Chapter 17
Sierra’s POV
They are holding hands!
I growl at the sight of my weak, bitch of a sister throwing herself at my man. Like she can sense I’m here, Harper turns and smirks. The smug look on her face makes my blood boil, but I don’t have time to respond because Lucas also notices me.
“Why are you posing as my mate, you fraud?!”
He releases Harper and runs over to me, shifting mid-run and growling. The wolf in front of me is powerful and large, like every Alpha, and towers over me. His fangs drip with saliva- fangs that look ready to tear me apart at a moment’s notice.
“Lucas, baby. What—”
Lucas’s wolf lunges, tearing into me with his claws.
“NO!” I scream, jerking upright and looking around. Sweat pours down my forehead as I find myself in my bed and in the safety of my room. I press a hand to my chest to calm my pounding heart.
“Sierra? Honey?”
“Mom, come here!”
She rushes into my room, checking me for injuries as my fear begins to change into anger. Harper is putting everything I’ve worked for in jeopardy, meaning I need to do something to make sure she doesn’t mess up my plans.
I didn’t work all year at keeping me and Lucas together for her to come in and ruin everything.
“I need to strengthen my bond with Lucas to make sure I don’t lose him,” I tell her. “Where’s the witch’s book?”
Ever since Harper has come back, I’ve had to renew the bond more often. It’s been making me anxious to the point of panic attacks, and apparently to nightmares.
“In the bottom of my wardrobe, like it always is,” Mom answers. “I’ll go get it.” Nodding, I climb out of my bed while she rushes to her room.
A year ago, I convinced my father to strip Harper of her wolf, simply because she’s an illegitimate half-wolf who didn’t deserve to be in our family. I knew from the moment I met her that she was stronger than me, and I’ve hated her ever since.
It was when my brother, Mason, called me to tell me that Lucas was looking for his mate the day after my birthday that I realized the situation. He and Harper were—are—mates. They still are. Me faking a bond with the witch’s concoction didn’t change that like I thought it would.
I’ve never had to double the dose before, but now that Harper is back and messing with the connection between me and Lucas. It’s weakening. Splintering like a piece of wood that’s been bent too far.
“I got it, Sierra. I’ve also brought the ingredients,” my mom says as she enters the room. She holds the book up and I think about the first time she brought it to me. It was right after we heard that women were being gathered and checked for Lucas’s mark.
He’d been my crush for the longest time, and my mother had mentioned that this book describes a way to forge a bond. Since I’d always wanted to be with Lucas, and he was looking for a mate, I knew it was the perfect time to make a move.
So, before I went down to gather with the other women, I used Harper’s mother’s book to forge a bond with Lucas.
Now, I must strengthen that bond again.
I throw my arms around Lucas as soon as he leaves his parent’s quarters, smiling when our bond’s connection flares to life. Lucas smiles down at me and smiles, sending little butterflies wild in my stomach.
Two doses of the potion, and he’s putty in my hands again.
“I wanted to talk to you about the mating ball and—”
A pang resounds through my body, and when I look to the left, I notice Harper walking down the hall. I immediately throw my arms around Lucas again, pulling him closer and asking, “Do you want to have our wedding earlier, Lucas?”
Harper looks this way at my words and then immediately turns back around and walks away when she sees how close Lucas and I are.
Does she know that they’re mates? Can she feel a bond?
I’m not sure by her reaction, but the questions continue circling in my mind until I return my attention to my man.
He pushes me back gently, and I frown.
“I’m busy today, Sierra, so I’ve got to go,” Lucas says, making my heart sink as he walks away. Why?!
Why is he still distant when I’ve tried so hard? I upped the dose at the cost of my health and longevity, and it’s still not fully working like it used to.
I glance back in the direction Harper went and curse. It’s all her fault. Unless she’s gone, I won’t be able to get back to how it was with Lucas. He might even come out from under the charm fully, which would be bad for me and my mom.
To keep him, I need something stronger, something more permanent.
Walking away, I try to think of ways to get rid of Harper and keep Lucas to myself. I’m almost back to my room when my phone rings.
“Luna Sierra.”
“Yes, what do you need?” I snip.
“Luna Raine interfered and has ordered that I allow your sister to join the mating ball,” Jana, the girl in charge of the attendee list, says. I growl. How did Harper charm the former Luna so quickly?
Growling, I march to my father’s office and slam my hand on his desk, “Did you know that Harper is back for revenge?”
“Excuse me?” Father’s eyes darken as he looks up at me. I take a step back out of respect, so he doesn’t get angry at me.
My best chance of getting rid of Harper is my father. Just like a year ago, he has the power to kick her out. He may not be the Beta anymore, but he is still strong and of a higher status than Harper. Not to mention that they’re blood related, so he can also use that connection to get rid of her.
“Harper hates you so much for taking her wolf that she’s back for revenge. She’s even playing nice with Lucas so that she can get on his good side and hurt you,” I tell him. I’m not really sure if that’s what she’s doing, but if he believes me, he’ll take care of her.
Like before, I won’t have to get my hands dirty.
“Is that so?”
I nod.
“Then, I’ll have to deal with Harper, and this time, she won’t have a chance to return.
Harper’s POV
I walk the opposite direction of Lucas and Sierra to get into the pack house. No part of me wants to deal with them right now.
“Healer Harper,” a warrior I don’t recognize shouts, panting as he runs up to me. “Th-There’s been an attack at the border. Your friend Nora and the Gamma are hurt, and you’re needed to heal their wounds.”
“I’ll grab my things!”
Running inside, I gather my medical supplies while calling Nora. I call four times with no answer each as I run. My body aches, but I push myself because my friend needs me. The man didn’t say how injured they are, but if my best friend is hurt, I will be there to help her.
“I’ve got to go get the Beta,” the man says, then points ahead, “Go a mile more that way, and you’ll find them.”
He turns back and runs toward the pack house while I continue forward.
Soon, I burst through the trees and into a clearing where I take no more than five steps before I’m surrounded. Rogue wolves circle me, baring their fangs and growling as I spin to count. Five wolves surround me, all shifted and dangerous.
What the hell is happening? How did they get so close to the pack without being spotted?
I dart to the largest opening between two wolves, but teeth sink into my calf.
I scream.
