SIERRA"What are you doing in my house?"Claire asked me.I raised my brow in question, "What do you mean your house?"I asked in return wondering if Claire had finally gone mad."This mansion now belongs to my father, Alpha Erin."She said smiling as she folded her arms in her bosom proudly."The last I checked, I live here and you know that," I said trying to walk past her. I was tired, hurt, and bruised, I wanted nothing more but to sink inside a warm tub of bath water with roses and lavender soaked in it with my mother standing close to me.Her eyes were fixed on my bloodied head, thankfully, the bite marks had vanished leaving just the cut on my forehead and it was healing gradually."You think I'm kidding, if you don't mind, I can show you the evidence."She said moving an inch so I could take a glimpse inside the house.The inner court was a mess, I could see blood on the ground as though a war had just been fought. I could also perceive it in the air, the smell of fresh blood. My
SIERRA"Oh my God, what happened to him?" I asked as I hurried forward to meet him.Thane's face was pale, a dagger was struck in his chest, his shirt was stained with blood and the blood flowed to the ground, forming a pool around them.Kane choked as he held him tighter, he was too shocked to listen to me. The pieces of the puzzle fell together, the blood I had seen earlier in the bushes belonged to Thane. He must've been wounded in the fight.Why wasn't he healing?He was not only a werewolf, he was a lycan, they had special abilities that a normal werewolf didn't possess. But he wasn't healing, instead he was getting worse.There had to be a reason Kane couldn't help, he just knelt there crying with his hands stained with blood as he rested his palms on the area as though trying to stop the bleeding but was failing miserably."Dad..." his voice trailed off in a sob, "please get up." My heart broke as I heard his voice, I never thought I'd live to see the day cold-hearted Kane woul
SIERRAThe voice of the moon goddess kept ringing in my head as the rogues pulled me away along with them.Believe in yourself... stay strong.I frowned, Maybe all I had to do was trust me and let go of every other thing. I needed to learn how to trust myself then perhaps the answers would find me instead of me searching for the answers."She's awake." One of the rogues grunted throwing me a glance."Sleeping beauty, I thought you needed a Prince." Another mocked and his friends laughed.I remained silent, they didn't bother me, I was too focused on the moon goddess's words to be bothered by mere rogues. This was a time I could use to test my abilities."Perhaps she's dumb?""Maybe she's blind too because she doesn't look scared."I closed my eyes trying to focus on my inner mind as the words of the goddess echoed even more loudly in my head. Everything starts with me, I had to make a move before everything else would follow, my change begins with me.My eyes shot open as I counted th
CLAIREThrowing Sierra one last glance, I walked into the mansion closing the door behind me. She was looking so pale.I was still deciding where I wanted my room to be, so I decided to do a quick survey, I walked up the stairs checking the rooms. They were all so big and beautiful. As I walked past a door, it was opened halfway and I could hear murmurs of people."You will step down for me." Alpha Elvis shouted."I don't understand."I paused instantly, the second voice was my father, it sounded as though they were disagreeing on something."I am going to take full control over the park." Alpha Elvis was saying, "No one, absolutely no one can oppose my decision."I shuddered by the door, Alpha Elvis had a way of making people feel scared around him. His voice carried an aura that screamed 'Dare me and I will have your head on a spike.' Even my father wouldn't have a say in where he was involved.If he was going to take over the kingdom, where does that leave us? My father had fought
KANESomething was not right with Sierra, her face looked pale and her eyes were unfocused not to mention how dazed she looked."What's wrong Sierra?" I asked holding her shoulders.She remained silent, her gaze was fixed somewhere else. "Tell me what's wrong?" I asked calmly."I keep hearing voices in my head." She said clutching her hair with both palms as though she wanted to pull out the voices along with her hair."Voices?" I frowned, "explain further." I said listening."They keep telling me strange things, I hear them so loud and clear that it is frightening." She explained pulling hard at her hair."Those voices you hear, do you know who they belong to?" I asked reaching for her hands to stop her from hurting herself.She nodded with tears in her eyes, "Yes.""Tell me, whose voice do you hear?" I asked calmly taking her hands in mine, I held it tight to let her know that I was with her and she didn't need to be scared."It's Elvis." She said calmly as she gazed into my eyes.A
