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 air crackled with energy, thick and heavy, making it hard to breathe. I barely had time to react before a powerful force exploded from the girl’s body, knocking me and the boys backward. I hit the ground hard, my palms scraping against the rough dirt. My ears rang from the sudden blast, and my heart pounded wildly in my chest.Around us, objects lifted into the air, stones, broken branches, even small patches of dirt. They spun wildly, caught in an invisible storm that had no wind. The ground beneath us shook violently, as if it were alive, trembling under the weight of the girl’s power.“Get down!” Dane shouted. His strong hand grabbed my arm and yanked me to the side just as a thick tree branch snapped free from above. It hurtled toward us, slicing through the air like a thrown spear. It crashed into the ground inches from where we had just been standing, sinking deep into the dirt with a loud, sickening crunch. My breath hitched. If we had moved a second later, that woul
SIERRAThe dark mist thickened around the cave, pulsing like a living heartbeat. The grandmother’s voice grew louder, her ancient words echoing through the night. Every syllable sent a shiver down my spine.“We have to stop her!” I shouted, gripping Dane’s arm. “Now!”Alpha Thane growled, stepping forward. “We must break the ritual before it’s too late.”I raised my hands, willing my power to surge forward, to do something, anything. But nothing happened. My mind was blank, my body frozen. It was like I had forgotten how to use my own magic.“Damn it!” I hissed, frustration bubbling in my chest.Kane grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. “Sierra, focus! You can do this. Just remember how!”“I…I don’t know how!” My voice cracked, my breathing ragged.The grandmother laughed, her eyes gleaming with victory. “It’s too late, child. You can’t stop what has already begun.”The villagers suddenly twitched, their bodies jerking as if strings controlled them. Their blank eyes filled
SIERRAI gasped as my eyes flew open, my body jerking upright. My chest felt like it was caving in, my throat raw like I had been screaming for hours. The room was dark, the air thick with something I couldn’t name. My hands trembled as I clutched at the sheets, trying to ground myself, trying to make sense of where I was.“Sierra!”Hands gripped my arms, firm, steady, holding me in place like I might collapse at any second. My head snapped toward the voices. Zane. Kane. Dane. All of them hovering over me, eyes filled with worry, their faces tense. The warmth of their touch should have reassured me, but it only made the panic claw deeper into my chest.“What’s wrong?” Dane’s voice was sharp, demanding, like he needed to know immediately.“You screamed,” Kane added, his grip on me tightening. His jaw was clenched, his brows furrowed. “You scared the hell out of us.”I tried to swallow, but my throat was too dry. My breaths came in short, uneven gasps. My heart pounded so hard it hurt,
SIERRAI blinked.Once.Twice.The ceiling above me wasn’t familiar. The walls were different. Everything was different.I sat up fast, my heart slamming against my ribs.Where the hell was I?The air was thick, pressing against my skin like invisible hands. Heavy. Unnatural. It clung to me, making it hard to breathe. I swallowed, forcing myself to stay calm.The room was dim, the light coming from… nowhere. No lamps, no windows, but still, a glow. Faint. Cold. My fingers curled into the sheets beneath me, silk. Soft, too soft. It sent a chill through me. This wasn’t my bed. This wasn’t my room.I turned my head, scanning the space. Large. Empty. The walls stretched endlessly, shifting between deep blue and silver, almost like they were alive, moving, breathing. The air hummed with something ancient, something powerful. My stomach twisted.Nothing made sense.And then I saw her.Standing in the corner, silent.A presence too strong to be ignored.Silver hair cascaded down her back, sh
SIERRAThe second I stepped inside, I froze.Blood. So much blood. It stained the floor, the walls, the furniture. The smell of it, thick, metallic hung in the air, making my stomach turn. My heart pounded as my eyes darted to my friends, their faces pale, their clothes splattered in red.“What the hell happened here?” My voice came out sharp, urgent.Kane wiped a hand down his face, smearing red across his cheek. “Sierra…”I looked at Zane, then Dane. They all looked shaken.“Someone tell me what happened,” I demanded.Dane swallowed hard. “Astrid came.”I frowned. “What?”Zane exhaled, rubbing his temples. “She showed up out of nowhere. She was bleeding, barely able to stand. She tried to talk, but…”“She exploded,” Kane finished, his voice flat.I blinked. “She what?”They all exchanged glances, like they weren’t sure how to say it again. Like somehow, saying it out loud would make it more real.Dane cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck. “She… exploded. Like, literally.
