Ophelia“Ryker! Hello Ryker? I need you to talk to Jude! I’m pretty sure he’s hunting me.”My hair whipped at my face as I took off down the hall. I shoved past students who cursed and snarled at me for slamming into them, but I couldn’t stop. Adrenaline was keeping me going, forcing my legs to run faster and faster.Goddess why did this school have to be so damn big?I reached out again through the mind-link, trying to call for Ryker. A gasp tore from my throat as I took the hall to my left, only to see a flash of dark clothes, pale skin, and arms covered in ink.Nearly tripping over my own two feet, I stumbled back and took the hall to the right, clipping several students in the process. Picking up speed, I ducked under an open locker. At the very end of the hall were a set of double doors leading outside.“Hello? Damn it! Ryker, answer me right now.”I felt a rush of awareness as Ryker tuned in to the mind-link. Several seconds of silence rang out where I could hear only the beatin
OpheliaJude kicked open the front door and sauntered inside. My mouth dried up as I spotted the rows of prison cells on the first floor. They were made of silver and had several symbols painting the outside. I knew from my week in the library that they were binding symbols, meant to suppress a witches power.He bypassed them all, veering towards a curved staircase at the very back of the warehouse.I lifted my head and locked eyes with Ryker. He was several feet behind us, wearing only a pair of loose-fitting slacks. They hung low on his hips, showing off the deep v carved into his muscle.His lips were pressed into a harsh line, and I knew in my gut that whatever Jude had planned for me, Ryker would show me no mercy.Jude kicked the door at the top of the steps open and carried me into a large studio apartment. The entire back wall was nothing but windows, covered in thick black curtains that blocked out most of the light. A gothic-looking bed with black silk blankets sat off to the
Ophelia“Please,” I begged. “Fuck me, Jude. I need it.”Ryker groaned quietly, his cock now freed from his slacks and fisted in his large hand.My words seemed to shatter something within Jude, some last shred of worry that I might not want this. He surged forward, his cock slipping into my pussy. The burn was immediate, radiating down my legs and up my pelvis, causing me to cry out. Jude fell forward, his breath fanning across my shoulder blades.“Shhh, baby.” He cooed, his cock throbbing inside of me. “It’s alright. It won’t hurt for long.”As he began to thrust, dragging his length almost all the way out only to slam it back in, the red-hot pain was quickly overshadowed by the guttural sounds he was making.I might have been drowning, obliterated by the feel of his balls slapping my clit and his cock stretching me wide open, but so was he.Before long, I was begging him for more. Harder. Faster. Anything that would prolong the concoction of pain and pleasure he’d created.He clawed
OpheliaWith trembling hands, I squeezed my eyes shut and hit the call button. It rang twice before Alpha Hunter answered. A cold sweat trickled down the back of my neck as I picked up on his heavy breathing.“Meet me outside of the Moonlight Lounge.” His command was crisp, short, and so potent that an instant fire erupted in my veins, causing me to gasp and drop the phone.I curled in on myself, squeezing my wrist to try and staunch the pain, but nothing worked. Nothing made it any less agonizing. Only by putting my shoes on and leaving the house did it finally quiet to a persistent throb.Alpha Hunter was waiting for me in a blacked-out SUV, the same one I’d first stepped into those months ago. He was silent as we drove to the hotel he was staying at. I held my breath the entire ride, my eyes locked on his white-knuckled fists, which were perched on his thighs.I could feel the lid of my coffin closing as I stepped inside his hotel room and watched as he flicked the lock shut.Withi
Ophelia* Trigger Warning - Traumatic content below *Alpha Hunter’s voice reached my ears, making me want to curl in on myself. He draped his arm over my shoulder and yanked me into his side.Nova stopped at the end of the hall. Her eyes swept over the two of us and she grimaced. Without another glance she turned away. At that same moment Ryker and Jude entered through a side door catching her attention.Both of my second-chance mates paused, their gazes turning murderous as they spotted Alpha Hunter with his arm draped over my shoulder. It was the exact scenario that had led to Jude taking my virginity, and yet I had the sinking feeling that this time the outcome would be much different.“So glad you could join us boys. Come over here and let’s talk. I wasn’t exactly truthful about things before, but I’ve thought a lot this past week and I think I’m ready to fess up.”Alpha Hunter’s grin chilled me to my bones and left me desperate to put some distance between us. As Ryker and Jude
RykerI didn’t think or breathe, I just moved.Alpha Hunter, the piece of shit that had played a hand in destroying both mine and my brother’s heart shifted. Screams rang out as the giant sand-colored wolf barreled down the hall, charging at the doors that led out into the courtyard.Magic swirled around me, charged with my anger and hurt. I raised my hand and willed the doors to remain shut. Alpha Hunter slammed into the wall that was my magic and…and shattered it?How?Jude took off with a roar, tearing through his clothes as he shifted into his wolf. With each step moss began to grow along the floors, followed by threads of poison ivy that snaked around the students ankles.Kimberly reached out to grab me, but I tore myself away. Succumbing to the hollow feeling in my chest I shifted and charged after them.This time around, I wouldn’t stop my brother as he tore the foolish Alpha apart.Scalding heat burned the backs of my eyes as I raced into the forest, trailing after their scent
