SIERRAZane stayed close, his steady presence grounding me, but inside, I was falling apart. My powers were everything, my identity, my strength, my connection to the pack. Without them, I felt hollow. Useless.A cold shiver ran down my spine despite the lingering heat in the hallway. Ariel’s voice still echoed in my mind, taunting me, her words like poison seeping into my veins.“Just an empty shell.”I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push the thought away. No. I wasn’t broken. Not yet.Zane’s grip on my arm tightened slightly, like he could sense the spiral I was falling into. “Let’s get out of here,” he said softly, his voice calm but firm. “You need air.”I nodded, too drained to argue, and let him guide me down the hallway. My legs felt like lead, every step a struggle, but I kept moving. I had to. Stopping wasn’t an option.We stepped outside into the cool night air, and I inhaled deeply, letting the fresh scent of pine and earth fill my lungs. It helped, a little. The smoke th
SIERRAZane's voice sliced through the haze of my thoughts. "Focus, Sierra. Your mind's not here."I clenched my fists, feeling the sting of my nails digging into my palms. "I'm trying."He stepped closer, his gaze unwavering and intense. "Trying isn't enough. You need to be present. Whatever's bothering you, leave it outside."Frustration bubbled up inside me, threatening to spill over. "It's not that simple."Zane sighed, running a hand through his hair, a gesture that spoke of his own mounting frustration. "I know it's not. But if you want to regain control, you have to start somewhere."Closing my eyes for a moment, I centered myself, pushing aside the thoughts that had been plaguing me.When I opened my eyes, I met Zane's gaze, "Okay. Let's go again."He nodded, a hint of approval in his eyes. "Good. Remember, every moment you spend here is a step toward reclaiming your strength."Zane's instructions were clear and precise, guiding me through the sequences with a patience
ZANEI barged into the room, slamming the door behind me so hard it rattled in its frame. Kane, sitting cross-legged on the bed with his arms folded, looked up sharply, his frown deepening.“Zane, what the hell?” His eyes scanned my face, clearly picking up on my panic. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”“It’s Sierra,” I blurted out, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. My thoughts were racing, and the words tumbled out before I could organize them properly. “Something’s wrong. Seriously wrong.”Kane immediately sat up straighter, his expression changing from irritation to concern in a split second. “What do you mean? Where is she?”“She’s losing it, man,” I said, pacing. “She was talking about the Moon Goddess, mumbling stuff I didn’t understand. Then she just… broke down. Screaming, crying… I’ve never seen her like that.”Dane ran a hand down his face, looking tense. “Ever since we came here, things have been falling apart for her.”“Tell me about it,” I muttered.“She
ASTRIDI waited until Ariel was gone. It wasn’t easy sneaking around her anymore. She seemed to be everywhere and nowhere all at once. But the moment she disappeared, I grabbed the small communicator we’d hidden under the floorboards. It was a miracle it hadn’t been destroyed yet.I pressed the button. “It’s me. We need to talk. Now.”There was silence for a few seconds, then a crackle. A deep voice answered, sounding tired and defeated. “Astrid? What do you want now?”“What do you think?” I snapped. “It’s time we fight back. We can’t keep hiding like rats while Ariel tears everything apart.”A bitter laugh echoed through the line. It was cold and sharp, the kind of laugh that made your skin crawl. “Fight back? Against her? You’ve lost it, Astrid.”“Have I?” I shot back, pacing the room in tight circles. My footsteps were almost loud enough to drown out the pounding of my heart, but not quite. “Or are we just sitting here waiting to die? Because that’s what it feels like. Every day, s
SIERRAIt felt like I couldn’t breathe. Ariel was standing right there, smirking like she owned the place, and honestly, in her mind, she probably did. She carried herself like a queen surveying her kingdom, and her energy was suffocating, pressing down on the room like a storm about to unleash destruction. It felt heavy, thick with danger, and I knew, deep down, that she could do anything she wanted, and no one here could stop her.“What do you want, Ariel?” I asked, forcing the words out even though my voice shook. I hated how small I sounded, but I couldn’t help it. She was terrifying. I tried to steady myself, but my hands were trembling, and my heart was pounding so hard I was sure everyone in the room could hear it. “Haven’t you done enough? Or are you not done torturing me yet?”Ariel tilted her head slightly, like she was thinking about it, and her eyes gleamed with amusement. That smirk on her face made my blood boil, but it also scared me. She looked like she was having fun,
SIERRAI burst out laughing. I couldn’t help it. Ariel had finally lost it. Completely.“You’re delusional,” I said, wiping a tear from the corner of my eye as the last bit of laughter slipped out. “Dane? Stay with you? That’s the best joke I’ve heard all day. You really think I’d let that happen?”Ariel tilted her head, smiling slow and smug like she knew some grand secret I didn’t. Like she was already winning some twisted game she’d invented. It made my blood boil.“Think about it,” she said sweetly, her voice practically dripping with fake innocence. Then, without giving me a chance to snap back, she vanished into thin air, leaving nothing behind except the suffocating weight of her words.I let out a shaky breath, trying to calm the anger buzzing under my skin, but it wasn’t working. My fists were still clenched, and my heart was still racing. I was about to say something, anything, to break the heavy silence she’d left behind when Dane’s voice cut through the tension.“It’d be b
ARIELThe cool night air wrapped around me as I stepped back inside, and for the first time in days, I felt at ease. A smile tugged at my lips, slow and lazy, as I let the quiet satisfaction sink in. Everything felt… right. After all the chaos, after dealing with those annoying whispers of rebellion and the endless sniveling of the others, I could finally breathe.This was my place now. My power. And everything, every vampire, every shadow in this place belonged to me.As I strolled through the dimly lit halls, I took in the sight of the vampires standing in line, their heads bowed respectfully as I passed. Obedient little soldiers. Not one of them dared look me in the eye, and that was exactly how I liked it.I hummed softly to myself, feeling unusually light. Maybe I’d throw a party later. Something extravagant. Blood, music, dancing. A night of celebration for me. I’d earned it, after all. It wasn’t easy keeping these creatures in line, but I’d done it. I’d fought my way to the top
SIERRAI stormed through the woods, my fists clenched so tight my nails were digging into my palms. I didn’t care. The pain was nothing compared to the rage boiling inside me. How dare they? How dare they even consider giving in to Ariel’s demands? After everything we’ve been through, after everything I’ve fought for, they wanted to just… hand me over like I was some kind of bargaining chip. Like I didn’t have a say in my own life.“No, no, no,” I muttered to myself, kicking a rock out of my way. “This isn’t happening. I’m not doing this. I’m not some damsel who needs saving.”But no matter how much I tried to push the anger away, it clung to me, thick and heavy, making my chest ache. I couldn’t breathe. My vision blurred with hot, angry tears, and before I knew it, I was pulling out my phone and dialing my mom.She picked up on the second ring.“Sierra, honey, what’s wrong?”I didn’t even get a word out before the tears came. Big, ugly sobs that made it hard to speak. “Mom… I… I can’
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