SIERRAThe sun's warmth kissed my skin as I walked barefoot along the soft sand. The ocean stretched endlessly before me, its waves rolling gently onto the shore. The sky was clear, a brilliant blue, with the sun shining bright and high. Everything was perfect and peaceful.And yet, deep inside, I knew something was wrong. I shouldn’t be here.Frowning, I stopped walking and turned my gaze to the sky. “Moon Goddess,” I called out. “Why am I here?”Silence. Only the soothing crash of waves answered me. The air was fresh, carrying the faint scent of salt and warmth. My fingers curled at my sides. Something about this place felt… too perfect.I turned in a slow circle, searching for any sign of movement. Nothing. Just endless sand and water, stretching far beyond what seemed real. My heart pounded.“Moon Goddess,” I tried again, louder this time. “Please, show yourself.”A gentle breeze wrapped around me, warm and soft, like a mother’s embrace. Then, she appeared.The Moon Goddess stood
SIERRAThe world around me blurred as I gasped, my chest tightening with panic. Dane, Kane, Zane, everyone was in danger. The storm was still raging, the ground still cracking beneath us. But something was off. My thoughts felt heavy, my mind clouded. Then, it hit me.The vampires. They were in my head.They had done this so I wouldn’t be able to save them. My heart pounded as I forced myself to push past the haze. I reached deep inside, tapping into the energy that had always been there but now felt like it was slipping away. No. I wasn’t going to let them win. I clenched my fists, focused, and let my power surge through me.A sharp pain stabbed through my skull, but I didn’t let it stop me. The vampires were trying to break me, to keep me locked in this mental prison, but they underestimated me. I took a deep breath, drowning out the chaos, and reached for the bond that connected me to my pack. Dane, Kane, and Zane were fighting, struggling, and I could feel their desperation. They
ARIELI knew when I wasn’t wanted. The way they looked at me, the way they whispered behind my back, the way their eyes darkened with fear and suspicion—it was all too clear. I could feel it in the way they avoided me, how they stepped back when I walked past, how mothers clutched their children closer as if I was some kind of monster.Sierra had tried to help. She stood by me when no one else would, shielding me from their harsh words and cold stares. She spoke up for me when I was too exhausted to defend myself, but her voice fell on deaf ears. The people had already made up their minds. They didn’t trust me. And honestly? I didn’t blame them.“She’s dangerous,” one of them hissed from the crowd, not even bothering to lower their voice.“We can’t let her stay,” another added, their tone sharp and final.Sierra squared her shoulders, placing herself between me and them. “She needs help,” she insisted, her voice firm. “She didn’t ask for this.”“She didn’t ask?” someone scoffed. “That
SIERRAI stormed into the house, my chest rising and falling rapidly, frustration burning hotter with every breath. The door slammed behind me, rattling the walls, but I didn’t care. Let them all hear it. Let them know I was angry.Inside, my mates stood waiting, their arms crossed, their eyes dark with disappointment, anger, and something else—something close to fear. I could still hear the villagers outside, their hushed voices carrying through the open windows. Fear thickened the air like smoke.I didn’t care.They were all wrong.“I could have helped her!” I snapped, my gaze darting between them. “You just stood there, watching! You let your fear control you!”Dane, the one who always met my fire with calm, wasn’t calm now. His jaw tightened as he took a step toward me. “Sierra, you don’t understand,” he growled, his voice rough with frustration. “She’s dangerous.”I scoffed. “She’s just a scared girl.”“She’s not just anything,” another voice muttered, but I ignored it.Dane didn
SIERRAI turned at the sound of the familiar voice, my body tensing slightly as I saw my brother standing there. Kyle.He smirked as he took a few steps forward. “What? No warm welcome for your brother?”I crossed my arms. “Didn’t expect to see you back here, Kyle.”He shrugged. “I’m not going to miss my brother’s wedding. Besides, someone needs to make sure you don’t screw this up.”Before I could respond, our mother jumped in, clearly eager to gain an ally. “Tell him, Kyle. Tell him how wrong he is for treating me this way! He’s turned his back on me because of Shawna!”I scoffed. “Oh, come on, Mother. Stop blowing things out of proportion. I’m marrying Shawna, and I’m making decisions with her in mind. That doesn’t mean I’ve turned my back on you.”Kyle looked between us, his smirk fading. “Well, this is awkward. I just got here, and I’m already caught in the middle of something.”I sighed. “Then stay out of it.”I turned and walked away. I didn’t have the patience for another argu
SIERRAI stepped into the house, my body heavy with exhaustion. My mind was still reeling from my conversation with Ariel, and the weight of her final words lingered like a shadow in my heart.The moment I walked in, I was met with the hard stares of my mates, Dane, Kane, and Zane. Their arms were crossed, their expressions a mixture of frustration, worry, and disappointment.Dane was the first to speak. "Sierra, do you even think before you act?"I frowned, taken aback by his tone. "What?""You’re always making reckless decisions!" Kane snapped. "Running after Ariel alone? What were you thinking?""I was thinking about helping her!" I shot back. "She’s being manipulated, and if someone doesn’t reach her, she’ll be lost!"Zane exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "And what about us? What about the people who care about you? You keep throwing yourself into danger without thinking about how it affects the rest of us."I clenched my fists. "That’s not fair. Everything I do, I do for the pe
ZANESierra had barely left the room when I let out a deep sigh, running a hand through my hair. The tension in my chest refused to settle."She’s never going to forgive herself if we leave without saving these people," I said quietly.Dane let out a frustrated breath. "And if she dies trying, none of this will matter."Kane crossed his arms. "So what do we do? Just stand back and let her keep throwing herself into danger?"I shook my head. "No. The best thing we can do is find a way to help her without putting her in harm’s way."Silence fell over us for a moment before Dane spoke. "We need to know more about the white oak stake. If it’s really the only thing that can kill them, we have to figure out what price Sierra will pay if she uses it."Kane nodded. "Then we start researching. We’re running out of time."We split up, each of us diving into the piles of books and records we’d gathered over time. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows across the room, the silence only brok
SIERRAI crossed my arms, glaring at them. “Tell me the truth. Now.”Kane sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “Sierra, just let it go.”“No,” I snapped. “I know you’re hiding something. Spill it.”Zane and Dane exchanged uneasy looks, the tension thick between us. My patience was wearing thin. Finally, Dane exhaled sharply and spoke.“It’s about the white oak stake,” he said slowly. “If you use it… there’s a chance you could lose your wolf.”I froze, my heart pounding. “What?”Zane nodded, his expression grim. “We found something in an old text. The stake can only be used by someone with your kind of power, but there’s a price.”I clenched my fists. “And you were just planning to keep this from me?” My voice rose. “You think I wouldn’t want to know?”Kane clenched his jaw, frustration clear on his face. “Because we knew what you’d say. And we were right. You’re still going to do it.”I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. “If using that stake means wiping out those vampi
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