Page 30 of Taken By the Wolf Daddy

“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?”

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