SHRIMP I TOLD AYLA about Lucien's favor and as expected her reaction was beyond surprise. She said I'm putting myself in misery. But who am I to oppose the Alpha? "You're crazy, Ysobella. You have feelings for him, yes, but it doesn't mean you can't say no."I can sense a hint of disappointment in her tone. But I need to look at the brighter side. "I know, Ayla. But hey! At least there's good news, right? It means Clarrise is now okay."Ayla rolled her eyes. "Fine! Just watch yourself, okay?" she reminded as her mother reminds her. "Yes, Sissy," I jokingly said to her. Ayla just laugh in response. "But you know what, Bella. I feel bad for Clarrise." "Do you think she saw her mate again?""Maybe? She wouldn't be hurting this way if it weren't for her mate. He's, after all, the sole reason for her endless pain. Whoever he is, he is fortunate because the love Clarrise has for him is inexhaustible.""Ladies! Let's head to the kitchen. The Alpha is waiting."Our attention was drawn t
NIGHT CAME AND we were busy preparing food for the pack. Clarrise also came to help. We set the food on the tables outside. The pack members like the Sentinels, Scouts, Hunters, warriors, and pack doctors, usually had their meals outside. The canopies serve as their shelter. We also prepare food in the dining inside where Lucien eats his dinner. Sometimes, Markus and the triplets dine with him when he is around.Ayla asked me to prepare seven plates. I eyed her with confusing eyes. If my mind serves me right, it's only Lucien, Clarrise, and the triplets who will eat in the dining because Nereza and Markus still haven't returned from the city. I narrowed my eyes and I noticed the nervousness in Ayla's face. "Sissy?"Her voice is laced with hesitancy. But I did not pay much attention to her strange behavior. "Why, Ayla?" I asked calmly instead. The way she averted her gaze and her fidgeting fingers tell me that something is wrong. "Uh, Clarrise told me if we could--- if we could d
RESENTMENTSI AM HONESTLY confused about what's going on. Why does he have a bowl of shrimp with him? Is he still hungry?He is silent and I see no reaction on his face. But seeing him this way is much better than seeing the coldness and roughness in his eyes."Uh, you ask of me?" I began to speak.He cleared his throat before answering. "Yes... I... need you... with something."He quickly lowered his gaze. A soft gasp escaped my mouth before I slowly walked toward him but my eyes never left the bowl with shrimps."A-Are you still... hungry?" I uttered the question with a hint of hesitation.Lucien lifts his head. I think I know what he wants. I bit my lower lip to prevent the smile that is slowly forming on my lips. I settled myself beside him and peeled the shrimps in silence.The deafening silence that engulfed us surprisingly did not make me feel awkward. Lucien's eyes never left me since I started peeling the shrimps. I inwardly smiled because he looks like a kid, waiting for his
SILENCED ENGULFED US for a moment until he finally opens his mouth to speak. "Can you give me some time? I--- I will sort everything. Hurting you fears me. To see you cry because of me breaks me and I don't want that again." He held my hands and his eyes pierced through me. "Just trust me and I promised I will figure things out. I may sound selfish right now but what else can I do?"We're both selfish Lucien because I want you for myself too but I can not be happy, knowing that there is someone out there, yearning for her mate. Maybe it's best if he finds her so he can finally decide. "Lucien, I want you to find your mate."He let go of my hand. "Y-Ysobella... I know you are scared but please don't---""Am I stopping you from finding her?" I can't hide the disappointment in my voice. Maybe I am the reason why he's not looking for her. That thought hurts me and I somehow felt guilty. His heavy breathing indicates how frustrated he is. Not a single word rolled from his tongue. He lo
ATTICUS"MY NAME IS Atticus. And you are?" The gentle smile on his lips still lingers. His hands stretched, waiting for mine to accept it. Hesitation crawled in my body but then I don't want him to feel bad so I eventually accepted his hand for a handshake. "Ysobella," I uttered my name to fill his curiosity. But the moment our palms touched, something odd happened. It was a feeling of familiarity and in an instant, the fear I felt vanished. Now I feel comfortable being around him. "Do you mind?" he asked while pointing to the space next to me. I gave him a simple nod. He sat beside me with contentment on his face. This man beside me kind of reminds me of someone but I can't point out who. He has this mischievous look, ebony eyes, and a well-defined jaw. His comb-over hair suits him well. He's wearing a dark blue long sleeve shirt and dark pants. But one thing in him that made my brow furrowed is his slightly pale complexion. But his complexion does not make him appear sick or w
MY LIPS AND throat have gone dry. I didn't utter a single word because of the fear. What happened the night before is still fresh and the way he's looking at me right now only intensifies the fear I felt. I sharply gasped when his hands took mine. He brought it to his nose and I inhaled its scent. Why is he sniffing my hand?!"Who is he, Ysobella?" he darkly asked while squeezing my hand.His question stunned me. Is he talking about Atticus? If yes, then how did he know about him? Then I remember Markus. Markus must have told him using their mind link. I deeply sighed and look at him with pleading eyes. "I asked you a question, Ysobella. Who. Is. He?" His face looks so grim. And he sounds desperate for an answer so I told him about Atticus. The more I talk about Atticus the more threatening he looks. "Did anyone ever tell you not to talk with strangers, hmmm?" he lowly asked while tucking some strands of my hair in my right ear. "He wasn't doing anything bad. He's actually a nice
VAMPIREA SENSE OF unfamiliarity welcomed me when I awoke the next day. I took time to explore the room I slept in. I slowly rose from the canopy bed and leaned my body on the headboard. This is the softest mattress my hands had ever touched. I thought.I began to marvel my eyes to the room. The victorian types of furniture make the room elegant. There's a four-seater couch, two chairs, and a table. My eyes flew to the double door located on the right side of the room, which I presumed is a walk-in closet, and a single door next to it, a bathroom perhaps? Then a table right across the bed with two full-length mirrors next to it. But whose room is this anyway?My attention caught a sound of a door opening, it was his bathroom door! My eyes widened in shock when Lucien came out from the door looking fresh and dripping wet, with a towel wrapped around his waist. I quickly looked away before he notices me but I can feel my face heated. So this is his room. I heard another door open,
MAMA MELLY'S GREETINGS welcome me the moment I entered the kitchen. I returned her greetings before she led me to the dining. My brows creased with perplexity as I followed her. "Why are we heading to the dining, Mama Melly?"She glanced at me before answering my question. "It's Lucien's request."My mouth parted but didn't say a word. I don't want to eat alone so I looked for Ayla. Fortunately for me, she hasn't eaten yet and she heartily agreed. "So... tell me, Sissy. Did you and Alpha Lucien sleep beside each other?" she started intriguingly. I almost choke from her question. Her eagerness for answers is suddenly giving me pressure. But I don't really know what to say to her because even myself does not know the answer. I was deep asleep the whole night and when awoke this morning, I am alone."I woke up alone," was all I could say. Her eyes squinted. She even leaned closer to my face as if looking for a further answer that will satisfy her curious mind. I secretly sighed in r