SIERRA"Hear ye, good people of this great land, our dearly beloved King is holding a banquet this evening to bring his people together, there will be lots of food and drinks for everyone!"I could hear the voice of the messenger from the third floor, he was delivering Thane's message to the people. There was excitement in the air as we began to prepare for the banquet, it was a means of bringing the people of different clans together and helping improve our relationship.The entire house was bustling with activity, the maids were in the kitchen preparing food while the male servants were busy with the decorations of the royal mansion."Sierra!" My mother called from downstairs, "The designer is here with your dress.""I'm coming!" I replied running downstairs, I wasn't left out of the excitement, it was one of the very first parties hosted by Thane that I would be attending, not just as a guest but as the family of the host."Hello, Miss Sierra." The maid greeted me with a smile on h
SIERRAThe front door opened, and the sound of heavy footsteps filled my ears as they climbed up the stairs."That sounds like Thane." Mom said getting up from the bed."We still need to be careful, who knows, the rogues might still be out there," I said standing before her to stop her from leaving. We needed to be extra careful.She smiled, "I can tell it's Thane from a mile away." She insisted."Who knows, maybe rogues now steal appearances, I'm going to keep you safe till I'm sure it's him," I replied.She shook her head but remained seated.A knock sounded on the door, "Maya?" Thane called, "Dear, are you in there?" He asked. We had moved into her room since she was finding the blood disgusting and the smell of the rogue made her nauseous.Mom stared at me with eyes that screamed, 'I told you so.'"Yes, she is," I answered opening the door halfway.It indeed was Thane, he was standing outside with clean clothes, I was expecting him to be bloody since he was coming from the battlef
SIERRAZane's face changed, "what do you mean by that?" He asked.I took in a deep breath, "There's a traitor, he's deeply connected with the rogues' attack at the palace today.""Are you certain about this?" He asked looking confused."Yes, I am," I replied wanting to move forward but was stopped once again by Zane."If there's a traitor as you said, is Dad aware?" He asked.I nodded, "he was the first person I told when I found out." I answered."You told him who the person is?" He asked.I shook my head, "No."Zane closed his eyes for a second, "Why haven't you told Dad about it?" He asked.I was getting tired of his questions already but I had no choice, I needed to speak to him so I could be on my way as fast as possible before anyone back home would notice I was gone."There are some things I need to check first, I need to speak to him before telling Thane," I replied."What has that got to do with meeting Gerald?" He asked, as soon as he asked, His eyes widened, and he grabbed
SIERRAAs soon as the words left my mouth, Alpha Harold's face turned red in anger, his hands trembled angrily by his sides, and he gripped the hand of his chair tightly."Guards!" His voice echoed around the house.The door opened and harmed warriors allowed themselves in, "Yes Alpha.""Arrest those two brats, throw them in the worst cell in the entire pack, we need to teach these rats some manners." He shouted.I frowned.Rats?He sure had guts, after what he had done, he had the effrontery to speak down at us and call us names. Anger began to boil inside me, I had given him the chance to come clean and apologize sincerely but he had chosen a different path, one that I didn't want to trod.The warriors bowed to him, "Yes Alpha." They chorused marching towards us."Step back," I muttered as they drew closer.They exchanged amused glances, properly thinking I was not in my right state of mind. They kept approaching."Don't say I didn't warn you," I said moving backward, I didn't want
SIERRAWithout holding back, I jumped towards him with my claws exposed in the air."Sierra! Watch out!" It was a little too late when I heard Zane's warning. A rogue had jumped at me, he came from the side, and his claws grazed my side.I moved out of his grasp, wanting to sink my claws into his neck but my claws had vanished.What's happening Rieka? I asked but there was nothing, I couldn't hear her voice in my head and she was refusing to come out.My eyes landed on the rogue above me, I moved out of the way just in time to avoid a blow aimed at my head. My leg was caught in between some plants making me fall face flat on the ground."So much for giving me the last chance." Alpha Harold laughed, "Get me the girl." He ordered."You better be kidding." Zane snapped, "You're only leaving with her over my dead body." Zane snarled, He shifted halfway, reaching for the rogue nearest to him.He grabbed him by the neck tearing him apart with his bare hands. The rogues stopped for a minute
SIERRAZane dropped to a limp, blood dripping from the wound. My heart stopped."N... no, no.. it can't be," I muttered dropping the stones in my hands as I walked towards Zane.His eyes were closed, and the blood had formed a map on his shirt. The shirt was torn in different places. The rogues on seeing Zane who had been taking them out like a killing machine on a spree had fallen to the ground they approached him ready to take him out fully."This looks like fun." Alpha Harold chuckled. The sound of him giggling fueled my rage, Zane was gravely wounded because of me and all he could was it looked fun to him.Psychopath."Kill the boy and bring that insolent girl to me." Alpha Harold ordered from where he sat.The rogues gladly took the order personally as they walked around Zane's wounded body."Stop! Don't you dare touch him!” I screamed pushing against the rogues so I could reach him."You stupid bitch!" One of them snarled holding my hair, I could almost hear my hair ripping out
