SIERRAAs soon as we heard the cry, my mother jumped down from the desk and we ran out of the room."Where was the cry from?" My mother stopped at the beginning of the stairs to ask a passing servant.The servant bowed first before answering. "The cry came from the outer lawn." "Thanks." With that, we raced down the stairs heading to the outside lawn. It was very unusual to hear such a cry in the mansion, the person seemed to be in so much pain and what made it weirder was the fact that it came from a woman.Aside from my mother, the female servants, and I, women barely entered the mansion and if they did, it wasn't to this part of the mansion, but to Thane's meeting room which was located in another part of the compound. "What could have possibly happened?" I muttered hoping that it was nothing serious.We got outside to the lawn to find a woman rolling on the ground. She was dressed in the same uniform as our maids, so she was working for us. The triplets stood at the other end
SIERRAI sat in my room wondering what was going on in the minds of the triplets, they were acting so suspicious and it was obvious they didn't want to talk about it. A knock sounded on the door and I got up to answer it."Good morning Thane," I said with a small smile. His lips curled up in a smile. "Good morning Sierra, how are you doing?" He asked. The smile didn't reach his eyes, he probably had a lot on his plate as the king, and now, rogues began appearing mysteriously in the mansion making it even harder."I'm doing okay," I replied, returning the smile. "How are you feeling?" I asked.He sighed, "I'm fine my dear." His smile widened. "Don't worry about me, You have to get ready for school, the boys will go with you." He said.I nodded, staring behind him."Looking for someone?" He asked with a knowing smile."Yeah, where's my mom?" She was the one who usually came over to my room to tell me to prepare for school. He placed a hand on my shoulder, "She sent me over because
CLAIREAs I heard the sound of the principal's voice through the loudspeakers, I stopped in my tracks as the voices of students filled with insults and spite filled my ears."She's such a bitch, I can't believe she almost killed a person." My heart stopped."She must have thought she was above the law." "Her father is an Alpha after all." "Imagine the disgrace she brought to him.""Who knows if he's like her?" "An apple doesn't fall far from the tree you know."I tried to ignore them and their words but I couldn't.Kane walked past me as though he never knew me and the last bit of courage I had melted.Tears stung my eyes wanting to drop but I held them in, I would rather die than give them the satisfaction of seeing me break down.I headed towards my locker to pack my things, someone bumped into me making my head collide with the metallic door of the locker. I turned back to see who had caused me pain, I was greeted with the laughing faces of the people I thought were my friends.
ERIN"Did you send out the invite personally to the people involved?" I asked for the umpteenth time."Yes Alpha, I did." The servant replied, bowing his head. It was almost time for the meeting, yet there was no sign of them coming. I tapped my knees in anticipation, as I waited. I had selected them very carefully so they had every reason to be here. The location I chose was very hidden, deep into the woods at the outskirts of the pack, where no one would suspect a thing.Soon, the sounds of cars approaching from a distance put me at ease, they were here. I got up from my chair to welcome them by the door."My very dear Elder," I held open my arms for a hug and he smiled before accepting them. "Thank you for honoring my invite." I sent him a grateful smile."You know how loyal I am to you." He replied and I nodded.Another car pulled up and an Alpha got down."Welcome Alpha." I held out my hand for a handshake which he took without hesitation."Erin." He gave me a nod before walkin
SIERRAWe had math and it was a general class. The boys were seated at the back of the classroom. They still had that solemn expression on their faces and they were quiet, unable to just walk past them, so I decided to walk towards them."Hey." I sent them a bright smile as I sat on Kane's desk."Hi, Sierra." They said in unison without returning my smile. For a weird reason, I felt hurt. Just as I decided to ask them what the issue was, the math teacher walked in."Everyone, hurry over to your chairs, let's get started." The teacher said before he began to write on the board.I walked to my seat taking a mental note to corner them later. "What are you up to?" Hailey asked as we walked out of the cafeteria."Nothing much, what about you?" I asked, eyeing the books in her hands."I am thinking of going to the school library, there are some assignments I need to finish." She replied, patting the books in her arms."Alright," I said with my eyes scanning through the crowd in the hallwa
SIERRAMy hands trembled uncontrollably as the voice barked out laughing. It was him, I could never forget that voice, it has traumatized me for years, and even in dreams, he was unforgettable.How could it be?How is it even possible?Let it be that I'm mistaken, let it be that it's nothing but a similar voice. I prayed under my breath.Noticing my sudden change of mood, Hailey turned to me inquisitively, "are you okay?" She asked.I nodded, unable to speak. "There are goosebumps all over your arms." She observed.They were all over my body, not just my arms but I wasn't going to tell her that."You're sure you're okay?" She asked again.This time I sent her a forced smile and nodded, "I'm okay, why wouldn't I be?" I asked in a low voice.I wasn't okay at all."The bumps on your arms say otherwise."Oh this," I raised my arm, "it's nothing, happens to me all the time." I replied, trying to wave off her worries.She stared at me for a while as though she was trying to see through me.
