Chapter 1392: Final Stand About To Begin
Gary’s hand dropped by his side, fingers still clutching the phone as the line cut off with a faint click. The silence that followed was suffocating. His breath caught in his throat, the weight of the news pressing down on him like a mountain. It had been confirmed.
And now, only ten minutes remained until midnight.
Behind him, a voice broke the stillness.
“I heard what they said,” Xin spoke gently, stepping closer. She placed a firm but comforting hand on Gary’s back, rubbing in slow circles. “I know you’re disappointed. I know this isn’t how it was supposed to go. But the situation is what it is. We can’t go back. All we can do is move forward now.”
Was I wrong about Lupus?
Not just Lupus, but his father too. He had believed there was still good left in them. That maybe, even with everything stacked against them, they wouldn’t choose bloodshed. But now, on the night of the full moon, the most powerful night for a werewolf, Lupus was on the move. And he wasn’t coming for a reunion. He was coming for war.
Was I foolish to believe in people? In family?
Gary had only shared a brief encounter with Lupus. There was no real bond. Nothing to justify blind trust. He had wanted to believe that being blood-related meant something. But maybe all it meant was betrayal hurt more.
And then, Kai’s warning echoed in his mind.
If Unzoku’s manipulation had failed to divide Gary and Kai, if the Celestial’s plan to pit them against each other hadn’t succeeded, then maybe Unzoku had chosen a new target. Someone more vulnerable.
Lupus doesn’t have the celestial resistance that I do. At least, I don’t think he does. Whatever Unzoku tried to do to me, maybe it actually worked on him.
But it didn’t matter now. Not really. Because whether it was Lupus’s will or someone else’s influence, the outcome was the same.
Lupus was coming to attack.
And as the Alpha of the Howlers, Gary had no choice.
He had to protect the people. He had to protect the town.
With a determined breath, he lifted his phone again. Nine minutes left. Nine minutes until midnight. Nine minutes where he could still transform, still lead, still fight.
“Olivia,” Gary said firmly, “take Xin and the others to the next safe location. I want you all to bunker down. No phones. No peeking outside. Don’t even think about trying to see what’s happening. You’re to stay hidden until the sun rises. Understood?”
She nodded without hesitation. Olivia transformed in a flash of power, and the others followed her lead, rushing into the night.
All of the werewolves except Gary were to go into hiding. Even though Xin and Kevin had learned some Qi techniques, it wasn’t enough. Not for what was coming. They could defend themselves to a degree, sure, but not against a full-on werewolf assault. Their scent alone made them prime targets.
Thankfully, Tom had once again come through when they needed him most.
He had developed a device, a scent-blocking emitter, that masked their presence completely. It would be activated in their hiding spot, making it nearly impossible for the enemy to sniff them out. If they could hold out for just six hours, until the sun rose, they might live to fight another day.
With the team on the move, Gary pressed the next number on his phone.
Far above the city, Crawley picked up, a communication device pinned securely into his ear.
“We’ve got movement,” Crawley reported. “They’re coming in from the south highway, just like we predicted. I’m not seeing anything from the east or west yet. But I’ll confirm.”
He flew higher into the night sky, wings cutting through the moonlight as he surveyed the area. Sadie and Frank peeled off to either side, scanning the horizon with their sharp eyes. After a few minutes, they returned to Crawley’s side and shook their heads.
“No other movements. It appears they’re only coming from the south,” Crawley confirmed.
That was the best news Gary could have hoped for. At least something was going right.
They’d already evacuated the majority of Slough’s citizens based on that assumption. It made sense. Lupus was a direct, aggressive fighter. He wouldn’t try anything elaborate. He wouldn’t split forces or stage a multi-pronged attack. He would charge in like a force of nature.
And Gary had to be the wall that stood in his way.
“Crawley,” Gary said. “Double-check the area. Make sure no one’s left behind. Then put out the notice. Loud and clear. Everyone needs to move into position.”
Then, with a deep breath, Gary transformed.
His body shifted with a familiar surge of pain and power. Fur, claws, strength, and instincts came flooding in. He shot forward like a shadow streaking across the streets, heading south toward Slough’s largest park.
The park had once been a haven for delinquents. A lawless hangout spot for gang members and petty criminals. But Slough had changed. Gary had helped it change. Now it was a peaceful place, filled with walking trails, scenic ponds, and weekend families enjoying the open air.
That peace would soon be broken.
Gary bounded across rooftops until he reached the edge of the park. He leapt atop one of the elevated restaurants overlooking the area and scanned the surroundings.
This was where the battle would take place.
“All groups are in position,” Gary whispered to himself. “We’re the underdogs in this fight. We have to use everything, terrain, surprise, strategy, to our advantage.”
The Altered members of the Howlers were spread throughout the park. Some were crouched in alleyways or behind trees. Others hid behind large stones, walls, or shrubs. Each one had been positioned for maximum effectiveness.
Above, Crawley, Sadie, and Park soared in wide circles, keeping an aerial watch.
Near the water’s edge stood Ice and Apollo, flanked by several powerful Altered, all ready to fight.
Gary picked up his phone one last time.
“Innu,” he said. “Lead them to the area. We’re ready.”
“Right…” Innu responded, his voice strained. “We’ll try our best… but things are a little harder than I thought!”
Then the call abruptly ended.
There was a loud smash, Innu’s phone hitting the ground and shattering.
Gary closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and nodded to himself.
“The two of them will be alright,” he whispered. “I have to trust them.”
And now, with only minutes to go… the final stand was about to begin.
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