Arthur’s POV"Good,” I said as I looked at the office door. “Let’s get this taken care of, then.”Opening the door, Alpha Romero sat at his desk, wearing a smiling face as he spoke to me.I glanced around the Alpha's office at the rest of the attendees. Sitting in front of and beside his desk was Romero's daughter Catherine and his beta. Initially, the talk was casual, pleasant even. “I’ve been thinking about taking up some cooking classes,” said Catherine to the Beta. “Oh, really? You’re a fine cook as it is,” the Beta remarked. “Well, I have more responsibilities ahead of me. I want to make sure I’m making my husband happy.”“True,” Romero responded. “You’ll pick it up easily. You’re a fast learner with whatever you’ve chosen to do.” Was Catherine pretending I wasn’t in the room? Obviously, she wanted me to hear just how “good of a wife” she was going to be. I mentally sighed in annoyance. “Arthur, you appreciate good food, don’t you?” Beta asked. Before I could
It occurred to me that my illness may be making me feel naughtier as I willfully pulled him closer to me.Despite the murkiness of my judgment, I had no choice but to throw caution to the wind. I gave into his bold kiss and pressed my soft lips to his. He cradled my head in his left hand as his mouth melded with mine. I whimpered as he petted me. Though I was losing myself in the moment, I held tightly onto the thought that I refused to be another man's plaything. It was imperative that I not risk disappointingly falling in love with Arthur simply because we'd crossed boundaries. Compromising wasn't an option.The life inside me was enough to keep me steadfast, I hoped. I'd have to refrain from allowing my heart to be completely swept up in my hopes for love and happiness. My pup was more important than trying to figure out my and Arthur's convoluted arrangement.Plus, I refused to cause problems for someone else in a relationship, no matter how much I didn't want it to happen. T
Ophelia’s POVArthur hadn't come to visit me in a long time. I couldn't help but wonder if he was preparing for his engagement to Catherine. It haunted me each day he wasn't here. I didn't want to mope, but I couldn't bring myself to put a smile on my face.As I imagined him making plans for a life with her, I felt empty. It wasn't like I was entertaining the thought of interjecting myself into his plans or anything disrespectful. I was just so confused. It wasn't any wonder that Jessica would notice.While I was shuffling down the hallway drooping my head in melancholy, I ran into her on her way up to visit me. Per usual, she had a heaping plate of food to share with me. When she saw me from afar, she flashed her warm smile but once she neared, her face fell."Hey, Ophelia. Are you okay?" she asked, touching my shoulder.At first, I shrugged at her, at a loss for words. She wrinkled her forehead, appearing sympathetic. My heart felt like it was cracking it hurt so much. Not
"Let's start sneaking around behind his back if he shows up," Kingston said with a tone of ambiguity. I forced myself not to reveal how shocked I was. As Kingston's suggestive proposal hung in the air, I couldn't stop shaking which was accompanied by the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach."Sneaking around behind his back? Please be careful about what you're saying," I retorted. "Whatever feud you have with Alpha Arthur is none of my concern. I'm merely an outsider who has never provoked anyone. Please don't make things difficult for me."Though I feigned indignation, my mind raced with apprehension, hoping Kingston would dismiss such a dreadful idea and above all... hoping Arthur wouldn't come. If he didn't then that would mean Kingston had to leave me alone from here on out. Not only that, but I didn't want to see his face when he saw me in the company of his evil stepbrother.My stomach rolled over and I was reminded of the feeling I experienced when Catherine had made me s
I turned around, caught off guard, and saw Arthur standing behind me. Widening my eyes in shock, I cowered under his towering form. Without a word, he snatched the glass from my hand and hurled it at Kingston across the table.Kingston, who was already sitting, seemed to have anticipated this move and swiftly lifted the tablecloth to shield himself from the splashing liquid. Each of Kingston's mates around the table jumped in surprise.Using the gingham tablecloth as his slingshot, Kingston's lightning-fast reflexes caused the tumbler to fly in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, that direction was mine. The glass sailed through the air, appearing in slow motion to me. I wasn't sure how, but I slid out of the way just in the nick of time. Ricky, who was at my left instinctively stood up, but before he could get out of the way, it smashed against his head, sending glass shards in all directions.Without thinking, I flung my arms up to protect my face. I felt a few slivers embed
Arthur touched my cheek gently, pulling strands of hair away from my face. He was close to my face, our bodies resting against each other. "I want you, Ophelia," he said. I gazed into his piercing eyes and could see love in them. "Don't leave me," I begged. His hands brushed over my bare skin and sent shivers through my body. "You are mine forever and I am forever yours," Arthur said. My heart was racing. I had been yearning to hear him say these words. Did he mean them? Before I could ask him, he slid closer, kissing me tenderly. I kissed him back, welcoming his mouth to me. Moving away from me, he caressed his fingertips on my full breasts. Delicately, he teased my nipples until they were erect. He fluttered his hands over my ribs, down the middle of my stomach, and then between my legs.I could feel his breath on me, just like the last time we were together. I'd never had this done to me, but I knew I didn't want him to stop. Holding his head, I twisted his hair in m
