As they left the pack's gathering, the tension between Ian and Jerome was palpable. Ian's grip on her hand remained tight, and while it was meant to be reassuring, it also reminded Jerome of the possessive side of Ian that was becoming harder to ignore.
They walked in silence back to their quarters. Jerome could feel the weight of the pack's judgment still lingering in the air, like a thick fog that refused to clear. Her mind raced with thoughts of the meeting and the way the elders had questioned Ian's leadership because of her.
Once inside their room, Ian closed the door behind them, his movements sharp and tense. He hadn't spoken a word since the meeting ended, and Jerome could feel his anger simmering beneath the surface. She watched him as he stood by the door, his back to her, his shoulders rigid.
"Ian," she began softly, stepping closer to him. "You don't have to carry all of this alone."
He didn't turn around, but she could see the tension in his body. His hands were clenched into fists, and his jaw was tight.
"I'm their Alpha, Jerome," he finally said, his voice low and strained. "It's my responsibility to protect them, to lead them. They don't trust me because of you."
Jerome flinched at his words, feeling a sting of guilt. "I know," she whispered, wrapping her arms around herself. "But I'm not trying to make things harder for you. I want to help—"
"They see you as a threat," Ian interrupted, turning to face her. His eyes were dark with frustration and something else, something more primal. "They think I've grown weak because of you."
Jerome took a step back, her heart pounding. "Do you think I'm a weakness?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. She needed to hear his answer, even though part of her was afraid of what it might be.
Ian's expression softened for a moment, his eyes flickering with a hint of vulnerability. He stepped toward her, closing the distance between them in an instant. "No," he said firmly, his hand reaching up to cup her face. "You're not a weakness. You're the only thing keeping me grounded."
Jerome exhaled, relief flooding her chest, but it was short-lived. Ian's grip on her face tightened slightly, and his next words were laced with a darker emotion.
"But they don't understand that," he continued. "To them, you're just an outsider—someone who could ruin everything I've built."
"I don't want to ruin anything," Jerome whispered, her eyes searching his. "I just want to be with you."
Ian's gaze burned into hers, and the intensity of his emotions was almost overwhelming. "You are with me," he said, his voice a growl. "And you're not leaving."
The possessiveness in his tone sent a shiver down Jerome's spine. She knew that Ian cared for her, that he loved her in his own way, but his love came with a price. It was a love that consumed, that demanded everything from her.
"Ian, you can't just... hold me like this forever," Jerome said quietly, her voice steady but soft. "The pack will never accept me if you treat me like I'm something to hide."
Ian's eyes darkened, and for a moment, she thought he might lash out. But instead, he sighed, releasing his grip on her face and stepping back. His hands fell to his sides, and he looked away, his frustration evident.
"I don't care what they think," he muttered, but Jerome could tell that wasn't entirely true. The pack's mistrust weighed on him, even if he refused to admit it.
Jerome stepped closer, her hand resting gently on his arm. "You need their trust, Ian. And so do I."
For a long moment, he didn't respond. The silence stretched between them, heavy and uncomfortable. Finally, Ian nodded, though his expression remained hard.
"I'll deal with the pack," he said, his voice cold and distant. "But you need to be careful, Jerome. Not everyone will welcome you with open arms."
Jerome swallowed, nodding in understanding. She knew that the road ahead would be difficult, that the pack's acceptance wouldn't come easily. But she wasn't going to back down. She had chosen to be with Ian, and she wasn't going to let the pack's suspicions tear them apart.
"I'll be careful," she promised, her voice soft but determined. "But you have to trust me, Ian."
Ian's gaze softened slightly, and he reached out to take her hand once more. "I trust you," he said quietly, his voice rough with emotion. "It's everyone else I don't trust."
Jerome squeezed his hand, offering him a small, reassuring smile. She knew that Ian's protectiveness came from a place of love, even if it sometimes felt suffocating. Together, they would face whatever challenges came their way, even if it meant standing against the very pack that Ian had sworn to protect.
But as Jerome looked into Ian's eyes, she couldn't shake the feeling that something darker was lurking beneath the surface, waiting to be unleashed.
To be continued...