SIERRAWe had math and it was a general class. The boys were seated at the back of the classroom. They still had that solemn expression on their faces and they were quiet, unable to just walk past them, so I decided to walk towards them."Hey." I sent them a bright smile as I sat on Kane's desk."Hi, Sierra." They said in unison without returning my smile. For a weird reason, I felt hurt. Just as I decided to ask them what the issue was, the math teacher walked in."Everyone, hurry over to your chairs, let's get started." The teacher said before he began to write on the board.I walked to my seat taking a mental note to corner them later. "What are you up to?" Hailey asked as we walked out of the cafeteria."Nothing much, what about you?" I asked, eyeing the books in her hands."I am thinking of going to the school library, there are some assignments I need to finish." She replied, patting the books in her arms."Alright," I said with my eyes scanning through the crowd in the hallwa
SIERRAMy hands trembled uncontrollably as the voice barked out laughing. It was him, I could never forget that voice, it has traumatized me for years, and even in dreams, he was unforgettable.How could it be?How is it even possible?Let it be that I'm mistaken, let it be that it's nothing but a similar voice. I prayed under my breath.Noticing my sudden change of mood, Hailey turned to me inquisitively, "are you okay?" She asked.I nodded, unable to speak. "There are goosebumps all over your arms." She observed.They were all over my body, not just my arms but I wasn't going to tell her that."You're sure you're okay?" She asked again.This time I sent her a forced smile and nodded, "I'm okay, why wouldn't I be?" I asked in a low voice.I wasn't okay at all."The bumps on your arms say otherwise."Oh this," I raised my arm, "it's nothing, happens to me all the time." I replied, trying to wave off her worries.She stared at me for a while as though she was trying to see through me.
SIERRABeta Orion jumped away from me with an awkward smile playing on his lips. "My good men," he grinned sheepishly, "nothing is going on," he gestured to me, "I was just asking this young lady for directions." The boys turned to stare at me as though asking me if he was saying the truth but I stood frozen and unable to speak."Is that true?" Dane asked me with his eyes still fixed on Beta Orion."Of course it's true." Orion released a nervous laugh.Dane and Kane growled and Beta took a step back in fright."He wasn't talking to you." Zane snapped and Beta Orion scratched his head nervously.He turned to me placing an arm on my shoulders, "Are you fine Sierra?" I nodded quickly.Kane kept on staring at Beta Orion who still had an awkward smile on his face."We've met before right?" He asked and Beta Orion took a step back. "No." He shook his head vehemently, "We haven't." Kane kept on staring at him with steady eyes and I could tell that Beta Orion was becoming uncomfortable.
SIERRAMy mother quickly collected herself, and she pulled me closer to her, I fell in her arms panting for air. "Mom, I can't believe that he's still alive." Tears slid down my eyes and she wiped them off with her palm."I saw themโฆ I.. I.. saw him die." I stuttered. The way he stared at me flashed through my head. It was as though he was telling me that we'd meet again."Sier-" my mom called but I was no longer listening to her. "She thinks she would be able to stay away from us if she seduced the King?" His words echoed in my head, Beta Orion knows, he knows everything about us, he must've been watching us for a long time. Panic filled my entire being as I began to pace around the room with my hands on my waist."Sierra, Calm down-"I grabbed her by the shoulders, "He knows, he knows about us." My whole body was trembling in fright, only the heavens knew for how long."What did he say?" She asked quietly, given how bad the situation was, she appeared way more collected than I w
SIERRAKane's eyes pinned me down, I had no escape route, I kept opening my mouth but nothing came out. His eyes seemed as though he was staring deep into my soul. My heart was racing, why was he here? Why did he have to come when I could barely compose myself?"Sierra, who's he, and why did he approach you in school?" He asked again but I was tongue-tied.My lips couldn't fathom the right words to say, I wanted to melt in the spot but his gaze in me didn't falter, not even for a second.Fear gripped me, this time, not because of Beta Orion but because Kane's gaze pierced through my soul as though he could see everything in my head.They can't find out who Beta Orion was, and they can't find out what happened. I had to act nonchalant if I wanted Kane off my back but knowing him, he might be a little bullheaded.Suddenly, the words spilled out before I could stop myself, "I.. I don't know him." I swallowed very hard avoiding his gaze. "I was walking home that night when he kidnapped m
CLAIREI glanced around my surroundings as I walked through the lonely trail in the woods. The rogue who I had arranged with to threaten Sierra had called me the previous night demanding the remainder of his money.Thankfully, Dad had just deposited some money in my account so I took out the balance I was supposed to pay and went over to his hideout. I was careful enough to ensure that I wasn't followed.He refused to come to our meeting spot for the danger of being seen by any of the Lycan King's guards and I agreed with him that it would cause very bad problems if I was spotted with them a second time.So I left the house very early dressed as though I was going for a random walk. The driver had dropped me off at the entrance of the woods, so I continued with my legs till I was deep into the woods. "This is so annoying!" I groaned as I almost slipped. My fingers caught a branch and held on till I was able to get stable on both feet.I kept on walking through the trail not knowing w
SIERRA"How do you feel now?" Zane asked taking my hand in his. I felt guilty, I felt like trash for making the boys fight over nothing. I wanted to crawl into a hole and hide from all of them. The eyes Kane had given me before he stormed out of the room angrily broke my heart. He was mad at me but I couldn't help it. I sent Zane a small smile that didn't reach my eyes. "I'm fine Zane," I replied laying on my bed while covering my body tightly with the duvet as Kane's angry face kept popping in my head. My heart was heavy, and my mind kept wandering to every event that happened that day, from Beta Orion showing up at school to my mother asking me to act normal to keep our secret. Kane demanded answers then he fought with Zane all because of me."You look dull." He commented climbing the bed to sit by my side."I just feel a bit tired, today drained the living hell out of me," I said, holding my head with both palms."I'm so sorry you had a bad day." He leaned down to plant a kiss o
SIERRAThe knock persisted but no one in the room answered. I pushed Dane off me with panic written in my eyes. "What are we going to do?" I asked in alarm. Dane looked unbothered as he attempted to return to his position but I pushed him back. "We can't, someone is at the door," I whispered in fear.My heart was pounding wildly, as the knocking continued. What if it was my mother? Were we caught? The boys couldn't magically disappear, could they?"Hmm, do Lycans have the power to vanish or something?" I asked, making Zane burst into laughter. My eyes widened in panic as my hands instinctively covered his mouth. "Hush!" I held her finger against my mouth, motioning him to keep quiet. "They might hear you." I strained my ears to listen to the sounds coming from behind the door. "Relax." Dane said laughing, "Lycans don't vanish, we aren't witches." He replied.The way the boys spoke, they weren't in the least bothered, I couldn't help but wonder if they were either careless or unaf
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