MAYA"What do you mean by dark magic?" I asked placing my shaky hands over my throbbing heart as Thane moved behind me to hold me steady. "When? How?" I asked confused.The healer looked down shaking his head. "I'm sorry my lady." He apologized."My child," I muttered as I held her hot hand, she was trembling but Kane and Dane held her down not wanting her to hurt herself through her hysterics."It bu.. burns mom." She muttered with tears dropping out of her eyes."I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry." I couldn't help but apologize, I could have done a better job protecting her."My whole body burns, mom." She was becoming a crying mess."It will be over soon," I said trying to calm her down. "Get me a bowl of cold water please," I said and Thane hurried to the kitchen to bring the bowl since everyone else was busy.He returned with a small bucket of water, "what are you planning to do?" He asked as he dropped the bucket before me."I'm trying to help my daughter," I said tearing off a piece o
THANE"You bastard!" I growled as I charged forward towards Erin with my claws in the air ready to slam themselves into his throat.He moved out of the way avoiding my grasp. I moved towards him aiming for his neck, he held his hands over his head protectively. I grabbed him by his shirt and then threw him across the room. He landed a few feet away from where Sierra lay.I rushed towards him not giving him the chance to recover, I sent a heavy blow to his face, "This is for what you did." I was livid as I punched him again in the face."For choosing to abandon your kingdom." I threw him against the wall, and the sound of his bones colliding with the hard wall filled the room making Maya release a shock gasp.I turned to look at my family, they stared back at me, the flame in me quenched, I became calm as I stood over Erin waiting for him to rise himself.He struggled to his feet when he managed to get up, he wiped off the blood in his nose with the back of his palm."Consider yourself
SIERRA All eyes were fixed on my mother as Erin made that statement. "What is that supposed to mean?" Thane asked Erin who shrugged. "She might know better than I do." He said still on his knees. My mother shifted uncomfortably from where she sat, I could tell that she was frightened and was loss for words. "Maya, what is he talking about?" Thane asked turning to stare at my mother who was almost trembling visibly. I could see her hands tremble, she hid them in between her lap. I closed my eyes trying to think of something believable, but nothing was coming, I still felt very groggy from the fever, thankfully, the burning was all gone, my head no longer throbbed painfully, and I felt a little calm. "I... I do... I.. have.. have." "What is going on here?" A new voice spoke, one that I hadn't heard in forever, we turned towards him. "Rather than searching for answers to questions, I believe we make haste to save Claire." I stared at him, he was leaning in the door post
SIERRAI gasped as my eyes flew open, my body jerking upright. My chest felt like it was caving in, my throat raw like I had been screaming for hours. The room was dark, the air thick with something I couldn’t name. My hands trembled as I clutched at the sheets, trying to ground myself, trying to make sense of where I was.“Sierra!”Hands gripped my arms, firm, steady, holding me in place like I might collapse at any second. My head snapped toward the voices. Zane. Kane. Dane. All of them hovering over me, eyes filled with worry, their faces tense. The warmth of their touch should have reassured me, but it only made the panic claw deeper into my chest.“What’s wrong?” Dane’s voice was sharp, demanding, like he needed to know immediately.“You screamed,” Kane added, his grip on me tightening. His jaw was clenched, his brows furrowed. “You scared the hell out of us.”I tried to swallow, but my throat was too dry. My breaths came in short, uneven gasps. My heart pounded so hard it hurt,
SIERRAI blinked.Once.Twice.The ceiling above me wasn’t familiar. The walls were different. Everything was different.I sat up fast, my heart slamming against my ribs.Where the hell was I?The air was thick, pressing against my skin like invisible hands. Heavy. Unnatural. It clung to me, making it hard to breathe. I swallowed, forcing myself to stay calm.The room was dim, the light coming from… nowhere. No lamps, no windows, but still, a glow. Faint. Cold. My fingers curled into the sheets beneath me, silk. Soft, too soft. It sent a chill through me. This wasn’t my bed. This wasn’t my room.I turned my head, scanning the space. Large. Empty. The walls stretched endlessly, shifting between deep blue and silver, almost like they were alive, moving, breathing. The air hummed with something ancient, something powerful. My stomach twisted.Nothing made sense.And then I saw her.Standing in the corner, silent.A presence too strong to be ignored.Silver hair cascaded down her back, sh
SIERRAThe second I stepped inside, I froze.Blood. So much blood. It stained the floor, the walls, the furniture. The smell of it, thick, metallic hung in the air, making my stomach turn. My heart pounded as my eyes darted to my friends, their faces pale, their clothes splattered in red.“What the hell happened here?” My voice came out sharp, urgent.Kane wiped a hand down his face, smearing red across his cheek. “Sierra…”I looked at Zane, then Dane. They all looked shaken.“Someone tell me what happened,” I demanded.Dane swallowed hard. “Astrid came.”I frowned. “What?”Zane exhaled, rubbing his temples. “She showed up out of nowhere. She was bleeding, barely able to stand. She tried to talk, but…”“She exploded,” Kane finished, his voice flat.I blinked. “She what?”They all exchanged glances, like they weren’t sure how to say it again. Like somehow, saying it out loud would make it more real.Dane cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck. “She… exploded. Like, literally.
