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
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