Jeremy's mind was in a complete state of chaos, with thoughts swirling in his head like a whirlpool. The rogues had thrown him out like a sack of potatoes. When he tried to get back to Celeste again, he was punched again by the bastards. But Jeremy seemed numb to the pain.
In the end, he lay on the ground. Above him, the moon was still veiled by the dark clouds, and he could not help but feel a sense of emptiness and despair creeping over him.
Time seemed to have lost all meaning as Jeremy lay there, not knowing how long he had been on the ground or how he managed to crawl back to his place. His clothes were in tatters, and the mud caked on his skin was proof of the ferocity of the attack he had endured.
He was bewildered by the fact that his wolf had not come out to protect him, and he wondered if it was because of the lack of moonlight or if his wolf was too heartbroken by the sudden abandonment of his mate to emerge.
As he stumbled into his place, he noticed the unlocked lock on the door, and it took a few moments for his mind to register what had happened.
His captive must have escaped. Jeremy shrugged. He remembered the threat he had made to Nick about beating him up if he provided him with false information, but now he realized that it might have been better if Nick had given him false information. He would rather cling to the hope of finding Celeste than face the reality of her rejecting him outright.
He collapsed on the sofa, exhausted and disheartened. He glanced over and saw the pile of stuff on the table. The androgynous rogue had forgotten his goods. Jeremy could see that comb that he had bargained for. How on earth could that werewolf manage to forget to bring his shit when he had fled? He must be stupid, then.
Jeremy's fuzzy head was working when he heard a faint sound coming from the door. He struggled to focus on the noise until the knocking became more persistent. Jeremy realized that it wasn't his imagination and walked hesitantly to the door.
As he opened the door, his tired eyes were greeted by the pretty face that he couldn't immediately identify as male or female. The visitor's face was framed by long, wavy hair that cascaded down his back. Jeremy was not sure of what to do or say for a moment.
Nick raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to let me in or not?" He asked with a hint of amusement.
Jeremy instinctively took a step back, allowing Nick to enter. Then he realized what he was doing and frowned. "Didn't you run away? Why are you back?"
"To get my things, of course," Nick replied with a smirk, holding up a plastic bag. "And I also brought you something."
"Oh," Jeremy mechanically said, his gaze falling on the bag that Nick was holding. What did this shopaholic buy this time?
"Beer," Nick said, seeming to know what Jeremy was questioning in his mind, as he raised the bag in his hand. "I guess you still need this."
"What? How... how did you...?" Jeremy stammered, struggling to form coherent sentences.
Nick chuckled softly and shook his head. He wiggled his fingers and walked over to the sofa, plopping down on it as if it was his own home. "Want some beer or not?"
"Fuck..." His throat was itching, and he did need alcohol to calm down his exploding mind.
He didn't feel like bothering about the wolf in front of him and as soon as the beer was offered, Jeremy took a swig without thinking and finished off the bottle.
"Hey, hey, hey, slow down," Nick said, his grip tightening on Jeremy's wrist. His voice reached Jeremy's ears. But everything sounded like it was muffled by water, so unclear.
Jeremy flattened the can and threw it aside, reaching for a second one. The werewolf reached out and held his hand down. Jeremy shook his head, trying to free his wrist. He was in no mood to be told what to do by Nick. He pulled his wrist away from Nick's grip and glared at him.
The werewolf shrugged and moved his hand away.
Jeremy opened the second bottle of beer and took a sip, feeling more at ease than he had been moments ago. He sank back into the soft cushions of the couch and gazed up at the ceiling, lost in thought. For a few moments, he remained silent, not wanting to speak, but his mind was in turmoil, urging him to sort through his emotions and make sense of the events of the night.
His former captive sat patiently beside him, a serene expression on his face. Jeremy stole a quick glance at him and noticed that he, too, was reclining on the sofa, his body relaxed and his eyes focused on Jeremy. A faint smile played at the corners of his mouth, lending him a gentle and approachable air.
Jeremy found himself strangely drawn to the man's smile, and his lips twitched as if trying to mimic it. But instead of a smile, they trembled uncontrollably, and he felt a wave of self-consciousness wash over him. He knew he must look ridiculous, and he quickly averted his gaze.
However, the werewolf's patient and non-judgmental demeanor put him at ease, and Jeremy felt himself slowly opening up. With each passing moment, he found it easier to express himself, and he began to recount the events of the night in detail. "I went to her tonight…"
Perhaps it was the desire to confess that it was too strong, or his mind was not working correctly, or the effect of alcohol, or maybe the pretty man had cast some spell on him. Regardless, Jeremy slowly recounted his entire process of going to find Celeste and being rejected.
The werewolf listened intently. Jeremy felt a sense of gratitude for the man's understanding and support, and he found himself speaking more candidly than he had ever done before. With the help of alcohol, the pain that had been pent up inside him seemed to have lessened a bit.