Alpha? Jeremy was Alpha?!
Celeste turned to Jeremy. The words echoed in her mind as she stared at Jeremy, her eyes wide with shock. How could this be? How had she never known that Jeremy was an Alpha? She recognized the same disbelief and astonishment in Jeremy's eyes.
But… How could this be possible?
Their parents were both Beta, so the likelihood of him being an alpha was almost zero. And if Jeremy was an Alpha, why hadn't Byron identified and trained him earlier? It didn't make sense. Byron had always treated Jeremy like any other Betas in the pack.
Or was he? A thought crossed Celeste's mind. She remembered her mother mentioning that Byron had asked her to inform him the moment Jeremy turned into a wolf. Did Byron know all along? Did her parents know?
Celeste's gaze swept across the other wolves in the room, and she noticed that they, too, looked surprised when they absorbed the information.
However, there was more to their expressions than just surprise. She could see the admiration and an automatic hint of submission on their faces. She remembered that she had seen those looks on their faces before.
Jeremy had passed by the wolves, and once, she had noticed that the other wolves would instinctively lower their bodies and fix their gazes on him. But now, the awe was more obvious on the wolves' faces.
Before Jeremy turned into a wolf, Celeste didn't remember the wolf pack's reaction to him being like this. However, during the brief time they lived in this secret base before, she did feel the respect of the wolves around Jeremy.
At first, Celeste assumed it was because Jeremy had saved the pack from the rogues. She had heard from other wolves that Jeremy had taken down Scarface in one swift and decisive move. She thought that was why everyone instinctively looked up to him.
But now it seemed that there was more to it than that.
While werewolves had shed the wildness of their flesh and blood, the instinct to submit to a stronger leader still lingered in their hearts. They were subconsciously drawn to Jeremy's commanding presence and his sheer force as a natural Alpha.
Despite this, they still retained some of the foolishness of their human sides, and none of them had even realized that Jeremy was an Alpha.
Well… except for the wolf who recognized Jeremy's true status, Howard.
Celeste immediately recognized the wolf as Byron's former assistant. Her mind flashed back to the days when she had heard about Howard accompanying Byron in the fights against the hunters. Despite the risk and danger, Howard remained fiercely loyal to Byron, and Celeste couldn't help but admire his bravery.
However, the cost of those fights had taken a toll on Howard. Celeste's eyes were drawn to his empty left sleeve. She couldn't imagine the pain and trauma that Howard must have endured. It was also a stark reminder of the brutality of the hunters.
It had been a long time since Celeste had last seen Howard, and rumors had circulated that he and Byron had a falling out finally, but no one in the pack knew for certain what had happened. Howard had become something of a recluse and rarely attended the pack's monthly gatherings.
Yet here he was, unexpectedly in here and revealing information about Jeremy that Celeste hadn't even known. She was baffled and suspicious at the same time, wondering how Howard could possibly know something about that when he had never met Jeremy before. Did Byron tell him something?
Her mind raced with questions, her brow furrowing deeper as she scrutinized Howard's sleeve.
Howard shifted uncomfortably when he sensed her gaze on him, his body language betraying a sense of unease. The look on his face told Celeste that he had just realized that he just said something he shouldn't have.
For a brief moment, she considered pressing him for more information. But before she could say anything, Nancy's voice chirped in her ear.
"I knew you're more than a Beta, Jeremy! I just knew it!" Nancy's voice was full of surprise, but then it was quickly replaced with a hint of complaint. "Why didn't you tell me?!" she pouted.
"Because, clearly, I didn't even know myself," Jeremy shrugged.
Upon hearing his response, Nancy lightly pushed her fist against Jeremy's shoulder, making a muffled thud that was barely audible.
Since when did the two of them become BFFs all of a sudden? Celeste almost rolled her eyes, feeling her wolf wanting to jump out and make Nancy keep her distance.
"Great!" The grin on Nancy's face grew wider. "Now that we know Jeremy is an Alpha, our chances of defeating the hunters are even higher!" Without waiting for Jeremy's response, Nancy joyfully proclaimed.
As the confirmation of Jeremy's Alpha status sank in, the wolves in the room stirred with excitement. Some lifted their heads and barked, while others growled in approval.
Celeste could feel their energy pulsating through the room, invigorating the pack's once-deflated spirit. The previous tension caused by the hunters' presence and the lack of leadership dissipated as the pack saw a glimmer of hope.
Although Celeste didn't particularly like Nancy, she couldn't help but appreciate the effect of her words. The oppressive atmosphere in the room lifted a little.
After the pack had settled down a bit, Nancy nudged Jeremy with her elbow and raised her eyebrows at him. "So, Alpha, what should we do?"
Jeremy's brow furrowed, and he took a deep breath. His eyes scanned the pack, taking in each member's capabilities and readiness for any move. His gaze lingered on the kids, who looked up at him with wide eyes, waiting for his decision.
Jeremy seemed to be considering their options. The pack had lived peacefully for so long that the idea of a battle against the hunters seemed daunting. He turned his attention to the stronger, more battle-ready wolves, but even they were few in number.
The previous attack by the rogues had made them slightly more vigilant, but ultimately, they were not an army. Even with their sharp teeth and claws, they might not be able to defeat the heavily armed hunters.
As he clenched his fist, Celeste knew that Jeremy had made up his mind. His body tensed, and she could feel his wolf's energy surging through him.