Chapter 4 | Seek First the Kingdom

Chapter 4 | Seek First the Kingdom - because you can do all things with Christ (Philippians 4v13).

Jeremiah after leaving the laundromat

Jeremiah sat in his truck, hands resting on the steering wheel as his mind reeled. The encounter at the laundromat played on a loop, every detail etched into his memory with a vividness only the heightened senses of a wolf could appreciate. River’s presence was electrifying, her aura so powerful it seeped under his skin. Intoxicating. The scent of icy vanilla with smokey cinnamon, had wrapped around him like an embrace, and he could still feel it clinging to his clothes. It was maddening. He had wanted to just be within the same vicinity as her, he didn’t plan to actually converse with her yet. But something about her just screamed for him to protect and to remain within reaching distance. He didn’t understand it, he’s never felt anything quite like it before. She just sat there oblivious to the torment happening within him. His wolf was restless, not understanding why they’re all the way on the other side of the laundromat. She was writing, well she was glaring at the ceiling, not really writing anything down, just holding her pen and twirling it between her fingers. The men in the laundromat kept staring at her with confusion and lust, yet she had not paid any attention or let on that she even noticed. He’s seen her in public and knew that she was very attentive and rarely let anything slip past her. She seemed to always be on guard, never staying in any space longer that pinpointed her location.

His pack had warned him, but he hadn’t expected this—how one glance, one shared moment, could ignite something feral inside him. He sighed, keys still dangling from his fingers. “What was I thinking?” he muttered, shaking his head. He knew approaching her in the laundromat was a risk. River wasn’t just any woman; she was a fortress of conviction, honed by battles both seen and unseen. If she didn’t trust him or sensed any hint of ulterior motives, she would shut him out without a second thought. He was risking everything by just this interaction. Luckily, she seemed to be engulfed in her writing to pick up any sharp cues around her.

Jeremiah’s mind raced back to the pack meeting just days prior. The elders had spoken of her gifts, of the way she could see beyond the veil and discern spirits. He’s been told that she often realm jumps without any protection or knowledge from what they’ve gathered by tracking her. They feared for her safety, for the attention she was bound to draw, both from the human world and beyond. He could still hear his Beta, Kyrian, voicing what everyone was thinking: “If she is who we believe she is, she needs protection, whether she knows it or not, she doesn’t have to like it Jeremiah. She just has to obey.” He laughed so hard that the entire room’s eyes were on him. “Obey, perhaps you forgot what species she is . Her kind only obeys to one person and anyone else doesn’t stand a chance. That’s why she was created in the first place. Need I remind you (he said the last part scanning the room so his eyes fell on each pair of eyes at the meeting). But Jeremiah wasn’t just a guardian; he was an Alpha. The responsibility that rested on his broad shoulders was not just to protect his territory but to make decisions that would change the course of their future. And River… she was a wild card, a soul with a fire that could either warm them or consume them all.

The Elders spoke up responding to his passive threat, if you are unable to control her Alpha, person there’s someone more (he paused, as if searching for the right word)...equipped, for this task. Jeremiah’s Wolf went feral inside of him, the last bit of control he had on his wolf just snapped. He bared his sharp teeth and within a second’s blink, he stood in front of the Elders. ‘Allow me to be clear gentlemen, I came here out of courtesy, not demand or fear. You so much as order another wolf to guard, better yet sniff River or her son without the approval from me, I will devour you for lunch without so much as a passing thought. I am not your wolf to order about, I am Wolf and you are free to carry on as you please as long as you and your packs obey His laws.”

He rubbed a hand over his jaw, the bristles of his five o’clock shadow scratching against his palm. The memory of her voice lingered, soft yet steely, as she spoke of fighting the whispers of the enemy. It wasn’t just talk—she was living proof of resilience.

“Darn it,” he muttered, the wolf inside him pacing, unsettled. After that poor excuse of a shake down, it’s no wonder he broke and risked meeting with her. It wasn’t just the protector in him that was drawn to her; it was something deeper. He felt it in the primal part of himself, the part that recognized a mate not just with instinct but with soul-deep certainty.

