The tension in the air was almost suffocating as Ian pulled Jerome into his arms. She clung to him, her heart still racing from her encounter with Aiden. His touch was grounding, but Jerome couldn't shake the fear gnawing at her insides. Aiden wasn't just a threat—he was a storm waiting to unleash itself.
"We need to be careful," Ian murmured into her hair. "Aiden's not going to let this go. He'll keep coming until he gets what he wants."
Jerome pulled back slightly, her eyes searching Ian's face. "But what exactly does he want? Is it me, or is it more than that?"
Ian's jaw tightened, his eyes darkening with a mix of frustration and anger. "Both. He's obsessed with power, but his fixation on you makes it personal. He wants control—over the pack, over you. And he'll stop at nothing to get it."
Jerome swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling in her chest. She had known from the beginning that Aiden was dangerous, but now the stakes felt higher than ever. Every move they made had to be calculated, every decision could mean life or death.
"We have to stop him," Jerome said quietly, her resolve hardening. "I can't live in fear like this."
Ian nodded, his hand gently cupping her face. "We will stop him. But it won't be easy. Aiden is cunning, and he has followers—wolves who still believe in his leadership, who would die for him."
Jerome's stomach twisted at the thought. The pack had seemed so united after she stood up to Aiden, but Ian was right. Not everyone would turn their back on him so easily. There were loyalties within the pack that ran deep, and Aiden would exploit every one of them.
"There has to be a way to break his hold on them," Jerome said, thinking aloud. "If we can turn his followers against him, he'll be weaker."
Ian's expression shifted slightly, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "You're right. Aiden thrives on fear and loyalty. If we can show the pack that he's not as invincible as he seems, we might be able to turn the tide."
But how? Jerome wondered. Aiden had a way of manipulating people, of making them believe in him despite his cruelty. It wouldn't be easy to convince his followers that he was a danger to them all.
Before she could voice her concerns, Ian spoke again. "There's one wolf in particular we need to watch—Marcus. He's Aiden's right hand, fiercely loyal. If we can get to him, convince him that Aiden is losing control, the rest of the pack might follow."
Jerome frowned, her mind racing. "Do you think Marcus would turn on Aiden?"
Ian's gaze was steady, but there was a flicker of doubt. "I don't know. Marcus has always been loyal to power, and right now, Aiden still holds a lot of it. But if we can show him that Aiden's leadership is crumbling, that staying with him means danger for the pack, it could make him reconsider."
Jerome took a deep breath, the enormity of their task sinking in. Convincing Marcus—and by extension, the rest of Aiden's loyalists—would be no small feat. But it was their best chance at weakening Aiden's grip.
"I'll talk to Marcus," Jerome said finally, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her. "I'll try to make him see reason."
Ian's eyes flashed with concern. "Are you sure? Marcus is dangerous. If he thinks you're trying to turn him against Aiden, he could lash out."
Jerome shook her head. "I have to do this, Ian. Aiden won't stop unless we break his control, and Marcus is the key. I'll be careful, but we don't have a choice. We need allies."
Ian's grip on her tightened slightly, his protectiveness evident. "Alright. But I'll be close by. If anything happens, if Marcus so much as looks at you the wrong way, I'll be there."
Jerome nodded, grateful for his support. But as she thought about what lay ahead, a knot of anxiety twisted in her stomach. Marcus wasn't like the other wolves in the pack. He was as ruthless as Aiden, and getting through to him would be a dangerous gamble.
Still, she knew it had to be done. If they didn't act now, Aiden's hold on the pack would only grow stronger. And she refused to let that happen.
As Ian led her back into the cabin, the weight of their plan pressed down on her shoulders. Tomorrow, she would confront Marcus. Tomorrow, the game would change—one way or another.
But for tonight, all she could do was prepare for the battle to come.
To be continued...