Chapter 1663: Switching Sides

Seeing how the quest screen had completely disappeared, the three of them immediately understood what that meant. There was no confirmation message, no follow-up instruction, and no guiding arrow telling them where to go next. The system, for once, had gone completely silent. That alone told them that the choice they had just made wasn’t a temporary one or something they could easily undo.

This was it.

In some strange way, all three of them had been hoping that another screen would appear, something to reassure them or at least point them toward what they were supposed to do next. Even Kai, who usually distrusted the system more than anyone else, found the silence unsettling. The lack of direction made it clear that whatever happened next would play out naturally, without interference.

The only conclusion they could come to was that the situation unfolding in front of them had to reach its end first.

Gary took the first step forward.

Without saying a word, he began walking toward Steve’s side of the battlefield. Lupus and Kai followed closely behind him, matching his pace. Even though they were only taking a few steps, each one felt heavier than the last. The distance between the two packs wasn’t large, but crossing it felt like crossing a line that couldn’t be uncrossed.

Before they could get very far, a large Werewolf stepped directly into their path.

“No. What is this?”

The voice was filled with anger, disbelief, and something closer to betrayal. The Werewolf’s claws dug slightly into the ground as he stared them down, his eyes burning as he looked from one to the other.

“Am I really meant to just stand here and accept this?” the Werewolf continued. “We took these three in. We trained with them, fought beside them, and gave them shelter. And now, just because Steve asks, they turn their backs on us?”

His gaze shifted toward Jack, then back to the three again.

“And you expect us to just let them walk over there without a word?”

The tension in the air spiked immediately. Several Werewolves from Jack’s pack shifted their footing, their bodies reacting instinctively to the hostility. It wouldn’t take much for the situation to spiral out of control.

“Steeler!”

Jack’s voice cut through the tension sharply.

The Werewolf blocking their path froze when he heard his name.

“Let them pass,” Jack said firmly. “They can make their own decisions. They are not officially part of our pack, and even if they had asked to leave under normal circumstances, we would have granted it.”

Jack stepped forward slightly, his presence alone enough to quiet the murmurs spreading through his pack.

“I know the situation in front of us is strange,” Jack continued. “And I know it doesn’t feel right. But think of it this way. Nothing has changed in terms of their rights. They were free before, and they are still free now.”

Steeler clenched his jaw, clearly struggling with his emotions, but after a few moments, he stepped aside. He turned his head away, unwilling to watch them walk past.

The path was open.

As the three moved forward again, Jack spoke once more.

“Can I at least have an explanation?” he asked, his tone softer than before. “So I can understand... and so I can explain it to her.”

It was obvious who Jack was referring to.

Although the question was directed toward Lupus, it was Gary who stepped forward. He felt responsible. After all, he was the one who had ultimately voiced the decision.

“Before we came to the Red Wing Pack,” Gary began, “we were with Steve’s pack.”

There were quiet murmurs from both sides as people listened.

“We stayed there for a while,” Gary continued. “Long enough to learn how things worked. But we didn’t fully commit, because we weren’t sure if it was where we belonged. That’s why we came here. We wanted to see what the Red Wing Pack was like before making a final choice.”

Gary took a breath, steadying himself.

“For us, this isn’t about picking sides. It’s not about who we like more, or who we think is right or wrong. We don’t even fully understand everything that’s happening between you and Steve.”

Jack’s eyes remained fixed on him, listening carefully.

“What we do know,” Gary said, “is that we don’t want these two packs to fight. And if standing on Steve’s side gives us a chance to prevent that... then that’s the choice we’re making.”

Jack nodded slowly.

It wasn’t full agreement, but it was understanding.

The three continued walking, finally reaching Steve’s side of the clearing. While some faces welcomed them with relief, others looked at them with visible distrust. In particular, the Werewolves who had encountered Lupus before watched him closely, their expressions dark. They still believed a mistake had been made that night, one that might have allowed something dangerous to slip away.

Gary leaned closer to Steve.

“So what do we do about these fights?” he asked quietly. “Do we try to win? Because if we do, that could change everything.”

Kai glanced at Gary and smiled faintly.

“You’re the leader of the Howlers,” Kai said. “You made the call. So we’ll follow it.”

He exhaled slowly.

“At this point, I think we’ve already changed enough that worrying about what might have happened is pointless. Let’s just deal with what’s in front of us.”

For once, Kai didn’t overthink it any further.

On the opposite side, Jack scanned his pack. Galdark still hadn’t returned, but there was no shortage of capable fighters. After a brief pause, he made his decision.

“Steeler. Tongo. Claw.”

The three stepped forward immediately.

Each of them was well-known within the pack. Steeler was fast, relying on speed and precision. Tongo was balanced, strong without sacrificing agility. Claw, though not the largest, was infamous for the sheer destructive power behind his strikes.

“Steeler,” Jack said, “you’re up first.”

Kai stepped forward from Steve’s side.

“I’ll take this one.”

****

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