Chapter 1

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 million pieces as I watch her struggle. My eyes sting as I blink back tears, desperately trying to hold them back.

I clenched my teeth, trying to hold back the tears as I approached my mother, "Mom, that's enough," I said, gently pulling her hand away from the closet and guiding her back to the bed.

"Stupid girl," she muttered weakly, her arms hitting my own with barely any force. "I'm fine, stop treating me like an old lady," she murmurs as she settles onto the bed.

My breath hitches in my throat, my lungs struggling to inhale the air that seems to have turned to lead.

I watch as my mother settles on the bed, her once-vibrant body now withered and frail. It's hard to believe that this is the same woman who raised me, who nurtured and cared for me, now reduced to a shadow of her former self.

Each day, I lived in constant fear that I might accidentally break her bones, or that I might not be able to save her from her illness. And each day, I feared the day that I might lose her forever. That I might not see her again.

As she turned to look at me, I quickly averted my gaze, not wanting her to see the tears welling up in my eyes. "Mother, you should rest. I'll still go to the matchmaking session," I whispered, my voice breaking.

She reached out her cold, bony hand, and I grasped it with my own, wishing more than anything that I could take her pain, that I could somehow switch places with her. "I know," she whispered, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible. "I just want everything to be right this time. For you." Her words pierced through the heavy silence, and I could feel my heart splintering into a thousand pieces.

I swallow, my tongue thick and heavy as I try to find my voice. It refuses to come, so I simply nod, not daring to meet my mother's gaze.

"I just want you to find a good man, Isabella," she murmurs softly, her voice laced with resignation. "I want to see you happy before I... before I… die.”

Her words are a spear to my heart. "You're not going to die, mama!" I snap, hot tears spilling down my face.

She pulls my hand closer, her fingers tracing circles on my skin. "Shh… silly girl. I know what I'm saying," she whispers, her voice gentle but firm. "I don't want you to cry anymore, to avoid love because of what that awful Noah did to you. You deserve happiness, my sweet girl."

I can't hold back anymore. I sob into her, my arms wrapping around her frail body. She stiffens at first, and then slowly relaxes into my embrace, her hand rubbing my back.

In that moment, my heart is breaking.

My mother is everything to me, the only light in my dark, painful world. And now, I fear that light is dimming. My tears fall faster, each one a prayer for a miracle, a plea to keep her safe.

My ex, Noah, had been two-timing me, claiming to love me while sleeping with another. He had the audacity to tell me that she was better than me, shattering my trust and breaking my heart beyond repair.

That betrayal had made me hesitant to love again, to risk the pain that comes with it.

I bury my face deeper into her shoulder, lost for words and lost in thought. My mother and I have run a small grocery store for years now.

The profits from our small grocery store are meager, barely enough to make ends meet. And my mother's illness continues to drain our already stretched finances. It's a constant struggle, a battle I fear I'm losing.

 "Promise me you'll find a man tonight." Mama whispers. "I'll be at more peace, dear.”

I swallow, my throat dry and tight. "I promise," I whisper, nodding my head.

"Lay me back on the bed before you leave," she murmurs.

