My Werewolf System

Chapter 1333: Vampires and Werewolves Friends?

”Youʼre going into a slumber?” Gary asked, narrowing his eyes. ”Why do I get the feeling that doesnʼt just mean youʼre 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 thatʼs what it took to secure a better future.

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

”I guess youʼre right,” Edvard replied, a faint, tired smile on his face. ”It is sleep… but a very long one. One where I hope I wonʼt be woken up again.”

”You see,” he continued, ”when I told you I was an Original Vampire, I didnʼt exactly go into the real differences between us and the others. Vampires already live long lives, Gary. But Originals… we live forever. Weʼre immortal.”

”Immortal?” Gary repeated. ”So… you canʼt die?”

”I said immortal, not invincible,” Edvard clarified. ”If someone crushes my body, destroys my heart or head, Iʼm just as dead as anyone else. But age? Time? They canʼt kill me. And Iʼve been alive for a very, very long time. When youʼve 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… itʼs a pain I donʼt want to feel anymore.”

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

”My bodyʼs broken, Gary. That fight with Lupus left me with more damage than I can handle. So, Iʼll go to sleep in this armor. If I canʼt find peace in death, then at least I can escape in sleep. Thatʼs why I wanted to talk to you before I go.”

It felt strange for Gary, talking to someone who was basically saying goodbye. He couldnʼt help but wonder… would he ever see Edvard again? But at least, if nothing else, he was glad Edvard wouldnʼt be lying down vulnerable. He would go to rest with his armor intact.

”I also wanted to tell you that when I return, Iʼll be making strong recommendations to the vampires. Iʼll urge them to support you. Iʼll 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. Thatʼs a deal theyʼll be happy to accept, Iʼm 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 weʼve talked about,” Gary said, finally turning to face him, ”you really think thatʼs the best idea? Even after what you know?”

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

”Which is exactly why I think itʼs worth striking a deal,” Edvard said. ”Youʼre not like the Alphas weʼve known in the past. Weʼve 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, doesnʼt it?” Gary muttered. ”That Alphas are meant to fight one another. So maybe I should strike a deal. But thatʼs where my problem lies. The werewolf packs… they fight each other because they have to. But vampires? Theyʼve fought us because they wanted to. And thatʼs the part I just canʼt ignore.”

Kai, who had been listening in from a distance, couldnʼt help but smile at Garyʼs words.

ʼYou couldnʼt have said it better. Youʼve really grown as a leader, Gary. To see things this clearly now…ʼ 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.

”Iʼm 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 itʼs 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, Iʼll never know. Iʼll 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. ”Thereʼs 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 donʼt 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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