Chapter 1457: The Iron Mask At the restaurant, the struggle raged on. Every inch of ground was contested, every breath fought for. And now, there was a new arrival, one the defenders assumed had to be another Ironfang. This one wore the distinctive iron mask, a mark of the elite among the werewolves, a high-ranking fighter whose presence alone could shift the tide. The Howlers who had managed to survive this long turned their eyes toward him, pointing with a mix of fear and frustration as they muttered among themselves. “We were holding our own... until he showed up and started attacking! He ruined everything!” “No wonder Sadie and Frank told everyone to fall back! We can’t handle him. We’ll just have to focus on the others instead.” “But if no one’s going to engage him, who will? If he’s not stopped, won’t he eventually make it here, to the restaurant?” No one had an answer. Everyone was already locked in their own battles, barely keeping their opponents at bay. Gary was in the middle of his own desperate fight. He faced a rogue pack, an aggressive, relentless group whose coordination and tenacity were unlike anything he had faced before. He was certain they were under Ylva’s direct influence, strengthened and emboldened by her power. That explained why they were pressing him so hard. But there was another reason for his difficulty, one Gary didn’t realize himself. His attention wasn’t fully on them. His mind kept straying to the wider battlefield, where his friends were, what was happening elsewhere, splitting his focus when he needed it most. If he had concentrated solely on the fight in front of him, perhaps he would have already found a way to deal with them. But even without giving it his full effort, his raw strength allowed him to keep them from breaking through completely. They were skilled enough to evade his more direct strikes, but he was still holding them at bay. It was the classic dilemma of a leader, thinking about the survival of the whole rather than the duel in front of him. Meanwhile, the iron-masked werewolf advanced steadily toward the defenders, his steps heavy and deliberate. Standing in his path was Elijah, his stone arm flexed and ready. The fact that he’s here right now... and he’s completely fine... that means Kanu... Elijah’s jaw clenched as the thought finished itself. Kanu fought with everything he had... but he’s no longer with us. When they had left earlier, Elijah had known there was a strong chance Kanu wouldn’t survive. But seeing the iron mask here confirmed it. “I don’t know if I can stop you,” Elijah admitted under his breath. “Kanu was far stronger than me... but I can at least keep fighting, just like he did!” With a roar, he charged forward. But before he could close the distance, a low, eerie howl cut through the air. It was distant but distinct, enough to make the iron-masked werewolf pause and turn his head toward the sound. Without a word, he leapt, covering an immense distance in a single bound, heading toward a different part of the battlefield entirely. In the midst of Blake and Ylva’s fierce exchange, her claws clashed against both of his swords with a resounding impact. But this time, she wasn’t trying to overpower him or force him back. No, Ylva was using his strength against him. With the solidity of his defense acting like a wall, she pushed off his blades with a sharp kick, flipping gracefully backward through the air. She landed lightly on her feet... and she wasn’t alone anymore. Standing beside her was the iron-masked werewolf. Ylva reached out almost casually, her claws brushing along his back in a gesture that was almost affectionate. “What’s this?” Blake taunted, both swords still raised. “You can’t deal with me on your own, so you’ve called for help? Didn’t think you’d admit I was stronger than you so easily.” Ylva smirked, the gleam in her eyes cold and deliberate. “Oh, it’s not that. I simply grew tired of our little duel. And I thought there was someone... far more interesting for you to fight instead.” Her hand remained on the iron mask’s shoulder as she continued. “You see, the man here is perhaps one of my finest creations. A recent addition to the Lupus pack. He was on the brink of death, practically already gone, so I had to do everything I could to bring him back. But... in the process, there were a few side effects.” Her voice dipped lower, almost like she was sharing a secret. “One of them was rather nasty. This werewolf would bite anyone he saw, friend or foe. The only person he’d obey was the one who turned him... me. And there was another side effect.” She let the words hang for a heartbeat before finishing. “He could no longer transform back into his human form.” Blake’s grip on his swords tightened. Without another word, he dashed forward, his blades flashing in the dim light. But the werewolf in front of Ylva moved first, charging directly into Blake’s path. Blake swung in a clean arc, aiming for the torso, but the iron mask leaned back with perfect timing, letting the strike pass harmlessly overhead. Even when Blake fought Ylva, she had never been able to avoid his attacks so effortlessly. And then, with a sudden pivot, the masked werewolf spun, striking out with the back of his clawed hand in a swift, precise counter. This was no mindless beast, this was a fighter. Skilled. Calculated. Dangerous. Ylva’s laughter rang out, sharp and cruel. “Hahaha... I suppose it’s obvious now. With the way he is now, you never would have recognized your father!” *** **** For updates for MWS and future works, please follow me on my social media below. 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