SIERRAI felt lifeless as I called for Sierra, my heart kept pounding hard, my breathing was coming out in pants, and the wound in my stomach and shoulder kept bleeding."Let's go." The one who appeared to be the leader of the rogues ordered."But he's still breathing." Another said wanting nothing more than to snatch my life."Besides he killed a lot of us." Another opined.The leader cast a disgusting look at me, "This one is not going to survive, let him rot away here." He turned away, "He can serve as food for hungry animals." He said.The rogues turned away from me, they followed the same path that Alpha Harold took.I couldn't die in the forest like some mere animal, I had to do something to help Sierra, I could tell that Harold's greed would lead him to do anything to her.The pain in my shoulder hurt as hell, he hadn't bothered to pull out the spear. I pushed myself up, and with my free hand, I grabbed a handful of sand to get my arms dusty, and then I pulled out the spear.Bl
SIERRAI opened my eyes groggily as I took in my surroundings, my head ached painfully, Harold had hit me with a stick so I could lose consciousness.I was in a damp and poorly lit basement, the air was dry and a heavy smell of decay filled the air making it impossible for me to breathe. I stared around, the doors were made with strong iron bars that made it impossible for me to escape when if I wanted to.I tried to move but it was impossible to do so, my arms were tightly tied with a strong rope that dug deep into my flesh any time I moved. After the chains, I was wrapped with a sliver chain that held my legs and hands bound. My mouth felt dry and sticky."Harold sure did his best to restrain me." I couldn't help but murmur.The stinky smell of wolfsbane hit my nostrils, it made my head pound painfully. The sick bastard had laced the chains with it, it burned anytime the chain came in contact with my bare skin.I closed my eyes trying to reach for Rieka, she was the only one who cou
SIERRAI sniffled, my vision still blurry from the tears that refused to stop falling. The weight of what the Moon Goddess had told me pressed down on my chest like a stone, suffocating and heavy. I had always known fate was cruel, but this? This was unbearable.Zane's arms tightened around me, his warmth soothing, even as my heart ached. "We’ll survive," he repeated, his voice steady. "Even if we never have a child, we’ll be okay."His words should have reassured me, but they didn’t. I shook my head. "I know you all want a family. I know how much it means to you, to all of us." My voice cracked as I spoke, the pain of my fate settling deeper into my bones. "You shouldn’t have to give that up because of me."Kane’s fingers tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze. His green eyes were fierce, unwavering, but filled with something I wasn’t expecting, love. "You think we’d ever choose a child over you?"I opened my mouth, then closed it again. I didn’t know what to say."You are ou
SIERRAI rubbed my temples, frustration and exhaustion clawing at me. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t tap into the power they expected from me. I felt useless. Weak. And I hated it.“I just need some air,” I muttered, pushing past the boys before they could stop me. I didn’t wait for their response, I just walked. The cool breeze kissed my skin, but it did little to soothe the turmoil in my chest. My feet carried me further from the cabin, into the dense trees where the world felt quieter.I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, sinking onto the damp forest floor. If there was any chance of connecting to the Moon Goddess, I had to try.Clearing my mind, I focused on my breathing, letting everything else fade. And then, like a ripple through my soul, I felt it, a shift, a pull. The world around me disappeared, and I was somewhere else.The air shimmered with silver light, the scent of moonflowers filling my lungs. And there she stood, radiant and calm, her eyes glowing like twi
SIERRAThe moment I stepped outside, the air grew thick with whispers. The locals stood in small clusters, their eyes wide with fear as they watched me approach. Some clutched their children close, others took a cautious step back as if my mere presence might bring destruction upon them."She’s back," a woman muttered, gripping the arm of the man beside her. "Moon help us."A few of them cast nervous glances at the burnt remnants of a house in the distance, a grim reminder of what had happened the last time I lost control. I swallowed hard, my chest tightening.I ignored them and walked into the dimly lit room, my pulse steady despite the weight of what I was about to say. The boys turned to me instantly, their expressions a mix of curiosity and suspicion."She's linked to me," I said flatly, wasting no time.Dane frowned. "Who?""Ariel," I answered, crossing my arms. "She can see through my eyes."A tense silence followed."You let her do that?" Kane’s voice was sharp with disbelief.
