Guilt, helplessness, fear, rage...
Jeremy was consumed by a mix of emotions, like a raging battle in his mind, tearing at his sanity without mercy. His head was going to split open under their relentless assault. Every time he squeezed his eyes shut, the vivid image of Celeste being taken away invaded his mind, playing on a loop like a tormenting film. He could see it clearly. The hunter leaped off the vehicle, fingers tightly gripping Celeste's fur before callously tossing her inside. His gaze was fixated on Celeste, his feet propelling him forward, desperate to bridge the agonizingly short distance between them. But to him, that distance felt like an unfathomable expanse stretching across billions of light-years. No matter how fast he ran or how much effort he poured into igniting his strength, he couldn't catch up, no matter how desperately he chased. Faintly, the whistling of bullets brushed past his ears, catching his peripheral vision with their gJeremy knew he was lost in a dream, where the only thing in his sight was an armored vehicle with Celeste's wolf trapped in it. He felt like a donkey, hanging on by a dangling carrot right in front of his nose. No matter how hard he ran, he couldn't bridge the distance between himself and the vehicle. Celeste was frustratingly close, yet perpetually out of his reach. No matter how swift his strides were, the vehicle always eluded him. With each futile attempt, it only grew more distant, mocking his exhaustion as he collapsed, drained of energy, onto the ground. His eyes remained fixated on the retreating car, refusing to accept defeat. He longed to rise, his gaze ablaze with fiery determination. If only his burning stare could materialize, it would scorch every hunter on that vehicle, one by one. The reality, however, had betrayed him. His feet, worn to the bone from relentless running, refused to obey his will. Powerless and defeated, he succumbed to the embr
Jeremy had exerted every ounce of his strength in the pursuit of the hunters. And the lingering effects of the wolfsbane hadn't entirely dissipated yet. But he had regained some strength during the ride, enough for him to confront that damn lying hunter. Without a moment's hesitation, Jeremy marched straight into the prison where Raymond was held captive. The rhythmic thud of footsteps echoed closely behind him, a clear sign that Kent faithfully trailed behind him. With a resounding crash, Jeremy flung the door wide open, startling the hunter inside. Raymond sprang off the bed, his face etched with wariness and shock as his eyes caught the approaching figure of Jeremy. He raised his hands, seemingly prepared to speak his piece. No words wasted, Jeremy breezed into the room like a gust of wind. He seized the hunter's throat in his vice-like grip and pinned him against the wall, causing the back of his head to collide with an echoing thud. A muffled groan
It wasn't sure if it was Jeremy's menacing fangs or his intimidating tone, or maybe both, but the hunter quivered right under Jeremy's nose. Pathetic, really. Jeremy's lips curled up into a dismissive snarl. Little did he expect that they would fall right into this guy's trap. A couple of hollow threats and the hunter's nerves were shattered like glass. But maybe it was Jeremy's pompous disdain that did the trick because the hunter suddenly went still and swallowed his small shaking. The surprise and fear that once danced in his eyes gradually retreated, making way for a cocktail of resentment and determination. It was crystal clear that being used as a pawn by the other hunters had rubbed him the wrong way. But a pawn's just a pawn, right? Unless he could prove he was worth more, all his grumbling wouldn't change a thing. Raymond took a deep breath and locked eyes with Jeremy, his gaze burning. "I had no idea they were playing me like a fiddle. I'd nev
Jeremy turned around when he heard what Kent said. "What the heck do you mean?" Kent didn't flinch in the face of Jeremy's intense, murderous expression. In fact, he boldly stepped forward, his voice laced with a hint of defiance. "Can't you see how everyone's worn-out, droopy faces right now? We just escaped the clutches of those fucking hunters, and now you want us to march right into their jaws again? Is their sample not enough for you or something?" Jeremy's lips curled, ready to retort, but before he could utter a word, Ben, quick as an arrow, lunged forward, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What's that supposed to mean, huh? You cowards can just keep cowering. It's in your nature anyway, since it's not your Luna who got kidnapped!" A rogue, fueled by Ben's words, stood up, his finger jabbing accusingly at Ben's face as he unleashed a tirade of insults. "Who you calling a coward, you cheeky bastard?" Ben didn't back down, meeting the rogue's gaze
Jeremy found it downright peculiar how, ever since their last knock-down, drag-out brawl, he started seeing Kent in a whole new light. The guy had gone from being as pleasant as a thorn in his side to someone he could actually stand. It was like their clash had magically wiped away the bad blood between werewolves and rogues, and now they were all in this weirdly cozy place of understanding. See, the rogues used to think they were above the wolf pack, strutting around like they were hot stuff and that the wolves were just dead weight. But after a brutal fight that ended in a draw, those rogues probably realized that werewolves weren't just a bunch of no-good slackers. They had earned a smidgen of respect, of all things! And the werewolves had been cautious as hell around those rogues, too. The rogues were a bunch of cocky know-it-alls, and it rubbed the wolves the wrong way. But now that the rogues had changed, the wolves were willing to let go of their skepti
Celeste's gaze fell upon the pristine white lab coat in front of her, and at that moment, her heart began an erratic dance within her chest. Deep within her, her wolf seemed to stir, startled by this unexpected visitor. She couldn't fathom why her wolf reacted this way. Perhaps it was simply the fear of the unknown, a fear of what these hunters might have in store for her. Her eyes traveled upward, briefly skipping over the clinical coat, until they landed upon a pair of broad shoulders. Further up, she noticed a collar adorning the man's neck, capturing her attention. In the dimly lit room, the collar gleamed, made of supple leather, adorned with circular metal accents. Were they silver? Celeste pondered, her brow slightly furrowing. Her gaze continued its ascent, and she beheld a meticulously sculpted jawline, plump and inviting lips, a perfectly straight nose, and a pair of eyes fixated on her. Those eyes that mirrored her own vivid blue irises. Cele
Twin brother... As the word danced across Celeste's mind and took shape on her tongue, it bounced back into her ears, leaving her in disbelief. Her rationality struggled to digest this possibility, but her inner animal sensed it. She could feel her wolf's restless excitement, like a wild howl of joy upon rediscovering a lost companion. "I am your twin brother, Celeste," Kevin's confirmation sounded in her ears. Celeste's instinct urged her to rejoice, to celebrate the reunion with her long-lost twin brother. Yet, her rationality played the party pooper, smothering any flicker of joy. Because it just didn't make any sense. Why would her twin brother suddenly appear out of thin air? And how did he know her name? Wasn't he a werewolf? Why was he wandering free without any restraints, and why did he seem to be in cahoots with the hunters, dressed in a stark white lab coat? It made Celeste question the absurdity of the situation. "Why?" A whirl
Celeste tried to put up a fight. She had a general idea. She would seize the chance when the hunters were busy unlocking the chain on her wrist and swiftly transform into her wolf, leaving this dreadful place behind. Even if she couldn't escape entirely, she was determined to give these hunters a taste of their own medicine, making them realize the dire consequences of ambushing a pack of fierce werewolves. Just the thought of that ruthless ambush, where the hunters relentlessly fired their pistols at the fleeing wolf pack, while the wolves desperately scattered in all directions, intensified Celeste's fury. The idea of teaching those hunters a harsh lesson burned within her even brighter. But things didn't go as she expected. Instead of freeing her from the handcuffs, the hunters' first move was to wrap a glimmering silver chain around her neck. As the icy touch of the silver chain scorched her skin, Celeste felt her inner wolf being suffocated, as if the vit