(Ethan’s POV)
Two years of experience were not long enough for me to be managing a hotel, but Dad was adamant about asking me to handle the hotel and learn from Mr. Godefroy, who would be retiring from his job at the end of the year. Dad insisted that I have one quarter to learn from him, and it shouldn’t be a problem since I knew Springville Town and its long history. Of course, taking over the position is just a front of my real purpose of coming back.
When Mr. Godefroy gave me the list of employees this morning, one name caught my attention. Izobel Rodriguez. Who would have thought she would choose to stay and work in this small town? I sent her a message this morning, but just like now, she chose to ignore me.
“Everyone, I’m pleased to introduce the new general manager of Grand Lake Hotel, Mr. Ethan Wilson,” Mr. Godefroy introduced and invited me to stand in front of the room. I walked in front but watched Izobe
(Izobel’s POV)I slammed the door, almost breaking it, but even if I did not, I had already caught the attention of the two other people with whom I shared the office. From the looks of their faces, Asia and Ryzen wanted to ask questions about him, but the door opened before any of them could ask me.Ethan came in. “Izobel, let’s talk. Please, let me explain.” He said, reaching for my arm again, but he put his hand down when he noticed Asia and Ryzen looking at us.Ryzen stared at me, but he managed to stand up. “Uhm... If you need me, I’ll be at the front desk,” He said as he widened his eyes to Asia when she did not move.She cleared her throat and nodded at him. “Actually, I need to check on some things in the kitchen. Let me go with you.” She stood up and held to Ryzen’s arm.They walked past us, but Ryzen bumped my back lightly before going out, a gesture telling me w
(Ethan’s POV)It is almost sunset, and the hotel’s roof garden was one of the most incredible spots of the Grand Lake Hotel. You can already see from here the beauty of Springville Town. It has not changed much for six years except for this hotel and other small shops or businesses. After that, there was nothing added in this town like I never left. The couple who got lost in the forest allowed Dad to construct another hotel. For many years, the town has been quiet, and no one has ever witnessed the opening of a portal or that entrance from hell, yet many wait for that day. The Council of the Moon Shadows has continued to monitor it, but so far, the only thing it did was give revenue to the town. Thanks to the local government's creative events and marketing promotion, tourists visit this place every year.“What did you do to Izobel?” Nolan asked as he stood beside me. He had a mischievous smile on his lips. “You scared th
(Izobel’s POV)“Beer?” Connor asked, and when Nolan and Ethan nodded, he went back to the kitchen to get three cans of beer.I shook my head, glancing as Nolan and Ethan focused on the TV. I started gathering the books we put on the shelves six years ago. I placed them carefully on the floor.“What’s with men?” Amber growled as she sat crossed-legged on the floor. She pulled an empty box, and her eyes were on the books, pretending to read each title before placing it inside the box. “After eating so many, how come you still have space in your tummy?”‘Why did you offer them a beer? Now, they won’t leave...’ Amber said.Connor smirked as he gave them the beers. ‘And what? Tell them, oh, you’ve seen we eat like normal people, leave now? Do you think that’s normal?’Ethan was silent after my threat, but I could feel he wa
(Izobel’s POV)Asia and Ryzen breathed in relief when they saw me joining the meeting this morning. Although they were unsure whether I would come to work this morning or not, they still reserved me a seat in the conference room.It was obvious that I was late because they were already starting, but it was not my fault.‘Good morning, Izobel!’ greeted Ethan, glancing at me for a brief second as he focused his eyes on the reports his secretary gave him.I almost sneered at him. ‘It’s your fault, Ethan! Why didn’t you wake me up?’ My face turned crimson when I remembered how our fight ended last night—no kissing and making out. We just decided to lie down together, stared at the stars, and talked about the homework we never get to finish because they had to leave immediately.We woke up in each other’s arms, and when I realized it was late in the morning, I could
(Izobel’s POV) I went back to the meeting room with a blank face. Amber’s news gave my heart a shock that I could not concentrate anymore. Connor marked a wolf from a pack that we never knew of. What will happen now to him? What will happen now to our family?‘Everything alright, Izobel?’‘Not now, Ethan,’ I begged him, answering him in my thoughts and avoiding his glances.He cleared his throat, turning his gaze on the slide still projected on the board—the grand opening of the portal, and they already had set a program on it. The Convergence of the Undead.I propped my elbow on the table and looked at it. If I were to ask, I was not comfortable with the event.What if it would really open the portal?‘Worried?’ He asked again, but this time I ignored him. I have a much bigger problem than this mar
