12. Jesse

TWELVE

JESSE

The first rays of the morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow across the room. As consciousness gradually returned to me I found myself in a new situation. I woke up with Marie nestled in my arms, her soft breaths tickling the skin of my chest. Her presence was both comforting and exhilarating, but it also stirred a whirlwind of conflicting emotions within me.

As I gazed down at her, her features peaceful in slumber, I couldn’t deny the profound connection that had formed between us. Her blonde hair spilled across the pillow, and her gentle curves fit perfectly against me. It was impossible not to feel a surge of desire, but I also knew our situation was far from simple.

My thoughts drifted to the warnings and concerns voiced by others, especially Mike and the ominous presence of Ophelia. Her jealousy and possessiveness were like a shadow that loomed over us, threatening to disrupt the fragile peace we’d found. I didn’t even want to think about what she might do to Marie. I didn’t want anything to happen.

Despite my determination to protect Marie and my daughter, Belle, my heart was in turmoil. I had to confront the reality that I was falling for Marie, and it scared me. The age gap, the responsibilities I carried as her boss, and the complicated dynamics of our world all weighed heavily on my mind.

But as I watched Marie sleep, her face relaxed in blissful unawareness, I couldn’t deny the depth of my feelings for her. It was a love that transcended the boundaries and complications of our lives, a force that refused to be ignored.

I gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. My heart ached with longing and uncertainty, but one thing was clear–I couldn’t imagine my life without her in it.

I carefully extricated myself from the tangle of blankets and limbs, doing my best not to disturb her peaceful rest. It was a rare and precious moment, one that I didn’t want to disturb. As I moved about the room, preparing for the day ahead, my phone began to buzz incessantly with messages from the pack. The events of the previous night and the ongoing search for the rogue shifter had created a flurry of activity. Urgent messages and updates flooded my screen, demanding my attention. I wanted to give it all of my focus because it was important, but it wasn’t easy when my mind was all consumed by the woman lying in my bed. As I watched her sleeping, a pang of longing tugged at my heart. We had tiptoed around our feelings for each other, cautious and aware of the complications that could arise from pursuing this. And yet, the chemistry between us was undeniable, a magnetic force that drew us closer with each passing day. We couldn’t ignore it, even if we didn’t know where it would take us.

“Marie,” I whispered softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face, “I have another meeting this morning.”

She stirred, her eyes fluttering open as she met my gaze. A soft smile graced her lips as she nodded in understanding. “Of course, Jesse,” she replied, her voice filled with warmth. “I’ll stay with Belle.”

I couldn’t help but feel a surge of gratitude for her willingness to support me, to be there for my daughter when I couldn’t. It was a testament to the remarkable person she was, caring and selfless even in the face of uncertainty and danger. Yes, it was her job, but she went above and beyond for me all the time.

With a final, lingering glance, I left the room, preparing to face the challenges that awaited me. The morning air was crisp and cool as I made my way up the mountain to our meeting point. The towering trees and rugged terrain of Wolf Mountain loomed around me, casting long shadows that seemed to whisper secrets of the forest. It was a place of both beauty and danger, a world where shifting allegiances and hidden threats lurked beneath the surface.

As I approached our designated rendezvous at the Patron’s mountain, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of foreboding in the air. The weight of responsibility rested heavily on my shoulders, and Ophelia only added to the mounting tension within our community. Especially if my suspicions were correct and it was her killing everyone.

The members of our pack and the representatives from the other clans had already gathered, their expressions somber and anxious. We exchanged nods and greetings, but there was an unspoken understanding that something grave hung in the balance.

“It’s not good news, Jesse,” Daniel, our tech expert, murmured as I joined the group. His voice held a note of resignation, and I knew that his words carried weight.

“What’s happened?” I asked, my heart sinking with dread.

Lissa, our tracker, stepped forward, her eyes reflecting the gravity of the situation. “They found the bodies of the two more missing hikers last night,” she announced, her voice trembling slightly. “It’s… It’s bad. Worse than ever before.”

The tension in the group grew palpable as we considered the implications of this grim discovery.

“We need to find this rogue,” Octavio spoke with urgency. “We can’t let these attacks continue. Especially if they are getting worse.”

I nodded in agreement, my thoughts drifting to Ophelia and the disturbing possibility that she might be the one responsible for these horrific acts. The woman I had once loved, who had now become a dangerous threat to our community. Did I tell everyone? I wasn’t quite sure at that point. Just in case I was wrong.

“Ophelia Roberts.” Her name fell out of my mouth before I could even really decide what to do moving forward. Everyone turned to look at me, so I knew I needed to continue. “I saw her, last night. She doesn’t belong here.”

“What?” Ed demanded in shock. “What do you mean?”

I sighed heavily before I continued. “She’s my ex, and she says that she’s here for me, but I don’t know. It’s a coincidence, isn’t it?”

