Jerome couldn't sleep that night. Cora's words echoed in her mind, leaving her restless and anxious. She tossed and turned in the bed, the blanket feeling too heavy, her thoughts weighing down even more. Could Ian really fall because of her? Was she the reason the pack was crumbling, the cause of the tension that rippled through the wolves?
The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Ian's obsession with her had grown over the past few weeks. His need to control her, to keep her close, was affecting everything—the pack's stability, his decisions as Alpha, and even his ability to focus on the threats looming over them. She knew she couldn't be the only one feeling the pressure, and now that Cora had confirmed it, the weight on her shoulders felt unbearable.
Eventually, Jerome gave up on sleep. She sat up in bed, running a hand through her hair. The room was dark, save for the pale moonlight filtering through the window. She could hear the faint rustle of the trees outside, the distant howls of wolves echoing through the forest. Somewhere out there, Ian was handling the pack, fighting to maintain control over his world.
She wanted to help him. She needed to do something, anything, to ease the tension between them and the pack. But what could she do? How could she, a human—or whatever she was now—possibly influence the fate of a powerful Alpha like Ian?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft sound, barely audible, but distinct enough to catch her attention. A faint tapping at the window.
Jerome froze, her heart skipping a beat. Slowly, she turned her head toward the window, her eyes scanning the glass. At first, she saw nothing—just the moonlit trees and the darkness beyond. But then, a shadow shifted in the corner of her vision, something moving just outside the window.
Her breath hitched. Someone—or something—was out there.
She hesitated, unsure whether to approach the window or stay still. Part of her knew she should call for Ian, but another part of her wanted to face whatever was lurking outside on her own. She was tired of feeling helpless, tired of being a bystander in Ian's world.
Gathering her courage, Jerome slipped out of bed and crept toward the window. Her bare feet barely made a sound on the cold floor as she approached. When she reached the glass, she held her breath, peering into the darkness.
At first, she saw nothing. The shadows of the trees swayed gently in the wind, casting eerie patterns on the ground below. But then, just as she was about to turn away, she saw it—a pair of glowing eyes, watching her from the edge of the forest.
Jerome's heart raced, her instincts screaming at her to back away. But something about the eyes held her in place. They were intense, piercing through the darkness, and as they locked onto hers, she felt a shiver run down her spine.
The figure stepped out from the shadows, revealing itself in the moonlight. It was a wolf—a large, dark wolf with fur that seemed to blend into the night. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural light, almost as if it was trying to communicate with her.
For a moment, Jerome stood frozen, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing. She had seen wolves before, of course, but there was something different about this one. It wasn't like the other wolves in Ian's pack. This one felt… off. Dangerous, even.
Suddenly, the wolf bared its teeth, letting out a low, guttural growl. The sound sent chills down Jerome's spine, and she took an involuntary step back. But before she could react further, the wolf turned and disappeared into the trees, melting back into the shadows as if it had never been there.
Jerome stood by the window for several moments, her heart pounding in her chest. What had just happened? Why had the wolf come to her window, and what did it want?
Her mind raced with possibilities, but one thought stood out above the rest: this was a warning. The shadows were closing in, just as Cora had said. Ian's enemies were watching, and now they were coming for her.
She needed to tell Ian, but something stopped her. Would he believe her? Or would he dismiss it as just another paranoid thought, another thing for him to control? Jerome wasn't sure. But she knew one thing for certain: whatever was coming, she needed to be ready.
She couldn't be the reason Ian fell. Not now. Not ever.
To be continued...