Ruin City, a while ago, wasn’t much to look at. There were remnants of buildings above that allowed people to imagine what a city was like around a thousand years ago. Old bricks, columns, and structures had lasted through time.
People would visit the city, which was currently nothing more than an attraction site, for just a few hours or so. It was nice to go through the ruins and then over to the cliff to look out.
The one standing structure was the castle located at the top of the cliff that looked out. Spread through certain spots were stalls selling fancy items and more, run by people who had been there a long time, passed down by their family members.
“Thank you for visiting Ruin City, and I hope you have a safe trip home,” a young man standing behind the stall said, rubbing his hands with a smile. As soon as the customer turned away with their key ring, he placed the money behind the box, and the smile disappeared immediately from his face.
“I can’t believe we have to do this to survive…it’s embarrassing as it is. I would rather work in some type of fast-food restaurant than this. Sometimes I even have to follow customers up and down the ruins, pestering them until they buy something.”
“Hey, it’s the only way we can live,” another older man said, who was in a stall next to him selling shirts with the castle on them. “Your father did it to put food on the table and help out the entire pack. It’s how we’ve managed to survive.”
“You don’t know the names I get called while trying to sell them crap that they don’t want,” the young man replied. “There’s only so much I can take. If they knew who we were, do you really think they would be calling us that?”
Immediately, the older gentleman placed his finger on his mouth.
“You do not speak of those things. Even with a new leader, these rules are still to be upheld. Don’t be so stupid.”
The young man tutted, looking away again.
“With Lupus in charge now, I’m sure things will start to change, and for the better. Maybe we can even leave this town.”
Right then, a bus stopped on the worn-out dirt path on the large field of grass. It was the parking area for Ruin City. Seeing this, it was time for them to get back to work. They had things to sell, all of them, to keep the pack running as it had been.
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With the castle being one of the main attractions, it had to remain open for tourists. They made extra money from ticket sales alone. Although no one knew it, the entirety of Ruin City was part of the park, which was now under Lupus.
Some sections of the castle were marked off, away from the public eye, and in one of those rooms, there was a special meeting going on between two of the werewolves, two brothers, Lupus and Dean.
The throne had been moved away from the main room, and right now, Lupus was sitting in one of the many reception rooms in the castle, on the throne itself.
“What do you think, brother? Don’t you think it suits me?” Lupus said with a high smile on his face as he slapped the two sides. “I’m afraid it’s so nice that maybe even you will want to sit in this seat one day.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Dean replied. “You know I’ve never had any interest in that. Raising an entire pack, looking after them is too much trouble.”
“And you don’t hate me for what I did to father?” Lupus asked.
“He doesn’t hate you,” Dean replied immediately. “Right now, I think he’s enjoying retirement, just sitting out looking at the vast sea. Why would I hate you for giving him less work and taking on the responsibilities? If anything, even I am happy that you are in charge because it means I have less work to do. Yet, being your brother means I will get a lot of praise for doing next to nothing.”
The two of them laughed as they continued to joke about the current situation.
“Then tell me, brother, you know for a long time that I have wanted to change the way of our pack. To change us from selling trinkets and being confined just to this ruin city because of the moon.
“However, I want to know, if you don’t desire the seat that I’m sitting on, what is it you desire?” Lupus asked.
Dean didn’t answer straight away. If anything, as he thought about it a bit more, his cheeks started to flush red. Lupus noticed it and was mocking his brother.
“A werewolf who is as bright as a tomato, on the next full moon, you’re going to have red fur.”
“Red fur,” Dean replied back. “That’s almost as crazy as green fur…but to answer your question. I’m not against the changes you want to make. You weren’t the only one that was wishing for something different.
“But my wishes have never been to do with the pack. If anything, one day, I wish to raise a family.”
“A family!” Lupus said, jumping out of his seat and throwing his arm around his brother’s back. “There are plenty of women in Ruin City that you can choose from… and now that I’m the Alpha of the pack, you know if you like someone who’s not a werewolf, I have no problem with it.
“Just don’t keep it a secret, that is a disaster for any relationship. Bring them in on the matter, but make sure they can keep their mouth shut about everything, and who knows, maybe you can even turn her.”
Dean forced a smile back at the comment. His brother had good intentions, he could tell, but their views on werewolves greatly differed. There was a reason Dean didn’t want to get into a relationship with anyone.
He didn’t want to bring this cursed way of life to anyone. Or force the person he loved into this mess, and children into the world to become monsters.
Whereas his brother thought it was a gift, they should be happy that they allowed them in, and everyone should wish to become like them.
With the two of them close together, Lupus’s eyes glowed red, and Dean’s glowed blue. It was the first time the two of them were so close together that Dean saw his brother’s eyes glow a different color from his.