Teen Wolf: Alpha Reborn] Chapter 193: A War Taking Shape
Aug 12, 2025
The next morning at the pack house, Scott, Allison, and Lydia told everyone about Lydia's vision over breakfast.
Noah set his coffee down and said. "I'll see if I can track anything suspicious. Hopefully we can find them before they cause too much chaos in town."
Scott nodded. "Just make sure you're not alone—none of you. If Lydia felt danger, that means they're strong. So everyone please be careful. And if anyone spots those people, alert the rest of the pack immediately."
Aiden smirked. "I'm looking forward to fighting them."
Stiles, Isaac, Malia, Cora, and Boyd all nodded, looking just as eager.
Victoria gave them a firm look. "I know you kids are excited, but don't make the same mistake our enemies always do—fighting us without knowing what we're capable of. Be careful. Don't act rashly until we know what we're dealing with."
Allison glanced at her mother. "You need to be careful too, Mom. You're pregnant—they might target you."
Chris put an arm around Victoria. "I'll be with her every second. Don't worry, sweetheart."
After some more discussion, everyone went about their day.
---
Later at school, Scott, Stiles, Isaac, and Boyd were sitting in the same classroom, talking while they waited for class to begin.
The door opened, and a strikingly beautiful Asian woman walked in. She smiled warmly and said. "Good morning. I'm your substitute teacher, Meilin. Please take care of me."
Everyone except Scott and his pack stared at her in awe—boys and girls alike, instantly charmed by her beauty.
But Scott and the pack knew she was evil and dangerous the moment she entered.
Scott and Stiles exchanged a quick glance—they both recognized her.
Scott sent a telepathic message to his pack. [I know her. She's a fox shapeshifter called the Huli Jing. I saw her in the Dread Doctor's memories.]
Stiles added quickly. [I saw her too in the memory of the Dread Doctor I killed. Be careful—don't let her touch you. Her charm won't work on us, but she can drain your energy on contact. And she's strong, she's a nine-tailed Huli Jing.]
Isaac asked. [What should we do? Should we catch her?]
Scott answered. [Not here. Too many students around.]
Stiles grinned. [Leave it to me.]
While they communicated silently, Meilin was watching them closely. She was shocked that her charm hadn't worked at all—but even more unsettled by the feeling she got from them, especially Scott.
'They're strong.' She thought. 'Stronger than I expected. Especially Scott McCall... the pressure I feel from him is the same as I feel from Darius. And I don't like the way they're looking at me.'
She pulled out her phone and sent a message: [Declan, come to Beacon Hills High. Now. I'm in danger.]
Stiles suddenly stood up and headed for the door.
Meilin narrowed her eyes. "Where are you going?"
"Bathroom." Stiles said casually. "Be right back."
Before Meilin could say anything else, Stiles had already slipped out the door, walked down the hall to the nearest fire alarm, and pulled it.
In the classroom, no one moved. The students just sat there, staring at Meilin in a daze, oblivious to the shrieking alarm.
Scott stomped his foot, releasing a surge of lightning that jolted through the room—enough to wake everyone up, but not enough to hurt them.
The students gasped, blinking as the haze over their minds broke. Then, hearing the alarm, they began to evacuate in confusion.
Meilin smirked. She wasn't stupid enough to stay alone in a classroom with Scott and his pack. She followed the crowd out, keeping herself surrounded by students.
Scott, Isaac, and Boyd trailed after her. Outside, Allison and the rest of the pack arrived, fanning out to keep her in sight after Scott explained telepathically who she was.
Meilin quickly realized she was surrounded—eleven members of the McCall pack closing in. Panic surged through her. She was confident she could take one of them in a fight, maybe two. But all of them? No chance. If they caught her, she was dead.
Just then, her phone buzzed. After reading the message, her expression hardened. Without warning, she bolted back into the school building.
Stiles and the others chased her through the empty hallways until she stopped beside a man.
"You're late, Declan." Meilin snapped.
Declan looked at her, then at the pack closing in. "I told you not to come here alone to check out the McCall pack. They are dangerous."
Meilin glanced around, realizing Scott wasn't with the group. She panicked. "Declan, let's go Now! Hurry!"