ASTRIDCelia crossed her arms, watching the entrance where Ariel had just disappeared. “It’s clear we can’t control her.”I sighed, the weight of her words pressing down on me. “Then we’ll have to do the same thing we did to her grandmother. Tie her life to one of us.”A murmur of unease swept through the group. The vampires shifted where they stood, exchanging wary glances, but no one spoke. Their silence said enough. None of them wanted to be the one to do it.Celia narrowed her eyes at me. “And who exactly do you suggest, Astrid? Because I don’t see anyone volunteering.”I turned my gaze over the group, searching for any hint of willingness. Nothing. Not a single one of them met my eyes.“I’m not sacrificing myself for her,” one of the younger ones muttered.Another scoffed. “We barely know her. Why should one of us be bound to her life?”“She’s too powerful,” a voice added from the shadows. “Even if we tie her to one of us, what guarantees she won’t turn against us?”I clenched my
ASTRIDI lifted a hand, gesturing sharply to Celia to stay silent. My eyes darted toward the entrance of the cave. Footsteps. Ariel was back. Too soon. She must have heard something.The moment she barged in, her eyes were blazing with fury. "What secret are you hiding from me? What curse am I breaking?"I kept my voice calm. "Ariel, listen…""No!" she snapped, her powers flaring.Ariel didn’t hesitate. She reached deep within herself, where the power hummed beneath her skin, waiting to be unleashed. It surged, coiling through her veins like a living thing, crackling with energy. Her breath steadied, her fingers twitching as she focused.The air around her shifted, thick with an unseen force. A low hum vibrated through the cave, sending chills through the walls, and shaking the ground beneath her feet. The power built rapidly, feeding off her emotions, her anger, her betrayal, and her need for the truth.She lifted her hand slightly, fingers spreading apart. The pressure in the room i
ARIELI gripped the mandrake root tighter in my hands as I made my way back to the vampires’ hideout. The night air was thick with tension, the wind whispering through the trees like a warning I didn’t want to hear. Every step felt heavier, my heartbeat a steady drum against my ribs.Sierra’s words echoed in my mind, refusing to fade."Why would the vampires need a root that breaks curses?""Maybe they’re cursed.""Would they even tell you?"I shook my head, trying to push her voice away. She was wrong. She had to be. The vampires had taken me in when no one else would. They had given me answers when I was lost. They wouldn’t lie to me… would they?My conversation with Sierra played over and over in my mind, her words gnawing at my thoughts. "Ariel, think about it. Why would the vampires need a root that breaks curses?" Sierra asked, her voice filled with something I couldn't quite place, concern, desperation, maybe even guilt.I folded my arms, shifting my weight from one foot to t
SIERRAFlames roared around me, licking up the walls of the pack house. My chest heaved as I frantically waved my hands, trying to will the fire to stop, to go away. But the more I panicked, the wilder it became."Sierra! Stop!" Kane shouted, rushing toward me."I…I can’t!" My voice cracked as I stumbled backward. The fire wasn’t listening to me. It was as if it had a mind of its own.Dane cursed under his breath. "Everyone, back!"The villagers scattered, their eyes wide with fear. My heart clenched. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I just wanted to reveal who was watching us, not destroy everything in the process.A gust of wind slammed against me, but instead of extinguishing the fire, it only made it worse. The flames crackled, eating through the wooden beams, charring the walls black. Smoke billowed into the sky, dark and heavy.Kane grabbed me, shaking me gently. "Sierra, you need to calm down.""I can’t! I don’t know how!" My voice wavered, thick with frustration.Dane turned
SIERRAI rubbed my arms, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling crawling over my skin. It wasn’t just a shiver or a passing chill, it was deep, creeping, like invisible fingers trailing over my skin, sending goosebumps in their wake. My heart pounded against my ribs, and I swallowed hard, willing myself to push past it.My mates and the locals were staring at me, confusion written all over their faces. I didn’t blame them, I barely understood what was happening myself.“Sierra?” Kane’s voice was gentle, but I could hear the concern underneath.I opened my mouth to respond, but I hesitated. What was I supposed to say? That I felt like someone was watching me? That the weight of unseen eyes was pressing down on me, making my breath come in short, uneven puffs? It sounded ridiculous, even to me. But the feeling wouldn’t leave. It clung to me, heavy and suffocating.I shifted my weight from foot to foot, suddenly hyperaware of my surroundings. It felt crowded, and suffocating. I turne
SIERRAStepping out of the house, I barely had a moment to take in the cool night air before I heard the snickers."Well, well, look who finally decided to show up," someone muttered.A chorus of amused chuckles followed, and I felt my cheeks heat up instantly. I frowned, confused at first, but then realization struck like a lightning bolt. My heart plummeted.The sage.We forgot to keep the damn sage burning after the old woman left.My stomach twisted as I remembered the… sounds I had made. Oh, Moon above. The entire town heard me.Heat crawled up my neck, spreading across my cheeks like wildfire. My mortification must have been written all over my face because Kane chuckled, slinging an arm around my shoulders and pulling me close."Relax, sweetheart," he murmured, his voice dripping with amusement. "It’s nothing to be embarrassed about."I shot him a glare, but it only made him grin wider. "Easy for you to say," I muttered under my breath. "You weren’t the one…" I clamped my mouth