SIERRAThe first rays of dawn peeked through the curtains, but the chill in the air lingered—a strange, unnatural cold. My body trembled uncontrollably, my skin damp with sweat despite the warmth of Kane’s arm draped over me. I couldn’t shake the image of those pitch-black eyes and the raspy voice echoing in my mind.“Sierra?” Dane’s voice was soft as he brushed the hair from my face. “You’re shaking like a leaf. What happened?”“I don’t know,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I… I think something was here.”Zane sat up on my other side, rubbing his eyes. His expression darkened when he saw me. “What do you mean, something? Sierra, you’re pale as a ghost.”Before I could respond, the wolves who had warned us last night burst into the room. Their leader, a tall, muscular man with a scar running down his cheek, scanned the room with sharp eyes.“It was here,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.Kane’s grip on me tightened. “What do you mean? What was here?”The scarred wolf’s
ZANEI could feel the tension in the room before I even saw her. Sierra. She had been distant for a while now, but this time… this time it was different. Something about the way she was sitting there, staring off into nothingness, had a strange weight in the air. My gut twisted. I knew something was wrong."Guys, look," I said, my voice barely above a whisper as I stepped closer to her. The others, already busy getting dressed, froze. I could see it in their eyes—the same realization dawning on them. Sierra wasn’t just zoning out. She wasn’t reacting to anything, not even when we touched her. It was as if she was somewhere else entirely."What the hell’s going on with her?" Kane muttered, concern thick in his voice as he reached out, lightly tapping her arm. "Sierra, hey, snap out of it."But she didn’t. She just sat there, her eyes unfocused, her lips moving in a strange rhythm, whispering something under her breath. I leaned in closer, straining to hear."He’s coming… He’s coming…"
SIERRAThe voice came softly at first, a faint whisper threading through the edges of my sleep.“Sierra…”I stirred but kept my eyes shut. It wasn’t real—I was dreaming. That’s what I told myself. But then it came again, louder, more insistent.“Sierra, come…”My eyes shot open. The room was still and dark, the boys sleeping soundly nearby. I tried to shake off the lingering haze of sleep, but the voice came again, so clear it was as though someone was standing right next to me.“Sierra, follow me.”My heart raced, and I sat up, glancing around. There was no one in the room. It didn’t make sense.“Sierra…”It was coming from outside. I stood, barely realizing my legs were moving. I knew I shouldn’t. I knew this was wrong, but I couldn’t help it. The voice pulled me, invisible strings tugging me forward.I stepped out into the cool night air, the forest looming ahead like a wall of shadows.“Sierra… this way.”I followed.The forest was quiet, unnervingly so. No rustling leaves, no chi
KANEThe tension in the air was suffocating, every step we took through the dense woods accompanied by the weight of desperation. My heart was pounding hard, not from the exertion, but from the fear gnawing at me. Sierra was out here somewhere, and every passing second felt like another nail in the coffin of hope.“Spread out!” I called over my shoulder, my voice sharper than intended. “We can’t miss anything. Every corner, every trail—check it.”Zane, his face tight with worry, nodded and headed to the right while Dane took the left. The werewolves behind us, clearly reluctant, hung back like they were already defeated.One of them muttered loudly enough for all to hear. “This is what we get for letting you guys stay. Trouble, just like I said.”I stopped dead in my tracks, my hands clenching into fists. “What did you just say?”The guy, tall and wiry with a sneer that made my blood boil, stepped forward. “You heard me. None of this would’ve happened if you people had just left when
ZANEThe rhythmic clang of pickaxes echoed off the walls of the cursed cave, each strike sending a jolt up my arms. My brothers and I were determined, yet the harder we worked, the more impossible it seemed.“This is insane,” Dane muttered, leaning on his pickaxe, sweat dripping from his brow. “The cave… it’s not shrinking. It’s growing.”“Keep going,” I barked, my voice edged with frustration. “We’re not stopping until this thing comes down.”The werewolves watching from the shadows muttered amongst themselves, their unease palpable. One of them, an older wolf named Garret, stepped forward, his face lined with disapproval.“Zane, this is madness,” he growled. “Caves like these… they’re not natural. They’re protected by something we don’t understand. You’re inviting disaster.”I spun to face him, my chest heaving. “You think I care about some stupid superstitions? If you’re too scared to help, fine. But don’t stand there and tell me what I can or can’t do.”Garret held my gaze, his ja
SIERRAThe silence in the cave was suffocating, wrapping around me like an iron chain. I slumped against the cold, jagged wall, tears streaking down my face. For days—or had it been weeks?—I had been hearing their voices. Soft, familiar whispers that called out to me, a lifeline in this dark abyss. But now, even they were gone. I was utterly alone.I pressed my hands to my ears, trying to drown out the oppressive silence. “Why?” I whispered to the emptiness, my voice breaking. “Why is this happening to me?”My tears came in waves, hot and relentless, until I was gasping for breath. I wanted to scream, to claw my way out, but no matter how hard I tried, the cave seemed to stretch endlessly. Every path I took led back to this same spot. It was like the cave was alive, mocking my desperation.Finally, exhaustion took over. My head drooped, and I let myself slide to the ground, curling into a ball. Maybe if I closed my eyes, it would all go away. Maybe I’d wake up and find this was all a
