That moan seemed to set Jeremy's nerves ablaze even more. His canines pressed deeper, tantalizing and teasing Celeste's sensitive skin, like a skilled musician coaxing enchanting melodies from his instrument.　　In response, Celeste's hands instinctively wound around Jeremy's broad shoulders. The unexpected pang of pain caused her grip to tighten, her fingers digging into his muscular frame. Yet, strangely, this surge of power and the hint of discomfort seemed to ripple through Jeremy as well, igniting an untamed desire within him.　　As their bodies pressed together, Celeste's ears picked up Jeremy's low, rumbling growls. Evidently, he too found pleasure in the magnetic pull between them. His hands roamed her curves, drawing her irresistibly closer until they melded into a seamless embrace. Their bodies now intimately entwined, separated only by the whisper-thin layer of fabric.　　Unable to resist the overwhelming sensation, Celeste surrendered, shutting her eyes. Bu

　　Everything happened in a blur, too fast for Celeste's brain to keep up with her eyes, leaving her bewildered about what the heck was going on right in front of her.　　Out of the blue, Jeremy's eyes snapped open, laser-focused on Kent as if he had a built-in GPS in those eyeballs. And without a moment's hesitation, he sprang up from the bed like a coiled spring, launching himself straight at the rogue like a missile in flight.　　Time seemed to slow down as Jeremy's fist arced toward Kent, but Kent had his wits about him and skillfully dodged the incoming punch. Little did he know, though, that Jeremy had a sneaky surprise waiting below. And with a knock, Jeremy's other fist connected with a solid thud right into Kent's gut.　　A grunt escaped Kent's lips as he staggered back a few steps, clutching his stomach in agony. Jeremy's punch packed a serious wallop, no doubt about it.　　"Consider that payback for your sleep magic you cast on me, motherfucker!" Jeremy sna

　　The journey passed by in utter silence as Kent zoomed away from their little town. Celeste watched as the scenery transformed from familiar to foreign, until they reached a road she knew all too well—the very same path where they had returned from their previous kidnapping crime scene.　　Jeremy whipped out his phone, and Celeste caught a glimpse of him texting Ben. She didn't need to peek at the message to understand that Jeremy was informing Ben to gather up the team and prepared to come here as backup.　　As Jeremy pocketed his phone, he caught Celeste's gaze and flashed her a comforting smile. Then, he reached out and grasped her hand firmly. It was a small gesture, but it filled Celeste with a renewed sense of strength.　　Amidst the quiet, Celeste could sense Kent's eyes on her. She raised her head and locked gazes with him through the rearview mirror. In that brief connection, she detected a lingering trace of bitterness in his eyes. But just as quickly, K

　　"So that's the son of a bitch's name, huh?" Raymond muttered under his breath. "Did he drag you along too? Didn't he tell you why I'm here?"　　Celeste stayed silent, her gaze fixed on Raymond, maintaining her posture like a hawk eyeing its prey.　　"Well, forgive me for slipping my mind again. You're the interrogator here, obviously," Raymond said, raising his hand to ruffle his hair in frustration. He paused for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts, before looking up and speaking.　　"Alright, here's the lowdown. We decided to go all out on these wolf troublemakers. But they were sharper than we thought. And that's when those buggers snatched me up."　　"You attacked Kent's pack? The rogue pack?" Celeste arched an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.　　At first, Celeste figured Kent nabbed Raymond because he was just strolling around, and those wolf noses sniffed out the scent of a hunter. But she never in a million years imagined Kent actually capturing Raymond am

　　Celeste asked Raymond more questions about the hunters. And one by one, Raymond answered her. Celeste was relieved to hear from his own lips that her parents were temporarily safe. And she even learned the exact location of the hunters.　　As Celeste strolled out of the room, her eyes caught sight of Jeremy and Kent, each propped up against opposite walls. The tension in the air was palpable, their gazes locked in a fierce standoff. But, to her astonishment, they hadn't come to blows. She half-expected to find a gruesome scene of blood stains on the floor as she made her exit.　　"How's it going?" Jeremy straightened up as soon as he spotted Celeste, a flicker of concern lighting up his face. His eyes scanned her from head to toe, searching for any signs of harm. When he found none, he let out a silent breath, visibly relieved. Celeste didn't utter a word, but her heart swelled at Jeremy's protective gesture.　　Kent shifted his gaze inward, peering into the room. Bath