Jacob, Stiles, Scott, Malia, Erica, and Lydia were having breakfast in the kitchen when Allison and Kate joined them at the large table.
Jacob looked at the pale, still-weak Kate and raised an eyebrow. "So the saying 'the wicked live long' is true, huh?"
Kate gave him a tired wink. "I guess I'm lucky."
Stiles looked at her. "Aren't you going to follow the Hunter's Code and, you know… take your own life?"
Kate snorted. "Why would I do that? That's just stupid."
"But don't you hate shapeshifters?" Scott asked, confusion etched on his face.
Allison let out a sigh. "Kate hates other people with supernatural powers and wants to kill them all, but she doesn't seem to mind having powers herself. She's a hypocritical, evil bitch. So let's just leave it at that."
Kate just smirked and didn't deny what Allison said.
Scott turned a worried look on Allison. "Should I be worried that the evil bit... I mean, your aunt—will try to hunt me?"
Allison smirked. "Don't worry. I talked to her. She won't hurt innocent people anymore." Her smirk widened. "Although you should be careful. Kate likes minors. She might not hurt you, but she could do other… perverted, weird things to you."
Kate pouted at Allison. "Princess, I don't like minors. Stop spreading bad rumors about me." Then she turned her gaze to Scott, her eyes glinting. "But I do like your beautiful brown eyes. And I don't mind if you want to have some fun. I won't tell if you don't."
Scott paled. He grabbed his plate and scrambled to the far end of the table, putting as much distance between himself and Kate as possible. "Allison, keep her away from me!"
Stiles and Jacob burst out laughing. Jacob wiped a tear from his eye. "Didn't you say you wanted to find love, Scott? Kate's your chance! She's evil, sure, but she is beautiful."
"No, thank you!" Scott said firmly. "I want a girl my own age. And since you seem to like older women, you can have her. Just stay away from my mom!"
Jacob's eyes flicked to Kate. 'She is hot. And I kind of want her… but I want Cora more. So I can't.' He shook his head slightly and looked back at Scott. "Allison would kill me. Besides, I want a Latina girl, so I do prefer Melissa. She's so gentle and sweet, and..."
Scott cut him off. "She's not a girl, she's old!"
Jacob said. "I can fix that. I can make her look young again. Just wait until I turn eighteen."
Scott looked desperately to Allison for help. She just smiled sweetly. "Don't look at me, I can't help you. Besides, didn't you just tell him to go after Kate? I'm really enjoying your misery right now."
With a defeated sigh, Scott retreated into his breakfast.
Kate watched the exchange with a raised eyebrow, then turned to Allison. "I've been meaning to ask… why are you letting Jacob have more girlfriends? Aren't you jealous?"
Allison shrugged, her expression calm. "Not really. Seeking more partners is in his nature. I can't do anything about it."
Kate looked at Jacob and slowly licked her lips. "You must be very good in bed. I kind of want to try having fun with you."
Allison's calm vanished. Her voice turned icy. "Unless you want to die—and I mean really die this time—you will stay away from him."
Kate pouted again. "Why do you allow him to have other women but not me?"
"Because that would be very weird. You're not just my aunt; you're like my sister. Now, eat your food and stop talking about things that will never happen."
"Don't be angry, I was just joking," Kate said, backing down. She took a bite of the meat on her plate, then her eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, wow. What kind of meat is this? I can feel the weakness in my body fading fast."
"That's supernatural buffalo meat," Allison explained. "Eat more. It's good for you."
Stiles, chewing thoughtfully, looked at Kate. "By the way, Kate, I read in the Bestiary that an Alpha werewolf's bite can turn people, and the shape they take reflects who they are. So… what did you turn into?"
Kate swallowed. "I have no idea. I just know I'm a shapeshifter since I didn't die from having my throat slit."
Jacob studied her for a moment. "I can make you shift and find out what you are."
"How?" Kate asked.
Instead of answering, Jacob's eyes flared crimson. He let out a low, commanding roar, not at full volume, but layered with the potent aura of an Alpha. It was a sound meant to trigger the beast within.
Kate gasped. Her own eyes ignited with a vivid, emerald green light. Her skin darkened to a bluish-purple hue, covered in black jaguar-like spots. Sharp fangs lengthened in her mouth, and black claws extended from her fingertips.
Everyone stared in surprise. Kate, shifting for the first time, began to growl, a low, predatory rumble building in her chest. Her body tensed, her new instincts threatening to overwhelm her.
