SIERRAI released a painful growl as my eyes opened, I was back in the library lying on the bare floor with water drenching my dress. "Sierra!" Hailey's eyes looked panicked as she fused over me. "Thank goodness, you're awake." She muttered as her shoulders slumped down in relief."Who on earth spills water in the library without informing the cleaners?" Hailey shouted ignoring the decorum ethic that surrounded the library rules and regulations."I'm okay now," I grumbled trying to stand up. Hailey held out a hand which I took gratefully. As soon as I stood on my feet, the gazes of the students in the library feasted on me. "Ignore them." Hailey said picking up her bag, "News spread immediately after you fell, they ran over here to find out what had happened." She explained not bothering to look at the faces that were staring. "Freak!" A boy shouted from the other end of the library.I kept my head down as I walked with Hailey while we headed out of the library. "They pry on peop
CLAIREThe entire house was quiet, Dad had a meeting with his friends, wanting to be all by himself. I sent out all the servants and guards earlier. There was no sound heard except for the occasional chirping of birds that found their homes in the trees that surrounded the house. I made a mental note to tell the head of servants to bring down the nest.I rolled over on my bed with my eyes glued to my phone and a glass of wine in my hands. The only thing missing was him. Kane.The doorbell rang out loud, almost making me jump. Just as I was about to ignore the person at the door, Beta Orion's voice spoke through the intercom."Is anyone home?" I contemplated telling him to come some other time but I remained silent, he would leave when no one replied to him. Or so I thought."I'm coming in." He said I heard the door creak open, those maids dared to leave the door open. I groaned struggling up to my feet as I headed downstairs. The main door leading to the house was locked, it was jus
ORIONI couldn't help but sigh as the packhouse came into sight, that spoiled brat sure has a way of ruining my plans. As much as I was back home, I feared for my life. Alpha Elvis did not tolerate sloppy jobs."Beta Orion!" My head snapped at the direction of the voice. It belonged to the head of guards of the packhouse. "Do you have to scream my head off?" I frowned at him."I have been calling your name for about five minutes now." He said, shaking his head. "Where has your mind wandered to?" He asked."You don't want to know," I muttered gazing towards the door where my judgment lies in wait. "How was your trip?" He asked, it was obvious he was ready for a chit chat but I wasn't in the mood."Is the Alpha home?" I asked feeling stupid, I knew fully well that he was home, if he wasn't why then would he ask me to report?"Yes, he's in the study." The head guard replied, giving me a questioning look. "Well then, go on with your duties." With that, I walked towards the door in fear
SIERRAI released a groan as I lay on my bed with my face up, I felt extremely bored as I gazed up at the ceiling.A knock sounded on the door making me sit up instantly. "Come in." The knob twisted and the door gave way revealing a uniformed maid. "Hello, ma'am." She greeted me with her knees bent slightly. "Hi, what do you want?" I asked staring at her curiously."Someone is downstairs looking for you." She replied. I frowned slightly, "Who might that be?" I asked trying to think."A visitor from your school." She answered. "Oh, Hailey?" She shook her head, "When I asked for her name, she mentioned something like Clara, or was it Clare?" I scoffed in disbelief standing up, "Do you mean Claire?" The maid nodded vigorously, "That is it." She smiled. "She wants to see you."Surprised, I sat back down. "Why would Claire want to see me?" I asked no one in particular. "I have no Idea." The maid answered with a shrug.I couldn't help but feel surprised, she didn't for once hide t
DANEAs Sierra headed upstairs, Kane and Zane headed outside saying they had something to do, I immediately followed Sierra, there were some issues we needed to discuss.Before I could call her to wait up, I noticed that there was a slight change in her walking step, she moved as though she couldn't locate the stairs.Her body swayed and she fell. I was by her side at the speed of lightning, holding her in my arms, while saving her from falling head-first off the stairs."What is the matter?" I asked immediately her eyes fluttered open. We were still on the ground with her in my arms."Dane." She muttered staring at me."You nearly broke all 206 bones in your body," I said raising her as I got up.She chuckled lightly, "Really?""What happened to you?" I asked as we walked to her room. I couldn't risk her walking by herself again, who knew when she might fall?"Nothing, I'm fine really." She replied with her arms wrapped tightly around my neck"Are you sure about that?" I asked again
MAYA"Her fainting spells are becoming worse." The healer said with his eyes fixed on Sierra.My heart couldn't stop pounding hard, it's been that way since Dane came running to us that Siera had passed out in her room. In a panic, Thane had sent the messenger to come with the healer immediately."Please great one, help us find out what's wrong with her?" Thane said with his brows furrowed.I hated making him worried because of me or Sierra.The healer hummed with his eyes hovering over Sierra. He was an old and frail-looking man who supported himself with a crooked stick. His assistant held a bag on his shoulders, he stood by his master with his hands folded, watching."Fetch me the leaf." The healer instructed without taking his gaze Sierra.The assistant immediately searched the bag and he brought out a long, green, and very fresh leaf."Here it is master." Holding it by the tip, he handed it over to the healer."Hmm." The healer grunted taking the leaf with his mouth.He placed h
SIERRAI woke up with a banging headache, and the last thing I recalled was Dane and I inside the bathroom, I remember us getting dressed and leaving the bathroom then after that, nothing.My gaze fell on the entire family staring down at me. Glancing around, I noticed that I wasn't in my room, I was in a room with a small bed on the ground, Dane must have brought me here after I fainted."She's awake," Kane said looking at me with a weird expression on his face."Sierra, are you alright?" Zane asked, shoving his head into my vision.I nodded trying to sit up."What happened?" I asked, my eyes fell on Thane who stood majestically with his arms folded watching me."You passed out," Dane said calmly. "Thank goodness I was with you, you'd have ended up with a nasty cut on your head."I shuddered.Their talks were light but I could tell that once again, I had made everyone worried about me, this was becoming way too much, and soon, they would get tired of me."I'm very very sorry for maki
