SIERRAI tightened my grip on the edge of my chair, watching as the old woman’s face darkened. Her fingers, which had been lightly tracing the rim of her teacup, suddenly went still. A heavy silence filled the room.“Whispering?” she repeated, her voice sharp. “Controlling minds?”I nodded. “Yes. It’s been happening for a while now.”She exhaled slowly, her eyes narrowing in deep thought. “That means their strength has grown… But how?”I swallowed hard, my mind racing. “They’ve been trapped in that cave all this time. There’s no way they could’ve fed on anyone.”The woman drummed her fingers against the wooden table, her expression unreadable. “Then something, or someone, is feeding their power,” she murmured.A shiver ran down my spine. The idea of those monsters getting stronger despite being locked away made my stomach churn. “But how is that possible?”She sighed. “Magic has loopholes, child. Nothing is ever completely sealed away. If they can reach minds beyond their prison, that
ZANEWe finally made it back to the house, and the second we walked through the door, exhaustion hit me like a ton of bricks. My entire body ached, my mind was spinning, and all I wanted to do was collapse.Dad stretched his arms and cracked his neck. "Well, at least we have a lead. That’s more than we had before."I nodded, dropping onto the nearest couch. "Yeah, but it doesn’t help much if white oak doesn’t exist anymore."The others sat down around me, looking just as drained. We also spent the entire day talking to the locals and describing the type of stake we needed. Everyone agreed to help, but deep down, I knew it was a long shot.Dad sighed, standing up. "Now that we’ve made some progress, I’m heading out."I raised a brow. "Where?""To my mate," he said simply, stretching again. "You guys figure out whatever you need to. I’ll be back when there’s something worth my time."I rolled my eyes. "Of course, you will."He smirked. "Enjoy your rest, boys. You’ll need it." And with t
DANEI woke up to the faint light filtering through the curtains, my body still heavy with exhaustion. Last night had been intense in more ways than one, and as I turned, I saw Sierra nestled between Zane and Kane, her breathing soft and even. I smiled slightly, brushing a strand of hair from her face before carefully getting out of bed.I needed some space to clear my head. Between our search for the white oak, the vampires, and now the revelation about Sierra’s connection to them, everything felt overwhelming. Throwing on a shirt and jeans, I slipped out of the room and made my way downstairs.The locals had pointed out a small library in town, and I figured it was worth checking out. If there was anything recorded about past vampire attacks or the use of white oak, this would be the place to find it.The library was quiet when I arrived, the scent of old books and polished wood filling the air. Rows upon rows of shelves lined the space, and only a few people were inside, hunched ov
DANEI walked into the house, shutting the door behind me. My brothers were lounging in the living room, and Sierra sat curled up on the couch, her attention shifting to me the moment I entered.Zane raised an eyebrow. "You look like you saw a ghost.""Not a ghost," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "But something close."Sierra straightened. "What happened?"I sat beside her, exhaling slowly. "That girl. The one we met yesterday. She followed me to the library. Asked for my name and started asking questions about us."Kane frowned. "What kind of questions?""She wanted to know about my relationship with Sierra… and you guys," I said, glancing at Sierra. "And then she made it clear that she liked me."Sierra’s expression darkened, her lips pressing into a thin line. "She what?"I reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. "I told her it was irrelevant because I’m with you. That what I have with you isn’t up for debate."She still didn’t look convinced. "And?""She didn’t tak
DANE I walked into the house, shutting the door behind me. My brothers were lounging in the living room, and Sierra sat curled up on the couch, her attention shifting to me the moment I entered. Zane raised an eyebrow. "You look like you saw a ghost." "Not a ghost," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "But something close." Sierra straightened. "What happened?" I sat beside her, exhaling slowly. "That girl. The one we met yesterday. She followed me to the library. Asked for my name and started asking questions about us." Kane frowned. "What kind of questions?" "She wanted to know about my relationship with Sierra… and you guys," I said, glancing at Sierra. "And then she made it clear that she liked me." Sierra’s expression darkened, her lips pressing into a thin line. "She what?" I reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. "I told her it was irrelevant because I’m with you. That what I have with you isn’t up for debate." She still didn’t look convinced. "And?" "She
SIERRADarkness surrounded me, thick and endless, pressing against my skin like a heavy blanket. Then suddenly, light. Blinding, golden light.I gasped, stumbling forward as my feet hit solid ground. My breath came in sharp bursts. This wasn’t the house. This wasn’t anywhere I recognized. The air felt heavy, and charged, like it hummed with energy.Voices whispered all around me, low and urgent.“She’s here.”“She finally made it.”I turned, my eyes scanning the unfamiliar world. My heart nearly stopped when I saw them, figures that looked eerily familiar.Zane? Dane? Kane?No. Not them. Not exactly. Their features were similar, but there was something different about them. Their eyes held an unnatural glow, like reflections of a world I didn’t understand. The way they stood, the way they carried themselves, it was as if they were caught between existing and fading away.And they were all staring right at me.“You see us,” one of them said, stepping forward. His voice was calm, almost