(Ethan’s POV)Izobel was driving me nuts.When I woke up this morning, I had the most beautiful woman in the world in my arms. She was breathing evenly as she snuggled closer to me. How could anyone think of her as a threat when she looked like an angel.I gave her a feathery kiss on the lips, and she responded with a sigh and held on to my waist like I was her pillow. When she became aware of me, her eyes opened wide and wriggled her body when I did not let her go right away.“What are you doing?” She hissed as she continued to squirm, but I tightened my arms around her and laughed.“Let me kiss you good morning, Izobel,” I said and held her head to kiss her in her hair. I love her scent. It was the same as I remembered before, intoxicating and addicting. My phone chimed in a message. I extended my other arm to reach for my phone without letting her go and read Janice’s message.“Yo
(Ethan’s POV)Izobel groaned when she saw the blood and came to me in a hurry, checking my arm. I didn’t know what came to me, taking the pocket knife I used in cutting my skin and slashing her arm a little. Now, there are two of us, bleeding.I felt her body jerking, startled by what I had just done.“What the fuck, Ethan?” She growled, turning her back on me as she dashed to open the drawer on the kitchen island. She took the first aid kit and went back to me. She shoved the small box angrily walked to the sink to wash off the blood in her arm.Tears were brimming in her eyes when she came back to me, taking my arm as she checked my wound. My eyes darted from her worried and angry face to her wound. I pursed my lips, closing my eyes as I realized I had gone too far. It wasn’t a minor wound. Her wound needs to be attended to, and it needs stitching.“Izobel,” I said, but she snarled, makin
(Ethan’s POV)Connor turned the car in a different direction, heading on a road that had been closed for more than two decades. The road has not been used for a long time because the damaged bridge was never repaired, and it has been decided to remain close so tourists would not go this way since it was a shortcut going to the lake.“What did Mom say?” Connor asked, driving as fast as he could.“They’ll meet us under the bridge,” Amber answered as she placed her palm on Izobel’s forehead. “She’s still cold,” She looked at me sadly. “She’s never been sick like this.”“When this is over, remind me, Ethan, that I’m killing you,” Connor clenched his teeth and glanced at me in the mirror. “He has seen a lot,” He was talking to Amber now.“Dad will know what to do,” Amber uttered, kissing her in the head. “She&rsq
(Izobel’s POV)“Hello, Anastacia!” I greeted and smiled, but there was an edge to it.She raised her eyebrows, not expecting to see me in the hotel. I was sure she looked shocked and studied me from head to toe about three times.“You did not change,” she uttered, almost in a whisper, her eyes still squinting.Anastacia was popular in high school, and I bet she would still be popular among our batchmates if the school would hold a reunion now. She was the same Anastacia, the much better version that men would probably fantasize about, having an alluring beauty and hot sexy body.“Why, Anastacia? Are you expecting me to grow tentacles?” I smirked and raised my eyebrows at her.The clerk at the front desk pressed her lips to suppress a chuckle and lowered her gaze, pretending to focus on the screen of her computer monitor.“No!” She hissed. “I’m expecting you to have wings and fangs.” She sneered as her nostrils flared in annoyance. “Fix this,” she said.I walked toward Anne’s side, che
(Izobel’s POV)It was after seven when Amber and Nolan came to pick me up from the hotel, but I told our parents I would not stay for the night, and they knew where to find me if they needed me. After our late lunch at the restaurant, I went back to the office and did not return to him. What’s the point of going back when he couldn’t give me answers?If he wasn’t meant to hunt and kill my family, or Mirela’s not engaged with him, the possibility of bringing him and Nolan with us would be big, like a hundred percent. Leaving this place and living in another would never be the same because it would not be easy to forget Ethan. My heart would always ache for him, wanting to be with him, and I doubt if I would be able to find another man to love.Love… I heaved a sigh, forgetting about that unfortunate word.I knew Ethan would look for me, but with a place even my family did not know, he wouldn’t be able to find me. I leaned my back on the overly sized branch of the oldest tree in the fo
(Izobel’s POV)My head rested on his chest while his arms were wrapped around my body, not letting me go. When I checked the time on my wristwatch, I had been here for more than four hours. I couldn’t believe Ethan had brought me to the blissful seventh heaven many times. I craned my neck to look at his handsome face. “You made me hungry, Ethan,” I said, taking his hand on my mouth, playfully biting his wrist but never sinking my teeth into the throbbing blood in his veins. It would give me strength, but I craved human food.“Just a little,” he kissed my forehead, believing me.“Not this one. My wolf me is hungry for food. Real food, Ethan,” I chuckled, climbing down from the bed, and when he tried to pull me back to the bed, I shook my head. “Tonight,” I promised. I wanted more of him, and every time he claimed me, uniting our body and soul, the more I wanted to kill anyone who would take him away from me.I walked at my human pace naked and collected my clothes outside his bedroom.
