CHAPTER 118 : THE TAKEOVER

The night was peaceful, the room silent except for the faint sound of breathing. There was a faint glow of moonlight that filtered through the window as they slept.

Kira was nestled between Bryan and Aiden, their chests rising and falling as they were all completely at peace. However, Kira's sleep was interrupted by the constant gentle taps on her shoulder.

She stirred, groaning softly as her eyes fluttered open. "What is it?" she asked sleepily, turning to face Aiden, who had tapped her. "Mmm? What is it?" She asked again, her voice thick with sleep.

"Wake up, you have to go!" She heard him say, and immediately her gaze sharpened. She was fully awake now.

There was this urgency in his voice, like something was going on, and it didn't take her a second to sit up.

"Aiden? What is it?" She asked, looking at him with worried eyes. "Are you okay?" 

But he didn't answer. Instead, his eyes twitched unnaturally and his face… there was something about his face. It contorted in a way that made her more worried.

Aiden began to shake his head erratically, as though fighting something inside. 

"Talk to me. What is it?" Kira asked, her voice growing louder.

Aiden didn't answer immediately. But it seemed like he was trying to get some words out, as his hands trembled. "K-Kira," he said, still shaking his erratically, his eyes twitching as if he were struggling to focus. "You have to-," but then he stopped.

His head started jerking side to side like a broken marionette. "Mo-" but he could not finish the words as the veins on his neck stood out, and a low growl escaped his throat.

Kira was already scared but more worried. She had no idea what to do at that moment, but still, she reached out to him, thinking that maybe she could make him calm down.

"Did you have a nightmare? Is that it?" She asked as she reached out to touch him, getting alarmed by his behavior.

"You can tell me. Just take deep breaths first," she placed her hands on his shoulder, trying to steady him. "Tell me, what's wrong, Aiden. Please, you're scaring me," she whispered.

But Aiden's hand shot out, and he grabbed her arm tightly, his grip painful and his growl threatening.

"Aiden! Let go—you are hurting me!" Kira cried as she tried to get herself out of his grip, wincing as his finger nails dug into her skin.

She turned toward Bryan immediately for help but froze when she saw him. He was not on the bed but was gripping the bathroom door frame and his body trembled violently.

When he raised his head up, sensing that eyes were on him, Kira saw his eyes—dark and soulless, and it locked onto hers. The way he looked at her was like he was going to kill her, and it sent fear through her body.

For a minute, she had forgotten about being held by Aiden but was brought back to that when he shouted at her.

"Kira… Go! NOW!" Aiden roared, letting go of her immediately. "Get Morane and Ryker," he said quickly, his voice strained as if he was fighting to stay in control of something. "Hurry!" But before Kira could react, his expression twisted, his eyes now like Bryan's as a guttural growl tore from his throat. Out of nowhere, He lunged at her, flinging her off the bed with terrifying force.

Kira hit the floor hard, a cry escaping her lips as her eyes widened. She scrambled back immediately as Aiden was already looming over her, his eyes black as obsidian. He growled loudly in her face, his growl vibrating through the room.

Before she knew it, Bryan was also advancing towards her. "Aiden, Bryan—what is wrong with you?!" Kira cried, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her cheeks. Quickly, she stumbled to the door, her hands shaking as she fumbled with the lock.

Behind her, she could hear Aiden and Bryan's deep growl as they got closer. 

Finally, she managed to unlock the door, her sob catching in her throat. "Please, stop!" she shouted, her voice cracking as she slipped out and slammed the door shut behind her.

She was about to run away when she turned back to the door, the key in her hand, and locked them in. Her heart pounded as she heard them growl loudly from the other side of the door.

Without looking back, she ran down the hallway.

Bang! Bang! The door creaked, and she knew it would not hold for long. "No, no…" she whispered shakily.

Barefoot and trembling, she sprinted down the hallway, her nightdress clung to her sweaty skin. The growls she was hearing and the banging on the door only made her run faster, her heart pounding in her ears.

When she got to the stairs, it didn't stop her. She grabbed the railing, and ran down, taking the steps two at a time. Her toes barely even touched the surface before she pushed off again. 

Tears blurred her vision, and she wiped at them furiously, gasping, "What is happening to them? What is wrong with them?"

Reaching the massive door, Kira pushed them open with all her strength. She was barefoot, not properly dressed as the cold night air hit her, but she didn't care. She ran out like that, heading straight to Morane's home.

Her heart continued to pound, not from fear but from worry about her mates. "Please, let them be okay. Please…" She whispered as she wiped the tears that streamed down her cheeks hastily.

Finally reaching Morane's door, her breath hitched as she banged on it. "Morane? Are you there? Morane?" she called, her voice breaking. 

Kira pounded harder, but bit her lip and waited as she kept turning back to see if Bryan and Aiden had somehow followed her, while praying Morane would answer quickly.

The door opened as she was about to knock again, Morane standing in front of her. Seeing Kira's tear-streaked face and panicked form, Morane asked, fully alert as she stepped forward. "What is wrong?"

"I-I don't know," Kira stammered, trying to calm herself. "It's Bryan and Aiden—they started acting weird. I really don't know what is wrong with them. They just—" she took a shaky breath, "I, it wasn't, they, they just—"

"It's okay," Morane reached out to her and steadied her by the shoulders, "Calm down."

"Just, wait here," Morane said and disappeared inside, leaving Kira on the doorstep. A moment later, she returned, now dressed in fitted pants and a jacket. She held out another jacket to Kira.

"Put this on," Morane said, handing her the jacket. Kira nodded and slipped it on.

Locking the door, Morane said, "Let's go."