She grabbed his arm—just as Scott appeared behind them, emerging from a swirl of shadows. He slashed with his claws, striking Declan's side, but the man wrenched free. Before Scott could grab them, both Meilin and Declan vanished in a flash of teleportation.
Scott wiped blood from his claws. "That bitch is too vigilant."
At that moment, Coach stormed down the hall, fuming. His eyes locked on Stiles. "Stilinski! This was your doing, wasn't it?"
Before Stiles could protest, Coach grabbed him by the ear. "How many times have I told you to stay away from the fire alarm?"
"Coach, it wasn't me!" Stiles yelped.
"Oh, please. Half the school saw you pull it. And even if they didn't—I know it was you."
Stiles grinned sheepishly. "Would you believe me if I said I had a good reason?"
Coach released his ear. "Yes, I would."
"Really?" Stiles asked hopefully.
"Of course not, you idiot." Coach seized him by the collar. "Detention. Now."
As Coach dragged him off, Stiles called out. "Scott! Help!"
Scott glanced at Malia. "Malia, go with him, will you? Those people are dangerous and I don't want Stiles staying alone."
Malia nodded and followed them down the hall.
Allison turned to Scott. "You said you saw that woman in the Dread Doctors' memories. Did you see her pack too?"
"Not a pack." Scott corrected. "A pride."
Isaac frowned. "Pride?"
"Yeah. Their Alpha is a werelion. But not just any werelion. According to the Dread Doctor's memory, their group's called the Chaos Pride. Their alpha is some kind of ancient werelion named Darius. He likes to add strong and unique supernatural creatures to his pride."
Erica asked. "How many are in his pride, and what are they?"
Scott replied. "When Darius met with the Dread Doctors over a hundred years ago, he had six members besides himself. Two of them are his wives—an ancient vampire named Valeria, and the fox we just saw. Her name is Meilin."
Cora frowned. "An ancient vampire again? It's going to be troublesome if she starts turning people."
Scott nodded. "They're not called the Chaos Pride for nothing. We can assume they'll create chaos in Beacon Hills."
Allison asked. "What about the rest of the pride?"
"One of them is a Loup Garou named George." Scott said.
Liam tilted his head. "What's a Loup Garou?"
"It's the French word for werewolf." Scott explained. "But they're different from us. Loup Garou are mindless and rabid, murder-loving beasts. When they shift, they become skinny, hairless, wolf-like creatures."
"I'm assuming he's an Alpha." Allison said.
Scott said. "Yes, he is, and he can turn people into monsters like him. He can control himself, but the ones he turns can't. Before a Loup Garou becomes an Alpha, they're just mindless killing machines. Whenever night comes, they lose control, shift and go on a murder spree."
Lydia said. "Then we need to kill the ancient vampire and the Loup Garou as soon as possible."
Scott looked at her seriously. "Agreed. So please try to see if you can find where they're hiding."
"I'll try." Lydia said. "But you know how my powers work. I can't guarantee anything."
"Just try to trigger a vision." Scott told her. "But don't push yourself too hard. Darius and his pride are dangerous and love to cause chaos, but they're not stupid. They won't kill too many people and risk drawing attention. Like I said, the government probably has powerful shapeshifters and weapons of its own. Darius must know that too."
Lydia muttered. "I hope he's not the reckless type."
Scott continued. "There's also a man named Mateo—something like an ancient werecrocodile called a Cipactli. He can control water, has a powerful defense, and insane physical strength. And another named Riku—he's Japanese and something called a Nue. I'm not sure what that is."
Kira spoke up. "I know. A Nue is a composite creature with a monkey's head, a tiger's body, and a snake's tail. It inflicts nightmares, induces illness, and can dissolve into mist to avoid attacks. But elemental attacks can still hurt it when it's mist."
Scott nodded. "The last one is Darius's first wife and second-in-command of the Chaos Pride. Her name is Selene, and she's a Tarasque—a beast with a lion-like head, a body protected by a turtle-like carapace, six feet with bear-like claws, and a serpent's tail. Her abilities are fire resistance, venom, and tank-like defense. That's all the pride members I know of."
Aiden frowned. "But they must have more members now—like that guy who helped the fox escape."
