Ophelia“What’s the rush, little dove? Always trying to fly away.” He clicked his teeth and shook his head, then proceeded to step onto the path. “Follow me. Oh, and try to keep up. Wouldn’t want you getting lost.”I bit my tongue against that insane nickname of his, not wanting to somehow set him off, and followed him into the shadow-laden forest. Tree branches seemed to move out of our way as we ventured deeper.The path curled left and right before straightening out once more. For several minutes we walked in silence. I counted the quiet, shallow breaths that left Jude’s lips, and trailed my gaze up the back of his tattooed neck to the dark hair that was shaved short around the sides.He turned, as though he could feel my eyes on him.“Not much farther now.”Fifteen or so minutes later we entered a clearing. The trees towered over our heads, blotting out most of the sun. The shade provided was thick and cool, helping to dry the sweat that had beaded along my back.Jude spun on his
OpheliaCocking his head, he asked, “You didn’t mean what, little dove? You didn’t mean to provoke me? To piss me off? No, you meant it, and now you’re going to pay the fucking consequences.”Oh, Goddess. Oh, Goddess, I was going to die here.I went to call out to Nova through the mind-link when Jude’s hands fell on my bare thighs. The tips of his fingers grazed centimeters above the hem of my dress.The bond squirmed within me, as did my wolf who couldn’t decide whether she wanted to tear out his throat or demand he mark us.I made a frantic grab for my magic, only for it to glide through my fingers. When I went to try again, his hands slid up further. His eyes strayed from my face to my legs, which I held together with as much force as I could muster.Jude flicked his hand a second time and the vines pulled, spreading my legs apart. A jolt of—of something cascaded down my lower belly, tightening into knots that pulsed and ached.“Jude, please—”His eyes rolled in what looked like pl
Jude With my fists in my pockets and a smirk on my face, I climbed the steps into my brothers not-so-humble abode. If I were a betting man, which I was, I’d place all my coin on Nova being the one to tell Ryker what I’d done. Ophelia didn’t seem the type to run crying to the Alpha, though it was an amusing thought. Would she tell him how I forced myself on her, leaving out the parts where she whimpered for more, mewing like a sweet little kitten? Would she include the part where she ground her cunt on my face, chasing her pleasure like a fucking Goddess? I’d known it the second I sucked her clit into my mouth and heard the fractured cry she released. Ophelia had darkness in her, the kind that called out to my own. She could play coy. She could lie to herself and the world around her, but she wasn’t able to lie to me. No, I saw right through those doe-eyes. She might’ve been part angel, but she was also part demon too. I reached Ryker’s office to find him standing in front of the
OpheliaWhen I say I ran into Nova, I meant that literally.One moment I was traipsing through the forest, trying to ignore the very evident breeze coasting between my legs and simultaneously wrap my head around what just happened, when I slammed into a gardenia-scented girl.For a moment, it felt as though the forest were holding it’s breath, using clawed branches to pin me in its grasp. No matter which way I turned, there had been no sign of the path we’d taken to the clearing. Only when I snared my magic, holding tight as though it were a wriggling worm, did the forest finally exhale and show me the way.“You just punched me in the tit.” Nova stumbled back with a groan, a hand on her aching breast. “Goddess, what the hell happened to you?”I must’ve looked disheveled then. I reached up and felt my knotted hair. What I found was a few stray rose petals and even a leaf or two.Nova’s eyes remained on my hair, even as an errant breeze caused her to stiffen. Her nostrils flared and I r
Ophelia “You’re a terrible, sadistic friend!” I shouted as yet another wave toppled me over. I’d picked seaweed from my hair, seashells from my bra, and had even pried a tiny crab off the sole of my sneaker all within the course of an hour. Nova, as dainty and pretty as she was in her pink sundress, was a fucking savage when it came to utilizing her water affinity. She’d hurled frozen sea-cicles at my head, animated a clump of weed so that it lunged at my face, obscuring my vision from her next blow, and had even willed the water deep within the sand to suck me down a solid foot. Nova shouted back, “And you’re a soggy, sore loser!” Meanwhile Coop stood on the shore, his hands cupped around his mouth, as he shouted words of encouragement at me. I might’ve appreciated it at one point, but he was drawing an audience. Right now there were three—no, four—families watching me meet my untimely demise via a pastel-wearing, water-slinging witch. My magic might as well have been a squid,
Ophelia Eventually, the conversation drifted to my training session with Nova. Coop was practically bouncing in his seat as he told the others what I did. They exchanged glances that felt loaded, brimming with a silent conversation I wasn’t yet privy to. Denver ran his eyes down my body as though he were seeing me in a new light. Even Arielle and Sarah were examining me, staring hard enough to make me wonder if they could see the magic bubbling beneath my skin. “You think we can trust her, bro?” Again, Denver flicked his eyes over my body. “She’s going to be a part of Alpha Ryker’s crew. The ceremony’s this weekend.” I didn’t ask how Denver came to know that. Coop twirled the lit joint, which had gone out sometime during the conversation, between his fingers. “Positive, man. And that doesn’t mean she’s got to tell them every damn thing that’s going on in her personal life. If you had seen her back there on the beach you’d understand. She’s got some serious power; she just doesn’t
OpheliaThe next morning I was abruptly woken by Lucille screeching my name so loudly that I was sure the Moon Goddess herself could hear her cries.It startled me so thoroughly that I was ripped from sleep. My mothers journal tumbled from my chest where it had laid all night and onto the floor.“OPHELIA!”I shoved it beneath my mattress, threw on what I hoped was a clean change of clothes, and rushed downstairs.The moment I spotted Lucille’s red face, her lips puckered with anger, I knew I was in for it. Kimberly stood further back, leaning against one of the pillars flanking the entrance to the lounge.I’d just reached the bottom step when she lashed out. Her hand flew from her side and cracked across my face before I could blink. Pain danced along my lower lip, followed by something wet. I reached up to touch it and found my fingers slick with blood.The familiar crackle and roar of a brewing storm began to take place in my chest. It had become easier to call on it as of late.Luc
OpheliaSand sprayed behind me as I reached the beach. It slowed me down, forcing me to pump my arms and legs harder. I could now feel Jude closing in on me, his raucous laughter filling my mind, shredding my thoughts into confetti.I swiveled my head back and forth, searching for somewhere to hide. There was the bathroom shack, along with a few changing tents. Cornering myself wasn’t ideal, but apart from running down the entire length of the beach, I wasn’t sure what else to do.Before I could make a decision, hands grabbed me from behind. A gasp ripped it’s way past my throat as I was slung over a shoulder. I landed with a grunt, my ass in the air and feet flailing.Jude’s scent of amaretto enveloped me, spiking only when I slammed my fists against his lower back.“Trying to give me a massage, little dove? Or are you trying to grab a handful of my ass?”“You’re fucking crazy!” I hissed, my cheeks quickly growing red as I thought about all the people likely to see us.“Yes, and you’