SIERRAThe sound of running water grew louder with every step I took. My heartbeat quickened as I hurried toward it. I didn’t know what I’d find, but it felt like hope—something I hadn’t 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, she’d followed me.“What are you doing here?” I asked, standing up quickly.Her silver eyes glinted under the faint light of the stream. “You wandered off. Someone had to make sure you didn’t kill yourself accidentally,” she said dryly, stepping toward the water.“Hazel, wait…”Before 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
ZANEThe moment I heard that howl, my heart stopped. It was Sierra. I would know her howl anywhere. My chest tightened as my wolf stirred inside me, howling back in recognition, even though I didn’t make a sound."Did you hear that?" I turned to Kane and Dane, who were flipping through the latest useless book we’d found on ancient spells.They froze, their ears twitching. Kane tilted his head, listening. “Is that—?”“Sierra,” I confirmed, already moving toward the door. “That’s her.”Dane stood, his jaw clenching. “You’re sure?”I didn’t stop. “I’ll never forget her howl. Let’s go.”We shifted without another word, our wolves surging forward with renewed energy. I felt the wind whip through my fur as we raced toward the cave. The closer we got, the more her howl cut through the air, louder and more distinct. She was alive. She was waiting.When we broke through the tree line, I skidded to a stop, nearly crashing into Kane. There she was. Sierra. In her wolf form, she was pacing, tail
SIERRAThe darkness wrapped around me like a second skin, thick and suffocating. The cold air of the cave seeped into my bones, making me shiver. I was back. Back in the cave with them.The vampires stood around me, their red eyes glowing in the dim light. Their faces twisted with anger and impatience, their expressions a mix of hunger and frustration. My breathing quickened, my pulse racing. I had escaped this place. I knew I had. But here I was again, trapped like an animal in a cage.One of them stepped forward—the elder, his sharp features unreadable. He looked at me like I was nothing more than an inconvenience, something standing in the way of his freedom. His cold, thin lips curled into a sneer."You think you can leave us here to rot?" he hissed, his voice smooth but laced with venom. "You think we’ll just sit back and do nothing?"I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stand my ground. "I don’t know how to help you," I said, my voice unsteady but firm. "I barely understand what’
SIERRAI froze in the doorway, my breath catching in my throat. My mother stood over Kiara’s crib, her fingers clenched tight around a dagger, the blade glinting under the dim light. Her posture was all wrong; she was rigid and tense as if she were being controlled by something unseen. My stomach twisted in fear."Mom?" My voice was barely a whisper, but she heard me.Her head snapped toward me, and for a moment, I thought I was looking at a stranger. Once warm and filled with love, her eyes were now cold and empty, dark shadows swirling in them. Her hair was wild, strands falling over her face, and the way she held the dagger sent chills through my entire body."Stay back," she warned, her voice low and unrecognizable.My heart pounded against my ribs. "Mom, it’s me. It’s Sierra. Put the knife down. Please." I stepped forward slowly, hands raised, trying not to startle her.She flinched, gripping the dagger even tighter. "No! You don’t understand. I have to do this. They said I have
MAYAThe wind had been sharp against my skin as I ran through the woods, my feet pounding the earth, my breath ragged and fast. The trees blurred past me, their branches scratching at my arms and legs, but I barely felt it. I was consumed by the chaos in my mind. I could still hear their voices, those cursed vampires, echoing in my head, forcing their way into my thoughts, twisting everything. My daughter... I almost hurt her. I couldn’t stop replaying the moment over and over, the way I almost lost control, the way they made me feel like I was no longer myself.A wave of anger had built up in me, surging like a storm. I had stopped, thrown my head back, and let out a loud, guttural howl. The sound had torn from my throat, a mix of fury and frustration. It had almost felt like I was trying to shake off the weight of it all. They had no right. No right to do this to me. No right to take over my mind. I should have been stronger. I shouldn’t have let them win.I had paced, my heart raci
SIERRAI watched Mom disappear into the woods, Alpha Thane right behind her. I could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on me, but I couldn’t let it overwhelm me. My mother was struggling, feeling lost, and I knew the only way to bring her back was to get Kiara back to her.I looked at the boys, all standing around me, trying to make sense of what was going on. Dane spoke up, concern written all over his face. “Do you think she’ll be okay?”I shook my head, feeling a lump form in my throat. “I don’t know. But I do know we need to get Kiara back to her.”Kane stepped forward. “What about the rogues? What if they attack again?”I nodded toward the woods where Mom had gone. “I know. But we can’t lose sight of the bigger picture. Kiara is the key. She’s the one thing that can bring her mother back. We need to make sure she’s safe.”“Stay back. Let her fight it out,” Thane’s voice rang through the trees, pulling me out of my thoughts.I frowned, glancing around at the boys. “Wh
MAYAI woke up with a jolt, my heart racing, and my breath shallow. The dark room felt unfamiliar at first, and I was overwhelmed with fear, my mind clouded with panic. My thoughts were all over the place until I turned my head and saw the soft, rhythmic rise and fall of Kiara’s chest beside me.Her tiny form was sleeping soundly next to me, her small hand curled around the edge of my blanket. My heart settled a little as I stared at her. She was fine. Everything was fine.I breathed in deeply, trying to calm myself. The fear slowly faded as I began to remember everything. The vampire attack, the fight, the confusion… But now, there was peace. The evil thoughts I’d been plagued with were gone, and I could think clearly for the first time in what felt like forever.I heard Thane’s voice behind me, soft but filled with concern. “Maya, it’s okay. Calm down.”I stiffened slightly, but then I saw him. He was standing in the doorway, watching me with that same calm, steady expression he alw
SIERRAI sat with Dane, Kane, and Zane in the living room, feeling the tension in the air. We had been waiting for Alpha Thane to return for what felt like hours, and the longer it took, the more anxious I became. My thoughts kept drifting to the mission ahead. We were going into dangerous territory, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something could go wrong.Dane glanced over at me, concern written on his face. “You okay, Sierra?”I gave him a forced smile, but I knew it wasn’t convincing. “Yeah, just thinking.”“You sure?” Kane asked, his tone soft. “You’ve been quiet. Something’s on your mind?”I nodded, but I could feel my stomach knotting. “Just... wondering what’s taking Dad so long. He’s usually faster with this kind of thing.”“They probably got held up,” Zane said, shrugging. “You know how Dad is, sometimes he likes to take his time with things.”“Yeah, but this feels different,” I muttered. “We have a dangerous mission ahead of us, and I just don’t know if I’m ready to l
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