"They're fifteen in total." Lydia said absently.
Erica turned to her. "Wait—did you just get new information about them?"
Lydia blinked. "What?"
Erica repeated. "I said, did you get new information about the Chaos Pride?"
Lydia shook her head. "No."
Kira frowned. "But you just said there are fifteen of them."
"Did I?" Lydia asked, looking confused. "I don't remember saying that."
Allison said. "Now we know their number and what some of them are—but we still need their location."
Scott nodded. "First, we tell the whole pack about them. And from now on, everyone carries mountain ash. We'll need it to trap that teleporter, and the vampire too, she can probably teleport as well."
Then Scott smirked. "By the way, they've got some pretty impressive abilities… and we're going to take them all."
Boyd grinned. "I'm more interested in fighting them. I just hope they're good enough to make it interesting."
---
Meanwhile, at the Chaos Pride's bar…
Darius and his pride sat in the empty bar, eating breakfast, when Meilin and Declan suddenly appeared after teleporting several times.
Declan collapsed immediately, screaming in pain. A deep claw wound slashed across his lower back—so deep his intestine was visible.
Darius glanced at him briefly, then walked over to Meilin. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine." Meilin said quickly. "Declan got us out just in time. If he hadn't, I'd be dead."
Darius nodded. "Good. I'm glad you're okay."
Then he turned his gaze to Declan. "Luca—burn the wound so it can heal. Whoever did that… they're strong."
A man named Luca stepped forward, summoning flames into his hand. He pressed the fire against Declan's wound. Declan screamed, the smell of burning flesh filling the air—but as soon as Luca pulled back, the wound began to close.
"It's like when a beta gets hurt by an alpha." Darius observed. "The healing slows."
"But Declan's an alpha too." Luca pointed out.
Darius said. "Which means the one who wounded him must be very strong."
Darius sat back in his chair. "Meilin—tell us what happened."
Meilin walked over and settled into his lap, recounting everything that had taken place at the school. When she finished, her expression hardened.
"I know I can't stop you from going after Scott McCall." She looked at Darius seriously. "But please, darling, you have to be very careful. You know I can drain energy, and you know I can also feel the energy inside other creatures. And the energy inside him… it's like yours. I can't tell which one of you is stronger."
Darius smirked. "Is that so? Then this will be fun. But before we fight them, I want you all to try something first. See if you can make some of his pack join us. Use anything you need—make them submit. And, as always… let's stir up some chaos."
Valeria leaned forward. "Then I'll make some new vampires."
At the far end of the bar, a tall, disheveled man with an unkempt beard—George, the Loup Garou—took a drink and said. "Then I'll turn a few people too."
Darius smiled faintly. "Just don't overdo it. I like this town. It even has a Nemeton. Once we deal with McCall and his pack, we'll take it for ourselves."
Chapter 194: Chaos on the Lacrosse Field
Aug 15, 2025
A few days had passed since Scott and his pack's first encounter with the Chaos Pride. They hadn't seen them again, and Beacon Hills had been unusually calm—too calm. The kind of quiet that made everyone uneasy.
That night, Beacon Hills High was playing a lacrosse game. The bleachers were packed with students and parents, cheering loudly as Scott and his pack dominated the field. With players like them, there was no suspense—Beacon Hills was winning easily. Allison and the rest of the girls watched from the stands, smiling as the boys showed off.
Everything felt almost too normal.
Then, a loud, monstrous horse's neigh echoed from the woods near the school. The sound was sharp, unnatural, and sent a chill through the air. The game screeched to a halt as everyone turned to look toward the tree line.
Scott and his pack felt it immediately—the presence of a strong supernatural creature.
Another piercing neigh split the night. Then a black horse with glowing red eyes stepped out from the trees, its breath steaming like smoke. Then, without warning, it charged straight at the field.
Boyd sprinted forward to intercept, but before he could reach it, the horse vanished into thin air.
A scream rang out from across the field. When they turned, they saw the black horse reappear—clamping its jaws onto a student and tossing him into the air like a rag doll. It lunged again, kicking and biting through terrified players and spectators.
Panic erupted. Parents and students scrambled in every direction.
