By the next morning, news of the Greenwold noble family's downfall had spread like wildfire across the entire city.
Then the uproar followed.
Just yesterday, this same noble family had been killing innocent people, ruling through fear. The city's hatred for them had been growing quietly for some time now, buried beneath the fear of their power. But now—the impossible had happened.
The Greenwolds had fallen.
A new power had risen.
Whispers filled markets, alleyways, taverns, and dark corners alike—"The Wolf Order."
Some citizens celebrated, thinking their oppression had ended. But others… others weren't so hopeful. They understood the danger that would come next. Killing a noble in this kingdom wasn't just rebellion—it was one of the greatest crimes.
Nobility wasn't handed out easily. Becoming a noble required the King's personal approval. To rise against them… to destroy a noble house… meant one thing:
Retaliation was inevitable.
People whispered, "The Kingdom won't let this stand."
Fear spread like wildfire. Many began packing their belongings, preparing to leave before an army or soldiers arrived to crush this so-called "Wolf Order." Some spoke of the King's wrath. Others of powerful mercenaries or loyal noble families who would soon march here to reclaim the city.
But for now… the city simmered with uncertainty.
Then, yet another shocking announcement rocked the streets.
Agrest Greenwold—the former city lord—would be executed.
The execution would take place on the Greenwold estate grounds, and every single person in the city—rich or poor, young or old—was invited to witness it.
The news left people speechless.
The city itself was built like a fortress. At its heart stood the Greenwold mansion, surrounded by spiraling roads that formed layers of wealth and poverty. The closer to the center, the grander the homes—the rich merchants, influential families, and powerful officials resided there. Farther out, crude huts and makeshift shelters marked the slums.
{Check Comment of the above paragraph for image of the city}
Four massive gates connected the city to the outside world, each facing one of the four cardinal directions. The outer walls enclosed them all, towering high, making the city both protected… and trapped.
People began gathering, whispering, debating what the execution—and the Wolf Order's rise—meant for the future.
Inside the Greenwold Mansion
Inside the grand hall, Bella, Fil, and Nil sat uneasily on lavish sofas, surrounded by rich décor, golden chandeliers, towering windows, and elaborate paintings.
From the outside, the mansion looked like an architectural marvel—elegant, refined… deceptively fortified.
But for Bella, Fil, and Nil—who had spent their lives scraping by in poverty—the mansion felt like an entirely different world.
Overwhelming, massive… intoxicating.
They wandered the halls in awe, fingertips brushing the polished walls, eyes tracing the grand staircases and sparkling windows. Every detail was etched into their memories. They had never seen such wealth or power. Now, they sat at its very center—not weak, not starving—but as part of something greater.
Heavy footsteps echoed across the hall.
Gray entered.
The moment they saw him, they instinctively stood up. Even in his human form, the memory of his monstrous werewolf body—the raw, terrifying strength—lingered in their minds. Their fear had twisted into something else:
Respect… loyalty and awe.
I looked at them sitting stiffly on the sofas as I walked in, wiping dust from my hands after checking the underground cells.
Seeing them tense up made me chuckle internally.
"Why the hell are you standing like statues? Chill out. Sit down. Relax," I said casually.
They all sat, but even seated, they were uneasy. Even Bella, who usually had a bit of fire to her, looked reserved around me now.
Bella finally broke the silence. "Boss… what's the next plan? What do we do now?"
I stretched a little, cracking my neck. "For now? Nothing major. Just get everything ready for tomorrow evening. I want everyone in the city gathered inside the estate grounds. Once they're all here… you'll understand the next step."
A glint of amusement flashed in my eyes.
"Oh, and tomorrow's execution? It's not just any execution. A very special guest will be watching. So be ready. No one in this city should miss it."
They exchanged confused glances, clearly wondering who this special guest was—but they didn't ask.
All three nodded firmly.
"Nil, Fil, go down to the execution grounds. Build a platform. Clear enough space for the whole damn city to fit. I don't want a single soul missing this event," I ordered.
They bowed and quickly left the hall.
Now only Bella remained.
I looked at her, smirking playfully. "Hey, Bella… how much do you really know about this world?"
Her eyes widened slightly. Her cheeks flushed red, and she flinched instinctively.
"Well… not much," she admitted softly. "I was just a regular nobody a week ago."
I nodded, leaning back against the sofa. "Fair enough."
I stared into her eyes, watching her flinch again—but this time, I noticed something different. Her fear wasn't the only thing surfacing. There was hesitation… maybe even vulnerability.
Bella's POV
My heart skipped a beat the moment Gray's golden and red eyes locked onto mine.
It wasn't fear—not entirely.
Since the day he walked into my broken-down restaurant, my life had spiraled into chaos. Back then, I believed love didn't exist… not truly. After what happened with my parents… after being left to die alone… I learned the hard way.
Humans were devils wearing human faces.
I'd seen what people did for power, money, obsession. I learned to survive by keeping my guard up, trusting no one.
But Gray… he was different.
The moment he entered my life, everything changed. One moment I was struggling to keep that collapsing restaurant alive, barely serving four customers a day—and the next, I was a werewolf, fighting alongside a man who crushed an entire noble family like they were ants.
The day I saw him shift into that monstrous, radiant werewolf form, my heart twisted. Part fear… part something else.
Admiration? Intrigue? Or maybe… something more dangerous. Something harder to resist.
I kept telling myself not to get attached. Seven days. It had only been seven days. But now I was sitting inside the mansion of a noble family… next to the man who had conquered the entire damn city.
The longer I stared at him, the harder it became to lie to myself.
Then suddenly, Gray coughed and caught me staring.
"What are you looking at?" he asked, voice playful, teasing.
My face flushed red as a tomato. My thoughts scrambled. Without thinking, I jumped up and bolted out of the mansion.
Gray's POV
I stood there blinking as I watched Bella shoot out of the room like a cannonball.
"…Did she just run away?" I muttered, utterly confused.
I scratched my head. "What the hell did I do wrong now?"
Before I could think more, an old man approached—the first Omega werewolf I'd turned. His crippled leg had fully healed now, but his bald head still had only one stubborn strand of hair flapping like a flag in the wind.
"Big Boss," he greeted, handing me a stack of papers. "Boss Nil prepared the battle report and finalized the mansion's new security arrangements. A lot of Omega werewolves are stationed here now."
I flipped through the report.
It looked like a four-year-old scribbled all over it.
The handwriting was awful—but the numbers were clear enough.
No casualties among the squad sent to capture the city guards responsible for killing civilians. They were all locked in the underground cells, along with the surviving Greenwold family members.
But the battle wasn't without loss.
We lost 257 werewolves from the main assault team.
Compared to the 5,000 human soldiers who died? It wasn't much.
But every fallen werewolf was still part of my pack—my family.
The report made my chest tighten slightly.
They fought for me and even died for me.
I sighed heavily.
"Tell Nil to fix his damn handwriting next time," I muttered, handing the report back.
The old man chuckled, but quickly realized who he was standing in front of. He stiffened, shut his mouth, and bowed low before disappearing down the hall.
I leaned back, staring at the ceiling, letting everything sink in.
The city had fallen.
The kingdom would come to claim it back.
But for now… this city, this territory, belonged to me.