บท 8: A Shift in the Winds

As time passed, the town of Whitehaven thrived under Logan's guidance and the protection of the growing werewolf pack.

Logan used his Alpha powers to create more Betas, expanding the pack and ensuring the safety and prosperity of the town.

The Howlett Enterprises also flourished, becoming a formidable force in the business world. Logan and Laura's life together was filled with love, laughter, and the joy of their growing family—both literal and metaphorical.

However, as the years rolled by, the inevitable march of time brought with it changes and challenges.

The first blow came with the death of Hank's mother, Mary McCoy, who passed away suddenly from a heart attack in the middle of the night. The loss hit Hank hard, and Logan, who had always seen her as a mother figure, was equally devastated.

Logan approached Hank's father, Henry McCoy, offering to turn him into a werewolf so he could stay with his son and the pack. But the old man refused. "I need to be with my Mary," he said, his voice heavy with grief. "She's waiting for me, Logan. I can't leave her alone."

Logan tried to persuade him, but Henry was resolute.

A few months later, he too passed away, joining his wife in the afterlife. The loss of both of Hank's parents within such a short time was a heavy blow to everyone, especially to Hank, who found himself grappling with the profound grief of losing both parents.

But the sorrow didn't end there. As 1936 dawned, signs of another global conflict began to emerge.

The political climate across the world was shifting. Nations were growing more aggressive, alliances were forming, and the tensions of unresolved conflicts from the past were resurfacing. It was as if the world was once again teetering on the brink of war, a war that would be more devastating than any that had come before.

In Whitehaven, a different kind of tension was building.

At first, the townspeople had welcomed the werewolves, grateful for their protection and the prosperity that Logan had brought to the town.

But as the pack grew in numbers, so did the underlying fear among the humans. The werewolves' strength, their abilities, and their growing presence in the town became a source of unease.

The growing tension in Whitehaven erupted into violence that seemed to creep up from every corner of the town.

Logan, sensing the unrest, patrolled the streets along with Laura, Selene, Hank and other betas more frequently, hoping to quell any disturbances before they spiraled out of control. But despite his best efforts, the fear and resentment among the townspeople only seemed to intensify.

It started with minor skirmishes, arguments between humans and werewolves over trivial matters. But these arguments quickly escalated into physical altercations.

One evening, as Logan walked through the market square, he saw a group of young men, townsfolk, circling around a lone werewolf who had just come here for supplies.

The werewolf, a Beta named Marcus, had done nothing to provoke them, but the group's leader, a burly man with a distrustful scowl, was shouting accusations.

"You think you can just take over this town, huh? Think you're better than us with your freakish powers?" The man spat at Marcus's feet.

Marcus, who had always been one of the more mild-mannered members of the pack, tried to diffuse the situation. "I don't want any trouble. Just here to get some food for my family."

"Trouble? You're the trouble!" another man shouted, and with that, the first punch was thrown.

Marcus, despite his restraint, had no choice but to defend himself.

His wolf instincts kicked in, and within seconds, he had one of the men pinned to the ground. But before he could fully control the situation, more townsfolk joined the fray, and soon it was an all-out brawl.

Logan was there in an instant, his bone claws extending as he roared for everyone to stop.

The sound of his voice, filled with the authority of an Alpha, caused the fighting to momentarily halt. But the tension was palpable, and Logan knew that this was just the beginning.

Another confrontation occurred a few days later, this time at the edge of the forest near the McCoy house.

A group of hunters who used to go for hunting animals and sell them in town, emboldened by their numbers and driven by fear, had cornered a young werewolf named Emily, who had been out hunting for her pack. They accused her of poaching, though the land had always been free for werewolves to hunt.

"You don't belong here!" one of the hunters shouted, raising his rifle.

Emily growled in warning, her yellow eyes glowing in the dim light. "I'm not looking for a fight."

"Too bad, because you've got one," the hunter sneered, before pulling the trigger.

The bullet grazed Emily's shoulder, and in a blur of movement, She shifted into her hybrid form.

Her bones cracked and elongated, fur sprouting as her muscles expanded. Emily lunged at the hunter, disarming him with a swift swipe of her claws.

