Of course, the three of them had thought about telling Steve, and Jack as well, everything they knew. It had crossed Garyâs mind more than once, and Lupus had brought it up quietly when Kai wasnât around. But every time the thought came up, there was hesitation. Not because they didnât trust them, but because of how much it would really change.
And then there was Kai.
Any deeper involvement always seemed to push him closer to the edge. The more they interfered, the more he overthought everything, every possible future, every branch of time that could unfold depending on a single word or decision. Sometimes it felt like just being part of the situation was already driving him mad.
Still, things had shifted.
If Lenny and Bliss were somehow separate from the main flow of events, if they truly stood outside of whatever Unzoku had planned, then maybe this was different. Maybe they were meant to be here. Maybe they were the key to stopping what was coming in this era.
That thought alone made it worth listening.
Eventually, the group reached the top of the mountain. The climb had been slow and deliberate, not because they were tired, but because Steve insisted they move carefully. Before anything else, they checked the area thoroughly. They circled the peak, using heightened senses, making sure there were no Werewolves nearby, no scouts hiding among the rocks, no chance of someone overhearing what was about to be said.
Only when they were certain the area was clear did they finally stop.
The wind was strong at the summit, cold air sweeping across the open stone. From here, the camps below were barely visible, and for the first time since the confrontation began, there was a sense of separation from the chaos.
âThis conversation needs honesty,â Lenny said, breaking the silence. His voice was calm but firm. âAll of it. What youâve faced, what led you here, and what you believe is happening now. Only then can we understand where things truly went wrong.â
He turned his head slightly toward Steve.
âI think you should start.â
Steve exhaled slowly. It was clear this wasnât something he enjoyed revisiting, but he didnât resist.
He explained how Unzoku had approached him long ago, appearing without warning and speaking with certainty, as if everything that would happen had already been decided. Unzoku had tried to convince him to strike first, to attack the Red Wing Pack before things spiraled out of control.
Steve admitted he had always feared Unzoku. Roganâs warning still echoed in his mind, and the power Unzoku carried felt overwhelming, far beyond what anyone should possess.
Then came the attacks.
Steve spoke of his pack being ambushed by things that didnât seem human. Of returning scouts who never came back. Of bodies found torn apart in places they should have been safe. The tension in his voice rose when he mentioned Lilly, standing over one of the fallen, blood on her hands.
âBut even then,â Steve said, his jaw tightening, âI didnât believe it was her. I never did. I knew it didnât make sense.â
The problem was convincing everyone else.
Rumors had spread through his pack like wildfire. Accusations that Jackâs people were responsible. That the Red Wing Pack was hunting them. That they knew exactly where Steveâs pack would be at all times.
Fear turned into resentment. Resentment into hatred.
Jack listened in silence.
When it was his turn, his voice carried weight, heavy with exhaustion and desperation. He spoke of Unzokuâs visit, of the promises and threats wrapped together in half-truths. Of Lillyâs condition worsening, of watching the woman he loved lose pieces of herself day by day.
âIn my mind,â Jack said quietly, âeither Unzoku was lying⊠or there was a chance he wasnât. And if following his words even had the slightest chance of stopping what was happening, of protecting my pack, then I couldnât ignore it.â
He clenched his fists.
âI had to act before it was too late.â
Kai raised an eyebrow slightly as he listened. Jackâs reasoning still felt wrong to him, unnatural. Maybe it was because family was involved, maybe grief was clouding judgment, but even so, something didnât sit right. Steve was Jackâs family too.
Still, Kai kept his thoughts to himself. This wasnât the moment to challenge it.
That was when Lenny stepped forward again.
âJack,â he said, his tone steady, âwhat Unzoku told you about the two Alphas needing to fight is not true.â
Jack turned sharply toward him.
âYou already know this,â Lenny continued. âBecause I am the same as Lilly.â
Silence followed.
âWhat she is becoming,â Lenny said, âstarted long before any of this. Before Rogan. Before Steve became an Alpha. Unzoku didnât create the situation, he took advantage of it.â
Bliss stepped forward beside him.
âYou think that because Unzoku shares your nature, he has no reason to want this conflict,â she said. âBut there are forces at play that go far beyond simple alliances or shared blood.â
Her eyes glowed faintly as she spoke.
âIf you continue down this path,â Bliss warned, âmany will die. That is why we are here.â
She explained that they had gathered evidence, proof of Unzokuâs manipulation, his movements, his intentions. More than that, they knew where he was.
âThe answer youâre looking for, Jack,â Bliss said, âis not found in fighting your brother. If Unzoku is removed, the source of this conflict disappears.â
Jackâs breath hitched.
âBut Lilly, â
âThere is nothing we can do to cure her,â Bliss said gently. âNot now. But we can help her live. We can stop others from suffering the same fate.â
The words settled heavily over the group.
Then, without warning, the system screen appeared before Gary, Kai, and Lupus.
[Learn how to defeat Unzoku]
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