ZANEMy head was filled with the thoughts of Sierra fainting spells, it was becoming way too frequent that I couldn't help but get worried. The healer himself couldn't pinpoint what was happening to her, yet she was always losing consciousness at intervals."I wonder what's going on," Dane muttered as we watched a crying Maya take Sierra away from the room."Nothing that you should worry yourselves about boys, Maya and I will do the worrying." My father said still staring at the exit where they had walked through.We remained silent, each of us consumed by our thoughts."I didn't get an answer." He had switched over to Daddy's mood."Alright, Dad." We chorused in unison.He grunted.Although he tried to hide it, I could see the worry on his face, he was worried about Maya and Sierra. I could understand him being worried, it's not an easy task watching someone you love go through pain. Maya's tears must have done something to him in the same manner that Sierra's pains were hurting me t
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
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
SIERRAI sat with my mates, my head in my hands, my mind racing. Ariel was too powerful. Too unpredictable. And we had no idea how to deal with her.Dane crossed his arms, his jaw tight. “How do we even know she actually healed you?”I exhaled sharply. “I don’t know. I feel fine, but… can we trust anything she does?”Zane frowned, his fingers drumming against the table. “What if it’s temporary? What if she did something worse instead?”Kane ran a hand through his hair, looking as frustrated as I felt. “That’s the problem. We don’t know. And we don’t know what to do about her.”Silence filled the room. The weight of Ariel’s power pressed down on all of us like a heavy cloud. None of us could predict what she’d do next.“She’s our biggest threat right now,” Dane finally said, his voice low. “The wolves are terrified of her. Hell, I’m terrified of her.”I looked up at him. Dane was scared. And he wasn’t wrong. Ariel didn’t just have power, she enjoyed using it. She liked watching people
SIERRAAstrid’s screams faded the moment Ariel slipped the ring back onto her finger. The burning stopped. Her body sagged, trembling, the unbearable agony leaving her breathless. But the damage was done. Her skin was raw, her strength almost gone.The air was thick with tension. The scent of scorched flesh clung to everything. No one moved. No one spoke.I swallowed hard, my throat dry. My eyes flicked to Ariel. "Did you… actually heal me?"Ariel turned to me slowly, a grin curling on her lips. Her eyes gleamed, dark and amused. "You just have to trust me, Sierra."My stomach twisted. Trust her? Not even for a second.I clenched my fists. "That wasn’t healing."Ariel raised a brow. "Wasn’t it? I healed you and Ariel is not burning anymore, is she?" She gestured lazily to Astrid, who lay there, gasping, broken. "She’s alive, isn’t she?"I ground my teeth. "You tortured her."Ariel let out a soft, mocking laugh. "And? Actions have consequences, Sierra. She betrayed me. I don’t let thin
ARIELI was furious.My hands shook, my breath came out in short, sharp bursts, and my entire body burned with rage. Astrid. That traitor. She ran to Sierra, ran straight into the arms of our enemies, spilling my secrets like a pathetic little rat.How dare she?I stormed through the house, knocking over anything in my path. A vase shattered against the floor. A chair crashed against the wall. The vampires around me scrambled out of my way, their heads lowered, their bodies pressed against the walls like they could disappear if they stayed still enough.They should be afraid.I wanted them to be afraid.I stopped, my sharp eyes landing on one of the younger ones, a nervous-looking fool hovering in the corner. His hands twitched at his sides like he was debating whether to run.I moved before he could even think about it.One second, I was across the room. The next, I had my fingers wrapped around his throat, lifting him off the ground with ease. His hands clawed at mine, his feet kick
SIERRAI folded my arms, overseeing Astrid. Everything in me screamed not to trust her, but I couldn’t ignore what she was saying either. Ariel’s magic had already done enough damage, I knew that firsthand.Before I could respond, Dane stepped beside me, his stance tense and rigid. His distrust was written all over his face. “You’re really going to listen to her?” he scoffed. “It’s probably a trick. Ariel could’ve put her up to this.”“She’s a vampire,” Zane added sharply. “Why would she suddenly care about helping us? It doesn’t make sense.” His jaw clenched as he eyed Astrid with suspicion.Astrid let out a slow breath as if she had expected this reaction. “I wouldn’t risk coming here,” she said, her voice steady but urgent. “Not when I know exactly what Ariel is capable of.” Her golden eyes flickered with something close to desperation. “You don’t understand, if she finds out I came here, I’ll pay for it.”“She will find out,” Kane snapped. His fists curled at his sides. “She alway
ASTRIDSierra’s eyes widened at my words, but she masked her shock quickly, narrowing her gaze at me. I could see the battle happening in her mind, the way she warred with whether to believe me or not. I didn’t blame her. We had never been on the same side, and now, here I was, claiming to offer an alliance.“I don’t trust you,” she said flatly, her arms crossing over her chest.“I don’t expect you to,” I admitted. “But trust isn’t necessary. What matters is that we both have a common problem and right now, I’m offering you the truth.”Sierra hesitated for only a moment before turning back toward the house. I expected her to invite me in, but instead, she stepped outside, her mates following close behind her. I had to stop myself from reacting. Smart girl. She wasn’t going to let me into her home, not even for a conversation. I respected that.Dane and the others flanked her protectively, their stares filled with open suspicion. Dane spoke first. “What do you want, Astrid?”I took a s
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
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