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
SIERRAThe bushes tore at my skin, sharp branches scratching my arms and legs as I stumbled deeper into the forest. I didn’t care about the pain. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered anymore. Tears streamed down my cheeks, blurring my vision, but I kept running. My heart pounded loudly in my ears, drowning out the sounds of the forest.“Moon Goddess,” I whispered, my voice trembling with desperation. “Take it back. Take it all back.”My foot caught on a root, and I fell hard to my knees. The sharp sting of impact spread through my legs, but I barely felt it. The ache in my chest was so much worse. It felt like my heart was splintering, and no amount of sobbing could put it back together.I slammed my fists into the ground, ignoring the way the dirt clung to my hands. “I don’t want this cursed power anymore!” My voice cracked, but I didn’t stop. “It’s not a gift—it’s a nightmare.”Dane’s pale, lifeless face flashed in my mind. My chest tightened as guilt clawed its way through me. “I alm
SIERRAThe rogues froze, their ears twitching, and a moment later, I understood why. A powerful, bone-rattling growl cut through the storm, sending a chill down my spine. My heart dropped as I turned toward the sound, just in time to see Kane’s wolf emerge from the darkness. His sleek black fur glistened under the rain, his glowing amber eyes locked on the rogues.“Of course,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “The one person who wouldn’t let me die in peace.”Kane didn’t even glance at me. His focus was entirely on the rogues, who were now backing away, their earlier bravado replaced with fear. One of them whimpered before turning tail and running. The other two followed, disappearing into the woods as quickly as they had appeared.With the threat gone, Kane turned his attention to me, his wolf’s eyes narrowing. A shudder ran through me, but I refused to let him see my fear. He stepped closer, and before I could say a word, his body began to shift. Fur receded, bones cracked and reformed,
SIERRAThe cold rain still clung to my skin as Kane guided me toward shelter. His words echoed in my mind, each one a reminder of the weight I’d been carrying—my own guilt and pain, but also the responsibility I had to others. He was right, I knew it. But hearing it from him felt like the last bit of strength I had was being drained away.I didn’t speak as we walked, the silence between us thick with unspoken things. When we reached the cabin, Kane immediately went to work. His movements were quick, purposeful, like he was trying to push everything else away, focusing only on me. He started a fire in the small stone hearth, the flames crackling to life with a snap and a hiss.I sat by the fire, the warmth slowly seeping into my chilled bones. The rain kept pouring outside, but inside, the fire made it bearable. I wanted to speak, to say something to break the silence, but my voice caught in my throat. My mind was too full of everything—everything I’d done, everything I was trying to r
SIERRAI rushed down the hallway, heart pounding in my chest, panic settling in. The moment I received the call, I knew something was wrong. Dane’s name echoed in my mind like a mantra, urging me to move faster. My breaths were shallow as I pushed the door open, my eyes immediately catching the chaos inside the house."Dane!" I screamed, rushing to him, my gaze locking on his writhing body. His eyes were wide, unseeing, and his limbs twisted violently, the seizure claiming him. My mother’s frantic cries only added to the madness in the room."Sierra, please! Do something!" my mother pleaded through her tears. I could barely think. My feet were frozen, my body trembling from fear. But then I heard Kane’s voice, steady and strong."Sierra, focus," Kane said, his hand gripping my arm, his tone urgent. "You can help him. You have to."I nodded, forcing myself to breathe deeply, shaking off the panic that threatened to overwhelm me. I glanced at Dane, his face contorted in pain. I could fe
SIERRAThe darkness wrapped around me like a second skin, thick and suffocating. The cold air of the cave seeped into my bones, making me shiver. I was back. Back in the cave with them.The vampires stood around me, their red eyes glowing in the dim light. Their faces twisted with anger and impatience, their expressions a mix of hunger and frustration. My breathing quickened, my pulse racing. I had escaped this place. I knew I had. But here I was again, trapped like an animal in a cage.One of them stepped forward—the elder, his sharp features unreadable. He looked at me like I was nothing more than an inconvenience, something standing in the way of his freedom. His cold, thin lips curled into a sneer."You think you can leave us here to rot?" he hissed, his voice smooth but laced with venom. "You think we’ll just sit back and do nothing?"I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stand my ground. "I don’t know how to help you," I said, my voice unsteady but firm. "I barely understand what’
ZANEThe moment I heard that howl, my heart stopped. It was Sierra. I would know her howl anywhere. My chest tightened as my wolf stirred inside me, howling back in recognition, even though I didn’t make a sound."Did you hear that?" I turned to Kane and Dane, who were flipping through the latest useless book we’d found on ancient spells.They froze, their ears twitching. Kane tilted his head, listening. “Is that—?”“Sierra,” I confirmed, already moving toward the door. “That’s her.”Dane stood, his jaw clenching. “You’re sure?”I didn’t stop. “I’ll never forget her howl. Let’s go.”We shifted without another word, our wolves surging forward with renewed energy. I felt the wind whip through my fur as we raced toward the cave. The closer we got, the more her howl cut through the air, louder and more distinct. She was alive. She was waiting.When we broke through the tree line, I skidded to a stop, nearly crashing into Kane. There she was. Sierra. In her wolf form, she was pacing, tail
