KANE"These rogues sure love the sewers," Zane grunted as we struggled to pass through the muddy waste."It's called a wasteland for a reason, Zane," I replied, trying my best to reduce the amount of talking and increase my pace. "Eww." Zane retched.I shook my head ignoring him.He sure was taking the whole scene a lot better than I imagined. We were on our way to the wastelands and the journey so far hasn't been a smooth one.From having to run up a mountain filled with sharp stones and lots of death traps, a missed step could get one killed, to walking through a land where sewages were deposited, I wondered what next awaited us ahead.My mind wandered to Sierra's bloodied clothes and her unconscious face, her face that had lost its glow and looking so dull made my heart ache painfully.I wanted to see her smile once again, I wished to see her standing and giggling about or even picking up a fight with me. Her smile strengthened me, it gave me the push to carry on."Do you think i
ZANEI was stunned at Kane's words and did not know how to take his declaration. At first, I wanted to grab him by the neck and shake him till he changed his decision but I thought better, we were still close to the rogue's territory and there was every probability of them catching up with us. "What made you change your mind?" I tried to remain calm and collected. "I mean," I rephrased, "when and why did you change your mind?" I asked.Did he finally discover how charming Sierra was? Or did nearly losing her unlock something in him?"I can't place a finger to it yet but-" A howling sound from a distance interrupting him. The rogues were catching up, and what was worse was that time wasn't on our side, Sierra needed us. The antidote too."Let's save Sierra first" I replied, shoving the conversation under the carpet."Fine, but it won't change my resolve, and I'm not backing down either. She makes me feel things I thought I could never feel. I tried to curb those feelings." Kane said
SIERRAMy eyes fluttered open making me groan from the sudden bright light in the room. I closed my eyes again trying to get used to the lights in the room.Sudden pain hits me and spreads all around my body making me groan. Memories from earlier flashed through my mind.I shuddered as I recalled the rogues circling me with their tongues dripping saliva as they anticipated their next meal. The triplets had come to my rescue but the rogues were determined to hurt me.Tears dropped from my eyes as the pain became unbearable. Closing my eyes, I heard a ringing sound in my ears while I groaned. My whole body felt as though it was on fire."Sierra, baby can you hear me?" My mother's voice sounded as though she was screaming my name from a distance. I felt her hand touch my cheek and I instantly felt warm."Baby, mama's here." She held my hands tightly to her bosom and I forced my eyes open.They rested on her.She was sitting by my side with a smile on her face while tears dropped from he
SIERRAFeeling drained, I decided to get up from the bed and walk, hoping it would help calm my racing heart. The window was opened and the evening sun peeked into my room. Feeling exposed, I tugged at the window blinds, pulling them down. They were no longer here but I could still feel their presence in my room making my heart ponder. I stood in front of the mirror staring at myself. My eyes looked sad and almost lifeless, my hair was still packed in a bun but it was rough and resembled a bird nest.My fingers strayed to the spot where I was injured and a panicked voice screamed in my head.Don't look, don't!Ignoring the voice, I stared at the scar left. The wound was gone as well as the bloodstains, but I was left with a permanent reminder of what nearly killed me. Slowly, my fingers trailed along the spot, perhaps hoping to feel the pain that I ought to, but nothing, I was left with a trophy that reminded me of how weak and vulnerable I was.The first tear escaped, and I felt
THANEMy heart went out to Maya and her daughter, thankfully, the antidote had worked perfectly and she was okay now. As I walked out of my room heading downstairs for a meeting, I overheard Sierra speaking to the boys.Despite our constant warnings whenever she mentioned the ritual, she was still hellbent on going ahead with it, and what was more shocking was that she needed it to be done urgently. I hoped we had more time to convince her not to go on with it. The door was opened so I entered. "Sierra," I called out softly to her, she turned back to stare at me."Thane." Her eyes were red and swollen, she must have been crying hard. "Thank goodness you're here." She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. "I was just telling the boys that I needed the ritual done as soon as possible if you could please-" "Sierra, take it slow," I said trying to be calm, she was quite determined but it was a very bad decision to make. Her shoulders relaxed a bit."I know how eager you might feel ri
THANENot wanting to give Erin the satisfaction of being arrogant, I smirked at him trying to hide my anger.I beckoned to the guard standing closest to me, "Bring in the guest." I ordered.Then to Erin, I said, "I can barely understand your grievances," his eyes held a surprise, he wasn't expecting me to say that. "However, you'll have to wait before leaving, it's bad manners to keep a guest waiting." The tone I used demanded no reply.He kept quiet and then went back to his seat fuming. We all waited in silence till we could hear the approaching footsteps of the guard and the guest.The door opened revealing the principal of our children's school.The Alphas gasped. He was the last person everyone was expecting to see in a gathering of Alphas.He walked through the aisle towards my throne-like chair. Then bent down with his knee on the floor in reverence. "My King." Nodding my head at him in acknowledgment of his reverence, I replied, "Rise." I ordered. He scrambled to his feet