Scott spoke telepathically to the pack: [Girls, help get the students inside the school! The rest of you—go after that horse. Its teleportation has to have a cooldown. Let's push it until we figure it out. Who's carrying mountain ash?]
Allison responded quickly: [I am. But I only brought enough to make a circle four or five meters wide.]
Stiles chimed in: [I have some too, but it's in my bag in the locker room.]
Scott barked orders as he ran toward the horse: [Stiles, go get the mountain ash. Allison, give your jar to Aiden. Aiden, turn invisible and see if you can trap that horse in a mountain ash barrier. Isaac, turn invisible too and try to sneak attack it with your Kanima venom to paralyze it.]
Scott closed in on the horse, but it disappeared again—reappearing on the far side of the field to terrorize another group of people.
'This bastard is annoying.' Scott thought. Then, spoke telepathically: [Spread out! Cover the whole field. If it teleports again, one of us will be close.]
The pack scattered. Liam reached the horse first and lunged, but it vanished again—popping up near another cluster of students. This time, Malia was waiting. She blocked its path, but before she could attack, the creature teleported once more.
And then… nothing.
[Do you guys see it? Where is it?] Boyd asked telepathically.
Lydia, guiding a group of students into the school, spoke up:
[I think it can only teleport four times before its ability goes on cooldown. And whoever—or whatever—that horse is, it's not dumb enough to appear in front of us while his ability is recharging.]
Scott replied: [Hurry and get everyone inside so I can use my shadow teleportation to catch this bastard.]
Ten minutes later, most of the students and parents were safely inside. Just as the pack thought things had calmed, another sound echoed from the woods—this time, not a horse's neigh but a low, eerie goat bleat.
A black goat with glowing red eyes emerged from the trees and charged straight at Coach. Luckily, Stiles returned with the mountain ash jar from the locker room just in time, and stood between the goat and Coach.
The goat vanished instantly, reappearing near a group of fleeing students. As it was about to attack, it sensed danger and barely escaped Isaac's venomous claws as the invisible werewolf tried to slash it.
The goat disappeared again.
Minutes passed. The field finally cleared. Allison and the girls stayed inside to guard the students, parents, and teachers, while Scott and the boys waited outside.
Five minutes later, another figure appeared—a big black dog with the same burning red eyes. It stood a hundred meters away, watching Scott and his pack.
Isaac and Aiden crept toward it invisibly from opposite sides, but the dog growled low, letting them know it could sense them.
Scott glanced around the empty field, confirming only his pack remained. Then he melted into shadow and teleported—not toward the dog, but into the nearby woods.
The dog flinched when Scott vanished. Expecting him to appear right beside it, the creature teleported straight into the school building. It lunged for a student, but Cora, who had stayed nearby, kicked it hard before it could strike.
The dog disappeared again, this time reappearing in the woods. It shifted into a man with dark hair, breathing heavily.
Scott, already waiting in the shadows, felt his presence and teleported behind him. Before the man could react, Scott drove his clawed hand into his chest—not through the heart, but piercing his right lung.
"Got you this time, you bastard." Scott growled.
Blood dripped from the man's mouth as he smirked. "You should have gone for the kill."
Before Scott could react, the man teleported away, vanishing completely.
"Damn it." Scott cursed. 'I thought he only came to the woods when his ability was on cooldown. And just as I suspected, he's the one who helped that fox woman, Meilin, escape. I wanted to absorb his teleportation ability because it's different from my shadow teleportation. He can take people with him. That's why I didn't go for the kill.'
Scott exhaled sharply, shaking his head. 'Anyway, he's badly wounded now. It'll take him days to heal. He won't be back tonight. Next time, we should trap him in a mountain ash barrier.'
Scott shadow-teleported back to Boyd and the others.
Stiles spotted the blood on Scott's hand and asked. "Where is he? Did you kill him?"
Scott shook his head. "No. He escaped."
Isaac frowned. "He escaped from you?"
Scott said. "Yeah, I injured him and was about to absorb his powers and read his memories, but the bastard teleported."
'That bastard said: 'You should have gone for the kill.' Does he think he's Thanos?' Scott thought darkly. 'Next time, I'll make sure to torture him before ripping his head off when I catch him.'