A murmur spread around the room and guilt flooded me. If this was Ophelia, then the deaths were on my hands too. She wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for me. She wouldn’t be doing any of this.

Finally, James spoke up, his voice tinged with gravity, silencing everyone else. “I found something,” he announced from Daniel’s computer, his eyes locked on to the screen. “It’s not good.”

“What have you found?” I demanded anxiously.

My heart sank as James spoke out, revealing the chilling details of Ophelia’s recent history. “Six months ago,” James began, his voice carrying a somber tone, “her pack, the Moonshadow Clan, was ruthlessly slaughtered by human hunters. It was a brutal massacre, leaving no survivors except for one member who managed to escape, though badly wounded.”

The room was filled with hushed murmurs and uneasy glances as we absorbed this grim information. The Moonshadow Clan was a famous pack from New York, and their sudden annihilation sent shockwaves through our tight-knit community. Especially with Ophelia here.

James continued, his words heavy with implication, “What’s most unsettling is that the survivor reported that Ophelia had fled the scene even before the attack occurred. It was as if she had known what was coming, as if she had betrayed her own pack.”

A heavy silence hung in the room, the implications of Ophelia’s actions sinking in. The betrayal of one’s own kind was a grave offense, one that was met with universal condemnation among our kind. It was a kin slaying, a betrayal of our most sacred principles.

I exchanged glances with my fellow clan members, our expressions a mixture of disbelief and concern. Ophelia’s actions raised countless questions and cast a dark shadow over her motivations. Was she responsible for the deaths of her own pack members? Had she willingly led the Hunters to them?

The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken questions and fears. We were faced with a traitor in our midst, and the urgency of our mission had intensified. Ophelia was not only a rogue wolf; she was a dangerous enigma with a past tainted by betrayal and death. It was becoming increasingly clear that she had become unhinged, and that the deaths were more than likely her. I hated that, but it was time to embrace the truth before anyone else was murdered.

“We need to find her,” I declared, my voice resolute. “We can’t allow her to continue this path of destruction.”

The members of our pack and our allies nodded in agreement, their determination mirrored in their eyes. Everyone started to plan, to track down this woman, as Octavio pulled me to one side. “Your ex?” he asked in confusion. “That must be really hard.”

“We were together a long time ago, a very long time ago, and I didn’t understand why she was back, but it seems like it’s for this, not me.”

“You don’t think she just wants you back?” Octavio cocked his head to one side. “And what about you? I need to know where your feelings lie.”

“Not with her,” I immediately shot back, needing to let him know that I wasn’t about to betray anyone. “I’m… kind of with someone else.”

“Marie.”

I stared at him in shock. “How do you know?”

“You know, Jesse,” Octavio began, his eyes steady, with a small smile playing on his lips, “I can see that you care for Marie. It’s obvious. You two would make a good match. She makes you light up in a way I haven’t seen before. You’re different around her… softer. You smile more. I think she’s taken root in your heart, which is something you should really explore. Life is too short to not be with the person who makes you smile.”

I nodded, my thoughts drifting to Marie and the undeniable attraction that had blossomed between us. But as I considered the path ahead, I knew that there were complications we needed to address. “You’re right, Octavio,” I replied, my voice tinged with uncertainty. “But there’s the matter of Mike, her father. I don’t know how he’d react to us being together.”

Octavio leaned forward, his expression thoughtful. “You should talk to him, Jesse. It’s better to have that conversation sooner rather than later. It might be a difficult one, but it’s necessary if you want to pursue a future with Marie. If you want to be happy. If this has taught us anything, it’s that life is too short.”

I knew Octavio was right, but the thought of confronting Mike, my best friend, and revealing my feelings for his daughter was a daunting prospect. Still, I understood that our circumstances were far from ordinary, and our lives were intertwined in ways that couldn’t be ignored. We were going to have to talk to him eventually. I just wasn’t sure when. He seemed to suspect anyway, but he’d told me to keep far away. But I couldn’t, and I wanted to make him understand that.

After our conversation, we set out to resume our search for Ophelia, determined to bring her to justice. The woods were vast and unforgiving, and finding her elusive tracks proved to be a challenging task. As we combed through the wilderness, our senses on high alert, frustration began to settle in. There was no sign of her, and it felt as though we were chasing shadows.

Hours turned into a seemingly endless pursuit, and the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the forest into darkness. We regrouped, our spirits weighed down by the fruitless search.

“I can’t believe we haven’t found anything,” James muttered, his frustration evident.

I shared his sentiments, but I couldn’t afford to lose hope. “We’ll keep looking,” I assured them, my determination unwavering. “We can’t let her escape justice. This isn’t right. What she’s doing isn’t right. And if I know Ophelia, it won’t be long until she’s back, ready to cause more trouble. We just need to be ready for her. That’s all.”