Nightmares at Everglade Falls

15. Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Ophelia

I wake up in the middle of the night, feeling Gabriel’s body against mine. Sometime in the night, his knot unfurled, making him slip out of me.

His arm slung over his head, soft snores filling the room.

I turn over, noticing his shirt on the floor. I pick it up and slip it on, the fabric soft and comforting against my skin. I walk to the bathroom to pee, feeling slightly sore as I move. When I return to bed, Gabriel is awake, his eyes tracking my movements.

“Hey,” he says softly, reaching for me and pulling me back into bed. “Are you okay?”

I nod, settling against him. “Yeah, just needed to use the bathroom.”

His arms wrap around me, holding me close. “How are you feeling?” he asks, his voice full of concern.

“A little sore,” I admit, leaning into his touch. “But I’m glad my first time was with you.”

He kisses my forehead, his lips warm and gentle. “I’m glad it was with you, too,” he murmurs. “I’m sorry I didn’t use a condom. I should’ve been more careful.”

“It’s okay,” I say, squeezing his hand. “I trust you.”

“Still, I’ll take you to the clinic tomorrow,” he promises. “Just to be safe.”

“Thank you,” I say, my fingers tracing patterns on his chest. “What does sex mean for wolves?”

“It’s a way of bonding, of claiming,” he explains. “Especially with the knot. It creates a deeper connection.”

I look up at him, curiosity in my eyes. “Is it always like that?”

“Not always,” he says. “It depends on the situation. Sometimes it’s more primal, other times it’s more about the connection.”

I nod, processing his words. “I felt something... deeper tonight. Like our souls were connecting.”

He smiles, his eyes softening. “I felt that too.”

My fingers continue to explore his body, tracing the lines of his muscles. “What else should I know about being with a wolf?”

He chuckles softly. “Well, we tend to be more intense. More protective.”

“I noticed,” I say, smiling up at him. “But I like it.”

He leans down, kissing me tenderly. “Good,” he whispers against my lips.

As our kiss deepens, his hand trails down my body, making me shiver. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asks again, his fingers brushing against my thigh.

“Yes,” I breathe, my body responding to his touch. “Just... go slow.”

“I will,” he promises, his voice husky.

He moves down my body, kissing and caressing as he goes. When he reaches my core, his tongue begins to explore, sending waves of pleasure through me. I gasp, my hands gripping the sheets as his tongue works its magic.

“Oh, Gabriel,” I moan, my legs trembling. “That feels so good.”

He hums against me, the vibrations adding to the sensation. My thighs squeeze his head as I come apart, the pleasure overwhelming. He doesn’t stop until I’m completely spent, my body limp and satisfied.

When he finally moves back up, he kisses me deeply, letting me taste myself on his lips. “You taste amazing,” he murmurs.

“That was... incredible,” I say, my voice shaky.

He smiles, his eyes full of warmth. “I’m glad you liked it.”

“I do.”

He continues to kiss me, his lips trailing from my neck down to my nipples. He takes one into his mouth, sucking gently. “You feel right,” he whispers against my skin.

I moan, my body arching into his touch. “Gabriel, I want you.”

He looks up at me, his eyes dark with desire. “Let me get a condom,” he says, reaching for my bedside drawer.

I watch as he slips the condom on, his movements careful. When he returns to me, he positions himself at my entrance, his eyes meeting mine. “I’ll be gentle,” he promises.

“Okay,” I say, my voice full of conviction.

He enters me slowly, his movements controlled and tender. The sensation is different this time, more about the connection than the intensity. We hold hands, our fingers interlacing as he moves inside me.

“How does it feel?” he asks, his voice husky.

“Amazing,” I breathe, my eyes locked on his. “Like we’re one.”

He smiles, leaning down to kiss me. “We are,” he whispers against my lips.

Our bodies move together, the rhythm slow and sensual. The pleasure builds gradually, each movement bringing us closer. I feel safe in his arms, cherished and adored.

“Gabriel,” I moan, the pleasure becoming too much.