Stiles asked. "Is he from the Chaos Pride?"
Scott nodded. "Yeah. He's the guy who helped that fox woman escape."
Liam tilted his head. "What is he, though? He can turn into different animals. Is he a skinwalker, like Agisa?"
Aiden shook his head. "No. He's something else."
With that, Scott and the boys went inside to meet up with the girls. After paramedics arrived and treated the injured, Scott and the pack returned to the ranch, gathered everyone, and explained what had happened.
Melissa asked. "Did anyone die?"
Allison replied. "No. A few people were badly hurt, but luckily no one died."
Scott said. "Does anyone know what kind of creature that guy is?"
Victoria spoke up. "He can teleport and shift into multiple animal forms… always black fur? I'm not certain, but I think he's a Púca." She looked at Chris. "What do you think?"
Chris nodded. "That's what I was thinking too."
Stiles asked. "What's a Púca?"
Victoria explained. "A mischievous, malevolent shapeshifter. It can take the form of different black-furred animals—horse, dog, goat, whatever. It can teleport, and it loves causing chaos."
Allison muttered. "It definitely caused chaos tonight."
Chris said. "Since Scott hurt him, it'll take a few days for him to heal. But we need to be ready when he comes back. Everyone carry mountain ash—and a bright flashlight."
Isaac blinked. "Bright flashlight? Is a Púca scared of light? It wasn't bothered by the floodlights on the field."
Chris shook his head. "Not scared. But if you hit it suddenly with a focused beam—right in the eyes—it'll freeze up for a few seconds. Like a deer caught in headlights."
Stiles grinned. "Then we need to buy some super-bright flashlights."
Scott said. "Since he acted tonight, it means the Chaos Pride is making their move. We should probably expect to deal with many vampires and Loup Garou soon."
Chris said. "I've already made some wooden bullets for vampires, and we already have plenty of wolfsbane bullets from our fights with the Calaveras and those other clowns who came after us."
Scott smirked. "This is going to be fun. We've never hunted with guns before."
Allison said. "I'll make some wolfsbane arrowheads—and wooden ones too."
Scott cautioned. "We can have fun, but remember—we need to absorb the powers of any lesser vampires and Loup Garou we take down. Even if they're weak and don't have special abilities, we still benefit from it."
Victoria nodded. "Scott's right. So use normal wolfsbane bullets on the Loup Garou—not yellow wolfsbane bullets. And try not to hit vampires in the heart with wooden rounds—we need them alive long enough for us to absorb their powers."
Liam said. "We don't even know if they've turned anyone into lesser vampires or Loup Garou yet, and you guys are already planning how to kill them."
Scott said. "They will turn people—if they haven't already. Causing chaos is what they do. That's why they call themselves the Chaos Pride."
The discussion lingered a few minutes longer, but eventually Melissa and Victoria put an end to it by dragging Scott and Boyd into the kitchen to help with dinner prep. Soon the whole pack was gathered around the table, eating together like a real family.
For a little while, no one talked about shapeshifters, teleporters, or chaos. The looming threat could wait until tomorrow. When the Chaos Pride finally showed themselves, the pack would be ready—and they'd make them regret ever coming to Beacon Hills.
Chapter 195: Time with Rafael
Aug 18, 2025
The bar of the Chaos Pride
Night had fallen, and the Chaos Pride's bar was packed and lively. Music thumped through the speakers, and laughter echoed off the walls.
Darius lounged on a leather couch, an arm around Meilin and another around Selene, savoring a glass of whiskey. Across the room, Valeria was feeding from a compelled woman, drinking her blood casually, while the rest of the pride laughed, drank, and basked in their own decadence.
Suddenly, Declan—the Púca—teleported in, collapsing to the floor in pain, blood seeping from his chest, his breathing ragged.
Darius straightened instantly. "What happened to you?"
Declan groaned, barely conscious. "Scott McCall happened. He drove his hand through my chest. I'm only alive because he was trying to read my memories instead of finishing me off."
Selene frowned. "How did he even wound you? You can teleport."
Declan coughed up blood, his voice weakening. "Because… he can turn his body into shadow and teleport too. Just like Valeria."
