The will to choose one’s own path. The freedom to act without being bound by fate, was that truly possible? For Gary, it was a question that lingered deeply. He understood that the nature of Werewolves and Alphas made conflict inevitable. They were born to clash, to test dominance, to fight.
But what about one person’s will? Could sheer willpower rewrite what blood demanded?
Gary thought of his father. The man had never wanted to fight against Lupus, yet he’d found a way to avoid it. He’d gone through a situation that forced peace, but in doing so, he had only passed the burden down to the next generation. The curse remained, dormant but alive, waiting for someone else to bear it.
Now, as Gary listened to Steve’s story, he couldn’t shake the eerie familiarity. Another pair of brothers, another pair of Alphas. Was history about to repeat itself? However they had managed to remain peaceful for the time being, or was the whole point of this space to show them something else?
Before anyone could ask more, Steve looked up at the darkening sky.
“Alright, we’ll camp here for the night,” he said. “It’s an open space, good sightlines, plenty of trees for cover. We’ll need to hunt later, but we’ve got enough supplies to last till morning. Sorry, but it looks like we won’t reach the camp until tomorrow. Rest while we set things up.”
Which also meant that the second part of the story would have to be put on pause for now.
Without hesitation, Steve leapt forward and sliced through a massive tree with a single sweep of his claws. The trunk crashed down, shaking the ground. Several of his men caught the falling sections before they could roll, cutting and shaping them swiftly into usable chunks.
In minutes, the fallen tree had become stools and firewood. The Werewolves worked with practiced rhythm, every movement efficient, every role clear. They’d done this countless times before.
Kai, Gary, and Lupus sat nearby, unsure whether to help. It didn’t feel right just watching them work, but it was clear these wolves knew what they were doing.
“I guess this is the rescue team,” Kai murmured, watching the coordination. “They’re used to traveling, saving others, moving fast. Makes me wonder how many more there are in Steve’s pack.”
Lupus rubbed his chin. “When it came to Ruin City and our father’s pack, the numbers were small. The bigger a pack grows, the higher the risk something goes wrong. A small group is easier to keep loyal, to move together with purpose. But once it grows too large... factions form. Cliques. Division spreads.”
He glanced at the others, his expression darkening. “Even then, Alphas still appear. It doesn’t matter how small the pack is, the balance always tips. Eventually, it happens.”
Gary nodded slowly, his mind turning to another realization. “What’s crazy to me is that he said he was a Dem. You all heard that, right? That means Steve’s from the same bloodline as us. Not just him, Jack too.”
“Which means,” Kai added, “you and Lupus might be descended from one of them.”
Gary frowned. “That’s what I’ve been thinking. But which one? Could it be Steve... or Jack?”
Kai smirked slightly. “Judging by your brown fur, I’d say you’ve got more in common with Steve. The resemblance is there.” Then his voice softened, thoughtful. “What I really want to know is how strong the Alphas of this time are. This was an era when beasts still roamed freely. Remember, Werewolves grow stronger by consuming Altered and Beast crystals. If they’ve been doing that for generations, their power must be on a whole different level.”
He leaned back, eyes narrowing toward Steve’s group. “Even with our own strength limited, I’m not sure we’d be a match for them.”
As if summoned by those words, a broad-shouldered man with huge, rounded arms approached. He wore a metallic vest that left his forearms bare, his muscles thick as iron.
“Hey, big guy,” the man called, nodding toward Lupus. “You look like the strongest one here. How about a little game?”
Gary followed his gaze and spotted a small stump nearby where two men were locked in an arm-wrestling match. Their hands strained against each other until one slammed the other’s fist into the wood with a sharp crack. The crowd cheered.
“We like to test the new ones,” the man said. “Some Omegas turn out to be monsters in disguise, stronger than half of us. Let’s see what you’re made of, huh? It’s good to know who we can count on in a fight.”
Lupus said nothing. He simply rose from his seat, stretching his arms with calm confidence, and walked toward the stump.
Gary groaned. “Seriously? They just assume he’s the strongest because he’s big? These guys should know size isn’t everything.”
Kai chuckled. “You know, out of context, that sounds way too suggestive, especially coming from you. Considering how often you’ve been talking about stripping lately...”
“I’m still thinking about it,” Gary muttered defensively. “Maybe I’ll just say I sleep better without a shirt. That’s reasonable, right?”
Kai laughed under his breath as the crowd gathered. The two Werewolves locked hands over the stump. Veins bulged, muscles tensed, and the wood creaked beneath the strain.
Lupus’s opponent’s hand was driven down hard enough to shake the stump. Gasps filled the air.
“Whoa! The new guy beat Yorn!” someone shouted. “Did you see that? He didn’t even struggle, just crushed him!”
“Someone else go up against him!” another voice called. “Come on, we might have found a real powerhouse here!”
Within seconds, more wolves stepped forward, eager to test themselves. The crowd swelled around the makeshift arena, laughter and shouts rising with the flicker of firelight.
Gary and Kai stayed where they were, watching the growing spectacle. That was when Steve walked over and crouched beside them, his grin easy and confident.
“Looks like they’re having fun,” he said. His gaze lingered on the stump before turning to Gary. “But I’m curious. I heard you earlier, you think you’re strong too, right? Why don’t we put that to the test?”
For updates on MWS and future works, follow me on my social media below.
P.a.t.r.e.o.n: jksmanga
When news drops about My Vampire System, My Werewolf System, or any other series, you’ll hear it there first. Feel free to reach out, if I’m not too busy, I tend to reply.