It had been a while since Gary and Blake had a mont to talk, just the two of them. Their relationship had always been a little unusual. Blake was an Altered Hunter, and Gary was not only a Werewolf, but one of the strongest out there. By all rights, they weren't supposed to stand on the sa side.
But sohow… they did.
Gary had expected to see Blake later at the Wolf's Pool Club, along with the rest of the group. So when he showed up at his apartnt door, Gary couldn't help but wonder why.
Still, without hesitation, Gary opened the door.
"Blake," he greeted, stepping aside and motioning him in. "Didn't expect to see you here, but co on in. Edvard's here too, by the way, but you two already know each other, so it's fine… right?" he added with a slightly nervous smile.
"Actually," Blake said, walking right past him, "I ca here because I wanted to see Edvard."
Gary blinked and muttered under his breath, "Sure, why not just announce it to the whole city. The last of the Altered Hunters all chilling in my apartnt, throwing a party. The journalists would love that headline."
No one responded. Not that he expected them to.
Blake walked over and sat in the single armchair by the coffee table. Edvard sat upright across from him, the pieces of his armor still resting to the side.
"I heard what happened to your father," Edvard said solemnly. "He was a good man. One of the best the Altered Hunters had. He didn't see Altereds as monsters. He never hunted for glory or reputation, he only took missions where real harm was being done to the public.
"If more hunters were like him, maybe the world would've turned out differently."
For a mont, Blake stayed composed. But then he clenched his trousers with both hands, head lowered as quiet tears fell to the floor.
His father had been his entire world. It had always just been the two of them. And now, in this quiet apartnt, he found himself wondering, if he held a funeral, would anyone have even co? Would anyone have said anything kind about the man who raised him?
Hearing Edvard's words, knowing soone else rembered his father with respect, that was the mont Blake's wall cracked.
"Thank you," Blake said softly. "I know now that the Altered Hunters weren't what they claid to be… but my father, he would've kept doing what he did regardless. That was just the kind of man he was."
Hearing Blake speak about his father made sothing stir in Gary's chest, guilt.
They were the sa age. Both had grown up with just one parent to rely on. Gary only had his mother. Their lives weren't all that different in that sense. Losing the one person who was always there… Gary couldn't even imagine it. He had tried to help. He wanted to do more.
"Don't feel guilty, Gary," Blake suddenly said, breaking the silence. "I know what's going through your head. I was angry at first, but I've had ti to think. You did what you could. I get that now."
He reached for sothing by his side, a long object wrapped in cloth, and slid it across the table.
"With the Altered Hunters gone, I've decided to stop hunting altogether. And I want to return this."
Gary and Edvard looked down at the cloth-covered item.
"I want the sword to go back to the Altered Hunters… or at least to the family that was entrusted with it."
Edvard stared at the bundle in silence for a few seconds before speaking.
"Is that really the only reason you're giving it back?" he asked quietly. "That sword belonged to Roman Longblade. I believe you were close to him for a ti. I can return it to his family… but you should know, Roman used to talk about that sword. Said it had… issues. Though he never explained what they were."
Blake's hands trembled. Whether from the mories of his father or the weight of the mont, it was hard to tell.
"Just take it," Blake said, rising to his feet. "I'll see you later at the Wolf's Pool Club. I'm done with fighting. I think it's what my father would've wanted. But…"
His voice grew colder, sharper.
"If Lupus and his pack attack again, if I see her, the Luna, I won't hesitate. I'll take her out myself. No matter who stands in my way. Even if it's a mber of the Howlers."
Gary looked Blake in the eye, unwavering.
"That's your right," he said calmly, fully understanding who Blake ant.
With that, Blake turned and left the apartnt, leaving behind a heavy silence. They still had so ti before heading to the Wolf's Pool Club, but Gary couldn't shake the tension in the air.
"Blake and his father," Edvard said, leaning back, "they've always been an interesting pair. I'm not surprised you managed to get them on your side."
"Edvard," Gary said, glancing over. "I think you should do sothing… for all of the Altered Hunters. So many of them lost their lives. You asked to take them in, to make them part of Slough."
"I can do that. But what will you do for them? How will you make sure this place is actually safe for them?"
Edvard was quiet, thoughtful. He didn't answer right away.
But before he could say anything, both of them tensed at the sa ti. Their senses flared, soone was approaching the door.
Their noses twitched. It was clear, even before the knock.
Edvard glanced sideways and, instead of answering Gary's question, changed the subject.
"I never knew," he said with a faint smile, "that the Howlers had a Luna."
****
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