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
SIERRAThe moment we entered the small town, the atmosphere felt thick with tension. The locals eyed us warily, their gazes flickering between me and the Lycan King, Alpha Thane. I could feel their suspicion, their fear. It was clear they didn’t want any trouble, and the sight of my family, especially Thane, seemed to make them even more uneasy.“I can feel their eyes on us,” I muttered under my breath, glancing at Alpha Thane. His expression was unreadable, though I knew he was aware of the hostility too.“We’re not here to cause trouble,” Alpha Thane said, his voice calm but firm. “We just need to talk to them.”But the moment we walked deeper into town, the murmurs from the locals grew louder. Some of them were already retreating into their homes, their doors closing with a soft but swift thud. Others stood, watching us from a distance, with angry eyes. They didn’t want to be involved. They didn’t want to see us here, especially not with Alpha Thane at my side.“I knew this was a b
SIERRAThe fighting had finally stopped. Everyone was standing still, waiting for me to speak. I could feel all eyes on me, the weight of their expectation pressing on me. My heart was pounding, but I tried to keep my voice steady.“What’s the plan, Sierra?” one of the locals asked, his voice sharp and full of tension. “We can’t just stand here forever.”I glanced at my family, then turned back to the group. “The vampires are allergic to werewolf bites,” I said, keeping my voice low but firm. “It’ll drive them crazy, and eventually, they’ll die. We need to storm the cave and bite as many as we can. That’s the only way to stop them.”The locals exchanged uneasy glances, muttering among themselves. I could see the doubt in their eyes.“You want us to just go into the cave and risk our lives?” another man asked, his voice shaking with fear. “These vampires are strong, Sierra. They’re not like anything we’ve dealt with before.”I shook my head, my gaze hardening. “They’re not as strong as
SIERRAI couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The girl from the group was holding up an old picture, her fingers brushing the edges like she was proud of it. She looked at it, then back at me, and pointed at the people in the photo.“Do you know them?” she asked, eyes wide with curiosity.I squinted at the photo, my heart racing in my chest. The image was faded, but the faces were clear. There was no mistaking it. They looked exactly like me and the boys.“How... how do you have that picture?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly, despite myself.The girl smiled softly, almost nostalgically. “I found it in my grandmother’s attic. She had all sorts of old things there.”My mind raced as I tried to process this. My ancestors. How could she have something so personal? How did it end up with her family?I glanced at the picture again, studying the faces in more detail. It was strange, but there was something about the way they looked. The men, and the woman, all shared the same features I
SIERRAI stared at the old woman, my heart pounding. Her words made no sense, yet something about them felt strangely familiar.“You bloody fools always refusing to die and getting old,” she had said, smiling at me like she knew me.I exchanged glances with Alpha Thane and the others before stepping inside. The house smelled of herbs and old wood, a cozy yet mysterious scent. The woman moved slowly, but her presence was powerful. She led us into a small sitting room where a fireplace crackled softly.“Sit,” she said, waving her hand toward the chairs. “I’ll get some tea.”I hesitated but nodded, settling into a worn-out chair. Alpha Thane and the boys followed, their eyes scanning the room. There were shelves filled with books, jars of strange ingredients, and old photographs scattered across a wooden table. Everything about this place felt ancient.The woman returned with a tray of teacups, setting it down gently on the small wooden table in front of us. The scent of herbs filled the
SIERRAI tightened my grip on the edge of my chair, watching as the old woman’s face darkened. Her fingers, which had been lightly tracing the rim of her teacup, suddenly went still. A heavy silence filled the room.“Whispering?” she repeated, her voice sharp. “Controlling minds?”I nodded. “Yes. It’s been happening for a while now.”She exhaled slowly, her eyes narrowing in deep thought. “That means their strength has grown… But how?”I swallowed hard, my mind racing. “They’ve been trapped in that cave all this time. There’s no way they could’ve fed on anyone.”The woman drummed her fingers against the wooden table, her expression unreadable. “Then something, or someone, is feeding their power,” she murmured.A shiver ran down my spine. The idea of those monsters getting stronger despite being locked away made my stomach churn. “But how is that possible?”She sighed. “Magic has loopholes, child. Nothing is ever completely sealed away. If they can reach minds beyond their prison, that
ZANEWe finally made it back to the house, and the second we walked through the door, exhaustion hit me like a ton of bricks. My entire body ached, my mind was spinning, and all I wanted to do was collapse.Dad stretched his arms and cracked his neck. "Well, at least we have a lead. That’s more than we had before."I nodded, dropping onto the nearest couch. "Yeah, but it doesn’t help much if white oak doesn’t exist anymore."The others sat down around me, looking just as drained. We also spent the entire day talking to the locals and describing the type of stake we needed. Everyone agreed to help, but deep down, I knew it was a long shot.Dad sighed, standing up. "Now that we’ve made some progress, I’m heading out."I raised a brow. "Where?""To my mate," he said simply, stretching again. "You guys figure out whatever you need to. I’ll be back when there’s something worth my time."I rolled my eyes. "Of course, you will."He smirked. "Enjoy your rest, boys. You’ll need it." And with t
SIERRA"Then it’s settled," I said firmly, standing up straighter, lifting my chin with determination. "I’ll learn. I’ll transfer the bond to an animal. Something harmless. A rabbit or a bird, anything."For a moment, the warlock just stared at me. Then he let out a loud laugh, an honest, surprised, borderline mocking kind of laugh that made my stomach twist."Your lack of magical understanding is quite admirable," he said, still chuckling, wiping the corner of his eye with a bony finger. "You truly are brave, I'll give you that. But no, Sierra. You can’t just toss a blood bond onto a bird like it’s a coat. That’s not how this works."My eyebrows furrowed as the bubble of hope that had been fluttering in my chest deflated completely. "But… why not? Why can’t I? I don’t understand."He shook his head and folded his hands over his lap. His voice turned softer now, more like a teacher speaking to a stubborn student. "Because blood bonds require something animals don’t have. A soul capabl
SIERRAI stormed into the warlock's study, my chest tight with frustration and my fists clenched at my sides. The room smelled like old paper and burnt herbs, the air thick with the scent of magic and mystery. He looked up from the book he was reading, his brows already furrowed as if he knew why I was there."Tell me everything you know about blood bonds," I said without wasting a second. My voice was sharp, determined. I didn’t care how it came out. I needed answers.The warlock paused, his long fingers lingering on the weathered pages of the book he had just been flipping through. Slowly, almost dramatically, he closed the book and leaned back in his wooden chair. The silence between us stretched a little too long.“Why do you ask?” he said at last, his voice calm, but I caught the tension under it."Ariel mentioned it," I replied, trying to stay calm. "She said what she has with my sister is a blood bond."The moment the words left my mouth, I saw his expression shift. The color d
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