MAYAI followed closely behind the guys as they searched through the woods."Let's check over there," Kane said pointing to a small trail that had been created by constant steps of people. "You guys wait here, we'll be back," Dane said as he hurried after him, I watched as they disappeared into the bushy trail."Maya, are you alright?" Zane asked walking closer to me. I sniffled trying to wipe off my tears, "I will be fine once I see her." I replied trying to hold back a sob. "I know this is hard for you, but you need to calm down a bit, you'll end up getting a headache," Thane said from behind me, I didn't notice him coming. "I will be fine, I just need to see my daughter," I answered.Soon Dane and Kane returned from the trail, from the look on their faces, I could tell that they hadn't found anything. "There was not even a single clue, it's as though she vanished into thin air," Kane said wiping off the sweat on his forehead."The trail was as neat as hell, not even the prints
THANE"These woods have no suitable hiding place, I doubt she's here," Dane said as he searched through the bushes. He was right, the forest was home mostly to shrubs and little pests, yet that was what made it even more suspicious, men like Elvis tend to act in a manner that would surprise people, he knew how people thought and what they expected so he works oppositely. "I wonder if Elvis has her," Zane muttered as though he was talking to himself. "If he does have her, how and when did he sneak on us?" He asked frowning. "We could have caught his smell miles before he got close," Dane added."That's if he doesn't hide his scent." Kane countered. "Keep searching, Sierra has to be somewhere," I said and they moved to work immediately. We got to a crossroad, the trail we had been walking through was split into two. "I guess this is where we go our separate ways," Zane said causally shrugging his shoulders. I knew he was worried, they all were, she was their mate as much as I found
SIERRAMy eyes opened slowly trying to get accustomed to the light from the sun. When the mist was fully cleared, I struggled up to my feet glancing around.The surroundings were unfamiliar, although I was in the middle of the woods, yet, the surroundings seemed very strange. A faint smell hit my nose, it reeked of metal and something foul.I stared down at my body, it was soaked with blood. My dress clung desperately to my skin, the blood was dried making the red of the blood appear black and smelling."What's this?" I mumbled to myself trying to wipe off the blood with my palm. When it didn't come off, I gave up."How did I get here?" The words were out of my lips as I glanced around the woods. I tried to recall how I had gotten there but I kept drawing a blank, nothing came to my memory.I could feel a faint ache at the back of my head, it kept hammering heavily on my head as though my brain was swelling increasingly. The more I tried to recall what happened, the more the ache was.
SIERRAI was lying on a soft surface when I regained consciousness. It was so soft that I felt myself sinking into it, I wanted to remain there for a long time. Were prison floors usually this soft? As the thought hit me, I sat up immediately earning a heavy bang on my head making me groan in pain.Had they thrown me into the cell? My eyes darted around the room in panic, but the cells weren't this beautiful except they wanted me to enjoy my last days before they executed me. I couldn't help but feel terrified.My fingers began to shake, I hadn't done anything wrong, I was just passing by and unfortunately for me, I had stumbled at the wrong place at the wrongest of times.The look in the Alpha's eyes was planted in my head, I could see the accusations in his eyes as he asked me if I was a spy. Were they going to kill me for wandering in their land?I drew my legs up to my chest in a bid to comfort myself, "Calm down Sierra, they wouldn't go through the stress of giving you a room as
SIERRAGerald's expression changed on hearing me, "Are you sure about what you just said?" He asked, his deep blue eyes locking with mine.I gasped as I released a breath I didn't realize I was holding. "Yes, you have to do something immediately," I said I could feel my blood pressure rising with every breath I took."How do you know?" He asked as he got up to his feet.I hesitated for a minute but the look in his eyes made me stop, he believed me and he was ready to act. "I just have a feeling, it comes and goes but you've got to believe me."He nodded stretching out his hand, "I need to inform the Alpha, please, come with me." I took his hand as he pulled me out of the bed. He walked ahead with me following closely behind him, my eyes were fixed on his long legs as he took very huge strides towards the Alpha's council room, I could barely keep up so I tripped on my own feet. He was fast, he caught me just before I landed on my knees."Are you alright?" He asked with concern swimming
SIERRA“Gerald!” I screamed the moment I got over my initial shock.I knelt beside him, panicking. “No no no.. don't die on me” I whispered as I tried to collect myself and see how I could help him, he lay unconscious on the ground, the arrow was laced with deep poison as that was the only way a guy as big as Gerald would lose consciousness immediately.I took a deep breath and grabbed the arrow, ready to pull it out so I could treat the wound when I heard loud noises surrounding us, I turned to see that it was the warriors running towards us, “Good thing you're here, please come help me. Some of you can chase after the culprits, I'm not sure they've gone far.” I yelled after them and faced Gerald back, helping him was my priority.“Step back” The leader halted me the moment they got close.I was yanked away from Gerald and the next thing I saw was initial darkness, the continuous ringing in my ear told me that I was still alive.“What have you done to my son!?” It was Alpha Harold's
SIERRA"This is impossible!" I could hear the excitement in her voice."Didn't you say no one can shift here?" I asked with panic rising inside me, something wasn't right, I could feel it."That's how it has been for years, they seal off our chi making it hard for us to shift into our wolf form." She explained releasing another howl in the air as though she was sending a signal to someone or some people."I don't know who you are but I think you have something to do with our ability to shift." As she spoke, another loud howl echoed from the southern end of the cell.Something was wrong. "Please, stop it." I pleaded, she couldn't see me but I could tell she wasn't listening.Another howl came from the opposite direction, the prisoners were shifting to their wolf form."I can get my revenge now, I can hurt them down for dumping me here for years." The girl muttered then a loud bang echoed from her cell.In a panic, I rushed over to the wall we both shared banging hard on the wall. "Stop
SIERRA"No wait!" My eyes widened in panic at the dreadful thought of being thrown into that eerie place when the whole pack was in turmoil because of me.The warriors rushing towards me stopped, they stared at me as though I had gone crazy."Hold on please," I said again turning to the Alpha. His face wad red with anger, and I couldn't blame him for staring at me with so much hate, upon my arrival, I had done nothing but cause havoc in his once peaceful pack, the least I could do was clean my mess."Alpha Harold, I know you hate me so much that you can barely stand the sight of my face but please listen to me." I went on my knees hoping it would pacify him a little so he could give me a little audience.He released a grunt."I'm sorry about this umm.. this pandemonium, but this isn't my fault," I said bowing my head to the ground."Then whose fault is it?" He snapped angrily."I have no idea what happened and how it occurred but I heard it was impossible to shift while in the prison
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