It wasn't sure if it was Jeremy's menacing fangs or his intimidating tone, or maybe both, but the hunter quivered right under Jeremy's nose.
Pathetic, really. Jeremy's lips curled up into a dismissive snarl. Little did he expect that they would fall right into this guy's trap. A couple of hollow threats and the hunter's nerves were shattered like glass.
But maybe it was Jeremy's pompous disdain that did the trick because the hunter suddenly went still and swallowed his small shaking. The surprise and fear that once danced in his eyes gradually retreated, making way for a cocktail of resentment and determination. It was crystal clear that being used as a pawn by the other hunters had rubbed him the wrong way.
But a pawn's just a pawn, right? Unless he could prove he was worth more, all his grumbling wouldn't change a thing.
Raymond took a deep breath and locked eyes with Jeremy, his gaze burning. "I had no idea they were playing me like a fiddle. I'd never risk Celeste's life if I knew. I merely sensed their doubts about me, but never thought they'd treat me like some disposable chess piece."
Jeremy sneered. "Your sudden change of heart doesn't interest me one bit. I just need to know if you can still be of any use to us. Frankly, I've had my eye on you for a while now. If it weren't for Celeste holding us back, trust me, we would've ripped you to shreds for what you and your gang did to us."
As if to drive home his point, Jeremy underwent a partial transformation, revealing his razor-sharp claws. One of those daggers sank into Raymond's flesh, eliciting a sharp yelp of pain. Jeremy could see the flicker of caution and anger in Raymond's eyes, but the fear wasn't quite as overwhelming as he had anticipated.
"If something were to happen to Celeste, don't you worry, I'm not going to let you people get away with it easily," he paused, his sharp nails retracting from Raymond's shoulder, leaving behind a smudge of blood.
Yet Raymond kept his lips sealed, clearly determined to keep his vulnerabilities hidden from Jeremy's prying eyes. Surprisingly, it earned him a smidgen of respect from Jeremy. "So you better cough up some bloody useful clues real quick, or else—"
"—Wolf Town." Before Jeremy could even finish his sentence, Raymond blurted out, "They might have taken her to Wolf Town!"
"Might?" Jeremy echoed, his eyes locked onto Raymond's face, his expression laced with skepticism.
"They... They didn't have a clue that I know about Wolf Town," Raymond explained, picking up on Jeremy's doubting look. "After we snatched your old folks, Greg... one of the leading hunters, let slip about Wolf Town while jawing with the other hunters. Of course, he didn't have a clue I overheard him. And then they told me they were moving the wolves to the warehouse. So I shrugged it off, I did. But it got me thinking, maybe their real destination is that bloody Wolf Town."
Wolf Town... The name itself reeked of irony. A bunch of werewolf hunters settled down in a town named after the very creatures they hunted.
Jeremy loosened his grip on Raymond, and the hunter plopped down against the wall. With the pressure off, he seemed to be taking in the air easier.
"You've already taken so many wolves, why the hell did you bother to ambush us?" Kent asked, his brow furrowed, arms crossed, as he locked his gaze onto Raymond.
Raymond shook his head and replied, "Dunno. Like I said, maybe the sample size ain't big enough for them, so they're still itching for more wolves."
"That doesn't make sense at all. This attack seemed specifically geared toward snatching Celeste. The sons of bitches didn't seem to care about killing the rest of us. But once they had Celeste, they buggered off without doing much harm to the rest of the wolf pack," Kent grumbled, his frown deepening as he stared down Raymond.
Raymond listened to his words, his brows furrowing in deeper confusion. "I have no clue," he shook his head, his disbelief evident. "I mean, come on, hunters knowing Celeste? She's just a regular werewolf, right?"
Jeremy snarled, "She's not a regular werewolf. She's my Luna, my fucking Luna!" Jeremy hissed, his frustration seeping through his words.
Raymond's eyes widened, a mix of shock and disbelief painted on his face. "But... but aren't you guys twins?"
Jeremy couldn't be bothered to give the hunter any explanations. "You'd better be useful this time. You're coming with us this time, hunter. And if you dare deceive us again, I'll tear you apart right in the heart of Wolf Town."
With that threat hanging in the air, Jeremy spun on his heels and stormed out of Raymond's prison. He wished he could just teleport to Wolf Town on the spot and get Celeste back. Patience was a virtue he simply couldn't afford anymore.
As he emerged, he laid eyes on Ben. The werewolf's face oozed concern, unable to hide it any longer. Even though Ben bore the marks of their recent battle, exhaustion etched onto his weary face, Jeremy could still glimpse the unwavering determination in his eyes.
"How're things looking?" Ben asked.
"Wolf Town," Jeremy succinctly uttered, the word slipping off his tongue. Without wasting a second, he made his way toward the armory. If they were gonna confront those hunters, they needed to be prepared. Those hunters were slyer and deadlier than they ever imagined. But Jeremy couldn't wait any longer.
Ben's footsteps echoed behind Jeremy, but to his surprise, another set of footsteps joined them.
"What's your grand plan, Jeremy?" Kent's voice came from behind.
"We gear up, barge right in, kick those motherfuckers' asses, and rescue Celeste," Jeremy's words were swift and to the point, not bothering to glance back at Kent.
"Sounds real simple, huh? But do you really think you can handle it all by yourself?" Kent sneered, still trailing behind Jeremy.