Awesome!

I love this story. It's not every day that you find a good story with a Younger Dom and older sub.

Good pup! You did it again a beautiful start. Great characters and a back story waiting to be uncovered. Anther awesome tail.

This was a fun story. When you're trapped in some kind of parallel dimension that is just full of corruption, all you can really do is try and pick the path of your inevitable transformation. I really felt like the protagonist was smart and pretty much did what I would have done which made it feel immersive.

@[Rock Creek Werewolf](/user/show/10002145) Oh certainly, as horrible as what Al's fate is- the wolves had to protect themselves. But Al's fate is still a tragedy- because from a human perspective- his actions were right. He had every right to do as he did- how many people now will continue to fall victim to the werewolves now? His own fate is monstrous, as is Franks. And as far as it's concerned- he basically is dead once the legal system gets to him- missing and then likely killed. But equally right was it for the wolves to protect themselves. There are no good options here I'm afraid- but the horror remains. But then you have bystanders like Frank being thrown into the mix and it really does seem whenever a major problem has to be resolved, sacrifice is the only solution- or bloody violence or tense negotiations or collateral damage. Fitting perhaps- but still a grim reality of the way things are. The way I see it, as I've repeated before- even if they have their own kind in powerful positions- eventually something will shift. Nobody can remain in power forever. Perhaps not in the lifetime of these werewolves- but change is the only inevitability in reality. But it's inherently a vicious cycle- they seem to be incapable of having children- so they need to constantly parasitize from humans- leading them into conflict. The best I can see them as are certain factions from the Manga Series Tokyo Ghoul- which also explores how inhuman beings navigate human society- some try to retain human morality, and others go flying off the handle- leaving humans to need to defend themselves yet also often committing abuses themselves- while those seeking to be in between get stuck in the crossfire (as the main character and his associates do). And of course, you and I have both spoken about the jinns- and how they are capable of being judged as being morally responsible for their deeds- and not being so orange-and-blue in morality that they are incapable of doing so in theological understandings. As for Yousef, it's going to be tough for him. Worst case scenario I can see him being forced to become a kind of crypto-believer almost. But that need not be what occurs- but he may to increasingly pick and choose his battles, and may be mocked and interrogated for his religious beliefs, even threatened with charges of heresy, due to the idea that werewolves can't practice human faiths (which probably is ludicrous in Yousef's own understanding on a personal and theological level but that's a whole other thing). As for Bill- he may have an easier time in some ways and a harder time in others compared to Yousef as he grows into being a sorcerer. He may lean more towards being a seer if that avoids scrutiny from others- but getting wrapped up in royal politics might be even worse for his own safety and stability. I think also the fact that Yousef's grandfather is a mondjugen likely means there are tribes of werewolves back in Lebanon or the Near East. Which makes sense- jinns are known to shapeshift into dogs. How these groups operate is interesting to consider- particularly as those regions are dominated by religious understandings- with all the challenges that can come with.

