The restaurant itself was a sprawling structure, split into several distinct sections that curved neatly along the hilltop. From the back, an outdoor dining area stretched out with carefully arranged tables, while at the front the building curved into an oval shape. Towering glass windows dominated the façade, giving diners a panoramic view of the entire garden spread below.
This design carried upward through all three floors of the restaurant. Even the top level had been crafted with spectacle in mind, on the third floor an open-air balcony extended outward, offering the perfect vantage point over the grounds.
The group had scattered across the building. Some were inside, receiving treatment for their injuries and trying to steady themselves. Others had been unable to focus on anything but the clash raging outside, and so they pressed close to the windows or gathered on the balcony, desperate for any view they could get of the battle.
Xin, along with the rest of the werewolves, had chosen the very top floor. From the balcony they had a wider perspective of everything that was happening below, the elevation giving them the illusion of distance and safety. In truth, all of them knew there was still a chance that Kai’s senses, his sharpened instincts, his relentless nose, could catch a whiff of them even from here. But for now, his focus was entirely consumed by one thing alone: the Alpha, Gary.
At least, that was what the fight had shown them so far.
Marie continued to prove herself invaluable. Time and again, she hurled herself between Adam and Gary, her luminous figure cutting across the battlefield. Her body became a shield, intercepting strikes whenever danger pressed too close. Occasionally, she took hits herself, but her radiant armor of moonlight endured the punishment. Watching from above, the group noticed something crucial, Kai never truly targeted Marie directly. She was hurt only when she dared to throw herself into his path.
The more they watched, the more frustration built in their chests. Their hands tightened around the balcony railing as their helplessness gnawed at them.
“Crap... it’s useless!” Park burst out. His jaw clenched tight, his teeth grinding. “Even if I went down there right now, I can barely keep track of him! I can’t follow his movements, he’d shred me apart before I even knew what was happening!”
His fingers dug into the cold metal of the railing, knuckles whitening from the strain. But before the bitterness of his words could even fade, something unexpected happened. Another hand landed firmly on the railing beside his own.
Park’s body jolted. He almost let out a startled cry as he whipped his head to the side, just in time to see a figure pulling himself up with casual ease, landing on the balcony as though it had been nothing more than a small step.
“Is everyone having a party... and didn’t bother inviting me?” the man said, a wide smile spreading across his face. His arms opened in a theatrical gesture, as though welcoming himself to the gathering.
Originally, Midwak had been with the group like all of the werewolves in Slough. They were supposed to remain together, to move as a single unit. But he had stayed behind, deliberately choosing a different path. He had offered to consume Ghost, to take that essence into himself in order to grow stronger.
The others had allowed it, though none of them could imagine attempting such a thing. To devour without the safety and power of a full transformation was beyond them, it was dangerous, reckless, almost unimaginable. For Midwak, however, it was simply a challenge he had accepted.
And perhaps that was why his arrival now had been delayed. He had taken his time, lingered behind for his grim feast. And now, finally, he was here.
“Could you not come up the stairs like a normal person?” Kevin muttered. He shifted his body, leaning to the side to peer past Midwak, straining for a clear view of the battlefield. From here, the fight looked evenly matched, for the moment at least. But Kevin’s stomach churned, because deep down he knew it was only a matter of time before the balance broke.
Right now, it didn’t seem like Gary’s side had any more tricks hidden up their sleeve.
Midwak finally turned away from Kevin and faced the fight himself. His expression was calm, though his eyes followed every movement on the ground below. He had been watching the clash for some time before choosing to climb up and join the others on the balcony, and the truth of what he saw weighed heavily on him.
“I know he’s strong,” Midwak said at last, his tone measured. “He’s grown even stronger than me. But I didn’t think his Alpha form would be this overwhelming.” He exhaled through his nose, almost in disbelief. “My only guess is that it’s because of his Shapeshifter class. That’s the only way it makes sense.”
“Ah, right. He did mention it before,” Olivia added, recalling Gary’s explanation. “The more werewolves around him, the stronger he becomes.”
“Wait, he does?” Xin blurted out, his eyes widening. The realization hit him like a slap. “Then what are we doing here? Shouldn’t we leave? Even if we can’t escape completely, just pulling back would weaken Kai, right? That might be exactly what Gary and the others need to bring him down!”
The words felt strange in Xin’s mouth. He clenched his fists as he spoke, the weight of his own suggestion sinking in. After all, Kai had always been their ally, one of their own. To speak of weakening him felt like betrayal, but the situation was already beyond what he could stomach.
“That’s useless,” Midwak cut in sharply. His gaze didn’t move from the fight below. “In the first place, just us leaving isn’t going to make much difference, not when Lupus and his entire pack are still scattered throughout the area.”
He folded his arms and narrowed his eyes. “Gary made the right call when he told everyone to stay here. Think about it. If you or the rest of the Howlers tried to run, Lupus would have already stationed his men to cut you off. They’d slaughter anyone who broke away. He’s not careless enough to leave an opening like that.”
The weight of his reasoning sank in. The group fell quiet, their hearts sinking lower. Midwak’s voice carried on, low but steady.
“The truth is, the Howlers have only lasted this long because of the strength of their core members. Splitting apart and regrouping... it was clever, it bought them time. But now?” His eyes darkened. “Now everyone is tied up. Everyone’s hurt. If Lupus brings his forces back at the right moment, when we’re weakest, then... we might all be doomed.”
“Can you not?” Park snapped suddenly, his frustration bubbling over. His hands slammed the balcony railing. “Always so damned gloomy! If you’re going to keep pointing out how hopeless everything is, then why don’t you come up with an actual solution instead of rubbing the problem in our faces!”
Midwak’s lips curled into a faint smirk. “I do have a solution.”
The others turned toward him instantly, their expressions tense.
“The answer is simple,” Midwak said, his tone as casual as if he were talking about the weather. “We break the vow. We fight with our full power. If we’re going to do it, then we do it now, before it’s too late. We don’t know what punishment the vow will bring, but it won’t matter, because it’ll fall on all of us together.”
His words lingered like a chill on the air.
“Gary said it himself, remember?” Midwak went on. “If we truly need to, if it’s the only way, then we should transform and save our lives. And looking at this fight, I’d say we’ve already reached that point.”
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