CELIAAstrid lay there, barely breathing. Her skin had turned a sickly gray, her body thin and weak. The chains around her wrists and ankles had cut deep, silver burning into her flesh. She hadn’t fed in days, and it showed.I clenched my fists. This wasn’t right. I had to do something.Swallowing hard, I made my way to Ariel’s chambers. The guards outside barely glanced at me before letting me in. Ariel sat by the window, her expression calm, like she hadn’t just sentenced one of our own to a slow, painful death.I took a deep breath. “Ariel, please.”She didn’t even turn to look at me. “No.”I stepped closer, careful with my words. “You don’t even know what I’m going to say.”Now she turned, her sharp eyes locking onto mine. “You’re going to beg for Astrid.”I clenched my fists but nodded. “She’s suffering. You’ve made your point. Let her feed, just a little.”Ariel smirked, crossing her arms. “And what has she done to deserve mercy?”I swallowed. “She’s one of us.”Ariel stood, wal
ASTRIDI let out a slow breath, feeling the blood Celia had given me work through my body. My strength was coming back, little by little.Celia watched me, arms crossed. "You look better."I nodded. "I feel better. But it won’t last long."She frowned. "Then we need to keep doing this."I shook my head. "No. You need to stop. If Ariel finds out, she’ll kill you.""I don’t care.""You should."She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Then tell me how we kill her."I stiffened. "We don’t."Her eyes darkened. "There has to be a way."I hesitated, then sighed. "There is one person who can do it. Sierra."Celia frowned. "Sierra? The wolf?"I nodded, keeping my voice low. "She’s the only one strong enough to take down Ariel. But once she’s done, she’ll come for us too."Celia scoffed, shaking her head. "Sierra is looking a lot more reasonable than Ariel right now."I shot her a sharp look, my voice firmer. "Be careful what you wish for."She frowned, but I pressed on. "Ariel might be c
ASTRIDI can’t move. My legs feel like they’ve turned to stone, but my whole body is shaking.Celia’s on the floor, gasping, choking on my blood, her hands clawing at her throat. Her eyes are wide, wild. Blood is spilling from her mouth, her nose, her ears, God, her eyes too.I stumble back, my heart hammering.“What…what’s happening?” My voice cracks, but Ariel just watches with this twisted grin. Like she planned this. Like she knew.Celia screams, her body writhing, twisting in ways that don’t make sense. Her bones snap, loud and sickening, like branches breaking under heavy weight. Her arms contort, bending in the wrong direction. Her skin stretches, growing impossibly thin, almost translucent like something inside is trying to rip free.She shrieks, the sound splitting through the air like a knife, raw and desperate. Her fingers claw at her own skin, raking deep, bloody lines down her face, like she’s trying to tear herself apart from the inside. Her body convulses violently, sla
ASTRIDI walked back to the others, my legs shaking. My clothes were still sticky with Celia’s blood. My hands wouldn’t stop trembling. My heart pounded so hard I could barely hear anything else. The others were waiting. Watching. Their eyes were full of questions I couldn’t answer.“Astrid…?” someone whispered. I didn’t know who. I couldn’t even look up.“Where’s Celia?” another voice asked.I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I tried again. Still nothing. I couldn’t say it. I couldn’t even think of it. Celia was gone. Blown apart. Just… gone.A murmur rose among them. Confusion. Fear. It was thick in the air, pressing down on me.“Astrid, say something!”I shook my head. I couldn’t. I just…Laughter. High, sweet, delighted.Ariel.She appeared as if she were floating, her grin wide, her eyes bright. She clapped her hands together, bouncing on her heels, looking absolutely thrilled.“Oh, Astrid, you poor thing! You look absolutely terrified!” she giggled, twirling a strand of he
SIERRAI glanced around at the faces of my pack and my family. Their eyes were filled with uncertainty, and their muscles tensed with hesitation. I knew what they were thinking before any of them said a word.They didn’t want to stay.Honestly, I couldn’t blame them. This town reeked of death and secrets. The air was thick with unease, a constant reminder that we didn’t belong here. And now that it was time to leave, they weren’t just reluctant to stay, they were desperate to follow me.“Sierra,” Liam started, stepping closer. His voice was low, careful, but firm. “You’re really going back?”I exhaled slowly, looking past him toward the darkened horizon. Home. My pack’s land. Safety. “Yeah,” I said, voice steady. “It’s time.”A few murmurs spread among them, the uncertainty thick in the air. They weren’t just worried about staying behind; they were afraid of what they were leaving behind. Or worse, what they’d be leaving me to face alone.“We should go with you,” Caleb spoke up, arms
SIERRAI stared at Ariel, my heart pounding, my hands clenched into fists. The invisible barrier behind me loomed like a silent threat, a cage I couldn’t see but could feel pressing down on me.“What do you mean we can’t leave?” My voice came out sharp, demanding. I didn’t care. I wasn’t in the mood for Ariel’s games.Ariel smiled, tilting her head as if I had just asked her something silly. “Exactly what I said, Sierra. You’re not going anywhere.”Zane stepped forward, his body coiled tight like a spring ready to snap. His eyes flashed dangerously. “Are we under arrest or something?”Ariel giggled, the sound as light as air yet carrying an underlying weight that sent a shiver down my spine. “Oh, no, no, no. Nothing so formal.” She waved a delicate hand, dismissing the idea as if it were ridiculous. “I just like to know where everyone is. Can’t have people sneaking off and plotting against me, now, can I?”I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest. “Why would anyone plot against you?”
