DANEI walked into the house, shutting the door behind me. My brothers were lounging in the living room, and Sierra sat curled up on the couch, her attention shifting to me the moment I entered.Zane raised an eyebrow. "You look like you saw a ghost.""Not a ghost," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "But something close."Sierra straightened. "What happened?"I sat beside her, exhaling slowly. "That girl. The one we met yesterday. She followed me to the library. Asked for my name and started asking questions about us."Kane frowned. "What kind of questions?""She wanted to know about my relationship with Sierraโฆ and you guys," I said, glancing at Sierra. "And then she made it clear that she liked me."Sierraโs expression darkened, her lips pressing into a thin line. "She what?"I reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. "I told her it was irrelevant because Iโm with you. That what I have with you isnโt up for debate."She still didnโt look convinced. "And?""She didnโt tak
DANE I didnโt even think, my body moved on instinct. One second Sierra was standing strong, determined, and the next, she was crumbling to the ground. โSierra!โ I shouted, diving forward to catch her, but she slipped through my fingers, her body hitting the floor with a soft thud. My heart slammed against my ribs as I dropped to my knees beside her, shaking her shoulders. โSierra! Wake up!โ Zane and Kane were already on either side of me. Kane pressed his fingers to her neck, checking for a pulse, while Zane grabbed her wrist. โSheโs breathing,โ Kane said, but his voice was tight with worry. โHer pulse is steady, but she wonโt wake up.โ โSierra?โ Zaneโs voice was softer, coaxing like he could pull her back to us just by speaking. โCome on, love. Open your eyes.โ She didnโt move. I felt panic claw up my throat. Sierra was strong, stronger than any of us at times. Seeing her like this, so still, so vulnerable, sent fear surging through my chest. โWhat the hell happened?โ Kane mut
SIERRADarkness surrounded me, thick and endless, pressing against my skin like a heavy blanket. Then suddenly, light. Blinding, golden light.I gasped, stumbling forward as my feet hit solid ground. My breath came in sharp bursts. This wasnโt the house. This wasnโt anywhere I recognized. The air felt heavy, and charged, like it hummed with energy.Voices whispered all around me, low and urgent.โSheโs here.โโShe finally made it.โI turned, my eyes scanning the unfamiliar world. My heart nearly stopped when I saw them, figures that looked eerily familiar.Zane? Dane? Kane?No. Not them. Not exactly. Their features were similar, but there was something different about them. Their eyes held an unnatural glow, like reflections of a world I didnโt understand. The way they stood, the way they carried themselves, it was as if they were caught between existing and fading away.And they were all staring right at me.โYou see us,โ one of them said, stepping forward. His voice was calm, almost
SIERRAThe light around me grew brighter and brighter until I couldnโt see anything at all. My body felt weightless like I was floating through space.Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, it stopped.I was back.I gasped as my eyes shot open, my heart pounding against my ribs. The room spun for a moment before settling into focus. I was back. The dim glow of the bedside lamp cast shadows across the walls, and the steady rise and fall of breathing filled the space. I turned my head and saw the boys sprawled out beside me, all asleep. My body felt heavy, and drained, but my mind raced with everything I had just seen.A rustle beside me made me jump. My body felt heavy, my limbs sluggish, as if I had been weighed down by something unseen. Before I could process anything, a familiar voice broke through the fog in my mind.โSierra!โDaneโs voice was thick with relief. His strong hands reached for mine, squeezing tightly, grounding me in reality. His eyes, dark with worry, searched my fa
SIERRAI knelt beside one of the fallen locals, pressing two fingers against his neck. His pulse was steady, his chest rising and falling as if he were simply asleep. But no matter how much I shook him, called his name, or even lightly slapped his cheek, he wouldnโt wake up.โTheyโre in a trance,โ I muttered, realization sinking in. My heart pounded. This wasnโt just some spell, it was powerful, something dark.Dane crouched beside me, his expression grim. โCan you break it?โโI donโt know.โ I swallowed hard, looking around. More bodies lay scattered, lifeless yet breathing. A shiver ran down my spine.A gust of wind rushed past us, and I turned sharply. Alpha Thane stood at the edge of the clearing, his eyes scanning the scene. โI felt something was wrong,โ he said, striding toward us. โWhat happened?โI quickly explained everything, the spirits, the grandmother, the girlโs uncontrolled powers. His face hardened as I spoke. When I finished, he exhaled sharply.โWe donโt have much tim
SIERRAThe air crackled with energy, thick and heavy, making it hard to breathe. I barely had time to react before a powerful force exploded from the girlโs body, knocking me and the boys backward. I hit the ground hard, my palms scraping against the rough dirt. My ears rang from the sudden blast, and my heart pounded wildly in my chest.Around us, objects lifted into the air, stones, broken branches, even small patches of dirt. They spun wildly, caught in an invisible storm that had no wind. The ground beneath us shook violently, as if it were alive, trembling under the weight of the girlโs power.โGet down!โ Dane shouted. His strong hand grabbed my arm and yanked me to the side just as a thick tree branch snapped free from above. It hurtled toward us, slicing through the air like a thrown spear. It crashed into the ground inches from where we had just been standing, sinking deep into the dirt with a loud, sickening crunch. My breath hitched. If we had moved a second later, that woul
SIERRAThe dark mist thickened around the cave, pulsing like a living heartbeat. The grandmotherโs voice grew louder, her ancient words echoing through the night. Every syllable sent a shiver down my spine.โWe have to stop her!โ I shouted, gripping Daneโs arm. โNow!โAlpha Thane growled, stepping forward. โWe must break the ritual before itโs too late.โI raised my hands, willing my power to surge forward, to do something, anything. But nothing happened. My mind was blank, my body frozen. It was like I had forgotten how to use my own magic.โDamn it!โ I hissed, frustration bubbling in my chest.Kane grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. โSierra, focus! You can do this. Just remember how!โโIโฆI donโt know how!โ My voice cracked, my breathing ragged.The grandmother laughed, her eyes gleaming with victory. โItโs too late, child. You canโt stop what has already begun.โThe villagers suddenly twitched, their bodies jerking as if strings controlled them. Their blank eyes filled
SIERRAThe night air was thick with fear. I could feel it pressing against me, swirling around the town like a ghost. The vampires had grown stronger, and everyone knew it. Their attacks were getting bolder, their hunger more relentless. We were running out of time.โThis is madness,โ a villager muttered, his voice shaky. โWe canโt fight them. We should leave while we still can.โMurmurs of agreement spread through the gathered crowd. People clutched their loved ones, their eyes darting toward the woods as if expecting a vampire to leap out at any moment.โWe donโt stand a chance,โ another woman whispered. โTheyโre too strong.โA man stepped forward, his face pale. โMy wife and son are already gone. I wonโt lose my daughter, too.โI clenched my fists. โRunning wonโt save you,โ I said firmly, scanning the crowd. โThe vampires wonโt stop at just this town. Theyโll follow you. Theyโll take everything.โSilence fell over the villagers. Some avoided my gaze, shifting uncomfortably. Others
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