The Alpha's Curse The Enemy Within

Chapter 41 Forty One

Killian's point of view

Gosh. These hours have been the longest hours of my life.

I have been waiting outside Sheila's chamber for only the goddess knows how long. My wolf was pacing around, panicking. He was agitated. He wanted to see our mate, to see her awake and out of pain. To have those beautiful eyes of hers stare back at me.

I groaned in frustration. Grabbing a handful of my hair in my hands, I felt like dying, knowing something bad could happen to her. She shouldn't have to go through any of this. I wish I could save her from the pain she was going through.

I felt rage and impatience mixing with the frustration entrenched in my bones. But I had to be calm. I couldn't afford to lose control. Sheila needed me to be sane when she awakes.

I took a deep, and calm breath, hearing Morgan's voice through the mind link. The warriors had cleaned up the disgusting remnants of the Dark Circle army within the pack. Even the witches also helped in fixing the damage around the pack, tending to the injured warriors along with the healers.

But I couldn't concentrate on the pack now, not when my mate was in such a terrible state.

My head snapped up at the sound of the door to Sheila's chamber opening. I was on my feet when the Pack's healer, Maggie, stepped out with her assistants. One after the other, they lowered their heads and rushed past me.

Maggie approached me, lowering her head in respect.

"How is she doing?" I asked, noting the fear that was rising in my tone.

Maggie heaved a sigh and pursed her lips. "She was badly injured everywhere. The wounds are very deep. Frankly, I am surprised that she's able to survive, more so, being without her wolf." Maggie paused, inhaling. "We managed to stop the bleeding, and the witches were able to heal her wounds, but —"

But? That didn't sound good. I held my breath tightly, awaiting whatever her words were.

"But what, Maggie?" I asked sternly, folding my hands against my chest.

"Right now, she's still unconscious. So, we still have to monitor her until she awakes. It's been hours since I gave her the medicinal herbs. She should have already responded to it, but I don't understand why she is not regaining consciousness." She spoke quietly, staring at me.

"I don't understand," I muttered as I went past her and entered Sheila's chamber.

Valerie and Gwen were beside her. When I moved closer to the bed, they stepped back.

Sheila's pristine body was on the bed. She was tucked perfectly well under the sheets. She was still not awake. I moved closer to her, my heart tearing up at the sight of her pale face, and her breathing was awfully slow like she was in a deep slumber.

"Sheila, please wake up," I said, taking hold of her hand in my giant one. Her skin was cold, but it wasn't from the winter's cold air. I rubbed my hand gently against hers, trying to provide whatever warmth I could. I felt guilty. I didn't realize that tears had slipped down my eyes.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. I tilted my head a little to find Valerie's somber eyes on me.

"Why isn't she waking up yet?" I asked her, my voice battered and confused. Even without her wolf to aid her fast healing, the witches and healers had managed to stop the bleeding and heal her injuries. So why wasn't she awake yet? Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

"We have to be patient and hopeful. She might regain her consciousness soon," Valerie said, trying to assure me. But I have known this witch for the longest, and her eyes can never fool me. She wasn't even convinced by her own words.

I nodded gently.

"What happened last night?" I asked her. Nothing still made sense to me. Sheila's screams, and the powerful energy that shook every one of us.

I turned to Valerie. "Was the phoenix stone responsible for it?"

Her eyes on me were intense. "I don't know," was all she said. But it was as though her eyes were not saying a lot more.

"Stay with her, your presence as her mate will help her a lot," she said before leaving the room. Leaving me with an unconscious Sheila.

***

I stayed unmoving from her side throughout the day and never drifted my eyes away from her unconscious figure throughout the night, but Sheila's condition still hadn't improved one bit. Her body was cold, her heartbeat was slower, and her breathing was the same.

I was sitting on the bed beside my mate when Valerie came in with Gwen and a few witches. They all lowered their heads toward me.

"She still hasn't woken up; something is wrong," I said.

"I know." Valerie came closer. "I was desperately hoping she would wake up before dawn. But seeing her state remains the same, means it's exactly what I feared. " Valerie muttered.

I pulled up from the bed, interested in what she had to say. "What do you mean?"

She looked at Sheila and walked toward the bed. Her hands fell on Sheila's forehead, and she closed her eyes. Her lips moved, whispering a few chants. Then Valerie opened her eyes. Her eyes were glowing a bright purple. She kept on muttering chants until she was done. Her eyes lost their glow and it became normal. Valerie jerked her hand away from Sheila's forehead.

"The reason she isn't waking up is that she's trapped somewhere in her mind," She shocked me. Sheila was trapped in her mind.

I sent a glance at Sheila, then my eyes came back to Valerie.

"How is that even possible?" I questioned.

"It is very much possible. It must be from whatever happened at the cemetery," Valerie uttered.

"So, it could be because of the power of the stone?" I queried.

"I don't think so," Valerie said. "The stone had nothing to do with this. I think it's all her."

Her words were confusing. I had a lot of questions, but none of that mattered now.

"What do we do now, Valerie?" I began pacing, unable to stay still.

"She is stuck in her mind right now, you could have easily been able to pull her out if you had marked her. But since you didn't mark her, it'll be far more difficult to pull her out. Still, your help will be needed in waking her up." Valerie's lips kept moving, her words sinking into my ears.

"And how am I going to do that?" I went back to bed.

"The witches and I will aid with the spell." At her words, Gwen and the witches moved closer.

There was a knock at the door, and without being asked, Morgan walked in.

Valerie continued. "Our magic will break the barrier of her mind. Using the mate bond, you will be able to access her mind. You will have to search through her mind to find her. Once you have found her, ask her to follow your voice, and the witches and I will do the rest. We will be able to pull her out."

I nodded, listening to Valerie.

"What is going on here?" Morgan's voice rang and Valerie calmly explained it to him.

After that, she explained to me everything that I needed to do. I took my seat beside my mate as Gwen and the witches positioned themselves around the bed with their hands linked together, forming a chain. Morgan retreated to the door.

"Are you ready?" Valerie was in front of me. Her eyes scanned me over. I couldn't hide the fear in my gut at the thought of what would happen if Sheila still didn't wake up after this. This was our last resort.

"This will work, right? " I questioned her, my amber pair regarding her, firmly.

Valerie nodded. "It will." She sounded absolutely sure, and her words made me sigh.

"Okay, I am ready," I told her. Ryker ambled to the front of my mind, ready as well.

"You have to touch her forehead," Valerie urged.

I did as Valerie instructed, pulling my hand on Sheila's forehead while the other held her hand. Valerie placed her palm on my face, her purple eyes peering into the depths of my eyes, sending warmth to my chest.

Gwen and the witches began chanting, and soon Valerie joined them.

I heard the low echoes of the witches rise beyond a whisper. Their chants echoed in the walls of my soul.

My breathing became slow, and my heartbeat lowered. I could hear the faint drumming of my heart. I

started to feel my eyelashes grow heavy and tired. A burning sensation spreads around my body, starting from my chest to every bone in my body. The witches' chants began to echo within the walls of my mind. I felt myself being pulled away into obscure darkness.