SIERRABeta Orion jumped away from me with an awkward smile playing on his lips. "My good men," he grinned sheepishly, "nothing is going on," he gestured to me, "I was just asking this young lady for directions." The boys turned to stare at me as though asking me if he was saying the truth but I stood frozen and unable to speak."Is that true?" Dane asked me with his eyes still fixed on Beta Orion."Of course it's true." Orion released a nervous laugh.Dane and Kane growled and Beta took a step back in fright."He wasn't talking to you." Zane snapped and Beta Orion scratched his head nervously.He turned to me placing an arm on my shoulders, "Are you fine Sierra?" I nodded quickly.Kane kept on staring at Beta Orion who still had an awkward smile on his face."We've met before right?" He asked and Beta Orion took a step back. "No." He shook his head vehemently, "We haven't." Kane kept on staring at him with steady eyes and I could tell that Beta Orion was becoming uncomfortable.
SIERRAMy mother quickly collected herself, and she pulled me closer to her, I fell in her arms panting for air. "Mom, I can't believe that he's still alive." Tears slid down my eyes and she wiped them off with her palm."I saw them… I.. I.. saw him die." I stuttered. The way he stared at me flashed through my head. It was as though he was telling me that we'd meet again."Sier-" my mom called but I was no longer listening to her. "She thinks she would be able to stay away from us if she seduced the King?" His words echoed in my head, Beta Orion knows, he knows everything about us, he must've been watching us for a long time. Panic filled my entire being as I began to pace around the room with my hands on my waist."Sierra, Calm down-"I grabbed her by the shoulders, "He knows, he knows about us." My whole body was trembling in fright, only the heavens knew for how long."What did he say?" She asked quietly, given how bad the situation was, she appeared way more collected than I w
SIERRAI folded my arms and looked at the old woman, my heart still racing from everything that had just happened. "How do you even know about this dagger? And why didn’t you tell us sooner?"She sighed, her wrinkled hands clasped together. "I didn’t know at first. But when you spoke about losing your wolf… I had to make sure. I spent the last few hours searching for answers. I didn’t want you to make the same mistake I did."I frowned. "What mistake?"The woman exhaled slowly, her eyes dark with pain. "I lost my mate. Not to death, but to something far worse."Zane, who had been leaning against the table, straightened. "Worse than death?"She nodded. "Yes. We lost our bond. It was stripped away, torn apart by magic. We could still see each other, still exist in the same world… but he no longer felt anything for me."A heavy silence fell over the room. I felt a lump form in my throat as I imagined that happening to me and my mates. The thought of looking into their eyes and seeing not
SIERRAAs I packed my gear, an uneasy feeling settled in my stomach. My hands hesitated over the fabric of my cloak, my mind drifting back to the old woman’s words.If you lose your wolf… there’s a chance you’ll lose your mate bond, too.I swallowed hard. The thought had been gnawing at me since our conversation. I couldn’t keep it to myself any longer.I turned to my mates. “I need to ask you something.”Kane was sharpening his blade, but he paused at my tone. Dane and Zane both looked up from their own tasks, their eyes wary.“If I lose my wolf,” I said carefully, “will I lose my bond with you?”The silence that followed was heavy. They exchanged looks, and my stomach twisted.Dane was the first to speak, his voice tight. “Where did you hear that?”I hesitated. “The old woman… she warned me.”Zane exhaled sharply. “And you believe her?”Kane’s jaw tightened. “We suspected… but we weren’t sure.”I clenched my fists. “And you didn’t think to tell me?”Dane stood, running a hand throug
ASTRIDAriel’s words hung in the air like a thick fog, wrapping around me in a suffocating grip. I forced myself to remain calm, but inside, my mind raced.“How do you know this?” I asked, keeping my voice steady, my expression unreadable.Ariel shrugged, tilting her head slightly as if she were just as puzzled. “I don’t know. I just… see things. Through Sierra’s eyes, I think.”My stomach twisted. “Just Sierra?” I asked carefully, keeping my voice light, though my pulse thrummed with unease.Ariel smirked, tilting her head slightly as if she could hear the thoughts I was desperately trying to suppress. Amusement glinted in her sharp eyes, making my skin prickle. “Why?” she asked, her voice teasing but laced with something else, something sharper, more probing. “Is there something you don’t want me to see, Astrid?”I let out a nervous chuckle, forcing my lips into a smirk as I folded my arms across my chest. “Please,” I scoffed, shaking my head. “If I had secrets, you’d be the last to
ASTRIDI paced back and forth, my heels clicking against the stone floor. The hunger clawed at my insides, sharp and unrelenting. Around me, the others shifted uncomfortably, their eyes flashing red with frustration. I could feel their anger, their impatience. It mirrored my own.“This is ridiculous,” Marcus snarled, his fangs slipping out. “We haven’t fed in days. We need to hunt.”“Then go,” I snapped, glaring at him. “No one is stopping you.”I narrowed my eyes, feeling the weight of their stares pressing down on me. The room was filled with frustration, the scent of hunger thick in the air. The younger ones shifted uneasily, their fangs already elongating in response to their desperation."You think this is my fault?" I snapped, my voice sharp. "Do you think I enjoy being trapped like this just as much as you do?"The vampire who had spoken, a broad-shouldered male named Lucas, clenched his fists. His lips curled over his fangs as he took a step closer. "You brought her here, Astr