SIERRAThe air in the cave grew heavier as the invisible laughter surrounded me, wrapping around my chest like chains. My heart thundered in my ears, a drumbeat of defiance. I’ve never been one to take threats lightly, and I wasn’t about to start now. Anger surged through me, hot and wild, fueling the fire inside me. Without a second thought, I let it loose.Flames erupted, spilling from my fingertips and racing up the walls of the cave. The entire space lit up with fire, a brilliant and furious blaze that should have reduced everything to ash. The heat was palpable, searing, and blindingly intense—but it didn’t burn. It didn’t scorch the stone walls, didn’t blacken the ground beneath me. It simply danced, twisting and flickering like it was mocking me. Every ounce of my power, every drop of my rage, and all of my fear poured into that fire, and yet it was useless here.The realization hit like a punch to the gut, but I refused to let it show. My teeth clenched, and I stood my ground,
I sat alone in the cold, dark cave, the weight of the silence pressing against my chest like a thousand-pound stone. The air was thick, stifling, and it felt like every breath I took was being stolen from me. I had heard voices before—soft whispers, familiar ones—voices of my mates, their comforting tones reaching me across the distance, always guiding me, reassuring me that they were close. But now, silence. A deep, aching silence.I tried calling out, my voice breaking through the oppressive stillness, "Dylan? Velma? Where are you? Please... I need you."Nothing. Not a whisper, not a single breath.My heart ached as tears welled up, the sting of them sharp against my skin. "Why... why did you leave me here?" I whispered to no one, my words slipping into the darkness. My chest tightened with sorrow, my mind spinning, grasping for any shred of hope. It was hopeless, though. They weren't coming. They couldn't hear me.I shook my head, forcing myself to stand. No. I couldn’t just sit he
SIERRAI felt the weight of frustration press down on me like a boulder. Every time I tried to approach the barrier, a shockwave would blast me back, and each time it happened, the sting felt sharper. My body still hummed with the last hit, and my mind was clouded with doubt. I didn’t know what to do, what to try next. Nothing I had attempted had worked so far.I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, staring at the shimmering line in the air that separated us from the cave. Ariel stood there, her expression smug and bored, watching us like we were nothing more than an amusing spectacle. But inside, I was a mess. I hated feeling helpless. I hated being powerless when someone I loved, my sister was so close but just out of reach.“None of us can get close,” I muttered under my breath, mostly to myself. “This barrier is too strong.”Dane spoke up, his voice quiet but steady. “What if we turn the tables? What if we trap Ariel instead?”I blinked at him, not understanding at first. “Trap
SIERRAI groaned as the sting of the shock finally faded. My legs were trembling, barely able to hold me up. My body still buzzed with a dull, numbing pain, like a thousand needles pricking under my skin all at once. I staggered a step back from the cave entrance, my knees buckling slightly as I tried to catch my breath.One moment I had reached toward the edge of the invisible barrier, determined to break through it with my own magic, heart pounding, hands glowing faintly, the boys watching me with concern, and the next, it felt like a thunderbolt had exploded right in front of me.The wave of energy hit me square in the chest. There was no warning, no slow build-up. Just a sudden, violent snap! like the crack of a whip, except it didn’t just sting my skin... it threw me. My feet lifted completely off the ground, and I was airborne for a few horrifying seconds, weightless, helpless, like a broken doll hurled by a giant hand.I crashed into the ground with a sickening thud several fee
SIERRAI didn’t even think. My body moved before my mind could catch up.With all the anger burning in my chest, I lunged for her. Ariel’s eyes widened, clearly not expecting me to move so fast, but this time, I caught her. My fingers gripped her tightly by the arm, and she gasped in surprise as I shoved her hard against a nearby tree.“Where is she?!” I screamed, my heart pounding in my ears. “Where is my sister?!”She tried to smirk, but her eyes darted nervously to the boys who stood right behind me. “Sierra,” Ariel said, sighing dramatically. “You’re such a killjoy.”“Answer me!”She tilted her head like she was bored. “Relax. She’s fine. Mostly.”My heart thudded harder in my chest, and I shoved her again, my voice shaking with rage. “Don’t play with me, Ariel! Where is she?”“Alright, alright!” she snapped, brushing herself off like I’d simply disturbed her nap. “I’ll take you to her. But…” she raised a single finger “...only on one condition.”Kane stepped closer, protective as
