Byron asked a few more questions, but in the end, Jeremy didn't reveal why Celeste didn't want to come back with him, or what had happened between him and Celeste. Despite his continued efforts, Jeremy remained tight-lipped. Eventually, Byron let out a deep sigh and gave up
Jeremy had been down ever since he came back. The pack was sad that Celeste decided to leave, but they were hopeful that he would return to his former self and lead them as their Alpha, but his aloof demeanor proved otherwise. Instead of taking charge, he secluded himself in his room, drowning in his own misery and relying on alcohol to numb his pain.
Nancy tried to reach out to him a few times, but Jeremy ignored her. He could feel the other wolves' concerns for him, but he didn't care anymore. He was beyond their help. Although Byron encouraged Jeremy to step up as the Alpha of the pack, his reluctance and disinterest made it clear that he was not ready to take on the mantle.
Now Jeremy probably understood why Celeste always wanted to run away and keep herself busy. Concern for his parents was an important aspect, but there was also the fact that she probably kept her mind busy so she wouldn't feel the pain of knowing that things could never work out between her and Jeremy.
Every day, Jeremy went on a search for the hunter's and his parents' tracks, but he made sure not to let himself transform into a wolf. He was unsure of what would happen if his wolf took over and run back to the city to pursue Celeste.
But his wolf seemed to lack the desire to break free. Even during the full moon, when he transformed into a wolf, he found no solace in the freedom to roam. Although the moon allowed his wolf to escape from his body, the separation from his partner drained him of his strength, and he found no joy in running freely through the forest.
Even his wolf, who was always drawn by the mate bond, seemed to lack the motivation to go and find Celeste. Jeremy could feel the weight of their failed relationship bearing down on them, and it was as if his wolf had lost all hope. Sometimes at night, he would dream of Celeste's disappointed voice, ringing in his ears and haunting him.
The hunters had seemingly vanished from the town, leaving the wolf pack to question their own existence. They argued over whether they should return to their old ways and abandon their secret hideout. Jeremy had been invited to attend the meeting, but he refused. He felt like a shadow of his former self, and Celeste's departure had left a gaping hole in his life that he couldn't fill.
Nick, on the other hand, had stayed with the wolf pack for several weeks. Jeremy felt a strange connection to him, perhaps because Nick knew about his secret. It was as if Nick could sense the things that Jeremy couldn't bring himself to say aloud, and just being around him made Jeremy feel like he could breathe a little easier. Nick hadn't even told Byron what was bothering Jeremy, which made him the perfect confidante.
Turned out Nick had known Byron for years. Byron had invited Nick to join their pack, but the pretty man refused. He chose to become a rogue. But, unlike the rogues who gathered together as a pack, Nick admitted he preferred to roam alone. But he had once been part of a pack too. It was just that his former Alpha and other wolves had rejected him because of his sexual orientation and outspoken nature. Nick had no choice but to leave the pack and become a rogue.
With Celeste gone and their parents missing, Jeremy started to feel like he was trapped. The more time he spent with Nick, the more he was drawn to the idea of becoming a rogue. When Celeste was still in the pack, Jeremy had never even considered giving her up to become Alpha. Now that she was gone, Jeremy knew that being the Alpha of the pack was no longer an option.
When the wolf pack found themselves in a dire situation, Jeremy would step up to help the pack, willing to take on the responsibilities that were temporarily passed on to him because of Byron's absence. He stood firm and held the pack together, despite the odds being against them.
However, Byron has now fully recovered, and the pack has found its own Alpha. Jeremy was not willing to take the reins from Byron anymore, and becoming a rogue seemed to be a tantalizing option for him. He thought that by becoming a rogue, he may finally be able to find Celeste and persuade her to go with him.
When Jeremy told Nick about his idea, Nick was taken aback. He seemed to have something to say. But eventually, he shook his head and stayed silent.
"What? Are you judging me?" Jeremy asked Nick.
Nick quickly shook his head. "I'm not judging you. You have every right to pursue your love, especially when it comes to a partner chosen for you by the stars. You and Celeste were destined to be together, and she is your one and only fated mate in this lifetime."
"So you agree that I should leave the pack behind and go find her, right? Isn't this the same decision you made when you left your own pack? To be with someone you want without worrying about others' thoughts?" Jeremy inquired.
"But you're different," Nick said with a stern look on his face. "Your pack needs you. You've always been an essential member of the pack, and your absence will be felt by everyone."
"I never have and never will sacrifice my partner for the sake of the wolf pack," Jeremy said.
"Perhaps your wolf pack will accept you..." Nick mumbled. "Perhaps your pack is different from the one I left. Perhaps they will accept you and Celeste."
Jeremy shook his head. "I doubt it. And even if they do, Celeste and I have no future together."
"Whatever your decision, you can't simply leave without talking to Byron and explaining your decision to him. You may not have noticed because you were also grieving Celeste's departure, but Byron is just as heartbroken as you are. I can tell he is very worried about you, and if you just leave, it could be even more of a blow to him..."