While riding in the minibus, Gary was quietly checking his system interface. He wasn't doing anything special, just trying to see how things looked, maybe catch a glimpse of his stats like the others could. For the most part, everything seemed normal. But now and then, the screen would flicker. Certain parts of the interface glitched or became unreadable. It was the first time he'd seen the system act this way. Physically, his body felt normal. Other than the strange voice that had randomly popped into his head a few times earlier… Why is the system acting up like this? Gary thought, frowning slightly. According to Dad, Rickle was the one who created it, right? So… is it just bugging out now? The system was tightly linked to his werewolf identity, so could it even glitch like this? Maybe this is something I should bring up with him, Gary continued. If the system breaks down… will I still be able to access my forms properly? Will my skills still work? Or is it just a convenient interface that organizes all my powers for me? Thinking about it, Gary realized he probably should've asked these kinds of questions a long time ago. The system had always been a reliable tool, helping him understand his powers and monitor his progress. Even if it did frustrate him sometimes with how vague it could be. Well… maybe it'll fix itself, Gary hoped. It's not like I can just hit a 'reset' button. But with the glitching… and that voice… it feels like the two might be connected. His thoughts were interrupted as the vehicle pulled up outside the Wolf's Pool Club. "Alright!" Park shouted from the front. "Gary, anyone else getting off here, do it now. I'll take the rest of you home. Been a long night!" Gary and Xin stepped out first, their stomachs growling. They were both hungry, and along with them came Tom and Kai, figuring it was best to keep an eye on the two for now. The van pulled away as the four of them headed toward the entrance. Kai fished a key out of his pocket and pushed it into the lock. "Huh… that's weird. It's unlocked," Kai muttered. "Did Marie's mom forget to lock up? She never forgets." His nose twitched instinctively. He sniffed the air. "There's someone inside… someone unfamiliar." As Kai opened the door, the group cautiously stepped in. And there, waiting for them inside, was someone they recognized immediately. "Don't worry," the man said. "She gave me the key so we could lock up after this. It's good to see you, Gary. I was starting to get worried." It was Dean, Gary's father. The last time they'd met, Dean had helped Gary in his brutal fight against Harvor and his forces. It had been intense. Dean had given everything he had to support his son in that moment. But afterward, he had made it clear, there were still matters he had to take care of, things that couldn't be postponed. So once again, they had parted ways. Gary understood. He knew his father cared. He also knew Dean had done everything he could when it mattered most. That didn't erase the past, but it helped. He had, somewhat, forgiven him for everything that had happened. Before any serious conversation began, emergency food supplies were pulled out from behind the bar for Gary and Xin. But before she ate, Xin turned to Dean and gave a polite bow. "I don't usually eat in front of my boyfriend's father," she said, "but I'm starving, so I apologize in advance for the sight you're about to see." Gary blinked. "Boyfriend?" "I thought it was official," Xin replied casually, already opening her food. "Since we both became Luna and Alpha, you know?" "R-Right…" Gary said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess it is. Just… the first time I've heard it said out loud. I… I like it." Dean chuckled, smiling warmly. "It's nice to meet you, Xin," he said. "If things were normal, I'd say we should all go out for a proper meal together. My treat, of course." His smile faded slightly. "And… I wanted to say I'm sorry. For your brother. He was a great person. I know he meant a lot to both of you. Honestly, I think a part of me believes it's because of him that the two of you are even standing here right now." Though Xin still felt a deep ache every time her brother Jayden was mentioned, she allowed herself to hold onto the warmth of his memory. She smiled. "Thank you for your kind words." "So," Gary said, putting down his food, "is there a reason for the visit? Did you get a break from Rickle, or is this about something else? I mean, I doubt you'd show up in the middle of the night just to talk about me." Kai and Tom dragged over chairs, clearly interested in whatever was coming. Especially Kai, who leaned forward. "I heard about what happened in Lupus City," Dean said. "There was a battle… and from what I've heard, you were working with the Altered Hunters?" Gary swallowed a bite of jerky before answering. "I'm guessing you know the Altered Hunters were being controlled by them," he said plainly. Dean nodded. "I know about the settlement," he replied. "We were taught about it by the Book Keeper, and I've had my fair share of encounters with them. Some confrontations, nothing too major, but enough to be wary." "When we were living in the ruins," Dean continued, "we stayed low, kept to ourselves, as I explained to you before." Kai crossed his arms. "Do you think we can trust them? If we tried to negotiate or form some kind of alliance?" Dean paused for a long moment. "Honestly… I don't know," he said at last. "Rickle has told me little about them. But what he has said? The vampires themselves are always in disagreement. Constantly at odds. That's probably the main reason they've never gone all-out to wipe us out completely." "So… I don't think I can give you a straight answer on that." Gary's expression tightened. "How did you know we were headed to Ruin City?" he asked. Dean smiled faintly and sat up straighter. "Oh, that?" he said. "That's because Lupus told me himself." *** Author's Note: For updates on My Werewolf System and future works, follow me on social media: Instagram: @jksmanga P.a.t.r.e.o.n: patreon.com/jksmanga Stay updated on MVS, MWS, or any new series announcements. I try to respond whenever I can!