SIERRAThe light around me grew brighter and brighter until I couldn’t see anything at all. My body felt weightless like I was floating through space.Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, it stopped.I was back.I gasped as my eyes shot open, my heart pounding against my ribs. The room spun for a moment before settling into focus. I was back. The dim glow of the bedside lamp cast shadows across the walls, and the steady rise and fall of breathing filled the space. I turned my head and saw the boys sprawled out beside me, all asleep. My body felt heavy, and drained, but my mind raced with everything I had just seen.A rustle beside me made me jump. My body felt heavy, my limbs sluggish, as if I had been weighed down by something unseen. Before I could process anything, a familiar voice broke through the fog in my mind.“Sierra!”Dane’s voice was thick with relief. His strong hands reached for mine, squeezing tightly, grounding me in reality. His eyes, dark with worry, searched my fa
SIERRAI knelt beside one of the fallen locals, pressing two fingers against his neck. His pulse was steady, his chest rising and falling as if he were simply asleep. But no matter how much I shook him, called his name, or even lightly slapped his cheek, he wouldn’t wake up.“They’re in a trance,” I muttered, realization sinking in. My heart pounded. This wasn’t just some spell, it was powerful, something dark.Dane crouched beside me, his expression grim. “Can you break it?”“I don’t know.” I swallowed hard, looking around. More bodies lay scattered, lifeless yet breathing. A shiver ran down my spine.A gust of wind rushed past us, and I turned sharply. Alpha Thane stood at the edge of the clearing, his eyes scanning the scene. “I felt something was wrong,” he said, striding toward us. “What happened?”I quickly explained everything, the spirits, the grandmother, the girl’s uncontrolled powers. His face hardened as I spoke. When I finished, he exhaled sharply.“We don’t have much tim
CELIAAstrid lay there, barely breathing. Her skin had turned a sickly gray, her body thin and weak. The chains around her wrists and ankles had cut deep, silver burning into her flesh. She hadn’t fed in days, and it showed.I clenched my fists. This wasn’t right. I had to do something.Swallowing hard, I made my way to Ariel’s chambers. The guards outside barely glanced at me before letting me in. Ariel sat by the window, her expression calm, like she hadn’t just sentenced one of our own to a slow, painful death.I took a deep breath. “Ariel, please.”She didn’t even turn to look at me. “No.”I stepped closer, careful with my words. “You don’t even know what I’m going to say.”Now she turned, her sharp eyes locking onto mine. “You’re going to beg for Astrid.”I clenched my fists but nodded. “She’s suffering. You’ve made your point. Let her feed, just a little.”Ariel smirked, crossing her arms. “And what has she done to deserve mercy?”I swallowed. “She’s one of us.”Ariel stood, wal
SIERRAI sat with my mates, my head in my hands, my mind racing. Ariel was too powerful. Too unpredictable. And we had no idea how to deal with her.Dane crossed his arms, his jaw tight. “How do we even know she actually healed you?”I exhaled sharply. “I don’t know. I feel fine, but… can we trust anything she does?”Zane frowned, his fingers drumming against the table. “What if it’s temporary? What if she did something worse instead?”Kane ran a hand through his hair, looking as frustrated as I felt. “That’s the problem. We don’t know. And we don’t know what to do about her.”Silence filled the room. The weight of Ariel’s power pressed down on all of us like a heavy cloud. None of us could predict what she’d do next.“She’s our biggest threat right now,” Dane finally said, his voice low. “The wolves are terrified of her. Hell, I’m terrified of her.”I looked up at him. Dane was scared. And he wasn’t wrong. Ariel didn’t just have power, she enjoyed using it. She liked watching people
SIERRAAstrid’s screams faded the moment Ariel slipped the ring back onto her finger. The burning stopped. Her body sagged, trembling, the unbearable agony leaving her breathless. But the damage was done. Her skin was raw, her strength almost gone.The air was thick with tension. The scent of scorched flesh clung to everything. No one moved. No one spoke.I swallowed hard, my throat dry. My eyes flicked to Ariel. "Did you… actually heal me?"Ariel turned to me slowly, a grin curling on her lips. Her eyes gleamed, dark and amused. "You just have to trust me, Sierra."My stomach twisted. Trust her? Not even for a second.I clenched my fists. "That wasn’t healing."Ariel raised a brow. "Wasn’t it? I healed you and Ariel is not burning anymore, is she?" She gestured lazily to Astrid, who lay there, gasping, broken. "She’s alive, isn’t she?"I ground my teeth. "You tortured her."Ariel let out a soft, mocking laugh. "And? Actions have consequences, Sierra. She betrayed me. I don’t let thin
