Page 3

Chapter Two

Jerome

“THERE’S NOT much time left before sunrise,” Jerome continued. “Secure your homes as best you can for now, and anyone who needs medical attention beyond what shifting can handle, see our pack medic. Try to grab a couple hours of sleep, then we’ll gather again later this morning and go from there.”

Several of the betas who had shifted back patted Jerome on the shoulder as they returned to guard duty. He also knew the unranked males in the pack would try to help where they could while the enforcers kept an eye on things.

Once everyone had left, Jerome turned to Henry. “Call the Council of Wolves now. We absolutely do not want to wait on that.”

“Shit.” Henry hurried to where Jerome stood. “Why? Have you seen something?”

This was the reason omegas were so highly prized—each one possessed a unique gift. His was foresight, the ability to anticipate and predict future events or needs.

Which sounded great and all, but it was also a major pain in the ass. His ability came with its own set of challenges because choice could change the future.

Or even better? Sometimes, he’d only get a fragmented vision, like the one he had right before the attack occurred. His gift had brought him both admiration and envy from others, which was just ridiculous.

If he could dig the ability out of his brain, he’d hand it over to whoever the hell wanted it. Because falling into a vision with no warning at any moment was such fun, not to mention he looked like a freak when it happened.

According to what he’d been told, his eyes would turn white, and they freaking glowed during a vision.

In addition, he had no awareness of his surroundings whatsoever, which made him easy prey for any potential attacks. As someone once put it, “the lights were on, but nobody was home.” This accurately described his state during these episodes.

“Jerome, what did you see?” Henry asked urgently.

Jerome shook his head slowly, trying to piece together the flashes of images that had skittered through his mind. “Not much that makes sense right now,” he admitted. “But it’s enough to be concerned. There was a challenger, but there were also several dead wolves in our stone ring.”

“Wait. Our stone ring? As in, where we hold challenges?”

“Yes. And as you well know, a challenge is between only the two alphas in the ring. I saw three dead wolves and one survivor. I think a rogue showed up here, took over, and then another alpha challenged the rogue.”

“Was the survivor the rogue?”

Jerome opened his mouth, then closed it. The survivor was a lot of things—deadly and dangerous—but Jerome couldn’t see himself willingly kissing someone who was not a good wolf. “I’m unsure, but I don’t think so.”

And no matter how he searched his memory, he’d forgotten the alpha’s name too, dammit.

“Shit.” Henry swore under his breath, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. “I’ll call the council immediately, then. Last thing we fucking need is a rogue to show up and take over our pack.”

“I agree.” Jerome did not want to be under the rule of a bad alpha. All of the pack would suffer, but he might bear the brunt of it, since he was an omega.

With Li Li gone, and no other clear alpha to step forward yet, it fell to Henry—and to Jerome also since he was the alpha mate—to guide the pack through these dark times.

He was certainly no leader, any more than Henry was, but the packed loved and trusted him. They’d listen to him because they knew he had their best interest at heart.

It wasn’t a role he’d ever wanted or expected to play, especially as an omega whose key role should’ve been one of peace and caretaking within the pack structure. Yet here he was, stepping into the breach.

But it wasn’t a role he could maintain for long.

As Henry hurried off to make the necessary calls, Jerome offered a prayer to the wolf god that the alpha he saw in his vision was a good wolf, because he certainly made Jerome burn with need.

He also sent up another prayer that he could project calm and confidence to the pack members, even if he felt anything but. He’d done all he could, and now all he wanted was to lie down.

Slowly, he walked to master bedroom, but he paused when he reached the door. He and Li Li’d shared that room for over five decades, and he wasn’t sure if he could bear being in it now.

Although he may not have loved her, she certainly hadn’t deserved to have her life taken the way it had been. This thought alone filled him with rage because she had been a kind and capable leader.

Turning away from the door, he headed toward an empty guest room instead. He needed what few hours of sleep he could get. The room was cold and uninhabited, a stark contrast to the warmth and familiarity of the room he’d shared with Li Li.

The bed was neatly made, the covers tight and unwrinkled, as if waiting for a visitor who never arrived. Well, one had arrived now. Jerome sighed as he sat on the edge of the mattress, his body heavy with fatigue and his mind swirling with fragmented visions and unanswered questions.