Valeria blinked, stunned. "What? A werewolf who can shadow-teleport? I've never heard of that before. Are we even sure he's a werewolf?"
Meilin's tone was firm. "He's definitely a wolf. I could smell it when I met him."
Declan groaned again, his eyes rolled back and lost consciousness.
Darius knelt beside him, checking the wound. "He'll live. But it'll take two or three weeks for him to heal." He rose, settling back onto the couch, eyes narrowing at the two identical redheads sitting beside Valeria. "Cara, Ciara… didn't you warn him not to go near the McCall pack alone?"
Cara nodded. "We did. We told him they were dangerous, but he didn't listen."
Ciara added. "He even asked us if we could sense his death coming. When we told him no, he said he'd make some trouble for the McCall pack and teleport away."
Darius sighed, swirling his drink. "We need more information about the McCall pack. The best way is to catch one of McCall's betas."
A tall man with broad shoulders and glowing crocodilian red eyes named Mateo, grinned. "Leave that to me. I'll catch one."
"Fine." Darius replied. "But target a beta who's alone." He turned to an elegant Asian woman with long black hair and cold, reptilian red eyes. "Amara, you and Luca follow Mateo from a distance. Step in only if he needs help."
Amara winked at Darius with a charming smile. "Okay, boss."
Meilin shot her a glare. "I told you to stop flirting with Darius, you bitch."
Amara just smirked. "I can't help it. I like strong men. And honestly, I only joined this pride because I want to be his woman."
Meilin's voice turned icy. "Keep dreaming."
"I will." Amara said sweetly. "And maybe my dream will come true."
Darius only shook his head with a faint smile. Turning to Valeria, he asked. "How many vampires have you turned, love?"
Valeria sipped her drink. "Five, and each of them commands ten lesser vampires."
Darius nodded. "And you, George? How many people did you turn?"
George grinned. "Thirty. They're still in the basement. I was planning to let them fight each other so only the strong survive."
"Don't." Darius ordered. "We'll use them to test the McCall pack. The more cannon fodder, the better."
"Fine." George said. "But when do we attack?"
"First, let's see if Mateo can catch a beta." Darius replied. "If not, we'll send your wolves and Valeria's vampires to attack the McCall pack while we watch from a distance."
Luca raised an eyebrow. "You're being cautious, boss. not your usual style."
"Meilin says Scott McCall may be as strong as me." Darius said calmly. "I trust her judgment. Better to be careful this time."
Cara smiled. "I want to see if we can recruit that banshee, Lydia."
Meilin shook her head. "She won't join us. Don't waste your time."
Ciara smirked. "Maybe we can use her mother to force her to join us. She's just a normal human."
Selene warned. "Be careful. Don't get yourselves killed."
Cara waved her off. "Relax. We're White Ladies. We can sense mortal danger before it happens."
---
The next day, after dealing with the Púca, it was Saturday—so Scott and Allison decided to visit Rafael.
They woke up early and drove to San Francisco, listening to country music and singing along.
By the time they reached the city, Rafael was waiting outside his apartment building, leaning against a brick wall with his arms crossed. He waved them over with a broad grin.
"You two are late. I thought you'd bailed on me."
"We were just enjoying the drive." Scott said with a laugh as his dad pulled him into a hug.
"Good to see you, son." Rafael said warmly.
"Good to see you too." Scott replied.
Rafael hugged Allison as well, then led them upstairs to his apartment. It was simple but tidy—half-read novel on the coffee table, a pot of coffee brewing, framed photos on the wall, most of them of Scott as a kid.
After a quick breakfast, they didn't linger inside. Rafael grabbed his jacket and took them out to see the city. They wandered Fisherman's Wharf, shared paper cones of garlic fries, and watched street performers juggle flaming sticks.
They stayed out until evening, bought dinner, and headed back to Rafael's apartment.
After eating, they sat in the living room talking over drinks.
"I had a case last week." Rafael said. "Ugly one. Human trafficking ring, but these guys weren't human."
Allison set down her drink. "Shapeshifters?"
