OpheliaRyker, Jude, and Kimberly returned the very next day.“We managed to find another two demons after the one Jude interrogated,” Ryker supplied, looking much too appealing in his crisp suit. This one was the color of storm clouds and matched his intoxicating eyes perfectly. “They were lower level, so we weren’t able to get any information from them.”Nova frowned and brushed a lock of pale hair from her face. She peeked into the dining room and called out, “The tables been set.”We were going to discuss everything we’d learned over dinner. I wasn’t sure how to reveal what Lucille had told us without alerting Kimberly to the fact that we used magic on her mother, but I was sure I’d figure something out.I turned to Ryker. Butterflies swarmed my stomach. I pushed them down, along with the blush that rose to my cheeks.“How exactly do you kill a demon?”His thick brows gnashed together, telling me this was a sore subject for him.“The only way to expel the demon back to their realm
Ophelia“Oh, shit. Oh, shit.” Nova murmured, leaning into Sterling’s side.My lips popped open in mock surprise, “Oh, gosh! I wasn’t supposed to say that, was I? Sorry, I’ve never been a good secret keeper.”It was petty, but I didn’t care.Sterling snickered under his breath, “I fucking love you, Ophelia.”“She’s my mother, Ryker! My mother!” Kimberly squealed, her voice ratcheting in volume, “How dare you go behind my back. I’m going to be your Luna! You can’t keep blatantly disrespecting me like this. I won’t stand for it. I already told you my mother is off limits. OFF! LIMITS!”“For fucks sake,” Jude snarled, “Shut the fuck up already. Can’t you see he doesn’t give a fuck?”“You shut up! You’re just mad we’re visiting your dead mommy’s house for a séance. You’re an angry little boy who—”A fractured, unhinged sort of rage filled Jude’s eyes. His teeth were bared, clenched so hard I could hear them grinding against one another like stone on stone. The sound that flew past his lips
OpheliaWhile Sterling and Nova set up the candles, because apparently spirits enjoyed the “spooky atmosphere”, I couldn’t help but wander around the hollow shell of the home Jude had grown up in.The longer I looked, the more I learned about Regina Romero.After the death of Ryker’s mother, Regina had been quick to swoop in and claim Alpha Matteo for her own.That kind of cold cunning was reflected in the layout of her home, in the pale walls and marble floors, in the expensive furniture hiding beneath the thick layer of dust. Even the chandelier, which held hundreds, if not thousands, of crystals screamed soulless elegance.What I found most surprising were the framed photographs hanging on the walls and perched on the mantle of the great fire place.As though there were a tether attached to my chest, to some dark part of me that wanted to know the secrets hidden in these walls, I was drawn to the photos.Each one was professionally taken, that much was obvious at first glance. The
OpheliaThe sneer laced within her voice made me bristle, especially since it was directed towards Jude and Jude alone.Sterling snapped his fingers impatiently, “Eyes on me, Regina. I’m the one that called you here. I can banish you just as quickly if you choose not to answer our questions.”Her expression turned to one of innocence, but it was all a farce. Beneath it’s flimsy layer was anger. Anger at being controlled, and anger at having her attention turned away from Jude.“I’ll answer your questions, boy.” She spat the word at Sterling’s feet, “But only if I get to talk to my son.”“No,” Ryker snarled with such ferocity my own wolf rose in response.Jude stepped forward, cutting off his brother as he lifted his hand. With him standing so close to Regina’s translucent form, I could pick out the similarities between them.Both had plump lips with a razor-sharp edge, and high cheekbones. While Jude’s silver eyes came from his father, the shape belonged to that of Regina. Both had a
OpheliaSnarling under his breath, Jude released his hold on me. My heart lurched as he pulled away, my lips swollen and much too desperate for more. I swallowed, glancing over his shoulder to lock eyes with Ryker.His stare remained on Jude for several seconds before darting to my face. I could feel him taking stock of me, ensuring that I was unharmed.“Regina’s gone. She said some interesting things. Come into the living room and we can talk about it.”As his footsteps faded, Jude took another step back.I watched him turn away and run a hand through his hair, messing it up even further. Only when he had crossed the kitchen was I able to unscramble my thoughts.“The women that—that…” I couldn’t say the words, “What happened to them?”Jude froze. He turned his head slightly, giving me a partial view of his face.“They’re all dead.”I could see it all playing out in my head. Jude hunting each and every one of them down, repaying them for every touch, every lingering glance, every perv
OpheliaThat night all the unanswered questions churned in my head, muddying my thoughts until it became almost impossible to sleep. Even after slipping onto the roof to smoke I was unable to sink into sweet oblivion. Every time I closed my eyes I saw Regina towering over Jude as a young boy. I heard his voice as he recounted the awful, terrible things she’d make him do. I felt the rage that came with having something so horrible happen to my mate and being powerless to stop it. As the sun rose and I got dressed for work I knew what I needed to do.Whilst taking orders, bussing tables, and returning with platters full of expensive foods, all I could think about was the fact that Kimberly and I had the same father. The same demon controlling, dark magic using, cult leader of a father.Goddess, I had such bad luck it was almost laughable.I shouldn’t have been eavesdropping, but last night after arguing with Lucille, Kimberly sped from the house claiming she was going to Rykers. It to
