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
ASTRIDI paced back and forth, my heels clicking against the stone floor. The hunger clawed at my insides, sharp and unrelenting. Around me, the others shifted uncomfortably, their eyes flashing red with frustration. I could feel their anger, their impatience. It mirrored my own.“This is ridiculous,” Marcus snarled, his fangs slipping out. “We haven’t fed in days. We need to hunt.”“Then go,” I snapped, glaring at him. “No one is stopping you.”I narrowed my eyes, feeling the weight of their stares pressing down on me. The room was filled with frustration, the scent of hunger thick in the air. The younger ones shifted uneasily, their fangs already elongating in response to their desperation."You think this is my fault?" I snapped, my voice sharp. "Do you think I enjoy being trapped like this just as much as you do?"The vampire who had spoken, a broad-shouldered male named Lucas, clenched his fists. His lips curled over his fangs as he took a step closer. "You brought her here, Astr
ASTRIDAriel’s words hung in the air like a thick fog, wrapping around me in a suffocating grip. I forced myself to remain calm, but inside, my mind raced.“How do you know this?” I asked, keeping my voice steady, my expression unreadable.Ariel shrugged, tilting her head slightly as if she were just as puzzled. “I don’t know. I just… see things. Through Sierra’s eyes, I think.”My stomach twisted. “Just Sierra?” I asked carefully, keeping my voice light, though my pulse thrummed with unease.Ariel smirked, tilting her head slightly as if she could hear the thoughts I was desperately trying to suppress. Amusement glinted in her sharp eyes, making my skin prickle. “Why?” she asked, her voice teasing but laced with something else, something sharper, more probing. “Is there something you don’t want me to see, Astrid?”I let out a nervous chuckle, forcing my lips into a smirk as I folded my arms across my chest. “Please,” I scoffed, shaking my head. “If I had secrets, you’d be the last to
SIERRAAs I packed my gear, an uneasy feeling settled in my stomach. My hands hesitated over the fabric of my cloak, my mind drifting back to the old woman’s words.If you lose your wolf… there’s a chance you’ll lose your mate bond, too.I swallowed hard. The thought had been gnawing at me since our conversation. I couldn’t keep it to myself any longer.I turned to my mates. “I need to ask you something.”Kane was sharpening his blade, but he paused at my tone. Dane and Zane both looked up from their own tasks, their eyes wary.“If I lose my wolf,” I said carefully, “will I lose my bond with you?”The silence that followed was heavy. They exchanged looks, and my stomach twisted.Dane was the first to speak, his voice tight. “Where did you hear that?”I hesitated. “The old woman… she warned me.”Zane exhaled sharply. “And you believe her?”Kane’s jaw tightened. “We suspected… but we weren’t sure.”I clenched my fists. “And you didn’t think to tell me?”Dane stood, running a hand throug
SIERRAI folded my arms and looked at the old woman, my heart still racing from everything that had just happened. "How do you even know about this dagger? And why didn’t you tell us sooner?"She sighed, her wrinkled hands clasped together. "I didn’t know at first. But when you spoke about losing your wolf… I had to make sure. I spent the last few hours searching for answers. I didn’t want you to make the same mistake I did."I frowned. "What mistake?"The woman exhaled slowly, her eyes dark with pain. "I lost my mate. Not to death, but to something far worse."Zane, who had been leaning against the table, straightened. "Worse than death?"She nodded. "Yes. We lost our bond. It was stripped away, torn apart by magic. We could still see each other, still exist in the same world… but he no longer felt anything for me."A heavy silence fell over the room. I felt a lump form in my throat as I imagined that happening to me and my mates. The thought of looking into their eyes and seeing not
SIERRAI didn’t move. None of us did. We just stood there and took it as Ariel laughed like we were the biggest fools she had ever seen. Her voice echoed off the walls, high and sharp, like a knife digging into my already shredded nerves.“Oh, my sweet, sweet Sierra,” she said between giggles, wiping a fake tear from the corner of her eye. “You actually think a few little weeds are going to save your precious sister from me?”I kept my face blank, even though my heart was hammering against my ribs. If I gave her any more reason to doubt me, she would tear us all apart.Ariel circled slowly around me, hands clasped behind her back, her boots clicking softly against the floor. I could feel the others tense up, ready to move if she tried anything.She leaned in close, so close I could smell the sickly sweet scent of her perfume. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with,” she whispered. “No idea how deep this bond goes.”I clenched my teeth to keep from flinching. I would not give her t
SIERRAI stared at Ariel, my heart thudding painfully in my chest. Her arms were folded, her chin lifted stubbornly, and her accusing eyes bore into mine like she could see right through me. I sighed heavily, feeling the weight of everything come crashing down.“Fine,” I muttered, raising my hands slowly in surrender. “You want the truth? I’ll tell you.”“Sierra, don’t,” Kane hissed beside me. His hand brushed my arm like he was trying to pull me back. Alpha Thane shook his head sharply, his eyes pleading. “We can still fix this without telling her anything.”Zane stepped closer too, his voice low and urgent. “Don’t give her any more power over us.”I glanced at them, feeling their concern wrapping around me like a blanket. But the damage was done. Ariel had already caught us. Lying now would only make things worse.“It’s too late,” I said quietly. “She’s already suspicious. Might as well just come clean.”Ariel smirked a little, clearly enjoying every second of this.“But,” I added,
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