RykerA tracking spell led us to a yacht owned by Jameson’s family. It was kept at a private dock nearby. We traveled fast in our wolf forms, spurred on by rage and the lingering terror at having lost Ophelia.Never again. Never again would anything like this happen.It was now clear to me that Alpha Hunter had magic of his own. The way he had torn through the doors despite me holding them shut was proof enough. However, his magic was unrefined and clumsy. He clearly hadn’t the time nor dedication to honing his craft.That made it much too easy to ambush him.Jude erupted from the ground in a spray of sand and dirt, knocking Alpha Hunter off his feet. The two wrestled, but Jude was in no mood to play. His knuckles cracked across the man’s jaw again and again and again.I stood still and watched, my entire being trembling with the need to tear his throat out. As much as I wanted to be the one to end his life, Jude needed this. Without it, Jude would find someone else to hurt.“Jude, en
Jude“Jude.” My brother’s voice rattled my skull but was quickly drowned out by the snarl of my wolf demanding blood.I felt myself slip from my body, watching the spectacle from above.Sterling was pressed against the wall, my hand wrapped around his throat. Vines crawled up his body, prodding at his eyes as I toyed with the idea of plucking them from his skull.Ryker, my brother who had risked his life breaking the oath that kept me tethered to his side, was there trying to pry me off.She was gone. She was gone. She was gone.Dead and then not dead. Here and then not here.Sterling had brought her back, had used every ounce of his strength in doing so, but it wasn’t enough.Ryker’s voice bled into my ears as I sank back down into my body, “Jude, let him speak. This isn’t his fault, and you know it. Come on, man. Don’t make me force you.” I didn’t care. Couldn’t he tell I didn’t care?His magic wrapped around my body, slowly prying my fingers off Sterling. The vines I controlled like
OpheliaI sucked in a breath and held it until my lungs burned—until the screaming in my chest matched the screaming in my head. Nothing else mattered as I crawled onto his lap. A purr rumbled in his chest, one that told me I was safe with him for the time being. The dark magic hadn’t taken him over entirely yet. I just … I needed to be close while I figured this out, while I came up with a solution.Deep down I knew—I knew there was no way out of this.A choked sound left me, something between a sob and a broken exhale. My carefully crafted restraints shattered, and I lurched forward and kissed him.His lips were fever warm beneath mine, but he kissed me back like I was his lifeline. I knew that if his hands weren’t bound they would’ve been cradling my face, peppering it with reverent touches that made me melt inside.I didn’t stop. I didn’t want to stop. I didn’t want to think of a world without Ryker—one where I couldn’t be angry with him, where I couldn’t learn to forgive him.Rig
OpheliaLight ripped around us, not bright or searing, but warm. It formed a tunnel of energy, and on its walls I saw a slideshow of the earth moving past us—hills and valleys, cities and towns.Holding Ryker tight, I jumped.Like the snap of a rubber band, we were spat out somewhere else. Our legs tangled and we crashed onto solid ground. The impact knocked the breath from my lungs. Ryker hit the earth beside me, completely unmoving. My arms trembled as I pushed myself up, my body exhausted from using all that magic.Even with my neat little siphoning trick, ley line travel took a lot of energy.Someone’s two-story family home loomed before us, its towering white columns mirroring the clouds drifting lazily across the sky. The wide front porch stretched out like open arms. There was even a swing swaying gently from the evening breeze. A neatly stacked pile of firewood rested against the side of the house, and the scent of sun-warmed grass filled the air.Using magic, I dragged Ryker
OpheliaWe left the manor exactly as it had been, shifting into our wolf forms to travel to the nearest town. The run helped dull the sharp edges of my thoughts, but the moment we arrived, reality came crashing back down.The town was small and worn. The kind of place where the streetlights flickered, and the air smelled of cheap gasoline.The motel wasn’t much better with its peeling paint, flickering sign, and lobby that reeked of mildew, but it had a bed and hot water. That was plenty enough for me.Inside the cramped room, I told the others, “When I was traveling with my father, I met a demon. One of Hell’s princes.” At this Nova paled. I knew she was thinking of the demon currently trapped in her bedroom—the incubus. “It showed me a vision where my mother was alive and well. She wasn’t twisted by dark magic, or corrupted, or anything like that. She was just herself.”I left out the other parts. The ones I couldn’t say without severing ties from my father entirely, and that would