As he lay back, closing his eyes in an attempt to shut out the world, images from his vision replayed in his mind. The stone ring. The bodies. The tension in the air had been so thick, it was almost palpable even in his foresight.

His chest tightened with unease, knowing that something ominous loomed over their pack, threatening to shatter the precarious peace they had managed to maintain.

Jerome’s thoughts wandered to the mysterious survivor of the vision. The unexpected stir of emotions at the memory of those intense moments was disconcerting.

Intrigue mixed with dread as he recalled the figure’s formidable presence—a stark reminder that this wolf could either be their ruin or salvation.

Unable to sleep despite his exhaustion, Jerome rose and moved toward the window. The moon hung low in the sky, its light casting long shadows across the ground.

He watched as a few late-night patrol members moved silently around the perimeter. Their dedication reminded him of what was at stake—family, friends, and the future of their pack.

Suddenly, a sharp noise snapped Jerome out of his reverie. His heart raced as he tried to identify if it was merely a small animal or something more sinister lurking nearby. With Li Li gone, every shadow seemed darker, every noise a potential threat.

A natural wolf darted across the yard and kept going. Jerome watched it disappear into the underbrush, almost wishing he could follow it. He turned from the window, running his hands through his hair. Tired. He was so tired.

Tears threatened to spill over as he collapsed onto the bed without bothering to remove his clothes. Exhaustion pulled at his limbs; his mind, however, raced uncontrollably.

The fragmented images from his vision replayed in his skull like a broken record: flashes of fur and fang, the smell of blood mingling with earth, that inexplicable feeling of dread.

And then there was the alpha—strong and commanding. Even in his unclear memory, Jerome could feel the pull of his presence. He needed more information. If only he could control his ability better, direct it somehow to get clearer insights rather than these frustrating snippets.

Sleep proved elusive as worry gnawed at him. After tossing and turning for what felt like hours, Jerome finally drifted off.

AROUND NOON Jerome woke. His sleep had been restless, dreams flickering at the edge of his consciousness, filled with shadows and smoke.

He rubbed his face tiredly as he sat up, the weight of grief and his gift pressing down on him. The room was quiet, the only sound being the birds outside his window. It was a reminder that life continued on, regardless of the turmoil in the pack.

Standing, he stretched, his muscles stiff from tension and too little movement. Before he could lose his nerve, he walked over to the window and pulled back the curtain, peering out into the woods that bordered their land.

The beauty of nature surrounded them, but all he saw was death out there.

A soft knock at the door drew him away from his thoughts. “Come in,” he called, steeling himself for whatever news awaited him.

It was Henry, looking equally weary but determined. “I called the council and informed them of what happened. They’re gathering names and will send me a list as soon as each perspective alpha expresses an interest.”

“Good.”

“Apparently, we’re not the only wolf pack hit last night, but we’re the only one who lost our leader. They also struck Axel’s pack. The hunters targeted all the leaders of San DeLain. The daemons, the dragons, the gargoyles, the vampires… all of us.”

“They attacked the daemons, dragons, and the gargoyles?” Jerome exclaimed.

“Yes. They bombed the Dominion where Kage and his mate live. They used surface-to-air missiles against the dragons and gargoyles.”

“Shit.” The werewolves, mer, and vampires were powerful, but none of them compared to the three groups of paranormals who were practically immortal.

Jerome honestly didn’t know anybody who would willingly take on a shadow daemon. The sheer thought of what that paranormal could do gave him the willies. He couldn’t imagine being mated to one.

“Everyone has been reminded to gather at dusk to lay Li Li to rest.”

“Good. Good.” Jerome nodded solemnly. “Thank you, Henry. How are the pack members holding up?”

“There’s tension,” Henry admitted. “Fear about what might happen next, anger over Li Li’s death. They want answers, Jerome.”

“Answers to what, exactly? We know who did this,” Jerome said, trying not to give in to the frustration rolling through him.

“Yes, but—”

“We know precisely what they are. They’ve been abducting our people for who knows how long. As to why, well, they’re hunters. Do I really need to say more?”

