Chapter 3

Isabelle’s POV

I discovered that at night, the bond tying me to Jace grew weaker.

So the first thing I did was return to Thornhold Fortress. By now, surely someone had found Lena’s and my bodies.

But when I arrived, my hope died almost instantly.

Our bodies were still exactly where Jace and Rowan had left them that day. Not even moved an inch.

I didn’t need a nose to know the smell must have already spread through the hall.

From the state of our bodies, we had already started to rot.

A sharp pain tore through my chest. The mate mark on my neck burned hot.

Then came the anger, so strong it almost split me apart.

Were Jace and Rowan really that heartless to ignore Lena and I? Or were they simply so blinded by Selene that they refused to see the truth right in front of them?

Lena and I were their fated mates. Fated.

What a joke.

If I had known this was what fate would bring me, I never would have let Jace place his mark on my neck.

I would have rejected him the moment I knew he was mine.

…

I couldn’t bring myself to leave Lena’s body or mine behind.

So every night, when the bond tying me to Jace weakened, I returned to Thornhold Fortress.

On the fourth day, a guard finally passed nearby.

He suddenly pinched his nose and frowned. “What the hell is that smell?”

He hesitated before following it toward the Fortress.

The closer he got to the main hall, the slower his steps became.

Then he saw us and stumbled back. “Help! Somebody help!”

He quickly ran back and returned with several more guards and the Pack Healer.

The healer knelt beside us and examined our bodies.

Her expression turned grim. “They’ve been dead for several days.”

The Head Guard frowned. “Who are they?”

By then, Lena and I had decayed so badly that neither our faces nor our scents could identify us anymore.

“I’ll have both bodies taken to the morgue,” the healer said. “We need a full examination.”

The guard tensed. “Could Rogues have done this? Maybe someone crossed into our territory and dumped the bodies here as a warning.”

The healer examined the silver burns around our wrists, then the rotting whip wounds across our backs, still darkened by wolfsbane.

“No.” She shook her head. “This doesn’t look like a sudden attack. They died from prolonged abuse, starvation, and severe blood loss.”

She leaned closer to my neck. Her eyes narrowed. “She’s marked.”

The healer touched the faded mate mark carefully. “She has a mate. Which means she has family somewhere.”

She began searching my clothes.

A moment later, her fingers found something hidden deep inside the lining of my dress.

A small necklace. I had sewn it there myself so the Lycan Prince would never find it.

My name was carved into the pendant.

Isabelle.

I had made it not long after Lena and I first realized we were trapped inside Thornhold.

Back then, I wanted something with me that could remind me who I really was.

…

Suddenly, a powerful force yanked at my soul.

The healer disappeared. So did Thornhold.

The next second, I was standing beside Jace. He had just woken up. Selene was lying in the same bed beside him.

Before I could even process that, Jace’s phone rang.

He frowned and answered it.

“Alpha,” a familiar voice said from the other end.

It was the guard. “We found two dead she-wolves near the Fortress. Should we proceed with the identification and examination?”

Jace sat up slightly.

“The healer believes they died from prolonged injuries and blood loss, not murder,” the guard continued.

Jace’s expression barely changed. “Dead wolves?”

“One of them had a necklace with a name carved into it,” the guard said carefully. “Isabelle.”

He hesitated. “The same name as our Luna.”

Jace froze, but just for a second. Then he gave a cold laugh.

“Isabelle?” His voice hardened. “So this is her latest performance? She found two dead wolves, planted a necklace with her name on one of them, and thought it would scare us?”

The guard went silent, clearly not daring to answer.

“Run tests on the bodies. And find out where Isabelle and Lena went,” Jace ordered calmly. “I want a full report.”

He really thought this was all some cruel joke.

When the call ended, Selene stirred beside him.

“What happened?”

Jace’s face turned cold again. “Another prank from my dear mate. Apparently, she’s using dead bodies now just to cause trouble.”

Selene blinked. “Dead bodies?”

Jace hummed. “Disgusting. Does she really think this is funny? Creating panic in the pack just to get my attention?”

Selene moved a little closer to him. “Maybe we should cancel the mating ceremony.”

Jace looked at her.

“What if she does something worse?” Selene asked softly. “I don’t want the pack members frightened or worried because of us.”

Jace reached out and took her hand, his voice immediately gentler. “No need to worry. Everything is going exactly as we planned. I won’t put up for another stupid thing she chose to do.”

…

The next day, Jace told Rowan about the two bodies.

Rowan only snorted. “Lena was using my account two days ago. She spent thousands.”

He leaned back. “They’re obviously out there having fun.”

Spent thousands? Having fun?

I stared at him in disbelief.

Selene hesitated before speaking. “Actually… a friend of mine called me earlier. She said she saw Lena and Isabelle near the beach. They’ve been there since the day we left the Fortress.”

She pulled out her phone and showed them a photo.

Lena and I were smiling at the camera.

The picture was fake. Jace had to see that, right?

The bruises that had covered my arms were gone. My skin looked completely flawless. Even the scars around my wrists from wearing silver shackles for so long had disappeared.

It couldn’t have been more obvious.

But I should’ve known better.

Not one of them questioned it.

Jace actually seemed to relax. “I told you. She’s just trying to get our attention.”

He gave a faint laugh. “The Isabelle I know has always been a drama queen.”

Selene bit her lip, looking almost painfully sweet and considerate. “Maybe they just wanted some space. After all, they haven’t been outside that Fortress in years.”

That familiar anger burned through me again.

“You idiot!” I screamed. “How can you not see what’s right in front of you?”

I rushed straight through Jace.

He didn’t even flinch.

“If that’s what they want,” Jace continued calmly, “then Rowan and I should let them have it.”

Rowan nodded. “Maybe it’s for the best. They’re off enjoying themselves, and your mating ceremony with Selene can go smoothly.”

Selene leaned into Jace’s chest.

Neither Jace nor Rowan noticed the tiny smile slowly curling at the corner of her lips.

But I did.

Selene narrowed her eyes slightly.

She wasn’t worried about us at all. She looked pleased.