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
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
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
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
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
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 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’
SIERRAI froze in the doorway, my breath catching in my throat. My mother stood over Kiara’s crib, her fingers clenched tight around a dagger, the blade glinting under the dim light. Her posture was all wrong; she was rigid and tense as if she were being controlled by something unseen. My stomach twisted in fear."Mom?" My voice was barely a whisper, but she heard me.Her head snapped toward me, and for a moment, I thought I was looking at a stranger. Once warm and filled with love, her eyes were now cold and empty, dark shadows swirling in them. Her hair was wild, strands falling over her face, and the way she held the dagger sent chills through my entire body."Stay back," she warned, her voice low and unrecognizable.My heart pounded against my ribs. "Mom, it’s me. It’s Sierra. Put the knife down. Please." I stepped forward slowly, hands raised, trying not to startle her.She flinched, gripping the dagger even tighter. "No! You don’t understand. I have to do this. They said I have
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
SIERRAI tightened my grip on Ariel’s neck, all the pain and anger boiling over like a pot I could no longer control. My hands were shaking, but I didn’t care. I wanted to hurt her. I needed her to feel it. I needed her to understand what she had done to us, to me.“You think this is a game?” I growled, leaning in, pressing harder, feeling her pulse flutter under my fingertips. “ What did you do to my sister?”Ariel’s eyes bulged slightly from the pressure, her face flushing red, but her lips still curled into a smug little smirk. How could she still be smiling? Even now? Even when I could easily snap her neck?“Relax,” she rasped, voice thin and scratchy, but somehow still full of mockery. “If you like your sister… you’ll let me go.”My brows furrowed. “What?” I blinked, confused. What was she talking about?Then I heard it.A tiny, gasping sound cut through the air. A sharp, shallow breath, too fragile, too faint. I turned my head sharply and saw Kane staring down in horror. His arm