“No—”

“Even with their leaders out of the picture, they’re still hunters. Their hatred for paranormals runs deep, and their ultimate goal is our annihilation. There are your answers.”

All right, so he was more than just a little pissed. Though he might not have been eager to be mated to Li Li, she had never mistreated him or undermined his status.

Yet, that unsettling feeling that a rogue would take over had shaken him to his very core, sending chills down his spine. It stirred a primal fear deep within him, making his inner wolf want to curl up and retreat into the shadows, seeking refuge from the haunting imagery that lingered in his mind.

Henry hesitated in the doorway, shifting uncomfortably on his feet. “Jerome? About your vision—do you think it’s imminent? That challenge and the dead bodies?”

“It’s hard to say,” Jerome replied truthfully. His gift didn’t come with timestamps or logical explanations. They were more like puzzles missing half their pieces. “But we need to be prepared for anything.”

He had a feeling time was running out.

“Jerome? I know we’ve never been close, but as Li Li’s second, I want you to know I welcome any advice or thoughts you have to help me until we have a new alpha. I mean that,” Henry said.

Jerome managed a wry smile in response. “Even from an omega?”

“I know what the omega stereotypes are, and it’s just pure bullshit. You’re one of the strongest wolves I know.”

“Thank you.” Mentally speaking, yes, he was strong. Physically though? Well, he was an omega, and as such, he was smaller than most wolves and not as powerful.

“I’ll do my best to be of any help I can to you,” Jerome said. “So, maybe increasing patrols might not be a bad idea. Maybe add the enforcers, so no one gets too tired.”

“Already done,” Henry said.

With Henry gone to see to his duties, Jerome took a deep breath and prepared himself for the day ahead.

There was much to do before tonight: reviewing security measures, speaking with other betas about possible strategies if things went south, and trying to coax more details from his elusive visions.

Despite the gravity of their situation, there was an undercurrent of excitement within him—a spark that hadn’t been there before Li Li’s unfortunate demise. It wasn’t just anticipation or fear. It was something else entirely... Hope? Perhaps so.

AS EVENING approached and shadows lengthened across the forest floor outside, Jerome showered, then dressed in traditional garb suitable for the laying to rest of an alpha werewolf.

His black pants, shoes, and shirt matched the dark cloak embroidered with moon and star motifs, symbolizing the eternal night skies where his people believed werewolf spirits roamed freely after death.

His attire was somber yet dignified, reflecting both the gravity of the ceremony and the respect owed to Li Li, who had led them with strength and wisdom.

They would place their alpha on a pyre assembled in the forest’s heart, an ancient grove where generations of their ancestors had received similar honors.

It was a place heavy with the scent of pine and history, where the whispers of the past seemed to echo through the rustling leaves. The weight of his pack’s eyes rested heavily on him as he approached the sacred site.

The atmosphere was thick with grief and the collective mourning of a pack that had lost not just a leader, but also a beloved member of their family.

As he reached the clearing, Jerome saw the pack had done their part beautifully. They’d carefully constructed the pyre, layering wood interspersed with herbs and flowers significant in werewolf lore—vervain for protection, wolfhock for strength in the afterlife, and rosemary for remembrance.

Li Li’s body lay atop the structure.

Henry stood off to one side, holding a lit torch, his expression somber as he met Jerome’s gaze. He gave a slight nod, an acknowledgment of the burden they now shared.

The pack members gathered around silently, forming a circle around the pyre. Pups clutched at their parents’ hands, and mates leaned on each other for support.

Jerome stepped forward to address his pack. His voice was clear and carried weight as he spoke. “Tonight, we gather not just to mourn, but to honor our alpha and our friend. In life, she was our leader. In death, may she become our guide.”

There were murmurs of agreement.

His eyes scanned the crowd, seeking those particularly affected by the loss. “Alpha Li Li led with strength but also with kindness. We will miss her, but life moves on. We must move on, but she will always have a place in our hearts.”

A murmur of agreement passed through the crowd like wind through leaves.

“We may face uncertainty—but we are werewolves! Bound by blood and spirit alike. We will stand together as a pack and embrace change as Li Li would have wanted, but tonight we honor our alpha one last time.”

He turned, and taking the burning torch from Henry, lit the bottom edge of the pyre.