ARIELI was furious.My hands shook, my breath came out in short, sharp bursts, and my entire body burned with rage. Astrid. That traitor. She ran to Sierra, ran straight into the arms of our enemies, spilling my secrets like a pathetic little rat.How dare she?I stormed through the house, knocking over anything in my path. A vase shattered against the floor. A chair crashed against the wall. The vampires around me scrambled out of my way, their heads lowered, their bodies pressed against the walls like they could disappear if they stayed still enough.They should be afraid.I wanted them to be afraid.I stopped, my sharp eyes landing on one of the younger ones, a nervous-looking fool hovering in the corner. His hands twitched at his sides like he was debating whether to run.I moved before he could even think about it.One second, I was across the room. The next, I had my fingers wrapped around his throat, lifting him off the ground with ease. His hands clawed at mine, his feet kick
SIERRAI folded my arms, overseeing Astrid. Everything in me screamed not to trust her, but I couldn’t ignore what she was saying either. Ariel’s magic had already done enough damage, I knew that firsthand.Before I could respond, Dane stepped beside me, his stance tense and rigid. His distrust was written all over his face. “You’re really going to listen to her?” he scoffed. “It’s probably a trick. Ariel could’ve put her up to this.”“She’s a vampire,” Zane added sharply. “Why would she suddenly care about helping us? It doesn’t make sense.” His jaw clenched as he eyed Astrid with suspicion.Astrid let out a slow breath as if she had expected this reaction. “I wouldn’t risk coming here,” she said, her voice steady but urgent. “Not when I know exactly what Ariel is capable of.” Her golden eyes flickered with something close to desperation. “You don’t understand, if she finds out I came here, I’ll pay for it.”“She will find out,” Kane snapped. His fists curled at his sides. “She alway
ASTRIDSierra’s eyes widened at my words, but she masked her shock quickly, narrowing her gaze at me. I could see the battle happening in her mind, the way she warred with whether to believe me or not. I didn’t blame her. We had never been on the same side, and now, here I was, claiming to offer an alliance.“I don’t trust you,” she said flatly, her arms crossing over her chest.“I don’t expect you to,” I admitted. “But trust isn’t necessary. What matters is that we both have a common problem and right now, I’m offering you the truth.”Sierra hesitated for only a moment before turning back toward the house. I expected her to invite me in, but instead, she stepped outside, her mates following close behind her. I had to stop myself from reacting. Smart girl. She wasn’t going to let me into her home, not even for a conversation. I respected that.Dane and the others flanked her protectively, their stares filled with open suspicion. Dane spoke first. “What do you want, Astrid?”I took a s
ASTRIDThe moment I stepped back into the estate, fury clawed at my insides. My hands curled into fists, my nails digging into my palms as I stormed down the hall. I had to get away from Ariel before I did something reckless.How dare she? How dare she bind us together with a spell so dangerous that a single weak link could drag us all down? And then, to stand there and smirk, as if she had all the power in the world?I should have ripped her apart.Instead, I took a deep breath, pushed down my rage, and kept walking. I had to be smarter than that.I didn’t make it far before I heard a sharp voice behind me. “Astrid.”I turned to see Celia standing at the entrance to the main hall, arms crossed tightly over her chest, her usually composed face twisted with anger. The tension in the room was thick, pressing against me like an impending storm. Behind her, the other vampires stood in tense silence, their eyes burning with barely contained fury.“You knew about this, didn’t you?” Celia de
ARIELWhen I stepped into the grand hall of the vampire estate, I noticed something was off. Every single one of them, powerful, bloodthirsty creatures that they were, stood frozen, their faces pale with something close to fear.Fear of me.I smirked, letting the silence stretch, relishing the way their red eyes darted around the room like caged animals searching for an escape. Their fangs, usually displayed in smug confidence, remained tucked away, their bodies tense, stiff as statues.“Oh, don’t all rush to welcome me at once.” My voice rang through the cavernous space, laced with amusement.No one responded.A few of them took an instinctive step back, the movement subtle but not missed. One vampire near the entrance gripped the hilt of a dagger at his waist, though he made no move to draw it. Another swallowed thickly, his throat bobbing as though the very sight of me had dried his mouth.It was almost laughable.These creatures, feared by humans and even some supernaturals, stood
SIERRAThe hot water cascaded over my skin, washing away the remnants of exhaustion and frustration. I tried to hold onto my anger, to focus on the fact that Dane had made a deal with Ariel without even knowing the price. But it was difficult when his hands were on me, sliding down my arms, tracing gentle circles on my hips.“Dane,” I started, intending to scold him, but the words melted into a soft moan when his fingers dug slightly into my waist. I hated how easily he unraveled me, how his touch turned my fury into something else entirely.“I’m not leaving you, Sierra,” he murmured against my ear, his voice deep and resolute. “And I’m not doing anything with Ariel. I just couldn’t watch you suffer.”I sighed, leaning back against him as his lips ghosted over my neck. “I still don’t trust her.”“Neither do I,” he admitted, pressing a kiss just below my ear. “But I had to do something.”His hands moved up my stomach, teasing but never crossing the line. Heat coiled low in my belly, an