ARIELI gripped the mandrake root tighter in my hands as I made my way back to the vampires’ hideout. The night air was thick with tension, the wind whispering through the trees like a warning I didn’t want to hear. Every step felt heavier, my heartbeat a steady drum against my ribs.Sierra’s words echoed in my mind, refusing to fade."Why would the vampires need a root that breaks curses?""Maybe they’re cursed.""Would they even tell you?"I shook my head, trying to push her voice away. She was wrong. She had to be. The vampires had taken me in when no one else would. They had given me answers when I was lost. They wouldn’t lie to me… would they?My conversation with Sierra played over and over in my mind, her words gnawing at my thoughts. "Ariel, think about it. Why would the vampires need a root that breaks curses?" Sierra asked, her voice filled with something I couldn't quite place, concern, desperation, maybe even guilt.I folded my arms, shifting my weight from one foot to t
ASTRIDI lifted a hand, gesturing sharply to Celia to stay silent. My eyes darted toward the entrance of the cave. Footsteps. Ariel was back. Too soon. She must have heard something.The moment she barged in, her eyes were blazing with fury. "What secret are you hiding from me? What curse am I breaking?"I kept my voice calm. "Ariel, listen…""No!" she snapped, her powers flaring.Ariel didn’t hesitate. She reached deep within herself, where the power hummed beneath her skin, waiting to be unleashed. It surged, coiling through her veins like a living thing, crackling with energy. Her breath steadied, her fingers twitching as she focused.The air around her shifted, thick with an unseen force. A low hum vibrated through the cave, sending chills through the walls, and shaking the ground beneath her feet. The power built rapidly, feeding off her emotions, her anger, her betrayal, and her need for the truth.She lifted her hand slightly, fingers spreading apart. The pressure in the room i
ASTRIDCelia crossed her arms, watching the entrance where Ariel had just disappeared. “It’s clear we can’t control her.”I sighed, the weight of her words pressing down on me. “Then we’ll have to do the same thing we did to her grandmother. Tie her life to one of us.”A murmur of unease swept through the group. The vampires shifted where they stood, exchanging wary glances, but no one spoke. Their silence said enough. None of them wanted to be the one to do it.Celia narrowed her eyes at me. “And who exactly do you suggest, Astrid? Because I don’t see anyone volunteering.”I turned my gaze over the group, searching for any hint of willingness. Nothing. Not a single one of them met my eyes.“I’m not sacrificing myself for her,” one of the younger ones muttered.Another scoffed. “We barely know her. Why should one of us be bound to her life?”“She’s too powerful,” a voice added from the shadows. “Even if we tie her to one of us, what guarantees she won’t turn against us?”I clenched my
SIERRAThe moment I stepped outside, the air grew thick with whispers. The locals stood in small clusters, their eyes wide with fear as they watched me approach. Some clutched their children close, others took a cautious step back as if my mere presence might bring destruction upon them."She’s back," a woman muttered, gripping the arm of the man beside her. "Moon help us."A few of them cast nervous glances at the burnt remnants of a house in the distance, a grim reminder of what had happened the last time I lost control. I swallowed hard, my chest tightening.I ignored them and walked into the dimly lit room, my pulse steady despite the weight of what I was about to say. The boys turned to me instantly, their expressions a mix of curiosity and suspicion."She's linked to me," I said flatly, wasting no time.Dane frowned. "Who?""Ariel," I answered, crossing my arms. "She can see through my eyes."A tense silence followed."You let her do that?" Kane’s voice was sharp with disbelief.
SIERRAI rubbed my temples, frustration and exhaustion clawing at me. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t tap into the power they expected from me. I felt useless. Weak. And I hated it.“I just need some air,” I muttered, pushing past the boys before they could stop me. I didn’t wait for their response, I just walked. The cool breeze kissed my skin, but it did little to soothe the turmoil in my chest. My feet carried me further from the cabin, into the dense trees where the world felt quieter.I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, sinking onto the damp forest floor. If there was any chance of connecting to the Moon Goddess, I had to try.Clearing my mind, I focused on my breathing, letting everything else fade. And then, like a ripple through my soul, I felt it, a shift, a pull. The world around me disappeared, and I was somewhere else.The air shimmered with silver light, the scent of moonflowers filling my lungs. And there she stood, radiant and calm, her eyes glowing like twi
SIERRAI sniffled, my vision still blurry from the tears that refused to stop falling. The weight of what the Moon Goddess had told me pressed down on my chest like a stone, suffocating and heavy. I had always known fate was cruel, but this? This was unbearable.Zane's arms tightened around me, his warmth soothing, even as my heart ached. "We’ll survive," he repeated, his voice steady. "Even if we never have a child, we’ll be okay."His words should have reassured me, but they didn’t. I shook my head. "I know you all want a family. I know how much it means to you, to all of us." My voice cracked as I spoke, the pain of my fate settling deeper into my bones. "You shouldn’t have to give that up because of me."Kane’s fingers tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze. His green eyes were fierce, unwavering, but filled with something I wasn’t expecting, love. "You think we’d ever choose a child over you?"I opened my mouth, then closed it again. I didn’t know what to say."You are ou
SIERRAMy breath came in sharp, shallow gasps as I stared at Ariel, my mind scrambling to make sense of what I was seeing."How…how are you here?" My voice wavered. "And how can you shapeshift?"Ariel smiled, tilting her head slightly as if amused by my reaction. “I’m trying out new things with my powers. You know, expanding my abilities.” She took a slow, measured step forward, her gaze flickering to my arm. “But the real question is… why aren’t you healing?”I swallowed hard. I didn’t know. My wounds always closed within minutes, yet the burn on my arm still stung, the raw skin pulsing with pain. I could still feel the heat radiating from it, the sharp ache making it hard to focus. This wasn’t normal. My body should have already started repairing itself. But it hadn’t.I didn’t answer.Ariel let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “Oh, Sierra,” she said, shaking her head, “you’re getting weaker.”I clenched my fists, trying to push back the rising panic. “What did you do to me?” My voice ca
SIERRAPain.It burned through me, twisting, searing, leaving me gasping as I clutched my arm. My body trembled, my vision blurring as the wound worsened instead of healing. I barely registered the sound of footsteps before strong arms lifted me off the cold ground.“Sierra!” Zane’s voice was sharp with panic.I felt another pair of hands on me, Kane’s. His grip was firm but gentle, his warmth bleeding into my skin. “What the hell happened to you?”I could barely get a word out between the waves of agony. “Ariel,” I whispered, my voice hoarse. “She…” A sharp gasp tore from my lips as the pain spiked again.“Shit,” Dane cursed. “Get her inside. Now.”I felt myself being carried, their worried voices blending into the background. My body ached, my skin felt like it was on fire, but worse than that was the dread settling deep in my chest. Ariel had cursed me. And now, I couldn’t heal.We reached the pack house, and I was placed gently on a couch. A moment later, cool relief spread over m
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