Just as she seemed about to lose control, Jacob released another, softer, more calming roar. The green glow in Kate's eyes steadied, and her breathing evened out. She looked down at her spotted hands in awe.
Stiles was the first to break the silence. "Cogman! What is she?"
Cogman, who had been observing from the kitchen doorway, stepped forward. "She is a Werejaguar. A feline species of shapeshifter. According to the bestiary, they are known for their speed, stealth, and agility." He paused. "They also possess a unique secondary ability: they can control Berserkers."
Erica asked. "What are Berserkers?"
"Berserkers are humans who undergo special rituals using the pelts and bones of bears," Cogman explained. "The ritual grants them supernatural strength, speed, and durability. However, doing so also causes them to channel the bear's ferocity, causing them to become mindlessly violent beings. A Werejaguar, through pheromones or a psychic link inherent to their species, can assert control over such beings."
While he spoke, Jacob was staring at Kate in her werejaguar form. A burning, almost primal desire ignited in his eyes. 'Oh no. My monster girl kink is kicking in. Kate is so hot in this form and is far more beautiful than her appearance in canon. I kind of really want her right now. Should I go for her instead of Cora? I'd just have to coax Allison somehow… But I really want Cora, too. And I can't have them both; that's impossible. Hmm… This is hard. But I should probably forget about Kate. She's crazy.'
Lydia, seated across from him, noticed his intense stare. She sent a telepathic message to Allison. [Allison, look at the pervert next to you. I bet he's seriously considering going after Kate right now. Do something.]
Allison, sitting beside Jacob, followed Lydia's mental nudge. Her eyes darted from Kate to Jacob, and she saw the hungry look in his glowing red eyes. She reached over, caught his ear between her fingers, and twisted. "Don't even think about it," she whispered. "I'm okay with other girls, but not her."
Jacob snapped out of his reverie, pretending to be wronged. "Hey! I don't want to go after her. I was… I was just surprised by what she turned into! That's all!"
Allison rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I'd believe you if you weren't practically drooling."
Jacob took the hand twisting his ear, brought it to his lips, and kissed it gently. "Don't worry. I won't go after Kate. I promise."
"Allison," Kate called, her voice a low, feline purr. "Take a picture of me. I want to see what I look like."
Allison sighed, pulled out her phone, and snapped a quick photo, then handed the phone to her aunt.
Kate looked at the image—the bluish-purple skin, the elegant black spots, the fierce green eyes—and a slow, satisfied smile spread across her maw. "I look good, don't I?"
After that, she shifted back to her human form—once they explained how—and the group finished their breakfast.
As they cleared the table, Lydia announced, "Allison, I'm taking Erica shopping and to a salon. Do you want to join us?"
"No, my parents are coming to visit," Allison said. "I need to stay home."
"Alright. Have fun," Lydia replied.
Malia perked up. "I want to go with you."
Lydia looked at her, surprised. "You? You want to go shopping?"
"Not shopping," Malia clarified. "I want to cut my hair shorter."
Jacob, who had been listening, immediately protested. "But I love your long, beautiful hair."
Malia stood up, walked over, and kissed him. "You'll love it short, too. And it'll grow back."
Jacob sighed in mock defeat. "It's a shame. But as long as you're happy, I guess."
With that, Cogman drove Lydia, Erica, and Malia into town. Scott and Stiles left in their own cars shortly after.
Kate yawned. "Allison, I'm going back to sleep. Wake me up when your parents get here."
"Alright," Allison agreed.
Kate retreated to the guest room. Jacob and Allison walked outside to the gazebo and settled onto the couch there. "Give me the Bestiary," Allison said. "I want to read it."
"Don't you have it on your phone?" Jacob asked, already lying down and resting his head in her lap.
"I do. But I want the book."
Jacob retrieved the ancient, leather-bound tome from his pocket dimension and handed it to her. He then pulled out his Game Boy and started playing, perfectly content.
An hour later, Chris and Victoria arrived. Cogman, having already returned from his chauffeur duties, opened the gate. Chris parked in the driveway, and Allison and Jacob went out to greet them.
They all settled in the living room. "Cogman," Allison said, "please make some tea and bring some snacks."
"Right away, my lady," Cogman acknowledged with a slight bow before disappearing into the kitchen.
Chris said. "How is Kate? Is she awake?"
"She's fine," Allison said. "She had breakfast with us and went back to sleep. Oh, and she's a werejaguar, by the way."
Chris raised an eyebrow. "A werejaguar?"
"Yeah. Do you want me to wake her up?"
"Not yet," Chris said, his expression turning serious. "First, tell us what you kids encountered in the woods yesterday. What was that monster? And those roars… especially the last one. It was terrifying."
