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 didn’t even think, my body moved on instinct. One second Sierra was standing strong, determined, and the next, she was crumbling to the ground. “Sierra!” I shouted, diving forward to catch her, but she slipped through my fingers, her body hitting the floor with a soft thud. My heart slammed against my ribs as I dropped to my knees beside her, shaking her shoulders. “Sierra! Wake up!” Zane and Kane were already on either side of me. Kane pressed his fingers to her neck, checking for a pulse, while Zane grabbed her wrist. “She’s breathing,” Kane said, but his voice was tight with worry. “Her pulse is steady, but she won’t wake up.” “Sierra?” Zane’s voice was softer, coaxing like he could pull her back to us just by speaking. “Come on, love. Open your eyes.” She didn’t move. I felt panic claw up my throat. Sierra was strong, stronger than any of us at times. Seeing her like this, so still, so vulnerable, sent fear surging through my chest. “What the hell happened?” Kane mut
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
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