OpheliaThe front porch creaked beneath our weight, the sound deafening in the silence. Every whisper felt like an accusation, every breeze a paranoid thought that chilled me to my core. I was sure my father would step out from behind a pillar, or a hedge.I inhaled deeply, reaching out with my magic. “There aren’t any wards on the house.”Nova made a face. “That’s surprising. We had a hell of a time making it through the forest, but this place has nothing?”“Morningstar likely assumed no one would get this far.” Sterling crossed his arms. “Or, depending on which point we entered, the wards we encountered could have varied entirely.”“It did feel like they intersected in some areas,” I pondered aloud.“That is elaborate. Like a moving puzzle.” Ryker huffed. “I’d expect nothing less.”I reached for the door handle, my fingers grazing the cold, swirling metal. A sharp sting shot through my finger, and I jerked back with a wince. A drop of blood welled on my fingertip.“Damn it,” I grunt
OpheliaHe balled his hand into a fist and the earth trembled before splitting open. Vines with wickedly sharp thorns, curved like the blade of a scythe, lunged from the ground like vicious snakes. There was a yelp, followed by a wail of pain as Jude’s vines struck the wolf closest to us.Nova fell to the ground, her mouth open in a soundless scream. Blood spilled from a deep gash across her chest, one right below her collarbones. Jude turned, his eyes wide with curiosity. “Well, fuck, that’s not good.” “Grab below her arms!” Ryker bellowed at Sterling, who jumped into action to haul Nova up. She let out a pained groan that twisted my stomach into knots. There was so much blood. So much crimson. “Focus, tesoro. We need you to keep up the protection shield as long as you can. Sterling has herbs on him that will heal her, but we need space to use them.”His voice snapped me out of my panic, and I nodded. Drawing magic from the earth was slower with all the wards in place. I was confide
OpheliaFor the next hour we trudged through the uneven terrain, navigating over thick roots and jagged rocks, the towering trees pressing in from all sides.I continued to rely on a mix of my magic and the blood racing through my veins to lead the way. My fathers house was still mine to some degree—still mine by blood. I was beginning to realize that in the magic world, blood held power.The further we delved, the harder it became to see ahead—especially with the fading light. Branches hung low like skeletal fingers, clawing at our clothes.Eventually the air thickened with humidity, and soon, fog curled along the ground, rising in creeping tendrils. It clung to our skin, damp and warm, carrying the scent of earth—rich, almost sweet.“Watch your step,” Ryker said a moment too late.Nova’s mouth flew open as her foot caught on something unseen, her balance pitching dangerously forward—straight toward a steep drop-off we hadn’t even noticed. Jude reacted first, clamping his hand over h
OpheliaRyker found me alone the following morning putting some final touches on a few potions. They were a bit hasty—especially the fire repellant potion—but they would do the job should my father’s protection methods turn … violent.I felt him approach as I always did, his soul brushing up against my own.“I shouldn’t have said it,” he admitted to my back, his voice quieter than usual. “Threatening to dark bond you wasn’t just wrong, it was abhorrent. Unforgiveable. I knew what it would do—”Exhaling sharply, I spun around, the bubbling cauldron now at my back. If this acid potion singed my hair off I’d be pissed.“It was smart. You were thinking like an Alpha.” He blinked at me, shock morphing the handsome contours of his face. “Seriously, it drove the nail home. It was my reaction that convinced him. I know that’s why you didn’t tell me beforehand. My father firmly believes we hate one another now. He’ll never suspect what we’re doing tonight. So, I don’t need an apology.”Whateve
OpheliaI used to be the kind of girl who wore every emotion for the world to see. Blame it on the choices I’ve made, or the things I’ve done, but I now had this box deep inside of myself where I stuffed the emotions deep.They bled out. They always did. It wasn’t an impenetrable box by any means, but the world no longer had to witness my emotions devouring me one bite at a time.It was in this box that I stuffed the pure terror of seeing my father standing in Edwards’ living room.My father stood beneath the light fixture; his hands clasped in front of him. His suit was the color of ash and neatly tailored to fit his body. I let my eyes linger on the harsh set of his jaw—on the sharp line his facial hair made as it carved its way up his cheek.Stuffing the last finger-trembling crumbs of fear into that box, I met his cold gaze.He was furious.I could feel his magic here even though he wasn’t casting. His shadow stretched along the back wall; this distorted thing.My stomach dropped
OpheliaThe scent of salt clung to the air in Shreveport, carried in by the crashing waves at our backs.Aisha stood at my side; her braid twisted into a tight knot at the back of her head. Her face was expressionless, eyes trained on the street ahead.Lamps on either side flickered in the humid light, casting golden pools onto the pavement. Music trickled from the open doors of nearby bars, blending with the chatter of people. Shops were still open this Friday evening, their signs buzzing softly, drawing in customers.Kids ran around with bags stuffed full of candy from the shop at the corner. Several times since moving here I had passed that very store, my mouth watering for something Lucille would’ve never let me have. Tourists snapped pictures beneath hanging lanterns, oblivious to the danger breathing down their very necks.I hid in the shadows between two shops, four warriors at my back flanking me on either side. They remained in their wolf forms, their heavy breathing a reassu