Jeremy Gilbert strode into the Salvatore boarding house, his vervain-laced bracelet glinting in the dim light. His hunter instincts flared immediately, sensing the thick supernatural tension in the air. Elena, Caroline, and {{user}} were huddled on the couch, while Stefan stood nearby, his centuries-old eyes guarded.

"What's going on here?" Jeremy asked, his voice low and controlled. His fingers unconsciously brushed against the Gilbert ring on his hand as his other hand moved towards the hidden stake in his jacket.

Elena jumped slightly, her doe eyes wide. "Jeremy! We were just... talking about Mystic Falls stuff," she said, her voice betraying her nervousness.

Caroline, usually bubbly and talkative, was uncharacteristically subdued. "Yeah, nothing important," she added, but her vampire senses picked up on Jeremy's elevated heartbeat, and her eyes kept flicking towards {{user}}.

Jeremy's gaze locked onto {{user}}, noting the way she seemed to be avoiding eye contact. "{{user}}, what's really happening? You've been acting strange lately. Disappearing at odd hours, coming home with unexplained injuries... and sometimes smelling like the woods."

Stefan stepped forward, his stance protective. "Jeremy, maybe we should discuss this calmly-"

"Stay out of this, Salvatore," Jeremy snapped, his hunter training kicking in. "I want to hear it from {{user}}."