila. My own mate. As heartless as I can be, I would never kill her with my own hands. Never.

I swallowed a hard lump that stood in my throat just at the thought of killing my own mate. A familiar pain with a flush of anger found me as I was reminded of my father, the ruthless man who didn't even bat an eye before killing his own mate, my mother with his bare hands.

The vile monster who was responsible for the problems the pack and I were going through right now.

The despicable man who was the cause of so many problems that I haven't even rectified yet. Many of them featured the Dark Circle. But now wasn't the time for that. Saving Sheila was my utmost priority. But frankly, my hands were tied.

The Pack's court is furious. I could understand their rage. If something had really happened to me or Thea today, all of them would have suffered the same fate, ending up dead. That was one of the effects of the curse my father placed on us. The lives of every member of the pack were tied to mine. If I die, then so do they. If something terrible happens to Thea, then we are stuck with this curse for the rest of our lives.

The Crescent Moon is only a few months away. Until then, Thea and I need to be kept alive. The only way the curse needs to be broken is on the Crescent Moon. That was the only chance we got to break the curse, since the power of the crescent moon was the nature of the magic that was used to place the curse on us. And thankfully, Valerie is on our side. She's helping us create the spell that will be needed to break the curse, and her coven will be in charge of the rite.

Truthfully, at first, I never expected her to help us this much. Not after everything my father has done to the Crystal Fortress witches. That was another of his many mistakes I was forced to rectify. My father never belonged to the Council at first; he was a member of the Dark Circle. He was like them in every

aspect. Dark and evil. ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

He, along with several members of the Dark Circle, was responsible for the attack on the Crystal Fortress fourteen years ago, which led to the deaths of many witches from the Crystal Fortress. It was horrible. Many witches lost their lives in the Dark Circle's search for the white wolf whose name was inscribed in the prophecy. They were also responsible for everything that happened to the Black family. A fury stalked my veins at the thought of that.

Just then, the door pulled open, and Morgan strutted in. Great, just the last person I wanted to see.

His eyes lazily scanned the mess I made on the floor before stealing his gaze on mine.

"What do you want, Morgan?" I asked, not meeting his gaze, searching through the papers on my table.

"She's innocent," he said calmly, and his words forced me to gaze up at him. "And you know that very well," he added, leaning his huge frame against the wall.

I fought the growl Ryker had released in my mind from escaping my lips. I hated the way he counted his words. I hated whatever seemed to be going on between Sheila and him. But I bottled up my emotions.

"That is not what the evidence against her says," I said, admonishing his green irises. Unfortunately, even though Morgan and I believed her, there was nothing to prove her innocence. Nothing that wouldn't seem like I was favoring her because she's my mate. And if everything she said about one of my own being the one who shot the arrow is true, then there's an enemy very close to us. Taking her

side will only mean she truly means a whole lot to me, putting her at risk of being in danger.

"I don't give a damn about that evidence. She says someone else was there, and I believe her." Morgan shot up angrily, and the manner in which he defended her made me growl angrily. I was glad someone else at least believed her, but I hated the overprotective manner in which he held her.

Morgan ignored my growl. "She said someone having our crescent mark tried to murder both you and Thea, and that's the truth."

"The court doesn't believe that one of our own would want to jeopardize everyone's lives by killing me, especially knowing what's at stake," My voice could be heard through the corner walls.

"But that's the truth," Morgan said, leaning against the table.

"Do you know what that 'truth' means?" I asked, but Morgan's green eyes pierced through my soul without saying a word.

"It means someone planted that traitor in our midst, and they know about the curse. They know about our weaknesses, and that puts all of us in danger."

"Then let's find that person and prove Sheila's innocence. We could also find out who planted the traitor in our pack." Morgan said, and I brushed my brows, gazing up at him.

"They must have covered their tracks already, and there's no witness or evidence that proves she's innocent."

"You can't let the court have her executed."

"What on earth do you think I've been doing, Morgan?" I couldn't stop my angry outburst. "You know how dire this situation is. Their anger is understood. Everyone is terrified of what would have happened if something had happened to Thea or me."

Morgan fell silent. very quiet. We both did, inhaling deeply.

I held my gaze at him. "I wish I could save her as well, but it's complicated," I told him honestly. "They are all waiting for my decision," I said in a murmur.

Everyone is waiting for my decision to have her executed. But I can't do that. I can't see myself making that decision. Even Ryker growled in my head. He was against it as well. He would rather I choose her over everyone else. But that would be selfish on my part.

"You are right. It'll cause an uproar within the court if you make this any more personal. I just need you to stall the whole process as much as possible while I find a way out of this." Morgan finally said, and I curled my brow.

"And how do you plan on doing that?" I queried, looking him straight in the eye.

He held my gaze tightly before sighing. "I have no idea, but I can't let her get framed for something she didn't do. It's unfair, especially when everyone seems to be against her. And that includes her mate. She's suffered enough."

His words struck me. I despised it all, but he was correct: Sheila had already been through enough. When I found out she was not with a wolf, I was shocked to the bones. It was unbelievable. So, I had

someone look into her past at the Silver Mist Pack, and surprisingly, there wasn't much they could find. She had lived most of her life locked up in the packhouse. It had hurt me even more because that was exactly what I was doing to her.

Morgan's intense stare pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Fine. I can't do much, but whatever you need to help her with, let me know. Also, Allen and Mason can help as well. I trust them."

He nodded, understandably. Before leaving my office, I leaned into my chair, rubbing my palm against my face. I really hope we can save her.