SIERRAThe sound of running water grew louder with every step I took. My heartbeat quickened as I hurried toward it. I didn’t know what I’d find, but it felt like hope—something I hadn’t felt in a long time.Finally, I came upon it. An open stream, crystal clear and flowing freely through the cave, its gentle sound echoing off the walls. Relief washed over me. Water. A small sign of life in this cold, suffocating prison. I knelt, cupping some in my hand when I heard footsteps behind me.Hazel. Of course, she’d followed me.“What are you doing here?” I asked, standing up quickly.Her silver eyes glinted under the faint light of the stream. “You wandered off. Someone had to make sure you didn’t kill yourself accidentally,” she said dryly, stepping toward the water.“Hazel, wait…”Before I could stop her, Hazel stepped forward, her foot brushing the edge of the stream. The moment it made contact, a blood-curdling scream erupted from her lips, echoing violently through the cave. The sound
SIERRAThe words wouldn’t stop ringing in my ears. "You can't stay trapped in your own spell." What did that even mean? Did I create this spell? Was the person I saw really me? The woman looked so young, beautiful, and powerful. Her aura was captivating, radiating an energy that demanded respect. Me? I was barely keeping my fire powers from spiraling out of control. How could I compare?I leaned against the cold, damp wall of the cave, trying to make sense of it all. My head was pounding from the shock I’d gotten earlier. My body was screaming at me to rest, but my mind wouldn’t let me. The pieces didn’t fit.A shadow loomed over me. I looked up to see one of the vampires—Hazel, I think her name was—watching me curiously. Her eyes were sharp, but there was a flicker of something softer beneath them.“How are you holding up?” she asked, crossing her arms.“I’m fine,” I lied. My voice came out steadier than I felt. “Just… a bit hazy.”Hazel raised an eyebrow. “You’re a terrible liar, yo
ZANEI could still feel Sierra’s voice echoing in my head as we walked away from the woods. Her words, her plea for us to figure out how to get her out of that cursed cave, kept playing over and over again. My hands clenched into fists. My wolf was restless, itching to do something, anything. But for now, all we had was silence. Kane, Dane, and I hadn’t spoken a word since we left the forest.We reached the edge of the pack’s territory, where the air felt heavier. Kane broke the silence first. “We’re wasting time.”Dane shot him a look. “And what do you suggest, genius? The werewolves made it clear they couldn’t remember how they spelled that cave. They told us to give up. Did you forget that little detail?”Kane growled low in his throat. “I didn’t forget. I just refuse to accept it. They’re lying.”I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Whether they’re lying or not doesn’t matter. What matters is Sierra is still in that damn cave. And we’re going to get her out.”Dane crossed hi
SIERRAI whimpered, my body shivering from more than just the cold. The shock from earlier was still buzzing through my veins, lingering like a bad memory. My body hurt all over, and my head felt like it was going to explode. I tried to push myself up, but the dizziness almost knocked me out again.Looking around, I realized I was no longer in the cave. The dark, damp stone walls had been replaced with thick, snow-covered trees. My breath caught in my throat as I took in the scenery—a forest, but not the kind I recognized. Everything was still, frozen, as if the world was holding its breath. And winter. It was so cold. My teeth began to chatter, and goosebumps spread across my skin.I shivered and hugged myself, trying to warm up, but something felt… off. It wasn’t just the cold. There was something eerie about this place. I could feel it in the pit of my stomach.Then I heard it—voices. Quiet, almost muffled. I strained my ears, trying to make sense of it. Slowly, I started to move t
SIERRAI couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the vampires as they laughed, their mocking tones echoing in the cold, damp cave. They were right about one thing: I wasn’t capable of killing them. Not right now, at least.But damn it, I was going to make them regret underestimating me.“You think you’re scary?” one of them sneered, his pale face twisting into a grin. “You think you can take us down? You can’t even kill a fly.”I clenched my fists at my sides, my heart hammering in my chest. I could feel the fire in my veins, the beast inside me clawing to get out. I wasn’t backing down. Not now. Not ever.“Try me,” I spat back, my voice steady, even though my heart was threatening to beat out of my chest.They all chuckled, clearly not impressed. They thought they had me figured out, but they had no idea. No idea what I was capable of, what the Moon Goddess had shown me. The vision I’d seen, the warning, the feeling, it meant something. I knew it.The vampires exchanged looks, their amusem
SIERRA“Enough!” I snapped, turning my glare on the elder vampire. My voice was razor-sharp, cutting through the tension in the room. “Stop threatening me. I’ve had it with your games and your smug attitude.”Her smug smirk widened, but she didn’t respond, just raised an arched brow like I was some amusing little thing. Before I could fire off another retort, Dane’s voice boomed from outside.“If anything happens to Sierra, you’ll bear the consequences, vampire!” His tone was laced with venom, and I could hear the fury trembling just beneath the surface.The elder burst into laughter, her amusement almost musical, but it grated on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard. “Oh, sweet boys,” she purred mockingly, brushing her perfect hair back with a casual flick of her wrist. “It’s such a bad idea to threaten the people who are holding your mate hostage. What exactly do you think you can do from out there?”“Try us!” Zane growled, his voice fierce and unrelenting.“Stop it, all of you!” I
SIERRAMy fingers brushed against the side of my neck where the bite still burned, the sting sharp and relentless, like a constant reminder of how completely screwed I was. It wasn’t just pain—it was humiliation, fear, and anger all wrapped into one throbbing wound. My glare was locked on the woman in front of me—no, scratch that, the vampire in front of me. There was no mistaking it now. She wasn’t just some random lunatic who had cornered me and decided I looked like a snack. She was something otherworldly, something I hadn’t believed existed outside of myths and horror stories.When she first attacked, she was a gnarled figure with sunken eyes, stringy hair, and pale, almost sickly skin that looked like it hadn’t seen sunlight in centuries. She was terrifying in the way a shadow in the dark is terrifying—something you can’t fully see but know you should fear. But now? Now, she had transformed into a vision of beauty and power, like some cruel cosmic joke designed to mock me.She lo