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
SIERRAThe night air was thick with fear. I could feel it pressing against me, swirling around the town like a ghost. The vampires had grown stronger, and everyone knew it. Their attacks were getting bolder, their hunger more relentless. We were running out of time.“This is madness,” a villager muttered, his voice shaky. “We can’t fight them. We should leave while we still can.”Murmurs of agreement spread through the gathered crowd. People clutched their loved ones, their eyes darting toward the woods as if expecting a vampire to leap out at any moment.“We don’t stand a chance,” another woman whispered. “They’re too strong.”A man stepped forward, his face pale. “My wife and son are already gone. I won’t lose my daughter, too.”I clenched my fists. “Running won’t save you,” I said firmly, scanning the crowd. “The vampires won’t stop at just this town. They’ll follow you. They’ll take everything.”Silence fell over the villagers. Some avoided my gaze, shifting uncomfortably. Others
SIERRAThe forest was silent, almost too silent. Dane moved ahead of me, his sharp eyes scanning every shadow, while Zane walked beside me, his body tense and ready for a fight. The map in my hands felt heavier than it should as if it carried the weight of every failed attempt before us.“We need to move fast,” Dane whispered. “The longer we stay out here, the more likely they’ll sense us.”I nodded. “Stay close. We can’t afford to be separated.”We pressed on, careful with every step. Then, the air around us shifted. A cold gust of wind blew through the trees, carrying a strange scent, something old, something rotten.Zane stiffened. “Do you smell that?”I swallowed hard. “Yeah. Death.”As we stepped forward, the ground beneath us changed. The lush forest floor gave way to something unnatural, a graveyard. But this wasn’t just any graveyard. Broken weapons lay scattered among the graves, burnt stakes sticking out of the earth like forgotten warnings.“This place…” Dane muttered, crou
SIERRADane was the first to break the silence. “Isolde?” he echoed, his voice filled with disbelief. “What the hell is she talking about, Sierra?”I swallowed hard, shaking my head. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “And honestly? I don’t care right now.”Zane’s grip tightened around his blade. “You don’t care? Some stranger just called you by another name, an old name. What if this means something?”“It doesn’t matter,” I insisted. “What matters is stopping these vampires before they tear this town apart. We have a mission.”“What about her warning, Isolde? The past will not stay buried.” Zane said, his eyes narrowing slightly.I clenched my fists. “Whatever that means, I’ll deal with it later. Right now, we need to find the white oak stake. I have to protect everyone in this village, and that can be done with the oak tree.”Zane exhaled sharply. “Are you sure about this?”“Yes,” I said firmly. “I need you both to help me find it.”Dane and Zane exchanged uneasy glances. It was clear they
SIERRAThe moment we stepped deeper into the cursed woods, I knew something was wrong. The air was thick and suffocating, pressing against my skin like an invisible force. Shadows twisted unnaturally, stretching and moving as if they were alive. The whispers started softly at first, just a faint murmur in the wind, but then they grew louder."Isolde..." a voice hissed in my head.I stiffened. Not that name again."Do you hear that?" I asked, glancing at Zane and Dane.Zane frowned, his grip tightening around his weapon. "Hear what?"Dane, however, had gone completely still. His breathing was heavy, and his hands were clenched into fists. "They’re laughing at us," he muttered. "Mocking us. They think we’re weak."I swallowed hard, realizing they were hearing different things. This was the woods’ doing, twisting reality to turn us against each other."Dane, it’s not real," I said quickly, reaching for him. "Whatever you’re hearing, whatever you’re feeling—it’s the curse. We have to figh
SIERRAThe silence was deafening. My breath came in ragged gasps as I stared at the devastation around me. The cursed woods were gone…nothing but smoldering remains stretching as far as I could see. The once towering trees, the suffocating darkness, the whispers that had clawed into my mind…everything had been reduced to ash.My hands trembled at my sides, faint embers still flickering around my fingertips. I clenched them into fists, my heart hammering against my ribs. I could feel the heat still lingering on my skin, but inside, I was cold. Completely numb.A hand touched my shoulder. I flinched, turning sharply to see Zane watching me with wide eyes. “Sierra… what the hell happened?”Dane stood beside him, his gaze flickering between me and the burned landscape, his brows furrowed. “The nightmare… it’s gone,” he murmured as if trying to convince himself that what he was seeing was real.I swallowed, my throat dry and tight. “The vampires… and the woods… they got into my head.” My v
ZANESierra still wasn’t waking up.I ran a hand through my hair, pacing the length of the room while Dane and Kane hovered around her unconscious form. It had been hours since she blacked out, and no matter what we did, shaking her, calling her name, even trying to tap into our bond, nothing worked.“She’s never been out this long before,” Dane muttered, his voice laced with frustration and worry. He sat at the edge of the bed, gripping Sierra’s limp hand. “What if…”“Don’t say it,” I snapped, cutting him off before he could voice the worst possible outcome. The thought of losing her, of something worse happening, made my chest tighten. “She’ll wake up. She has to.”Dane exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. His jaw was clenched, his eyes never leaving Sierra’s still form. Her breathing was steady but shallow, her face pale against the pillows. It had been hours, longer than any of the other times she had blacked out. This wasn’t normal.Kane leaned against the wall, arms
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