Chapter 1

ISABELLE’S POV

The surface of the water broke through with a huge splash as I was plunged into cold darkness.

My lungs burned like they were being pricked by icy needles as I tried to scream. I kicked frantically fighting against the powerful tides, my body sluggish in the cold water.

The current pressed down on me, tightening its hold with every second I spent gasping for air.

I struggled hard, my arms flailing above me but it was no good. I was going to drown.

Just as the thought ran through my mind, a strange warmth spread through my chest through to my whole body.

I felt like I was being pulled hard, away from the depths and into… a dream.

I opened my eyes slowly, blinking from the sudden blinding light. I found myself standing in a fog-covered field, alone.

I stumbled forward in confusion. Where am I? And how is my dress dry?

“Welcome, Isabelle.”

I whipped around in fear as a shiver ran down my spine. My eyes widened as I searched for where the voice was coming from.

Standing a few feet away from me was… myself. Or rather, a mirror image of me.

Same blonde hair, same piercing blue eyes, but there was something different. Something in her eyes.

“Who… what are you?” I stammered, slowly backing away.

“I’m your wolf,” my voice replied.

“W..what?” I retorted in confusion.

“You were meant to drown, but the Goddess of the Moon has granted you a merciful blessing.”

My mind whirled with a million questions. I squinted my eyes at the creature. What does she even mean?

But before I could even ask a single question, the figure stepped forward, her hands held out in front of her.

Her eyes were flashing as she leaned in even closer with a dark smirk and then whispered.

“Wake up!”

I gasped loudly as oxygen flooded my lungs, my eyes snapping open with a jolt.

The harsh light of my room shone into my eyes, as many blurry figures mumbled and whispered around me.

I pushed myself up, glancing around in utter confusion. My maids were all squealing in excitement around me.

“She’s awake! Go, tell Beta Rowan!” one of them cried, and another rushed out of the room.

“Rowan?” I muttered, “What is happening?” I whispered to myself.

Like I was in a daze, I slowly raised my hand to my head, trying to remember everything that happened and led me here. Teasing Matilda, Rowan's childhood friend and slipping through the ice into the lake.

Drowning….And the figure that looked identical to me.

Just as the memories rushed back to the surface, a voice—not my own—resonated through my mind.

“I’m your wolf.”

My eyes widened. “What the heck?” I cried out in shock.

My maids gave me a worried glance taking a step back from me, but I waved them away, my heart racing.

I was Isabelle the princess of the Night Fall Pack, but unlike my powerful brother Emperor Tristan, I was the least capable of the Alpha family.

While he ruled as the ruler, I was an object of pity—no wolf, no remarkable abilities, and no strength.

My parents died when I was young, and my brother Tristan possessed immense power and took over the Emperor position, he protected me and kept me safe in the pack.

So why now? Why can I suddenly hear a voice echoing in my head, claiming to be my wolf?

The voice returned, steady and sharp. “Now Isabelle , your life depends on forming bonds with different men. If you don't do what I directed, you are destined to die.”

I raised my brows with disbelief and scoffed.

“A wolf that's giving instructions? You must be joking.” I chuckled, brushing off the thought.

I had bigger priorities than listening to a strange voice in my head, like finding Rowan, the Beta of the Night Fall Pack and the man I have wanted for so long.

Pushing myself up, my eyes flickered through the room, ignoring my wolf’s words. My maids hung around, whispering and murmuring but all I could think of was Rowan. Even though he has rejected my advances before, there is no way that a princess like me would fail to make him fall.

And this time, there was no way he was going to be able to resist me.

I slid out of the room to search for him. But as I reached the door, I caught sight of two figures in the courtyard—someone standing beside Rowan. Matilda.

As I stared at her the memories rushed back. Standing by the lake, hurling threats at Matilda to stay away from Rowan.

My threats were empty but I needed her to believe me and leave him alone so we could be together.

Then I slipped and fell through the ice into the lake. I shook the dark memory away from my mind and watched intently as two armed guards appeared in the courtyard and dragged Matilda away.

She looked fearful, crying and begging for her innocence, but the guard's faces were stoic as they took her.

The maids' whispers swirled around me as I watched in confusion.

“Did you hear? Lady Matilda is going to be thrown into the dungeon by the order of Emperor Tristan.”

“What? But why?” another voice asked.

“They say she tried to harm Princess Isabelle and pushed her into the lake to drown.”

‘What?!’ I whispered in shock under my breath.

My wolf interrupted my thoughts, her voice cool and biting. “Don’t get hung up on one person, Isabelle. Cast a wider net, you have a quota to meet.”

“Quota?” I muttered under my breath, my brows raised.

What did she mean?– but before I could complete my thought, a sharp, searing pain tore through my body.

I gasped in pain, stumbling back unto the wall as my vision blurred.

I struggled to stay upright but my body suddenly felt weak and my legs collapsed beneath me as I slid onto the cold floor.

Darkness swallowed me once more, and I found myself back in that foggy field.

And just like before, my wolf awaited me, arms crossed, her expression tight with impatience.

“Listen carefully to me, Isabelle,” she growled with urgency. “If you remain fixated on Rowan, you’ll only find repeated death. You don’t have a single mate; the Moon Goddess has blessed you with the need to form multiple bonds. Without them, you cannot sustain your life and you will die.”

Her last words rang in my head as my heart pounded with fear. My wolf stepped closer with glowing eyes, gesturing to the air above my head. Suddenly, numbers appeared over me like a countdown.

In a split second, the field burst up into red fiery flames and I clambered back in shock. I whipped my head around watching the flames close in on me.

I screamed in fear, my skin prickling with the heat, and then my eyes burst open.

I sat up in a jolt, my heart pounding uncontrollably, my skin drenched in sweat. I can't ignore it any longer

I drew in a heavy inhale. “What… what is that?” I stammered.

“It’s the time you have left to find your next bond. If it runs out, so does your life.” l