"Two-faced phony, huh? Seems like you've got a major bias against the Alpha of my pack," Celeste furrowed her brows, fixating on every move Kent made.
For some inexplicable reason, Kent seemed to hold a strong grudge against Byron. Ever since that attack when Kent seriously wounded Byron, the malevolence had been palpable. But strangely enough, Kent had been in touch with Byron, even warning him about potential dangers to the pack.
Celeste was genuinely puzzled about their relationship. If Kent truly despised Byron, why the heck would he bother helping him? And what was with his sudden concern for their wolf pack?
"Believe me, my feelings towards him go way beyond simple bias," Kent sneered, crossing his arms defiantly, a wicked gleam flickering in his eyes. Celeste couldn't help but shudder at the look of the malevolence in his eyes.
Sure, Celeste had come to realize that Byron might not be the picture-perfect Alpha they had once imagined. He had his fair share of secrets. But come on, Byron had been their pack's Alpha for over two decades! And Celeste had grown up under his leadership. She couldn't just stand by as some outsider like Kent constantly threw cold-hearted jabs at the Alpha of her pack.
"What's the deal between you two, anyway? Stop playing coy," she demanded, her frustration mounting.
"Go ask him yourselves," Kent shrugged nonchalantly.
"Ask him what?"
"Ask him what went down twenty years ago. Ask him what he did to my wolf pack."
"What?" Celeste's eyebrows furrowed even deeper, her face etched with confusion.
When the rogues launched the attack on their wolf pack, Kent had demanded an answer from Byron about what had really happened twenty years ago.
After the wolf pack's safety was assured by the rogues, Byron was supposed to provide them with a crystal-clear explanation. But instead, he chose to evade the truth, leaving them hanging in uncertainty. And now, unbelievably, they hadn't even bothered to seek confirmation from Byron again.
"He's gonna pay for this, mark my words. That guy's nothing but a phony, not worth an ounce of trust from your wolf pack," Kent declared, his voice surprisingly calm despite the determination and malice oozing from his every word, as if each syllable was squeezed out through gritted teeth.
Byron's actions weighed heavily on Celeste's mind. What on earth had the man done? And more importantly, what had he done to Kent's wolf pack? Hadn't the pack been settled here for quite some time back then? Why should Byron do anything to other wolf packs? It was a puzzle that left Celeste utterly perplexed.
"So, that's why you attacked the wolf pack but didn't finish off Byron, right? You want to crush him completely. Killing him is not good enough for you, right?" Celeste asked.
Kent shrugged, his eyes darting around. "Nah, a quick death would be too damn easy for a scumbag like him. I want your wolf pack to see through his charade and kick him to the curb. Once that's done, my pack will take care of the rest, trust me."
Take care of the rest? What did he mean? A shiver down Celeste's spine. Though he hadn't spelled out the details, she could already sense the storm brewing.
Kent rose from his seat, closing the distance between him and Celeste once again. The sunlight outside cast a soft, hazy glow behind him, enveloping his entire being in a gentle aura.
He towered over Celeste, looking down at her as if from a lofty perch. Despite the limited time they had spent together, at this very moment, the man standing before her felt like a complete stranger.
Celeste knew Kent wasn't one to beat around the bush. He had a directness about him, swiftly seeking revenge whenever necessary. Yet, this time, when it came to Byron, he seemed to be taking a winding path, crafting an intricate plan to bring Byron down, shatter his reputation, and exile him from the wolf pack.
What had Byron done to evoke such a response?
Kent let out a derisive chuckle. "Look at that expression on your face. It just doesn't suit you."
His comment caught Celeste off guard, leaving her momentarily bewildered. She lifted her gaze to meet Kent's face, only to find his eyes briefly shifting to the sleeping Jeremy before swiftly returning to her.
"Are you absolutely positive about staying in this place? With him? Are you sure you want to stick with that guy and leave me and my pack behind? Can you truly count on your wolf pack to accept the both of you? And can you honestly believe that phony will embrace your presence?" Kent's words dripped with a touch of gentleness, his eyes fixed upon Celeste's as if trying to search for her soul.
Celeste turned her head to steal a glimpse of Jeremy, who was blissfully lost in dreamland. The relaxed expression on his face melted away all traces of caution and furrowed brows that used to be stubbornly stuck on his face.
Was it the enchantment of sleep magic working its wonders, or was it simply the fact that Jeremy could finally snuggle up next to Celeste without worrying about worldly matters or the fear of her running away again? Either way, he slept like a contented puppy, wrapped in an aura of tranquility.
Unbeknownst to herself, Celeste's lips curved into a small smile. She then shifted her gaze, her eyes finding Kent's face. His brow creased in puzzlement as he stared back at her, a blend of emotions flickering across his features.
"Thanks for looking out for me, Kent. I truly appreciate it. But you know what? I've made up my mind. These past few weeks apart have only made me realize how much I belong here and how much I want him. My wolf, my heart—they both belong right here by his side."
Kent held Celeste's gaze for what felt like an eternity, his expression complicated. Finally, he turned away, sauntered towards the window, and with a touch of drama, disappeared into the air of the early morning.