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
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,
SIERRA“Haven’t you had enough?” I raised my eyebrows at the slightly drunk man standing in front of the bar with a crooked smile on his face. “Serve the man drinks, Sierra, don't control how much he's had!” my boss barked at me. I rolled my eyes as I turned to the man with his leering smile. “What kind of drink do you want now?” I asked him. “Your famous special, love,” he drawled in a raspy breath. I shuddered at his pathetic attempt to sound sexy when he was just an old drunk. The fact that many werewolves including Alphas always come to this bar to be secretly entertained leaving their mates at home made me feel disgusted. I've never been a fan of fated mates mostly due to how I grew up and the way my father, who was my mother’s mate, treated us. But coming to this town and picking up a shift here which was mostly night shifts, I was beside myself with horror. These men had no value for their mates, all they wanted was a strong female wolf who could give them healthy pups
SIERRA“If we lose her, I’ll break your paws!” the familiar dreadful voice sounded behind me. I cursed inwardly as I quickened my pace, the sound of frightful howls sounding close to me. I took a sharp turn out of the woods. If I could just reach the bar, I could ask my boss for help. At this point I don't mind working the floor for free, anything aside going back to Elvis. I ran at breakneck speed and I could feel my wolf getting tired. I shifted into my human form and I realized I wasn't hearing any noise. It seems I've lost them. But just as I was close to the bar, I could almost see it, a huge wolf appeared in my line of vision. I screamed and screeched to a halt. I whirled around to run but stopped when I realized I was surrounded. “Bitch!” the man who I had kicked earlier walked up to me. He had a scar on the right side of his face. I will never forget him because I gave him that scar. The mark ran from his right eye down to his cheeks. It made him look ugly, highlighting h
SIERRA“Mom!” I screamed as I opened the door and rushed in. My mom was in the sitting room, pacing around. She stared at me with wide eyes when she saw me. “Sierra, what’s wrong? Why did you return so late? I've been so worried,” she said all in one breath. Tears of relief rolled down my cheeks as I ran and hugged her, sniffing her scent that made me feel safe. “You’re safe. You're here,” I murmured crying. My mom held me, patting my back softly as she let me bawl my eyes out. After a few minutes of tears, I sniffed and wiped my face. “We have to move, Mom,” I finally announced, recovering from my weak moment. My mom frowned, “Uh, what is going on?” “There’s no time to explain. They may be dead but more may be on their way to us right now,” I muttered. I went to the room and began tossing clothes into our traveling bag. “Mom, dress up, there's no time,” I said. My mom scoffed, “I’m not going anywhere, Sierra. We are finally done with that life, I'm done running.”I gave he
SIERRA“May I come in, Sierra?” I blinked as I stared open-mouthed at the man standing in front of the porch. The Lycan King in the flesh and I have just rudely spoken to him. “Sierra?” he prompted her, gesturing to the door. In a daze, I pulled the door open and watched him enter the house. Just then my mom came and smiled when she saw the Lycan King. “You’re here,” my mom smiled at him, “And I see you've met Sierra.”I glared at my mom finally snapping out of my daze, “The Lycan King is your mate?!” My mom and the man chuckled as he stared at her fondly and I could see the admiration in his eyes. My father had never looked at her that way before. “Calm down, Sierra, I’m just your mother’s mate,” he said to me, chuckling. I shook my head still staring at my mom, “Mom, a little heads-up would have been nice.”My mom rolled her eyes, “Stop being dramatic, and come let’s eat.”I followed them to the dining table where the table had been set with various delicious dishes including
SIERRA“–stress-induced. She’ll be fine.”My eyes fluttered open as I managed to hear the last words of an unfamiliar man. I groaned, massaging my temples and instantly I saw my mom at my side. “Oh, honey, you gave us quite a fright,” my mom said. I was still slightly disoriented as I looked around the room trying to figure out why I was in an unfamiliar room that was decorated with my favorite band wallpapers. “Where are we?” I asked my mom, stifling a yawn. “You don't remember?” my mom asked with a frown. I saw the man discussing with King Thane as they left the room leaving me alone with my mom. The memories of the day flashed into my mind as I also recalled the triplets and the scent that had filled my nostrils before I passed out. “Shit!” I cursed. My mom frowned, “Language, Kiddo.”I sighed, “Sorry, Mom. What happened?”“You fainted after being introduced to the triplets,” my mom answered. I facepalmed mentally, “Oh boy. I think I made a mistake Mom.”My mom frowned, “Wh
SIERRAI stared at the three boys but the one with the most cruel expression was Kane. I could feel the hatred he had for me emanating from him. I had no idea why he hated me so much, especially since I hadn't done anything. Except for the fact that I had called them monsters. “Why?” my voice broke as I asked the question that was on my lips.I still haven't been able to wrap my head around the fact that these three brothers were my mates. I also had to accept the fact that they cloaked their scent so they wouldn't have to reject me. “Why? What have I done?” I asked, tears streaming down my cheeks. I've never really cared about getting a mate especially after I've worked in that bar and seen how things were done. But now that I could feel the intense bond between the three of them, the mere thought of losing them was enough to drive me crazy. Now I understood how my mother felt when she gave her pack to her first mate. The mate bond feeling was more powerful than anything else and
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