Chapter 1567: Return to the Mountain Jack and Steve left the Red Wing Kingdom in silence. They didn’t announce it to the pack. They didn’t tell the city guards, the smiths, or even the council members who had begun to respect Jack’s leadership. Jack hadn’t told his family either, only that he was heading out on “another quest,” the same excuse he’d used countless times before. To them, it was just another mission. But this time, Jack knew he might not return the same man. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮 The two of them ran side by side through the wilderness. Their armor glinted faintly under the moonlight, each piece molded perfectly to their bodies. Both of them had partially transformed, their legs were that of werewolves, muscles coiled and ready, claws digging into the soil as they sprinted through forests and across rolling plains. They moved fast, too fast for human eyes to follow, but for Steve, every second still felt agonizingly slow. The longer they were away, the more chances Rogan had to uncover what had happened. And when Rogan discovered the truth, when he realized Steve’s imprisonment had ended through the hands of his own followers, there would be blood. “It’s been a full day,” Steve muttered under his breath as they dashed across a field. “He wouldn’t have hurt them yet... he’s methodical. But if we wait any longer, someone will pay for what happened.” Jack didn’t respond at first. His mind was focused ahead, on the dark outline of the mountains slowly coming into view. When they finally slowed, the jagged peaks stretched up before them, the air sharp and cold. They’d reached the foot of Rogan’s mountain. As they paused to catch their breath, Jack finally spoke. “You’ve made your decision, then,” he said quietly. “Rogan has to die?” Steve looked up at the looming cliffs. “There’s no other choice,” he answered. Jack’s tone hardened. “I just needed to be sure. When the fighting starts, there can’t be hesitation. Rogan sounds like the kind of opponent who doesn’t give you a second chance. If you’re hoping to make him see reason, ” “That’s impossible,” Steve interrupted. His eyes narrowed, his voice carrying a quiet fury. “He’s already gone too far. He killed his own pack members. My friends. The ones who trusted him. Even if I could forgive that, the others never will. The only way this ends is if he’s stopped for good.” Jack nodded slowly. “Then that’s what we’ll do.” Steve exhaled heavily. “But when he’s gone... the pack will be lost. Rogan kept them together. Without an Alpha, they’ll scatter, or worse.” Jack’s response came without hesitation. “Then I’ll take them in.” Steve turned to him, surprised. “You’d do that? After what happened?” “They’ll hate me for it,” Jack said simply. “But hate fades. Survival doesn’t. They’ll need a home, and I’ll give them one. We’ll keep them outside the Red Wing Kingdom for a while, somewhere neutral. Too much change too fast only makes people cling tighter to the past.” For the first time that night, Steve smiled faintly. “You’ve learned a lot since the old days, huh?” Jack chuckled. “Maybe age really does bring wisdom.” By the time they reached the upper cliffs, the sun had just begun to rise. Orange light bled over the edges of the mountain, painting the stone in hues of fire and gold. They climbed swiftly, claws digging into the rock, and pulled themselves up to the wide, flat plateau that served as the camp’s outer grounds. The scent of werewolves filled the air instantly, familiar, powerful, and unmistakable. “They’ve noticed us,” Jack said quietly. “Good,” Steve replied. “It’s better this way.” The two of them began walking forward, each step echoing across the rocky surface. Down below, voices rose from the camp. “What is that smell? It’s... irritating.” “It’s coming from the entrance! It smells familiar, but it’s making my nose itch.” “Go check it out. I swear if it’s another beast, ” When the first few guards turned their heads toward the entrance, their conversation stopped. Their expressions shifted from confusion to disbelief. “Wait... isn’t that, Steve?” one of them stammered. “No way,” another replied. “He escaped! Rogan’s been searching everywhere for him!” “But look, he’s not alone. There’s another werewolf with him. Who is that?” The whispers spread quickly, drawing more attention until nearly the entire camp was watching. Steve and Jack kept walking. Their partial transformations, arms and legs covered in fur, claws glinting in the light, were deliberate. A silent declaration: we are werewolves too. Not enemies. Not humans. The other werewolves stood frozen, uncertain. Though they’d heard of another pack existing out there, none of them had ever seen it with their own eyes. To them, the two figures walking into their camp might as well have been myths brought to life. By the time Steve and Jack reached the heart of the camp, a large crowd had formed around them. The murmurs had grown louder, anxious, confused, afraid. “What’s going on?” “Why is he here?” “Is Rogan coming?” The two stood in the center of the open clearing, the place where pack members gathered for meals, meetings, and fights. Steve felt the eyes of dozens of werewolves on him, all waiting, all suspicious. He could see faces he knew, wolves he had rescued, trained, laughed with. And yet now, their eyes carried the same question: why did you come back? Jack stood beside him, arms folded across his chest. The faint glow from his golden armor caught the sunlight, making him look almost ethereal, more legend than man. Steve’s fists tightened at his sides. His heart pounded, but he raised his voice, letting it carry across the entire camp. “I have something to tell you all,” he shouted. His voice boomed with conviction, fueled by everything he had endured. “The truth, about Rogan, and about this pack!” The murmuring stopped. Every ear turned to him. The wind blew softly across the plateau, carrying the scent of the mountain and the distant forest below. Steve took a step forward. He could feel Jack’s steady presence behind him, silent, watchful, ready. For a brief moment, he saw the faces of the ones Rogan had murdered flash before his eyes. He clenched his jaw. “This ends today,” he said under his breath. **** For updates on MWS and future works, follow me on my social media below. Instagram: @jksmanga *Patreon: jksmanga When news drops about My Vampire System, My Werewolf System, or any other series, you’ll hear it there first. Feel free to reach out, if I’m not too busy, I tend to reply.