After Celeste finished her meal, she and Jeremy fell into silence.
Now that the room was well-lit, Celeste noticed the stubble on Jeremy's face and the dark circles under his eyes. She had seen them earlier while she was eating and wondered how many days he had gone without proper sleep. But she had stopped herself from asking about it.
They hadn't seen each other in just a few days, but to Celeste, it felt much longer. Especially considering that Jeremy had been avoiding her ever since his first shift. They hadn't properly met in over a month. During this brief period, she noticed subtle changes in him. His gaze seemed harder and fiercer, and his whole demeanor had transformed. He had gained confidence and become more mature.
Celeste wasn't sure if he actually changed. Or was it her wolf letting her look at him from a different angle? She could tell. It was hard to believe such changes could be made in such a short time.
"How many days have I been unconscious?" Celeste asked eventually, breaking the silence between them.
"Three. But the doctor said it might still take another week for you to fully recover."
She was out for only three days? It was short, and her dream felt like forever.
"And... did you stay with me all three days?" Celeste asked, realizing as she spoke how much she longed for his company.
"Yeah." Jeremy hesitated for a moment before adding, "It was tough seeing you so helpless and vulnerable."
Celeste's heart swelled. "Where're Mom and Dad, though?"
"They…" Jeremy hesitated again. "I sent them away. I promised them I'd take good care of you." It was then that Celeste noticed a certain softness on Jeremy's face – a flush of pink on his cheeks. It was unlike him.
Celeste stared at him in surprise.
"I wanted to be the one taking care of you," Jeremy spoke, his voice low and soft. "With so many people injured, there weren't enough hands to take care of everyone. But if I can look after you personally, I can guarantee that you'll receive the best care possible."
Her heart skipped a beat as she listened to him.
"Thanks, Jeremy. I…" She didn't know what else to say. Her gaze fell to the sheet.
"You're my mate. When I'm at your side, you'll recover faster," Jeremy spoke again, his tone serious and earnest.
She snapped her eyes up to his face. Her heart raced even faster. She was surprised at how easily the word came out of his mouth.
Mate.
Was he trying to discuss their mate bond now? She held his intent gaze. She saw the determination in his eyes.
Neither of them spoke. And the silence stretched on. She knew he was waiting for her to make the decision.
"Jeremy, I'm not ready to discuss our mate bond just yet. Can we talk about it in a couple of days?" After a long while, Celeste said.
Jeremy took a deep sigh and nodded his head. "Sure. I respect your decision. When you're ready, we'll talk. But..."
"What?"
"I promised you I wouldn't run away from it anymore, and I won't. And I hope you won't run away, either." His eyes never left her as he said the words.
She understood the feeling of being shut out. And she knew she couldn't avoid talking about it for the rest of her life. She just needed time to digest the information.
In the end, she nodded seriously. "I won't run. I promise."
And then they went back into the familiar silence. Moments passed by until Celeste asked in concern, "You said many were injured. How are they doing now?"
"Byron was gravely injured amongst the whole pack. But his resilience is astounding. He's recovering rather swiftly. But he hasn't talked to anyone yet. Several other werewolves suffered severe wounds too, but their self-healing capabilities spared them from any danger of dying."
"And you? Are you all right? I think I heard your voice before I blacked out. Did you save me?" Her gaze fixed upon Jeremy.
"I'm fine." Then he paused at the memory. "But when I saw you unconscious on the ground, Celeste, I thought the world was going to end. You promised me you wouldn't put yourself in danger again," Jeremy said accusingly, shaking his head in frustration.
"I... I'm sorry," Celeste sighed. "But… But I couldn't flee at that moment. You know, I couldn't just stand there and let it all happen. Oh, right, is Alan okay?"
"He's safe. Don't worry. But he is very sorry about what he did," he grunted unhappily.
Was he mad at the boy? "You know it was not the boy's fault. The rogues are to blame."
"Yes, it's the rogues' fault. And they'll pay. Especially that the traitor and the Scarface." When he came to the last part, he clenched his fists, veins bulging under his skin.
"Yes, they'll pay." Celeste nodded.
They talked for a little while longer. Jeremy told Celeste about the current situation of the pack, including the fact that they were in the secret hideout. As the talk dragged on, Celeste could see the exhaustion in his eyes. Jeremy yawned from time to time, but he didn't mention going back to sleep.
Celeste knew there was only one bed in this room.
"Maybe you should go back to your own room and get some sleep," she suggested when Jeremy yawned again.
Jeremy stiffened when hearing her words. Then he muttered, "I don't have a room."
Celeste frowned. "Then where have you been sleeping these past few days?"
"I haven't been sleeping much," he replied.
It dawned on Celeste that he had been guarding her all this time without getting any rest himself. No wonder he had such dark circles under his eyes.
"I..." She swallowed, unsure of what to say next.
"Actually, they gave me a room, but I didn't really feel like going there. So I believe someone else took it." Jeremy scratched his head. "And your wolf needs me to heal you faster. Are you tired? You can go ahead and go to sleep. I'll leave once you're out."
Celeste shook her head and pursed her lips as she thought. After a moment, she said, "Why don't you just sleep here? This bed is big enough for both of us."