Jerome paced back and forth in the cabin, her mind racing with worry. Ian and Kael had left with the others to investigate the strange happenings near the eastern border, and now all she could do was wait. The stillness of the forest outside seemed unnaturally quiet, the absence of sound only heightening her anxiety. Something dangerous was out there—something that had killed one of Leon's scouts—and whatever it was, it was coming closer.
She glanced out the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the pack returning, but the clearing remained empty. Her thoughts kept returning to the dead scout. If something could kill one of Leon's men so violently, what chance did the pack have? And more importantly, what did this new threat want?
A soft creak behind her made Jerome whirl around, her heart leaping into her throat. For a split second, she thought Ian had returned. But the cabin was empty, and the door was still shut tight. She frowned, taking a few cautious steps toward the sound.
Then she heard it again—a soft rustling, like something moving just outside the window. Jerome's breath caught in her throat, and her eyes darted to the door. Was Ian back already? Or had something else found its way to her cabin?
Before she could react, a figure appeared outside the window. It wasn't Ian, and it certainly wasn't Kael. The figure was tall and lean, with sharp, predatory eyes that gleamed in the dim light. Jerome's blood ran cold as she recognized the red-haired woman from the night before.
She moved quickly, slipping out of the shadows like a ghost, her movements eerily fluid and silent. Jerome backed away from the window, her pulse quickening. What was she doing here? And how had she gotten so close without anyone noticing?
The woman's lips curled into a smile, her eyes locking onto Jerome's. There was something unsettling about her, something that sent a chill down Jerome's spine. She could feel the woman's power, radiating from her like a dark aura. This was no ordinary wolf.
"You didn't think I'd let you off that easily, did you?" the woman said, her voice smooth and mocking. "Ian may have his little army, but they won't protect you forever."
Jerome's heart pounded in her chest as she edged toward the door. "What do you want?" she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady.
The red-haired woman laughed softly, the sound like nails on a chalkboard. "What do I want? Oh, Jerome, it's not about what I want. It's about what I'm owed. And Ian owes me far more than he can repay."
Jerome's mind raced. What was she talking about? Ian had never mentioned anything about this woman before, but clearly, there was history between them. "Ian doesn't owe you anything," Jerome said firmly, though fear gnawed at her insides.
The woman's smile widened, her eyes flashing with malice. "You really don't know, do you? Poor little Jerome, caught in the middle of something far bigger than she realizes."
Before Jerome could respond, the door to the cabin burst open, and Ian stormed in, his eyes blazing with fury. His gaze immediately locked onto the red-haired woman, and his entire body tensed like a coiled spring, ready to strike.
"Get away from her," Ian growled, his voice low and dangerous.
The woman didn't move, her smile never faltering. "Always so protective, Ian," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "But you can't protect her forever. Sooner or later, she'll find out what you've been hiding. And when she does, she'll leave you."
Ian's eyes darkened with anger, his fists clenching at his sides. "I won't let you hurt her."
"Hurt her?" the woman repeated, her voice softening as she took a step closer to the door. "Oh, I don't need to hurt her. You'll do that all on your own."
Jerome's stomach twisted at the woman's words. What was she implying? What had Ian been hiding from her? She glanced at him, but his face was a mask of fury and control, his gaze locked onto the intruder.
The woman finally turned her gaze back to Jerome, her eyes cold and calculating. "He hasn't told you, has he? About the curse? About what happens when you stay with him too long?"
Jerome's blood ran cold. "What curse?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
But the woman didn't answer. She simply smiled one last time, her eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction, before turning and vanishing into the shadows as quickly as she had appeared. The silence she left behind was deafening, the weight of her words hanging in the air.
Jerome turned to Ian, her mind reeling. "What is she talking about? What curse?"
Ian's face was tight with tension, and for the first time since she'd known him, he looked… afraid. "It's nothing," he said quickly, too quickly. "She's just trying to get inside your head."
Jerome wasn't convinced. The woman's words had struck a chord, and Ian's reaction told her there was more to the story than he was letting on. "Ian, tell me the truth. What aren't you telling me?"
Ian's gaze dropped to the floor, his jaw tightening. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, finally, he spoke, his voice low and filled with regret. "There are things I haven't told you, Jerome. Things I was trying to protect you from. But now… now I think it's time you knew the truth."
Jerome's heart pounded in her chest as she waited for him to continue, dread pooling in her stomach. Whatever Ian was about to say, she knew it would change everything.
To be continued...