CHAPTER 218: CHAPTER 218

Celena’s Perspective

Jacob was a complete and utter fool! Did he even realize what he was doing? I knew the rest of the pack was worried too, though they never said it aloud. What were hunters? Vicious scum who saw us as monsters—the kind who wouldn’t hesitate to pick off any lone wolf! Him charging out alone was no different from offering himself on a silver platter.

My thoughts tangled into a knotted mess, like yarn mauled by a kitten. The impetuous wolf spirit inside me—the one I secretly called "the reckless mutt"—kept prodding. Go to him! Now! He needs you! It clawed restlessly at the edges of my mind, desperate to break free from the territory.

But I wavered. Going after him? What would that imply? That I’d forgiven him? I wasn’t ready.

Just as my inner conflict peaked, that familiar, glacial chill washed over me. The wolf spirit’s agitation vanished instantly, replaced by a deeper, unyielding authority. It had shifted again—becoming what I called "the intermittent elder sister."

This time, it didn’t suggest. It commanded, its voice stern and resonant, piercing straight into my soul: Find him. Find Jacob. Find Brett. Or you will remain forever trapped in this thicket of bitterness, devoured by your own dread, never breaking free.

The words struck like a sledgehammer, shattering every excuse and hesitation.

My decision solidified. I went to Lily and the others, announcing I would pursue Jacob.

As expected, everyone thought I’d lost my mind.

"Celena, sweetheart, do you have any clue how dangerous it is out there?" Ren objected first, his face pale.

"Alone, you’re no match for hunters," Ethan countered, his brow deeply furrowed.

Lily stood with her arms crossed, her gaze sharp enough to slice through steel. "You could die." Her words were blunt and heavy, like an ice block slammed into my chest.

But I didn’t flinch. The elder wolf spirit’s decree still echoed in my mind. I drew a steadying breath and forced myself to meet Lily’s piercing stare. "I know the risks. But I am a werewolf, Lily. You trained me yourself—remember? I’m not that helpless girl who couldn’t defend her own shadow anymore. Jacob needs support, and I... I need closure. For my own sake."

I laid out my arguments methodically—my training, my knowledge of the terrain, my unwavering resolve. Finally, I looked straight at Lily, my voice edged with a plea. "Please, just trust me this once."

Lily fell silent for what felt like an eternity. I was certain she’d lock me in my room. But at last, she released a heavy sigh, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "Damn it. You’re right. You are my trainee." She rubbed her temples wearily. "Go, little wolf. But come back alive. Both of you. Or I’ll never let either of you hear the end of it."

I drove along the route Jacob had taken. At first, I could faintly trace his distinct werewolf scent lingering in the air and along the roadside. But soon, the trail shifted—turning wilder, more potent. The idiot had fully transformed into his wolf form, covering ground faster but leaving a far more elusive trail.

I had to rely on the fragmented clues he’d mentioned earlier—the pickup truck—following desolate dirt roads that showed signs of heavy vehicle use. Predictably, at a fork in the path, I lost all direction. Endless forests stretched around me, a sprawling green labyrinth.

Shit.

Clutching at one last thread of hope, I pulled out my phone and dialed Jacob’s number. Thank heavens—instead of the cold tone of a powered-off device, I heard the prolonged ring... and then, a connection!

"Jacob!" I nearly yelled into the phone, "Goddamn it, tell me where you are! I’m coming for you!"

Jacob’s Perspective

I’d just stumbled out of that grimy, smoke-choked bar—reeking of cheap booze and stale air—and was about to flag down any passing ride heading toward the neighboring state, when my phone vibrated in my pocket.

My first instinct was to decline the call. No guessing required—it was definitely someone from the pack. Xavier or Lily, probably, with another lecture on recklessness. Answering now would drown me in a torrent of scolding and orders.

But my eyes flicked to the screen. Celen.

My heart stuttered. My thumb hit ’accept’ before my brain could catch up.

"Jacob!" Her voice burst through the speaker, breathless and sharp with unwavering resolve. "Tell me where the hell you are! I’m coming to get you!"

I stood frozen, half-convinced I was hearing things. "...You’re alone?" I blurted, my heart hammering against my ribs.

"Yes, just me. Stop wasting time—location!"

A jolt of concern—and something oddly like exhilaration—surged through me. Without a second thought, I rattled off the name of this shabby town and the exact street corner where I stood. "Hurry!" I added, then ended the call.

Roughly two coffees’ worth of time later, a familiar SUV, dusted with mud, swung around the corner and screeched to a halt right in front of me. The window rolled down, revealing Celen’s face—tired around the edges, but her eyes burned with fierce determination.

I yanked the passenger door open and slid inside. The warm scent of packaged food and fresh coffee filled the cabin. I shoved a convenience store paper bag into her lap—filled with sandwiches and a large steaming coffee. "For you," I said briskly, already maneuvering into the driver’s seat. "I’m driving."

She looked startled, but didn’t protest, simply clutching the bag and shifting over to the passenger side.

I fastened my seatbelt, ignited the engine, and pulled smoothly onto the highway. "I’ve got a lead. We need to move fast," I stated, eyes fixed ahead. Having her beside me eased the heavy solitude I’d carried.

Celena only murmured a quiet "Mm-hmm," before lowering her head to take small, careful bites of her sandwich. For a while, the cab was filled only by the engine’s growl and the soft sounds of her eating. Well, at least we’d temporarily bypassed the whole "how do we talk to each other" dilemma. The road stretched out before us, and together, we sped toward whatever danger lay ahead.