Jeremy turned around when he heard what Kent said. "What the heck do you mean?"
Kent didn't flinch in the face of Jeremy's intense, murderous expression. In fact, he boldly stepped forward, his voice laced with a hint of defiance. "Can't you see how everyone's worn-out, droopy faces right now? We just escaped the clutches of those fucking hunters, and now you want us to march right into their jaws again? Is their sample not enough for you or something?"
Jeremy's lips curled, ready to retort, but before he could utter a word, Ben, quick as an arrow, lunged forward, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What's that supposed to mean, huh? You cowards can just keep cowering. It's in your nature anyway, since it's not your Luna who got kidnapped!"
A rogue, fueled by Ben's words, stood up, his finger jabbing accusingly at Ben's face as he unleashed a tirade of insults. "Who you calling a coward, you cheeky bastard?"
Ben didn't back down, meeting the rogue's gaze with a fiery stare. "Even if you're not cowards, you're just a bunch of reckless hotheads. If you hadn't rushed in headlong, our entire plan would've been thrown into chaos!"
"Tell me this, fucker, would you stand idly by if it were your own brother?" Ben was challenged by a defiant sneer.
The tension among the wolf pack skyrocketed. Soon, words bounced back and forth like fiery projectiles, igniting a full-blown verbal brawl.
Amidst the bedlam, Jeremy wasn't sure who had struck first, but soon the wolf pack was locked in a wild frenzy of punches and grappling.
Fresh from a bitter defeat and a daring escape from the clutches of the hunters, their spirits were already sour. Now, as the heat of their anger reached its boiling point, Jeremy's pack harbored deep resentment toward the rogues, accusing them of impulsive recklessness. On the other hand, the rogues pointed fingers at Jeremy's wolves, blaming them for impeding their efficiency and disrupting their well-laid plans.
Both sides held each other in contempt, and the skirmish grew increasingly fierce.
Despite their recent escape, most of them here were relatively unscathed, their werewolf physiology facilitating swift healing. But this only served to fuel the escalating violence, transforming the skirmish into a full-fledged battle almost in a blink of an eye.
Jeremy swiftly sidestepped, narrowly evading the incoming punch aimed at his face. He caught sight of Kent standing nearby, a pompous grin plastered across his face, radiating an air of smug superiority.
The bastard's expression was practically begging for a good wallop. Jeremy's blood boiled as he recollected the sleep magic Kent had subjected him to earlier. He owed him a punch, no doubt about it. Without a trace of hesitation, Jeremy marched forward and unleashed a mighty fist, connecting solidly with Kent's unsuspecting torso. The impact rattled Kent, causing him to stumble backward a step.
The fire in Kent's eyes blazed brighter as he realized Jeremy had dared to strike back. With unbridled fury, he charged towards Jeremy, fists clenched, ready to retaliate blow for blow.
"Damn, you're a bloody hothead! Ever heard of strategy?!" Kent spat out between attacks, his insults mingling with the sounds of their skirmish.
Kent's words only stoked the furnace of Jeremy's anger. As he deflected Kent's punches, a mischievous opportunity presented itself. Seizing the moment, Jeremy landed a sneaky kick, catching Kent off guard. "You talk big, but have you ever been in a situation where your Luna's safety is on the line? I bet you'd be a quivering wreck, you coward!" Jeremy taunted, relishing in his verbal strike.
Kent managed to evade Jeremy's kick, but before Jeremy could utter another word, Kent swiftly retaliated, delivering a forceful blow that momentarily sent Jeremy reeling backward.
Refusing to be outdone, Jeremy reacted instinctively, seizing Kent's incoming fist in a firm grip, twisting it behind his back with a determined yank. A brief struggle ensued, and with a burst of defiance, Kent wriggled free, launching a surprise counter-attack with a well-aimed kick.
Enduring the pain, Jeremy stood his ground, channeling his resilience. Instead of retreating, he seized the opportunity, grabbing hold of Kent's extended leg and using the momentum to bring him crashing down to the ground. Like a predator pouncing on its prey, Jeremy swiftly lunged forward, pinning down both combatants, their eyes locked in an intense stare-down. The air crackled with raw animosity and pent-up frustration.
"I'm the coward?! Fuck you! If I really were a coward, I wouldn't give a damn about that damn silver bullet on you. I'd let it smack you straight and knock you out cold," Kent snarled, baring his teeth, his eyes ablaze with fury, as he glared fiercely at Jeremy.
"Don't you dare strut around here with your nose in the air, you bastard! Didn't I just take a bullet for your sorry ass?" Jeremy bellowed, matching Kent's fiery intensity without backing down an inch.
Then, the two of them came to a halt, locking eyes, anger still smoldering within them, panting heavily like a pair of wild beasts caught in a standoff.
"You goddamn fool!" Kent sneered, but the moment the words escaped his lips, a smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth, and he burst into laughter.
"Who's the fool now? We haven't even been attacked by those hunters, and we're already throwing punches at each other," Jeremy peeled himself off Kent, releasing his grip and rising to his feet, unable to contain his own laughter.
The sudden burst of laughter silenced the wolf pack, leaving them speechless, as they watched the duo. There was a flicker of disbelief in their eyes, quickly followed by a wave of rationality. They stared at the two, fists still poised mid-air, and couldn't help but crack a smile, unable to resist the infectious amusement.
The alliance between the two wolf packs had never been built on blind loyalty. Now, after this brawl, the initial tension seemed to dissipate ever so slightly, the effect even more potent than the strongest shots of whiskey.
"I get it, you're eager to play the hero and save the day. I'm just as desperate to rescue Celeste," Kent massaged his slightly throbbing wrist, "But damn it, we've just been through hell. We all need a breather. Plus, we have no clue what the hell is happening on the hunters' turf. We need to come up with a damn strategy instead of charging in like a bunch of headless chickens."
Jeremy looked at Kent, catching a glimpse of genuine sincerity in his eyes. His gaze then swept across the room, taking in the tired faces of the wolf people. He nodded in agreement.
Without hesitation, Kent reached out his hand. Jeremy grabbed hold of his forearm, and the two of them shook hands, sealing their newfound camaraderie. The rest of the wolf pack observed them, their wariness towards each other gradually fading away.
Now looking at the bruises and swollen faces, Jeremy couldn't even tell who the rogues were and who belonged to his original pack anymore.