@[ParadoxBear](/user/show/10002417) Indeed, I do believe that Yousef's status as a seer could perhaps gain him some protection. But it could also open him up to more threats. As he becomes more enmeshed in what may seem to be lunarian orthodoxy, his own faith may be scrutinized....religious conflicts are often never good and can get bloody fast- the last thing Yousef needs to handle is accusations of heresy from higher ups in the king's court. It is true that Yousef does seem to be seeing his faith in a more werweolf like lens- but I don't think he's willing to give it all up for the lunarian orthodoxy. As late as a couple chapters ago, he was worried about his dream- it's clear he wants to preserve his faith- he has to figure out how to do so and honor it while also meeting the expectations of wolf society. How this happens however is the real question. Though it is possible like you said that he moves entirely to the lunarian orthodoxy. As for Ruiz...he likely is overcompensating to make sure people are safe. While this may mean an end to the more reckless of Pete's practices, this may come with it's own risks to Yousef and Bill. As for Mullins, by distaste for him is primarily on the fact that he knew how tumultuous becoming a wolf can be....and proceeded to drag Zach into it and barely treated him with any sort of keeping track of him. He got turned into a pawn for Toddson, got tossed around like a puppet on a board, lost his cousins, and probably is in the running to lose his humanity if that's what happened to Pete. And all Mullins is busy thinking about is how to gain more power- while he can't be with his family anymore- it's very clear he's not going to part in a way that gives them any closure- maybe that's not possible- but in many ways Mullin's seems to be lusting for power moreso than anything else. He wants to have all he wants- he doesn't seem to want to have the responsibility for it in it's entirety though- for most of Act 2 he seems to have been on a reckless joyride. He seems less a figure who is in authority to help those under him, and more a figure who lusts for the power authority brings now. But perhaps I am being too suspicious of him in light of my own bias against him. As for morality, this is probably based on my own understandings and cultural upbringing- much like Yousef- who is of a muslim background- I have mostly been raised on tales of the jinn- a group of beings that while not human- and often terrifying and inhuman in their understandings of the world and actions- but are also said to be capable of moral action and accountable for their deeds- this is often how figures like monsters from folklore or races are often seen in near eastern or muslim eyes- as species of jinns. The wolves on the other hand seem to see themselves often in a blue-and-orange state of morality in a very extreme manner at times- even seeing human faiths and in many cases human moral concepts at times as being incompatible with a werewolf (and to a degree they are not wrong- as horrible as what happened to the FBI agent was- if they got outed they'd all likely be killed, jailed or experimented on- it's a horrible choice but one done for survival). But we also know amish werewolves exist from earlier chapters- that priest from a chapter ago apparently was told a high ranking church official is a werewolf (though likely only as a plant to maintain order for the werewolves)- and there are likely tribes of werewolves in the East potentially. And in most understandings, the jinns following human faiths isn't an odd thing to consider much at all. The werewolves Yousef are with seem to be a group of lunarian orthodoxy folk that do consider this blasphemy however- which will likely come to cause trouble for Yousef. But you are right that the world of the werewolves is a harsh one- darker decision may need to be made for survival. They cannot entirely be blamed for that- and werewolves do seem to view things differently than humans- but I don't think that means they are incapable of understanding humans altogether- though they will always be something different and see the world differently. Yousef's main conflict is weather or not he is willing to just discard everything for the sake of werewolf orthodoxy ideologically- and I really don't believe he is.

This is a tragic, but I think fitting conclusion, though with several ominous implications for the future. Pete winds up having to leave due to political considerations and losing his humanity, and now Zach is off going with Pete as well...honestly I'm kind of glad Mullins isn't around Zach anymore because honestly by the end of it I don't really think Mullins cared for Zach himself...more what Zach represented to him. And honestly....I kind of hate Mullins now after all of his shenanigans. He just keeps failing upwards and I do want him to face some consequences. Pete was in many ways too cocky at times and that backfired....I just hope the next one in charge doesn't go full Toddson in the case of Carlos. I think he's seen how horrible sacrifice is and so won't do it as much so that's nice at least...but he's clearly not going to like Bill or Yousef much at all. Those two are probably going to become sort of black sheep in all of this. Zach was a made puppet to everything and lost his humanity and now Mullins is just...hungering for power. It's honestly fascinating how much I've come to despise Mullins since the beginning. But with each saga seemingly ending in some horrific human sacrifice or loss of identity, I shudder to think what Act 3 will bring. And then there's Yousef's grandfather and that priest from the other town. I think things are going to get very complicated for Yousef because if this trend keeps up where he's losing things...his grandfather might be next. He really can't catch a break it seems, and I hope he does....because as much as he was able to keep Mountain Gyms running- he's just lost his friend, and partner for the buisness. It's likely he's going to be in a slump for a while. I really hope he doesn't try to cope by trying to turn that priest...that wouldn't end well at all. Interestingly, the Maliki Madhab of the Sunni Muslims does allow for dogs to not be seen as inherently impure (najis), and some may point to the notion of a dog having guarded the folk of the cave- a muslim rendition of the christian story of the seven sleepers of Ephesus. If Yousef consults with an imam, he may be able to keep Frank with him by following the Maliki Ruling on these matters...though being from Lebanon, if he isn't Shia (and thus following likely the Twelver of Jafari Madhab)- he's likely Hanafi in practice, or possibly indirectly following the Shafi Madhab. The Maliki Madhab is more common in Africa (particularly North and West Africa.) Larry at least was able to reconnect with his sister but that likely won't be able to last for long so that probably will wind up somewhat bittersweet- she probably is going to realize he can't stick around for long. As for Ruiz....I really don't like how he spoke to Yousef. It's very clear he's some degree of a traditionalist and will be "tolerating" Yousef's religious identity....which is ominous to put it mildly. I have a bad feeling as to where that's going to go. Yousef has had to constantly keep losing things over and over- he lost Seth, his religious identity was being prodded and questioned, he's lost Frank (and I think the fact everybody is treating it like a necessary sacrifice and not even mourning it much in Yousef's eyes is all sorts of screwed up even though he knows why they're doing that), he's possibly going to lose business at Mountain Peaks without Frank's help unless he gets a replacement fast, his mental health might be in the gutter for a while, and now the new Alpha has made it explicitly clear he basically is demoted to "tolerated" status. He wasn't in a senior position before, but generally neutral in perception. Now even that's gone. And if his grandfather shows up and somebody tries to turn him....that won't end well either. Yousef desperately wants his family safe...not roped into all of this. The problem is that when it comes to things Yousef loves....he seems to constantly have them taken away. Weather he continues being willing to commit all these sacrifices without complaint really is the question. Because I think everybody is just taking for granted the fact that Yousef is so amicable and flexible...I really do think they are. Though....Yousef meeting this king figure is a point worth considering. He seems to be from Spain possibly? With a name like that I doubt he's from the Levant or the Near East. But seriously, Yousef is in such an awful spot right now- Frank is basically a shell of who he was. And Bill....what happened to him was horrifying. Barb might have thought this was a mercy but frankly in many ways this is so much worse. His loved ones will never have a body to mourn and will never know what happened to him. He's going to join the ranks of those who went missing and whose loved ones were left bereft of any closure. And frankly, Bill's actions were completely sound- the werewolves are terrifying in many ways. And the fact that they seem to have infiltrated global positions of power...it's all so eerie. Is humanity just stuck in a game where werewolves play chess in the games for power- all while humanity is blissfully ignorant? Like I've said before...the wolves being found out is only a matter of when, not if. They can't run forever. They may have bought time for now....but there will always be another figure like Bill who will try to bring them down. The number of people who have unknowingly lost people they love to the wolves is only growing with every single day....eventually something will break. Good times don't last forever. My only hope is that due to Ruiz knowing intimately the cost of sacrifice he takes a less reckless approach than Pete and keeps them safe. Though I still worry for Youef's place in the pack overall- Bill's too. Both are potentially on thin ice. I am glad Yousef is feeling a bit better- though I am curious how that meeting with the King will go. However, I still fear that much like Toddson, Ruiz is a follower of the Orthodoxy regarding Luna- which may lead him to all sorts of friction with Yousef- the fact that he thinks wolves must follow Luna is ominous no matter how he goes about it- though I'm repeating myself here.

