16. Jesse

SIXTEEN

JESSE

My heart pounded in my chest as I stood before Mike’s front door, my knuckles rapping urgently against the wood. The minutes that had ticked away since Marie didn’t answer my calls and every second seemed like an eternity, each passing second a weight on my chest, a heavy reminder of my powerlessness. What the hell was going on here? What had I missed?

Mike swung the door open, his face a storm of emotions–anger, worry, and frustration. His gaze bore into mine as he spoke in a voice laced with concern, “Jesse, have you seen Marie? She left a while ago, and I haven’t been able to reach her. She’s not answering her phone.”

Okay, that wasn’t what I was expecting. I thought he might yell at me, but instead, poor Mike had more to worry about. Fear gnawed at the edges of my consciousness, and I swallowed hard, struggling to keep my voice steady. “No, Mike, I haven’t seen her since last night. She was at my place, and then she left to come home. But I haven’t seen her since.”

Mike’s brows furrowed, and he ran a hand through his hair in agitation. “She’s been acting strange lately, Jesse. We had a heated argument earlier, and I’m worried she might do something impulsive.”

The words hung in the air like an ominous cloud, and my concern deepened. The thought of Marie, out there alone and in distress, sent a chill down my spine. I knew I had to do something, and I had to do it fast.

“Mike, we need to find her,” I said urgently. “She might be in trouble. Ophelia is out there, and…”

“Ophelia?” Shit, he didn’t know who Ophelia was.

“My ex. The rogue wolf. She has had a crazy life since I last saw her, which was decades ago. I think she’s behind the killings.”

“And you think she might go after Marie?” Mike clutched his hands to his chest in worry.

“She has seen Marie in my home, looking after Belle.” We were teetering way too close to the edge of what I didn’t want to talk about, but I was trying my hardest to be as honest as I could be. “And she’s jealous. Ophelia has told me that she’s here to get back with me, and she thinks Marie is standing in the way. But she knows I don’t want her back. I don’t want her anywhere near me and my life again. I also don’t know why she’s really here. She seems to be on a killing spree.”

All the color drained from Mike’s cheeks. “Nothing can happen to Marie,” he whispered. “Not ever, but especially not when we just argued.”

Oh God, I couldn’t even begin to imagine what that was like. I felt horrible for Mike. This was just another reason we needed to act fast. “Let’s search the woods. Maybe she went for a walk to clear her head and got lost. There might be nothing wrong at all.”

Mike nodded, his expression filled with a mix of determination and guilt. “Yeah, let’s leave right away. Find her now.”

We wasted no time. With Mike leading the way, we headed into the forest surrounding the hamlet, calling out Marie’s name as we went deeper into the woods. Anxiety clawed at me with every step, my thoughts consumed by the possibilities of what could have happened to her. Time blurred as we conducted our frantic search, branches snapping beneath our feet, and the forest swallowing our calls. I couldn’t help but think about the dangers lurking in these woods, mostly Ophelia. She was the biggest danger surrounding all of us, and that was frightening in ways I couldn’t even begin to fathom.

In the end, I knew I needed to find the nearest phone. “I’m going to try and call her,” I told Mike seriously. “Just in case she’s ready to pick up her calls now.”

Mike frowned, and I could tell he would be half-annoyed if Marie picked up the phone to me after she had been ignoring him, but I was sure that the biggest emotion he would feel was relief to finally know where his daughter was.

Ring, ring…

I paced up and down, anxiously trying to keep myself calm as I waited. I didn’t want Mike to see me freaking out because that might tip him over the edge.

Ring, ring…

But the more that time passed, the more nervous my heartbeat became. The less I could catch my breath, it was terrifying.

Ring, ring…

Then, suddenly, the ringing ceased, and someone answered the line, but it wasn’t Marie’s welcome voice that greeted me. It was Ophelia’s chilling, mocking laughter that cut through the air like a knife. Oh no.

“Jesse, darling, it’s been so long,” she purred, her voice dripping with malevolence. “I’ve missed you.”

My stomach churned with a mixture of anger, dread, and fear as I demanded, “Where’s Marie, Ophelia? What have you done with her?” My voice was laced with desperation, my worst fears materializing before me. The realization that Marie might be in danger because of my own inability to keep her safe gnawed at me.

Mike’s face was etched with worry as he heard me. This was the worst-case scenario and I hated the fact that it was all my own fault. My stomach churned with a mixture of anger, dread, and fear. My stomach hurt as I tried to process this and work out what was happening.

Her laughter only intensified, a maddening melody of cruelty. “Oh, don’t worry about your precious Marie. She’s right here with me, safe and sound... for now.”

My mind raced, and my grip on the phone tightened. I couldn’t allow Ophelia to toy with me, not when Marie’s life was at stake. “Let her go, Ophelia. This has gone far enough. Marie has nothing to do with this. If it’s me you want, then take me instead. You aren’t in control of this. Not here, not in Wolf Mountain.”

