by Alex Dafney
I tick my head to the side. It’s actually a tactical plan. I look over to Cooper who hasn’t said anything, the muscle in his jaw clenched. “You expect me to take Ophelia to the same place where my team was almost taken and use us as bait?” I step in front of Cooper so I’m between he and Jim. Placing my hands on his chest, I push him backwards, away from the group. Once we’re a good distance away he looks down at me with his mouth set in a hard line.
“No fucking way, Ophelia.” I sigh as I place my hands on my hips, raising an annoyed eyebrow at him. “It’s not a bad plan, Coop. Think about it. We go in, act like we’re on a casual stroll around the city, lead them back to our teams and boom.” Cooper scoffs as he turns away from me, running his hands through his hair and shaking his head. I cross my arms over my chest as I wait for him to turn back to me.
When he does, he’s scowling. “I have a bad feeling about this, O.” I huff as I shake my head. “The only reason you have a bad feeling is because I’ll be with you.” Cooper pinches his eyes shut, placing his fingers to his temples. “That’s not it, O. Ryder and Zane are still recovering.” He opens his eyes to look down at me. “We’d only have us, and Dom and Raven. That’s it!” He swipes his hand between us. “You don’t know what it’s like out there! My entire team could’ve been taken that day, and now Jim wants me to risk, not only my team, but you, and your team! No. Fucking. Way!”
I sigh as I throw my hands up to my sides. “Then what, Cooper? We just sit around waiting for more of us to get taken! I’m ready. I’m going, with or without you!” I turn and stomp toward the group with my brows pinched. Cooper grips my elbow, spinning me around to him so fast my head spins. “You’re not going anywhere without me.” He lowly growls as he drops his lips to mine. I moan as he hungrily kisses me, pulling back he gazes into my eyes with intensity. “Take us home. Now.” He dips his head taking my lips greedily as I take us to our bedroom.
I lie with my head on his bare chest, trailing my fingers along his abs as he runs his fingers through my hair. He lets out a slight laugh and I turn so I can look up at him. “What?” I ask with a playful smile. He shakes his head lightly. “I think I’m going to start picking fights with you if this is what happens.” I snicker as I sit up, pulling the sheet with me to cover my chest. “We need to call our teams, and Jim. We left in the middle of the meeting.”
He sits forward, gripping me under my arms and placing me on his lap while he smiles lovingly at me. “We’ll get to that, but first I need to know that we’re okay.” I tilt my head to the side. “I love you, Coop. I know you’re worried about me going on a mission, but I’m ready. I’ve spent the last month studying everything there is on the Hunters and doing two a day with Niko.” I lean forward, placing my lips to his quickly. “Besides, who else is going to watch your back like I am? What if one of those Hunters tried to tickle you?” I widen my eyes for effect as he scoffs with a grin.
He places his hand on my cheek, running his thumb along my cheek bone. “I know you’re ready, love. I just don’t like the idea of you being used as bait.” He practically spits the last word. I reach up, cupping my hand over his as I tilt my face into his hand. “Us. We’ll be the bait. Together.” He rolls his eyes as his phone rings for the tenth or so time from the floor where we tossed all our clothes in haste.
I climb off him, taking the sheet with me as he stands looking for his phone. “I’m hopping in the shower, tell everyone to meet us here.” I call over my shoulder as I walk toward the bathroom. I let the sheet fall to the floor as I step in the warm spray. Glancing over my shoulder when I hear the shower door open, I watch Cooper as he steps in behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “That was Ryder. He’s going to have everyone meet over here in an hour.”
I turn so I’m facing him, wrapping my arms around his neck and looking up at him with a devious grin. “An hour, huh?” He gives me that grin that shows off his dimple as he lifts me effortlessly, placing my back against the shower wall.
An hour later we walk down the stairs, hand in hand, to find Ryder and Raven on the couch. They both look up when they hear us coming. Raven gives me a cunning grin. “I see you used the Jack Russell approach to curb his irritability.” I laugh loudly as I sit down next to her, kicking my feet up on the coffee table as she does the same. We sit back whispering and giggling as Ryder and Cooper step into the kitchen. The door swings open and Micah and Charlie walk in. Charlie waves to the guys in the kitchen as she walks toward us, plopping down on my other side. “Holy shit! The two of you arguing earlier was hot!”