As soon as I woke, shock and disbelief flooded me. My chest tightened with panic. The night before I had cried myself to sleep. That was evident by how much my eyes stung. They were swollen and rubbed raw from me wiping them so much.Arthur's words played over and over in my mind. How could that be what he said? No! There must be some kind of misunderstanding.There was no way he was going to kill me, right?Reluctantly, I slid out of bed. Was there a point to get up? I wasn't sure anymore. One thing was certain though, there was no way I was taking a chance on running into Arthur today.In fact, it was probably best if I found my way to the cottage, far away from this group. Then I’d figure out what to do next. Just as I was packing a bag, I heard a knock at my door."Who is it?" I asked hesitantly. "It's Arthur. Do you want to join us for breakfast?"My stomach dropped to my feet and instantly my heart rate quickened. I froze for a second. Was I going to be able to talk with
Beta Anthony’s POVThe other night when I spoke with Arthur, it hadn't proceeded as smoothly as I'd expected. Even through my best efforts to urge him to reconsider, it only made him more convinced to go through with the plan.That plan was to marry Catherine and get rid of Ophelia afterward. What fate did that leave for his heir? Who was going to take care of the pup after the birth? I didn't think Catherine should be an influence on a young, innocent, developing mind. What poisonous ideas she would plant! But did any of that matter to him? Had he thought that far ahead? Just imagining that woman being in my life was pissing me off. I felt like it was my duty to protect Arthur and Ophelia from her greedy claws. I'd been as honest with him about my feelings regarding Catherine without inflaming him. My goal had been to be logical and diplomatic so I chose my words carefully but now that I was alone, I could admit my real feelings. Catherine was not only going to be a pain in th
Ophelia's POV The next morning I woke up early and decided to start my day with a cappuccino from my favorite coffee house ‘Rosalyn's’ before rehearsal. As I opened my door I smiled, turning my face to the warmth of the sun. It was a beautiful morning, and I had plenty of time to walk down to my destination before I had to get to work. One of my favorite things about my new home was the variety of charming shops located within walking distance of my house. I passed my favorite bakery ‘Daily Bread’ and deeply inhaled the fragrant aroma of freshly baked bread wafting into the street. I thought about stopping in for one of their luscious croissants but decided against it. Even though my mouth watered at the idea of the flakey, buttery consistency of their pastries, it wasn't practical. I had some time, but not enough to make two trips. And the coffee was non-negotiable if I was going to get through my morning. I always enjoyed practicing my cello, but rehearsal could be in
Ophelia's POV I had always loved jazz music. It was a passion that I didn't share with most people. It seemed to me that jazz was a polarizing art form. People seemed to either love it or loathe it. And I always seemed to have far too much going on in my life to waste time arguing about its merits with those who fell into the latter category. Nonetheless, from the time I was a child, I would pull on my earphones and be swept away by the sounds of my favorite musicians. Billie Holiday, John Coltrane, and Ella Fitzgerald to name a few. They felt like friends to me. No matter what was happening in my life, I knew that I could always turn to their music in my time of need. Listening to the sweet sound of Coltrane's ‘Cousin Mary’ would always bring me some measure of peace. It was one of the few things I could count on during that dark period of my life. I don't know exactly how it came up in conversation with Allen, but yesterday I confessed to him about this guilty pleasure of
Ophelia's POV The next day, my head pounding with a dreaded hangover, I decided that there was only one surefire way to get Arthur out of my head once and for all. I was going to get rid of absolutely everything related to him. If I needed him out of my life, and out of my head for good, then I needed to purge it all. Everything must go, I thought irrationally, as I grimaced from the burn of the black coffee I had ingested. All of it. It would be like an exorcism. Only the demon I was desperately attempting to vanquish was my love for Arthur. It might be a tall order, but I had to start somewhere, I thought grimly, using the dregs of the bitter brew to swallow two aspirin. I'd begin with the obvious: the villa key he'd given me, our family photo from that baby store, and newspaper clippings I'd hung up beside my bed for the past year. I was sure there was more, but that was where I would begin. The only problem with my plan was that sorting through these items brought b
