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 shifted back into my human form, my breath coming in ragged gasps, every nerve in my body screaming for release. The moment my bare feet hit the cold cave floor, I glared into the shadows where the pale figures lingered.“If you don’t let me out of here right now, I’ll kill you all,” I snarled, my voice steady despite the chaos inside me.For a moment, the nightwalkers hesitated, their hollow, dark eyes widening as if my threat had landed harder than expected. Their fear was palpable, a ripple of unease spreading through their pale ranks. But then, one of them stepped forward, a woman with tangled hair that framed a face etched with centuries of suffering.“You don’t understand,” she said, her voice soft yet filled with despair. “If we could let you out, wouldn’t we leave ourselves?”Her words hung in the air, sharp and bitter. My anger wavered, frustration crashing in its place.“What do you mean you can’t leave?” I demanded, stepping closer. “You’re the ones who called me h
KANEI woke with a sharp jolt, my body snapping upright as though I’d been struck by lightning. My hand flew to my neck, where a fiery sting pulsed. It wasn’t just pain—it was a warning, raw and electric, shooting through every nerve like a live wire.“What the hell?” I muttered, my fingers brushing over the mark that shouldn’t have hurt but now burned like it had been branded anew. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, the rhythm erratic and unsettling.The sound of groaning broke through my haze, pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts.“Kane?” Dane’s voice was thick with grogginess, but the discomfort in his tone was unmistakable. He sat up abruptly, mirroring my movements. His hand clutched his neck in the same spot as mine, his eyes wide with alarm. “Do you feel that?”“Yeah,” I replied, my jaw tightening as anger and fear wrestled for dominance. “It’s her mark. Something’s wrong.”Zane was next, muttering curses under his breath as he stumbled out of bed. His eyes were wild as he
ZANE"What in the blazes are you talking about?" I scoffed, disbelief coloring my voice. "Cursed the Nightwalkers? You've gone completely bonkers."The three werewolves, their faces etched with ancient sorrow, exchanged a look. "We know it sounds insane, but it's true," the eldest rasped."Centuries ago, you came. Three Lycan brothers, with powers beyond comprehension. And we… you cursed us."I stared at them, dumbfounded. "Cursed you? How? Why?"He gestured towards a worn leather-bound book lying open on the table. "Look."Hesitantly, I approached and peered at the faded photographs within. My breath hitched in my throat. Those weren't just ordinary pictures. They were glimpses into the past, depicting events that had long been forgotten. And there, staring back at me, were faces I knew intimately – my own, Kane's, and Dane's, though impossibly young, their eyes filled with a strange, almost manic intensity."This… this can't be right," I stammered, my mind reeling. "How… how could w
SIERRAThe moment I heard Dane’s voice calling out to Ariel in the hallway, my heart stopped. I knew that tone, forced, nervous, fake. And Ariel… she wasn’t dumb. She could read people far too well, especially when it came to Dane.I barely had time to brace myself before the door creaked open.“There you all are,” Ariel said, stepping inside with a sweet smile that made my stomach turn. Her eyes flicked from face to face, sharp and calculating. “Funny thing… I had a feeling you were up to something.”I stepped forward quickly, swallowing the fear in my throat. “We’re not,” I said, forcing my voice to stay calm. “We’re just… tired. Talking. Trying to figure out how to live with all of this.”Ariel’s gaze settled on me. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “You always did lie poorly, Sierra.”“We’re not lying,” I said quickly. I tried to keep my face blank, even though my pulse was racing. “You think if we were plotting something, we’d all be in the same room with the door unlocked?”Zane
SIERRA“What do you mean you figured it out?” I asked Alpha Thane, stepping closer to him, my voice a little louder than I meant it to be. My heart was still pounding from everything that had just happened, and the last thing I needed was another mystery.Alpha Thane held up a hand calmly. “I mean, I know how to break the bond. Not on my own,” he added quickly, seeing the hopeful spark in my eyes. “But I know someone who can help us.”“Who?” Kane asked beside me, his jaw tight with tension.“An old warlock,” Alpha Thane answered. “Powerful. Wise. He helped my father during the old wars. If anyone can teach Sierra how to activate the bind properly and destroy it, it’s him.”I blinked, trying to process that. “You mean… I have the power to break the bond, but I don’t know how to use it.”“Exactly,” Alpha Thane nodded. “You’ve barely scratched the surface of what you’re capable of. That’s why Ariel’s getting away with this. She’s counting on you not knowing.”I swallowed, my throat dry.
