Meet Cute
2049 Words
"What are you going to do, Ophelia?" Jenna taunted, standing tall and proud as she glared down at her, whimpering on the ground.
No matter how much Ophelia tried, she just couldn't get up and seeing Justin and Jenna, her own sister, smirking at her with confidence during her pain was something that was making her mind spin with rage and thoughts of betrayal.
"Jenna...you don't have to do this." Ophelia whispered, looking up at her with tears in her eyes. The more poison that spread through her bloodstream, the weaker she got and her connection to her magic loosened. She couldn't get a grip on her powers, not even for long enough to be able to defend herself.
It was all over.
"Oh, come now, Ophelia!" Jenna crooned like she wasn't watching Ophelia die, "you and I both know that the more you say things like that, the more desperate and pathetic you seem. I mean, if you ought to die then at least go out with some dignity."
"Not that you have much of it left." Justin said with a conniving grin on his lips.
Ophelia made a disgruntled sound at that but blood poured out of her mouth and seeped on the ground where more of her blood was staining the gold -veined marble.
Her tears fell, knowing that she would die because of the bleeding, and she felt saddened that her child would die too.
She knew that she didn't wish to be a mother so soon, and especially not after Rowan's clear denial that he wanted nothing to do with the child. But she couldn't help but feel bitter about the fact that her choice was being taken from her.
Whatever she might have decided, regarding the fate of the child, she would have at least made a sound choice. But now, Jenna's spite was going to ruin everything.
"Jenna..." Ophelia whimpered, making one last effort to get her to spare her life, "please, just let me live, and I promise I will walk away and never come back to this city. I wouldn't even talk to anyone about this. I will go far away and you both can rule but please...just let me live."
The pain and horror were evident in her eyes as she begged the woman who had once been a sister to her.
Jenna stared at her blankly for a moment before she burst into laughter and Ophelia scrunched her eyes shut, knowing that nothing was going to work anymore.
"And why, pray tell, should I let you live?" Jenna asked in between her sarcastic snickers, "so that you make it another plan of vengeance and come back to kill us both in the dead of the night?"
Ophelia gave her a pained expression, "no, sister..." She whispered, feeling her life draining out of her body, "it's because I'm pregnant. Please. Just let me leave." She begged again.
That revelation seemed to rattle both the mates as they gaped ar Ophelia and Jenna felt a surge of hatred rising in her heart.
And before Ophelia could even respond, Jenna took out a dagger from her waistband and lunged towards her.
Ophelia's eyes opened and a groan escaped her lips as she raised her hand to touch her head.
She blinked a few times and looked around to find herself surrounded by darkness but from a few shadows, she could tell that she was in a bedroom.
She furrowed her brows before looking down at herself and she realized that she was dressed in fresh clothes: a pastel blue dress, much similar to the one she had once worn on Avala, a very long time ago.
That was when the events from before came flashing in her mind once again and realization dawned upon her about what had happened.
Her palm was instantly covering her abdomen, knowing well that she wasn't going to become a mother anymore.
She had expected to feel a certain emptiness in herself because of the loss of her child, however, even though she was saddened deeply by the incident, she realized that she had never gotten the chance to get fully acquainted with the idea of her pregnancy, which was why it was difficult for her to be able to fully mourn.
A bitter knife pierced at her heart as she realized what Jenna had done and thinking of Jenna brought instant panic to her heart, considering that she had no idea if Adrian and Valerio wete even alive or not. She couldn't understand what had happened and how things had turned on their axis so drastically, but she was more than certain that Jenna and Justin were now the undefeated and unchallenged rulers of all wolf cities.
And just at that moment, the door of the room burst open, bringing in faint golden light through the doorway where she saw a tall and muscular figure standing.
Her eyes instantly widened and her heart began to race, and not even in the good sense of things.
"Who are you?" Ophelia asked, conjuring up courage to use her voice which only came out as rough and raspy.
That was when the lights of the room flickered back on and she had to squint her gaze because of the sudden brightness.
And when she raised her crystal blue eyes once again, she found herself staring into the raven abyss of orbs of no one other than the God of Death himself.
"Oh, boy..." She blurted, "I'm actually dead, aren't I?" She asked him, "that b***h actually did it." She mumbled with a little disappointment.
If he was being honest with himself, this was not how he had expected her to react. However, he could see the worry and fear overtaking her ethereal face and he couldn't help but feel the urge to comfort her.
But, so as to not seem too concerned, he looked down, pushing his hands in his pockets and chuckled in a deep rumble before meeting her gaze again.
Ophelia felt her heart skipping a beat because of his direct gaze on her face but she pushed those thoughts aside, wanting to make sense of her situation first.
