Chapter 1582: A Time Bomb

The Howlers had stuck to their plan. With Slough being as unstable as it was, it wasn’t a place that could afford mistakes. Some of the Werewolves from the pack had already returned with Garlack to Ruin City. They believed that if Lupus ever came back, that would be the first place he’d go.

At the same time, the group there was tasked with watching for any movements, any sign that things were changing again.

Meanwhile, the Howlers themselves had spread a new rumor across the streets. Word was that they had completely crushed the Lupus group , and that it hadn’t even been a close fight.

The name “Howlers” had already carried weight in the underworld, but after this? It was echoing across every city. They had started from nothing, from the very bottom, and now they had taken down three of the major Kings, one after another.

If there was a rank higher than “King,” then the Howlers were it. People whispered that even the title didn’t fit them anymore. They were something else, something untouchable.

The strategy worked better than anyone expected. Fear spread like wildfire. Lower-tier gangs began to withdraw from the borders of Howler-controlled cities. Some who had small territories nearby decided to abandon them altogether.

They didn’t want trouble.

Even those who didn’t believe the rumors completely didn’t want to risk testing them. After all, no one wanted to be the next example.

It was all part of the plan , a psychological war before the next real one. The Howlers only hoped that this tactic would also work against the group they were truly aiming for.

Right now, Marie, Olivia, and the rest of the core members were gathered in their new base , the Wolf’s Pool Club. The large mansion they once used had been compromised during Unzoku’s last attack, and the threat still loomed.

The pool club, though smaller, felt safer , easier to defend, easier to leave unnoticed if they needed to.

“Still no luck finding anything about Gary?” Innu asked, breaking the silence as he leaned back against the pool table.

Marie shook her head, her expression tired. “No luck at all,” she said. “We tried a different approach , instead of just searching for him directly, we’re trying to trace the medallion. Tom’s using every connection he has, but it’s been tough.”

She sighed. “Since NIRV was partially dismantled, all operations involving Altered solution production have stopped. Most of their facilities have been shut down or destroyed. There’s almost nothing left for him to dig into.”

The weight in the room grew heavier. Even though the Howlers hadn’t lost any territory or faced direct danger recently, they all felt defeated. The uncertainty of not knowing where Gary or Kai were , their leader and their Alpha , was suffocating.

For them, it didn’t matter that they were technically winning. Without those two, the pack felt hollow.

As the tension hung in the air, the door to the lower level swung open, and a familiar figure stepped inside.

“Elijah,” Olivia said, surprised.

The man looked worn but alive , more alive than they’d seen him in a while. What stood out most, though, was the empty space where his left arm used to be.

“Whoa, look at him!” Innu shouted, elbowing Austin. “He doesn’t have his arm anymore!”

Elijah gave him a tired smirk. “Yeah,” he said, raising his shoulder. “Lost it during the fighting. Normally, it wouldn’t be a big deal , not for an Altered like me. But for some reason, it isn’t healing properly this time. I’m hoping it’s just slow recovery.”

Everyone in the room went quiet.

Elijah, along with Sadie and Frank, had chosen to remain in Slough. They had nowhere else to go. White Rose was gone , disbanded or destroyed , and though the world kept turning, none of them really had a place in it anymore.

Still, they had connections. Elijah stayed in touch with others, including Chen, who had somehow survived. That, in fact, was why he was here.

“I came to talk about the promise Kai made with Don,” Elijah said. His tone carried a mix of respect and urgency. “I’m not sure how much you all know, but Kai promised to help Central City. The state it’s in right now... it’s bad. With Don gone, things are falling apart fast.”

Marie leaned forward, folding her arms. She thought carefully before answering.

The Howlers couldn’t afford to lose people , not now. If Unzoku or the vampires attacked again, they would need every bit of strength they had to defend themselves. Sending members away would make them vulnerable.

“I’ve heard the same,” Olivia said softly. “And there’s more , rumors that the Dark Guild has been almost completely wiped out. No one knows who’s behind it.”

Elijah’s eyes flicked to her. “Exactly. Whatever did that could do the same to the rest of us.”

Marie nodded slowly. “I understand what you’re asking,” she said. “But you have to realize , we’re still surrounded by enemies. The vampires, Unzoku... even smaller threats waiting for an opportunity. It’s not easy to just split our forces right now.”

The group was quiet for a moment, all waiting for her decision. Marie, though, was calm. She wasn’t Gary or Kai , her strength wasn’t raw power or aggression. It was her ability to think clearly, to lead with reason.

“There’s one thing we can do,” she said at last. “There’s still a group of Werewolves stationed at AJ Entertainment. Kai had them remain there just in case the Dark Guild tried to retaliate. That’s not a problem anymore.”

She straightened, her tone turning decisive. “We’ll send them to Central. They’ll hold the area and declare it officially as Howler territory. That alone will make most groups back off. And if anyone’s foolish enough to attack...”

Her expression hardened. “Then they’ll be dealing with Werewolves.”

Innu whistled quietly under his breath. “That’ll do it.”

Marie continued, “Central isn’t too far from here. If something happens, they’ll still be close enough to support us in Slough.”

No one argued. Everyone could see the sense in her plan. Slowly, the others nodded, one by one, leaving Marie’s decision unquestioned. She had stepped into Kai’s role with quiet authority , and she carried it well.

Elijah relaxed, his shoulders lowering. “Thank you,” he said sincerely. “I know things are hard right now, but I appreciate it. And if we hear anything , anything at all , about Gary or Kai, we’ll come straight to you.”

After Elijah left, the silence returned once more. Marie exhaled deeply, her composure finally breaking for a second.

“My next step was going to be contacting the Dark Guild,” she admitted. “To see if they knew anything about the medallion. They worked closely with Lupus, and they were the ones who collected most of the beast weapons. I thought maybe they could help.”

She looked around at the others, her voice growing quiet. “But now that they’re gone... I don’t know where to start.”

There was a moment of stillness before she spoke again, her words heavier this time.

“I don’t know why,” she said softly, “but this whole situation... it feels like a time bomb waiting to go off. I just hope it doesn’t explode before we find Gary and Kai.”

****

((Second Chapter my morning)

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