SIERRAI watched Ariel giggle as she turned away, her heels clicking against the ground like she had all the time in the world. My fists clenched, nails digging into my palms so hard it hurt. She was enjoying this—watching us struggle, watching me struggle. Like we were just pieces in her twisted little game.This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.My breath came sharp and uneven, but I forced myself to stand taller. I wasn’t going to let her see even a hint of weakness.“Sierra,” Dane called, his voice tight with urgency. “Break the spell.”The others murmured their agreement, their desperation thick in the air. Some were pacing, some just standing frozen, their eyes darting between me and the shimmering barrier that trapped us. Even the strongest among them looked shaken.Fear clung to them, and I could feel it crawling up my own spine, cold and heavy. But I shoved it down, refusing to give it power.I wasn’t about to let Ariel win.I stepped forward, placing my hands against the invi
SIERRAI groaned as I tried to push myself up, but my body refused. Every limb felt heavy, and my energy was completely drained. The boys hovered over me, their faces tight with worry. Ariel stood a few feet away, arms crossed, smirking like she was enjoying every second of this.“Wow, Sierra,” Ariel cooed, tilting her head. “You look terrible.”I glared up at her, too weak to do much else. “Go to hell.”She laughed, the sound light and mocking. “Not my problem, sweetheart. You have until sundown to figure it out. After that, whatever happens isn’t on me.” She spun on her heel, sauntering off like she had all the time in the world.Dane cursed under his breath. “We need to get you home.”Zane nodded, kneeling beside me. “Come on. I’ll carry you.”I wanted to protest, but I knew I couldn’t walk on my own. With a sigh, I let him lift me, my head resting against his shoulder as exhaustion pulled at me.By the time we got back, Mom was already calling. Kane answered for me and put her on
MAYAI sat on the cold floor, my back pressed against the wall of the room that used to be so full of laughter. My hands trembled as I clutched a small, worn-out toy between my fingers, one of my baby’s toys. My heart felt like it had been ripped from my chest and thrown into the darkest corner of the world. My babies… both of them were gone.I stared out the window, but all I could see was rain. Dark clouds had gathered over the pack lands, just like inside me. I’d prayed, cried, and screamed, but nothing changed. They weren’t back.“I’m a terrible mother,” I whispered to myself, the words slicing through me like a knife.“Maya…” Thane’s voice was soft behind me. I didn’t move. I couldn’t. His footsteps were light as he walked into the room, probably trying not to startle me, but I heard him all the same. “Please don’t say that.”I shook my head, wiping the tears that kept falling no matter how much I tried to stop them. “It’s the truth, Thane. I failed them. I should’ve protected th
SIERRAI felt the weight of frustration press down on me like a boulder. Every time I tried to approach the barrier, a shockwave would blast me back, and each time it happened, the sting felt sharper. My body still hummed with the last hit, and my mind was clouded with doubt. I didn’t know what to do, what to try next. Nothing I had attempted had worked so far.I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, staring at the shimmering line in the air that separated us from the cave. Ariel stood there, her expression smug and bored, watching us like we were nothing more than an amusing spectacle. But inside, I was a mess. I hated feeling helpless. I hated being powerless when someone I loved, my sister was so close but just out of reach.“None of us can get close,” I muttered under my breath, mostly to myself. “This barrier is too strong.”Dane spoke up, his voice quiet but steady. “What if we turn the tables? What if we trap Ariel instead?”I blinked at him, not understanding at first. “Trap
SIERRAI groaned as the sting of the shock finally faded. My legs were trembling, barely able to hold me up. My body still buzzed with a dull, numbing pain, like a thousand needles pricking under my skin all at once. I staggered a step back from the cave entrance, my knees buckling slightly as I tried to catch my breath.One moment I had reached toward the edge of the invisible barrier, determined to break through it with my own magic, heart pounding, hands glowing faintly, the boys watching me with concern, and the next, it felt like a thunderbolt had exploded right in front of me.The wave of energy hit me square in the chest. There was no warning, no slow build-up. Just a sudden, violent snap! like the crack of a whip, except it didn’t just sting my skin... it threw me. My feet lifted completely off the ground, and I was airborne for a few horrifying seconds, weightless, helpless, like a broken doll hurled by a giant hand.I crashed into the ground with a sickening thud several fee
SIERRAI didn’t even think. My body moved before my mind could catch up.With all the anger burning in my chest, I lunged for her. Ariel’s eyes widened, clearly not expecting me to move so fast, but this time, I caught her. My fingers gripped her tightly by the arm, and she gasped in surprise as I shoved her hard against a nearby tree.“Where is she?!” I screamed, my heart pounding in my ears. “Where is my sister?!”She tried to smirk, but her eyes darted nervously to the boys who stood right behind me. “Sierra,” Ariel said, sighing dramatically. “You’re such a killjoy.”“Answer me!”She tilted her head like she was bored. “Relax. She’s fine. Mostly.”My heart thudded harder in my chest, and I shoved her again, my voice shaking with rage. “Don’t play with me, Ariel! Where is she?”“Alright, alright!” she snapped, brushing herself off like I’d simply disturbed her nap. “I’ll take you to her. But…” she raised a single finger “...only on one condition.”Kane stepped closer, protective as
