“What?”
The word tumbled out of Gary’s mouth in a muffled, unintelligible heap. His brain, usually sharp enough to track a scent across miles of urban concrete, had suddenly ground to a screeching halt. He stood there, frozen beneath the rose-covered altar, looking as if soone had just hit him with a heavy-duty tranquilizer dart.
“Haha, just look at your face,” Xin teased, her voice light and lodic. She reached up with a delicate, gloved finger to wipe a stray tear from his cheek. “I only found out recently, so it really hasn’t been that long, but it looks like our family really is going to be getting a little bigger after all.”
As a kid growing up in the rougher patches of Slough, Gary had often tried to imagine what a day like this would an. Back then, he had viewed adulthood as a far-off, impossible country. Now that he was standing on the threshold of it, he felt a strange, shifting perspective. Was this the day he gave it all up? Did becoming a father an he had to abandon the legacy he had built? Was it ti to retire the Alpha and beco a man whose only focus was sothing so small and fragile?
He turned his head to the right, his gaze sweeping over the crowd of people who had gathered to witness this mont. These were the survivors, the friends, and the family who had stood by him when the world was falling apart. Seeing them all there, he realized with a profound clarity that he didn’t have to give anything up. This wasn’t the end of his journey; it was a beautiful, terrifying new Chapter. This child wouldn’t be a reason to quit; it would be the ultimate reason to keep the peace he had bled for.
With his heart hamring against his ribs, Gary looked back into Xin’s eyes and spoke the words that would cent their lives together forever.
“I do,” Gary answered, his voice finally finding its strength.
“Then by the power vested in , you may now kiss the bride.”
Gary leaned in, pressing his lips against Xin’s in a kiss that tasted of victory and promise. He knew, with the absolute certainty of a man who had seen the brink of extinction, that this was a day he would rember until he turned old and grey.
Once the ceremony concluded, the garden erupted into a joyous chaos. The group posed for hundreds of pictures, the black and gold of the Howlers’ legacy shining brightly against the white manor. The afternoon transitioned into a lavish al, filled with laughter and the clinking of glasses, followed by gas that saw the forr street-fighters acting like kids again. Finally, the music shifted, and it was ti for the first dance.
The two were immaculate on the dance floor. They had spent weeks practicing, treating the waltz exactly like their old AFA combat drills. To Gary and Xin, it was just a series of synchronized steps, and for the most part, they were in perfect harmony. Gary struggled slightly toward the end—even back at the academy, he had never been a quick learner when it ca to finesse—but his sheer hard work and determination saw him through the finale without stepping on Xin’s toes.
As evening bled into night, the party moved into full swing. The dance floor was a blur of suits and gowns, while Gary sat next to Xin at the head of the table, watching his friends celebrate.
“So... do you know the sex yet?” Gary asked, leaning in close so only she could hear.
“I took a blood test,” Xin admitted. “The results ca back yesterday. Do you really want to know now, or are you going to be upset if it’s not what you expected?”
“I don’t care about that,” Gary said, his eyes softening. “I’m just curious, that’s all. I want to know who I’m waiting for.”
“Alright. Well, you’ve always been the flashy type, standing out with that green hair of yours,” Xin said, standing up and reaching for a champagne flute. “So maybe I’ll stand out a bit this ti.”
She tapped the side of her glass with a spoon, the sharp clink echoing through the hall. The room quickly fell into a respectful silence.
“We want to thank everyone for being here today, for taking the ti out of your busy lives to celebrate the journey Gary and I have been through,” Xin said, her voice clear and resonant. “I can safely say that without every single person in this room—regardless of whether you think your contribution was small or big—we wouldn’t be standing here today. You are the reason we can enjoy this peace. So, thank you from , from Gary... and from our lovely daughter.”
Xin smiled and placed a hand gently over her belly.
“WHAT!”
The exclamation was audible and unified. Shocked faces stared back at the head table, and Gary found himself just as stunned as the rest of them. He hadn’t expected her to drop the news like a bombshell in front of the entire group. As Xin turned to him with a smug, triumphant smile, she expected to see him beaming with pride. Instead, she found Gary sniffling, his eyes red and watery.
“I’m... I’m... I’m going to be a father, damn it!” Gary choked out. He grabbed a glass of alcohol in front of him and started to swig it away, then suddenly stopped. “Wait, none for you! And... does the sll of booze effect the baby? Let search that real quick. What about the loud music? Should we turn it down? I don’t want to ss up her hearing developnt in the womb!”
