Chapter 33
My head was still spinning when I woke up, my body sore from the battle with those banshees. The last thing I remembered was Jeremiah catching me after I ripped that monster’s spine out. I had passed out in his arms, my body drained of all energy, but now that I was awake, the weight of everything came crashing down on me. The banshees, the chaos, and… Jeremiah. His touch still lingered on my skin, and despite everything, I felt the bond pulling me closer to him.
I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away. There were more important things to focus on right now. The pack had just been attacked, and Jeremiah’s suspicion that my father was somehow behind it was driving me insane. How could he even think that? My father wasn’t some monster-summoning maniac. He would never put me at risk like that, never.
I needed to know what was happening. The air was heavy with tension, and I could feel something was going on. Slowly, I got up from bed and made my way through the halls, following the sounds of low voices. They led me to a door—Jeremiah’s meeting room. My heart pounded in my chest as I pressed myself against the wall just outside, listening in on the conversation inside.
Jeremiah’s voice was cold and sharp. “There’s no way this attack was random. Someone’s behind it, and I’m not going to sit here and wait for the next assault.”
One of his council members spoke up. “Do you think it’s Alexander? Your mate’s father could easily be plotting something, Alpha. His pack has the strength, the resources.”
I clenched my fists, heat rising to my cheeks. How dare they accuse my father without any proof?
Another voice chimed in, this time from one of the top warriors. “The timing of this is suspicious. He might be trying to weaken us, force us into a vulnerable position before striking.”
Jeremiah grunted. “It’s possible. Alexander is ruthless. He could very well be behind this. But if not him, then someone else. Either way, we have to prepare for more attacks.”
That was enough. I couldn’t stand it any longer. Without thinking, I pushed the door open and stormed into the room, my heart racing with anger.
“You’re wrong!” I shouted, my voice echoing in the chamber.
Every eye in the room turned to me, but I locked my gaze on Jeremiah. He stood at the head of the table, his expression hard and unreadable.
“My father has nothing to do with this,” I said, my voice shaking with emotion. “He would never send monsters like that to attack innocent people. And if you’re stubborn enough to keep pointing fingers at him, you’re going to lose a lot more than just your warriors. You’re going to lose your entire pack.”
One of the council members scoffed, “Astrid, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I ignored him, keeping my focus on Jeremiah. “My family has faced those banshees before. My mother used to tell me stories about them—about how dangerous they are, how they hunt in packs, ripping through everything in their path. My father can help. He knows how to fight them.”
Jeremiah’s jaw clenched. “And you expect me to trust him? After everything?”
I took a step closer, my voice low but firm. “You don’t have a choice. If you don’t seek help, you’re going to lose everything. Your people, your pack, your home. Those creatures will keep coming. You know that. You can feel it.”
For a moment, Jeremiah just stared at me, his eyes burning with a mixture of rage and something else—something I couldn’t quite place. But before he could respond, there was a knock at the door.
One of the warriors opened it, and a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped inside. He looked worried, his face pale and drawn.
“Alpha Jeremiah,” the warrior said, bowing slightly. “The Alpha of the Redmon pack is here to see you.”
Jeremiah nodded. “Let him in.”
The man entered the room, his expression tense. He didn’t waste any time before speaking. “Alpha Jeremiah, I’ve come to seek your help. My pack… we were attacked last night.”
My heart skipped a beat as I watched the man, his eyes filled with fear. He looked tired, beaten down, like he hadn’t slept in days.
“The monsters,” he continued. “They came out of nowhere. White, skeletal things with claws like blades. They killed so many of us before we could even react.”
Jeremiah’s face darkened, and I could feel the tension rising in the room.
“They were banshees,” I said quietly, stepping forward. The Redmon Alpha’s eyes flicked toward me, confusion crossing his face.
“Banshees?” he asked.
I nodded. “They’re ancient creatures. My family has fought them before. They’re nearly impossible to kill unless you know what you’re doing.”
Jeremiah’s gaze shifted back to me, and I could feel his anger simmering beneath the surface. But there was something else too. Hesitation.
I took a deep breath. “You have to believe me. My father can help. He has experience dealing with these monsters. If you keep pushing him away, if you keep assuming he’s behind this, you’re making a huge mistake.”
Jeremiah’s fists tightened at his sides, and for a long, agonizing moment, no one spoke. The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on.
“I don’t trust him,” Jeremiah finally said, his voice low and dangerous. “But…”
He paused, his eyes narrowing as he studied me. “I’ll consider it.”
Relief flooded through me, but before I could say anything, the Redmon Alpha spoke again. “Whatever you decide, Alpha Jeremiah, we need to act fast. My pack is in shambles, and I fear more attacks are coming. We barely survived the first one.”
Jeremiah nodded slowly, his expression hardening. “We’ll regroup and send reinforcements. But make no mistake—whoever is behind this, whether it’s Alexander or someone else, they will pay.”
I bit my lip, resisting the urge to argue again. I knew my father wasn’t the one behind these attacks. But convincing Jeremiah of that was going to take more than just my word. Still, for now, I had bought us some time.
As the Redmon Alpha left the room, I caught Jeremiah’s gaze once more. There was a storm brewing behind those dark eyes, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he would ever fully trust me—or if the bond between us was doomed to be consumed by suspicion and anger.
The battle wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
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