“CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARL!!” Veronica fired another shot but missed Carl as he ran for the woods while Katie ran on the path that would take her to Lisa’s. 

Carl hid behind a tree as she tried to look for him. 

“SHOW YOURSELF!! SHOW ME YOUR UGLY FACE!!” she screamed while not realizing he was behind the tree in front of her “It’s not enough you’re a disappointment as a man! You’re a freak of nature too!” 

Carl lunged out and grabbed the gun from her “I can’t help what I am, but you’re a cheater and a criminal, that was a choice and there’s no debating how wrong it was!” 

Veronica tried to take the gun back, but he shoved her down making her chuckle before looking up at him with disappointment “Even like this, you’re completely and totally vanilla, Carl. Did you know that Richard wasn’t even my first side piece? I’ve had many over years. In fact, many simultaneously.” 

Carl was stunned “Why?” 

“Because I outgrew you and realized the life, image and future you were giving me wasn’t what I wanted. It’s not what I deserved and was befitting of me anymore.” she stood up “I have a master’s degree in business, I work a high ranking career at one of the biggest companies in the country, and I surround myself with VIPs... and yet, what do I come home to?” 

“A husband and daughter who love you. Well... loved.” he replied while still holding the gun but not aiming at her. 

“I came home to the DIY Guy. A man who stayed stuck in the country while keeping the hick lifestyle and even made a career of it. You never adapted to the city with me. You stayed a hick. You brought my image, my value and my status down, Carl. I, on the other hand, evolved, I rose up and became part of a newer better society. And I’ve come to realize that a hick like you is very far beneath me.” she glared at him with hatred. 

“You didn’t seem to think that when you used my earnings from being the DIY Guy to get the penthouse, your high brand stuff, your spa treatments and other luxuries. And what about Katie? Is she far beneath you too, Veronica?” he asked while leaning forward slightly. 

Veronica huffed while looking away for a moment “Katie was a mistake. I had changed my mind about motherhood a long time ago, but by the time realized it, I was too far along. And honestly, that girl is not socially compatible with me. We're better off keeping our distance from each other.” 

Carl shook his head “Veronica, when did you become this... snobby? And why go through all of this? Why not just divorce me?” 

“Because like Richard said, my fling with him would inevitably get exposed along with my other good times and my life would be over, and stuff. Like he said, becoming a widow is much more convenient and not to mention easier.” Veronica crossed her arms before turning her back to him. 

Carl sighed as he approached her “Veronica, tell me this at least, do you regret any of the things you did if not to me, to Katie at least?” 

“No. And I don’t regret THIS!” she turned around and sprayed him with pepper spray, making him drop the gun. 

She picked it up, but Carl was hiding again. 

“I know you can’t be far!” she called out while looking around slowly for him. 

“Neither’s Katie from getting help!” Carl groaned while still being partially blind. 

She shot where his voice was heard but merely grazed the tree he was hiding behind “And what’s she going to say?! Who’s going to vouch for her?! Joe is dead and what are you going to do if you come out of this alive?! Come forward?! I’m almost tempted to let you live just to see how that goes!” 

“You’re insane!” he called out. 

She fired where she heard him and this time, she managed to hit him which made her smile “And you’re dead!” 

She ran over to see that he was on the ground and his leg was bleeding. She aimed for his head, and he braced himself upon hearing the cock of the gun, but then the sound of a growl was heard to his left. Veronica turned her head to see a wolf snarling at her, so she aimed the gun at it, but soon discovered that it was empty. 

“No...” her face went pale as she stepped backwards and the wolf jumped on her. 

Carl dragged himself away as the forest became filled with the sounds of Veronica’s screams and the wolf’s snarls. Meanwhile, at the cabin, it turned out that Joe had gotten shot in the shoulder, and managed to handcuff Brick, Styx and Woodsman together. As he was done doing that, an ambulance came over revealing it to be Lisa’s brother Lawrance and his paramedics. 

“Oh my Lord! This place looks like World War III! Joe, what happened here and what happened to you?!” Lawrance came over and they started giving him medical attention. 

“Richard Woodsman and Veronica Crescent conspired to lure Carl out here and murder him while framing it as self-defense-OW-while he was having a schizophrenic episode. What about Katie? Is she alright? Are some trusted authorities on their way?” Joe winced as his shoulder was treated. 

“She’s fine. She’s safe at my sister’s and as soon as she said there was shooting at her dad’s cabin, Lisa called 911 and then called me, so some lawmen are on their way. Where’re Carl and Veronica though?” he began to bandage him. 

