Rachel. Dead.The image of her blood-soaked body wouldn’t leave my mind. Her face pale, her lifeless eyes closed like she’d gone in her sleep. But she hadn’t. The vampires had done this.Put her in a state of death and life. She did not transition into a vampire. Nor did she die fully as a wolf.She became the in-between.My assistant. My friend. Gone.I stumbled away from the stretcher, my breaths coming in shallow gasps. My vision blurred with unshed tears, and my body trembled as a storm of grief and rage coursed through me. Lizbella trailed after me, her expression unusually somber.“Briar…” she began, her voice softer than I’d ever heard it.“Don’t,” I choked out, shaking my head. “Don’t say it. Don’t tell me it’s going to be okay, because it’s not. Rachel…rachel is dead..”She stopped, biting her lip. For once, Lizbella had no sarcastic quip, no lighthearted joke to ease the pain in my heart.I couldn’t be here. I couldn’t see Rachel like that again.My heart was breaking the
I groaned, pulling the blanket over my head. Couldn’t they argue just once without waking the entire neighborhood?“It’s not your stuff!” Luna’s voice carried into my room, filled with anger. “It’s our stuff! You’re just selfish!”“Oh my God,” I muttered, tossing the blanket aside and sitting up. My body still ached from the chaos of the previous night, but the twins didn’t care about that. No, they were too busy acting like they lived on a battlefield.They were toddlers. The next day, they have forgotten all about it. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, shoved my feet into my slippers, and shuffled into the hallway.“Guys—” I started, only to stop when I saw Finn and Luna locked in an epic tug-of-war over a ratty old stuffed wolf.“Let go!” Finn shouted, his small frame straining as he yanked the toy.“You let go!” Luna retorted, planting her feet like she was about to go full alpha.“ENOUGH!” I said, my voice louder than I intended.Both of them froze, their wide eyes snappi
The town square was quieter than it had been the night before, but the tension was still there. Everyone was looking at each other with fear.There were whispers, people pointing at me as if I was a vampire myself. I ignored them, tucking my hands on my dark blazer pockets. I found the elders near the center, their grim faces locked in discussion.“Elder Nilo,” I called, my voice cutting through their conversation.He turned to me, his expression neutral. “Briar. What can we do for you?”“You can start by explaining why Rachel and the others are being burned,” I said, crossing my arms.“It’s a precaution,” he said evenly. “The vampires who attacked carried venom. It’s too dangerous to bury them as we normally would.”“That’s ridiculous,” I snapped. “Rachel wasn’t a danger to anyone. She deserves a proper burial, by the river, the way she wanted. The family's of the others can vouch for them. Or a friend, you can't just burn them and throw their ashes away. .”Elder Maura frowned, st
“Where the hell did that come from?” she asked. Her eyes widened. “I don’t know,” I admitted, shaking my head. “It’s just… something I know. A memory, maybe. The voice came to my mind. Like the voice of a mother.”Lizbella frowned. “A memory? You said you don’t remember anything about your mom.”“I don’t,” I said softly, my gaze drifting to the river. “But when I sang, it felt like… like she was there. Like it was her voice, not mine.”Kieran stepped closer, his expression unreadable. “Do you know what the words mean?”I nodded, a faint smile touching my lips. “It’s a goodbye. It means, ‘Live forever, pure soul. Your light is in the stars, never dim. May the water guide you home.’”Lizbella blinked, her grey eyes soften, a soft smile on her pink heart lips. “That’s… beautiful.”“It’s what Rachel deserved,” I said, my voice thick with emotion.There was a moment of silence, the weight of grief and memory settling over us like a blanket.Then I turned to Kai, who had been watching qui
Lizbella was already in the break room when I arrived at work, perched on the counter like the boss she is. She was sipping coffee out of a chipped mug that read, Therapy Is Cheaper Than Murder. Her wild dark curls framed her face, and her expression was as stormy as the dark brew in her hands.“Morning,” I said cautiously, setting my bag on the small table.Lizbella didn’t reply. Instead, she raised an eyebrow and took another sip, her silence louder than any greeting.“Okay,” I muttered, sliding into the chair across from her. “Go ahead. Say whatever it is you’re dying to say.”Her eyes narrowed. “You’re an idiot.”I let out a sharp laugh, more out of disbelief than amusement. “Good morning to you too.”“I mean it, Briar.” Lizbella hopped off the counter, her boots thudding against the tile as she crossed her arms. “You’ve officially lost your mind. Training with those Lycans? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”I bristled at her tone, leaning back in my chair. “I’m not trying
When I got home, the first thing I noticed was the cars parked outside my small apartment complex. Sleek, black, and undeniably expensive.I frowned. They definitely didn’t belong to anyone in my building. Most of my neighbors drove beat-up sedans or pick-up trucks that rattled louder than a werewolf howl on a full moon.My heart thudded in my chest as I gripped my bag tighter and slowly made my way to the door. Something didn’t feel right.Fishing around in my bag, my fingers closed around the hilt of the small knife I always carried. It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing.The moment I unlocked the door, I heard it—a muffled clatter, followed by low voices and the sound of something sizzling.I slipped inside, shutting the door quietly behind me. My heart was racing now, and my grip on the knife tightened as I followed the noise to the kitchen.What I found made me freeze in the doorway.Standing in my kitchen, shirtless, were three of the hottest men I’d ever seen.Kai, K
