The house was quiet as the morning sun crept through the windows, casting soft golden light across the wooden floors. Jerome sat at the kitchen table, staring at the cup of tea in her hands, her thoughts heavy and scattered. Ian had left again, slipping out before dawn to patrol the pack's borders. He hadn't said much before leaving, just a quiet promise that he would return soon.
She wished she could shake the feeling of dread that had settled in her chest since last night's attack. The wolves had been growing bolder, and each encounter felt more dangerous than the last. Jerome had never felt so helpless before, caught in a world she barely understood, relying entirely on Ian's strength to keep her safe.
The door creaked open, and Jerome's heart skipped a beat as she looked up. It wasn't Ian who stepped through the door, but Mason, one of Ian's most trusted pack members. His expression was grim, his dark eyes locking onto hers as he approached.
"Jerome," Mason greeted her with a nod, his voice low.
"Mason," Jerome replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She had grown accustomed to the pack members coming and going, but Mason's presence always put her on edge. He was loyal to Ian, fiercely protective of his alpha, and Jerome could sense that he didn't fully trust her.
"Ian wanted me to check on you," Mason said, his gaze intense as he watched her. "Make sure everything is okay while he's out."
Jerome forced a small smile. "I'm fine. Just… a little shaken up from last night."
Mason's expression softened slightly, but the tension between them lingered. "It's only going to get worse, Jerome. The other packs aren't going to stop. Ian is too strong, too dominant. They want to take him down, and they'll use any weakness they can find."
Jerome's heart pounded at his words. "Do they really see me as a weakness?"
Mason hesitated for a moment before answering, his gaze hardening. "You're human, Jerome. To them, you're nothing but a vulnerability, a way to get to Ian. They'll keep coming for you until they succeed or until Ian kills them all."
Jerome's stomach churned at the thought. She didn't want to be a weakness, didn't want to be the reason Ian was constantly fighting for his life. But how could she stop being what she was? She was human, and no amount of strength or courage could change that.
"I didn't ask for this," Jerome said quietly, her voice trembling. "I didn't ask to be a part of this world."
Mason's eyes softened for a moment, a rare flicker of sympathy crossing his face. "I know. None of us did. But this is where you are now. You have to be strong, for Ian's sake."
Jerome nodded, but the weight of his words pressed down on her chest. She didn't feel strong. She felt lost, trapped in a world where danger lurked at every corner and Ian's enemies were always watching, waiting for a chance to strike.
"Mason," Jerome said hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you think Ian can really protect me? From all of them?"
Mason's expression darkened, and for a moment, he didn't answer. He looked away, his jaw clenched tightly as if he were wrestling with something unsaid.
"Ian's the strongest alpha I've ever known," Mason said finally, his voice low and serious. "He's fought off challenges before, and he'll do it again. But even the strongest can only fight for so long before the weight of it starts to wear them down."
Jerome's heart sank at his words. She had seen the toll the constant battles were taking on Ian—the exhaustion in his eyes, the tension in his body, the way he never seemed to truly relax anymore. How long could he keep this up? How long before his strength wasn't enough?
"What are you saying?" Jerome asked, her voice trembling.
Mason met her gaze, his expression grave. "I'm saying that Ian needs you to be strong too. He can't do this alone. If you want to survive, if you want to stay by his side, you need to be ready for what's coming."
Jerome swallowed hard, fear tightening her throat. "What's coming?"
Mason didn't answer immediately, but the look in his eyes said it all. More attacks. More challenges. More violence. The wolves wouldn't stop until they had taken everything from Ian—and that included her.
"Just stay close to Ian," Mason said after a long pause. "He'll protect you, no matter what."
Jerome nodded, but the fear gnawing at her insides wouldn't let go. She knew Ian would protect her—he had proven that time and time again. But at what cost? How many more battles would they have to fight before it was over?
Mason turned to leave, his footsteps heavy as he walked toward the door. But before he left, he paused, glancing back at her over his shoulder.
"You're stronger than you think, Jerome," Mason said quietly. "Don't forget that."
Jerome watched him leave, her mind swirling with a thousand questions and fears. She didn't feel strong. But if what Mason said was true, if Ian needed her to be strong to survive, then she had no choice but to try.
As the door closed behind Mason, Jerome sat back down at the table, her hands trembling. The wolves were coming, and she knew that sooner or later, she would have to face them.
To be continued...