My Werewolf System Chapter 1329

“You’re going into a slumber?” Gary asked, narrowing his eyes. “Why do I get the feeling that doesn’t just mean you’re taking a long nap?”

He looked around. Everyone else seemed to be wrapped up in their own worlds, figuring out what to do next. Some of the Altered Hunters were even deep in conversation with Kai, asking about accommodations. It looked like they were starting to seriously consider moving to Slough, if that’s what it took to secure a better future.

Of course, not everyone would make the move. Some had lives they couldn’t leave behind. They’d likely return home and lay low for a while, staying in hiding until things settled down.

“I guess you’re right,” Edvard replied, a faint, tired smile on his face. “It is sleep… but a very long one. One where I hope I won’t be woken up again.”

“You see,” he continued, “when I told you I was an Original Vampire, I didn’t exactly go into the real differences between us and the others. Vampires already live long lives, Gary. But Originals… we live forever. We’re immortal.”

“Immortal?” Gary repeated. “So… you can’t die?”

“I said immortal, not invincible,” Edvard clarified. “If someone crushes my body, destroys my heart or head, I’m just as dead as anyone else. But age? Time? They can’t kill me. And I’ve been alive for a very, very long time. When you’ve seen as many years as I have… you start to feel the weight of the world pressing down on you.”

He paused, the emotion creeping into his voice.

“You make friends… and watch them all pass away. You build something up… only to watch it crumble, over and over again. After a while, you go numb. But then, it hits you all over again, worse than before. Losing the members of the Altered Hunters, losing everything we worked for… it’s a pain I don’t want to feel anymore.”

His gaze drifted to the armor still clinging to his battered body.

“My body’s broken, Gary. That fight with Lupus left me with more damage than I can handle. So, I’ll go to sleep in this armor. If I can’t find peace in death, then at least I can escape in sleep. That’s why I wanted to talk to you before I go.”

It felt strange for Gary, talking to someone who was basically saying goodbye. He couldn’t help but wonder… would he ever see Edvard again? But at least, if nothing else, he was glad Edvard wouldn’t be lying down vulnerable. He would go to rest with his armor intact.

“I also wanted to tell you that when I return, I’ll be making strong recommendations to the vampires. I’ll urge them to support you. I’ll name Blackjack as the official point of contact between the Howlers and our kind. And if you want my advice… I think working with the vampires is your best path forward.”

“Let the settlement deal with the Dark Guild,” Edvard said. “While you focus on Lupus. That’s a deal they’ll be happy to accept, I’m sure of it.”

Edvard waited. He was expecting an answer, yes or no. But instead, he saw Gary staring into his drink, absentmindedly toying with the glass, deep in thought.

“After everything we’ve talked about,” Gary said, finally turning to face him, “you really think that’s the best idea? Even after what you know?”

“You said it yourself, some of the vampires see us as enemies. And just like Lupus… I’ve got people I want to protect.”

“Which is exactly why I think it’s worth striking a deal,” Edvard said. “You’re not like the Alphas we’ve known in the past. We’ve had leaders that were good, and some that were cruel… but I believe you have the potential to bring something new. You could usher in a time of peace. A time where you enjoy life with the people around you.”

Gary thought back to his meeting with the Vampire King. The man had seemed more reasonable than expected. But even so, something kept gnawing at the back of his mind.

“All of this… it comes back to that rule, doesn’t it?” Gary muttered. “That Alphas are meant to fight one another. So maybe I should strike a deal. But that’s where my problem lies. The werewolf packs… they fight each other because they have to. But vampires? They’ve fought us because they wanted to. And that’s the part I just can’t ignore.”

Kai, who had been listening in from a distance, couldn’t help but smile at Gary’s words.

‘You couldn’t have said it better. You’ve really grown as a leader, Gary. To see things this clearly now…’ Kai thought proudly.

The night carried on. They talked, shared a few laughs, even told some stories, but the mood would dip back into seriousness every now and then.

“You know,” Edvard said, staring at his drink, “there was a man I fought beside long ago. Someone like you. His name was Arthur. He did a lot for the people around him. Sometimes he made the wrong decisions, but he always followed what he believed was right. Back then, we were fighting against werewolves together. And now here I am, sharing a drink with one.”

He let out a quiet laugh.

“I’m sure Arthur would find that hard to believe.”

“When we go into slumber,” he continued, “we can be woken up again… but I hope that never happens. If it does, I hope it’s not because I have to fight again. I like to think the best of people… of my people, of vampires. So I hope your thoughts are wrong, Gary. And if they are, well, I’ll never know. I’ll be asleep, haha!”

As the night wound down, the decision was made: it was time for everyone to get some rest.

Except for two people, Blackjack and Edvard. They would be leaving the city that night. And who knew if they would ever return?

Gary stood by the door and waved as it shut, watching them disappear into the darkness beyond. Everyone else had already gone, except for the core members of the Howlers.

“Before you guys go!” Kai called out, stepping forward. “There’s an urgent matter we need to talk about.”

***

Baby updates: I need sleep, so second chapter not till tommrow. Early tommrow morning we are going into hospital to decide method of induced labour. They have said we have to stay at the hospital, so I don’t know how long I will be there or what day the birth will be. I will try write chapters in the hopsital while my wife is going through all test and options, but just be aware I do need to be a good husband and be there for her, and I hope to be a good dad as well.

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