Page 76 of The Wolf

The lawn in front of the castle continues to fill with figures, some familiar, others new survivors of the world outside the Veil. Some move hesitantly, and others are almost desperate to be anywhere but where they came from. I watch them come, one by one, their expressions flickering between hope and fear.

I spot the sleek lizard-like creature, its scaled skin glinting faintly in the aurora lights. Some kind of aquatic mutant with tentacles dives into the river and out of the view. A huge part-lion strides confidently, his tail swishing as he scans the surroundings. A centaur towers over the group, his equine lower half powerful and imposing.

Yet, as I count them, I realize how few have returned. Each missing face hits me like a blow. We’d lost too many—another werewolf gone, two witches, a few vampires. Losses that weigh heavy on your chest, the kind that makes you question whether this fight is even worth it. But Area 51 was the second-largest military base, and we’ve destroyed decades’ worth of their resources. I have to believe it meanssomething—especially when I see the innocent faces of the women freed from captivity, now safe with the“monsters”who would never treat them as cruelly as their own kind did.

Among the crowd, Penny and Katia show up, holding hands. It’s impossible not to notice how in love they are, clinging to eachother. They’re laughing softly, fingers interlocked, heads bent together, and for a second, it’s like they’re the only two people in the universe.

The sight of them does something to me.

Julia’s hand brushes against mine, and the flashback hits me like a tsunami—her lifeless body in my arms, cold and still. I blink, trying to shove it back into the corner of my mind where I keep all the shit I don’t want to feel. But it’s still so fucking raw.

I imagine my sister must’ve gone through something similar when Katia… almost didn’t make it. Seeing them together now warms me on the inside in a way I can’t quite put into words.

Penny catches Julia’s gaze and lights up, pulling Katia toward us. “Hey! You made it out alive!” she says with a grin.

“And so did you,” Julia bounces back, and there’s warmth in her voice, similar to the one spreading inside me.

Katia steps closer, but her smile falters when her stare slides past Julia and lands on me. Her mouth twists into something sour, as it always does.

I can’t help myself, and in the next moment, I hold her in my embrace.

“Eww. What the fuck are you doing, Marduk?” she hisses, struggling to get free.

“It’s good to have you back,” I say in a flat tone, trying to conceal how I truly feel.

“Just—ugh.” She can act all she wants but I see the emotions in her bloody eyes. Then, she crosses her arms on her chest and sends a mocking grin my way, lashing out, “What happened to you? You’ve gotten soft.”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, okay. Good to see you too.”

Katia narrows her eyes, muttering something under her breath, but Penny squeezes her arm, and she lets it go—for now.

As they move off to join Clara, I’m relieved to notice Farah waving toward us, with Satan beside her, sporting his humanglamour. She looks tired, but she’s well. And my heart is full again, seeing my family safe and sound together.

Out of all the newcomers, the reptilian creature catches my eye especially. He’s standing stiffly, shoulders squared, his blue eyes darting around like he’s waiting for someone to shout orders at him.

Taking Julia’s hand, I walk over, and as soon as I get close, he snaps to attention.

“Sir! Yes, Sir!” His hissing voice is loud and clipped, making me flinch.

Julia and I exchange a glance, equally stunned. I recover first, though barely. The beings around here address me with respect, most of them even using my title. But this? This is different. This one’s been trained, twisted into a soldier. A poor life for a creature who should have been ruling the food chain, not obeying his makers.

“You don’t need to bethisanymore,” I say, trying to keep my tone steady.

“Yes, Sir! Understood, Sir!” he barks again, his back straight as a board.

“What do they call you?” I try another approach.

“R037, Sir!”

The designation sounds more like a barcode than a name, making my stomach turn.

“R037?” Julia repeats, her voice soft and quiet.

Edwin steps forward, shaking his head like he’s seen this before. “Go easy on him,” he mutters under his breath.

“Listen, R037,” I say, my tone low but firm. “You’re free now. No more ‘sir,’ no more numbers. We’ll find you a real name. One that’s yours. How does that sound?”

The reptilian blinks, his long, forked tongue flicking out for a moment. His rigid stance wavers slightly, as though my wordsare pushing through. But just as quickly, he snaps back into place. “Yes, Sir! Thank you, Sir!”

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