KANE“Hurry up, Dane! That banner looks like it’s about to fall.”Dane grumbled as he adjusted the string, his fingers fumbling with the knot. “If you’re so concerned, do it yourself.”I rolled my eyes. “I would, but someone has to make sure the cake doesn’t end up on the floor like last time.”Zane snorted from across the room as he stacked plates on the table. “That was one time. Let it go.”“One time was enough,” I shot back, giving him a pointed look. “Sierra nearly cried.”Alpha Thane chuckled as he set down a crate of drinks. “I can’t believe you boys planned all this. Sierra’s going to love it.”I smiled, glancing around the room. Balloons, streamers, and twinkling lights covered the walls. A table was stacked with gifts, food, and an enormous cake that, this time, was safely positioned far from the edges.“She deserves it,” I said. “She’s been through too much.”Dane climbed down from the chair, wiping his hands. “Yeah, and she never asks for anything in return. This is the le
SIERRAI blinked. The room was spinning, and my body was heavy like I had been dragged through a storm. My throat was dry, and my head ached like I had been fighting in my sleep.Voices. So many voices.“Sierra?”I turned my head, confused by the way everyone was looking at me, worried, scared, relieved. “What?” My voice came out rough. “What’s wrong?”Dane stepped forward first. “Is it…you?”I frowned. “What the hell does that mean?”Kane let out a breath. “Your wolf took over.”I stared at him. “What?”“You weren’t here, Sierra,” my mom said gently. “Your wolf spoke to us.”A shiver ran down my spine. “She… spoke?”Zane nodded. “Yeah. She said you’re different. That you need help.”I pressed a hand to my temple. My head was pounding. “I don’t understand.”“You don’t remember?” Kane asked.I shook my head. “No. I just… I woke up, and now you’re all looking at me like I died or something.”My mom touched my face, her warm hands grounding me. “You scared us.”I swallowed, my chest tigh
ZANEI couldn’t shake the feeling. Something was wrong.Sierra hadn’t spoken in hours. She hadn’t moved, hadn’t blinked. Just sat there, staring at the wall like she wasn’t even here. And that scared the hell out of me.I rushed to find my family. I didn’t care if I sounded crazy.“She’s not okay,” I said, breathless. “Something’s wrong with Sierra.”Luna Maya frowned. “What do you mean?”“She’s just…staring. Not talking, not moving. It’s like she’s not even in her own body.”My father stood up immediately. “Where is she?”“In her room.”We didn’t waste time. Everyone followed me, their footsteps heavy with worry. When we got there, Sierra was exactly how I left her—sitting on the edge of the bed, her hands resting on her lap, her eyes empty.“Sierra?” Luna Maya called softly.No response.“Sierra?” Dane tried, stepping closer. Still nothing.Luna Maya’s face paled. She rushed forward, kneeling in front of Sierra and grabbing her hands. “Baby, look at me,” she pleaded. “It’s Mom. Can
SIERRAThe fire was out, but my hands wouldn’t stop shaking. My heart pounded so hard it hurt. The smell of smoke still clung to the air, burning my nose, and making my throat tight. I could still hear the screams, the crackling flames, the chaos.I pressed my palms against my face, trying to push it all away. Just breathe. Just calm down. But it wasn’t working. The panic clawed at me, twisting my insides into knots. My whole body felt wrong, like I wasn’t even in control of it anymore.A warm hand landed on my shoulder. Kane. His touch was steady, grounding. “You okay?” His voice was soft, careful. But I could hear it. The worry underneath.“No,” I whispered. My voice barely worked. “I don’t think I am.”I wasn’t okay. Not even close.Dane crouched beside me, searching my face. “You want to tell us what happened?”I let out a shaky breath. Where did I even start? The dream? The fire? The fact that I was losing control over something that should’ve been mine to command? I curled my fi
SIERRA The first thing I noticed was the cold. Not the kind that gives you a little shiver and makes you pull the blanket up. This was bone-deep, icy, like I’d been dumped in a frozen lake. I blinked, confused. The soft warmth of my bed was gone. “Where am I…?” I whispered, sitting up slowly. Everything looked strange. The sky above me wasn’t blue. It wasn’t night, either. It was…gray, swirling, like thick smoke. The ground beneath me was damp and cold, like wet stone. “Hello?” I called out again, louder this time, my voice echoing back at me like I was yelling into a bottomless pit. Nothing. No answer. Just thick, suffocating silence. I swallowed hard, my heart pounding as I stood up, my legs trembling beneath me. The ground felt damp and cold, like stone soaked in icy water, and a chill raced up my spine. Wherever I was, it wasn’t anywhere normal. I squinted into the grayish haze that hung in the air, swirling around me like smoke, and that’s when I saw her. Ariel.
SIERRAIt felt so damn good to be home.The air smelled fresher, like pine and freedom, and everywhere I turned, familiar faces smiled at me. I wasn’t used to all this attention, but I couldn’t lie, it made me feel warm inside.“Can’t believe you’re really back,” Alpha Thane said as he handed me a drink. His grin stretched wide, and for once, he wasn’t scowling or trying to lecture me.“Surprise,” I teased, clinking my glass against his.“Party’s for you, you know,” he added, nodding toward the bonfire they’d just lit. “Whole pack’s been waiting for this.”I looked around and smiled. Wolves were laughing, drinking, and dancing. It felt alive. For the first time in forever, things felt right. No Ariel. No chaos. Just peace. And it was all ours.“Think they’ll fit in?” I asked, nodding toward the new wolves. They still looked a little awkward, standing in a tight group near the food table.“Give them time,” Alpha Thane said. “They’ll come around.”“Hope so,” I muttered.Just then, someo