Xin shook her head, a warm laugh bubbling up in her chest. “You’re going to be a great dad, Gary.”
The night roared on, and as the early hours of the morning approached, Gary found himself leaning back in his chair, barely able to keep his eyes open. He had enjoyed every second of the joyous night. It was then that Kai walked over, looking uncharacteristically somber.
“Hey... are you sober enough to read this?” Kai asked, holding out a plain white envelope.
“Yeah, I’m fine. You know our tabolism breaks down the toxins quicker than normal,” Gary said, sitting up straight and taking the letter. “What is it?”
“It’s a letter. It was delivered by Slit about thirty minutes ago,” Kai explained.
“Slit? Wasn’t he staying with Lupus in Ruin City?”
“Right. Which ans I can guess exactly who this is from. I noticed him lurking near the periter earlier, but since he didn’t approach, I let it be. He’s clearly been acting as a scout for Lupus.”
True to his word, Lupus hadn’t contacted Gary for two full years. He had stayed off the radar, living as a ghost in the ruins of the old world. Gary had respected that distance, never searching for him out of a sense of profound respect for the man’s sacrifice.
Gary tore open the envelope and began to read.
’Congratulations on your big day, Gary. I am truly happy for you. I don’t wish to take away from your celebration with my own burdens, but I heard the news from Slit and felt it necessary to write this. There is information that the Bookkeeper does not share with the masses. There are secrets passed only from Alpha to Alpha, and for good reason. I will be sending the next Bookkeeper to your group soon, but in case he is delayed, you must know this now: A pregnancy between an Alpha and a Luna is different. As the term progresses, the Luna’s body will weaken. By the ti she is close to giving birth, she will lose nearly all of her supernatural power. You understand why this has been kept a secret. Gary, do everything in your power to protect your new family. I hope I never have to see you again.’
Gary gripped the paper firmly, his gaze drifting over to Xin, who was laughing at sothing Innu had said.
“Thank you, Lupus,” Gary whispered. “I will protect my family... and that includes you. I didn’t fight this hard just to let go of the people I care about. This life—this is the life I want to live forever.”
Sowhere deep within the skeletal remains of Ruin City, Lupus sat in a throne carved from stone and salvage. He had recreated the seat to mirror the one in the ancient castle, a reminder of the weight he carried. He stared at the two massive iron doors that led into his inner sanctum.
“I hope you rember my promise, Gary,” Lupus said to the empty, cold room. “I will help you, no matter what, whenever you need it. But I truly hope the day never cos where I see you walking through those doors. Because if I do... it ans the war has begun.”
.....The End of My Werewolf System but not the end of Gary Dem....
Gary’s story continues in Legendary Blood Hunter. This story will be exclusive to P.a.t.r.e.o.n and Amazon and will not be on Webnovel. To read Legendary Blood Hunter now, go to my P.a.t.r.e.o.n, JKSManga.
Legendary Blood Hunter is a story that follows Tai Talen, who lost both his parents one to a vampire the other to a werewolf. He is thrown into the deep end when he realizes he is stuck in the middle of a war between the vampires and werewolves. But Tai is not left without choices, as he has a system of his own.
[You have encountered a creature of the Underworld]
[Quest Received]
[Slay 0/10 Vampires]
[Slay 0/10 Werewolves]
Thank you, everyone, for reading My Werewolf System. It was a story that was probably closest to my heart while writing. A lot of it was based on my life growing up in Slough, my friends, and the things we used to do, down to being on the rugby team, teachers’ conversations, transfer students, and more. But what I rembered most was how we would even dream about getting out of Slough and going on a grand adventure.
The story allowed to relive parts of my childhood. It’s always sad because I never want my stories to end. I don’t want to say goodbye to those characters, and I even want to check up on what they are doing once in a while. I think the only reason why I’m okay with it is because the Talen Universe hasn’t ended.
Legendary Blood Hunter, The God Slayer, and The First Vampire Punisher.
These three books will be on P.a.t.r.e.o.n, JKSManga, to read in the Talen World, and My Vampire Awakening, the sequel and the final book in the Talen Verse, will be out on Webnovel.
So there’s still more to go, but if you want to know where to go next, read Legendary Blood Hunter. The first Chapter is already out!
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