THANE"King Erin! King Erin!! King Erin!!!" The chants were getting louder as the army drew closer.Maya turned to me with wide eyes, "Isn't this treason? What are we going to do?" She was glancing over her shoulders in fear."Relax Maya." That was the only words I could say. This was purely treason, they had already crowned another person as their king and they were chanting his name.For the look of things, Erin had taken time to carefully plan this. He had reached out to numerous people and had successfully poisoned their minds against me."I will take care of it," I said walking towards the inner rooms with Maya in my arms. "First, we need to get you to somewhere safe.""What about Zane?" She asked."That's where we are going, you'll stay with him while I try to reason with them, hopefully, they will calm down." As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted saying it, a loud crashing sound filled my ears, and one of the rebels had driven straight into my mansion creating a crack
KANE"Calm down Kane, let's trust Dad," Dane said trying to calm me down, I couldn't stop pacing about the room."Calm down?" I scoffed in disbelief, "how can you be calm when everything is in chaos?" I asked staring at him."But what can we do other than trust Dad and let him do what he thinks is best," Dane said trying to act reasonably."Yes, there's nothing we can do, but we could have prevented this from happening." I snapped, I knew this wasn't his fault but I couldn't contain my anger, our decision had caused this."How?" He asked, "Just pack up let's leave.""We could have rejected Sierra and none of this could have happened!" I shouted."Look Kane, we decided to accept her and bear the consequences in case you have forgotten." Dane's words stung but I was past caring."I wouldn't have done so if I knew that the consequences were this dire." I covered my face with my hands.I felt Dane's hand on my shoulder, "Relax Kane, everything will be fine.""No," I shook my head, "Everyt
KANEI stepped into the way, blocking off Erin's attack. Our weapons clashed hard. My eyes landed on Dane running out of the mansion with an unconscious Zane on his back and Maya by his side. Before Erin could notice what was happening, I immediately averted my gaze.Erin needed to be distracted so they could leave and that was my assignment."This fight isn't for little boys." Erin huffed angrily, he moved his foot so discreetly but I was quick to notice, Using one hand to hold his weapon, I blocked his leg with the other hand. In one swift movement, using his leg, I threw him off me.He flew a few metres away from me but his legs were strong so he landed on his feet.My eyes quickly flickered around the mansion, Dane and the others were no longer in sight, they had managed to escape, I heaved a sigh of relief as I turned back to Alpha Erin."Not a move you expected from a little boy huh?" I sent him a mocking smile. For once, I was grateful for the numerous battle classes that Dad h
ERINI watched as the dagger meant for arrogant Kane sank deep into Thane's chest, and he fell to the ground in pain. The young man knelt by his side as though checking if he was alive. He threw a glance at my way before picking his father up and running into the forest."Thane," I said softly to myself, "you left just as I imagined," I laughed watching as the young man tried to balance the weight of his father as he ran."That stupid child thinks he could stand before me?" I laughed recalling the look on his face when he saw his father was wounded.I called after them, "Keep running, slow down and my dogs would have your legs for breakfast."He could hear me, the wind carried my voice down into the woods. "Thane never considered his weight, he was proud of those muscles, now see him weighing you down." I mocked as I watched Kane slow a little trying to adjust his wounded father in his arms."Should we go after them?" My guard who led the reinforcements asked.I turned to him, and beh
SIERRAMy throat ached from screaming too much earlier. The snakes were harmless, but I just had to be quiet in a bid to conceal my presence so they wouldn't notice me. My entire body trembled as they glided around me hissing."Seems you made a bond with them so soon witch!" Beta Orion spat not bothering to look at the red bite marks on my skin. I watched silently as he picked them up, placed them inside a basket, covered the lid then took them out. I heaved a sigh of relief as he left, finally a moment of peace.The cut in my head didn't stop bleeding, I could still feel its warm sensation as it trickled down my head. My eyes landed on a piece of clothing lying a few feet away from me, I tried moving towards it but it was impossible with my hands and legs tied together. I only ended up falling on my side. Pain ran through my entire body at the impact caused by the fall.The door creaked open Beta Orion came in.His eyes stared at me hard, "You moved didn't you?" He asked angrily.I
SIERRA"What are you doing in my house?"Claire asked me.I raised my brow in question, "What do you mean your house?"I asked in return wondering if Claire had finally gone mad."This mansion now belongs to my father, Alpha Erin."She said smiling as she folded her arms in her bosom proudly."The last I checked, I live here and you know that," I said trying to walk past her. I was tired, hurt, and bruised, I wanted nothing more but to sink inside a warm tub of bath water with roses and lavender soaked in it with my mother standing close to me.Her eyes were fixed on my bloodied head, thankfully, the bite marks had vanished leaving just the cut on my forehead and it was healing gradually."You think I'm kidding, if you don't mind, I can show you the evidence."She said moving an inch so I could take a glimpse inside the house.The inner court was a mess, I could see blood on the ground as though a war had just been fought. I could also perceive it in the air, the smell of fresh blood. My
