ZANELuna Mayaโs sobs echoed through the room, filling every corner with the sound of her heartbreak. She clutched at her chest, her eyes red and swollen. โMy poor Sierra,โ she wailed, her voice cracking. โWhatโs going to happen to her? Sheโs just a girl. She doesnโt deserve this.โI couldnโt take it anymore. Seeing my mother break down like this made my blood boil. โThis is unacceptable,โ I said firmly, pacing the room. โWe canโt just leave her there. There has to be a way to get her out.โKane turned to our father, his expression hard. โWhy didnโt you tell us about this before?โ he demanded. โAll these years, and you never thought it was important to mention?โAlpha Thane sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. โI didnโt think it was necessary,โ he admitted. โI didnโt know that after all these years, youโd come across something like this. The curse was ancient, buried. I thought it was behind us.โโWell, itโs not,โ I shot back, my frustration bubbling over. โAnd now Sierraโs life is at
SIERRAMy fingers brushed against the side of my neck where the bite still burned, the sting sharp and relentless, like a constant reminder of how completely screwed I was. It wasnโt just painโit was humiliation, fear, and anger all wrapped into one throbbing wound. My glare was locked on the woman in front of meโno, scratch that, the vampire in front of me. There was no mistaking it now. She wasnโt just some random lunatic who had cornered me and decided I looked like a snack. She was something otherworldly, something I hadnโt believed existed outside of myths and horror stories.When she first attacked, she was a gnarled figure with sunken eyes, stringy hair, and pale, almost sickly skin that looked like it hadnโt seen sunlight in centuries. She was terrifying in the way a shadow in the dark is terrifyingโsomething you canโt fully see but know you should fear. But now? Now, she had transformed into a vision of beauty and power, like some cruel cosmic joke designed to mock me.She lo
SIERRAโEnough!โ I snapped, turning my glare on the elder vampire. My voice was razor-sharp, cutting through the tension in the room. โStop threatening me. Iโve had it with your games and your smug attitude.โHer smug smirk widened, but she didnโt respond, just raised an arched brow like I was some amusing little thing. Before I could fire off another retort, Daneโs voice boomed from outside.โIf anything happens to Sierra, youโll bear the consequences, vampire!โ His tone was laced with venom, and I could hear the fury trembling just beneath the surface.The elder burst into laughter, her amusement almost musical, but it grated on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard. โOh, sweet boys,โ she purred mockingly, brushing her perfect hair back with a casual flick of her wrist. โItโs such a bad idea to threaten the people who are holding your mate hostage. What exactly do you think you can do from out there?โโTry us!โ Zane growled, his voice fierce and unrelenting.โStop it, all of you!โ I
SIERRAI couldnโt help but roll my eyes at the vampires as they laughed, their mocking tones echoing in the cold, damp cave. They were right about one thing: I wasnโt capable of killing them. Not right now, at least.But damn it, I was going to make them regret underestimating me.โYou think youโre scary?โ one of them sneered, his pale face twisting into a grin. โYou think you can take us down? You canโt even kill a fly.โI clenched my fists at my sides, my heart hammering in my chest. I could feel the fire in my veins, the beast inside me clawing to get out. I wasnโt backing down. Not now. Not ever.โTry me,โ I spat back, my voice steady, even though my heart was threatening to beat out of my chest.They all chuckled, clearly not impressed. They thought they had me figured out, but they had no idea. No idea what I was capable of, what the Moon Goddess had shown me. The vision Iโd seen, the warning, the feeling, it meant something. I knew it.The vampires exchanged looks, their amusem
SIERRAI whimpered, my body shivering from more than just the cold. The shock from earlier was still buzzing through my veins, lingering like a bad memory. My body hurt all over, and my head felt like it was going to explode. I tried to push myself up, but the dizziness almost knocked me out again.Looking around, I realized I was no longer in the cave. The dark, damp stone walls had been replaced with thick, snow-covered trees. My breath caught in my throat as I took in the sceneryโa forest, but not the kind I recognized. Everything was still, frozen, as if the world was holding its breath. And winter. It was so cold. My teeth began to chatter, and goosebumps spread across my skin.I shivered and hugged myself, trying to warm up, but something feltโฆ off. It wasnโt just the cold. There was something eerie about this place. I could feel it in the pit of my stomach.Then I heard itโvoices. Quiet, almost muffled. I strained my ears, trying to make sense of it. Slowly, I started to move t
ZANEI could still feel Sierraโs voice echoing in my head as we walked away from the woods. Her words, her plea for us to figure out how to get her out of that cursed cave, kept playing over and over again. My hands clenched into fists. My wolf was restless, itching to do something, anything. But for now, all we had was silence. Kane, Dane, and I hadnโt spoken a word since we left the forest.We reached the edge of the packโs territory, where the air felt heavier. Kane broke the silence first. โWeโre wasting time.โDane shot him a look. โAnd what do you suggest, genius? The werewolves made it clear they couldnโt remember how they spelled that cave. They told us to give up. Did you forget that little detail?โKane growled low in his throat. โI didnโt forget. I just refuse to accept it. Theyโre lying.โI sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. โWhether theyโre lying or not doesnโt matter. What matters is Sierra is still in that damn cave. And weโre going to get her out.โDane crossed hi
