Hot on the trail of Eric’s wolf, Rogan follows with his rifle loaded with silver, eyes fixed and breath steady. In the maze of alleys, the wolf ducks into a dead end and comes face-to-face with a homeless man—at least, that’s what he appears to be. In an instant the truth is revealed: the old man bares his own fangs. He is wolf too. Communication passes between them in low growls and instinctive signals—warning, urgency, danger. Rogan is close. The old man urges the wolf to follow and leads him into a junkyard stacked high with crushed cars and rusting metal. Rogan reaches the fence and peers through, sensing the trap but knowing better than to enter.

Eric wakes beside a smoldering campfire, the old man watching him with a gaze too ancient to be merely human. Questions come quickly: Black Wolf? Smith? Mather? Names of wolf bloodlines Eric has never heard, widening the world of the curse in ways he never imagined. Only when Skorzeny is mentioned does the old man react—disgusted, scornful. Even Gray Wolf, feared and respected, despised Skorzeny for killing pack brothers. Eric offers the truth: he killed Skorzeny himself. Gray Wolf is impressed. It would take a powerful wolf to end Skorzeny—and perhaps one strong enough to kill the worst of all: Remy.

Meanwhile, Rogan steps into the junkyard’s office and meets Parker, the owner. With a bottle offered in exchange, Rogan requests permission to stake out the yard until Eric surfaces. Parker eyes him and asks if he’s a reporter, someone collecting stories about “the old monster—the dog that walks like a man.” They drink, and Parker recites the tale handed down from his father, a family warning dressed as folklore but sounding far too real.

Later, under gray light and suspicion, Eric and Gray Wolf emerge from their hiding place. Rogan watches from the shadows, waiting for his shot. Eric tries to persuade Gray Wolf to join him in killing Remy, but Gray Wolf has other needs first. He wants to hunt. A lone figure appears in an alley, unaware of the predator’s gaze. Gray Wolf lunges, teeth bared, until Eric intervenes—“No!” The command stops the attack but ignites fury. Now Gray Wolf turns on Eric, wolf rising and rage consuming restraint. Eric is forced to flee at the exact moment Rogan rounds the corner, rifle raised, silver glinting in the dark.