All Chapters of My Mysterious Mate: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

ISABELLA'S POV Every day, I find myself asking the same questions. Is fate nothing but a trick of the light? A false promise that fades away just when you need it most? And what of fortune? A ravenous beast, feasting on the innocent, leaving nothing but anguish and despair in its wake. Yes, that's what it is. That's what I believe.I stare into the cracked, half-broken mirror, my reflection staring back with sunken eyes, black circles under them, and disheveled hair.A picture of a woman defeated by fate, tired and weary."Isabella dear... Are you done? Let me get you going." The soft, weakened voice of my mother pierces through the silence, as she shuffles into the room, a tattered blanket draped over her shoulders. I turn to face her, her movements slow and weak as she rummages through the closet to find the best dress for me to wear tonight.The sight of my aging sick mother, frail and weak, brings tears to my eyes. Why couldn't I have been more fortunate? My heart breaks into a

ISABELLA'S POV When Ryan's phone rang, I was relieved to some extend. This was too crazy. I became the mate with a strange man I just met. I pretended to be calm and wrote down my phone number and address to him, then watched Ryan slip away.The next day, I did everything I could to keep my mind off Ryan.But try as I might, my brain kept going back to last night. "Shit, I'm a mess," I muttered, pacing around my store and tugging at my hair. "I need to get a grip." I furiously yanked open the windows, letting the cool breeze whip through the room."Hey!" a voice called out, and I jumped. Lily was standing in the doorway, eyebrows raised."You okay?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern as she approached me."Yeah, I'm fine," I lied, trying to sound convincing.But Lily wasn't buying it. She scrutinized my face for a moment, and then her gaze drifted lower.Her eyes widened and she gasped, taking a step backwards.My heart skipped a beat. What had she seen?My pulse raced as Lily'

ISABELLA'S POV It felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. Ryan's expression fell, and I bit the insides of my cheek to try to stop my heart from racing.The urge to strangle Ryan was possibly written on my face. This had gone so wrong! Mama's eyes darted between us, her stoic expression betraying nothing, but I could sense her unease.We all sat there in silence, the tension building with every passing moment. I couldn't bring myself to speak, my throat dry and my mind racing."That seems... Great?" Mama forced a smile, trying to play along. "Isabella has said so much about you. Thank you for inviting us over." Her words were heavy with unspoken accusations.I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck standing up, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. Ryan shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and I could tell he was struggling to keep his composure. Mama, however, seemed unaffected by the tension, firing off questions and observing our reactions with a keen

ISABELLA'S POV ~Cindy's laughter cut through the air as she cackled, her finger pointed menacingly in my direction. Every eye in the room turned to us, curious whispers filling the air as they waited to see what would happen next. My face flushed with embarrassment and anger, but I tried to hold my ground. "Oh look, the disgraced reject has put on her best dress and mascara," she snarled. "But no amount of makeup can hide the fact that you're a useless outcast, expelled from school and too pathetic to shift into a wolf. You may be the center of attention now, but soon everyone will see you for what you really are - a weak, unworthy imposter."The crowd gasped, and their eyes wide with shock. My cheeks burned hot with humiliation, and I clenched my dress in my fists, trying to control my anger. I glared at Cindy, rage boiling inside me like a volcano ready to erupt. There was nothing I wanted that much but to lunge forward, to deal mercilessly with the bitch.Cindy shrugged nonchalan

RYAN'S POV~My heart was racing as I stared down the asshole who had dared to touch my woman. The bastard was lucky to be alive, for fate had intervened and stopped my hands from finishing him off. My blood was boiling, my fists clenched and ready to deliver more punishment, but then I saw Leo giving me a look. He knew that I was about to go too far, and he offered to pay for the damages. I glanced away from him and looked over at my Isabella. My heart clenched as I saw the fear in her eyes.I cursed under my breath, realizing that I had snapped without thinking. My wolf had taken over, driven by the primal need to protect what was mine. I didn't care if my cover was blown, all I could see was red. The bastard had touched what was mine, and he would pay. But now, I had to calm down before I did something I would regret. I couldn't let Isabella see me like this, not when she was already so frightened. I took a deep breath and forced myself to relax, letting go of the murderous rage tha