KANE“Hurry up, Dane! That banner looks like it’s about to fall.”Dane grumbled as he adjusted the string, his fingers fumbling with the knot. “If you’re so concerned, do it yourself.”I rolled my eyes. “I would, but someone has to make sure the cake doesn’t end up on the floor like last time.”Zane snorted from across the room as he stacked plates on the table. “That was one time. Let it go.”“One time was enough,” I shot back, giving him a pointed look. “Sierra nearly cried.”Alpha Thane chuckled as he set down a crate of drinks. “I can’t believe you boys planned all this. Sierra’s going to love it.”I smiled, glancing around the room. Balloons, streamers, and twinkling lights covered the walls. A table was stacked with gifts, food, and an enormous cake that, this time, was safely positioned far from the edges.“She deserves it,” I said. “She’s been through too much.”Dane climbed down from the chair, wiping his hands. “Yeah, and she never asks for anything in return. This is the le
SIERRAI blinked. The room was spinning, and my body was heavy like I had been dragged through a storm. My throat was dry, and my head ached like I had been fighting in my sleep.Voices. So many voices.“Sierra?”I turned my head, confused by the way everyone was looking at me, worried, scared, relieved. “What?” My voice came out rough. “What’s wrong?”Dane stepped forward first. “Is it…you?”I frowned. “What the hell does that mean?”Kane let out a breath. “Your wolf took over.”I stared at him. “What?”“You weren’t here, Sierra,” my mom said gently. “Your wolf spoke to us.”A shiver ran down my spine. “She… spoke?”Zane nodded. “Yeah. She said you’re different. That you need help.”I pressed a hand to my temple. My head was pounding. “I don’t understand.”“You don’t remember?” Kane asked.I shook my head. “No. I just… I woke up, and now you’re all looking at me like I died or something.”My mom touched my face, her warm hands grounding me. “You scared us.”I swallowed, my chest tigh
ZANEI couldn’t shake the feeling. Something was wrong.Sierra hadn’t spoken in hours. She hadn’t moved, hadn’t blinked. Just sat there, staring at the wall like she wasn’t even here. And that scared the hell out of me.I rushed to find my family. I didn’t care if I sounded crazy.“She’s not okay,” I said, breathless. “Something’s wrong with Sierra.”Luna Maya frowned. “What do you mean?”“She’s just…staring. Not talking, not moving. It’s like she’s not even in her own body.”My father stood up immediately. “Where is she?”“In her room.”We didn’t waste time. Everyone followed me, their footsteps heavy with worry. When we got there, Sierra was exactly how I left her—sitting on the edge of the bed, her hands resting on her lap, her eyes empty.“Sierra?” Luna Maya called softly.No response.“Sierra?” Dane tried, stepping closer. Still nothing.Luna Maya’s face paled. She rushed forward, kneeling in front of Sierra and grabbing her hands. “Baby, look at me,” she pleaded. “It’s Mom. Can
SIERRAThe fire was out, but my hands wouldn’t stop shaking. My heart pounded so hard it hurt. The smell of smoke still clung to the air, burning my nose, and making my throat tight. I could still hear the screams, the crackling flames, the chaos.I pressed my palms against my face, trying to push it all away. Just breathe. Just calm down. But it wasn’t working. The panic clawed at me, twisting my insides into knots. My whole body felt wrong, like I wasn’t even in control of it anymore.A warm hand landed on my shoulder. Kane. His touch was steady, grounding. “You okay?” His voice was soft, careful. But I could hear it. The worry underneath.“No,” I whispered. My voice barely worked. “I don’t think I am.”I wasn’t okay. Not even close.Dane crouched beside me, searching my face. “You want to tell us what happened?”I let out a shaky breath. Where did I even start? The dream? The fire? The fact that I was losing control over something that should’ve been mine to command? I curled my fi
SIERRA The first thing I noticed was the cold. Not the kind that gives you a little shiver and makes you pull the blanket up. This was bone-deep, icy, like I’d been dumped in a frozen lake. I blinked, confused. The soft warmth of my bed was gone. “Where am I…?” I whispered, sitting up slowly. Everything looked strange. The sky above me wasn’t blue. It wasn’t night, either. It was…gray, swirling, like thick smoke. The ground beneath me was damp and cold, like wet stone. “Hello?” I called out again, louder this time, my voice echoing back at me like I was yelling into a bottomless pit. Nothing. No answer. Just thick, suffocating silence. I swallowed hard, my heart pounding as I stood up, my legs trembling beneath me. The ground felt damp and cold, like stone soaked in icy water, and a chill raced up my spine. Wherever I was, it wasn’t anywhere normal. I squinted into the grayish haze that hung in the air, swirling around me like smoke, and that’s when I saw her. Ariel.
SIERRAIt felt so damn good to be home.The air smelled fresher, like pine and freedom, and everywhere I turned, familiar faces smiled at me. I wasn’t used to all this attention, but I couldn’t lie, it made me feel warm inside.“Can’t believe you’re really back,” Alpha Thane said as he handed me a drink. His grin stretched wide, and for once, he wasn’t scowling or trying to lecture me.“Surprise,” I teased, clinking my glass against his.“Party’s for you, you know,” he added, nodding toward the bonfire they’d just lit. “Whole pack’s been waiting for this.”I looked around and smiled. Wolves were laughing, drinking, and dancing. It felt alive. For the first time in forever, things felt right. No Ariel. No chaos. Just peace. And it was all ours.“Think they’ll fit in?” I asked, nodding toward the new wolves. They still looked a little awkward, standing in a tight group near the food table.“Give them time,” Alpha Thane said. “They’ll come around.”“Hope so,” I muttered.Just then, someo