Ramen's place was situated deep in the woods, far from any urbanization.
The dense trees and bushes surrounding the house gave it an almost secluded feel, and the absence of any nearby neighbors added to its privacy. The only sounds were the rustling of leaves and the chirping of birds, creating a peaceful façade of the area.
The small house looked unremarkable from the outside, almost blending into the surrounding wilderness. Its wooden walls were weathered and worn, giving it a rustic feel. A small porch with a couple of chairs and a table overlooked the forest, and a few potted plants were scattered around.
Jeremy had parked his car on the side of a road leading to the house. They had walked the remaining distance to the small cabin, avoiding leaving any tracks or trails that could alert the hunter.
Peering through the window, they could see that the house appeared empty. The room was sparsely furnished with a few pieces of basic furniture, such as a table, chairs, and a couch. A small kitchenette was located on one side of the room, and a door led to a back room.
They looked at each other and Jeremy nodded. Celeste followed him towards the door.
Perhaps being mates had another advantage, as their understanding of each other seemed to have been enhanced. They could convey what they wanted to say without language, even without any physical gestures or eye contact.
Just like now, Jeremy's skillful hands worked quickly and silently, expertly picking the lock on the front door. Celeste stood next to him, scanning the surrounding area for any signs of danger.
She glanced back at him. Her curiosity was piqued, and she couldn't help but ask, "How did you learn to pick locks?"
Jeremy shrugged nonchalantly, "You know me, I was a curious kid. I wanted to see how things worked, and picking locks seemed like a useful skill to have."
Celeste shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. That made sense. "I was starting to think you were a little thief in a past life."
Jeremy let out a small chuckle. "Maybe I was. Who knows?"
A faint click sounded in the air, and she knew the door was unlocked.
Jeremy carefully nudged the door open, letting it slide silently on its hinges. With a practiced ease, he peered through the crack to survey the room beyond.
Although they had already glimpsed through the window that the place appeared empty, Jeremy still scanned the interior with a keen eye, searching for any possible dangers.
After a moment of scrutiny, he was satisfied that the room was clear and gestured for Celeste to follow.
The room was dim, but their sharp werewolf sights allowed them to see everything clearly. A thin layer of dust had settled over every surface, undisturbed by any recent activity. The air was thick with the stale odor of disuse as if the place had been abandoned for a long time.
Celeste furrowed her brows, feeling a sense of unease creeping up within her. She couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. Where was Raymond? Had he really left town or was he hiding somewhere in the cabin?
She pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand.
Walking towards the wall, she was hit with an unexpected wave of scents that were at first foreign to her. The air was heavy with the musty smell of disuse, but beneath that, there was an underlying scent that made her nostrils flare. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but it grew familiar to her, and it filled her with a sense of apprehension.
As she moved closer to the wall, the scent grew stronger and more defined. It was enough to send shivers down her spine.
Suddenly, the memory flooded back to her, vivid and overwhelming. She felt a sharp pain in her shoulder, the memory of the wolf's claw piercing through her flesh as clear as if it was happening all over again. Her face paled at the sudden rush of emotions, and she struggled to regain her composure.
Jeremy noticed the change in Celeste. Or he sensed her accelerated heartbeat.
Frowning, he instinctively moved towards her, but as he opened his mouth to ask what was wrong, he froze in his tracks. Celeste knew that he, too, had caught a whiff of the familiar stink that filled the air.
As the scent reached his nostrils, Jeremy's expression shifted from concern to anger, and a glint of menace flickered in his eyes. "He's here," he gritted the words out of his teeth.
Celeste shuddered and absentmindedly rubbed her shoulder, where she still felt the phantom sting of the werewolf's claws.
"He will pay for this," Jeremy said, noticing her gesture. His eyes darkened.
Celeste nodded slightly and looked away.
They both knew the source of the scent all too well.
Celeste knew she would never forget that scent. She couldn't shake the memory of the werewolf's grotesque scarred face. She couldn't shake off the feeling of the wolf clawing into her shoulder. Even in his lupine form, the scar on his face was still visible and just as menacing.
But where was he hiding? The stink seemed to be emanating from behind the solid wall in front of them. Celeste was surprised that Raymond's house had a hidden space like this. Was this seemingly peaceful town not as idyllic as it appeared?
They strained their ears to listen for any sounds from beyond the wall, but all they could hear was stillness. But the overwhelming scent of the rogue grew stronger the closer they got to the wall.
After a brief search, they discovered a hidden switch in the corner. As they activated it, the wall slowly began to shift, revealing a narrow staircase leading down into the basement.
Now that the hidden space was exposed, the stench grew more pungent, assaulting their senses and making Celeste feel nauseous. Yet she soldiered on, determined to see this through.
The basement was shrouded in darkness, but they pressed on, their eyes adjusting to the lack of light. Jeremy led the way, with Celeste following closely behind, as they descended deeper into the unknown.