KANEMy eyes rested on Zane's face, he couldn't deny that he had been caught, he and Maya had been busy creating secrets behind my father's back. He might have tried to hide it but Maya hadn't been discreet enough, she had no idea that we were in the bathroom. Zane, ignoring us, walked towards the bed where Sierra lay. I stopped him by grabbing him by the arm."What was that all about?" I asked trying not to sound too controlling or angry.Zane shrugged off my hand as though he was disgusted by my hold. "It's nothing." He muttered making me scoff in disbelief."Nothing?" I asked trying to keep my voice low and my anger in check."Yes, it's nothing." He replied diverting his movements as he walked towards Sierra's dressing table. "We heard everything she said, what was it all about?" Dane asked standing beside me.What was it that Maya and Sierra were hiding? Zane too must have discovered it but he was tight-lipped, he would rather remain silent than reveal what it was.How bad was
THANE"What is that you just said?" I asked, stunned at Kane's outburst. Zane sighed before looking away with his fingers lacing through his silky hair.The boys remained silent avoiding my gaze. "I will take it that you're just throwing childish tantrums as a result of late puberty," I said, choosing to ignore them."Don't mind him, Dad," Dane said laughing nervously. "What are you-" Kane began but was cut off by Zane's hands slamming over his mouth. "I think he ate a little too much." Zane laughed nervously."Aff.. tuu.. oomph!" Kane kept trying to speak but his brothers were not giving him a chance."Have a nice day Dad, I think Kane needs to res- ouch!" Zane sent Kane a look holding his bitten hand to his chest.I raised my brows at their exchange. For some reason best known to them, they were acting weird. "I'm fine really." Zane grinned, showing me his palm, "He was practicing how to scratch." He laughed nervously.Kane began, "Dad, you need t-" This time it was Dane that
MAYA"Who might that be?" Thane mumbled as he got up from the chair. Approaching footsteps reached my ears as the visitor drew near."Our very own Lycan King." A voice called from outside the chambers.I felt all the hairs stand tall on my body as the familiar voice rang into my ears. What was he doing here? How on earth did he find me?My breathing stilled as the memories of what he had put me through flooded my mind. I wanted nothing more than to run away from here before he arrived but my legs refused to move, I sat with my feet rooted in one spot. Thane sat tall on the throne as he waited patiently for the visitor to arrive. My hands trembled uncontrollably as the footsteps approached. I wanted to hold Thane and beg him never to open the door, I wanted to tell him to ignore the beast that came visiting but I couldn't, I sat still like a statue in fright as I watched the door pulled open by the guard standing outside.I swallowed hard as the face of the man I spent my nights p
SIERRAThose two words brought fear to my heart, I didn't need to ask who because there was only one person who could make my mom quiver in fear. It wasn't even Beta Orion, it was only Alpha Elvis that could."Mom, calm down," I muttered struggling to get up from the bed. She tried her best to stop shaking but she couldn't. Her whole body trembled while she tried to speak. I wrapped my arms around her in a bid to calm her down.A series of thoughts ran through my head as I tried to process the whole situation, what was Alpha Elvis doing here? How did he find us?I shook my head, that wasn't even supposed to be a bone of contention, Beta Orion knew where we were so it was only a matter of seconds before he told his master. If Alpha Elvis was here, then he must've already met Thane. Judging from the way my mom was trembling, something must have happened while I was asleep. Mom hated anything that had to do with Alpha Elvis, he had traumatized her so that she didn't want to hear the s
SIERRAAfter staying at home for what seemed like forever, Thane decided that it was time we resumed school.That morning, I woke up having mixed feelings, it seemed like ages since I had been in school but I missed Hailey, and the thought of seeing her sent me to the bathroom in a hurry. After taking my bath, I hurried over to my wardrobe to select my outfit for the day. I stared at the jeans I had picked out earlier with dissatisfaction. I wanted to dress like a girly girl so I returned the jeans and then picked out a dress. It was a flowery knee-length gown, its brown color complimented my skin giving me a princess kind of look. Standing before my mirror, I twirled grinning with satisfaction at what I saw. I slid into my shoes before picking up my bag and books."I see someone is excited to go to school today." My head shot towards the direction of the voice, my mother stood at the door with a smile on her face."I'm not excited to go to school, I just want to see Hailey, it's be
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 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