Allison shot a glance at Jacob. "The last roar was Jay. He got a little… too excited."
Chris turned his intense gaze on the young dragon. "Seriously. What kind of creature are you to make a sound like that?"
Jacob smirked. "Why don't you guess? I'll tell you if you're right."
Chris held his stare for a moment, then shook his head. "Never mind." He looked back at Allison. "Tell me about the monster you fought."
Allison recounted the events—the seven witches, their sacrifices, the space portal, and the ice-wielding Yeti. When she finished, she asked, "Do you know of any monster like that yeti?"
"No," Chris admitted, frowning. "There are non-humanoid monsters in the Bestiary, but nothing described as being that powerful."
Jacob, sipping the tea Cogman had just served, spoke up. "By the way, do you two know about the S.D.E.S.?"
Victoria nodded. "Yes. We know of them. We maintain a… respectful distance. Did you meet them?"
"We did," Allison confirmed. "They showed up right after Jay killed the yeti. We wore masks and told them we were hunters just passing through. They attempted to recruit us, but we declined."
Jacob looked over at Cogman, who was standing attentively by the door. "Cogman, keep an eye on the S.D.E.S. Let me know if they find any particularly special monsters. I might be interested in… fighting it."
"I am already monitoring them, sir. " Cogman replied. "The agents from yesterday received new orders after our departure. They are to investigate reports of something sinking fishing boats and even a cargo ship in the waters near Alaska."
Jacob's interest was visibly piqued. "Really? Let me know the moment they find out what it is."
"Of course, sir," Cogman said before leaving the living room.
Jacob then turned his attention back to the Argents. He reached into his pocket dimension and retrieved two of his remaining six vials of Mirakuru. He handed one to Chris and one to Victoria. "This is the potion Stiles drank. It will grant you strength equal to a Beta werewolf, along with a powerful healing factor. There are no side effects. Consider it my gift to you."
Allison's face lit up with pure joy. She threw her arms around Jacob. "Thank you!"
Jacob kissed her forehead. "You're welcome."
Victoria studied the glowing green liquid in the vial with a hunter's caution. "Are you certain there are no side effects?"
"Yes, Mom, I'm sure," Allison said, breaking the hug to reassure her mother. "I drank one myself, before I became a fairy."
Chris looked at Jacob, genuine gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you."
"Thank you," Victoria echoed, her voice softer now.
"You're welcome," Jacob said. "This world is getting crazier by the day. Having some power to protect yourselves will put Allison's mind at ease." He gave Allison a quick kiss, then stood up. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to go shopping."
Allison raised an eyebrow. "Don't you hate shopping?"
"I'm not going for clothes. I'm going to buy some Hot Wheels and video games."
Allison smiled, shaking her head fondly. "Okay. Have fun."
Jacob left the mansion and found Cogman in the driveway, overseeing the delivery of a new grand piano. He just shook his head with a small smile and got into his black Camaro.
Alone in the car, he focused internally. 'System. Sign in.'
[Daily Sign-In successful. Rewards obtained:
- 500 Coins
- A Calculator
- Cabin Tent]
Jacob ignored the calculator and tent, and thought. 'System, will I get 500 coins every day?'
[No, Host. The amount is random, dependent on your luck. You might receive 100,000 Coins or more, or you might receive 1 Coin.]
'Show me the Shop,' he commanded.
A translucent blue grid materialized before his eyes, filled with images of every item he had ever received as a Daily Sign-In reward. Listed alongside them were the food items from his Event, Location, Quest, and Monthly Sign-Ins.
Jacob scanned the prices. 'The Skar Buffalo and Sea King meat are 100 Coins per kilo. That's fair, I guess. The daily reward items are cheap—none of them exceed 10 Coins, not even things like the Krabby Patty or Paddington's marmalade.'
He navigated to the fifth page of the shop.
His eye twitched.
This page was dedicated to the… other category of rewards. The lewd, bizarre, and downright questionable items. Every single one was priced over 2000 Coins. Brand-new underwear: 2500 Coins. "Previously worn" underwear: 30000 Coins. Bottles labeled "Celebrity Bathwater": 50000 Coins.
He groaned internally. 'Seriously, System? Why are these disgusting things even in the shop? And why are they so expensive? You can just go ahead and delete them from the shop. I am never, ever buying that stuff.'
[You may simply ignore those items if they are undesirable, Host.]
'Whatever,' Jacob sighed, closing the system interface. He put the car in gear and drove toward town.