Celeste stayed on the bed as she watched Kent turn his back and saunter away.
She could have sprinted after him, demanding that he spill more details about Byron and whatever secrets they had, but deep down, she knew very well that Kent wouldn't spill a word. And sure, she could have screamed and alerted the rest of the pack to seize Kent and squeeze out every ounce of information from him. But no, Celeste wasn't keen on stooping that low. After all, Kent had taken her in when she needed refuge and treated her with kindness. She wasn't about to repay that with a vengeful act. Plus, she was clearly aware of the fact that she was now stark naked, and the thought of chasing Kent in her birthday suit wasn't exactly appealing. So there he went, striding off without a care in the world, just as quietly as he had arrived. Celeste let out a heavy sigh, realizing that their wolf pack's vigilance was as good as a sleeping puppy. It seemed like anyone and everyone couldJeremy's eyes were locked on Celeste's body, a mixture of anger and disbelief etched on his face. Celeste let out another soft moan, burying her face in Jeremy's shoulder. "Relax, puppy. He didn't catch a glimpse of this beautiful body of mine," she murmured, her voice muffled against his skin. The moment those words left her lips, she felt the tension melt away from Jeremy's shoulder muscles. Still, he held onto her, refusing to let go. "I can't believe I didn't wake up and punch the living daylights out of him," Jeremy growled through gritted teeth, his fingers absentmindedly tracing circles on Celeste's shoulder, causing a ticklish sensation to ripple through her. "Well, that was because he had cast a sleep spell on you," Celeste shrugged. "What?! That damn son of a...!" Jeremy's hand clenched tighter on Celeste's shoulder, causing her to wince. She protested and squirmed a little, and Jeremy quickly released his grip. "Sorry, my bad."
"Take it easy, kid," Byron said, picking up his water cup and slouching against the couch. "Seriously, how am I supposed to take it easy? How many secrets are you still hiding from us actually?" Celeste narrowed her eyes, arms crossed, and stared intently at Byron's face, searching for any subtle signs of deceit. "So spill it already! When did you actually notice the connection between the two of us?" "You mean your mate bond?" Byron shrugged with a mischievous grin. "Can't say for sure. I started paying attention to the two of you ever since the day you came to me asking about being mates. And I got to say. The thing between you two was pretty obvious." Celeste's face went pale. That obvious? Okay, she admitted she sometimes stole secretive glances at Jeremy, and she could swear that from time to time, she felt his lingering gaze on her too. But she believed they were masters of disguise, pulling off their hidden bond with finesse, thinking no werewolf in the
"What? What do you mean 'his pack was wiped out'?" Jeremy and Celeste locked eyes, their jaws dropping in utter disbelief. They couldn't wrap their heads around what they had just heard. Two decades ago, their wolf pack should have just settled comfortably in this quaint little town. So why the heck did Byron end up mingling with some other pack? And how the hell did such a brutal bloodbath even go down? "Who was behind this carnage? And why the hell were you up there?" Celeste asked. Byron's gaze turned distant, lost in thought. After a momentary silence, he finally muttered, "I can't say for sure, but the bastards responsible must be the hunters. I caught a whiff of wolfsbane then. Who else would use that as a weapon?" Jeremy's eyebrows knitted together, his face etched with suspicion. "And what the hell were you doing there, Byron?" A sheepish expression briefly crossed Byron's face before he averted his gaze again. "Well... I was, uh, handlin
"To make our wolf pack stronger, to ensure our survival, I had to make this choice, whether you hate me for it or not, Jeremy," Byron declared, gazing fearlessly at Jeremy's tightly clenched fists. At that moment, Celeste could sense the coursing fury within Jeremy's veins. Clearly, anger had clouded his mind, for he now radiated a presence that even overshadowed Byron himself. "Don't look at me like that, Jeremy. It's all the arrangement of fate. If I hadn't taken those steps, chances are you wouldn't have met Celeste at all." The words seemed to possess a magical charm, instantly snuffing out the invisible flames that had engulfed Jeremy's being. Byron stood up from the ground and sat back in his seat again. "But it still doesn't change the fact that you're still an asshole," Jeremy growled through gritted teeth, returning to Celeste's side. Celeste landed her hand on Jeremy's shoulder and asked, "What exactly did those hunters do to Jeremy's o
