Later that day, the tension between Ian and Jerome lingered, thick and unspoken. Despite Ian's assurances and his comforting embrace, Jerome couldn't shake the feeling that something more sinister was at play. The wolf she had seen outside wasn't just an ordinary threat—it was a warning, and she feared it was only the beginning.
Ian had gone out early to patrol the perimeter of the pack's territory, leaving Jerome alone in the large, intimidating house that had become her prison. She had tried to focus on small tasks, keeping her mind occupied, but every sound, every shadow from the forest outside made her heart race with fear.
She stepped outside, needing air and space to clear her mind. The sky above was overcast, casting a grey shadow over the forest, making everything look even more foreboding. As Jerome walked along the edge of the tree line, she couldn't help but glance into the woods, half-expecting to see those glowing eyes again, watching her from the shadows.
The wind rustled the leaves, the branches swayed gently, but something felt off. There was a stillness to the forest today that made her skin crawl. No birds, no distant howls—just silence, heavy and oppressive.
Jerome's thoughts drifted to Ian. He had changed since she first met him, becoming more possessive, more controlling with each passing day. She knew he loved her, that much was undeniable, but his love was suffocating. It consumed him, and by extension, it was consuming her too. The more he tried to protect her, the more she felt like a prisoner in his world.
Suddenly, a twig snapped behind her.
Jerome spun around, her heart leaping into her throat. For a brief moment, she saw nothing—just trees and the soft sway of the branches. But then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement. A figure was standing just inside the tree line, hidden among the shadows.
It was the wolf.
The same one from the night before—its dark fur blending with the shadows, its glowing eyes locked on her with an unsettling intensity.
Jerome's heart raced, but she forced herself to stand her ground, refusing to be intimidated by the creature. She wasn't sure what it wanted or why it had come, but running wasn't an option. Not anymore.
The wolf stepped forward, its massive form emerging from the trees, but it didn't attack. Instead, it stood there, staring at her, as if it were waiting for something. The air between them was thick with tension, and Jerome's mind raced with questions. Why was it watching her? What did it want?
Before she could react, the wolf let out a low growl, its eyes narrowing as if in warning. Jerome took an involuntary step back, her heart pounding in her chest. She could feel the power radiating off the creature, the raw, primal energy that seemed to fill the air around it.
And then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the wolf turned and disappeared back into the forest, its dark form vanishing into the shadows once again.
Jerome stood there, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. The encounter had lasted only moments, but it felt like an eternity. She couldn't shake the feeling that the wolf was trying to tell her something, something she didn't yet understand.
Her mind raced with thoughts of Ian. Was he in danger? Was this wolf a warning of something more to come? The uncertainty gnawed at her, and she felt a growing sense of dread settling in her chest.
Without thinking, Jerome turned and headed back toward the house. She needed to find Ian, to tell him what had happened. But as she walked, a new thought crept into her mind—a terrifying realization she couldn't ignore.
The wolf wasn't just watching her. It was following her.
To be continued...