Without a second thought, Jeremy spun around and walked away.
Right now, there was only one burning desire in his heart—to find Celeste and get her back to him. He wished he could just appear in front of Celeste already.
He hurried to the city where the rogues were located as fast as he could.
Relying on his memory, he navigated through the labyrinthine streets, leading him to the rogue's elusive enclave. His heart hammered relentlessly in his chest, threatening to burst through his throat with every step he took closer to that place.
Rogues were known for their unpredictable nature. They earned the name by never lingering in one location for too long. Nearly a month had elapsed since Jeremy's last visit, and Jeremy had no idea if the rogues were still here.
What if he came here, but Celeste had already left with the rogues? How would he ever manage to track her down then? If Celeste had already left, was there still a chance for him to find her?
He gritted his teeth, wishing he could sprint and land right in front of Celeste in the next second. But the more time ticked by, the more his courage seemed to drain from his throat. A surge of anxiety swelled within him, almost suffocating him.
As the structures loomed before his eyes, Jeremy was momentarily swallowed in a swirling maelstrom of emotions. The vivid memory of being rejected by Celeste when he last came here suddenly returned to his mind and surged back into his consciousness, casting shadows of doubt. What if she turned him down again? What if Celeste refused to go with him, just like last time?
But all his fears, every single one of them, dissipated from his mind as soon as he caught a whiff of Celeste's scent in the air. The scent of Celeste in the air was extremely faint, but it was undeniable. It wafted through the air, delicately touching his senses.
Jeremy couldn't help but take a deep breath, inhaling her essence as if savoring a rare delicacy, allowing the memories of Celeste to flood his mind.
In the past month, he had been drowning in his own sadness and frustration, never being able to walk away from that night. But now, with the familiar scent permeating the air, a sudden shift occurred within him. It was as if a heavy fog, shrouding his existence, lifted instantaneously. The weight of a curse that had plagued him seemed to dissipate in an instant, replaced by a glimmer of hope. The cloud that shrouded the moon that night was cleared now, and warm light cascaded upon him, casting away the shadows that had haunted his every step.
And to his astonishment, the rogue pack was still lingering around. It was nothing short of a miracle.
A surge of joy gripped Jeremy firmly. In its wake, a determination took hold of him, unyielding and unshakable. No matter what, he would tell his feelings for Celeste. And then he would worry about her acceptance or rejection.
But he had another concern now. Standing in front of him now was a tightly guarded pack of rogues. From his last visit here, Jeremy had already noticed that these rogues were more vigilant than his own pack. But last time, because they were hosting a party, Jeremy could take advantage of the situation and get close to Celeste. Now, he had to consider how to break through their defenses and approach Celeste.
Luckily, it seemed like the Moon Goddess was on his side this time. Jeremy skillfully maneuvered through the dense forest behind the house, cunningly evading the vigilant rogue stationed at the entrance. As he pondered how to enter the house, his gaze caught on the figure nestling under a tree by the pool.
His heart skipped a beat.
Bathed in the gentle caress of afterglow, Celeste looked incredibly graceful and soft. The shimmering reflections from the pool cascaded upon her, highlighting her well-proportioned figure. Jeremy couldn't take his eyes off her.
From a distance, he could see Celeste's eyes closed, her expression soft. But her brows slightly furrowed.
Was she dreaming? What was she dreaming about? Her furrowed brow reflected her worries. Jeremy wished he could catch a glimpse of her dream, to soothe Celeste and smoothed her furrowed brow.
Jeremy approached quietly, closing the distance between them while avoiding the rogues so as not to get caught. Surprisingly, there were no other rogues by the pool, only Celeste.
The closer he got, the more he noticed his shortness of breath. He couldn't help but hold his breath, fearing that his rapid breathing might be heard by the other werewolves. He was also afraid of disturbing Celeste's dream.
His heart danced with the exhilaration of his wolf, whose howls echoed through his core. As he drew closer to Celeste, Jeremy could sense an invisible force turning into a rope, continuously pulling them closer together.
He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but it seemed that as he got closer to Celeste, her furrowed brow relaxed a bit. What was troubling her in her dream seemed to ease, and the look on her face was replaced by a sense of calmness. Now was that a small smile on her face?
What was she dreaming about?
The wolf within Jeremy urged him forward. Closer. And closer. Until there was nothing that separated them.
Jeremy took a deep breath, greedily absorbing the scent of Celeste in the air. His heart pounded wildly, and he couldn't distinguish which was louder. The howling in his heart or the sound of his own heartbeat?
He took a light step forward and found himself standing right in front of Celeste.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly.
In the next second, as if sensing his presence, Celeste suddenly opened her eyes. Her blue gaze landed on Jeremy's face. Celeste blinked, seemingly unable to believe who was standing right before her, her pink lips slightly parted.
Jeremy's eyes fixated upon the plumpness of her lips, and an irrepressible desire overcame him, tantalizing his senses. He couldn't help but think about the opportunity he had that night to savor the taste of those lips.