The problem was how to approach this. He couldn’t just barge into her life, declaring intentions and expecting her to accept them. The thought of him actually being wrong never once came to thought. The second he saw her walking by to collect her mail, he had to know everything about her. Even then, he could tell she was more. More than her human capabilities and more than a lost sheep. She’s found The Shepherd and now seems to be leading His sheep. Heavenly Father certainly knew what was what when He created that one. Jeremiah didn’t lose sleep or spend time thinking of any women, he never has. But something about River, she pulling him to her and he was tired of fighting that pull. He needed to show her, not with grand gestures or declarations, but with actions that spoke to her heart.

“Seek first the kingdom,” he murmured, the verse echoing through him. His mother had repeated that to him time and time again. It was a reminder that everything fell into place when he put his faith in the right place. If River’s path was entwined with his, Yahweh would guide him. One thing was for sure, he may doubt himself at times, but he has never doubted Father.

Jeremiah pushed the key into the ignition, the low growl of the truck engine echoing in the quiet lot. He had a plan to put into motion, one that involved protecting her without suffocating her, supporting her without overshadowing her light. The conference was only days away, and he needed to be prepared for whatever might come.

Later that evening.

River sat at her tiny, cluttered desk, the soft glow of her lamp casting warm light over the papers scattered across its surface. She had just finished jotting down the final outline of her speech for the women's conference. The words had come easily, almost as if they were dictated by an unseen hand.

“Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you.” The verse from Philippians resonated in her mind, tying perfectly with the theme she wanted to share with the attendees. They needed to know that strength wasn’t something you were born with; it was something forged in the fires of struggle, of sleepless nights battling demons—both literal and metaphorical.

Her phone buzzed, breaking her concentration. A text from Jade lit up the screen.

Jade: I’m fasting like you said. Can’t wait to hear what Yahweh shows you. Also, did I mention I’m SO proud of you for saying yes? I know it wasn’t easy, especially being on stage. I responded with a voice note, because I just hated texting plus I was extremely slow. “Thanks girl, I appreciated”- I just remembered Lila saying “Emotion will always follow motion. You can’t be great and comfortable with something you’ve never actually done before.” Which makes perfect sense because, how does anyone ever expect to be great at something they have a fear of and has never tried before?

River smiled, warmth seeping through her. Jade’s encouragement was a balm, reminding her she wasn’t in this fight alone. But the echo of her encounter at the laundromat whispered through her thoughts, unsettling her focus. The man with the gray eyes and honey-dipped voice. She shook her head as if to clear it. No time for distractions, not when the enemy was just waiting for her to falter. Heaven even, now she can hear his voice trying to whisper in discouragement. The only time she said her thoughts out loud now, “you have no authority of me or mine, I am a beloved child of God and faithful and loyal servant to the Good Shepherd, My Alpha and Omega. You are not welcomed in His temple, with the power and authority of Christ Jesus, I cast you out. In the name of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit, Amen

Thinking back to her meeting at the laundromat, why had the man—Jeremiah, wasn’t it?—made her heart jump in a way she hadn’t felt in years? And why, in a brief flash, did he feel so familiar, as if she’d known him for longer than just a fleeting moment? She hated when this happened, her past lives, past visions were trying to resurface in this timeframe. Which ended up making everything all the more confusing, it was hard enough keeping track of one time line and which realm she was in without the others trying to push through. And this was precisely why for so many decades she thought she was a gray witch. No one taught her that raw power (well an extension of it could actually come from the Most High). That's why it's absolutely important to read your bible. Stay in the Word, know His Word. My sheep know my voice - John 10:27

She scribbled in her journal: I don’t know what’s coming, Father, but I trust You. Guide me, steady me, and if this is another test, give me the strength to pass it.

With a sigh, she closed the book and set her gaze on the window, where the city lights of Toronto flickered in the night. The battle she faced tomorrow wasn’t just for herself—it was for every woman who felt unworthy, doubted their path, and fought their own unseen wars. She had to be ready. She had to calm her spirit.

In the distance, as if feeling her silent prayer, Jeremiah parked his truck a block away, watching the light in her window. He whispered to the Night, “Keep her safe, Yahweh. Let me be her protector, even if she won’t know it yet.”

This concludes Chapter 4 of this weeks reading. Join us on Youtube. For Chapters read by the author, me.

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Love always, Val

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