She scoffed, her tone turning defensive. “I’ve been in control the whole time, Jesse. Everyone I killed–they deserved it, one way or another, and Marie does too.”

I clenched my jaw, struggling to keep my composure. Ophelia’s words were like poison, seeping into my thoughts and igniting a searing anger. “Tell me where you are. We can work this out together. It doesn’t need to be like this.”

Ophelia’s response was erratic, her voice acting like she was teetering on the edge of sanity. “I can’t take it anymore, Jesse. The voices… They won’t stop. They tell me to do terrible things, and I can’t control it.”

I rolled my eyes. She was doing whatever she could to play with me. This was far beyond anything I had expected. “Ophelia, please, let Marie go. I can get you help, but you have to release her.”

She hesitated, and for a moment, I dared to hope. But then her voice, laced with anguish, filled the silence. “I need you to come to me, Jesse. Alone. If you bring anyone else, I can’t guarantee Marie’s safety. I want you, and you alone.”

Desperation welled up within me as I weighed my options. I couldn’t risk Marie’s life by involving others, but I also couldn’t walk into the lion’s den unarmed. “I’ll come, Ophelia, but you have to promise me that you won’t hurt Marie. She’s innocent in all of this and you know it. Whatever you think is going on, isn’t.”

Ophelia’s tone grew colder, her grip on reality slipping further. “I promise nothing, Jesse. But you’ll see that it’s all for the best. We’ll finally be together like we were meant to be.”

The line went dead, leaving me with a hollow feeling in my chest. I knew I had to go alone, confront Ophelia, and find a way to save Marie. The forest seemed to close in around me, every tree and shadow a potential threat. But there was no turning back now. I had to face the darkness that awaited me and hope that I could bring Marie home safely.

“What the hell is going on?” the voice beside me demanded. I knew he deserved answers, and despite my desperation to reach Marie, I couldn’t leave him in the dark.

“Mike,” I began, my voice tense but determined, “Ophelia’s taken Marie. She’s got her somewhere in these woods, and I have to go find her. I swear I’ll bring her back safe.”

“Right. Well, I will come too so we can put an end to this…”

“You can’t,” I interjected quickly. “Ophelia said I have to come alone. But don’t worry, I will keep Marie safe. I’ll make sure she’s okay, you know I will.”

Mike’s eyes were a storm of emotions–fear, anger, and helplessness–but he nodded slowly, his voice trembling as he responded, “You better, Jesse. She’s my daughter, and I won’t forgive you if anything happens to her.”

I swallowed hard, understanding the gravity of the situation. “I know, Mike. I won’t let anything happen to her. But I need you to trust me right now.”

His gaze bore into mine, searching for reassurance. “Just bring her back, Jesse. I will wait at home for you there to care for her whatever she needs.

Without another word, I turned and raced deeper into the woods, the dense foliage swallowing me whole. I could sense my pack watching from a distance, ready to intervene if necessary. I would be able to talk to them in my wolf form, but I remained human even though it put me at a slight disadvantage. I didn’t want to find Ophelia as a wolf and thereby showing her I was ready for a fight. My idea was to try and keep this calm to keep this from getting more out of hand than it already was.

Every step I took deeper into the forest filled me with a growing sense of dread. The trees whispered secrets I couldn’t decipher, and the shadows seemed to dance with malevolent intent. Time was slipping away, and I needed to reach Marie before Ophelia’s madness could harm her. Before Ophelia could carry out whatever her terrible plan was.

If Ophelia really had turned her pack over to hunters and just let them all die in New York, then there was no telling what she would do here. The thought gnawed at me as I ran. Her actions had shown a callous disregard for her own pack members, and it was clear that she was capable of betraying those closest to her.

As much as I wanted to confront her and demand answers, I couldn’t afford to let my emotions get the best of me. Marie’s safety was paramount, and I needed to focus on finding her. Ophelia seemed to revel in the power she held over me, taunting me with cryptic hints and threats.

My phone buzzed in my pocket–a message from Big Ed, who was tracking my every move from a safe distance. He had spotted Ophelia’s scent and provided me with a rough direction. It was a small lifeline in the chaos of the forest. Thank God he knew where I was and what I was doing. I felt much better about having him on standby, even if I didn’t want to bring anyone else into this mess. Things were bad enough.

I navigated the treacherous terrain, my senses on high alert. The moon had risen high overhead, casting an eerie glow on the wilderness. I could feel Ophelia’s presence drawing closer, like a predator closing in on its prey. Only I wouldn’t be her prey, and nor would Marie. The quicker I made Ophelia aware of that, the better.

