SIERRA"You look tired, Sierra," Ariel mocked, her voice echoing across the broken ruins. "You should sit. Maybe cry a little. Or scream for your precious family."I clenched my fists. "Where are they?"She tilted her head and smirked. "Gone. Far away from you. You’ll never find them.""You’re lying!" I screamed.Her eyes glinted with madness. "Am I? You never took me seriously, Sierra. But you should have. This is what happens when you keep getting in my way.""You’re evil, Ariel," I spat. "You’ve always been twisted, but I didn’t think you’d go this far.""You think this is far?" she hissed, her smile vanishing. "You destroyed everything. That power was mine! Mine!""I didn’t destroy anything," I said, stepping forward. "I don’t even understand what happened that day…""Stop talking!" she shrieked. "You cheated. I know you did. And I hate cheaters.""I'm ending this," I growled. "Right here, right now.""You’re going to kill me?" she laughed again, louder this time. "You? Try, Sierr
KANEMy eyes flew open, and I panicked.It was dark. So dark I couldn’t even see my own hands. The air was thick, hot, and heavy. My chest tightened.I reached out blindly, trying to make sense of where I was, when my elbow smacked into someone."Ow! What the hell!" a voice groaned."Sorry," I said quickly, my voice rough. "I can’t see anything. Where are we?""Kane? Is that you?" That was Dane’s voice, low and sharp."Yeah, it’s me," I said. I felt bodies shifting around me. We were packed tight. "Where the hell are we?"Someone kicked my leg."Hey! That was me!" Zane barked."My bad," I muttered. "I was just trying to move. It’s cramped. Really cramped.""Guys... guys I can’t breathe!" Maya’s voice cut through the darkness, high and shaking."Maya? Maya, calm down," I said, trying to locate her. "We’re all here. You’re okay. Just breathe, alright?""I can’t! I can’t breathe! It’s too dark! I hate the dark! I hate small spaces! I can’t…!""Shh, hey, listen to my voice," Dad jumped in
SIERRAI swallowed hard and whispered, “Ariel, stop laughing and listen to me.”But she didn’t stop. She hovered above the cracked stones, her eyes wild, her silver hair flying around her like a storm. The laughter pouring out of her echoed across the empty field, high and cruel, like she had already won. Like this was all a game to her.“Why should I?” she finally hissed, her voice sharp like shattered glass. “I won today, Sierra. Your family is gone. You lost.”My heart dropped, but I kept my eyes on her. I couldn’t let her see how scared I was, how the emptiness around me made my chest feel hollow.“You didn’t win anything,” I said, forcing my voice to be strong, even though it trembled. “Where are they, Ariel? Where’s my family?”She laughed again, louder this time, and her body spun slowly in the air, like a dancer twirling on a stage made of dust and pain.“Locked away,” she sang, a twisted smile on her face. “Somewhere you’ll never reach. Somewhere you can scream for them, cry
SIERRAThe idea of going back to live among humans was strange. I could see it in everyone’s faces when Alpha Thane said it, even if no one spoke out loud. The boys, Zane and the others, looked appalled. I could tell they didn’t like it. I didn’t either. But we were tired. And after everything that had happened, no one had the strength to argue. We all knew one thing: we couldn’t stay where we were.Alpha Thane stood up, rubbing his hand over his face. "Let’s sleep on it. We’ve had a long day. Maybe tomorrow things will make more sense.""Yeah," Zane muttered. "We all need rest."Mom nodded, then gave me a long look, her eyes filled with a mix of love and concern. I looked away. I knew I had worried them. Running off like that with Ariel... I hadn’t meant to cause trouble. I just wanted to protect my little sister and my mates. Like always.That night, we all stayed in one hotel suite, crowded but safe. It wasn’t much, just two double beds, a stiff old couch, and the faint smell of ol
SIERRAI stumbled back, my chest burning from the force that pushed me away. I gasped, trying to steady my breathing as I looked at the Moon Goddess standing nearby, calm and glowing softly in the moonlight.“What was that?” I asked, confused and a little scared.The Moon Goddess smiled gently. “That force was a sleepy protection spell.”I frowned. “Sleepy protection? What does that mean?”She looked serious. “It means while Maya is unconscious, no one can get near her or hurt her. She is protected until she wakes.”I blinked, feeling relief mix with frustration. “So, I can’t destroy her now? I can’t even be close?”“No one can,” the Moon Goddess said softly. “Her safety is sealed for now.”I sat down hard on the ground, feeling helpless. “Then what am I supposed to do? Just wait?”She nodded. “Your family is coming. Your path is not here now.”Suddenly, I heard voices coming through the trees.“Mom!” a voice shouted.I looked up to see Mom and the rest rushing toward me, Alpha Thane,
MAYAI watched from the shadows, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst. The townspeople were everywhere, surrounding my family like a dark storm ready to crash. I held my breath, clutching my daughter close in my arms, hoping…praying…that they could fight them off. The fear twisted deep inside me.“Stay strong,” I whispered to myself. “Please, don’t let them hurt you.”I could see my husband and my stepsons pushing back, their faces grim and fierce. They fought with everything they had, but there were too many of them. The battle was heated, filled with shouts, the clash of weapons, and desperate cries.“Hold on! Don’t give up!” I urged silently, tears stinging my eyes.But soon, it became clear. My family was being overpowered. They were losing ground, pushed back step by step. My daughter frowned, her little brow furrowing as she watched the chaos.“They’re bad people,” my daughter said softly, almost like she was talking to herself. Her small brow furrowed, and the wor