I crossed my arms and leaned against the counter, glaring at the three Lycans who somehow managed to look completely at home in my kitchen. Kai was calmly plating the food he’d made, Kieran leaned casually against the fridge, and Kylan… well, Kylan looked like he was mentally planning his next smartass remark.“You can’t just show up here and act like this is normal,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended.Kai set the plates down on the table, his piercing blue eyes flicking to mine. “Nothing about this situation is normal, Briar. But here we are.”I rolled my eyes. “Let’s get one thing straight. Just because you think you’re their fathers doesn’t mean I’m going to let you waltz in here and take over my life.”“You don’t have a choice,” Kai said bluntly, his tone firm but not unkind. “We’re not going anywhere.”“Oh, yes, you are,” I shot back. “The second you finish your little meal, you’re out of here. And you can forget about spending time with Finn and Luna.”“About that…” Kylan
“Not it doesn't.” I replied. “Then where are we staying?” Kieran asked, clearly enjoying my discomfort.“You have money, figure it out.”“But we want to stay here. Training, remember? Kids too.” Kieran added waving at Luna and Finn. “Annoying alphaholes,” I muttered, walking toward the small guest room at the back of the apartment. “There’s one spare bed. Figure it out.”The three of them followed me, their large frames practically filling the narrow hallway.“Okay,” I said, throwing open the door to the guest room. “This is it. Don’t complain. Don’t ask for anything. Just stay out of my way.”Kylan stepped inside, his grin widening as he surveyed the cramped space. “Cozy.”“It’s not meant for three people,” I said pointedly.He shrugged. “We’ll make it work.”Kai crossed his arms, his eyes scanning the room. “This bed doesn’t look very sturdy.”“It’s fine,” I said, exasperated. “Lizbella slept on it just fine.”Kylan plopped onto the bed, and before I could blink, there was a loud
I stood still.The water dripped from my hair. My skin still glowed faintly, markings humming beneath the surface. The silence around me wasn’t peaceful—it was coiled. Like a held breath.I was naked. But I didn’t feel cold. I didn’t feel… anything. Not properly.And their eyes—God, they were staring.Kai.Kylan.Kieran.They stood frozen near the edge of the spring, all three looking like they wanted to move closer but didn’t dare.“She’s not… blinking,” Kylan muttered.“She’s not Briar,” Kai replied, his voice low and sharp.Something twitched in my chest. I didn’t know if it was anger or sadness. Something flickered. I looked down at the water swirling around my waist. It was still listening. Ready.“What if she screams again?” Kylan whispered. “What if she vaporizes us this time?”I looked up slowly.Kai didn’t move. “Then we hope she remembers who we are before it happens.”Kylan turned to him. “Oh great. Hope. Yeah, that’ll totally keep our bodies from turning to smoke.”“Be qu
Briar's POVEverything was quiet.Not in the way silence normally is. This wasn’t just the absence of sound.This… this was peace.I didn’t feel pain anymore. No heaviness in my chest. No burning behind my eyes. No panic clawing at the edge of my lungs.Just warmth.Gentle warmth, wrapping around my limbs like velvet.And light.So much light.I opened my eyes.I wasn’t at the road with vampires anymore.I was underwater.I could breathe.The water was so clear it felt like air. Light trickled in from above, dancing across the surface in golden ribbons. Everything glowed softly hues of blue and green and silver that shimmered with every tiny ripple.I looked down.I still had legs.No tail. No change. I wasn't a fish.And yet… it felt different.My skin was glowing. Lines trailed up my arms like ink beneath the surface—glowing faintly, moving ever so slightly like they were alive.I moved feeling free. As if in a long time I could actually breathe. I wasn't alone here. Figures moved
Kai’s POVShe hadn’t moved in over an hour.Not even a twitch.I stood near the window, arms crossed, eyes locked on her still figure as the storm inside me brewed heavier than the clouds outside. The kids had fallen asleep again, one on each side of her, their small hands curled against her arms like they were trying to keep her tethered to the world.I couldn’t stop staring.Because if I stopped staring… I might have to admit how scared I actually was.The power he felt emitted from her wasn’t wolf. Wasn’t anything I’d seen in a long time. It smelled old. Too old. Old like the vampires. Kylan entered the room quietly, a bottle of water in his hand and his entire posture screaming guilt.I hadn't asked him what had happened because I was thinking about ways to sort this out. I didn’t look at him when I asked, “What happened out there?”He sat on the edge of the table across from me, rubbing the back of his neck. “She passed out. After vaporizing a group of rogues and vampires. All
