SIERRAI slammed the door behind me, my heart pounding in my chest as anger and guilt churned inside me. I couldn’t believe what had just happened. The weight of everything, the guilt, the frustration, the pressure, was too much. My mind was a mess, full of things I couldn’t even begin to sort through.I stormed down the hall, not even acknowledging the few guards and maids who looked at me with concern. They wouldn’t understand. No one would. I felt completely alone in this.I reached the door leading outside and didn’t hesitate. I pushed it open and ran into the woods. The cool night air hit me, and I didn’t care about the dampness on my skin or the sound of the trees swaying. I just needed to be away from it all.The moon hung above, its pale light distant and cold. I could feel its pull, the connection we all had to it, but tonight, it only reminded me of how isolated I felt. How suffocated I was by.I couldn’t hold it in anymore.Without thinking, I threw my head back and howled
SIERRAI couldn't stop pacing. The thoughts were all over the place, Harold's words, the baby... my sister. It felt like my mind was spinning out of control. I didn’t know what to do. I could feel the weight of everything pressing down on me, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake it off."Stop pacing," Alpha Thane said. He didn’t even sound annoyed, just tired. "It won’t help.""I know," I snapped, running my hands through my hair. "But I can’t just sit still. I have to do something. I need to find my sister. Now.""You need to rest," he said, his voice calm. "We’ve already called Gerald. He’ll be here soon to help. Right now, you need to let your mother rest."I was the one who was supposed to fix this, not them."Your Majesty, this isn’t about resting. Harold’s going after my sister, not me. It’s me he wants, and I can’t let anyone else get hurt because of me."He stepped forward, closing the distance between us. "Sierra, we do this together. You’re not alone in this, oka
ZANEI woke up before anyone else, the quiet of the house sinking deep into my bones. Something felt off. My instincts told me Sierra wasn’t there. I stood up and walked over to her bed, half-expecting to find her still asleep, but the bed was empty.I frowned, my mind racing.“Where was she?” I muttered to myself.I wandered down the hall, knocking softly on a few doors, but no sign of her. Then I ended up in the kitchen where I found Luna Maya. She was stirring something in a pot, but her eyes were tired, and there was a sadness that made my heart tug.“Maya?” I said, leaning against the doorframe. “Have you seen Sierra?”She didn’t look up at first, still focused on her task. When she did finally turn, her eyes were tired but full of concern. “Sierra? No, I haven’t. Why? Is she not in her room?”I felt a tightness in my chest. “I don’t know... I can’t find her anywhere. Have you seen her this morning?”She sighed and set the spoon down. “No... I haven’t. She’s been distant, Zane. E
SIERRA I sighed deeply as I arrived at the third tower. It had been a long, exhausting day. The first two towers hadn’t led me anywhere. The sisters there had told me Harold wasn’t there, and neither was my sister. But I had a feeling this tower would be different. It had to be. My gut was telling me that everything was going to change here. I pushed open the door and stepped inside, preparing myself for anything. But what I saw took me by surprise. The tower wasn’t as dark and dangerous as I had expected. Instead, there was a feast happening. Music, laughter, food, and drinks were all around me. I froze for a moment, unsure of what to do. It felt so… out of place. A woman noticed me standing there and walked toward me. She wore a simple white robe, her face kind but cautious. “Ah, you are?” “I’m Sierra,” I replied. “ Welcome.” I barely nodded, too stunned by the scene to speak. “I’m looking for my sister. She’s been taken by Harold. He’s—” The woman nodded, cutting me off. “We
ZANE I stood with my brothers, our eyes glued to the maps Gerald had spread out on the table. The pressure was on, Sierra and her baby were out there somewhere, and we had no time to waste. Gerald was going over the potential places where Harold could’ve taken them, but honestly, the more we looked, the more I felt the panic bubbling up inside me. “Look at these places,” Gerald said, pointing to ten locations on the map. “I’m sure Harold’s hiding them in one of these spots. He is not stupid. He’d go somewhere remote, somewhere with no civilization to keep his movements quiet.” I stared at the maps but couldn’t focus. My mind was on Sierra. Was she okay? Was the baby safe? My gut twisted in knots, the worry tightening around my chest like a vice. I needed to do something, anything. “Do we have to search all of these?” Dane asked, his voice laced with frustration. “There’s so much ground to cover.” “Yeah, we do,” Gerald replied. “I’m telling you, we have to check every one of these
KANEWe all gathered by the door, our faces grim but determined. We knew this was it. We were going out there, and we weren’t coming back without Sierra and the baby.Dane turned to face us, his eyes hard. “No one’s getting left behind. We do this together. We’re a team.”Zane nodded. “We find her. No matter what.”I clenched my fists. “We won’t stop. We get them back, no matter what it takes.”And with that, we headed out. Every step I took felt heavy, but I kept my head up. We weren’t going to fail. Not this time.We were going to bring her home.I sat by the campfire, trying to keep my mind off the darkness that seemed to be swallowing me whole. The air was cold, the silence heavy, and the only sound was the crackling of the fire. My brothers were around me, but I barely noticed them anymore. I couldn’t stop thinking about Sierra. She’s always been stubborn, always doing things her way and never thinking about the consequences. I just... I couldn't understand why she had to put her