OpheliaFifteen minutes later Coop and I sat out back, our asses on the bottom step of the porch and our feet in the sand. He said nothing as he flicked his fingers and lit a joint with his fire magic, passing it to me with an understanding smile.As we smoked, basking in the summer heat and the salty breeze, I thought about what I had learned.I was confident it was my mother in the journal. I knew Morningstar could manipulate minds and such, but the demon Jude had interrogated claimed he was actively searching for me. How could he manage that trapped within the pages of a journal? It simply wasn’t possible.Besides, if Nova’s Nana had been telling the truth about my mother’s penchant for tricks, then there was a chance the journal wasn’t a prison, rather a hiding place. Maybe it was like a room with a door, and that door had locked itself behind her.It was insanity, but I had encountered so many strange things here on Lunar Isle that I couldn’t bring myself to dismiss the idea quit
Ophelia I found Ryker in his office, seated behind his flashy executive desk. The sun was beginning to set, casting the room in a dim light that made this meet up feel a bit lucrative. It didn’t help that he looked utterly gorgeous sitting there with his dress shirt partially unbuttoned and his hair askew. He’d just finished running a hand down his chiseled jaw when I entered. “You probably shouldn’t leave your front door unlocked. Anyone could just walk in and…” His eyes twinkled in the low light, “And what, tesoro [sweetheart], attack me? Is that what you’re here for?” Butterflies waged war in my stomach, but the bond in my chest made me feel bold. It knew that Ryker wanted us, that even though fate was so cruel as to keep my mates from claiming me, he fought wtih the temptation just as much as I did. “Maybe I am,” I said softly, approaching his desk. He watched, his eyes still sparkling, and those lips—lips I thought about more than I should—twitching at the corners. “I’ll l
OpheliaAfter that night at Edwards I realized that alcohol helped chase the nightmares away. It wasn’t sustainable, and I knew that, but it at least bought me a few nights’ sleep while I tried to figure something else out.Sneaking out to the library again was becoming an impossibility, so I had no way to look for my own alternative. I had no clue how Ryker managed to run an entire island, when I could barely manage a hundred. There was always someone who needed something from me, and even with Aisha’s help I felt like a child playing at being an adult.I quickly became tempted to accept the potion Jude offered instead, which he left outside of my door every single night, but why should I?He agreed to give me that potion, not some replacement. He could deny it and twist my words however he wanted, but I wasn’t going to give in. He couldn’t walk all over me just because we shared some bond.When Nova’s ‘friend date’ rolled around later that week I was almost relieved. That was until
OpheliaI was never going to forgive that asshole.Dashing through the forest, the earth steady beneath my paws, the warm wind rustling through my fur, was the only thing that kept me sane. I focused on my muscles coiling, on the tension that came when I launched off the ground, forcing myself into a sprint.It was better than thinking. Anything was better than thinking.The forest gave way to soft dunes as I neared the coastline. My paws sank into the sand, slowing my pace. I walked, my chest still heaving from exertion. Part of me wanted to keep running, to lose myself in the thrill, but exhaustion was creeping in, and I knew Ryker and Jude would only come and hunt me down. This way I could say I was with Edward, and they’d back the hell off for a little while.Edward’s beach house sat in the distance. The lights on the first floor were on. They cast an amber glow onto the surrounding foliage that felt welcoming. From where I was standing, I could see the winding pathways that circl
JudeOphelia was furious.Considering I was the one who made her feel that way, and she was my reason for existing, I should have felt guilty, right?Really, I blamed her father. He was the one that introduced her to that potion instead of getting her the help she needed. I wasn’t exactly the biggest spokesperson for mental health, but I made a promise the night I lost Ophelia and that was to never ignore the signs. Our girl was struggling, and if we could see it then surely her own flesh and blood could.I read Morningstar’s body language the few times we saw him and either he was a damned good actor—as good as myself—or he genuinely felt something for Ophelia. That didn’t fool me though. I also knew that love was both a tool and a weapon, and it didn’t discriminate against who it harmed.He might care for her in his own fucked up way, but he had no issues with using her either.My dove never failed to surprise me. She glared down at the potion in her hand, her lip curled in a silent