Ophelia's POV In the days following Christmas dinner, Allen was busier than usual. He spent most of his days at the hospital with his patients, sometimes even sleeping at work rather than driving home exhausted after a fifteen-hour shift. "I'm sorry," Allen told me over the phone during one of his infrequent breaks. "The hospital is just insanely busy right now. It seems as if every shifter in the surrounding territories is either sick or injured right now. I have no idea why!" "Maybe it's the full moon," I joked, trying to make light of the situation.I missed Allen, and the more I was alone with my musings, the more my mind and heart turned to Arthur, and what he might be doing. Did he remember me? Or had he forgotten me as quickly as it seemed? "It's not your fault in any case," I continued, trying to hide the disappointment I felt at the thought of spending another day alone. "Your patients are incredibly lucky to have you." "I'll make it up to you, I promise
Ophelia's POV I awoke early to the aroma of fresh coffee wafting tantalizingly from downstairs. Smiling, I threw on my new black robe and followed the scent to our kitchen table. And to Allen, my friend. I reflected once again, upon seeing him seated at the table with my son, how lucky I was these days. "Good morning, sweetheart," Allen said warmly, offering me a warm smile. "I was just going to bring you some coffee. Are you hungry for some breakfast?" My stomach immediately growled loudly in anticipation, making us both chuckle. I sat down next to my pup, ruffling his hair. Aiden was a year old, and I thanked the Moon Goddess every single day for bringing him into my life. For bringing both men into my life. "I guess that answers that question," Allen replied with a grin, making his way over to the stove. "Belgian waffles and home fries coming right up!" Allen was tall and handsome, with curly dark hair and melting chocolate eyes. Everything about him was warm and
Arthur's POV I found myself strolling through a winter garden. The sun rose high overhead, spreading warmth throughout my body despite the gentle snow falling to the ground. Everything in my surroundings sparkled as if silver glitter had somehow been mixed with the wintry precipitation.I ambled slowly past an ice sculpture, which miraculously bore Catherine's likeness down to the smallest detail. Even the tiny laugh lines around the corners of her mouth stood out in relief. For some reason, I felt as if the statue was purposefully mocking me. Telling me to give up, that my love would always be lost to me. This angered me, and with a muttered curse I drew my broadsword from its sheath. Raising it above my head, it glinted under the rays of the sun as if on fire. Grinning, I brought down my sword and decapitated the effigy in one swift stroke. It had been satisfying to kill her, if only symbolically. But before I could reflect upon why that might be, I heard something that to
Arthur’s POVI dreamed that Ophelia had come back. The ache that had been my reality for long was now removed and I was filled with... joy. We hugged one another and everything was perfect. Then an icy blizzard hit with the rapidity of a squall. I was blinded by the whitewash, and I lost track of her. Rushing around frantically, I searched for her in the last direction that I'd seen her go.It felt like I walked for ages but finally, I knew she was near because suddenly the storm swirled away into the distance, then ceased. The snow was melting and as I trudged toward her, shivering and frostbitten, she stood in a beautiful, lush garden. Moss and chartreuse grass grew before my eyes.She turned to me, and I was bewildered when koby-pink cherry flower blossoms began to fall at my feet, covering the ground. I reached out for the cherry blossom and held it. The branch broke under my grasp, and everything turned frigid.Ophelia joined me and touched the same tree, bringing
Ophelia’s POVAs we were traveling the swaying and rocking from the boat began to make me feel seasick. Being pregnant was only exacerbating the symptoms. When Kingston stopped by my cabin, he noticed I wasn't well."Uh oh, you look green. Not feeling too good, huh?" he asked."Do I really look that awful?""You could never look awful," he playfully joked with a half-smile, sitting across from me. I did my best to crack a smile for him, but I felt too nauseated. "Maybe I can help. The crew must have Dramamine or something similar.""Will it hurt the pup?" I asked, holding the baby bump on my stomach. I felt nervous which only compounded my queasiness. After being forced into drinking games, I didn't want to take a chance to consume any other substance that may hurt the baby.Remembering that night of drinking, a pang of mistrust for Kingston returned. I glanced at him, feeling iciness in my chest. But now he was behaving so contrary. He was going to all this trouble f
Ophelia’s POVMaking it just in time, I heard the announcement for Suntra, 10 am. Like it was planned, Kingston paid my way siding beside me. Clinging onto my printed ticket like it was my lifeline, I skipped to the queue. After handing it to the attendee she smiled."Enjoy your stay," was what she said. I wondered why she didn't say anything about this being a holiday or vacation. Even though she couldn't see into my eyes, somehow, she pinpointed I was on a one-way trip. It was when I realized for myself the significance of my leaving. Perhaps I was reading too much into it, but I took it as a sign. This was the right decision and I'd be safe once and for all. Encouraged even more by this random interaction, I enthusiastically traipsed toward the boat. I barely noticed Kingston beside me. My heart was racing with exhilaration, anxiety, and faith in a new life. Me and my pup would live in a lovely place free of Arthur's oppression. Free of all the people who'd kept me un