ERINI couldn't believe my eyes, it was Claire, she was holding a black bag ready to hand it over to the man black. A weird feeling of embarrassment curled inside my stomach making me uncomfortable. I defended her and made her the victim while she went behind me to plot an attack on a person. She heard me argue about her innocence and hadn't said a word to me. She was there the whole time while I caused a scene in the Alpha king's home and she was quiet.My fingers shook as I stared at the pictures on the ground, I didn't realize when they fell off my hands."Cat got your tongue now, Erin?" I heard a voice sneer in the room and another person snickered.I willed for the ground to open up and swallow me."How can someone be so shameless and unthoughtful?" Their voices were low but I could hear it loud and clear. "What if our kids were harmed in the process?" "She must have the mind of the devil for her to have such evil thoughts." The old man spat."This wasn't just thoughts, she c
SIERRA"I won!" I exclaimed, raising both hands. "I used to be so good at this when I was younger." My mother groaned sitting on the marble ground pouting."Now, your very young child is beating you hands down." I grinned at her smiling.She had approached me earlier on my way back to my room, I had every intention of sulking but the eager look in her eyes when she asked me to play made me suck up my protests and follow her. This was our third round and she was failing miserably."C'mon now Sierra, don't get all cocky on me." She grumbled. "One more round, I'll be sure to win this time around." She said picking up the cards. After shuffling and sharing them, the game began."Where do I put this?" She muttered to herself as she tried to find a familiar card. "There you are!" She placed her card and raised her hand."I won!" She got up and did a little victory dance. A pile of cards fell off her dress."No, you didn't!" I raised my hand to cover my mouth."I didn't?" She feigned igno
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
SIERRAThe hot water cascaded over my skin, washing away the remnants of exhaustion and frustration. I tried to hold onto my anger, to focus on the fact that Dane had made a deal with Ariel without even knowing the price. But it was difficult when his hands were on me, sliding down my arms, tracing gentle circles on my hips.“Dane,” I started, intending to scold him, but the words melted into a soft moan when his fingers dug slightly into my waist. I hated how easily he unraveled me, how his touch turned my fury into something else entirely.“I’m not leaving you, Sierra,” he murmured against my ear, his voice deep and resolute. “And I’m not doing anything with Ariel. I just couldn’t watch you suffer.”I sighed, leaning back against him as his lips ghosted over my neck. “I still don’t trust her.”“Neither do I,” he admitted, pressing a kiss just below my ear. “But I had to do something.”His hands moved up my stomach, teasing but never crossing the line. Heat coiled low in my belly, an
DANEI tightened my grip on Sierra’s limp hand, my heart pounding. Her face was too pale, her breathing too shallow. Every second that passed felt like a lifetime, and I couldn’t take it anymore.“Ariel,” I said, my voice raw. “Please. Do it now. Whatever it takes.”Ariel tilted her head, her lips curling into a knowing smile. “Begging now, are we?”I clenched my jaw. “Just save her.”Ariel rolled her eyes but knelt beside Sierra, placing her hands gently over the burn. A faint glow emitted from her palms, flickering like the flame of a candle before growing stronger. She murmured in a language I didn’t recognize, her voice steady and sure. The air around us thickened, charged with an almost electric energy that made the hairs on my arms stand on end.The glow spread, tendrils of light unfurling from Ariel’s hands and wrapping around Sierra’s body like a cocoon. The energy pulsed, shifting from a soft gold to an intense, almost blinding white. I clenched my fists, watching in tense si
DANEI couldn't take it anymore. Watching Sierra in agony, her body trembling as she fought against the pain, was unbearable. I felt useless, standing there while she suffered, unable to do a damn thing to help her. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, my frustration bubbling over until I couldn’t hold it in any longer.“I need some air,” I muttered, turning on my heel.“Dane.” Kane’s voice was sharp with suspicion. “Where are you going?”I didn’t answer. I just kept walking, my strides long and determined as I pushed open the door of the packhouse and stepped into the night. The cool air did nothing to soothe the fire in my chest. Sierra’s pained whimpers echoed in my ears, haunting me with every step I took.Kane cursed under his breath and hurried after me. “Don’t do anything stupid,” he warned, grabbing my arm. “I know what you’re thinking.”I yanked my arm free. “Then you know I can’t just stand there and watch her suffer, Kane.” My voice was rough with frustration. “She’s i