Ophelia’s POVAfter a desperate attempt to grasp Arthur's hand, I lost my balance, slipping over the edge. I fell for what felt like forever until I hit the ground with a violent thud, knocking the wind out of me. Panicking, I tried to breathe, but it wouldn't come. Rolling on my back with two tremulous inhales, relief washed over me as my diaphragm relaxed and my lungs expanded with air.Still gasping and coughing, I stared at the cliff I'd just fallen from. It was jagged and several stories high—much steeper than I'd realized. Even if I wanted to—and I didn't—I couldn't make it back up there without some help. This was not a mere tumble down a grassy hill.I rolled to my left side on my stomach preparing to stand. Pressing my palms to the ground, I surveyed the landscape. I had no idea where I was and even if I had, the nighttime torrential downpour was making visibility close to nil.Panting, in a split second I went through my options. Nobody was around for miles,
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
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
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
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
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
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 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