14. Jesse

FOURTEEN

JESSE

The long day’s weariness clung to me as I drove back home, my daughter Belle quietly dozing in the back seat. I had hoped for a moment of respite, a chance to regather my thoughts and perhaps find solace in the warmth of my own home. However, fate had other plans. As I pulled up to my house, a sense of foreboding washed over me like a cold wave. The porch light flickered, casting eerie shadows across the front yard. Something was amiss, and my instincts screamed a warning.

I carried Belle inside, her tiny frame pressed against my chest as she continued to sleep soundly. The house that had once been a sanctuary now felt like a realm of uncertainty, and I didn’t like it at all. I was glad that my daughter was sleeping because I didn’t want her to see any of this. It was a nightmare.

My heart sank as I stepped into the living room. The scene before me was a disheartening tableau of chaos and destruction. The furniture bore deep claw marks, and the room seemed to have been ransacked. It was a sight that sent a chill down my spine. I didn’t know what had been touched and what had been taken, but none of it felt good at all.

But it was the scent that lingered in the air that confirmed my worst fears. Ophelia’s unmistakable scent, a ghost of her presence, clung to the room like a sinister reminder. She had invaded my home, violating the sanctity of my personal space, and for what? Just to get at me? Just to upset me? What the hell was the point of all of this?

My eyes fell upon a note left amidst the wreckage, a stark declaration that sent shivers down my spine. Two simple words stared back at me: “I KNOW.”

The realization hit me like a thunderbolt. Ophelia had discovered that my connection with Marie was something real and growing by the minute. My stalker probably even knew that we’d slept together and were hopefully sort of planning a future together. She knew about us, and her intrusion into my home was a direct message. The direct threat she posed was now not only to me but to Marie and Belle, as well. Any hikers along the way were just cannon fodder to Ophelia. She didn’t care one bit about human life, and wolf life too if the rumors James had unfolded online were anything to go by, and that was terrifying.

Gently laying Belle down in her bed, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger and protectiveness. Ophelia’s actions had crossed a line, and I couldn’t allow her to endanger those I cared about. It might be Marie at the moment, but I knew Belle would be next. The memory of my past marriage would be way too much for Ophelia.

As I picked up the note, its ominous message burned into my memory, I knew that I had to confront Ophelia face to face properly, not by surprise, and put an end to her menacing presence once and for all. This needed to come to an end now.

I grabbed my phone and dialed Big Ed’s number, needing to fill him in on the chaotic situation at home and my determination to find and confront Ophelia. As the phone rang, I could feel the weight of the situation bearing down on me, but I couldn’t afford to let fear or anger cloud my judgment.

Big Ed answered after a couple of rings, his deep voice resonating through the phone. “Jesse, what’s going on?” he asked, concern evident in his tone.

“Big Ed,” I began, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me, “Ophelia’s been here. She broke into my place, destroyed everything, and threatened Marie.”

A heavy silence followed my words, and I could almost sense Big Ed processing the gravity of the situation. “Damn,” he finally muttered. “We need to find her, Jesse, before she does any more harm. This is getting out of hand now. She has done nothing but cause issues. Not just for you and your family, but the whole town. Wolf Mountain is terrified because of her, and that isn’t right. She shouldn’t have so much control over everything.”

“I know,” I replied, determination coursing through me. “That’s why I’m calling. I can’t leave Belle alone while we tackle this, so I was hoping you could get your wife to come over and watch her while we go after Ophelia together. I don’t want to leave her out there for another second. She’s causing way too much trouble.”

There was a brief pause before Big Ed responded, his voice resolute. “Of course, Jesse. Mary will be there soon. She will keep your daughter safe, and you and I won’t let this woman keep doing what she’s been doing. Because it isn’t right.”

Relief washed over me as I realized I had Big Ed’s support in this endeavor. “Thanks, Ed. I appreciate it. We’ll find Ophelia, and we’ll put an end to this once and for all.”

With our plan in motion, I hung up the phone, my focus now squarely on tracking down Ophelia and ensuring that she couldn’t harm anyone else, especially Marie and Belle.

Leaving Belle in the care of a trusted friend, I prepared to embark on a dangerous and uncertain path, determined to protect the ones I loved and confront the rogue wolf who had invaded not only my home but my heart. This was just way too much now.