ZANEThe air was thick with tension as we stood under the moonlight. I looked at the woman standing a few feet away, her hood casting shadows over her face. She had offered to lead us to a convent where she claimed we might find Sierra or at least some clue about her.I turned to my brothers, my gut twisting. “Do you guys really think this is a good idea?” I asked, my voice tight. “We don’t know this woman. For all we know, this could be a trap.”Kane shrugged, his tone calm but firm. “We don’t have many options, Zane. Sierra and her baby sister are out there somewhere, and every second we waste could mean danger for them.”Dane chimed in, his voice more relaxed but equally determined. “She said she knows something, and we need all the help we can get. If this leads us to Sierra, then it’s worth the risk.”I crossed my arms, shaking my head. “Something feels off, though. Think about it. Everything’s been too smooth. This random stranger just happens to know where we should go? It does
SIERRAI opened my eyes slowly, groaning as the blinding lights stabbed into my skull like a thousand needles. Everything felt wrong, my head spun, my body ached, and I couldn’t tell how much time had passed. Days? Weeks? The haze that clouded my mind was only now starting to lift. I tried to move, but the ropes digging into my wrists reminded me I wasn’t going anywhere.The room was dark except for a harsh light hanging above me. My voice cracked as I called out weakly, “Hello? Is anyone there? Please, help me!”The heavy creak of a door opening made my heart pound. I turned my head to see him, Harold. His smug grin made my skin crawl.“Well, well,” Harold said, strolling into the room like he owned it. “The mighty Sierra, brought down by her own desperation. I knew you’d fall into my trap.”I clenched my fists, feeling the ropes bite deeper into my skin as I glared at Harold. My voice cracked as I demanded, “Where’s my sister? Where’s the baby?”Harold’s laugh was low and chilling.
SIERRAI sniffled, my vision still blurry from the tears that refused to stop falling. The weight of what the Moon Goddess had told me pressed down on my chest like a stone, suffocating and heavy. I had always known fate was cruel, but this? This was unbearable.Zane's arms tightened around me, his warmth soothing, even as my heart ached. "We’ll survive," he repeated, his voice steady. "Even if we never have a child, we’ll be okay."His words should have reassured me, but they didn’t. I shook my head. "I know you all want a family. I know how much it means to you, to all of us." My voice cracked as I spoke, the pain of my fate settling deeper into my bones. "You shouldn’t have to give that up because of me."Kane’s fingers tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze. His green eyes were fierce, unwavering, but filled with something I wasn’t expecting, love. "You think we’d ever choose a child over you?"I opened my mouth, then closed it again. I didn’t know what to say."You are ou
SIERRAI rubbed my temples, frustration and exhaustion clawing at me. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t tap into the power they expected from me. I felt useless. Weak. And I hated it.“I just need some air,” I muttered, pushing past the boys before they could stop me. I didn’t wait for their response, I just walked. The cool breeze kissed my skin, but it did little to soothe the turmoil in my chest. My feet carried me further from the cabin, into the dense trees where the world felt quieter.I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, sinking onto the damp forest floor. If there was any chance of connecting to the Moon Goddess, I had to try.Clearing my mind, I focused on my breathing, letting everything else fade. And then, like a ripple through my soul, I felt it, a shift, a pull. The world around me disappeared, and I was somewhere else.The air shimmered with silver light, the scent of moonflowers filling my lungs. And there she stood, radiant and calm, her eyes glowing like twi
SIERRAThe moment I stepped outside, the air grew thick with whispers. The locals stood in small clusters, their eyes wide with fear as they watched me approach. Some clutched their children close, others took a cautious step back as if my mere presence might bring destruction upon them."She’s back," a woman muttered, gripping the arm of the man beside her. "Moon help us."A few of them cast nervous glances at the burnt remnants of a house in the distance, a grim reminder of what had happened the last time I lost control. I swallowed hard, my chest tightening.I ignored them and walked into the dimly lit room, my pulse steady despite the weight of what I was about to say. The boys turned to me instantly, their expressions a mix of curiosity and suspicion."She's linked to me," I said flatly, wasting no time.Dane frowned. "Who?""Ariel," I answered, crossing my arms. "She can see through my eyes."A tense silence followed."You let her do that?" Kane’s voice was sharp with disbelief.
