The next morning, Jerome woke with a lingering sense of unease. The events of the night before played on her mind—Cora's warning, the mysterious wolf outside her window. It all felt like a dark omen, and she wasn't sure how to navigate the storm that was building around her.
Ian had returned late, well after midnight. She hadn't said anything to him about the wolf, choosing to keep it to herself for now. He was already burdened enough with pack politics and challenges to his authority; adding more fuel to the fire might only make things worse.
But as Jerome dressed and made her way downstairs, she knew she couldn't ignore what was happening. Ian's obsession with her was growing, and so was the unrest within the pack. It was only a matter of time before everything reached a breaking point.
She found Ian in the kitchen, his back turned to her as he poured a cup of coffee. His tall frame was tense, his muscles rigid beneath the black T-shirt he wore. Even from across the room, she could feel the weight of his energy—a blend of authority, power, and something darker.
"Morning," Jerome said quietly, stepping into the room.
Ian turned, his piercing blue eyes softening slightly when they landed on her. He walked toward her, placing the coffee cup on the counter before cupping her face in his hands. His touch was gentle, but there was an intensity in his gaze that made Jerome's heart skip a beat.
"Morning," he replied, his voice low and husky. "Did you sleep well?"
Jerome hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "As well as I could."
Ian's eyes narrowed slightly, as if he could sense that something was off. "You're troubled," he said, his voice dropping an octave. "Tell me what's on your mind."
Jerome bit her lip, unsure of how to bring up the wolf from the previous night. She knew Ian would want to investigate it immediately, but the last thing she wanted was for him to spiral further into his protective, possessive ways.
"It's nothing," she said finally, trying to keep her tone light. "Just… thinking about everything."
Ian's grip on her face tightened slightly—not enough to hurt, but enough to show his frustration. "You're lying."
Her breath hitched at the intensity in his eyes. There was no hiding anything from Ian. He saw through every facade, every attempt to shield him from the truth.
"I saw something last night," Jerome admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "There was a wolf outside. I don't think it was one of ours."
Ian's expression darkened immediately, his jaw clenching. "A wolf? What did it look like?"
"It was dark, almost black. Its eyes… they were glowing." Jerome shivered at the memory, feeling the same chill run down her spine as it had the night before. "It was watching me. And then it just disappeared into the trees."
Ian pulled away from her, his fists clenching at his sides. "Why didn't you tell me this last night?" His voice was sharp, laced with anger.
Jerome flinched, taking a step back. "I didn't want to worry you. You already had enough on your plate."
Ian's eyes flashed with something dangerous, a mix of fury and frustration. "Jerome, you're my mate. Anything that threatens you threatens me. You should've told me immediately."
Jerome's heart pounded in her chest. She hated when Ian got like this—when his protective instincts turned into something darker, something that bordered on suffocating. But she understood his fear, too. She was at the center of his world, and any threat to her was a threat to his very existence.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly, her voice trembling slightly. "I didn't mean to upset you."
Ian's expression softened, but the tension in his body remained. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against his chest. Jerome melted into his embrace, but she couldn't ignore the feeling of being trapped—caught between Ian's fierce love and the growing danger around them.
"I can't lose you," Ian whispered into her hair, his voice thick with emotion. "You're everything to me."
Jerome closed her eyes, letting the warmth of his body envelop her. She knew Ian meant every word, but that was exactly what scared her. His love, his obsession, was consuming them both. And the more he tried to protect her, the more she felt the walls closing in.
As they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, Jerome couldn't shake the feeling that something dark was lurking just beyond the edge of their world—waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
And when it did, she wasn't sure if Ian's love would be enough to save them.
To be continued...