The Beast's Possession

**Kala

pov**

To my surprise, Claudia looked taken aback by my question. While she knew I needed her for more than just some help with housework, she clearly didn't expect me to know anything about the curse. "How do you know about the curse?" She gasped the question, taking one step back, proving my point.

"It doesn't matter. What matters if you know anything. Anything at all. Don't try to hide anything or suddenly prove how loyal you can be to your Alpha, okay? At the end of the day, all of us are pretty much screwed if someone doesn't figure out how to fight whatever lives inside him." I tried to reason.

When she started shaking her head in denial, I couldn't believe this woman. I wasn't asking for her undying loyalty or for her to start some sick movement of rebellion. What I needed were some answers.

"I can't go against Alpha like that. Excuse my language, but you still are an outsider. Just because you are mated to our Beta doesn't mean we can trust you. Especially with information as sensitive as this."

I was tripping, right? Yes, my pregnant brain decided it was a good idea to lick some poisonous mushrooms in the forest and now I was seeing things. No, I was hearing them. There wasn't another decent explanation for this madness. None.

"Again, I'm not asking you to go against him," I groaned, barely holding myself together.

I couldn't help but wonder if this woman didn't see how desperate I was for the answers she held. She had seen me suffer so much, and if she didn't want to do this for me - she should want to do this for Zion.

As soon as her lips parted to say something, I raised my hand to stop her and spoke before she could. "Listen to me, please. I need to get my mate out of there. You haven't been down in the cells, you haven't seen him, haven't seen his suffering. But I have. Just minutes ago, I was down there and held onto my mate who's barely holding on to a thread. He won't be able to take this suffering for any longer. I fear for his life, damn it. I fear our child will never get to know their father, never feel the love he has to give."

Instinctively, I placed a hand over my belly as hot tears started streaming down my cheeks. Perhaps my reasons for doing this were selfish, but I couldn't help it. Now, finally, after all the suffering I went through - I had found my happiness. And even that was taken from me by some sick monster.

If everyone saw me as the most selfish person alive for trying to help him - I didn't mind that.

Claudia's eyes widened at my outburst, her hesitation still palpable as she struggled to decide if her loyalty to the Alpha was worth it.

Guliping, I took a step closer to her. "I understand and admire your loyalty to Bane. Especially against all the odds and his wrongdoings. Of his attitude towards you and the other women who live among so-called rejects," I began, my voice steady despite the tears that streaked down my cheeks. "But this isn't about picking sides. This is about so much more. It's about saving lives, about protecting our pack from the darkness that threatens to consume us all the same it has already started consuming the Alpha."

Her gaze wavered, torn between duty and compassion, and for a fleeting moment, I saw a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.

"You've seen the suffering," I continued, my voice softening as I reached out to grasp her trembling hands. "You know what's at stake. We can't afford to turn a blind eye any longer. If someone doesn't do something about this, we all will go down with him. Don't you want to see the pack children grow up and have a future? Don't you want to help him get better and bring Aife back?"

Silence hung heavy in the air as Claudia fought with her inner turmoil, the weight of my words bearing down upon her like an unyielding burden.

Finally, with a resigned sigh, she met my gaze, determination flashing in her eyes. "I'll help you," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "Not for you, but for Beta Zion's life, for our Alpha. For the future of our pack." Relief flooded through me at her decision, gratitude swelling in my chest for her reluctant but firm support. "Thank you," I breathed, tears of gratitude mingling with those of sorrow as the weight of our shared burden lifted, if only slightly, from my shoulders.

Claudia didn't add a word, letting the silence drag in. The sudden sense of relief that flooded through me just seconds ago faded, soon replaced by a sense of unease. She had claimed she would help me, yet didn't offer answers to my questions? How was she planning to help then?

Figuring that she most likely needed a moment to gather her thoughts, I focused on counting. It was better that I could follow the time as it went by rather than getting lost in my thoughts.

Since the fear of her refusal to help wasn't my sole focus anymore, it was replaced by a brand new fear - any moment now, someone could arrive to check on us. If not Bane himself, one of his minions would, most likely the creepy one we met in the kitchen.

As if Claudia could sense the shift in the air around us, her eyes widened in realization. "We're wasting too much time in silence, aren't we?" She whispered.

I nodded, turned around and started walking towards the living room. If nothing else, at least we could pretend that we were doing something. "Yes, sorry, I'm so slow these days. Pregnancy really is taking a toll on me." I spoke loudly, just in case someone camped outside and eavesdropped on our conversation.

"It's fine, my dear. For some, the magic of growing life inside their body feels more like a nightmare than fairytale. I've watched many pregnancies progress, each of them different from the other," Claudia reassured me, catching on my intent and speaking too loud.

Once she caught up with me, she grabbed a hold of my upper arm and pulled me closer to her to whisper, "make sure you have a set of curtains around, your fear might have a reason. I think I heard someone close by the door, probably listening in."

"Thank you for being so understanding, it's been very difficult, but I don't dare to complain out loud. I'm not the first woman ever to get pregnant, I'm sure others have had it worse," I spoke, letting my voice ring though the room and words echo back at us.

"I don't have answers, but I know where you can find those. The library, dark green book with golden edges. Look at page ninety-nine and read every second word." Claudia whispered and then cleared her throat to focus back on the fake part of the conversation. "I understand. Shall we get to work to ensure the dust doesn't make your days into an even worse experience then?"