But the other hunters weren't deterred. They opened fire, and Emily was forced to dodge and weave, using the trees as cover.

Normally she can took care of all the people here with ease but the bullet that touched her is covered with wolfsbane.

Wolfsbane is the natural weakness of werewolf as it weaken them and slows down or even stops their healing powers.

Logan, who had sensed the disturbance from town, arrived just in time to see Emily surrounded.

With a feral snarl, Logan leaped into the fray, his own claws gleaming as he tore through the hunters' ranks.

He moved with speed that normal eye can't see, disarming and incapacitating the men without taking their lives, but making it clear that they had overstepped their bounds.

"You're lucky I'm letting you live," Logan growled as the last hunter fell to the ground, clutching his wounded arm. "But if you come after my pack again, there won't be a next time."

The hunters, beaten and terrified, fled into the forest, leaving Logan and Emily to deal with the aftermath.

Emily, still in her hybrid form, panted heavily, her injuries healing slowly. "Thanks, Logan. I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't shown up."

Logan nodded, his expression grim. "We're not out of the woods yet, Emily. Things are getting worse, and I don't know how much longer we can keep this town from turning against us."

As the days turned into weeks, the fights became more frequent.

Every corner of the town seemed to hold the potential for conflict, and Logan found himself constantly on edge, ready to jump into action at a moment's notice.

Despite his efforts to keep the peace, the growing fear and mistrust among the townspeople were threatening to tear Whitehaven apart.

Logan and Laura did their best to mediate, trying to reassure the townspeople and maintain peace. They spoke at town meetings, tried to bridge the gap between the humans and werewolves, but their efforts were met with resistance. The fear of the unknown and the perceived threat of the werewolves' power was too deeply ingrained.

Logan found himself torn. He had built this town into a safe haven for his pack and had hoped it could be a place where humans and werewolves could coexist. But now, that dream was slipping away, replaced by a growing divide that he feared might be impossible to heal.

As the world outside edged closer to war, the little town of Whitehaven was already on the brink of its own internal conflict.

----

**Inside the estate of Logan, in the large meeting room**

The meeting room in Logan's house was filled with a tense silence.

The Betas, loyal and fierce, were visibly agitated, their frustration simmering just beneath the surface.

They had been forced to endure the growing animosity of the townspeople for months, and now, the idea of leaving the town they had come to see as their home was almost too much to bear.

Selene, ever the voice of reason, stood calmly at the center of the room. Her eyes swept over the gathered werewolves, noting the unrest in their expressions.

"I understand how you all feel," she began, her voice steady. "But you must consider the bigger picture. It is in human nature to fear the unknown, and we are very much the unknown to them. Their fear is leading to violence, and if we stay, it will only escalate. We need to give them time—time to forget, time to heal, and time for us to return under different circumstances."

One of the Betas, a burly man named Thomas, slammed his fist on the table. "This is our town too! Why should we be the ones to leave? We've done nothing wrong!"

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room, but they were cut short when Laura stepped forward.

Her eyes glowed an intense blue, a clear sign of her authority as the Luna. The Betas quieted, their instincts pushing them to submit to her power.

"It's not your decision to make," Laura said firmly, her voice carrying the weight of her position. "This is the Alpha's choice."

She turned to look at Logan, who was standing by the window, gazing out at the town. His expression was unreadable, but Laura could sense the turmoil within him.

This was the place where he had built a life with her and their pack. The idea of abandoning it, even temporarily, weighed heavily on him.

Logan sighed, the tension in his shoulders evident as he finally turned to face the room. "I don't want to make this place a battleground," he said, his voice calm but resolute.

"We've worked hard to build a life here, but if we stay, we risk everything we've created. We need to leave, for now, and give the town time to cool down."

The Betas exchanged uneasy glances but eventually nodded in agreement. They respected Logan's decision, even if it pained them to leave.

As the meeting came to a close, the Betas began making preparations for their departure.

Laura approached Logan, her heart aching for him as she wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him from behind. "Are you alright?" she asked softly, resting her cheek against his back.

Logan turned around and pulled her into a gentle kiss. "I'm fine," he replied.