SIERRA"Oh my God, what happened to him?" I asked as I hurried forward to meet him.Thane's face was pale, a dagger was struck in his chest, his shirt was stained with blood and the blood flowed to the ground, forming a pool around them.Kane choked as he held him tighter, he was too shocked to listen to me. The pieces of the puzzle fell together, the blood I had seen earlier in the bushes belonged to Thane. He must've been wounded in the fight.Why wasn't he healing?He was not only a werewolf, he was a lycan, they had special abilities that a normal werewolf didn't possess. But he wasn't healing, instead he was getting worse.There had to be a reason Kane couldn't help, he just knelt there crying with his hands stained with blood as he rested his palms on the area as though trying to stop the bleeding but was failing miserably."Dad..." his voice trailed off in a sob, "please get up." My heart broke as I heard his voice, I never thought I'd live to see the day cold-hearted Kane woul
SIERRAThe voice of the moon goddess kept ringing in my head as the rogues pulled me away along with them.Believe in yourself... stay strong.I frowned, Maybe all I had to do was trust me and let go of every other thing. I needed to learn how to trust myself then perhaps the answers would find me instead of me searching for the answers."She's awake." One of the rogues grunted throwing me a glance."Sleeping beauty, I thought you needed a Prince." Another mocked and his friends laughed.I remained silent, they didn't bother me, I was too focused on the moon goddess's words to be bothered by mere rogues. This was a time I could use to test my abilities."Perhaps she's dumb?""Maybe she's blind too because she doesn't look scared."I closed my eyes trying to focus on my inner mind as the words of the goddess echoed even more loudly in my head. Everything starts with me, I had to make a move before everything else would follow, my change begins with me.My eyes shot open as I counted th
SIERRAI stood frozen, my eyes wide and my stomach turning. The rabbits weren’t moving anymore. The white one had stopped twitching first, then the brown one slumped beside it. My hands were still outstretched, fingers trembling as the energy from the failed spell faded into the air like smoke.The silence that followed was unbearable. It was as if the whole world had paused to judge me, to make me feel the weight of what I had just done. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t even blink. All I could do was stare at what my magic had done.The warlock didn’t say anything at first. He just walked up to the small wooden pen, stood over the lifeless bodies, and looked down with a heavy sigh. His face gave nothing away, no anger, no sadness, just quiet acceptance of the outcome. Then he slowly turned to face me."This," he said, his voice low and sharp like a blade slicing through still air, "is what would have happened to your sister and Ariel if you had jumped into this blindly."The words hit
SIERRAI had just finished spending time with my mates. My body still felt warm, and for once, my mind was quiet. I was finally beginning to feel like myself again.But then I heard shouting from outside.My heart jumped. I threw on a robe and rushed out.I barely made it past the hallway before I saw everyone gathered in the courtyard. And in the middle of it all… Ariel. Screaming. Crying. Holding a knife.“What the hell?” I whispered under my breath, my eyes widening.“I said let me in!” she yelled, her voice cracking. “You’re not the only one who loves them! I deserve to be in there too!”She was pointing the knife at her own chest, trembling like she was seconds away from doing something stupid.I didn’t even think twice.I raised my hand and whispered the first protection spell that came to mind. A shield burst around her in a dome of blue light. The moment it closed around her, the knife fell from her hand and clattered to the floor.She looked around in confusion, then rage.“W
ARIELI paced the hallway, scowling, my arms folded tightly across my chest. For the fifth time, I tried to step forward, right into the damn hallway, and for the fifth time, it felt like I’d slammed into a wall. But there was no wall. Just… air. Heavy, invisible, and impossible to pass through."What the hell is going on?" I growled, pushing again, harder this time. Nothing. It was like the space itself refused to let me through. My breath hitched as anger flared in my chest. I wasn’t someone who got denied things. Not rooms. Not people. Not Dane.I turned on my heels and stormed down the hallway, heading straight for Maya’s quarters. If anyone knew what kind of stupid magic trick was being pulled, it had to be Sierra. I knew her mother was always around the others. Always listening. Watching, and I needed to see her, and I asked what the hell was going on.When I got to her door, I didn’t knock, I kicked it. Hard.“Ariel?” Maya’s voice called out, soft and hesitant. She opened the d
