Even Without the Wolf

Every time Gary saw a member of the Howlers getting mauled, clawed, or killed right in front of him, a deep pain tore through his chest. He couldn’t stop thinking that each of them probably had someone who cared about them, just like Jayden had Xin.

And what was he doing? Just standing there, watching it all happen, not taking part? He understood why, of course. Gary’s powers were limited right now, and this whole battle wasn’t about defeating the enemy, it was about buying time. So far, only thirty minutes had passed.

Thirty minutes of a night that would last another five hours or so.

Gary had to conserve his strength. He might have to face the most dangerous enemies in the Lupus group without being able to transform. Still… how were they supposed to last that long? And how was he meant to just stand there, doing nothing?

But that wasn’t what worried Gary the most. What was truly eating at him was a pattern he’d started to notice.