SIERRAThe words wouldnโt stop ringing in my ears. "You can't stay trapped in your own spell." What did that even mean? Did I create this spell? Was the person I saw really me? The woman looked so young, beautiful, and powerful. Her aura was captivating, radiating an energy that demanded respect. Me? I was barely keeping my fire powers from spiraling out of control. How could I compare?I leaned against the cold, damp wall of the cave, trying to make sense of it all. My head was pounding from the shock Iโd gotten earlier. My body was screaming at me to rest, but my mind wouldnโt let me. The pieces didnโt fit.A shadow loomed over me. I looked up to see one of the vampiresโHazel, I think her name wasโwatching me curiously. Her eyes were sharp, but there was a flicker of something softer beneath them.โHow are you holding up?โ she asked, crossing her arms.โIโm fine,โ I lied. My voice came out steadier than I felt. โJustโฆ a bit hazy.โHazel raised an eyebrow. โYouโre a terrible liar, yo
SIERRAThe sound of running water grew louder with every step I took. My heartbeat quickened as I hurried toward it. I didnโt know what Iโd find, but it felt like hopeโsomething I hadnโt felt in a long time.Finally, I came upon it. An open stream, crystal clear and flowing freely through the cave, its gentle sound echoing off the walls. Relief washed over me. Water. A small sign of life in this cold, suffocating prison. I knelt, cupping some in my hand when I heard footsteps behind me.Hazel. Of course, sheโd followed me.โWhat are you doing here?โ I asked, standing up quickly.Her silver eyes glinted under the faint light of the stream. โYou wandered off. Someone had to make sure you didnโt kill yourself accidentally,โ she said dryly, stepping toward the water.โHazel, waitโฆโBefore I could stop her, Hazel stepped forward, her foot brushing the edge of the stream. The moment it made contact, a blood-curdling scream erupted from her lips, echoing violently through the cave. The sound
SIERRAI stood frozen, my eyes wide and my stomach turning. The rabbits werenโt 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 couldnโt breathe. I couldnโt even blink. All I could do was stare at what my magic had done.The warlock didnโt 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 allโฆ Ariel. Screaming. Crying. Holding a knife.โWhat the hell?โ I whispered under my breath, my eyes widening.โI said let me in!โ she yelled, her voice cracking. โYouโre not the only one who loves them! I deserve to be in there too!โShe was pointing the knife at her own chest, trembling like she was seconds away from doing something stupid.I didnโt 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.โW
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 Iโd slammed into a wall. But there was no wall. Justโฆ 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 wasnโt someone who got denied things. Not rooms. Not people. Not Dane.I turned on my heels and stormed down the hallway, heading straight for Mayaโs 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 didnโt knock, I kicked it. Hard.โAriel?โ Mayaโs 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. Zaneโs steady heartbeat under my cheek, Daneโs arms around my waist, and the calmness in Kaneโs eyes, everything felt safe here. I felt like I was finally home.But it wasnโt 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 theyโd fight the stars if it meant keeping me safe. I hadnโt realized how much I needed them until this moment. I needed to feel wanted, needed to be touched, loved, needed to feel alive again.โIโve missed this,โ I whispered, glancing up at Zane, my fingers gently resting on his chest.โWeโve missed you more,โ he replied softly, brushing his lips over my forehead.โI donโt like seeing you this stressed,โ Dane murmured behind me, nuzzling into the crook of my neck. โLet us help you relax.โKane was kneeling beside me ag
SIERRAI ran out of the room angrily and frustrated. I didnโt want to talk to anyone. I didnโt 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 thatโs 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 wasnโt 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 didnโt have the patience for his caution. "I donโt care about how tricky it is," I snapped. "I need to stop her. Ariel is... sheโs going to ruin everything. I canโt 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 Arielโs voice cut through the garden like a sharp knife. She just stood there, smirking at us like she hadnโt just interrupted something important, something real.I turned to her, fists clenching at my sides. "Donโt you have anything better to do than irritate me?" I snapped, my voice louder than I intended. Dane shifted uncomfortably behind me, but I didnโt 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 Iโd slept for days, and for a second, I didnโt 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.โYou look so cute when youโre sleeping,โ she said in a sing-song voice.My whole body tensed up instantly. Memories rushed backโฆ.the food, the plan, everything. I shot up, heart pounding.โWhat happened?โ I croaked, throat dry.Ariel gave a playful shrug, almost like she was proud of herself. โYou tried to drug me, silly. But Iโm smarter than that.โ She leaned in closer, lowering her voice like she was sharing a secret. โI swapped the plates. You ate the laced one instead.โI cursed under my breath and swung my legs off the bed. I couldnโt 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 didnโt answer. I just left.When I finally made it do
SIERRAI didnโt 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.โOh, my sweet, sweet Sierra,โ she said between giggles, wiping a fake tear from the corner of her eye. โYou actually think a few little weeds are going to save your precious sister from me?โI 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. โYou have no idea what youโre dealing with,โ she whispered. โNo idea how deep this bond goes.โI clenched my teeth to keep from flinching. I would not give her t