Chapter 17 (Marie) :

My head throbbed as consciousness slowly returned. It took me a few moments to recall anything that had happened, I couldn’t work out right away why I wasn’t in my bed, but eventually, I recalled the confrontation that happened right outside my home. Ophelia. She harmed me, didn’t she? She hurt me and knocked me out and now… Well, I found myself bound to a tree in the depths of the forest. Panic surged through me as I tried to move, but the ropes dug into my wrists, holding me firmly in place. My eyes darted around, trying to make sense of my surroundings.

And then I saw her–Ophelia, her face twisted by madness, hovering menacingly in front of me. She wore a deranged smile, her eyes gleaming with an unsettling light.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Ophelia?” I demanded, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear. “Taking a hostage on a mountainside patrolled by wolves? You’ve lost it!”

Ophelia’s laughter echoed through the dense forest, sending shivers down my spine. “Oh, Marie, you don’t understand. This isn’t about the wolves. It’s about us, Jesse and me. And now, you’re a part of it. I mean, you made yourself a part of it, didn’t you?”

My heart sank as I realized the depth of Ophelia’s delusion. She believed that I was somehow involved in her twisted fantasy with Jesse. But I had to keep her talking, keep her distracted until help arrived. If help was coming. Help had to be coming, right?

“Ophelia, please, we can find help for you,” I pleaded, my voice laced with desperation. “Jesse wants to help you, too. Just let me go, and we can figure this out together.”

Ophelia’s expression shifted from manic delight to a twisted kind of rage. “No, no, no! You don’t understand! I want him all to myself and he won’t just give himself over to me. He won’t do it, and I think you are the reason he won’t.”

“I… I’m nothing.”

“ Liar .” She got right up in my face, so her spittle started to cover me as she talked. “Don’t try and pretend to me that there isn’t something going on with you and Jesse. I know there is. I’ve seen you, I’ve seen the pair of you. I know .”

My heart hammered nervously. How the hell was I going to get out of this?

As Ophelia rambled on about her and Jesse, and how they were destined to be together, I couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of unease. Her words were filled with a distorted sense of reality, and it was clear that reason wouldn’t reach her. She was trapped in her own madness, and I was her captive audience.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Ophelia,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising panic within me. “Jesse and I are just friends, nothing more.”

Ophelia’s eyes flashed with a dangerous glint as she continued her delusional tirade. She seemed convinced that she and Jesse were meant to be together, and her obsession with him was becoming increasingly unsettling.

The minutes dragged on, the eerie silence of the forest broken only by Ophelia’s disjointed ramblings. I strained against my bonds, desperate to free myself, but the ropes held firm. My eyes darted around, searching for any sign of movement in the shadows.

Then, a distant rustling caught my attention. My heart soared as I saw the approaching figure, moving silently through the trees. It was Jesse closing in on our location. Help really was coming, and he was here right now!

Ophelia’s attention remained fixed on me, her grip on reality slipping further away. “Jesse is mine,” she hissed, her voice a venomous whisper. “You’re just his little toy, a temporary distraction. Take you away, and he’ll come back to me, where he belongs.”

Despite the fear coursing through my veins, I mustered all the courage I could find. Knowing that Jesse was there already helped me to be much more positive. “Hurt me, and you won’t win Jesse back,” I said, my voice trembling but resolute. “You’ll just push him further away. He won’t forgive you for this.”

Ophelia’s lips twisted into a cruel smile, revealing teeth that looked almost feral. “Oh, my sweet Marie, you don’t understand. Jesse will come back to me because he has no choice. The bond between us is unbreakable.”

“You’re not thinking clearly, Ophelia,” I said, my voice as soothing as I could muster. “Jesse cares about you, but this isn’t the way to win him back. I can help you if that’s what you want. I will help you. I wouldn’t want to stand in the way of true love. So, if you guys are meant to be, then I will help.”

Ophelia’s eyes flickered with uncertainty for a brief moment, but it was quickly replaced by the darkness that consumed her. She took another step closer, her trembling hands reaching out as if to grab me.

As the seconds ticked away, I knew my fate hung in the balance. Jesse was closing in, trying to find the right moment to make his move, and Ophelia’s grip on reality was slipping further away. It was a desperate standoff, a battle between love and madness, and I could only hope that love would prevail.

“Why are you doing this, Ophelia?” I asked, my voice as steady as I could muster. “What’s your story?”

Ophelia’s eyes, still wild and unpredictable, momentarily softened. She seemed desperate to share her tale, to unburden herself.

“Marie,” she began, her voice tinged with self-pity, “you have no idea what I’ve been through. It all started six months ago. My pack… They were slaughtered by Hunters.”

I listened intently, sympathy welling up for her. Losing her pack must have been a devastating experience.

“But that’s not the worst part,” Ophelia continued, her voice trembling. “I was left alone, I lost everyone, and I have had to deal with rumors that it’s all my fault, forever.”

