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
SIERRADane ran a frustrated hand through his hair, his eyes dark with concern. "I found something while reading that book," he admitted, his voice tight. "But I didn’t think you would actually go through this."I tried to keep my breathing even, but the burn was worsening, crawling up my skin like fire under my flesh. "What did you find, Dane?" I managed to ask through gritted teeth.He hesitated before finally speaking. "The curse…it can’t be broken by anyone but the one who placed it."A heavy silence settled between us. My heart pounded in my chest. "So, Ariel? She’s the only way?"Dane nodded solemnly. "But that doesn’t mean we stop looking for another way. I’ll help you research. We’ll figure something out."Kane clenched his fists. "We need to get you medical attention now. The burns are getting worse."Zane didn't wait for further discussion. "We’re taking her into town. Now."The hospital smelled like antiseptic and something artificially sweet. I sat on the examination table
SIERRAAriel’s smirk deepened, eyes glinting with amusement as she leaned against the tree, arms crossed. “Well?” she prompted, tilting her head. “Do we have a deal?”I clenched my fists, trying to keep my breathing steady despite the pain in my arm. “It’s impossible,” I said, shaking my head. “I don’t mind giving up my powers, but I will never give you my mate.”The boys tensed beside me, their postures rigid. Dane’s jaw locked, and Kane let out a sharp breath through his nose. Zane took a threatening step forward. “You’re insane if you think we’d ever agree to that.”Ariel threw her head back and laughed, the sound ringing through the darkened woods like a twisted melody. “Oh, you poor things,” she cooed, her eyes flashing with mischief. “I was trying to be polite, but since you insist on making this difficult…”She lifted her hand and flicked her fingers.The pain was immediate and unbearable. A sudden, sharp heat shot through my entire body, like fire licking at my veins, burning
DANEI couldn't take it anymore. Watching Sierra in agony, her body trembling as she fought against the pain, was unbearable. I felt useless, standing there while she suffered, unable to do a damn thing to help her. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, my frustration bubbling over until I couldn’t hold it in any longer.“I need some air,” I muttered, turning on my heel.“Dane.” Kane’s voice was sharp with suspicion. “Where are you going?”I didn’t answer. I just kept walking, my strides long and determined as I pushed open the door of the packhouse and stepped into the night. The cool air did nothing to soothe the fire in my chest. Sierra’s pained whimpers echoed in my ears, haunting me with every step I took.Kane cursed under his breath and hurried after me. “Don’t do anything stupid,” he warned, grabbing my arm. “I know what you’re thinking.”I yanked my arm free. “Then you know I can’t just stand there and watch her suffer, Kane.” My voice was rough with frustration. “She’s i
DANEI tightened my grip on Sierra’s limp hand, my heart pounding. Her face was too pale, her breathing too shallow. Every second that passed felt like a lifetime, and I couldn’t take it anymore.“Ariel,” I said, my voice raw. “Please. Do it now. Whatever it takes.”Ariel tilted her head, her lips curling into a knowing smile. “Begging now, are we?”I clenched my jaw. “Just save her.”Ariel rolled her eyes but knelt beside Sierra, placing her hands gently over the burn. A faint glow emitted from her palms, flickering like the flame of a candle before growing stronger. She murmured in a language I didn’t recognize, her voice steady and sure. The air around us thickened, charged with an almost electric energy that made the hairs on my arms stand on end.The glow spread, tendrils of light unfurling from Ariel’s hands and wrapping around Sierra’s body like a cocoon. The energy pulsed, shifting from a soft gold to an intense, almost blinding white. I clenched my fists, watching in tense si
SIERRAThe hot water cascaded over my skin, washing away the remnants of exhaustion and frustration. I tried to hold onto my anger, to focus on the fact that Dane had made a deal with Ariel without even knowing the price. But it was difficult when his hands were on me, sliding down my arms, tracing gentle circles on my hips.“Dane,” I started, intending to scold him, but the words melted into a soft moan when his fingers dug slightly into my waist. I hated how easily he unraveled me, how his touch turned my fury into something else entirely.“I’m not leaving you, Sierra,” he murmured against my ear, his voice deep and resolute. “And I’m not doing anything with Ariel. I just couldn’t watch you suffer.”I sighed, leaning back against him as his lips ghosted over my neck. “I still don’t trust her.”“Neither do I,” he admitted, pressing a kiss just below my ear. “But I had to do something.”His hands moved up my stomach, teasing but never crossing the line. Heat coiled low in my belly, an