Kylan’s POVI could feel her heart beating erratically against me, her body still limp in my arms as I carried her through the forest, away from the wreckage.Briar was barely conscious, her breathing shallow, and that alone sent a panic that ran through me faster than I’d ever run in my wolf form.I knew something was wrong, but the sight of her collapsing—her body betraying her like that—had set off every protective instinct I had.I couldn’t wait for any help. I didn’t even think. I just needed to get her somewhere safe.Her head hung in my arms like a ragdoll, and I felt her weak pulse in my hands, her skin clammy with the sweat of whatever fever she’d caught from the siren power taking over.I abandoned the car the second I realized she wasn’t waking up. It didn’t matter that I wasn’t alone. What mattered was her. Always her.I shifted fast, fur sprouting across my body. The moment my Lycan form took over, I scooped her up, feeling the heat of her skin against my fur. My paws hit
The silence was suffocating.The last rogue fell as ash to the earth, drifting like dust on a dead wind.My chest heaved. My vision blurred.I didn’t understand what just happened. My scream—it had done something. Something terrifying.How? I had killed someone. Well not someone. Couple of people. Wait…Kylan.The screwdriver was still at my feet, but I barely noticed it now.I pushed open the car door stepping outside. “Kylan!” I screamed. Please no. Ease let me not have hurt him.“Briar!” He called out. I turned to see him and I sighed in relief. He was already shifting mid-sprint, fur retracting into skin, claws vanishing as his towering figure emerged from the trees, shirtless, panting, his eyes wild.“Briar!” he called, panic etched into every corner of his voice. “Where are you—”His eyes locked on me.And something in his face… froze.I turned to him fully now. I didn’t run to.him. I didn’t cry or shout in anger. I… smiled.My lips curved, slow. Calculated. Seductive. My
Silence settled between us again. Information overload. I was confused on how to feel. How to react. I had kids. I had a life. And right now, I am not sure who I am. I have something growing inside of me and surprisingly, I am from a bloodline of sea creatures. How? All my life I had grown up at the orphanage. Yes, people listened to me. Yes…my beauty and sometimes my voice…had…attracted people to me. A crown marred my forehead. As I looked to the ground. Kylan was the first to speak. “So, what’s our next move?”Theo exhaled. “You need to learn control. Fast. Before someone figures out what you are and comes looking.”A chill ran down my spine. “Someone is looking, aren’t they?”Theo’s expression didn’t change. “Wouldn’t you be?”I didn’t know what to say.I was just… confused.Me? A siren? It didn’t make sense. It didn’t fit.I wasn’t some mystical creature from a legend. I wasn’t powerful. I was just… me. An adopted girl with too many scars, too much baggage, and a history of r
I was surprised. Not because of the book or the drawing or even the words coming out of Theo’s mouth. I was surprised because, deep down, something inside me already knew that I wasn't okay. But being told this, not on my list of things. Kylan sat beside me, staring at the page with a deep frown, his fingers tapping against the table as if trying to piece everything together. But I couldn’t look away from the image in front of me. A woman, drawn in ink so old it had faded into the parchment. Long, flowing hair. Eyes that seemed to glow even in the faded artwork. Strange, swirling snake marks along her arms—marks I had seen before. On me. Theo exhaled, leaning back slightly. “She was a Siren Goddess,” he said simply. I finally forced my eyes away from the book. “A what?” Kylan let out a low whistle. “I was hoping for something dramatic, but this? Yeah…it didn't fit what I had in mind.” Theo ignored him, his sharp green eyes locked on me. “She wasn’t just any siren.
I sat in my car outside the diner long after Kylan had left, staring at my phone screen, debating how to even start this conversation.A trip.It was reckless. Dangerous, even. I should’ve shut it down immediately. But Kylan was right—I was lost.And if this person he knew really could help me…I inhaled sharply and opened the group chat with Kai and Kieran.Me: We need to talk. It’s important. I’ll be home soon.A response came almost immediately.Kai: What happened?Kieran: Are you okay?I stared at their messages, hesitating before replying.Me: Just meet me at the house.I put my phone down before they could respond, gripping the steering wheel tightly.This was going to be a fight.---By the time I walked through the front door, they were both already there—Kai leaning against the kitchen counter, arms crossed, and Kieran sitting at the table, watching me closely.The moment I stepped inside, Kai’s eyes narrowed. “What’s going on?”I exhaled, dropping my keys onto the counter. “
After dropping the kids off at school, I felt useless. I sat in my car for a while, staring at the wheel, trying to figure out what to do with myself. There was always something to handle, always another crisis waiting, but today, there was nothing. It felt wrong. I exhaled sharply and checked my phone. A single message stared back at me. Council Hall. Now. I sighed. No explanation, no warning, just an order. By the time I pulled up to the hall, my mood had soured. The council building was old, built with stone that made it look more like a relic than a functioning place of authority. I pushed through the heavy doors, the cool air inside making my skin prickle. Elder Ama was waiting at the long table, along with three other council members. They watched me with expressions that gave nothing away. “Briar,” Ama said, motioning for me to sit. I didn’t move right away. “This about the clinic?” “It is.” I sat down, crossing my arms. “If this is another attempt to pin som