The Red Ghoul

ARC III: PART IV

As they zipped around the alley, their laughter and shouts of glee filled the air, a stark contrast to the tension simmering between Nightwing and Alpha Laura. Unaware of the seriousness unfolding around them, the children enjoyed their game. Meanwhile, Laura leaned against the building's wall, her arms crossed, her expression tired but determined. Nightwing approached her cautiously, his cape billowing behind him in the faint breeze.

"Hey, Nightwing," Laura greeted him, her voice carrying a mix of relief and weariness. "Heard about the chaos with the rogue werewolf?"

Nightwing nodded, his brows furrowing with concern. "Yeah, I caught wind of it. Was it as bad as they say?"

Laura's lips tightened into a grim line. "Worse. But don't worry, we handled it."

Nightwing's eyes flickered with unease, and he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Handled it how?"

Laura's hard gaze softened, understanding his apprehension. "You know how it is. Sometimes, things in our world require... drastic measures."

Nightwing winced slightly, the thought of a wild execution in the heart of Gotham sending a shiver down his spine. "Right. Different laws, I guess."

Laura nodded, a hint of sympathy in her eyes. "Exactly. It's something you'll have to get used to, sharing Gotham with us."

Nightwing sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I suppose so."

However, Nightwing's concern for Colin Wilkes, the orphan boy from St. Aden's Orphanage, weighed heavily on his mind. The news of Colin's encounter with the rogue Omega werewolf sent a chill down Nightwing's spine. Especially, after the heartbroken news that he was bitten and turned into a werewolf. A thirteen-year-old boy's life completely changed just by one unfortunate meeting.

"What about Colin? Is he... okay?" Nightwing shifted his weight, his voice tinged with worry.

Laura turned towards the redhaired boy playing with the blond twins, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Colin's doing just fine, Nightwing. In fact, he's doing better than fine."

Nightwing's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really? But after what happened... How's he coping?"

Laura's gaze met Nightwing's, filled with a mix of pride and affection. "He's a tough kid, you know? Despite everything, he's taken to his new reality like a champ."

A hint of relief washed over Nightwing's features as he absorbed Laura's words. "That's... that's good to hear. But, wait, what do you mean, his new reality?"

Laura's smile widened, a spark of excitement dancing in her eyes. "I adopted Colin, Nightwing. He's part of the pack now. My son, actually."

Nightwing's eyes widened in astonishment, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly for a moment. "You... you adopted him? But... how does that even work?I mean, outside of the mundane legalities. Adopting a child must be different when it comes to packs... right?"

Laura chuckled softly at Nightwing's reaction, her smirk sharp as she showed off her fangs. "It's not as complicated as it sounds. He's now the son of the alpha, part of our pack. And he's adjusting remarkably well."

Though Nightwing still harbored reservations about the pack's methods, he couldn't deny the relief he felt knowing that Colin was safe and cared for. "Well, that's... that's good to hear. I'm glad he's got someone like you looking out for him."

Laura nodded, a warmth filling her gaze. "He's a special kid, Nightwing. And he's got a bright future ahead of him, werewolf or not."

Laura's somber expression deepened, casting shadows across her features as she leaned in closer to Nightwing. The faint glow of the streetlights illuminated the worry etched into her furrowed brow as she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "But, Nightwing, there's something else you need to know."