I do as she asks, my heart aching as I kiss her forehead goodbye. I close the door behind me, my eyes stinging with unshed tears.

~~~

Arriving at the venue, hours pass by like years, each minute a lifetime of frustration.

I think of the nine failures. Nine good failures I just faced tonight, feeling my heart sink with each passing second that I might not grant my mother's wish.

Nine failures… Each man is a leering, unwelcome presence. Each conversation from them, a reminder that this would fail.  Each rejection is a dagger to my heart. My eyes had caught unto their gazes lingering on my curves, my cleavage, my face. They lean in, their breath hot and invasive on my skin, their hands brushing against me as they try to get a better look. I had to shrink away to escape.

 As for the wealthy men? They're already paired off, and I'm left alone.

Suddenly a hush falls, when the host takes the stage, his voice echoing through the hall.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the second round of our matchmaking session. And I assure you, this is the interesting part." He grins. "Please take a look at the digital bracelets on your wrists. You're to find the exact person who wears the exact same bracelet. Once found, please note that he or she is your date for tonight. Good luck!"

I stare down at my bracelet, my heart racing in my chest. The room erupts in chatter, everyone searching for their match.

Frustration bubbles up inside me as I fiddle with the stubborn bracelet, my eyebrows drawn together in a deep scowl. If only I hadn't lost my wolf in an accident years back, this whole process would have been so much simpler. I would have just smelled him from afar.

But before I can even finish that thought, I collide with a solid body, my breath leaving me in a sharp gasp of pain.

"Shit! I'm so sorry, are you okay?" a deep voice reverberates in the air, and my heart gives a sudden lurch.

My gaze snaps upward, my heart skipping a beat as my eyes meet the most beautiful man I've ever seen.

Good heavens! His dark hair is neatly cut, his eyes green with flecks of gold in it, just like the spring meadow. He's dressed casually— a black shirt and pants, yet his tall, muscular frame radiates a sense of power and strength that makes my skin prickle with goosebumps.

I struggle to find my voice, my tongue suddenly heavy and useless. I feel something inside me tightens, as if my very soul is being pulled toward him.

The touch of his skin against mine ignites a strange hum inside me, and I instinctively stiffen.

He notices, his brow furrowing in concern. "I'm so sorry, please let me help you," he whispers.

I nod, my tongue feeling heavy in my mouth. And then, I see it. His wrist bears an identical bracelet to mine, and I gasp, my finger pointing towards it as he helps me to my feet.

"You're my date?" I ask, my cheeks flushing red with embarrassment.

He smiles, a dimple appearing on his cheek, and I feel my heart skip a beat.

"My apologies," he says, his voice full of warmth and charm. "I guess this is it. I'm Ryan, my lady."

He takes my hand in his, his touch sending shivers through my body. And then, he places a gentle kiss on my palm, his lips soft and warm against my skin.

My blush deepens, and all I can manage to say is "Isabella." My name on my lips feels foolish and inadequate.

Ryan gently weaves through the crowd with me by his side, his fingers intertwined with mine. A warm sensation courses through my arm, and my lips curve into a smile for the first time today.

We finally reach the wine table, where Ryan pulls out a chair for me with the grace of a true gentleman. I sit down, his gentlemanly attitude, makes my heart slightly flutter.

"Uhm..." I clear my throat, my fingers fiddling beneath the table. "Do you want to introduce ourselves first?" I ask, my smile faltering a bit.

Ryan gives me a soft smile that warms my heart. "I don't mind."

"I'm Isabella. My mother and I run a small grocery store down the street from here."

I watch his expression carefully, but his face remains neutral.

"I'm Ryan," he says. "A Beta who runs a little… uhm business across some packs.” His Adams apple bobbed and I can't help but watch it bob up and down.

“Interesting then," I nod my head. I see his lips crack into a ghost of a smile. “I've always wanted to learn several new business ideas. Seems my wishes have been granted then.” I shrug.

His eyes play as he cracks another smirk. “Good girl." His rich, baritone voice sends shivers down my spine.

Oh shit! I instinctively shift on my chair, hoping to hide the effect he has on me. His hypnotic tone sinks deep into my bones and sends tingles dancing through my limbs.

I've never had a man speak to me like that, only read it in the romance novels I sometimes indulge in.

His smirk only grows wider, as if he knows exactly the kind of spell he’s casting over me. My heart pounds, my breaths grow shallow, and I struggle to maintain eye contact as he stares at me with an intensity that’s almost too much to bear.

Well, it seems I have to choose this one. I wonder if my mother will even be able to handle his charm when he shows up on our doorstep. This one is so handsome and rugged, with the kind of confidence that makes women weak in their knees.

I laugh inwardly at the thought, imagining the chaos that might ensue when she sets eyes on him. Poor mom, she won’t know what hit her.

"Ryan, I was thinking..." I lean forward, forcing a smile to hide my blush. "I think we're a perfect match."

His eyebrows arch in surprise, his lips curling into a hint of a smile. "You think so?"

I nod, trying my best to appear confident. "I do. And I was wondering...would you mark me tonight? I'm ready."

The smile on Ryan's face falters. There was something in his expression that didn't sit right. A shadow in his eyes, a flicker of something I can't place. Suddenly out of the blue, his expressions shifts.