(Ethan’s POV)Perhaps the bond Izobel and I created was strong that I knew she was coming. Before she could push the doorbell, I opened the door for her and pulled her inside my place, kissing her fervently as I locked the door. I planned to pull her into the bedroom, but feeling impatient, I pinned her to the closed door and thought of taking her here.I hadn’t touched her since we bonded, and now, as I desired her, I kissed her greedily, letting her know I was hungry for her and not caring if she would tear my place apart.“Ethan,” she breathed as I pulled her clothes off, not leaving even her underwear and tossing them on the floor.Burning with desire like me, she took off my clothes, gladly not ripping them apart. I smiled, hearing her pounding heart and exciting me as I glided my lips toward the hollow of her throat.“Somebody might come. Janice -”“Janice won’t come here,” I answered, nestling my face to her shoulder, tilting her neck, and licking her skin. “I told her we will
(Izobel’s POV)“She’s kinda weird, you think?” Ryzen said when we were alone in the elevator.“Why?” I asked, glancing at him and then back to the floor number. If I were to ask, I preferred using the stairs because our floor destination was only on the fifth floor.“I don’t know, maybe because she’s always been looking around the hotel. More like snooping around,” he answered. “I almost wanted to check the CCTV where she’s been going, just to check, you know.”“I understand,” I said, pressing my lips, but when the elevator door opened, I talked to Ryzen again. “So, what’s the complaint all about?” “The couple in Room 502 is complaining about the noise from the next room. We hardly had this kind of complaint because first, the walls are soundproof, and second, I was terrified somebody’s turning in that room.”I raised my eyebrows at him. “Turning? Turning into what?” I wanted to correct him about the soundproof wall, like not hearing any noises at all. He pressed his lips and looke
(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
(Izobel’s POV)I walked half-asleep inside the office, wishing I was a vampire in movies that never sleep. With Ethan and I sharing a bed, my option was to buy a bigger bed or sleep on the floor. I could make a wink for an hour when he left very early to go back to his penthouse, not wanting Janice to panic that he was not there when she arrived.“Good morning, sleepy head,” greeted Ryzen, placing a cup of coffee in front of me. “Need more caffeine or bed?”“Bed, please,” I groaned as I picked up my cup, smelling the strong scent of black coffee before sipping. My hand reached for the computer, turning it on while enjoying the coffee.“What happened to you?” Asia asked when she walked past me, noticing the bandage on my forearm.I glanced at her, smiling sheepishly as I answered, “Accident. I guess I needed the vacation.” I tilted my head, looking at her. “Should I take a two-week vacation?”Ryzen smirked. “With this smokin’ number of clients, do it, and I’ll kill you.”I heaved a dee
(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)“Carrie Hamilton?” she asked, her eyes surprised as she looked at me, and then she shook her head and chuckled adoringly. “Of course, it’s not you,” she said, rolling her eyes. “That would be impossible.”I forced a smile, racking my brain and trying to think who she could be as she looked familiar to me. My heart hammered in my chest because I had used the name Carrie before, but that was twenty years ago. She advanced toward the mirror, looking at our reflection. “But wow… the similarities were so…” her voice trailed off as she studied my face. “You have those same eyes and…”“You’re a Hamilton, right?” Janice cut in, twitching her lips as she tried to remember where she had seen it. “Ah! In your file. Your middle name is Hamilton.”I was forced to lift the corners of my mouth, smiling at her as I remembered who she was.“Carrie’s my aunt,” I lied.Her eyes brightened. “Really? Wow! The genes must be that strong. Goosebumps, see?” she laughed, showing Janice and me