The Eve of Darkness

Chapter 11 - Jude

Hello all!

Thank you for continuing to keep up with this story. All the comments and support really keep me motivated. I hope you enjoy this chapter, as I always love writing from Jude's perspective and it gets us into the main plot and characters more!

Let me know in the comments what you think!

********************

*******

It had been about a month since he and Camden had found Aria in the hunter's cabin, and they had yet to go back to the damned place and investigate. Part of the reason was that no one - not even Camden - wanted to return to a place that smelled absolutely rancid because of all the werewolf blood and death that was enclosed in its decaying walls. The other reason was that Camden and Aria were dancing around each other's toes like freshman high-schoolers who were suddenly invited to senior prom. It was the process for all werewolf mates - the first few months after meeting each other would be when they were most vulnerable and illogical when it came to each other. Jude knew that, in their current state, neither the Alpha nor the Sola were focused enough to participate in a raid on enemy territory that is probably still dangerous.

As he sat at his office desk - something he was doing way too much, these days - Jude spun pen in his hand repeatedly, trying to think of his options in dealing with the unknown threat of hunters.

The last time a group of magical being decided to ignore a possibility of H.O.A. presence, an entire coven was decapitated and burned, he thought in distaste. There was no getting around the fact that this was an immediate problem that needed an immediate response. However, having Camden and Aria around - two people who would be equally strong and useful, seeing as they were the only other people besides Jude to physically go inside the cabin - would be real fucken nice.

A large, heavy sigh left Jude's mouth as he dropped his pen on the desk and leaned back on the chair, pinching the bridge of his nose and squeezing his eyes shut. The beginnings of a headache were beginning to form in his temples, and he wanted nothing more than to bang his head against a wall until he passed out.

"You know, they say that if you sigh heavily enough, your soul will leave your body and it'll become a ghost," came a familiar, playful voice. Jude barely lifted his head and peeked one eye open to see Xiomara Perez, one of the only warriors who could give Camden a run for his money in fighting and - for Jude - one of his closest friends.

"Where'd you hear that? Another family saying?" Jude asked, recalling the many times in which he and Xiomara had said things to him in Spanish or English and, upon his confusion, would say 'it's a Mexican thing.'

Xiomara snorted a laugh and plopped ungraciously into the chair in front of Jude's desk.

"No, I read it on Tumblr in, like, 2013," she retorted with a grin, causing Jude to roll his eyes but smile regardless.

"Wow," he responded as he sat up in his chair and raised his eyebrows at his friend. "You know, if I didn't know any better, I would have guessed that you ran one of those fandom blogs."

She leaned her head back and laughed. "Who says I didn't?" She answered with a glint in her eyes. Jude knew that look. He'd seen it when Xiomara and Hazel first became mates and when they'd come back from their first year anniversary trip, and he knew that Xiomara would tell him things he would not want to know otherwise.

"Anyways," Jude interjected, leaning forward and placing his elbow on the desk and resting his chin on his hand. "What did you come in here for? I love your company, but, you hate office work and you know that if you appear free I will employ your help."