My mouth drops open before we all giggle. The door swings open again to Grant and Reese, followed by Dom and Zane. As the guys pile in the living room, beers in hand, I step over to sit on the arm of the love seat, next to Cooper. He reaches up, wrapping his arm around my waist and sliding me to his lap. Raven comes back from the kitchen, shoving a drink toward me as she sits in Ryder’s lap on the couch. “Ya’ll are going to have to invest in more seating.” Ryder wraps his arm around her waist. “I don’t know. I kind of like you having to be so close to me.”
Charlie throws her hands up with a pout. “You didn’t bring me a drink?” Raven scoffs. “Hell no! Last time you were drunk for three days. I don’t think you weigh enough to consume alcohol.” Charlie crosses her arms over her chest as she sinks back against Micah sitting next to her. Zane stands from the couch. “I’ll get you something, Little C. I need a refill anyway.” He says as he lifts his beer bottle.
The door opens and Jim steps in. He grabs a chair from the kitchen table as he walks straight into the living room. “Jim. You want one?” Zane calls from the kitchen as he lifts his beer bottle. Jim gives a light nod as he crosses his ankle over his knee. Zane comes back into the living room, handing Jim a beer before taking his seat next to Dom.
We all watch Jim as he takes a pull from his beer. He glances around the room before settling on Cooper. “Are we good?” Cooper gives a tense nod. “Yeah, Jim. We shouldn’t have walked out of the meeting like that earlier. Forgive me for being apprehensive about going back to the place where we were almost taken down.” Jim gives him an apologetic half smile. “I get it, Coopster. I’m asking you to not only take your team back into the danger zone, but now Ophelia and her team as well. You have a right to be weary.”
I feel Cooper tense and drop my hand to grip his that’s resting on my leg. He lets out a sigh behind me and I know I’ve eased his worry. I shift my gaze to Jim. “We’re concerned about being the so-called bait, of course, but also going into the field with only two brawn.” Jim gives a small nod. “I understand your concern. With Ryder and Zane still out, that will leave everything to Dom and Raven….” Zane jumps to his feet, shouting curse words and flailing his arms as Ryder does the same from his position behind Raven on the couch.
I place two fingers to my mouth, giving a loud whistle. They both stop and glance over to me with angry faces. I raise an eyebrow as I tilt my head to the side. “Sit. Down.” Zane crosses his arms over his chest, scowling between Jim and I, as Ryder continues to mumble. “There’s no way in hell, I’m letting my team go out on a dangerous mission while I sit back twiddling my thumbs.”
Cooper shifts me off his lap so he can stand. “Z, you still have a few weeks until your ribs are completely healed.” He turns his focus to Ryder. “And you have at least another month before your shoulder is ready.” Ryder hangs his head as he shakes it slowly. Raven and I meet eyes across the room. I stand, stepping next to Cooper. “Maybe they could be there as backup. As long as Raven, Dom and you and I can handle everything they won’t have to step in, but it might be a good idea to have them there, just in case.”
Jim sighs behind us and I turn to look at him. His eyes meet mine before he looks over to Ryder and Zane. He sits forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Can you two promise me not to get involved unless absolutely necessary?” Zane and Ryder both nod in agreement as Jim sits back, taking a drink of his beer before looking at me. “Then
it’s settled. Zane and Ryder accompany on the mission but hang back. Good idea, Ophelia.”
A small smile creeps up my face as Cooper and I resume our seats. We all turn our focus back to Jim, waiting on our instructions. He crosses his ankle back over his knee. “You’ll all be leaving in four days time. I expect everyone in research to meet me in the library at ten tomorrow morning.” He pauses to look at Dom and Raven. “I want you two to meet with Niko sometime tomorrow. Make sure you’re both on the same page with combat.” They both nod in unison as his gaze shifts to Cooper and me. “You two, relax. Do some zen shit and get focused.”
Raven starts to open her mouth and I narrow my eyes at her, causing her to throw her head back laughing as the rest of the group snickers. Jim stands, buttoning his suit jacket. “That’s my cue to get out of here.” I stand, Cooper following me as I walk behind Jim to the door. He turns holding his hand out to me then Cooper, both of us shaking his hand. “I’ll see you both sometime tomorrow.”