The search for Ophelia began in earnest. My pack, seasoned trackers and warriors, fanned out across the forested landscape surrounding my home. I had to trust in their abilities and my own instincts as we followed every lead, no matter how faint, in our pursuit of Ophelia. Wherever she was hiding, we needed to bring her out now. To face what she had done…

Frustration gnawed at me as I continued to chase the elusive scent of Ophelia through the wilderness. Each time I thought I was getting closer, it led me to a dead end, leaving me with nothing but the overwhelming feeling of chasing shadows. The bad weather had made tracking even more challenging, washing away the traces that could have led me to her. Was that what she was counting on? The rain here keeping us away from her? Everything seemed to be working in her favor, it was very annoying.

I knew we had to stop Ophelia, but as the minutes turned into hours, doubt crept into my mind. How were we going to put an end to this relentless threat if we couldn’t even find her?

My determination remained steadfast, but the uncertainty weighed heavily on me. I couldn’t afford to give in to despair, not now. I had to keep searching, keep following any lead, no matter how faint. Ophelia had caused enough chaos and fear, and I was determined to bring her to justice and ensure that she could never harm anyone again.

The weight of the situation pressed down on me, the thought of having to confront and potentially kill Ophelia to protect Marie and my daughter filled me with a sense of dread and sorrow. It was a grim reality I had to face, knowing that her actions had already marked her as a kinslayer, and there were likely others seeking retribution.

Kinslayers were often hunted down by our own kind, and Ophelia’s actions had undoubtedly earned her the wrath of many. I couldn’t shake the feeling that her time was running out, and I didn’t want to be the one responsible for ending her life. It was a harrowing decision I hoped I wouldn’t have to make.

I decided to take a break from my futile tracking efforts, shifting back into my human form. I needed a moment of respite. As I stood there, feeling the cold rain soak me, I realized I needed to speak to Marie.. I assumed she needed some time off from all the chaos, but I also wanted to check in on her and make sure she was okay.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Marie’s number, hoping she would pick up. The phone rang a few times before it eventually went through to voice mail.

My heart raced with worry as the phone continued to ring again and again, without a response from Marie. The fear that something might have happened to her gripped me, and I couldn’t shake the nagging thought that Ophelia might have found her. I had to make sure she was safe and waiting for a phone call wasn’t an option.

Without wasting any more time, I swiftly shifted back into my wolf form, my senses sharpening as my lupine instincts took over. I knew that moving in my wolf form would be faster, and time was of the essence.

Every step toward Marie’s home felt like a battle, a race against time and my own mounting fears. I couldn’t shake the nagging worry that Ophelia had somehow tracked down Marie, and I needed to ensure her safety at all costs. I couldn’t let anything happen to her.

My mind raced with a barrage of worst-case scenarios. Had Ophelia discovered my connection to Marie? Had she come to exact her revenge on the woman who had, in her twisted mind, stolen me away from her? The thought of Ophelia anywhere near Marie and Belle filled me with dread.

As I closed in on Marie’s house, my heart pounded in my chest, a frantic rhythm that matched the pace of my thoughts. I couldn’t allow any harm to come to them, especially after the danger we had already faced. My sole focus was on reaching Marie’s doorstep and ensuring her safety, no matter the consequences or the secrets that might be exposed.

Finally, I reached the front door and shifted back into my human form before approaching her front door. My heart pounded in my chest as I knocked urgently, hoping beyond hope that she would answer. I hoped there was a reasonable explanation as to why she hadn’t picked up the phone.

Seconds felt like hours as I stood there, the rain still pouring down around me. The tension in the air was palpable, and I couldn’t help but worry about what I might find inside.

The relentless rain continued to drench me as I stood at Marie’s front door, my knuckles turning white from gripping the doorknob tightly. The fear gnawed at the edges of my mind like a persistent predator, and it wasn’t just Ophelia I was concerned about.

The close-knit nature of our small town made it nearly impossible to keep secrets hidden for long. If Ophelia had discovered my connection with Marie, who was to say others hadn’t as well? The possibility that Mike, Marie’s father, might have found out about us hung heavily over my thoughts.

Mike was protective of Marie, and rightfully so. I couldn’t blame him for wanting to keep his daughter safe and away from any potential danger, especially considering the recent turmoil with Ophelia. If he had indeed learned about our feelings for each other, it could lead to complications and confrontations I wasn’t prepared to handle.

As I hesitated at the door, I couldn’t help but wonder if my actions had placed not only me but also Marie and Belle in harm’s way. In a town where everyone knew everyone else’s business, secrets were fragile and easily shattered. If Mike had indeed discovered our relationship, confronting him would be inevitable. And in that confrontation, I could very well find myself facing an angry, protective father with a heart full of concern for his daughter.