“I’m here,” he murmurs, his lips brushing mine.

As we reach our climax together, I feel a sense of completeness, like we’ve truly become one. He holds me close, our bodies still joined as we come down from the high.

“I didn’t knot you this time,” he says softly. “I didn’t feel primal. I just wanted to be with you.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, my heart full of love. “This was perfect.”

We lie there, wrapped in each other’s arms, our bond stronger than ever. I know that whatever comes next, we’ll face it together.

And for the first time in a long time, I feel truly at peace.

I wake up to the feeling of Gabriel’s warm body pressed against mine. His arms are wrapped around me, and his slow, steady breathing is like a soothing melody. I turn to face him, our noses almost touching.

“Good morning,” I whisper, my voice still husky with sleep.

He opens his eyes and smiles, his gaze soft and loving. “Good morning,” he replies, leaning in to kiss me gently.

We start making out, our hands roaming each other’s bodies, exploring and rediscovering every inch of skin. His kisses grow more urgent, and I can feel the heat building between us again.

“Shower?” he suggests, his voice a low rumble.

“Yeah,” I agree, my cheeks flushing with excitement.

We get out of bed and head to the bathroom, shedding clothes as we go. The hot water feels amazing on my skin, and I let out a sigh of relief. Gabriel steps in behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pressing his body against mine.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmurs, his lips trailing along my neck.

I turn around to face him, my hands resting on his chest. “So are you,” I reply, my voice breathless.

He pins me against the wall, the cool tiles a stark contrast to the heat of his body. His hands roam over my curves, and I can feel the urgency in his touch. He kisses me deeply, his tongue exploring my mouth as his hands find their way between my thighs.

“Gabriel,” I moan, my body trembling with desire.

“I’ve got you,” he whispers, his voice full of promise.

He enters me slowly, the sensation overwhelming. My fingers dig into his shoulders as he moves inside me, each thrust bringing me closer to the edge. The water cascades over us, adding to the intensity of the moment.

“Oh, God,” I gasp, my head falling back against the wall.

“Ophelia,” he groans, his pace quickening. “You feel so good.”

We reach our climax together, our bodies shuddering with pleasure. He holds me close, his breath hot against my ear as we come down from the high.

“That was amazing,” I whisper, my heart pounding in my chest.

“It was,” he agrees, his lips brushing against my temple. “You’re amazing.”

We stay like that for a while, just holding each other under the spray of the shower. Eventually, we step out, drying off and heading back to the bedroom. I pick up my shirt, but as soon as I touch it, I feel a zap of something that makes me drop it.

“Are you okay?” Gabriel asks, concern in his voice.

“Yeah, it’s probably just static,” I say, shaking my hand. “But that was weird.”

He’s half-dressed, but he comes over and picks up the shirt. “Let me help you,” he says, a mischievous smile on his face.

He dresses me slowly, his hands gentle and deliberate. Every so often, he kisses my neck or shoulders, leaving little hickies that make me giggle.

“Gabriel, stop,” I laugh. “People will see.”

“I don’t care,” he replies, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “I want people to know.”

I blush, feeling a thrill at his words. “What about Isabella?” I ask, biting my lip.

He pauses, looking serious for a moment. “We broke up,” he says simply. “It’s over.”

I nod, feeling a mixture of relief and guilt. “Okay,” I say softly.

When he’s done dressing me, he slides his own blazer over my shoulders, making me feel cherished and protected. I like the thrill of it, the way it feels like a declaration.

“Ready?” he asks, holding out his hand.

“Ready,” I say, taking his hand.

We leave my room hand in hand, heading towards the clinic. The campus is quiet this early in the morning, and the air is cool and crisp.

“Thanks for coming with me,” I say, squeezing his hand.

“Of course,” he replies. “I want to make sure you’re okay.”

The clinic isn’t far, and we arrive just as they open. Nurse Ariana is kind and professional, and the check-up is quick. Gabriel stays by my side the whole time, his presence reassuring.

