Nora and Jeff seemed bewildered by Celeste's bold announcement.
"What do you mean? How could not having your wolf out be your edge?"
Celeste explained, "Well… I mean, I know Raymond. He's cautious. If he suspects me as a werewolf, he might very well run some tests first before he takes any action. And my wolf hasn't surfaced, so theoretically, I won't be affected if he acts against me in any way that will hurt werewolves."
Before her wolf came out, she was just an ordinary human woman to the hunter. The perfect proof was that even a full blood moon couldn't do anything to her. So, she should be safe if Raymond cast any anti-werewolf magic on her.
But why was it possible only theoretically? Because she was not sure about it. After all, as far as she knew, no werewolves had the death wish to risk their lives and test if the anti-werewolf method could kill them before they wolfed out. So, it was a gamble Celeste would have to take.
"Even so, it's still risky. Besides, you don't know when you'll shift. That's another risk that should be considered. Just forget about the idea, Cel." Jeff shook his head.
"You have a point, Dad. But I just never felt my wolf. I don't think she'll surface in any foreseeable future."
"Even if you won't wolf out, you can't be sure what he will do to you. What if he kidnaps you and locks you down? Hunters are all vicious. You can never imagine what they'll do!" Nora supplied.
"Then we meet at a public place. Like the café where we met last time."
"Listen, baby." The mother stepped closer to her and put a hand on Celeste's arm. "Just leave the matter to Byron, okay? He's the Alpha of our pack. He'll know what to do. You've alarmed the pack. That alone is meaningful to all of us. You don't need to take more risk."
"But I can do more for the pack. Who can do this better than me?" Celeste held her hand to stop her parents from arguing. "I know what you're going to say. Yes, Byron and the other guys might be more experienced, but as Dad has said, they can't get closer to the hunter. Besides, they are more vulnerable than me if Raymond has prepared."
"But we still can't be sure you'll be immune to the hunter's tricks."
"But you can't deny I have a better chance than the others. Besides, I don't think Raymond has finally confirmed our existence. Or he would have informed his father a long time ago. So… I want to take the chance. I would try my best to lead him to believe there's no wolf in this town."
Nora and Jeff fell into silence, probably pondering how to talk their daughter out of her suicidal task. Celeste didn't yield. She stood with her back straight and waited patiently.
After a long while, Nora sighed. "Even so, we're still worried."
That being said, Celeste was surprised to notice from the mother's tone that she was giving in.
Jeff put his arm across Nora's shoulders and brought her into his chest, eyes on Celeste. "We understand you want to protect the pack. We're proud of you, Cel. But as your parents, we can't just send you to the hunter like this."
Celeste opened her mouth to protest, but Jeff stopped her. "But we know very well we're unable to stop you. So how about this? You go to Byron and tell him about your plan. You gain his support, and we will not hold you back anymore."
Celeste smiled. She knew her parents were not selfish. They cared about the pack. What was even more important, they trusted her decision.
"But before that, you must promise us you will keep yourself safe." The mother stared at her daughter's eyes in earnest.
"Okay, Mom. I promise."
Celeste didn't waste a minute contacting Byron. The Alpha was against her plan at first, which was well expected. After all, as the leader of the pack, he couldn't have a young lady who hadn't wolfed out go through such danger.
As much as Celeste was tired of explaining everything again, she told every detail of her plan and answered every question Byron asked with great patience. In the end, Byron yielded.
"Fine. You convinced me, kid. Ah ah–" Byron held up a finger and continued, "Don't celebrate too early. I have a condition. I'm going with you."
The look on his face told Celeste that there was no way she could get rid of him. She grimaced. "I know you're worried about me. But I don't need your escort. It'll only raise more suspicion if you go with me. I don't need a concerned and sulking guardian."
"Hey! I do not sulk!" Byron argued.
Celeste shrugged.
Byron heaved a sigh, "Okay, fine! I accept the sulking part, but I insist on going with you. I can't just leave you alone with that hunter! I'll just wait quietly from the distance without him seeing or noticing me, okay? You know I take you as my own daughter. I can't just leave the shit all to you. This is my only condition."
Something unreadable flashed across his eyes, too fast for her to properly recognize.
She knew the Alpha wouldn't back down. He would probably ban her from meeting the hunter if she kept him from going with her. Even if the Alpha's order wouldn't affect her because she hadn't wolfed out yet, Celeste didn't want to break the man's heart. She respected the decision he made as the leader of the pack.
In the end, she sighed in frustration. "Fine! You will only wait from the distance without him discovering you."
"Sure." Byron curled his lips into a smile.