OpheliaAfter one last game we returned to our table for another round of drinks and for some crappy bar food.“Cheese fries.” I moaned, not caring that the waitress had given Jude the food whilst completely ignoring me. My stomach let out a snarl, the vicious kind that came when you had a few too many drinks. “At least there’s one good thing left in this world.”Jude took a drink of his whiskey. “Is that what you think? That there’s nothing good left in the world.”I licked some cheese off the tip of my thumb. “It’s what I know.”“If you’re here that means there’s good left in the world. That’s what I know.” He said, simply put. This wasn’t him trying to be charming, it was just Jude.The laugh I let out was one I didn’t recognize. “I’m not good anymore.”“That’s a load of shit. Since when?”“Doesn’t matter.”“No, you said it, now follow through. You’re not good anymore, fine. When did it happen? What made you go full dark side? I’m going to assume it wasn’t Ryker and I, because you
OpheliaAs we stepped inside, the scent of leather, whiskey, and cigarette smoke assaulted my senses.I was enveloped by the low rumble of conversation and the clinking of glasses. In the background I could hear the squeal of an electric guitar from the classic rock music playing from a jukebox in the corner. Men and women of all shapes and sizes filled the dimly lit space. Several of them, though not all, had tattoos and leather vests full of patches. A motorcycle gang, then.Jude's hand rested on my lower back as he guided me through the crowd. I could feel the heat of him through the thin fabric of my jacket. The phantom caress of sparks licked up my spine and I shuddered. His lips twitched and I knew he felt my reaction to him, the bastard."You brought me to a biker bar?" I asked, more than happy to change the subject.He looked downright sinful in his long-sleeved Henley. It clung to every ripple of muscle across his broad chest and arms. The sleeves were currently pushed up to
OpheliaPlot twist, it meant Ryker was full of shit.When I finally received Edward from Jude’s greedy clutches he was battered to hell and had a broken wrist. The broken wrist, as it turned out, was from Ryker. He didn’t even bother to be gentle as he grabbed him by the back of the neck and hoisted him off Jude.The bond was thrilled. I was annoyed and had a mild case of heartburn.When Edward trudged up to me with his shirt torn and stained with blood he did so with his nose in the air. I wasn’t sure why I thought he had the decency to at least act ashamed. I still had a lot to learn apparently.“Come the hell on before I kick your ass too,” I snarled under my breath. Spinning around, I began to storm off in the direction of his car. Anger had my blood boiling. When paired with this heat it was a deadly combination. “I can’t believe you both just did that, and over what? Over your own silly egos! You’re worried about what my father will think. Well, what’s he going to think about th
OpheliaCome on, baby. You’re smarter than this.They were wrong, the two of them. They didn’t know the truth. All they knew was what we were shown the day we scried. I was sure I could’ve found a way to show them the truth myself, but was there a point? Did I really want them on my side?They weren’t on it before. Why would they be now?Just two days later I managed to evade Edward and shift into my wolf to run to the library. I needed to research what might’ve happened to my mother’s soul without him hovering over my shoulder. Surprisingly, Jude and Ryker had been busy the past couple of days. Neither one bothered to tell me what they were doing, but I didn’t care.A twinge started in my chest.Correction, the mate-bond cared.As soon as the library’s door closed behind me I shuffled behind the nearest stack and followed it deeper into the room. There were a few students seated at tables in front of the librarian’s desk. I’d have to avoid them. Word traveled fast when you were a par
OpheliaIt was tempting to change into something flat and lifeless. Some black scrap of fabric that would act as armor between me and the world. I was going to conjure something along those lines when I turned and caught a glimpse of the sunset through the window.The sun was hovering just a few inches above the ocean, painting the waves in such vibrant color that they looked like a sea of living flame. It was life and beauty, and I wanted to hold onto that even if it were for just a night.I conjured something simple. Something that wasn’t quite the old me, but also wasn’t quite the new me either.The sundress had thin straps that tied at the shoulders, along with a square neckline that showed off my chest and throat. The fabric was a rich green and soft to the touch, with a lace overlay embroidered with black roses. A slit ran up the side, exposing my bare foot and part of my calf.I held my breath as I emerged into the kitchen. There were warriors everywhere, lounging and grabbing
OpheliaThe ripples in the water fell flat and the herbs began to float to the surface. I stared at them, watching them swirl around and around, while my silencing spell slowly crumbled.Edward walked back in as the final shards of it disintegrated. He leaned against the doorframe, arms folded over his chest. The picture of wealth and good genetics. His lips quirked up into a self-satisfied smirk as he caught me staring.I didn’t have it in me to tell him I wasn’t checking him out in that way.I tried to picture myself standing by Edward’s side—by any male’s side that wasn’t Ryker or Jude. It wasn’t just the bond that revolted at the thought, but my very soul. I wanted to tip my head back and laugh up at the heavens. I wanted to demand an audience with the goddess. With the damned deity who gave me three Alpha-hole mates.Even worse, I was fairly sure I’d never be able to feel anything for another man in my life. Wait … that might be a good thing.I was halfway through planning my lif