DANEThe first thing I felt was the cold. The second thing was the tight grip of chains around my wrists and ankles. My head throbbed as I forced my eyes open, and it took me a moment to realize I was sitting on a stone floor. Panic surged through me when I saw Zane and Kane slumped nearby, also chained.“Guys,” I rasped, my throat dry. “Wake up!”Kane groaned again, his body shifting slightly as he started to regain full consciousness. Zane blinked a few times, his eyes narrowing as he took in the strange, dimly lit room. He looked around quickly, his face hardening.“What the hell happened?” Zane’s voice was rough, but there was an edge of anger to it. He was trying to make sense of everything.I shook my head, the confusion still clouding my mind. “I don’t know. Last thing I remember… Gerald’s laugh.” The sound still echoed in my ears, haunting, twisted, and so unnatural. It made my skin crawl just thinking about it. The memory of that laugh made my stomach churn like I had just sw
KANEMy voice was rough, and demanding, as I pulled against the chains that bound me.“What are you doing with Harold, Gerald?” My eyes narrowed with frustration. Gerald’s laugh echoed through the room, dark and chilling. It made my blood run cold.“Isn’t it obvious, Kane?” he said, almost mocking him. “I’ve been the one pulling the strings from the very beginning. Everything you’ve seen, all of this, it’s been my plan.”I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Gerald, of all people, was behind all of this. The betrayal hit me like a punch to the gut. He had been working with Harold this whole time. I was already furious, and it only got worse as Gerald laughed at us, a smug, almost gleeful look on his face.“If it’s not clear by now, I’m the one who organized everything from the start,” Gerald said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. “I wanted Sierra all to myself. She’s special, you know. I knew from the moment she came into our pack that she had something... something unique.”My
DANEThe sound of the heavy wooden door creaking open made my heart lurch, but I kept my face stoic. It was Gerald. Of course, it was Gerald.“Ah, Dane,” he drawled, stepping into the room with his trademark smirk. “How’s our brave warrior holding up?”“What do you want, Gerald?” I snapped, glaring at him with all the venom I could muster. “Haven’t you had your fun yet?”He chuckled, his eyes glinting with malice. “Oh, not even close. You see, there’s still something I need from you. From all of you, actually. But let’s start with you.”I narrowed my eyes, my chest heaving. “Spit it out already.”Gerald’s grin widened. “I need you to reject Sierra. One by one, all of you must sever your ties with her. Do that, and maybe I’ll consider letting you all go."The words hit me like a punch to the gut, but I didn’t let it show. I leaned forward as much as the chains allowed and sneered. “You’re delusional if you think I’ll ever do that. Go to hell, Gerald.”The smirk never left his face. He
SIERRAThe sound of Dane’s voice echoed through the room, raw and filled with pain. I could barely see through my tears as I watched the screen. Harold’s laughter cut through my heart like a knife, and every scream from Dane felt like a stab in my chest.“Please, stop this!” I begged, my voice cracking. “Let him go! He hasn’t done anything to you!”Harold smirked, his eyes glinting with cruel amusement. “Oh, Sierra,” he said, his tone mockingly sweet. “This is entirely up to you. Give up your powers, reject your mates, and agree to marry Gerald, and I’ll let your precious Dane go.”My body trembled, not with fear but with fury. “You’re a monster,” I spat, tears streaming down my face. “You’ll never win.”Harold shrugged, unbothered. “I’ve heard that before,” he said. Then he gestured to the screen, where Gerald’s smug face appeared, holding a silver dagger.“No!” I screamed, my voice piercing. “Please, don’t hurt him! I’ll do anything!”Gerald chuckled, his eyes cold. “Anything? Then
ZANEThe moment Sierra’s body slumped, I caught her instinctively, my arms curling around her trembling form. Her weight was light, too light, and it terrified me.“Kane, grab Dane! We need to get out of here,” I barked, my voice cracking under the pressure. Sierra’s shallow breathing filled my ears, and her baby sister, bundled in a cloth, let out a weak cry. I adjusted the child in my grip, cradling her carefully while holding onto Sierra.Kane didn’t hesitate. He hoisted Dane over his shoulder, though he struggled under the weight. “Let’s move,” Kane growled, his tone sharp with urgency.The halls felt endless as we ran, each step echoing like a drumbeat in my chest. Sierra was still out cold, her head resting against my shoulder. The baby’s cries grew louder, a desperate, heart-wrenching sound.“Hold on, Sierra,” I whispered, my throat tightening. “We’re almost there.”We burst out into the open air, the cool breeze stinging our sweat-drenched skin. Luna Maya and Alpha Thane were
SIERRAI couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Kane’s words stung, deep in my chest, like a dagger twisted to make sure it hurt.“What do you mean by that?” I asked, trying to stay calm, but my voice wavered. I could feel the anger bubbling inside me, but I didn’t want to lose control. Not yet.Kane’s eyes were dark, his face twisted in frustration. “You know exactly what I mean, Sierra,” he spat, his voice rising. “Stop your bullshit right now. We’re all dealing with enough, and you’re still acting like everything’s about you!”I opened my mouth to respond, but Zane cut in before I could.“Hey, Kane, chill out,” Zane said, his voice firm but trying to be soothing. He stepped in front of me, putting a hand on Kane’s chest to push him back. “You’re going too far.”But Kane wasn’t having it. “No, Zane, I’m done holding back!” he yelled. “She went against our wishes and went there alone. Look at the mess she made!”I flinched at his words, but I couldn’t stop myself from defending what I
SIERRAKane’s words rang in my ears, sharp and unrelenting. The room was suffocating, their stares cutting into me. My chest tightened, and before I could stop them, tears welled in my eyes. I tried to blink them away, but it was too late—Kane had already seen.“You’re right,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I do ruin everything.”Zane turned to me, his expression twisting in confusion and anger. “Sierra, stop. You don’t need to take this from him!”I shook my head, stepping back. “Zane, apologize to him.”“What?” Zane blinked at me, completely taken aback. “Why would I do that? He was disrespecting you!”I let out a small, pitiful laugh that didn’t sound like me at all. “Because I deserve it,” I said bitterly. “He’s right. Everything’s a mess because of me.”Zane seemed to want to argue, but I didn’t wait to hear it. I turned away, my hands trembling as I wiped my tears. I couldn’t stay here any longer. The tension was unbearable, the air too heavy to breathe.“I’ll leave you both t
KANEI leaned against the wall, running my fingers through my hair as I watched Zane pace. The air between us was thick with tension after everything that had happened with Sierra.“Kane,” Zane said, stopping abruptly. His voice was softer now, almost hesitant. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”I looked at him for a moment, his sincerity written all over his face. I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. “It’s fine. I’m used to it by now,” I muttered. “When it comes to Sierra, you’re always thinking with your dick anyway.”Zane’s jaw tightened, and he took a step closer, but before he could shoot back, a piercing scream cut through the air.Before he could get another word out, a sharp scream pierced the air.My heart skipped a beat. “Sierra!” Zane shouted, already sprinting towards the sound.“Shit,” I cursed under my breath, following him as fast as I could.We rushed through the hall and skidded to a halt outside Dane’s room. The door was barely hanging on its hinges, smoke pourin
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