I frowned, my fear momentarily giving way to confusion. Something about Ophelia’s story didn’t add up. “Why do people think that?”

Ophelia’s eyes darted around nervously, and she seemed to hesitate. “I don’t know. They say I’m a liability, a danger. It’s changed me. I’ve been different.”

The more she spoke, the more I sensed that she was hiding something. Her tale of betrayal didn’t ring true, and it was clear that there was a deeper, darker secret she wasn’t revealing.

“You said you became something different,” I probed gently, trying to uncover the truth. “What do you mean by that?”

Ophelia’s expression turned haunted, and her voice dropped to a hushed whisper. “I can see things, Marie. I can see the darkness that lurks within us all. The Hunters feared what I could become, and now they hunt me.”

Her words sent a chill down my spine. It was clear that Ophelia believed some made-up abilities had made her a target, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that she was still holding back.

“You’re not telling me everything, Ophelia,” I said firmly, hoping to coax out the truth. “Why are you really doing this? Why did you take me hostage?”

Ophelia’s eyes hardened, and she took a menacing step closer. “I told you, Marie. I need to take you away from Jesse. You’re just a distraction, a pawn in his game. If I have you, he’ll have no choice but to come back to me.”

Desperation and fear emanated from Ophelia, but so did a profound sense of instability. I needed to tread carefully and continue to keep her talking while hoping that Jesse would make his move before anything terrible happened.

“So,” I said cautiously, “you want to be Jesse’s mate, and you’re willing to do whatever it takes to achieve that?”

Ophelia’s eyes bore into mine, a sinister glint in them. “Yes, Marie. I want to be by his side, share his bed, and lead a new pack with him. I’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen.”

Her confession was like a punch to the gut. The ruthless lengths Ophelia was willing to go to in order to secure Jesse was horrifying. Her motives were driven by obsession and a thirst for power that knew no bounds.

“But why involve me in this?” I asked, my voice trembling. “Why hurt or keep me captive? What does that have to do with Jesse?”

A twisted smile crossed Ophelia’s face, sending chills down my spine. “Oh, Marie, you’re his weakness. He cares about you, and if I can use you as leverage to control him, then I can force him to be with me. It didn’t quite work with my own pack leader. He rejected me, so I snapped at him…”

“You snapped at him?” I asked in shock. “Isn’t that against pack rules?”

“Oh, what the hell do you know about wolf rules?”

I didn’t say anything more, but I was pretty sure that snapping at an alpha was enough to get a wolf evicted from their pack. Was that what happened? She got evicted from the pack, and then she enlisted the Hunters to help her? To rip the old pack apart? I didn’t want her anywhere near Jesse as it was, but that really terrified me.

What if she attacked Jesse for rejecting her too? What if she brought human hunters here to Wolf Mountain? The thoughts raced through my mind, filling me with a paralyzing fear for Jesse’s safety and the safety of our entire community.

But then, just as despair began to take hold, a ray of hope emerged. I felt a wet, cold nose nuzzling against my fingers. Startled, I turned to find Lissa, one of Jesse’s pack members, working to tear the ropes binding my wrists. Was that who he was waiting for? Thank God, I might be safe.

The relief that washed over me was overwhelming, and I tried to stay as calm as possible so as not to alert Ophelia to the fact that help had arrived. Lissa worked swiftly but quietly, her eyes filled with determination and concern.

Meanwhile, Jesse had finally arrived at the scene, his voice strong and commanding as he called out to Ophelia. “Ophelia, come out and talk to me. Come on, I’m here now. This is what you wanted, isn’t it? To speak with me? Well, here I am. Come on.”

Ophelia hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting between Jesse and me, as the wolf behind me hid in the bush near by. It was clear that she was torn between her obsession and the imminent threat that Jesse posed. Finally, she made her choice and began to back away from me, heading toward the sound of Jesse’s voice.

As Ophelia retreated, Lissa managed to free my wrists from the tight bonds. I immediately rubbed my wrists, feeling the blood flow return to my numb hands. I offered Lissa a grateful smile, and she nodded in response, her eyes filled with relief.

With my hands now free, I could feel a renewed sense of hope surging through me. Jesse was there, and the members of his pack were undoubtedly close by, ready to assist. Ophelia’s twisted plans were unraveling, and I had a fighting chance to escape this nightmare.

As Jesse and Ophelia began their confrontation, I knew that the moments that followed would determine the outcome of this dangerous encounter. I could only hope that Jesse’s strength and determination would be enough to put an end to Ophelia’s reign of terror and keep us all safe.

“What now?” I whispered to Lissa. “What do we do?”

She pressed a finger to her lips, silencing me. I had to assume that the wolves had a plan. and I didn’t need to do a thing. I didn’t like standing back and doing nothing, leaving Jesse to do all the hard work, but I also didn’t want to make it worse.