[9 days until the next full moon]
[50 Exp has been gained from current Bond Marks (5)]
[Exp 602/3445]
Gary had already made the decision that tonight would be the time for him and Olivia to act. When the day came to an end, he would meet up with Olivia around nightfall, and they would ambush the Underdogs, to finish the gang once and for all.
‘If I wait any longer, there is a good chance that the moon will influence Olivia to the point where she is no longer following the Pack Rules or listening to me. At the same time, we now have the boost that the moons give us to increase our strength further in an attack.’
In preparation of what they were about to do today, Gary had used his Quest reward to select a new skill and he was hoping that it would give them the edge they might need tonight.
‘I understand that you don’t want me to act, Kai, but things are getting too dangerous for you guys. We are not the same, and I can’t let the Underdogs come back again.’
Before meeting the Beta Werewolf, the green haired teenager headed to the Wolf’s Pool Club to make sure everything seemed to be running smoothly and there wasn’t any other troubles that he would need to deal with first. There, the others filled him in about how they had been going around, signing up the Underdogs’ former businesses, as well as those around the Wolf’s Pool Club.
Gary was a little worried when he heard this, thinking that perhaps they would cause a stir between other gangs or the public, but at least for now, no such thing had happened. At the mere mention of the name Howlers, the business owners were instantly ready to sign over.
There was still a small standard flat fee, yet the percentage of profits taken was far lower compared to the Underdogs. According to Austin, all the owners instantly became elated once they noticed these new rates. It was all thanks to Kai, who knew exactly how much the gang had extorted from those businesses.
In fact, the blonde teenager explained that their new contract was even nice enough to only take money from net profit. In other words, if the businesses were making a loss for whatever reason, there would be no pressure for them to be paid. Of course, that might lead to people trying to swindle them down the line, but those could be addressed should they occur.
‘We’re still asking them for protection money which isn’t right in itself, but as I probably would say, at the moment with the other gangs out there, and the police doing nothing we’re a necessary evil.’ Gary thought, aware that he had no right to complain seeing that the money the Pincers were earning, which ended up with him, was being earned the same way.
Eventually, Olivia arrived in the usual training spot between her and Gary in the woods, she was wearing the Howlers’ gang uniform and had her whip ready.
“You sure you have eaten enough to do everything that’s needed?” Gary asked.
She paused for a second before answering, but eventually spoke.
“I have, but seeing how you seem to worry so much about my meals, I should probably let you know that I’ve been eating a lot more lately… especially, raw meat and although it is sating my hunger, it still feels that there is an itch that has yet to be scratched, no matter how much I eat.”
‘That must be the bloodlust, it’s a good thing we’re doing this now, I’ll sort this out first and then her next.’ Gary noted, as he took out his mask to place it on his face.
“Are you absolutely sure about this?” Olivia spoke, clearly having more on her mind other than just food.
“I’m not backing out of what you want to do. In fact, I have found myself quite enjoying your hot headedness and goals to charge in first. I can see why you do it when you have this power in you.” She said as she stared at her own hands, transforming her fingernails on the spot.
‘Has she been practising the Controlled Transformation in her own time?’ Gary wondered.
Not only that, but her transformation looked slightly different to his. She was somehow able to use it on her fingers alone, yet they were far longer than the Alpha Werewolf’s. He estimated them to be around twice his maximum length.
‘Is it perhaps some skill similar to my Claw Drain she might have gained after becoming a Hunter Class?’
“I haven’t known you kids for long, but from what I’ve seen Kai appears to be a capable right-hand man. Using members of the Pincers, he has been stomping members of the Underdogs, stopping their growth.”
Hearing this, Gary was quite amazed, he somewhat thought Kai was doing nothing just waiting for some opportunity, and it was starting to make him think. If he had given them a reason to wait, then it was probably a good one.
“However, until recently, he asked the members of the Pincers to fall back. It was an urgent response that I got today to clear out all our members from the Underdog areas.
“I asked him what he had found, but he wouldn’t tell me anything… what’s more he seemed to be afraid of something. Now don’t get me wrong, at the end of the day, I still follow you… not like I have much of a choice in that matter thanks to that annoying feeling inside me, but I thought it would be best to let you know.”
Gary was in two minds about what to do, originally he was so determined to finish things off today. Of course, he had thought about not going, it took a lot to finally make the decision to go, and now this….
“About what you said earlier.” Gary finally spoke up. “About following me because you had to. If you weren’t part of the Pack, and I asked you to do this… would you still have come along? … do you think I’m doing the right thing? … if you had the choice, would you listen to me or Kai?”
“I would not attack, and listen to Kai,” Olivia answered, not even hesitating to think about it.
Gary didn’t know why, but something came over him at that moment, and his blood was boiling a little as well.
“Fine, then you stay here, and I’ll go on my own!” Gary growled, and was already off, running through the woods.
******
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