OpheliaInside, I had my work cut out for me.After throwing two piles of laundry into the wash, I cleaned the lower half of the house. Throwing the sopping wet clothes into the dryer, I sat on the floor with my back against the wall and got started on some homework.By the time I finished, it was nine o’clock. I should’ve carried my ass to bed, but I wasn’t quite ready to end the day. It was rare I had time to myself, and I wanted to milk those moments for all they were worth.Swiping a bottle of whiskey from the kitchen, I headed up to my bedroom. I grabbed a joint and a pack of matches before veering towards the window above my bed. Having it fixed had been expensive, draining what little savings I had accumulated.Giving it a pointed glare, I shoved it open and climbed onto the roof.There was a flat perch large enough to recline on. Bundled beneath my threadbare blanket, I set my eyes on the sea of stars hanging in the sky. Staring at something so vast and limitless made my probl
OpheliaI awoke that morning to an empty bedroom and the chemical tang of the scent-blocker lodged up my nose.Searching deep within my chest, I winced as I felt the mate-bond between Ryker and I squirm. Sitting there beside it was the half-formed bond I held with Jude.I sighed, relief flowing throughout my tense limbs.It hadn’t snapped into place, after all.‘We can’t keep doing this back-and-forth thing with them. It’s getting too risky, and unless you want us to spend the rest of our lives being driven mad by excruciating pain, we need to take Alpha Hunter’s commands more seriously.’ My wolf snarled, spitting the words through her teeth like venom. ‘It’s only a matter of time before he asks about our relationship with Ryker. We’ll have no choice but to tell him the bond snapped into place on both sides.’I could feel her rage and knew the all-consuming force of it wasn’t directed towards me, or even the half-brothers we were mated to. All of it, every last drop, was meant for Alp
Ophelia“I see I should have reminded all of you not to force too much magic into your objects. As you see they become quite—,” Her voice lifted to a shriek, “WATCH OUT FOR THE HAIR CLIPPERS! Goddess, why did I give them hair clippers?”I would have laughed had my enchanted toothbrush not chosen that moment to jam itself into my mouth.“Under these extenuating circumstances, I believe I’ll end class early today!” She shouted above the chaos, “These enchantments will wear off on their own. Let us give them the space to do so, shall we? EVERYONE, OUT!”A herd of students raced for the door, chased by a hoard of enchanted objects. I made to join them when a flying marker slammed into my face, scribbling a mess across my cheek before lunging for Henry’s glasses. By the time he managed to swat it away, one of his lenses was entirely blacked out.When I finally made it home, I was greeted by Lucille.Stone-faced and oozing disdain, she set her shrewd gaze upon my cheek where the enchanted m
Ophelia“I don’t think I’ve heard you laugh once since meeting you.” Ryker murmured, shadows dancing in his eyes.Jude glanced away; his jaw oddly tight. “I was beginning to think she wasn’t capable of it.”“I haven’t exactly had many reasons to.” I said pointedly. “And I’m pretty sure I laughed when I was drunk the other night.”Removing his sopping wet t-shirt, Jude snorted. “This laugh was different.”My mouth went a bit try at the sight of his chiseled stomach. Bold images were inked into his flesh, starting from the top of his pants, spanning all the way up his throat.Feigning indifference, I rolled my eyes. “I’m not sure why it matters so much. Anyone would’ve laughed at the two of you flopping around the floor like a couple of fishes.” A giggle threatened to spill past my lips. “The formidable Alpha Ryker and his enforcer, defeated on laundry day.”Using the wall for support, I hauled myself to my feet. My stomach dropped as I took in our surroundings.There was water everywhe
Jude“I’m going to kill her.”Ryker sighed, the sound only half as grating as Kimberly’s nasal laugh.“No, you’re not.”“I am.”“Jude—”“Ryker.”“You’re not going to kill her.”“You’re right. I’m going to torture her first. Then, I’ll kill her.”Kimberly rolled her eyes from the passengers seat. Biting down on a plastic forkful of gas station salad, she smacked her lips and clapped her teeth, crushing the foliage in between her molars.“Honestly, I’m trembling in my wedges.” She clicked her shoes together.I turned to Ryker, whose jaw was clenched as he glowered at the road. His fingers tightened on the steering wheel. The bastard would deny it until his final breath, but he hated Kimberly just as much as I did.“Let me drive.”He sighed, again. “No.”“Why the fuck not?”“You’ll drive us into a tree.”I sank into the seat and folded my arms over my chest, “Whatever.”I wouldn’t have. Well, I would’ve. But I would’ve only crashed into Kimberly’s side. See? Big difference.Popping an ea
JudeI grinned at Kimberly, “I’ll hold him down, and you tie him up.” When she refused to move, shuffling her weight between her teeth, I chuckled. “Don’t look so worried, Kim-Kim. I’ll make sure he doesn’t bite you.”The rope we used to restrain the demon was soaked in purified water. Humans had crafted legends of their own about demons and angels, and while I didn’t know shit about angels, I did know that demons didn’t give two fucks about “holy water” or priests.It was purified water that weakened them, burning their skin like acid.Exorcisms were all for show. In fact, I’d bet my dick there hasn’t been a single human priest alive that’s actually come into contact with a demon.I grabbed Flint by the ankles, snorting when he tried to sit up and snap at me. I began dragging him towards the back door, pausing when Kimberly moved to follow.“Where do you think you’re going?”“Inside. Where the fuck else?” She snapped.I pointed at the half-decomposed corpse lying in the dirt. “No, yo
OpheliaRyker had left after our conversation, intent on finding Jude before he could take his aggression out on another Dark Matter dealer.To be honest, I didn’t want to think about Jude.I knew in my bones he felt something for me. Even if it was only the tug of the mate bond trying to draw us together, it was something. He could deny it, fight it—and part of me wanted him to—but it was there, nonetheless. Rather than think more on the topic, I turned my attention to my chores.Neither my cousin nor Lucille had a thing to say about the seven piles of laundry I’d miraculously managed to clean in one day. Without Nova, I would’ve never gotten it all done. Now all that was left was to get her out of the house without Lucille noticing.It had been Astrid of all people who had caught us red handed.It was well past midnight. She must’ve crept downstairs in search of a snack, because she was at the counter making a miniature fruit platter when Nova and I slipped from the laundry room.I
OpheliaAn hour later, and I was ready to strangle each and every one of Lucille’s friends. If one could even call them that.Mrs. Samuels, an older woman who would’ve appeared elegant if not for the perpetual sneer on her face, continued to ask me for every nutritional fact for every dish placed in front of her. After the fifth time, I started lying.“This honey braised Atlantic Bluefin is sugar and fat free? How delightful!”I smiled until my cheeks ached, barely holding back the urge to roll my eyes. We were werewolves, for crying out loud! What did the sugar content in a baked fish matter?Mrs. Denmark, who sat to the left of Lucille, prodded her fish with her fork. She by far looked the youngest of the bunch, her dark skin free of any wrinkles. The only creases on her face were around her eyes, telling me she either smiled or scowled a lot.I was willing to bet it was the latter.“When was this fish caught?” She sniffed, “I only eat seafood if it’s been captured the same day.”I