"This place… it was the first place I called home in this world. I don't want to start a war here... okay..... So, what if we leave for a little while? I've traveled across cities before. I'll just think of it as another one of those trips."

Laura smiled as she kissed him again, this time more deeply, her lips lingering on his. "That's the Logan I like," she murmured against his lips.

After sharing some intimate movements with Laura, Logan made one last visit—to his old friend, Benjamin. The bear, a massive grizzly with fur grayed by age, lay in the clearing where they had spent countless hours together.

The years had taken their toll on Benjamin, his body slow and weary, his once powerful roars now soft growls.

Logan approached the bear slowly, his heart heavy with the knowledge that this might be the last time they would see each other.

"Hey, big guy," Logan greeted him, his voice soft as he crouched down beside the old bear. Benjamin's ears twitched, and he lifted his head slightly, a low growl rumbling in his throat—a sound of recognition.

Benjamin had been through a lot. He once had a family, but they were taken from him by hunters who had dared to venture into the wilderness.

Logan had avenged Benjamin's family, tracking down each hunter and making sure they paid for their cruelty. Afterward, Logan had taken the bear under his care, ensuring he was well-fed and protected.

But now, Benjamin was old. Logan could see it in the way his friend's once bright eyes had dulled, in the way his movements had slowed to a crawl. The bear was nearing the end of his life, and it pained Logan to see him this way.

"I'm about to leave this town," Logan said, running a hand through Benjamin's thick fur. "It's not suitable to stay here anymore."

Benjamin let out another growl, this one louder, as if to protest.

Logan sighed, understanding the sentiment. "I know," he replied, his voice heavy with emotion. "That's why I'm here. I wanted to see you before I go… and try something."

Logan had never bitten an animal before. His Alpha bite was meant for turning humans into werewolves, but he had no idea what it would do to another creature.

He had asked Selene and Laura about it once, but they had warned him that the animal might die from the process. Logan had never wanted to risk it—especially not with Benjamin, whom he had grown to care for deeply.

Heck, he couldn't do it even with other animals as he cared for the lives of animals more than humans.

But now, seeing the bear's deteriorating condition, Logan made a decision.

Benjamin's time was running out, and if there was a chance—however slim—that he could extend his friend's life, Logan had to take it.

With a deep breath, Logan leaned closer to Benjamin. "Let's see what happens," he murmured, almost to himself, before sinking his teeth gently into the bear's thick neck.

Benjamin let out a deafening roar, his massive body shuddering as the transformation began. For a moment, Logan feared the worst—that the bite had killed his friend. But then, something incredible happened.

Benjamin's body convulsed, and for a brief moment, he lay still.

Logan watched in horror as the bear's breathing stopped, his heart seemingly ceasing to beat.

But then, with a sudden jolt, Benjamin's eyes flew open, and he let out an earth-shaking growl. His body began to change, his muscles growing more defined, his fur thickening and darkening, and his eyes glowing with a newfound intensity.

The bear's once slow and tired movements were replaced by a sudden burst of energy. He jumped to his feet, towering over Logan with a newfound strength that left the Alpha werewolf in awe. Benjamin growled again, this time louder, before lunging at Logan, tackling him to the ground in a playful, yet powerful, gesture.

Logan laughed, his hands pushing against the bear's massive shoulders as he tried to get up. "I got it, I got it!" he said, laughing even harder as Benjamin nuzzled him, clearly delighted by his newfound power. "Now get off, you big lug!"

Benjamin finally relented, stepping back and allowing Logan to stand.

The bear was clearly different now—stronger, more vibrant, and very much alive. Logan could hardly believe it, a grin spreading across his face as he realized what he had done.

"Looks like we've got a new lease on life, huh?" Logan said, patting Benjamin on the side. The bear let out a satisfied growl, his eyes gleaming with an almost mischievous light.

As Logan turned to see Hank walked into the nearby, his expression curious as he took in the scene. "So, what's our destination?" he asked Logan.

Logan looked around to see Laura, Selene and all the pack members had gathered, their eyes filled with expectation and concern. He knew where they needed to go, a place where they could regroup and plan for the future. He met Hank's gaze and smiled.

"Let's go to New York," Logan declared, thinking it was time to get into the MCU for real.