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
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 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
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
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
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