SIERRAMy hands hovered over Zane’s chest, trembling, but steady enough to keep going. I was finally locked in, focused. The energy inside me responded, pulling at the dark thread of poison that snaked through his body. I could feel it, cold and oily, like a sickness trying to cling to life.I whispered, “Just a little more… just a little more…”And then I heard it.“You tried to ruin us.”It was a scream, loud and sharp, slicing through my focus like a blade. My eyes flew open. I gasped and stumbled backward, falling to my knees as the energy slipped from my hands. Zane jerked slightly on the ground, and both Dane and Kane rushed to me.“Sierra!” Kane shouted, grabbing me gently. “What’s wrong?!”“I…” I looked around wildly. “Didn’t you hear that? Someone screamed!”Dane’s eyes darted toward the trees and shadows. “No… no one said anything.”“What?” I blinked. The voice had sounded so real. Like it was just behind me.And then I heard it again. A whisper this time. Cold and angry.“Y
SIERRAI could feel my heart pounding in my chest, my hands shaking as I hovered over Zane. His breathing was growing shallow, and I could feel the panic rising in me like a wave ready to crash. My chest felt tight, my head spinning. It’s had been a while since I tried to pull something out of someone’s body, especially not poison. I wasn’t sure I could do it again. I wasn’t sure I was strong enough. What if I messed up? What if I killed him instead?“No, no,” I whispered to myself, my voice breaking as tears welled in my eyes. “I can’t... I can’t kill him. I won’t. I can’t.”I staggered backward, my legs shaking, my vision blurring from the tears that were threatening to spill. My breath caught in my throat, and I collapsed into the ground next to him, my head spinning.“I can’t do this!” I cried, my voice thick with panic. “I’ll hurt him. I’ll kill him. I won’t…I can’t…I don’t know how!”The weight of the moment pressed down on me like a mountain. My hands were shaking so badly I co
SIERRAZane gasped again, his body twitching in Kane’s arms as we all scrambled to his side.“Zane! Zane, stay with me!” I cried, my hands shaking as I pressed them against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding.He looked at me with wide, panicked eyes, his pupils dilated with fear and confusion. His lips trembled, trying to form words, but nothing clear came out, only a soft, gurgling cough that brought up more blood. The red stained his chin and his shirt, soaking through the fabric fast.“No, no, no, don’t do this,” I whispered, my voice barely audible through the panic rising in my chest. My hands trembled as I pressed them against his side, trying to stop the bleeding. “You’re okay. You’re going to be okay, Zane. Just hang on.”He blinked slowly, the light in his eyes dimming.Behind us, the sharp, cruel sound of Ariel’s laughter rang out, cutting through the moment like a knife. It echoed off the walls, mocking, heartless…almost gleeful.“Oh, you’re so predictable,” she said, a
SIERRAThe moment the spell lit up in my hands, I could hardly believe it. A soft glow pulsed from my fingertips, and a trail shimmered faintly on the ground like a glowing thread winding through the trees.“It… worked,” Zane breathed behind me.Kane leaned in, squinting. “That’s Ariel’s trail?”I nodded, too stunned to speak at first. I hadn’t cast a spell in years, not since before everything fell apart. Not since I lost my sister. My hands trembled, but not from fear, for once, it was hope.“I can feel her,” I whispered. “She’s close. Let’s go.”We moved quickly through the forest, following the glowing path. Every step made my heart beat faster. The trees grew denser, the light dimmer, but the thread never faded. It was guiding us straight to her.And then we saw it.A small house stood in a clearing, hidden between thick oaks and wild vines. Smoke curled lazily from the crooked chimney. It looked abandoned, like it belonged to an old witch, but the moment we got close, we heard i
SIERRAZane stood and backed away, shaking his head. “What is this? What kind of sick game is Ariel playing?”I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. My throat tightened, and everything around me blurred. My gaze stayed locked on the girl. Her lips were slightly parted, her eyes still open, staring at nothing. She couldn’t have been more than seventeen. Maybe younger. Someone’s daughter. Someone’s sister. Just like mine.“She didn’t even fight back,” I whispered, barely hearing my own voice. “She wasn’t trying to hurt anyone… she didn’t deserve this.”“She wasn’t supposed to be part of this,” Zane said softly, his voice filled with confusion. “She was just… there.”“No,” I said, slowly shaking my head. “She was placed here. Ariel made sure of it. She knew I’d go after her. She wanted me to hit her.”Kane’s fists were clenched at his sides. “That’s twisted.”“It’s evil,” I said through gritted teeth. “She used this girl like she was nothing. Like she didn’t matter.”Zane exhaled harshly. “So that