CHAPTER 119 : THE DARKNESS WITHIN

Before they left, Morane also found some footwear for Kira; slippers, no matter the size, while Kira took deep breaths, wiping her tear-streaked face. 

Her emotions were still raw, but she forced herself to focus, trying to compose herself.

"This is not the time to be weak," she chided herself as she and Morane walked quickly toward the mansion. "I need to be strong and stay strong."

As Kira spoke those words to herself, she rubbed her face a bit roughly as her mind kept replaying what had happened earlier in the bedroom.

Remembering she had not informed Ryker as Aiden had told her too, she quickly connected to him using the pack link. She was not sure why Aiden told her to do these things, but she knew she had to do them either way.

She reached out to Ryker through the pack link, the feeling like a thread stretching between her mind and his as she called out, "Ryker," her voice urgent but strong. "Something is wrong with Bryan and Aiden. I need you to come to the mansion now. And come quietly. Don't alert the others."

"I will be right there!" Ryker responded, and the connection went dark. 

The mansion door, still ajar from Kira having pushed it open earlier in her panic, stood open and from the doorway, Kira and Morane could hear shouts and crashes. They could also hear Bryan and Aiden's voices, which were filled with anger, echoing through the building.

"WHERE IS SHE?!" Bryan's voice ripped through the air followed by Aiden's growl that could almost shake the very walls of the house, and it made Kira's heart sink. "I SAID, WHERE IS SHE?!"

Kira hesitated to go inside, her pulse racing. The thought of them looking for her, not the usual way they do but in a way that seemed like they were out for her blood, scared her, and she didn't want to have thoughts like that or think that they would ever want her dead. 

But Morane, Morane was already walking inside and Kira chided herself again before stepping inside. 

As she and Morane stepped inside, her breath caught at the sight of destruction. Chairs were overturned, tables broken, vases scattered around, shards of glass everywhere on the floor, and both men were just pacing, growling and shouting, their eyes dark and wild.

Kira spotted Orion and Elara not too close to where her mates stood as they tried to calm their sons, but she could see that their efforts seemed futile.

Bryan and Aiden did not look like themselves at all. Their usual calm, controlled faces were not there and even when they did get angry, it was never like this. 

"This…this is different," Kira muttered to herself as she watched them with mixed emotions. She felt a flicker of fear, but it was quickly replaced by confusion.

"What is wrong with them?" She thought, staying glued to where she stood. She really wanted to reach out to them and see if maybe she could calm them down herself, but they didn't look like her mates, and she had tried that before with Aiden and still, it did not work. "Why are they like this?" She asked herself, clenching her hands into fists.

Then all of a sudden, Bryan and Aiden's movements stopped abruptly. They both sniffed the air like wolves on the hunt, and soon their heads snapped in Kira's direction as they caught her scent.

They were so consumed by their anger that they hadn't caught it earlier. Now that they did, they kept their gazes locked on her.

Kira stood her ground as their gazes pinned her in place. The look in their eyes made her chest tighten, but she didn't let it show on her face. She felt like she needed to be strong to handle this situation, no matter how many emotions she was feeling at once, which indeed confused her.

And as she did just that and looked back at them, Bryan took a step forward, snarling. Aiden followed, too, growling low and deep.

Their expressions were unrecognizable, wild, and the raw hunger in their eyes made Kira's breath catch.

"Morane?" Kira called out, still keeping her gaze locked on her mates. "Do you have a plan?"

"I do," Morane answered and stepped in front of Kira. She had been quiet all along because she was studying the situation. It was also the first time she had seen them this way, and she needed to be sure on how to act on it. "Kira, get Ryker here—now!"

"I already did," Kira said quickly. "He should be here soon."

Almost as if summoned by her words, Ryker appeared at the door, walking up to Kira. "What is going on?" He asked as his eyes landed on both Kira and Morane before his gaze shifted from them to the advancing brothers. 

Then, it dawned on him.

"Kira, you need to leave," Ryker said, his voice calm but firm. 

"Leave? But why?" Kira demanded and for the first time since she locked her gaze on her mates, she broke it and turned to look at Ryker. "I need to be here. We need to figure out what is wrong with my mates."

"And we will," Ryker said, placing a hand on her shoulder to reassure her. "It is for your safety. Trust me—we will handle it. They will be fine, Kira, but they cannot see you right now."

"But…" Kira hesitated, her heart twisting.

"Fine," she whispered, turning toward the door.

Stepping outside, she closed the door and exhaled slowly. She didn't want anyone to witness what was happening and was relieved when she glanced around and no one was there. 

She was sure the maids had left and was glad that there were no guards standing at the door tonight. "Besides, everyone would probably be tired after the celebration we had earlier," she thought, rubbing her face in worry. "Please, Moon Goddess, let them be fine."

Back inside, Morane's voice filled the room, her hands spread wide at her sides as she chanted. "Volatris dorsae, somtris clanari!" 

Her words were charged with power, low and resonant as they left her mouth. 

Bryan and Aiden faltered, their steps slowing. Their growls deepened as they tried to move, wanting to get Kira, but with Morane chanting, it gave them no chance.

Their heads twisted unnaturally as they tried to resist the pull of her magic, but the harder they tried, the harder it was for Morane, and Morane knew very well what was happening.

The curse was in full control.