Cooper closes the door behind him after he leaves, looking at me as his shoulders slump. “I’m not looking forward to this mission, O.” I stand on my tiptoes, wrapping my arms around his neck. “We got this, Coopster.” He chuckles at the nickname I’ve never used for him before dropping his lips to mine. “I love you, O.” I give him a sweet smile. “I love you, Coop.” His lips meet mine again, the familiar tingles coursing through my body.
“Seriously? We have shit to discuss!” I drop down from my toes and turn my face to Raven. She has her hands on her hips and an annoyed look on her face. I drop my arms from around Cooper’s neck and follow Raven back to the living room. Cooper sits in the chair that Jim had been sitting in, as I stand next to him. “What do we need to discuss?” I look over at Raven perched next to Ryder on the couch.
“For starters, we need a team name.” I shrug as I throw my hands out to the side. “Okay. Any suggestions?” Zane throws his hand in the air. “The princesses!” I laugh as I shake my head. “How about the poppets?” Grant says with a wink. “Any suggestions from the team who actually has to use this name?” I give Zane and Grant a grin before turning to look at the members of my team. They all mumble and shrug.
Raven stands, crossing her arms over her chest with a sardonic grin. “Fine. No team name yet, but we need tattoos.” I groan as I step in front of Cooper, dropping to his lap. He chuckles in my ear as he wraps his arms around me. “Told you so, love.” I nudge him with my shoulder as my forehead creases. “What did ya’ll have in mind?” Charlie bounces on the couch as she throws her arm in the air. “Let’s get butterflies!”
Zane punches Dom in the shoulder as he scowls over at Charlie. “Please get butterflies. Holy shit, I’ll never let you live it down.” Dom shakes his head as he looks over to me. “We are not getting freaking butterflies.” I nod in agreement. Raven pulls out her phone, showing us a dozen pictures of huge, intricate tattoos. “I am not getting a full sleeve, Rave.” I say with an annoyed tone, to which she scoffs at. “What about a phoenix?” Dom says.
I roll my eyes as I drop my head to my hands. Cooper rubs my back as I shake my head. “What about an airplane, since none of us will ever need one?” I groan as the entire room laughs at Raven’s joke. My eyes pop open as I sit up straight. “How about a compass?” My teammates all look over to me. “I like it.” Reese says quietly as he nods. Dom nods in agreement while Raven pouts with her arms folded over her chest. “If mine can be on the belly of a dragon, I’m in.”
I simply shake my head at her before looking at Charlie. She gives a slight shrug. “I like it, but it’s not personal to our team.” I tilt my head to the side as I bite my bottom lip, thinking of how to personalize it. Reese stands up, placing his phone on the coffee table. “Here.” I step over to the table as the others lean around. Its’s a drawing of a simple compass with Roman numerals arched over the top. “What’s the numbers?” I ask as I step back, sitting in Cooper’s lap.
“It’s the date we became a team.” Raven says as she flips her hair behind her shoulder. I look to Reese for confirmation as he nods, before looking at Raven with surprise. She scoffs as she rolls her eyes. “What? Like I could forget one of the worst days of my life.” I narrow my eyes at her. “You’re such a little shit.” She flips me off as we all laugh.
Next thing I know, we’re all crowded into a tattoo shop somewhere in New Orleans. “Who’s going first?” A tall muscular guy with full sleeves asks. Zane turns to me with a crooked grin. “It’s tradition for the lead to go first.” I look up to Cooper who shrugs. “I did.” I look up to the ceiling with a groan. “Fine.” I look back at the tattooed, semi giant with a nervous look on my face. “I’m going first, I guess.”
He raises an eyebrow at me. “First ink?” I nod. “Where do you want it?” I shake my head as I toss my hands up. “Wherever it will hurt the least?” He gives a short laugh as he looks at the sketch on Reese’s phone. “This would be good between the shoulder blades, on the ankle, wrist, even on the rib cage.” He looks over at me with a hopeful smile. “Or the ass.” I fold my arms over my chest as I glare at him. “Rib cage sounds good. It’ll be easier to hide.”
He gives me an appraising look up and down. “Sure you can handle it? The ribs are more sensitive.” I sigh as I drop my hands to my hips. “Can we get this done before I change my mind?” He shakes his head as he steps over to a desk in the corner, drawing out the tattoo. He brings it back over for my approval to which I simply nod.
