Chapter 3

ISABELLE’S POV

I stood by my window, watching as snow fell thick and heavy, blanketing the grounds in pristine white.

My maids rushed around me, changing me out of my dress and brushing through my tangled knots.

My mind was racing with the ordeal of today. I could still feel the presence of my wolf in my mind even when she was silent.

My maids carefully dropped a fur-lined coat over my shoulders, sweeping my hair to the side.

I turned around to face the mirror, my eyes inspecting every part of my figure. I looked up above my head, nothing was there but empty air but I knew the truth. There was a timer over my head and when the time ran out, I would die.

Desperation clawed through me as I silently begged the goddess for the next target to appear or I would turn the pack upside down to find the person myself.

My maid walked between me and the mirror sliding hand warmers onto my hands. I broke away from my thoughts and turned towards the door to leave for the palace.

A chill ran through me as I stepped out of the manor, the cold wind hitting my face. This was harder than I imagined.

The driver held the back door of a waiting car open for me, bowing slightly, and I slid inside without a second thought.

I welcomed the warmth of the car, wrangling my hands together nervously as I waited for the driver to start the car.

Rowan strode through the manor doors and approached, stepping toward the car door to join me.

As he pulled open the back door, leaning down to come in, I put up a hand to stop him.

“Rowan, remember, we’re keeping our distance. We cannot arrive together.” I said firmly, my gaze sharp. I can't show up to the palace in the same car as Rowan, I can't afford for people to think I was still infatuated with him– it would make finding other men to break the curse impossible.

And I desperately needed to keep him out of my mind. If I was going to really do this I can't be close to him or I would just keep thinking about him.

He raised a brow pausing just outside the door, a little taken back. “Princess Isabelle, this is my car,” he replied, with a nervous chuckle.

Heat flushed my cheeks, and I quickly looked away in embarrassment.

“Oh. Right.” I muttered under my breath, glancing around the interior of the car.

I glanced around for my maid, feeling a little awkward. I need another car.

I pushed the car door open, waving over my maid. “Yes, Your Highness.” She replied instantly as she approached.

“Get another car–” I started, but my wolf’s impatient voice broke through, urging me to let it go. “Just get through this quickly. You’ve got bigger things to worry about than looking embarrassed.”

With a deep sigh, I settled back into the seat, sliding the door closed. “Let's go,” I whispered, avoiding his eyes.

Rowan watched me for a moment before he finally climbed in beside me and closed the door.

The car’s engine roared alive and we pulled out of the manor's driveway.

The tension in the car was thick and heavy as we sat together in silence.

I could feel his warmth coming from him in waves, his arm mere few inches from mine. I kept my gaze fixed out the window, ignoring the small thrill that still sparked in my chest from his closeness and familiar scent.

My heart still skipped a beat from sitting so close to him, old habits were hard to shake, and I couldn't help but feel the familiar rush of excitement from being in his presence.

“Can’t you just find another heart-fluttering target?” my wolf scoffed with annoyance, eying me. “There are plenty of men out there. And here he is asking you to plead for another woman’s life. What irrational feelings do you still hold onto?”

I turned my head slightly and glanced at Rowan, silently agreeing. As I peeked at him from the corner of my eye, I slowly nodded in agreement.

Why was I still clinging to these feelings when it's obvious he didn't want me? Sitting here now so close to him, he didn’t seem nearly as extraordinary as I built him up to be in my head.

Just as I turned back to the window , the car suddenly jerked to the left, and the driver slammed on the brakes hard. “Sorry, a sports car appeared out of nowhere.” He quickly muttered.

My body lurched forward towards Rowan, but I quickly threw my hands out, bracing my body with both hands in the leather seats to stop me from falling onto him.

I felt his body stiffen beside me, his gaze meeting mine as he noticed my sudden reaction, a look of concern and confusion flickered over his usually composed expression.

“Are you all right?” he asked softly, his gaze flickering over me.

I pulled back, straightening myself back into the seat and moved an inch away from him. “I’m fine,” I replied curtly. “Just… keeping my distance.”

His brows furrowed, and for a moment, he looked like he wanted to say something more. But the words never came, and he turned back to face the

window. We rode in tense silence the rest of the way to the palace.

Finally, the palace gates were in view in the distance, the massive wrought iron structures covered in snow.

I let out a breath of relief, the car slowing as we pulled up to the entrance.

I was about to step out of the car when I noticed a figure crouching in the distance.

I squinted my eyes, my vision a little blurry from the fog and there, right in the swirling snow, a huge man knelt at the base of the grand staircase leading up to the palace doors.

Broad-shouldered with a commanding presence, his dark coat was nearly invisible under the blanket of snow covering him.

My heart skipped a beat, my attention snapping to the man in the snow. I had no idea who he was, but something about him stirred an electric current within me. Who was that?

I tried to make out his face, when my wolf perked up, a thrill of recognition sparking through our bond. “I think… I’ve found our next target,” she whispered with excitement.