The Alpha's Curse The Enemy Within

It was quite early at dawn before the sun came up that | went to see Thea in her dungeon. As soon as | stepped in, she lazily pulled her eyes open and her lucent brown eyes fell on me.

“I was expecting you. | knew you'd come to gloat,” she sounded venomous, but her voice was still sharp. I thought by now she must have realized the serious trouble she was in, but it is obvious she hasn't.

| countered the spell Valerie had placed in the dungeon, ensuring no magic could be used inside. But Thea's spelled shackles confining her to her chair were more than enough to keep her magic locked up. | turned to the door and muttered a few chants, making sure nothing that happens in here escapes this room. Not even an echo.

I moved closer to her in my leather boots. | was just returning from the training field and | decided to meet Thea as Killian requested.

“I would love to, only you are not worth it, Thea," I said, | really didn't have the time for whatever mind games she wanted to play.

I came here for a reason, to see if I'd be able to get through her mind and find out about Lucius. Thea's words from last night had worried me throughout the night. | had to know what Lucius was up to.

“So, why are you here, bitch?" She spat, almost chuckling. “Has the Court already decided on my fate?" She rushed in a mocking tone.

But | didn't respond. "Well, that was fast and smart, because the second | am out of here, | am going to have their hearts out of their chests.” “Your threats don't scare anyone, Thea. You've been caught and exposed already for who you are. All that is left now is for you to tell me exactly what Lucius is planning,” | muttered slowly as | lowered myself to her sitting position.

Another round of laughter left her lips. “And how would you do that, bitch? By breaking into my mind?" She was shaking her head amusingly. “I'm a witch, stupid. Do you think I had never prepared myself for that?" She sounded again, ever so confident. *I had prepared myself for that, bitch, and the only thing you'll find in there is rotten darkness. You'll never be able to see anything else, | swear.”

A shallow smile found my lips. And | was up, regarding her quietly. *I guess we will have to see about that. But I'l have to warn you, | only just created this spell, and you are my very first, so itl hurt like nothing you've ever experienced in your miserable and pathetic life, Thea. You should prepare yourself for that," I drew closer to her ears, whispering. My eyes met with Thea's and there was an instant glint of fear in them.

My smile deepened as my hands cupped her head, focusing on her temples. My blue eyes penetrated hers, and | began chanting, never leaving Thea's fearful brown eyes.

It didn't take long before her screaming filled the air from the unbearable pain she was feeling. She was right. She had spelled her mind, ensuring no one barged through. But | could find my way around it.

After prodding deeper, | began to see broken fragments of Thea's early memories from her childhood. I concentrated deeper on what | was looking for, Lucius, flashing through her memories with or about him, journeying to the present. And there, | found it.

Thea had sent a message to Lucius. He was in the West, gathering his army. We already knew that. | prodded deeper and found out he was going to attack in a few days. Her memories were in broken pieces and vague.

I stumbled upon another memory where she was in bed with someone and was talking to that person. I couldn't see his face quite clearly, but it wasn't Killian. It was her lover. | moved past it, hurrying to her recent memories past the time I fought her, and when Killian had spoken to her in the dungeon.

1 was getting to the end of her memories so far, and suddenly, | froze.

The face | had never expected flashed through Thea's mind.

I went after him but Thea was fighting back, pushing me out of her mind. No. It couldn't be. He was her lover, and he was here to see her. I couldn't get past every word in their conversation, but I had gotten what | came here for.

jerked out of her mind. Thea was already bleeding profusely from her nose.

“What the hell did you see?" She yelled, fighting against the shackles as I backed away.

“There's no way you'll win this war, Thea. Much to my delight, your end is closer than you think," | voiced, turning to the door.

“I will end you, bitch. I'l fucking kill you!" I paid no mind to Thea's words, | placed Valerie's spell in order and lifted mine before finally leaving the dungeon.

Killian was already waiting for me outside.

“How did it go?" He asked the second | was out, and we began strolling to the castle.

“We have to be prepared, Killian. Word has been sent to Lucius last night. He's attacking tonight," | informed Killian, as he snaked his hands around my waist.

“We will be prepared—" he started but | stopped him.

“That's not all,” | continued. "I know who Thea's lover is,” Killian's brows were crippled with curiosity. "And trust me, you won't like it.”

“Who is he?" He spoke slowly, already guessing from the visit Thea had this morning.

We knew somehow Thea's lover would find a way to see her, so Killian had no choice but to monitor the warriors’ shift himself. There were no recorded visits, but only one warrior had briefly stepped inside to see Thea.

“It's him, isn't it? He's the bloody traitor in our midst the whole time. | never thought he could betray me like this,” Killian was vibrating with rage, but his voice was surprisingly calm.

“Thea isn't just his lover, Killian, Thea is his mate," | added.

"What?" 1 nodded. "She's his mate and she’s having his pup.” “That's not possible. | was with Thea for months, how on earth was he able to bear that?" He sounded.

“What are you going to do now?" | asked, and Killian sighed, turning to me.

“We'll take care of Lucius first, and then, I'l personally deal with him," he kissed me, and we walked into the castle.

Killian called for a meeting with the Court and warriors, informing them of Lucius’ sudden attack tonight.

informed Valerie about this as well, and what we found out about Thea's mate. We didn't know what he would do now, knowing we are aware of Lucius’ sudden attack, so | placed a few witches to watch his every move and ensure there was no communication between Thea's mate and Lucius in any way.

While Lorenzo and | went around the pack's territorial borders and strengthened the boundary spells.

Ria, Nate, and some of the warriors helped prepare the underground casements in the castle to house the women, children, and elderlies that won't be fighting in the war tonight. We also brought in the women, children, and elderlies from the village pack. We had no idea how far the fight would spread.

Hopefully, if everything goes as planned, Lucius’ armies wouldn't be able to make it far to the castle and Packhouse.

The hours went by in a hurry, forcing the sun out of the sky. It was already twilight. And any second from now, Lucius's armies would attack.

Frankly, the Pack's armies would be outnumbered by Lucius's armies since he had gathered warriors from several allied packs of his.

But our first line of defense was the witches. Hopefully, we could cut down the number of Lucius's armies before they made it to our borders.

1 was at the witches’ spell room in the witches’ quarters when Kaiser walked in.

1 lifted my head in surprise, gazing behind him.

“No one saw me come through,” he said before | could even utter a word. | went to him and embraced him.

“Leonardo wants to find out why you didn't send word about Lucius's attack?” He spoke.

“It had escaped my mind with everything going on today," | roved to the window.

“I can understand that, Sheila, but you have to be careful. Remember, as much as Lucius is coming after that idiot, he’s after you too,” Kaiser muttered, and | nodded.

“I know. But | can't abandon my pack and mate. And besides, | have a good feeling about this war, and Lucius will finally pay for everything he has done to us,” I turned to Ka. "And for that, | need both you and Leonardo's help.” Kai rolled his eyes, furiously. “No. We are not joining this bloody war against Lucius to help your mate.” “Kai—" | was about to plead more when several golden bright glows appeared in the sky. From afar it looked like balls of fire, but on a second look, it wasn't.

Fuck. They were fireballs scattered in the sky, and some were heading straight at us.

“Kail” 1 yelled in fear as it got larger in my crystal blue stones.