The three agreed, before making any move toward the next part of the quest,
that staying inside the Red Wing Pack was the smartest choice.
They needed to uncover what was happening with Jack before doing anything else.
The quest demanded they choose a side, but choosing blindly could ruin everything. More than likely, they would have some time before anything major happened, before a clash between the Packs, before forces began pushing them toward conflict.
And who knew... maybe when the clash truly approached, when the tension reached its peak, they could make their decision then.
For now, information was more important than action.
But there was a problem.
How were they supposed to figure out what was happening with Jack’s pack that would lead to the said result?
There was one simple way to start: talk to the Red Wing Kingdom Werewolves and ask them what they thought about the other Pack.
Around them, some Werewolves continued training, their bodies moving with practiced discipline, while others rested on stone benches or leaned against pillars catching their breath. The courtyard was alive with motion and sound, sparring weapons clashing, footsteps thudding, the occasional laughter or grunt from warriors testing each other.
Gary, Kai, and Lupus walked toward a group that had paused training.
“You guys are really strong,” Gary said honestly, offering a friendly smile. “Honestly, I thought we were quite skilled, but it seems like there are really talented people here.”
“Thanks,” one of the members replied, brushing sweat off his brow. “Honestly, I’m surprised a bunch of Omegas are so strong as well. It’s been a long time since we met fresh people that were like this.”
He adjusted the arm guard strapped to his forearm, then continued, “I’m curious to know more about your background, but it’s one of our unwritten rules not to ask each other about the past. Everyone has their own story. And when you’re ready, when you feel fortable, you’ll tell it to us.”
The sentiment hung in the air like a warm breeze.
In this era, the Werewolves seemed to follow traditions that had been lost in the future, traditions built on respect, privacy, and silent understanding. And there were far more Werewolves here than in their own time.
Gary felt a strange twist in his chest.
When did the world go so wrong?
He didn’t say it aloud, but he felt it deeply.
“Is the other pack like this?” Gary asked. “We heard on our way here that there are two packs of Werewolves. We chose the Red Wing Kingdom because we honestly couldn’t believe that Werewolves were living within a kingdom, so openly.”
“That makes sense,” another Red Wing member said. “But you know, it’s not all good. Even though we’ve lived here for so long already, gone through different generations, there are still people who see us differently.”
He let out a small sigh.
“It seems like hatred gets passed down to later generations, or something like that. And it’s our job to change their minds. That’s why we train hard and work hard to look after the city. One person at a time... we hope our efforts aren’t wasted. And in the end, who can blame them? I’m sure some of our ancestors bit a few of their heads off here and there. Whether it was deserving or not is another thing.”
Gary felt a sting of sympathy.
They were trying so hard for peace, and failing, judging by what the future held.
He never saw himself as separate from others. His goals were smaller, more personal, he just wanted to protect the Howlers and Slough, the place made up of a mix of humans and Altered. A place built by effort, not bloodline. Lupus, however... he had always lived inside Pack culture. He understood these frustrations in a way Gary never fully could.
“So what do you guys think of the other pack?” Kai asked. “Is it better than this place, or are they a group we can’t trust?”
“We’ve met a few of them,” one said. “They seem a bit hot-headed, but they’re good guys. They aren’t bad people.”
“Yeah,” another added. “I even saw a few of them save humans on quests. They’re spreading a good image of us too, even if they don’t care much about integrating.”
Gary, Kai, and Lupus exchanged glances.
What they were hearing... was nothing like what they expected.
The Red Wing Werewolves spoke well of Steve and his pack. There was respect, admiration even. Their stories matched Steve perfectly, the loyalty, the passion, the occasional temper, the fierce protectiveness.
If both sides respected each other...
If neither side was hostile...
Then what caused the war later?
‘I can’t see it,’ Gary thought.
‘I can’t see Steve deciding to attack the Red Wings. And Unzoku already tried and failed... so the spark has to e from here. Somewhere.’
Their thoughts were interrupted.
Two of the men who had been sparring suddenly stopped. Their weapons dropped to the ground with a loud clatter that echoed across the training area.
In the next breath, every Werewolf in the courtyard turned toward the main entrance.
Something had changed in the air.
“Now you guys have never acted like this before,” one of the men muttered. “Are you just acting like this because we have guests? So where are the three that have decided to join us?”
A voice rolled across the courtyard like thunder, deep, powerful, manding.
The sound alone made Gary’s muscles lock, made Kai straighten his back, and made Lupus’s ears twitch.
It wasn’t fear.
It was instinct responding to something overwhelmingly dominant.
The three of them slowly rose to their feet.
Their eyes drifted toward the entrance of the training space, and there he was:
A man stood shirtless, revealing a torso carved from years of battles. His muscles weren’t bulky, but hard and well-defined. His hair was mostly grey now, strands falling over his forehead. His posture was strong, unmoving, exuding confidence with every breath.
Even before smelling him, before hearing the whispers of respect from the Red Wing members...
They knew who he was.
The aura.
The pressure.
The presence.
There was only one Werewolf this could be.
Jack Dem.
Leader of the Red Wing Pack.
*****
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