Jeremy stormed back into the base, his fists clenched with anger. Everyone was surprised by the look on his face.
Jeremy wasted no time and strode straight towards Byron's room, his footsteps echoing down the hallway. He rapped on the door, making the wood rattle on its hinges.
Byron jolted out of his chair in surprise. "What's going on, Jeremy?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
"Celeste's gone. She left without a word," Jeremy seethed, his face contorting with anger and frustration.
Byron's eyes widened. "What do you mean she left? I saw her just last night," he said, trying to make sense of the situation.
Jeremy's breaths came in short, ragged gasps. "Did she say anything to you? Did she tell you where she was going?"
Byron shook his head, his brow furrowed in confusion. "No, she didn't mention anything about leaving. But she seemed troubled like something was bothering her," he said, trying to recall their conversation from the previous night.
"What did you talk about before she left?" Jeremy's jaw tightened while his eyes locked onto Byron's.
Byron scratched his head. "Err… Something about being an Alpha?"
"What do you mean something about being an Alpha?"
"We were just talking about what a pack without Luna would be. And suddenly she turned around and left..."
"Fuck..." Jeremy muttered under his breath, his mind reeling with realization. Now he knew what the last straw had been. He also understood why Celeste wrote that letter. She was left with no choice.
Without Luna, the Alpha would always be powerless, and the pack would never be strong. Celeste cared deeply about the pack. She would never bear to see them suffer because of her. She would blame herself for everything. So she left.
"What does any of this have to do with Celeste leaving? Jeremy?" Byron's voice was tense with impatience as he looked at the young wolf. "Answer me. What's going on? Where did she go?"
Jeremy's response was sharp and sudden, "She went off with that damn rogue!"
"Kent?" Byron was stunned into silence. He stood there with his eyes wide, finding it hard to believe what he was hearing. After a few moments, he finally found his voice to ask, "Why?"
But Jeremy remained silent, his gaze fixed on the ground. Byron's suspicion grew with each passing second. "Did you hurt her?"
"No!" The word came out of Jeremy's mouth in a rush, but he doubted it the moment it went out. He shifted his weight from foot to foot. His eyes darted around the room. Did he not hurt her? Jeremy thought about the kiss that almost happened to them and couldn't shake the feeling that he might have hurt her in some way.
The memory flashed through Jeremy's mind. He remembered the shock and horror on Celeste's face when they had been dragged out of their little bubble by Nancy's voice at the door. He saw the way she had struggled to break free of his embrace, her face pale with the same terror. And he remembered how he had stood there because of that look on her face. He was frozen in place, unable to move or speak, as Celeste had run out of the room.
The memory brought a wave of self-recrimination crashing down on him. Had he hurt Celeste? If he had, he would apologize a thousand, a million times, as long as Celeste would forgive him and come back to him.
He looked at Byron with a haunted expression. "Byron, I need to find her," he said urgently. "She went off with that bastard, and I need to know where they are. I have to bring her back."
Byron hesitated at first, but when he met Jeremy's eyes, he swallowed any other questions he was going to raise and nodded. "Okay. Let's bring her back first."
Jeremy didn't know if Byron could have noticed his feelings for Celeste, he didn't care anymore. All that mattered was bringing Celeste back home.
Byron shared Rogues' location with Jeremy, but that information was from many days ago. Jeremy turned to leave, eager to set out immediately.
But before he could, Byron grabbed his arm and spoke in a concerned voice, "Hold on, Jeremy. You can't go alone. You'll be outnumbered, and they're a pack of vicious wolves. You need a team. I'll go with you. Besides, you look awful. Take some time to rest and prepare yourself."
Jeremy hesitated for a second, his eyes scanning Byron's beaten and battered body. Byron's complexion was still quite pale. The pack would need a leader to maintain order while he was away. Byron should stay here.
Jeremy made up his mind. He shook his head and said, "I can't wait. I'll find someone else to come with me. You stay here and manage the pack. You're still our Alpha, and I trust you to keep everything in line."
Byron's frown deepened, and he protested, "But I'm not fit to be an Alpha anymore… "
Jeremy looked at him incredulously, "What are you talking about? You're the best Alpha we could ask for. You're reliable and strong. I'm just a kid in comparison. You're our Alpha. Not me! And..."
Jeremy cut himself off. He knew that Byron thought he could have a Luna, but Jeremy just wanted to laugh at Byron's ignorance.
He would be the Alpha of either his Luna or his wolf pack. He couldn't be both. And he had already made his choice in his heart. He never even hesitated. He would never abandon his mate, no matter what.
Byron pressed on, his expression turning anxious, "And what? Tell me."
Jeremy shook his head. "It doesn't matter. I have to go."
He could see the doubt in Byron's eyes. But without waiting for him to ask, Jeremy turned and left the room, eager to set out even if it meant facing the rogues alone.