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
HER MATETHE WORDS FROM Landon seemed like a bomb being thrown at us. I looked at Ayla and she appears as astounded as I am. "Ayla? I think we should leave."No words escaped her mouth for a second until she finally opens her mouth to speak. "I think I have just forgotten how to breathe, Sissy.""Let's go back, Ayla. Clarrise and Landon have left the place."We let silence engulf us on our way back. When we entered the kitchen, Ayla and I exchanged knowing looks upon noticing Clarrise's absence. Where could she be?"What took you both so long?" asked Nana. Ayla looks at me like she was expecting an intrusion from me but my mind failed to think of an excuse. An apologetic smile was all I gave her. Left with no choice, Ayla was forced to answer her. "Well, uh... Bella and I were talking about random things and we lost track of time, Nana." Nana Selma arched her brow but eventually went on with her chores. "Is Clarrise coming today, Nana?" I subtly asked. She stopped mincing and
NEREZA GREETED US with a wide smile on her lips. I waved at them to greet them as well. Looking at the two, I supposed they are now okay. It appears that Nereza has moved on from her resentment toward her. "Bella, Ayla said she might be late tonight," informed Clarrise. I nodded my head. "Yes, I figured. She's doing her mother's work because Mama Melly is busy helping for the festival."I actually offered Ayla my assistance but she refused. She feels it's better if I helped her mother instead. "I'll go greet Mrs. Penn," Nereza interfered after her long silence. I gave Clarrise a questioning look. "You reconciled?"She sighed deeply but I can see the glint of contentment in her eyes. "Not really, but I can feel that she's slowly trusting me again and it's all thanks to Markus. I know he's one of the reasons why Nereza's anger towards me is slowly fading."I smiled after she said those. "That's good to hear then. I know Nereza still deeply cares for you."We hang out with the kids f
WE MEET AGAINSPEAKING WAS SUDDENLY impossible for me for brief seconds. Her revelation clearly took me off guard. Another second passed and I finally gathered the words to say but the perplexity of my voice still lingers. "B-But Landon said he is a vampire. How did he end up saying that?" Her fingers gently stroked her temple. The guilt on her face is slowly showing. "I was to blame. I made him believe that because I was left with no choice. He also believes that our difference pushes him to reject me. The anger and hate on his face were vivid at that time and it made my mind clouded with different dreadful possibilities. I fear that he may end up hurting my mate if I confess the truth. I don't want them to berate him." "But you have plans, to tell the truth, right? And you said he's not just a werewolf, he's an Alpha, so by any chance, is he one of the leaders of the five wolf-packs?" I asked.The way she averted her gaze indicates her hesitancy to answer my question. I squeezed
I LET THE question slip from my mouth without even considering how he will react. My curiosity is pushing me to the edge. And as expected from him, he was taken aback. His jaw then clenched and averted his gaze once more. Now I regret spilling the question."I'm sorry for asking. As I said, you don't have to answer if you don't want to."I let go of his hand. But I can't deny the disappointment I felt."No, don't feel sorry, Ysobella. There is nothing to apologize for. I brought my eyes to him but I can still see the hesitation lurking behind his orbs."There are things that I wanted to tell you but right now I need you to give me time. We don't know if this vampire is dangerous or not but I promise you, once I'll find proof that we can trust him I will bring him to you."Now it's my turn to be surprised. Well, what he just said was beyond surprising. Why would he bring him to me? Lucien saw how confused I was so he continued to talk. "Sweetheart, we've learned that this vampire is