"You are not dead, darling." Ezra said smoothly.
She raised her eyebrow, squaring her shoulders to look straight at him as she tried not to feel all the emotions that his mere presence was making her feel.
"You're the God of Death." She muttered coolly, "Jenna and Justin made it abundantly clear that they wanted to kill me. All this perfectly adds up." She said with a shrug of her shoulders. She was herself amazed vy how calm and composed she might seem, especially considering that all her energy was going into ensuring that the gorgeous man in front of her won't find out the way he was making his heart race.
She was trying to be brave but he could hear the thumping of her heart and he could only assume that she was scared out of her mind. Scared of him.
"Except," Ezra stated, raising his index finger as he sauntered into the room, "you aren't in the Purgatory, which is where souls go after their death. You are still in your precious mortal realm." He told her in a matter of fact tone, but deep down, he only wished to comfort her.
Ophelia furrowed her brows before shaking her head, "that makes no sense." She muttered, genuinely confused.
Ezra gestured to the balcony glass door to her right, "you can check for yourself if you want, Ophelia."
Even the sound of her name from his lips was almost too much to hear from him. However, she focused on removing the duvet from over her body and swinging her legs to step down from the plush bed she had been sleeping on.
However, just as she mustered the courage to stand, her knees gave out from underneath her and she was about to fall but instead, Ezra was quick to be by her side and caught her by wrapping his arms around her body.
Her breathing hitched in her throat as she looked up at him. Being so close to him, she could feel the strength in his arms and the power radiating from his aura. She had never felt so awed and intimidated at the same time.
Not to mention that his palm was flat against her bare upper-back, causing her entire body to shiver at his touch.
Ezra's heart thumped wildly in his chest, struggling against his ribcage as he stood frozen in spot, staring down into her ocean blue eyes, watching him calmly.
"Th-thank you." She whispered, wanting to pull out of his grip but she was blissfully stuck, unable to remove her hands which were resting on his upper arms.
Ezra felt wildfire l*****g at his skin as her hand moved from his bicep and then touched his forearm because he had folded up his shirt sleeves.
"Are you okay?" His mind formed those words without even giving him a chance to not say anything. He almost cringed at himself because of the concern in his voice. He was quickly realizing that his mate had full control of him.
Ophelia was locked in a trance, nodding her head slowly, "I think so, yes." She mumbled in a meek voice.
He felt the need to clench his fists because of the things she was making him feel and that caused his grip on her small frame tighten, his fingers digging into her waist as she sucked in a sharp breath.
The attraction she felt towards him was utterly undeniable. He held her in his arms and she was entranced by his night dark eyes, almost looking to be pools of ink, so stark and raven in colour that they seemed to devour all light. She was drawn in by the depths of his orbs, intrigued because she didn't find an end to him. She felt like she could stay this way for all eternity and even then, she wouldn't be able to stop herself from drowning in his cosmic eyes.
"Can you stand on your own?" His deep voice caressed her skin as she felt herself breathing a little deeper. Her chest heaved up and down, lightly brushing with his own, driving him out of his mind.
Ophelia almost wanted to say no to him. She almost felt like not letting his arms unravel from around her body. But her mind betrayed her heart and she nodded once again, unable to speak because of the lump in her throat.
He took that as a yess and slowly loosened his grip on her, savouring their closeness for a few more seconds until he was stepping back after making certain that she wouldn't fall again.
Both of them regretted losing the contact between their bodies as soon as they were apart.
Ophelia stood there, without speaking, for a few moments until she felt the awkwardness rising in the air between them and cleared her throat.
"Come, I'll show you where we are." Ezra said gesturing towards the balcony once again and she nodded before following after him.
Her feet still felt like they were walking on molten rock and she would sink at any moment but she tried her hardest to keep up with her strength and joined him by the marble balustrades of the balcony, gaping openly when she saw where they were.
She was standing on one of the balconies of an ancient palace, built on top of a cliff, facing the roaring sea far below them. For as far as she could see, she saw clear horizons and the wind rustled the vines draping the balcony walls and railings. And surrounding the palace, was plush greenery, so much vegetation that it reminded her of her home.
"Where..." She gasped, turning to finally look at him, "where are we?" She asked with her jaw hanging open.
Ezra smiled, "the lost mountain city of Brannion."
And Ophelia couldn't help her eyes from widening because of the shock.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hello, lovelies! I hope that you enjoyed this. Ezra and Ophelia are my favorite couple of this book, and then Val and Adrian ofc! Anyhow, please comment your thoughts on this.
With Love, Devu.
- Writer