SIERRAI stood stiffly, my jaw clenched so tight I could feel my teeth grinding. The room was filled with tension so thick it felt like we could slice it with a knife; ironically, that’s exactly what Ariel had just done.She was humming. Humming like everything was normal. Like we weren’t in the middle of a hostage situation. Then, without a word of warning, she picked up the knife from earlier and dragged the blade across her palm with a careless flick.The sound was soft, almost nothing, but the moment that tiny line of blood welled up on her hand, the baby let out a loud, distressed wail from the next room.My heart dropped.“What did you do?” I asked, my voice trembling. My eyes went wide as I took a step forward, fear creeping into every part of me.Ariel just smirked and looked down at her bleeding hand. “Oops.”Dane, Kane, and Zane were already moving, their faces pale, eyes locked on Ariel’s hand like it were made of fire.“You’re linked,” Zane whispered in horror.“Now you’re
SIERRAI stood frozen, my fists clenched so tightly my knuckles turned white. Ariel's smug grin burned into my vision, and the memory of her lips pressed against Dane's was a brand searing into my mind. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing the fury building inside me."You think this is a game?" I spat, my voice trembling with barely contained rage.Ariel's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Oh, Sierra, always so dramatic. It's just a kiss."I took a step forward, the air around me crackling with energy. "Stay away from him."She tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Or what? You'll hurt me? Go ahead. But remember, hurting me means hurting your sister."I froze, the weight of her words crashing down on me. The bond between us meant any pain I inflicted on Ariel would be mirrored in my sister. I couldn't risk that.Dane stepped between us, his tall frame blocking me from Ariel's view. His jaw was tight, eyes locked on mine, full of worry and restraint. "Sierra, don't," he
SIERRAI stood rooted to the spot, my fists clenched so tightly my nails dug into my palms. Every nerve in my body was on fire, screaming at me to do something—anything. But I couldn’t. Not with the way she was holding us hostage.Ariel sat on the edge of the bed like it was her throne, her long legs crossed, her eyes gleaming with amusement as she slowly reached for the knife resting beside her. My stomach twisted.She lifted the blade with the ease of someone holding a spoon, turning it slightly so the metal caught the light. Her lips curled into a smug, knowing smile. I hated that smile. I hated that she looked so calm, like she was in complete control—because right now, she was.Then she began to trace the knife around her finger. Slowly. Precisely. Not enough to cut, but just enough to make her point clear. I could hear the faint scrape of metal on skin, and I wanted to scream.“You know,” she said sweetly, her voice light and mocking, “this could get messy. But it doesn’t have t
SIERRAI stood by the doorway, my arms crossed tightly against my chest as I watched Ariel lounging across the bed like she owned the place. The room had started to take on her scent, something sharp, overpowering, and just wrong. It was mixed with the familiar smell of the house, and I hated it. Every part of me screamed to push her out, to slam the door and throw her into the street where she belonged, but I couldn’t. Not yet.Her presence felt like a violation, an infection spreading through the walls of my home. My home. The one place where I should feel safe. But now, with her in it, everything felt different, off, wrong. She didn’t belong here. She had no right to be here. But the sick part was, she knew she had me trapped. She was the puppet master, and I was the one tangled in her strings. I couldn’t even defend myself properly because of the spell she had over me. And that made it worse. So much worse.She caught my eye as if she had been waiting for me to react. Her lips str
SIERRAAfter lunch, I went straight to my mother’s room. I needed to see her. I needed to see my baby. Just a few minutes with them always gave me the strength I needed to keep going. The moment I opened the door, the smell of herbs and warm blankets hit me. It was comforting. Safe.My mother was sitting on the edge of the bed, gently rocking my daughter in her arms. The baby was wrapped in a soft pink blanket, her tiny hands peeking out now and then as she stirred.“Hey,” I whispered, walking in slowly.Mom looked up at me. Her face was tired, but there was a soft smile tugging at her lips. “She just finished feeding,” she said quietly, “She’s sleepy now.”I sat down beside her, brushing my fingers gently over the baby’s cheek. Her skin was so soft. So warm. It made my heart ache in ways I couldn’t explain.“Thank you for taking care of her,” I said softly, watching the little rise and fall of her chest. She looked so peaceful.“You don’t have to thank me, Sierra,” Mom said, glancing
SIERRAI paced the room, my mind racing as I tried to figure out the best way to explain everything to my mother. The weight of the situation felt heavier than ever, and every thought in my head seemed tangled, impossible to unravel. The fear for my sister still twisted in my chest, and the knowledge that Ariel had somehow gained control over us, over me, made me feel more helpless than I ever had before.Mom sat in front of me, her expression filled with worry. I could see how badly she wanted answers, but there was no way around it. I had to tell her.“It’s... It’s Ariel,” I started, the words coming out slowly, like I had to convince myself first. “She’s been controlling everything from the start. She put this spell on my sister, and now... now, I can’t stop it. Not until I undo whatever she’s done.”My mother’s face drained of color as she listened, her hand trembling slightly as it rested in her lap. I couldn’t bear to see her like this, so broken by the weight of what was happen
SIERRAWe walked in silence, the weight of the last few hours hanging heavy on me. My arms were still shaking from holding back every instinct I had to strangle Ariel right then and there. The image of my baby sister, struggling to breathe, haunted my mind like a twisted nightmare that wouldn’t go away. My hands were clenched into fists at my sides as I tried to suppress the anger bubbling inside me.Ariel’s voice broke the silence, sharp and taunting, as usual.“There’s no point in taking me,” she said, her tone too casual for my liking. “You should just leave me here. You’re too soft to kill me, Sierra. I know you won’t.”I wanted to snap at her, to yell at her for every vile thing she’d done. But I couldn’t. Not now. Not when my sister’s life was still hanging in the balance.“You’re right,” I said through gritted teeth, trying to hold onto the calmness I was barely clinging to. “I’m not going to kill you. Not yet.”Ariel smirked, clearly pleased with my words, like she was somehow