(Izobel’s POV) “Ready?” I raised my head to see Kevin smiling at me as he showed his beautiful smile and teeth. I nodded, getting up from my chair and bringing my tablet to check on the hotel. He must have seen my arrival in the office after lunch because five minutes after I sat on my chair, he sent me a message, asking me if I could join him to visit the lake to see the marketing team's preparation. I understood and agreed to join him to check the area since we will be providing shuttle services for the guests. “Yep!” I answered. I glanced back at the two, Asia and Ryzen, pressing their lips, suppressing their smiles, as Kevin placed his hand at my back. I tried to ignore his touch, thinking it was just his way of being a gentleman. He reached for the doorknob, but we were startled when he opened t

(Izobel’s POV) Resembling the marking of the fox, our eyes widen, seeing a large canine in front of us. It was growling, ready to attack as the golden dog protected its puppies. I counted its offspring from afar. Three. This must be the dog Clayton saw, and it went back inside, sensing the danger of humans around. Maned wolf bears have similarities to foxes, but it is neither fox nor wolf. Right now, it was showing aggression because we went inside his territory. Ethan caught my wrist as I attempted to continue to walk. “Are you crazy?” he hissed. “What if it will attack you?” With the dark tunnel and almost everyone relying on the light of the flashlights, only I could see clearly what the animal was in front of us. Yet everyone sensed the danger of being mauled or bitten because of its continuous snarling. 

(Izobel’s POV)I raised my head when the hallway became bright again. The technicians must have restored the electricity and repaired whatever problem they found. I was holding my arm and checked on the cut on my skin. I winced, realizing this time the wound was deeper than before.“Oliver?” I heard Ethan’s voice.He was running toward me, and I found myself just standing and staring at him. I put my arms behind me, hiding my wound from Ethan.“Oliver?” I asked. My heart raced faster as I thought of Oliver.Ethan heaved a sigh. “Yeah. I think I saw him going this way,” he looked at me. “Are you ready to go home?”“Yeah,” I said. “I just came here to check on something,” I blinked my eyes and tried to breathe evenly, feeling my wound. I guess I panicked a while ago because I realized this was nothing but a wound, no poison in the knife or any sharp object used on me.“Izobel!” Oliver’s worried voice startled me. “You’re bleeding. What happened to you?” He walked in our direction and he

(Izobel’s POV)I did not open my eyes even when I felt someone climbing up my bed. I do not have to open my eyes to guess who it is. Despite Ethan’s insistence, I still sent him to Amber’s bedroom. Either he would spend the night downstairs or enjoy his sleep in my twin sister’s bedroom.Amber snuggled closer to me as she embraced me. “Izobel, why is there a gorgeous man in my bed? He definitely ruined my plan with Nolan,” she giggled softly.A naughty smile curved my lips. “That was actually the plan. No one must be overly happy tonight.”“Selfish!” she hissed, but she laughed with me.I rolled to my side to face her. “Are you happy, Amber?”“I’ve never been so happy in my life, Izobel. Mom’s right! Finding your mate is heaven,” she answered, meeting my eyes.“I know,” I whispered, but Amber knew that the mates who had chosen us, or maybe we have chosen, posed a huge problem in our lives and existence. No one should know we existed. No one must find out about our family.“Your mind…

(Izobel’s POV)Jeanna was staring at me and tilting her head as if to find something in my face. For her satisfaction, I let her look at me for a while, studying me like I was some kind of painting in the museum of Louvre. She picked up her cup, sipped her coffee without breaking her gaze at me, and then she returned the cup to the saucer.“I’m sorry, Izobel. I knew it was rude, but every time I see you, I feel like I am looking at Carrie,” she chuckled gently.I gave her a friendly smile as if it was nothing, but the truth was I was nervous because this was unlikely to happen. Between Amber and me, I would go back and check on the people I became friends with, but I was always careful not to be noticed or seen. As soon as we left the place, Dad would secure us all with a new identity, and the old data would be erased.“It’s okay. I guess we have that one in our lifetime,” I told her, wishing I had the power to read Jeanna’s mind.“I know,” she rolled her eyes in amusement. “But I hea