Awesome story. Can’t wait for more!

A spectacular conclusion to this second act, my friend! So very many thoughts to process! Does Larry's sister know he's a werewolf, now? Or does she assume that he realized he is gay and ran away to be true to himself? Wonder what will come of Alpha Toddson and King Ted- I don't doubt Toddson will stay true to his word, but is he willing to take the blame because he thinks he is in better standing with King Ted than Pete and Alpha Ruiz were? Speaking of Pete... all the other Alphas seem to go by their last names, but not Pete. I get the vibe that, while Pete was a decent man, he was not well-suited for leadership. At least the kind of leadership that werewolf packs need. He seems like he had a bad experience under a previous pack and wanted to try and be kinder and less strict, but werewolves need a firm hand to be kept in line. He tried to be too clever- infiltrating the police department and all that- and it very nearly ended up costing the pack everything. Toddson seems like a better pick, but there's still the lurking question of what these "mindgames" Nando keeps referencing were. Hopefully Mullins does okay. Zack may have gotten off lightly thanks to still being in his stirrings, but I have the feeling that Mullins is going to have a clear-eyed view of what drove Nando to defect to Pete's pack. But who knows, perhaps Mullins' natural disciplinarian personality predisposes him to this sort of stuff. I have a feeling Carlos- Alpha Ruiz- will strike a good balance between Pete's compassion and benevolence, and Toddson's iron fist. Was *not* expecting Yousef's grandfather to be mondjugen. That'll be interesting. Alpha Ruiz is going to "tolerate" Bill's explorations into magic? Pete really *was* permissive, wasn't he? A little sad that we don't get to see King Ted's orgy. But all in all, a sad, bittersweet, and sexy conclusion! Ready for Act 3 in the new year!

I’m a black reader. This really turned me off from this series. It’s the only one where race is used to down another race . And of course it had to be white men putting blacks in their place as sluts . Why not a white man using Asian women and a Black man putting him in his place. Making the white quarterback into the town whore, and him give Black men the power to turn all the white young men into sluts. Just saying. And I do like a lot of your work.