When we’re done, we head to the cafeteria for breakfast. The dining hall is starting to fill up with students, and I can feel the curious glances in our direction. Gabriel doesn’t seem to care, though. He keeps his arm around me, making it clear that I’m his.

“Do you want to sit here?” he asks, pointing to a table near the window.

“Sure,” I say, feeling a bit self-conscious.

We sit down, and he pulls me close, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on my back. “You okay?” he asks again, his eyes searching mine.

“Yeah,” I reply, smiling. “I’m just not used to this.”

“You’ll get used to it,” he says confidently. “I promise.”

We eat breakfast together, talking and laughing like we’ve known each other forever. The connection between us feels natural and effortless, and I can’t help but feel grateful for this unexpected turn of events.

As we finish our meal, I notice Isabella across the room. She looks over at us, her expression unreadable. I feel a pang of guilt, but Gabriel squeezes my hand, grounding me.

“Don’t worry about her,” he says softly. “She’ll be okay.”

“I hope so,” I reply, feeling a bit unsure.

“We’ll be okay,” he says firmly, his eyes full of conviction. “That’s what matters.”

I nod, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. “Okay,” I say, smiling.

The rest of the day goes by in a blur.

Most of our classmates avoided us like the plague, and although Aurora said hey and sat by me for Anthropology of Magic class, I spent the rest of the day in Gabriel’s company.

After another grueling class with Mrs. Renault, Gabriel and I leave class, our fingers interlaced as we walk down the hall. The day has been a whirlwind, but having him by my side makes it easier to manage. As we turn a corner, we nearly bump into Principal Celestia.

“Ah, there you two are,” she says with a warm smile. Her eyes briefly flicker to our joined hands, but she doesn’t comment on it. “I’ve been looking for you both. There’s something we need to discuss. Please come to my office.”

We exchange a glance and follow her down the corridor to her office. My heart pounds a little faster, not sure what to expect. Inside, the principal motions for us to sit down.

“I’ll get straight to the point,” Principal Celestia begins, her expression serious yet kind. “Ophelia, I’ve recently learned about your lineage. As a descendant of one of our founding families, it is only fitting that we honor you appropriately. Tomorrow night, we will hold a ball in your honor.”

I blink, stunned. “A ball? For me?”

“Yes,” she confirms, her smile returning. “It’s a chance to formally recognize your heritage and welcome you properly into our community.”

“I…I don’t know what to say,” I stammer, my mind racing.

“You don’t have to say anything now,” she says gently. “Just prepare yourself for tomorrow. It will be a significant event for everyone.”

We thank her and leave the office. I’m still in a daze, trying to process the information. Gabriel squeezes my hand reassuringly.

“Want to go back to my room and talk?” he suggests. “Before dinner?”

I nod, grateful for his steady presence. We make our way to his room, and once inside, he wraps his arms around me. The warmth of his embrace helps to ground me a bit.

“This is…a lot,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I know,” he replies, rubbing my back soothingly. “We’ll get through it together.”

His words are comforting, but there’s something else I need to get off my chest. “Gabriel, there’s something I need to tell you.”

He pulls back slightly, looking into my eyes. “What is it?”

I take a deep breath. “Growing up in an orphanage was really hard. I didn’t have anyone to rely on, and it felt like I was always fighting just to survive. There were days when I didn’t know if I’d ever find a place where I belonged.”

He holds me tighter, his eyes filled with empathy. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that, Ophelia. But you’re here now. You have a place, and you have people who care about you.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. “I never thought I’d find someone like you.”

He kisses my forehead, his touch gentle and reassuring. “You deserve to be happy, Ophelia. And I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you are.”

We sit on his bed, and I lean into him, drawing strength from his presence. “I’m scared,” I admit. “I don’t know what to expect tomorrow. What if I mess up?”

“You won’t,” he says firmly. “You’re strong and amazing. You’ll handle it just fine.”

“I hope you’re right,” I say, trying to believe it myself.

We sit in silence for a while, just holding each other. His heartbeat is steady, a calming rhythm that helps to soothe my nerves.