SIERRAMy hands hovered over Zane’s chest, trembling, but steady enough to keep going. I was finally locked in, focused. The energy inside me responded, pulling at the dark thread of poison that snaked through his body. I could feel it, cold and oily, like a sickness trying to cling to life.I whispered, “Just a little more… just a little more…”And then I heard it.“You tried to ruin us.”It was a scream, loud and sharp, slicing through my focus like a blade. My eyes flew open. I gasped and stumbled backward, falling to my knees as the energy slipped from my hands. Zane jerked slightly on the ground, and both Dane and Kane rushed to me.“Sierra!” Kane shouted, grabbing me gently. “What’s wrong?!”“I…” I looked around wildly. “Didn’t you hear that? Someone screamed!”Dane’s eyes darted toward the trees and shadows. “No… no one said anything.”“What?” I blinked. The voice had sounded so real. Like it was just behind me.And then I heard it again. A whisper this time. Cold and angry.“Y
SIERRAI could feel my heart pounding in my chest, my hands shaking as I hovered over Zane. His breathing was growing shallow, and I could feel the panic rising in me like a wave ready to crash. My chest felt tight, my head spinning. It’s had been a while since I tried to pull something out of someone’s body, especially not poison. I wasn’t sure I could do it again. I wasn’t sure I was strong enough. What if I messed up? What if I killed him instead?“No, no,” I whispered to myself, my voice breaking as tears welled in my eyes. “I can’t... I can’t kill him. I won’t. I can’t.”I staggered backward, my legs shaking, my vision blurring from the tears that were threatening to spill. My breath caught in my throat, and I collapsed into the ground next to him, my head spinning.“I can’t do this!” I cried, my voice thick with panic. “I’ll hurt him. I’ll kill him. I won’t…I can’t…I don’t know how!”The weight of the moment pressed down on me like a mountain. My hands were shaking so badly I co
SIERRAZane gasped again, his body twitching in Kane’s arms as we all scrambled to his side.“Zane! Zane, stay with me!” I cried, my hands shaking as I pressed them against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding.He looked at me with wide, panicked eyes, his pupils dilated with fear and confusion. His lips trembled, trying to form words, but nothing clear came out, only a soft, gurgling cough that brought up more blood. The red stained his chin and his shirt, soaking through the fabric fast.“No, no, no, don’t do this,” I whispered, my voice barely audible through the panic rising in my chest. My hands trembled as I pressed them against his side, trying to stop the bleeding. “You’re okay. You’re going to be okay, Zane. Just hang on.”He blinked slowly, the light in his eyes dimming.Behind us, the sharp, cruel sound of Ariel’s laughter rang out, cutting through the moment like a knife. It echoed off the walls, mocking, heartless…almost gleeful.“Oh, you’re so predictable,” she said, a
SIERRAThe moment the spell lit up in my hands, I could hardly believe it. A soft glow pulsed from my fingertips, and a trail shimmered faintly on the ground like a glowing thread winding through the trees.“It… worked,” Zane breathed behind me.Kane leaned in, squinting. “That’s Ariel’s trail?”I nodded, too stunned to speak at first. I hadn’t cast a spell in years, not since before everything fell apart. Not since I lost my sister. My hands trembled, but not from fear, for once, it was hope.“I can feel her,” I whispered. “She’s close. Let’s go.”We moved quickly through the forest, following the glowing path. Every step made my heart beat faster. The trees grew denser, the light dimmer, but the thread never faded. It was guiding us straight to her.And then we saw it.A small house stood in a clearing, hidden between thick oaks and wild vines. Smoke curled lazily from the crooked chimney. It looked abandoned, like it belonged to an old witch, but the moment we got close, we heard i
SIERRAZane stood and backed away, shaking his head. “What is this? What kind of sick game is Ariel playing?”I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. My throat tightened, and everything around me blurred. My gaze stayed locked on the girl. Her lips were slightly parted, her eyes still open, staring at nothing. She couldn’t have been more than seventeen. Maybe younger. Someone’s daughter. Someone’s sister. Just like mine.“She didn’t even fight back,” I whispered, barely hearing my own voice. “She wasn’t trying to hurt anyone… she didn’t deserve this.”“She wasn’t supposed to be part of this,” Zane said softly, his voice filled with confusion. “She was just… there.”“No,” I said, slowly shaking my head. “She was placed here. Ariel made sure of it. She knew I’d go after her. She wanted me to hit her.”Kane’s fists were clenched at his sides. “That’s twisted.”“It’s evil,” I said through gritted teeth. “She used this girl like she was nothing. Like she didn’t matter.”Zane exhaled harshly. “So that
SIERRAI didn’t think. I didn’t hesitate. I lunged, claws out, rage tearing through every inch of me as I tackled Ariel to the ground. My weight landed hard against her, and I felt her body hit the forest floor with a thud. I was breathing heavy, growling from deep in my throat as I pinned her down.“You won’t touch her!” I shouted, my voice thick with fury. “You hear me? You won’t lay a hand on her again!”She didn’t answer.Something was wrong.The body beneath me… it wasn’t fighting back.I blinked, heart racing, and I saw her face shift.Her eyes dulled.Her hair changed color.I staggered back in confusion.It wasn’t Ariel anymore.It was a girl. A young, human girl. Maybe fifteen. Her face was pale, her lips trembling. Blood soaked her shirt and neck, and she was breathing shallowly like she was trying to hold on.“Oh no…” I whispered, horrified. “No, no, no…”I knelt beside her, shifting back to human instantly, my hands hovering helplessly over her wounds.She’d been bitten.B