Jeremy's eyes widened at Celeste's proposal. His face mirrored a mix of astonishment and incredulity. "Team up with the rogues? Are you kidding me? They've attacked us before! The bastards almost got us killed!" he blurted out without a second thought. Celeste raised an eyebrow, taken aback by Jeremy's immediate rejection. "But come on, Jeremy, no one got hurt last time, remember?" Goddess… She couldn't believe the words just escaped her own lips. "Kent's only got a bone to pick with Byron. He just wants to ruin Byron's reputation. But hey, if it's all just a big misunderstanding, why not clear the air? Getting rid of one enemy wouldn't be so bad for our wolf pack, right?" Jeremy's voice took on a tinge of jealousy as he retorted, "He told you himself that it's just about ruining Byron's reputation? Did he tell you that himself?" Celeste nodded confidently, her eyes sparkling. "He did tell me that, but so what? I believe what he said is true. If it's al
Celeste could feel Jeremy's intense gaze fixated on her, sending shivers down her spine. In response, she grasped Jeremy's hand, her fingers tightening around his. Byron's words held undeniable truth. It was clear that Byron himself had lost the qualification of being an Alpha, and the wolf pack held a genuine fondness for Jeremy. They yearned for a leader, an Alpha to guide them through the challenges they faced. Undoubtedly, Jeremy was the perfect fit for the role. Yet, Celeste understood the hesitations that plagued Jeremy's mind. He was still young, thrust into a position of authority without a chance to prove himself. She empathized with his concerns and knew that deep within, he harbored a mixture of disdain and disgust towards Byron's calculated maneuvers that had propelled him into this unexpected position. But regardless of the circumstances, no matter how Jeremy came to power, Celeste firmly believed in his innate leadership qualities. She would supp
The look of excitement was clear on Nancy's face when she found out that Jeremy was willing to step up as the Alpha of the wolf pack. Her face lit up like a radiant sunbeam. But then, like a sudden bolt of lightning, her whole being seemed to be struck when she learned about Jeremy's connection with Celeste. Since that moment, she hadn't uttered a word to Jeremy, and whenever she caught sight of him, she darted away faster than a startled deer. And, whenever Celeste was around, Nancy made a swift escape as soon as she spotted the two of them together. Initially, Celeste wasn't sure if it was because she and Jeremy were inseparable. She even tried to create opportunities for Nancy to have a one-on-one conversation with Jeremy, stepping away on her own. However, Nancy didn't take that chance to approach Jeremy directly. Celeste had anticipated feeling jealous of the relationship between Nancy and Jeremy, just like in the past when Nancy appeared by Jeremy's side
Celeste blinked her eyes, adjusting to the blinding light that greeted her. Memories from the moments leading up to her unconsciousness suddenly surged in her mind, like a movie reel on fast forward. She could vividly recall being in the car, snuggled in Jeremy's warm embrace, everything seemingly peaceful and serene. Until... The car screeched to an abrupt halt, causing both Jermey and her to crash onto the unforgiving ground. The car door swung open, and a familiar scent tickled her nose before darkness engulfed her, like a magician's trick. And now, here she was, in this freaky-deeky place. As she lowered her gaze, her heart skipped a beat. There she was, tightly bound to a chair, like some sort of damsel in distress straight out of an action flick. Looking around, she spotted Jeremy and the other wolves. But they were still unconscious. Well, at least she wasn't alone in this madness. Her eyes darted around the unfamiliar surroundings, taking it all in. Th