Jeremy knew he was lost in a dream, where the only thing in his sight was an armored vehicle with Celeste's wolf trapped in it.
He felt like a donkey, hanging on by a dangling carrot right in front of his nose. No matter how hard he ran, he couldn't bridge the distance between himself and the vehicle. Celeste was frustratingly close, yet perpetually out of his reach.
No matter how swift his strides were, the vehicle always eluded him. With each futile attempt, it only grew more distant, mocking his exhaustion as he collapsed, drained of energy, onto the ground. His eyes remained fixated on the retreating car, refusing to accept defeat. He longed to rise, his gaze ablaze with fiery determination. If only his burning stare could materialize, it would scorch every hunter on that vehicle, one by one.
The reality, however, had betrayed him. His feet, worn to the bone from relentless running, refused to obey his will. Powerless and defeated, he succumbed to the embrace of darkness, watching as his mate was taken away by those fucking hunters.
Even as the car faded from his vision, his eyes continued to strain towards its direction, his chest constricting with unbearable tension, threatening to burst. Anguish and despair enveloped him, compelling his hands to clench the earth below, its sharp fragments piercing his flesh. The very ground seemed to tremble beneath the weight of his fury, jostling his trembling frame.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open,. His chest still heaved with turmoil. Blinking away the remnants of his dream, he gradually comprehended the reality before him: the ceiling of the vehicle undulating with each bump on the road.
With a jolt of awakening, he sat up. His gaze landed on Kent, who was leaning against the door with exhaustion written all over his face. The rogue's eyes briefly met Jeremy's as he lifted his head, before nonchalantly lowering it once more.
"Where is she?" Jeremy's voice resonated, a mixture of depth and urgency.
Kent's body tensed at his inquiry. But he remained silent, his head still bowed.
Jeremy's heart raced like a wild stallion, thumping in his chest as if it wanted to burst out of his throat. His eyes darted around the car, desperately scanning for any sign of Celeste, but she was nowhere to be found. The air hung heavily with anticipation, devoid of even a trace of her tantalizing scent.
The other werewolves sat in silence, their defeated expressions etched on their faces. A defeated army after a battle. Some of the wolves crouched in the corners of the car, their bodies smeared with a grim mixture of mud and blood, a testament to the fierce struggle they had endured.
"Tell me you didn't let them take her," Jeremy's gaze bore into Kent, his eyes aflame with fury.
Jeremy could feel the untamed beast within him, aching to be set loose. His claws twitched restlessly, yearning to sink into the flesh of a hunter, tearing apart their chest and seizing their very heart in a vice-like grip.
But amidst the chaos and anger, a more palpable emotion gripped Jeremy—fear. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and attempted to tap into the ethereal connection between him and Celeste. Yet, all he sensed was a distant, fading bond. The fragile thread that bound them together seemed to stretch thin, as if it could snap at any moment, severing their bond forever.
Unable to stand it anymore, Jeremy lunged forward, grabbing Kent by the collar with primal ferocity. "Where is she? Tell me you didn't let them take her!"
Finally, Kent raised his head, his eyes meeting Jeremy's gaze, and at that moment, all Jeremy saw was guilt etched deeply into his eyes. No words were needed—the answer hung in the air, heavy and undeniable.
Jeremy felt his blood turn to ice, chilling him to the core. It was as if a frosty hand had reached into his very being, gripping his heart with an icy grip.
"Stop the damn car! Let me out!" Jeremy's voice erupted with a mix of urgency and determination. Surprise washed over him at the calmness with which he spoke, masking the tempest of emotions raging within. But beneath that deceptively tranquil exterior, a storm was brewing, threatening to unleash its fury at any moment.
Ben glanced at Jeremy through the rearview mirror, his face betraying a flicker of hesitation. His eyes then shifted back to Kent, searching for confirmation.
"I'm telling you to stop the damn car and let me out!" Jeremy barked, his voice dripping with icy command.
Before Ben could even do anything, Kent snatched Jeremy by the collar, dragging him down forcefully to the floor. "What the hell are you blabbering about? Those hunters are long gone! We fought tooth and nail to break free, and now you want us to park the damn car?! Can't you see the wounded werewolves in here, huh?"
"I said stop the car and let me out!" Jeremy hissed, "You all can go ahead and flee, but I'm going to get Celeste back!" Jeremy's determination remained unshaken, despite Kent's words. He swiftly swatted away Kent's hand, which had clenched his chest like a vice.
"Let you out? So you can march straight to your death, huh?" Kent sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "If we hadn't come to the rescue, those hunters would've dragged you away, and then what?"
And then what? At least he would be at Celeste's side and she wouldn't face those motherfuckers alone.
But Jeremy held his tongue, swallowing the words before they escaped his lips. The weight of the other werewolves' expectant gazes bore down on him. As the Alpha of the pack, they relied on him. He couldn't afford to lose his cool and let the hunters have their way. He had a responsibility now. A duty to protect the pack.
"And even if we did let you go, those hunters have long vanished," Kent's gaze wandered away from Jeremy as he let go of Jeremy and leaned against the car door again. He crossed his arms and continued, "Believe me, Celeste is tougher than you give her credit for. We walked right into the hunters' trap, but now we need to regroup, steady our footing, and plan our next move."
Jeremy's eyes narrowed, locking onto the rogue.
"Fuck!" After a long pause, Jeremy's frustration exploded, his fist landing a resounding blow on the floor.
Ben's gaze broke away from the rearview mirror, refocusing on the road ahead.
Before long, the familiar sights came into view, painting the roadside canvas. Jeremy caught sight of their warehouse, the very place where they held the captive hunter.
As the car gradually came to a halt, Jeremy wasted no time. With a swift, fluid motion, he yanked open the car door and jumped out.