“I... I don’t know, but when I saw them last, Veronica was chasing Carl with a gun in the woods.” Joe admitted nervously. 

“Oh boy. Those woods ain’t safe at night. You’ll never know when you’ll run into a wolf.” Lawrance shuddered as Joe looked out into them and a helicopter was heard overhead “There! That’s the lawmen now. They’ll find Carl and Veronica sooner or later.” 

“Oh dear...” Joe whispered. 

Meanwhile, Katie was back at Lisa’s wrapped in a knit blanket and holding a cup of tea as Lisa spoke over the phone “Yes, mother, I locked the doors and windows, and Katie is right where I can see her... No, she’s not hurt thank goodness, but she was terribly shaken. She could barely speak clearly... Now, she’s gone all quiet. Poor thing went through something no child should...” 

Katie was looking through the window when she noticed something moving around. She focused and realized it was her father who was still in the Wolfman form. He was hobbling as he walked but smiled with his yellow eyes glowing while waving to her. She smiled a bit. 

“What are you looking at, dear?” Lisa came over. 

“Uh, j-just a deer. It’s gone now.” Katie replied and looked again to see that her father was gone. 

“Well, I have some good news. Joe is fine, and they caught most of the crooks involved. The last one should be found soon along with your mother and father. For now, you should get some rest or try to. Here, the guest room is this way.” Lisa took her hand and lead the way. 

The search team could not find anyone despite looking for hours though it was not until the morning light came that they found what remained of Veronica. 

“Wolf attack. What a way to go.” the woman commented as the body was carried away. 

“Hey!” a man’s voice faintly called out “Over here! We’re over here!” 

The woman and her partner ran over to the deer hide. They climbed up the steps to see Strauss still handcuffed while trembling at whoever was across from him. 

“Don’t let him get me!” Strauss whimpered while pointing with his foot at Carl whose clothes were tattered, his eyes looked red, his leg was splinted, and he looked worse for wear but was now human again while brandishing the police baton. 

“Sir, are you Carl Crescent?” the woman asked. 

“Yes, I am, ma’am. And this guy is one of the men who tried to kill me while holding Joe Whitehawk and my daughter hostage.” Carl replied while pointing at Strauss. 

“Yes, Mr. Whitehawk informed us of everything. We’ll take it from here and get you to a doctor.” the woman helped him stand up. 

“Watch out! He’s the Wolfman! You gotta lock him up before he turns and attacks again!” Strauss yelled as he was lifted by the man. 

“Aw, not you too. Are all of them really determined to stick to this damn Wolfman story? Come on.” the man shook his head while taking Strauss away. 

“I’m serious! He’s the Wolfman! He’s a monster! A killer!” Strauss insisted as he was taken away. 

Later, Carl was taken to the local clinic where the bullet was removed, and his leg was put in a cast. Not too long after, he was visited by Joe now donning an arm cast and sling along with Lisa who brought Katie over who immediately hugged him. After a while, Katie had finally fallen asleep while lying next to her father in his bed and Lisa went to get some coffee. 

“It would seem like the adapting process was fast for you. Probably because you’re an adult.” Joe gave a knowing look “How are you really?” 

“More like... How am I not? Sad, angry, relieved, confused and more all at the same time... but one thing I’m not anymore is mad at dad. To be honest, this whole thing made me realize why he kept it a secret and while I don’t like what he put Harry and I through, I kind of understand why he did. How am I going to go back to living in this city now?” Carl stroked Katie’s head “And how will Katie’s life be like now? What if she inherited this too?” 

"All I can say is that you have complete and total control over changing now, unless your adrenaline is too high or your sense of danger flares up. If you want answers, I suggest asking your father.” Joe suggested. 

“Hmm.... I need to call him.” Carl nodded slowly. 

“Or talk to him face to face.” Joe replied, causing Carl to look at him “I called Walt and told him everything. I think he has a right to know what happened here. He said he would be here by tonight.” 

Carl was completely taken off guard when Lisa came in with the coffee “I’m back. Anything else I can help you gentlemen with?” 

“Yeah, actually, Lisa. Can you watch Katie again tonight? My dad’s coming to town.” Carl looked up at her. 

“Oh? Sure. I can’t say I’m surprised that he’s on his way after getting wind of what happened here. You and Walt are going to have plenty to discuss and plan, Carl.” Lisa handed him one of the cups. 

“Understatement of the year, Lisa. Understatement of the year.” he chuckled while giving Joe a look.