ASTRIDCelia crossed her arms, watching the entrance where Ariel had just disappeared. “It’s clear we can’t control her.”I sighed, the weight of her words pressing down on me. “Then we’ll have to do the same thing we did to her grandmother. Tie her life to one of us.”A murmur of unease swept through the group. The vampires shifted where they stood, exchanging wary glances, but no one spoke. Their silence said enough. None of them wanted to be the one to do it.Celia narrowed her eyes at me. “And who exactly do you suggest, Astrid? Because I don’t see anyone volunteering.”I turned my gaze over the group, searching for any hint of willingness. Nothing. Not a single one of them met my eyes.“I’m not sacrificing myself for her,” one of the younger ones muttered.Another scoffed. “We barely know her. Why should one of us be bound to her life?”“She’s too powerful,” a voice added from the shadows. “Even if we tie her to one of us, what guarantees she won’t turn against us?”I clenched my
ASTRIDI lifted a hand, gesturing sharply to Celia to stay silent. My eyes darted toward the entrance of the cave. Footsteps. Ariel was back. Too soon. She must have heard something.The moment she barged in, her eyes were blazing with fury. "What secret are you hiding from me? What curse am I breaking?"I kept my voice calm. "Ariel, listen…""No!" she snapped, her powers flaring.Ariel didn’t hesitate. She reached deep within herself, where the power hummed beneath her skin, waiting to be unleashed. It surged, coiling through her veins like a living thing, crackling with energy. Her breath steadied, her fingers twitching as she focused.The air around her shifted, thick with an unseen force. A low hum vibrated through the cave, sending chills through the walls, and shaking the ground beneath her feet. The power built rapidly, feeding off her emotions, her anger, her betrayal, and her need for the truth.She lifted her hand slightly, fingers spreading apart. The pressure in the room i
ARIELI gripped the mandrake root tighter in my hands as I made my way back to the vampires’ hideout. The night air was thick with tension, the wind whispering through the trees like a warning I didn’t want to hear. Every step felt heavier, my heartbeat a steady drum against my ribs.Sierra’s words echoed in my mind, refusing to fade."Why would the vampires need a root that breaks curses?""Maybe they’re cursed.""Would they even tell you?"I shook my head, trying to push her voice away. She was wrong. She had to be. The vampires had taken me in when no one else would. They had given me answers when I was lost. They wouldn’t lie to me… would they?My conversation with Sierra played over and over in my mind, her words gnawing at my thoughts. "Ariel, think about it. Why would the vampires need a root that breaks curses?" Sierra asked, her voice filled with something I couldn't quite place, concern, desperation, maybe even guilt.I folded my arms, shifting my weight from one foot to t
SIERRAFlames roared around me, licking up the walls of the pack house. My chest heaved as I frantically waved my hands, trying to will the fire to stop, to go away. But the more I panicked, the wilder it became."Sierra! Stop!" Kane shouted, rushing toward me."I…I can’t!" My voice cracked as I stumbled backward. The fire wasn’t listening to me. It was as if it had a mind of its own.Dane cursed under his breath. "Everyone, back!"The villagers scattered, their eyes wide with fear. My heart clenched. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I just wanted to reveal who was watching us, not destroy everything in the process.A gust of wind slammed against me, but instead of extinguishing the fire, it only made it worse. The flames crackled, eating through the wooden beams, charring the walls black. Smoke billowed into the sky, dark and heavy.Kane grabbed me, shaking me gently. "Sierra, you need to calm down.""I can’t! I don’t know how!" My voice wavered, thick with frustration.Dane turned
SIERRAI rubbed my arms, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling crawling over my skin. It wasn’t just a shiver or a passing chill, it was deep, creeping, like invisible fingers trailing over my skin, sending goosebumps in their wake. My heart pounded against my ribs, and I swallowed hard, willing myself to push past it.My mates and the locals were staring at me, confusion written all over their faces. I didn’t blame them, I barely understood what was happening myself.“Sierra?” Kane’s voice was gentle, but I could hear the concern underneath.I opened my mouth to respond, but I hesitated. What was I supposed to say? That I felt like someone was watching me? That the weight of unseen eyes was pressing down on me, making my breath come in short, uneven puffs? It sounded ridiculous, even to me. But the feeling wouldn’t leave. It clung to me, heavy and suffocating.I shifted my weight from foot to foot, suddenly hyperaware of my surroundings. It felt crowded, and suffocating. I turne
SIERRAStepping out of the house, I barely had a moment to take in the cool night air before I heard the snickers."Well, well, look who finally decided to show up," someone muttered.A chorus of amused chuckles followed, and I felt my cheeks heat up instantly. I frowned, confused at first, but then realization struck like a lightning bolt. My heart plummeted.The sage.We forgot to keep the damn sage burning after the old woman left.My stomach twisted as I remembered the… sounds I had made. Oh, Moon above. The entire town heard me.Heat crawled up my neck, spreading across my cheeks like wildfire. My mortification must have been written all over my face because Kane chuckled, slinging an arm around my shoulders and pulling me close."Relax, sweetheart," he murmured, his voice dripping with amusement. "It’s nothing to be embarrassed about."I shot him a glare, but it only made him grin wider. "Easy for you to say," I muttered under my breath. "You weren’t the one…" I clamped my mouth