My Werewolf System

Chapter 1485: The Cost of Survival

Once everything had finally been settled , Kai locked away in the underground cellar with guards keeping watch , Gary and Don were able to step inside the restaurant properly.

It was the first time Gary had slowed down enough to really take in the aftermath. His chest felt tight as his eyes swept across the place. The air was heavy with the stench of blood and smoke, the sour smell of sweat, and the faint tang of silver still clinging to the broken Anti-Altered weapons scattered on the ground. The tables and polished floors of the once-beautiful building were smashed, gouged with claw marks, or littered with rubble. Every surface carried scars of the battle.

And yet, despite all that, what weighed most heavily on Gary wasn’t the wreckage of the walls , it was the people.

The Howlers had shown up in force. With their allies spread throughout the different districts and rallying under his banner, they had managed to bring together nearly three thousand fighters. Hundreds among them had carried Anti-Altered weapons, courageously stepping up against the overwhelming threat of the Werewolves. For a moment, that number had seemed like a shield. A miracle in itself.

But as Gary looked around, he realized the truth. At least half of them were gone.

They hadn’t simply fled. They had died.

Bodies covered with sheets were lined up in corners, and the faint groans of the wounded echoed from improvised sickbeds. Altereds who had fought side by side with them , Crawley’s people, Izzy, Numba, Ian , were sitting slumped against walls, eyes dulled with exhaustion. Their arms and chests bore wounds still raw and bruised, evidence of how close they had come to falling.

The survival of even this many felt miraculous. But miracles always carried a cost.

Gary forced himself forward, climbing to the upper floor where he had called for the others to gather. The top balcony still stood, though its railings were bent and its tiles cracked. From here he could look out over the battlefield that Slough had become. He needed to hear the reports.

When he arrived, the first thing he noticed was that not everyone had made it back. Empty spaces hung in the group like silent accusations.

He didn’t let the grief show on his face. Instead, he spoke with the steadiness of a leader.

“I know the situation was hard,” Gary began, his voice carrying over the group. “All of you did well , more than well. We were on the back foot from the very start. Our only plan was to buy time, to retreat here, and to survive long enough to regroup. And yet you’ve all made it. You did what had to be done. I’m glad…” He gave a small, tired smile. “…I’m glad to see the smiles on your faces.”

Some tried to smile back. Others could only lower their heads.

The group began to share what had happened in their sectors. Crawley spoke first, explaining how they had encountered Ylva and her Werewolves, the overwhelming force that had driven them to fall back earlier than planned. His words carried the weight of someone who knew his people had been lucky to make it out at all.

Then Marie recounted her part, how she had crossed paths with the Howlers again, and the desperate battle that had followed. Her news carried a sliver of light , one of the Ironfangs had been defeated. It was a small victory in the storm, but a victory nonetheless.

Innu followed with his report. He admitted uncertainty, but from the way his opponent hadn’t pursued him, it was clear the foe was either dead or too broken to return. Another piece of good news, though the relief was fleeting.

Because then came the darker stories.

Sadie and Frank shared their encounter with the iron-masked Werewolf , a terrifying figure whose power had taken them completely off guard. Their voices faltered as they explained how Kanu had stayed behind, buying them precious time to escape. He hadn’t come back. Everyone understood what that meant.

A silence fell. Heads bowed. For Gary, the silence stretched. His gaze moved to Xin, who stood rigid, her hands clenched so tightly they trembled. Her eyes were shut, her face twisted in pain she couldn’t hide. Kanu hadn’t been just another comrade. He had been her brother-in-law, a man she had known and seen many times. The loss cut deeply, and though no one spoke, they all felt it.

Don, too, looked down, sorrow etched across his features. He had known Kanu, respected him, and now another good man was gone.

As if that wasn’t enough, Apollo stepped forward next with another blow. Ice was dead.

Gary’s heart sank at the confirmation. He had suspected, from seeing Lupus wield such monstrous power, but hearing it said out loud made it real. Ice had been a comrade for only a short time, yet his impact had been immense. He had been braver, kinder, and stronger than Gary had realized , and now Gary would never get the chance to tell him that.

Finally, Austin delivered the last report. “We were holding them off,” he said grimly. “But they split off. Spread in every direction. By now… they’re probably all over Slough.”

The words made everyone stiffen.

“So there’s an even bigger force out there now?” Innu muttered, his throat tight. “More Werewolves , stronger ones , armed with items? And with Ylva’s power, they’ll be even worse than before. How… how are we supposed to deal with that?”

The group shifted uneasily. The weight of it pressed down on all of them. They had fought tooth and nail just to survive the night. How could they stand against reinforcements on top of it?

Gary took a breath. He couldn’t let despair win. “We can’t fight them all,” he said firmly. “Not every Werewolf. That’s impossible. But we don’t need to. What we need is focus.” His eyes swept over them. “There are key threats , the ones who lead, the ones who tip the balance.”

He raised a hand, counting them off.

“Ylva. Lupus. They’ll both be in their True Alpha forms, and they’ll be stronger than ever. Then there’s the iron-masked Wolf you met , another threat we can’t underestimate. Slit is still alive somewhere, injured but dangerous. And finally… Broodie. He’s rallying their reinforcements, pushing them into Slough.”

Gary’s hand closed into a fist. “These are the enemies that matter. These are the ones we have to stop. If we can take them out, the rest will fall apart. That’s where our focus has to be.”

Around him, the group absorbed his words. Their faces were grim, but in their eyes, Gary could see it , determination flickering, even in the darkest moment.

The cost of survival had already been steep. But the real battle was still ahead.

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