SIERRAThe warmth of their arms around me made it easier to breathe. The tension that had wrapped around my chest like a tight rope was starting to loosen, bit by bit. Zane’s steady heartbeat under my cheek, Dane’s arms around my waist, and the calmness in Kane’s eyes, everything felt safe here. I felt like I was finally home.But it wasn’t just the comfort. It was the way they looked at me. The way they held me was like I was the most precious thing in the world. Like they’d fight the stars if it meant keeping me safe. I hadn’t realized how much I needed them until this moment. I needed to feel wanted, needed to be touched, loved, needed to feel alive again.“I’ve missed this,” I whispered, glancing up at Zane, my fingers gently resting on his chest.“We’ve missed you more,” he replied softly, brushing his lips over my forehead.“I don’t like seeing you this stressed,” Dane murmured behind me, nuzzling into the crook of my neck. “Let us help you relax.”Kane was kneeling beside me ag
SIERRAI ran out of the room angrily and frustrated. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I didn’t want to explain how I felt, not even to Alpha Thane. I just needed to get away, to let the frustration and fear out in a way that made sense. And that’s why I shifted.The air felt cold on my fur as I ran, my paws pounding the earth beneath me, my mind barely able to process anything except the need to escape. My heart was racing, and the adrenaline pumping through my body only made the anger and fear swirl together like a violent storm.I ran deeper into the woods, ignoring the world around me, just focused on the rhythmic pounding of my paws. The trees blurred by in a mixture of green and brown, the earth beneath me firm and solid. But even in my wolf form, the worry gnawed at my insides, and all I wanted was for the weight to lift, even if just for a moment.Eventually, the tension in my body started to ease just a little, but I wasn’t running anymore. I slowed down and then stopped, my b
SIERRAI walked into the room, my mind racing with questions. The man, the warlock, was standing by a table covered in books and strange artifacts. His eyes flickered up when I entered, and I could feel the weight of his gaze. He knew why I was here."You are here," he said, his voice calm but heavy with something I couldn't place.I didn't waste time with pleasantries. "I need your help," I said bluntly. "I need to learn how to use my powers. And I need to do it fast."The warlock raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "Binding spells," he said slowly, almost to himself, "are tricky. Especially one like the one you're asking for."I didn’t have the patience for his caution. "I don’t care about how tricky it is," I snapped. "I need to stop her. Ariel is... she’s going to ruin everything. I can’t let that happen. I just need to know how to make it work."He looked at me, the seriousness in his eyes growing. "Binding spells are not something to take lightly. They tie you to someo
SIERRAI could feel my whole body burning with anger as Ariel’s voice cut through the garden like a sharp knife. She just stood there, smirking at us like she hadn’t just interrupted something important, something real.I turned to her, fists clenching at my sides. "Don’t you have anything better to do than irritate me?" I snapped, my voice louder than I intended. Dane shifted uncomfortably behind me, but I didn’t care. I was tired of her games.Ariel just giggled like I had told her a joke. "Nope," she said with a sweet shrug. "Turns out, irritating you is way more fun than I ever thought it would be."I wanted to slap that smug smile off her face. I really did. But I held myself back because that's exactly what she wanted, to push me until I broke.Then she turned her full attention to Dane, her smile softening in a way that made my stomach twist in disgust. "I miss Dane," she said in a whiny voice. "I want him to stay with me for a while."I stepped protectively in front of Dane w
DANEI woke up to the sound of soft giggles.My head felt heavy, like I’d slept for days, and for a second, I didn’t even know where I was. But then I blinked and saw her, Ariel, sitting at the edge of the bed, grinning at me like I was some kind of adorable pet.“You look so cute when you’re sleeping,” she said in a sing-song voice.My whole body tensed up instantly. Memories rushed back….the food, the plan, everything. I shot up, heart pounding.“What happened?” I croaked, throat dry.Ariel gave a playful shrug, almost like she was proud of herself. “You tried to drug me, silly. But I’m smarter than that.” She leaned in closer, lowering her voice like she was sharing a secret. “I swapped the plates. You ate the laced one instead.”I cursed under my breath and swung my legs off the bed. I couldn’t even look at her as I stood up."Aw, don't be mad," Ariel called after me as I stormed toward the door. "You needed the rest anyway!"I didn’t answer. I just left.When I finally made it do
SIERRAI didn’t move. None of us did. We just stood there and took it as Ariel laughed like we were the biggest fools she had ever seen. Her voice echoed off the walls, high and sharp, like a knife digging into my already shredded nerves.“Oh, my sweet, sweet Sierra,” she said between giggles, wiping a fake tear from the corner of her eye. “You actually think a few little weeds are going to save your precious sister from me?”I kept my face blank, even though my heart was hammering against my ribs. If I gave her any more reason to doubt me, she would tear us all apart.Ariel circled slowly around me, hands clasped behind her back, her boots clicking softly against the floor. I could feel the others tense up, ready to move if she tried anything.She leaned in close, so close I could smell the sickly sweet scent of her perfume. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with,” she whispered. “No idea how deep this bond goes.”I clenched my teeth to keep from flinching. I would not give her t