ARIELWhen I stepped into the grand hall of the vampire estate, I noticed something was off. Every single one of them, powerful, bloodthirsty creatures that they were, stood frozen, their faces pale with something close to fear.Fear of me.I smirked, letting the silence stretch, relishing the way their red eyes darted around the room like caged animals searching for an escape. Their fangs, usually displayed in smug confidence, remained tucked away, their bodies tense, stiff as statues.“Oh, don’t all rush to welcome me at once.” My voice rang through the cavernous space, laced with amusement.No one responded.A few of them took an instinctive step back, the movement subtle but not missed. One vampire near the entrance gripped the hilt of a dagger at his waist, though he made no move to draw it. Another swallowed thickly, his throat bobbing as though the very sight of me had dried his mouth.It was almost laughable.These creatures, feared by humans and even some supernaturals, stood
ASTRIDThe moment I stepped back into the estate, fury clawed at my insides. My hands curled into fists, my nails digging into my palms as I stormed down the hall. I had to get away from Ariel before I did something reckless.How dare she? How dare she bind us together with a spell so dangerous that a single weak link could drag us all down? And then, to stand there and smirk, as if she had all the power in the world?I should have ripped her apart.Instead, I took a deep breath, pushed down my rage, and kept walking. I had to be smarter than that.I didn’t make it far before I heard a sharp voice behind me. “Astrid.”I turned to see Celia standing at the entrance to the main hall, arms crossed tightly over her chest, her usually composed face twisted with anger. The tension in the room was thick, pressing against me like an impending storm. Behind her, the other vampires stood in tense silence, their eyes burning with barely contained fury.“You knew about this, didn’t you?” Celia de
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
SIERRAI paced the room, my mind racing as I tried to figure out the best way to explain everything to my mother. The weight of the situation felt heavier than ever, and every thought in my head seemed tangled, impossible to unravel. The fear for my sister still twisted in my chest, and the knowledge that Ariel had somehow gained control over us, over me, made me feel more helpless than I ever had before.Mom sat in front of me, her expression filled with worry. I could see how badly she wanted answers, but there was no way around it. I had to tell her.“It’s... It’s Ariel,” I started, the words coming out slowly, like I had to convince myself first. “She’s been controlling everything from the start. She put this spell on my sister, and now... now, I can’t stop it. Not until I undo whatever she’s done.”My mother’s face drained of color as she listened, her hand trembling slightly as it rested in her lap. I couldn’t bear to see her like this, so broken by the weight of what was happen
SIERRAWe walked in silence, the weight of the last few hours hanging heavy on me. My arms were still shaking from holding back every instinct I had to strangle Ariel right then and there. The image of my baby sister, struggling to breathe, haunted my mind like a twisted nightmare that wouldn’t go away. My hands were clenched into fists at my sides as I tried to suppress the anger bubbling inside me.Ariel’s voice broke the silence, sharp and taunting, as usual.“There’s no point in taking me,” she said, her tone too casual for my liking. “You should just leave me here. You’re too soft to kill me, Sierra. I know you won’t.”I wanted to snap at her, to yell at her for every vile thing she’d done. But I couldn’t. Not now. Not when my sister’s life was still hanging in the balance.“You’re right,” I said through gritted teeth, trying to hold onto the calmness I was barely clinging to. “I’m not going to kill you. Not yet.”Ariel smirked, clearly pleased with my words, like she was somehow
SIERRAI tightened my grip on Ariel’s neck, all the pain and anger boiling over like a pot I could no longer control. My hands were shaking, but I didn’t care. I wanted to hurt her. I needed her to feel it. I needed her to understand what she had done to us, to me.“You think this is a game?” I growled, leaning in, pressing harder, feeling her pulse flutter under my fingertips. “ What did you do to my sister?”Ariel’s eyes bulged slightly from the pressure, her face flushing red, but her lips still curled into a smug little smirk. How could she still be smiling? Even now? Even when I could easily snap her neck?“Relax,” she rasped, voice thin and scratchy, but somehow still full of mockery. “If you like your sister… you’ll let me go.”My brows furrowed. “What?” I blinked, confused. What was she talking about?Then I heard it.A tiny, gasping sound cut through the air. A sharp, shallow breath, too fragile, too faint. I turned my head sharply and saw Kane staring down in horror. His arm