SIERRAI crossed my arms, glaring at them. “Tell me the truth. Now.”Kane sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “Sierra, just let it go.”“No,” I snapped. “I know you’re hiding something. Spill it.”Zane and Dane exchanged uneasy looks, the tension thick between us. My patience was wearing thin. Finally, Dane exhaled sharply and spoke.“It’s about the white oak stake,” he said slowly. “If you use it… there’s a chance you could lose your wolf.”I froze, my heart pounding. “What?”Zane nodded, his expression grim. “We found something in an old text. The stake can only be used by someone with your kind of power, but there’s a price.”I clenched my fists. “And you were just planning to keep this from me?” My voice rose. “You think I wouldn’t want to know?”Kane clenched his jaw, frustration clear on his face. “Because we knew what you’d say. And we were right. You’re still going to do it.”I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. “If using that stake means wiping out those vampi
ZANESierra had barely left the room when I let out a deep sigh, running a hand through my hair. The tension in my chest refused to settle."She’s never going to forgive herself if we leave without saving these people," I said quietly.Dane let out a frustrated breath. "And if she dies trying, none of this will matter."Kane crossed his arms. "So what do we do? Just stand back and let her keep throwing herself into danger?"I shook my head. "No. The best thing we can do is find a way to help her without putting her in harm’s way."Silence fell over us for a moment before Dane spoke. "We need to know more about the white oak stake. If it’s really the only thing that can kill them, we have to figure out what price Sierra will pay if she uses it."Kane nodded. "Then we start researching. We’re running out of time."We split up, each of us diving into the piles of books and records we’d gathered over time. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows across the room, the silence only brok
SIERRAI stepped into the house, my body heavy with exhaustion. My mind was still reeling from my conversation with Ariel, and the weight of her final words lingered like a shadow in my heart.The moment I walked in, I was met with the hard stares of my mates, Dane, Kane, and Zane. Their arms were crossed, their expressions a mixture of frustration, worry, and disappointment.Dane was the first to speak. "Sierra, do you even think before you act?"I frowned, taken aback by his tone. "What?""You’re always making reckless decisions!" Kane snapped. "Running after Ariel alone? What were you thinking?""I was thinking about helping her!" I shot back. "She’s being manipulated, and if someone doesn’t reach her, she’ll be lost!"Zane exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "And what about us? What about the people who care about you? You keep throwing yourself into danger without thinking about how it affects the rest of us."I clenched my fists. "That’s not fair. Everything I do, I do for the pe
SIERRAI turned at the sound of the familiar voice, my body tensing slightly as I saw my brother standing there. Kyle.He smirked as he took a few steps forward. “What? No warm welcome for your brother?”I crossed my arms. “Didn’t expect to see you back here, Kyle.”He shrugged. “I’m not going to miss my brother’s wedding. Besides, someone needs to make sure you don’t screw this up.”Before I could respond, our mother jumped in, clearly eager to gain an ally. “Tell him, Kyle. Tell him how wrong he is for treating me this way! He’s turned his back on me because of Shawna!”I scoffed. “Oh, come on, Mother. Stop blowing things out of proportion. I’m marrying Shawna, and I’m making decisions with her in mind. That doesn’t mean I’ve turned my back on you.”Kyle looked between us, his smirk fading. “Well, this is awkward. I just got here, and I’m already caught in the middle of something.”I sighed. “Then stay out of it.”I turned and walked away. I didn’t have the patience for another argu
SIERRAI stormed into the house, my chest rising and falling rapidly, frustration burning hotter with every breath. The door slammed behind me, rattling the walls, but I didn’t care. Let them all hear it. Let them know I was angry.Inside, my mates stood waiting, their arms crossed, their eyes dark with disappointment, anger, and something else—something close to fear. I could still hear the villagers outside, their hushed voices carrying through the open windows. Fear thickened the air like smoke.I didn’t care.They were all wrong.“I could have helped her!” I snapped, my gaze darting between them. “You just stood there, watching! You let your fear control you!”Dane, the one who always met my fire with calm, wasn’t calm now. His jaw tightened as he took a step toward me. “Sierra, you don’t understand,” he growled, his voice rough with frustration. “She’s dangerous.”I scoffed. “She’s just a scared girl.”“She’s not just anything,” another voice muttered, but I ignored it.Dane didn