Gesturing his head toward the hallway he grins at me. “Last door on the left, lead. Take your shirt off and I’ll be in shortly.” Cooper wraps his arm around my waist, and I look up to him. “Do you want me to go with you?” He asks quietly to which I nod. We make our way down the hallway, where I take a seat in a chair in the middle of the room. Cooper sits on the rolling chair, pulling it over in front of me. “It’ll be quick, love.” He says with an apologetic look. I scoff. “I’ve never wanted a tattoo in my life.”
He leans forward, placing his lips on mine. “It’s not as bad as you think. It will be over before you know it.” The big tattooed guy walks in the room behind Cooper and I look up to him. Cooper glances behind him, standing from the stool and sliding it toward him. “Thanks.” He says before looking to me. “Shirt off, lead.” I glance over to Cooper with an apprehensive look while he simply nods.
Letting out a deep breath, I quickly pull my shirt over my head, covering my chest with my arms as my cheeks burn with a blush. “Hold what you got.” He says as he gets up, walking out of the room. He returns with another stool, passing it to Cooper before looking at me. “Turn and straddle the chair so you can lean over the back.” I stand and do as he tells me. “Now, Hunky Brewster can hold your hand. Better?” Cooper chuckles as he slides the stool over to me as I glare at the tattooed man.
I drop my hands over the back of the chair as Cooper grips them both, rubbing his thumbs along the back of my hand slowly as I stare into his eyes. He leans forward, pressing his lips to my cheek. “You look nervous. It really doesn’t hurt as bad as you think it will.” I roll my eyes. “It’s not about the pain, it’s more the fact that it’s permanent.” He lets out a chuckle as he shakes his head slowly. “Lots of things are permanent, O. Marriage, kids, my love for you.” He gives me a heart-stopping smile as he raises my hand, kissing the back of it softly.
“Ahem.” We both look over to the tattoo artist. “If you’re going to drop down on one knee, I’d rather you do it before I get started.” Cooper looks back to me with a loving smile. “Not today.” I smile back at him as my heart pounds in my chest. “Alrighty then. Let’s get you inked.” He says as he rolls his stool over toward me with a tattoo gun in hand. “Ready?” He asks as he places it against my skin. I release a long breath. “Yep.”
I hear the buzzing noise and feel it press against my side. It’s not unbearable pain, but it doesn’t feel great either. “Not as bad as I thought.” I whisper. “You can talk, just don’t move. My name’s John, by the wa
y.” I wince when he hits a particularly tender spot. “Ophelia, and this is Cooper, but I guess you already know each other.” They give each other a little nod. “Wait. You’re not the Ophelia and Cooper?” Cooper and I share a look of confusion. “Um, not sure what you’re talking about.”
John sits back, removing the tattoo gun from my skin. “Holy shit. It really is true. Ya’ll are the power couple from the Prophecy.” Cooper bristles as my mouth drops open. John holds up both gloved hands to us. “I’m retired Assembly, remember?” He says, mostly to Cooper. Cooper relaxes slightly. John moves toward me, nodding to the tattoo he needs to finish. “You two are quite the talk amongst shifters as of late.”
I shake my head as I look at Cooper. “It really is like high school.” He lets out a sigh as he grins. John glances up to me. “Is it true you can take out a Hunter just by looking at one?” I scoff. “No. Raven may be able to though. I’ve never seen a better resting bitch face than hers.” Cooper chuckles as John sits back again. “All done.” I sit up and take the mirror he hands me, lifting my arm and turning the mirror so I can see the work. “I actually like it.” It’s about the size of a quarter and placed where I can still hide it under my clothes.
I look over to John as I hand him the mirror. “Thanks. It’s perfect.” He gives a little nod before standing and walking out of the room. I reach for my shirt, but Cooper pulls it back from me, offering me his hand to stand. I stand in front of him as he lifts my arm slightly, looking at us in the full-length mirror across from us. “I didn’t think I’d find this so sexy.” He says before dropping his lips to my neck.
“Woah. None of that. You’ll get me fined by the state.” John says with a wink as he strides back in the room. He places a bandage over the new tattoo and gives me care instructions. Holding out his hand to me I grip his hand. “It’s been a pleasure, Ophelia. I wish you the best in your journey toward fulfilling the Prophecy.” He turns, gripping Cooper’s hand as I slide my shirt over my head.