Chapter 1579: The Hidden Valley Gary and the others moved toward the edge of the cliff to get a better look. When they peered down, the sight that met them left all three momentarily breathless. Below them rose a vast mountain whose peak was swallowed by a ring of thick, swirling cloud. The mist circled endlessly, hiding whatever lay at the top. It was the same mountain Steve had described in his story, the one that had once served as the heart of his pack’s home, but now they were seeing what lay at its base. At the bottom stretched a full town, alive and moving, built around the mountain’s roots. Thin trails of smoke curled lazily into the air from scattered chimneys and forge fires. Wooden and stone houses climbed upward along the slope in layers, and narrow roads wound between them like veins. Wagons rolled through the streets, carrying goods and tools. But instead of horses, the carts were being pulled by transformed Werewolves, large and powerful, yet smiling as they worked. They moved in rhythm, laughing with one another, clearly proud of the community they’d built. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢 A pair of younger Werewolves raced beside the road, challenging each other to keep pace with the wagons, their laughter echoing faintly up toward the cliffs. “So,” Steve said, arms crossed as he stood beside them. “What do you think? A lot’s changed, hasn’t it?” The three were too awed to answer right away. It was more than impressive, it was surreal. An entire town of Werewolves, living openly. No fear, no hiding. Some worked in partial transformations, climbing rooftops to make repairs with clawed hands and steady balance. Others shifted completely to carry heavy materials, their fur glinting in the morning light. Even children changed forms as they played tag, switching from human to wolf in bursts of laughter. Gary couldn’t stop staring. The world he knew, the one he had come from, had nothing like this. In his time, Werewolves still lived in secret, always cautious, always watching their backs. Yet here, in what was technically the past, they were thriving freely. It didn’t make sense. Despite being an older era, this place seemed far more advanced, at least socially, than anything Gary had ever imagined. Before any of them could speak again, Steve took a running start and leapt straight off the cliff. “Wait, what?!” Gary exclaimed, stepping forward. But Steve was already gone, plummeting before shifting mid-air into his Werewolf form. With one powerful kick against the mountainside, he broke into a run, leaping from tree to tree as if descending a staircase made of branches. Lupus grinned. “Guess that’s our cue.” Without hesitation, he jumped after him. Gary and Kai exchanged a quick glance before following. Mid-fall, they both transformed, their bodies stretching and reshaping, claws digging into the bark of trees as they bounded downward in pursuit. Wind rushed past their ears; the world became a blur of green and brown. The adrenaline burned away the remnants of fatigue from the night before. “You know,” Kai said as they ran through the treetops, “this must feel incredible for Lupus.” Gary landed beside him, claws slicing into the wood for grip. “What do you mean?” “Think about it,” Kai replied, vaulting to the next branch. “From what your father told us, he felt the same way. The Werewolves back home were trapped in Ruin City, always hiding. But your father, he wanted freedom for them. He wanted to build a home where they didn’t have to live in fear. What we’re seeing right now, this town, it’s exactly what he dreamed of.” Gary nodded slowly, understanding. Kai continued, his tone thoughtful. “The threat for them right now is humans. They’re stronger here than in our time. But in our era, the greatest fear isn’t humans, it’s the vampires. And yet... I haven’t heard anyone mention them here. Not in any story, not even once. It makes me wonder what happened to them.” With that, Kai surged forward, leaping from the last tree and landing heavily on the forest floor. Gary followed, the two of them racing side by side until they broke through the last line of trees and caught up to the others. When they emerged, several Werewolves glanced their way, surprised by how quickly they had managed to keep up. “You caught up pretty fast,” Steve said, glancing over his shoulder with a grin. “We’re just a bit excited,” Kai replied, brushing dirt from his arms. They continued along the path together until the forest thinned, revealing the outskirts of the settlement. Wide dirt roads branched off in different directions, leading into the heart of the town. Steve began giving them a tour while instructing the others in his pack to return to their usual duties. Everywhere they looked, life moved with easy rhythm, builders, traders, children, elders. Almost everyone they passed was a Werewolf, though Gary did notice a few humans here and there. They lingered near specific shops or outdoor stands, speaking in hushed voices, their posture stiff. From what he overheard, they were merchants who had come to trade goods but didn’t plan to stay long. Steve noticed Gary’s glance and explained as they walked. “We make most of our money working as mercenaries. Jobs come from cities nearby, guard duty, monster hunts, things like that. We’ve built a decent reputation, but... there are still problems.” “What kind of problems?” Kai asked. Steve sighed lightly. “The same ones that never seem to change. Some Werewolves don’t want to live anywhere near humans. And some humans can’t stand being near Werewolves. It’s a constant push and pull.” Gary could hear the weight behind his words. “In the first place,” Steve continued, “my goal was never to make humans and Werewolves live side by side. I just wanted a place where our kind could exist freely, part of society, but not controlled by it. Not hunted. Not hidden.” As he spoke, Gary found himself admiring the man more and more. Steve had built something real, something entire generations of Werewolves could only dream of. While they continued walking, another question surfaced in Gary’s mind. “In your story,” he began, “you mentioned the armor your brother Jack gave you. Do you still have it?” Steve nodded. “I do. Why?” Gary hesitated for a moment. “Not to see it exactly... I was just wondering. If something happened to you, if you ever died, where would you keep it? Where would you hide it?” Kai groaned quietly and rubbed his forehead. He already knew where Gary was going with this. If they could find out where the armor ended up, maybe they could locate it in their own timeline. The armor had never been found before, right? Having it could change everything. Steve let out a laugh, shaking his head. “You’ve got a strange way of starting conversations, you know that? Jumping straight to my death.” Gary smiled awkwardly. “Sorry, just... curious.” “Well,” Steve said, folding his arms, “if I did die, I’d hope to pass it down to my family. It’s not something you just hide away, it’s something meant to protect the ones who come after you.” He turned toward them with a grin. “Speaking of which... why don’t we go meet them?” **** For updates on MWS and future works, follow me on my social media below. Instagram: jksmanga P.a.t.r.e.o.n: 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.