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
ASTRID Blood scented the air, thick and intoxicating. The sounds of flesh tearing and bones snapping echoed through the trees as my vampires feasted. Their low growls rumbled in satisfaction, eyes gleaming in the moonlight as they drank deeply from their prey. I stood at the edge of the clearing, watching. Some had taken down deer, others wolves. One particularly bold vampire had pinned a mountain lion beneath him, sinking his fangs into its throat as its struggles grew weaker. The night was filled with the wet, sickening sounds of feeding, slurps, gulps, the occasional crunch of bone splitting under force. Blood dripped from their lips, staining their fingers as they devoured every last drop. They were creatures of hunger, of instinct. They didn’t just drink, they indulged, savoring every mouthful, letting the warmth spread through their veins. A few licked their fingers clean, satisfied. Others were still crouched over their kills, pulling at what little was left. I stood a
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