Rafael nodded. "Yeah. I read about them at the ranch in those supernatural books. They were something called Geier. Cannibals. Long, hook-shaped noses, talons instead of claws, black eyes. They harvest human organs—sometimes to eat, sometimes to sell."
Scott asked. "What happened to them?"
"My partner and I killed them all." Rafael said, taking a sip of coffee, gaze distant. "But I think my partner's gonna need some serious therapy after what he saw."
Scott chuckled. "Did he see them shift?"
"Yeah." Rafael nodded.
Allison raised an eyebrow. "Did he see you shift?"
Rafael smirked. "Nope. Those guys were too weak. I didn't need to shift."
There was a pause before Rafael leaned back. "I haven't been to Beacon Hills in a month. How are things over there?"
Allison shrugged. "The usual—you know, we kill some crazy bad guys, then crazier ones show up."
Scott said. "Now we're dealing with a group called the Chaos Pride."
Rafael frowned. "Sounds… friendly."
Scott and Allison told him about the Chaos Pride and the incident on the lacrosse field.
"They sound dangerous. Do you want me to come to Beacon Hills to help?" Rafael asked.
Scott smiled faintly. "You're welcome to visit. As for the Chaos Pride, you don't have to worry—we can handle them."
Rafael nodded. "Okay. But if you need me, just say the word. I'll come even if I'm working."
They spent the rest of the night talking—not about monsters, but about everything else. Old memories, stories from Rafael's childhood that made Scott and Allison laugh.
By the time they looked at the clock, it was 2 a.m. They finally called it a night.
The next morning, they had breakfast together.
When it was time to leave, Rafael walked them to the car. He hugged Scott tightly, longer than usual. "I'm proud of the man you've become, son."
Scott smiled. "Thanks, Dad."
After they broke the hug, Scott teased. "Maybe it's time for you to find another woman, and have some more kids."
Rafael chuckled. "Not now. Maybe after I quit my job and move back to the ranch."
Scott grinned. "Well, you should quit soon, then."
"I still want to work a few more years." Rafael said.
"Alright." Scott said. "We're leaving. Take care of yourself—and don't be a stranger."
"You too, kids. See you soon." Rafael replied.
With that, Scott and Allison got in the car and drove back to Beacon Hills.
Chapter 196: Allison's Birthday
Aug 21, 2025
The sun rose over Beacon Hills with a lazy warmth as the pack gathered at the pack house for breakfast.
Stiles looked at his dad. "Did you find any clues about the Chaos Pride's whereabouts?"
Noah shook his head. "No, nothing. The town's been strangely quiet—no crimes, no disturbances at all."
Melissa frowned. "That's a good thing… I hope."
Stiles turned to Lydia. "What about you, Lydia? Any visions?"
Lydia shook her head. "No. Nothing."
Liam glanced at Scott. "By the way, Mason's been found."
Scott's eyes widened. "When?"
"More than a week ago. I… kind of forgot to tell you." Liam admitted.
"Did you see him? Is he a chimera?" Scott asked.
"Yes, I visited him. And no—he's not a chimera." Liam said.
Stiles leaned forward. "Where was he found?"
Liam explained. "He came back home on his own. Said he woke up in the woods and just walked back. He only remembers someone knocking him out, being locked in a room with other people for a few days, then losing consciousness again. Next thing he knew, he was in the woods. He and his family are leaving Beacon Hills Tomorrow."
Allison tapped her fingers on the table. "Maybe the Dread Doctor found a better candidate for the Beast."
"Or maybe he just gave up and left." Stiles added.
While the pack discussed the Dread Doctor, Victoria spoke to Scott telepathically. [Scott, remember to keep Allison distracted all day. Don't let her come home until evening.]
Scott replied. [I will. And please remember to send the gift I bought for her to the lake house.]
Victoria asked. [What did you buy?]
Scott answered. [A car.]
Victoria's voice brightened in his head. [Alright, I'll have someone drive it over.]
Scott stood up from the table. "Allison, let's go."
Allison blinked. "It's still early for school."
Scott said. "We're not going to school today. We're going somewhere fun."
Allison's eyes lit up. She jumped to her feet. "Well, what are we waiting for?"
They stepped outside the pack house. Scott opened a shadow portal, and the two of them walked through, emerging in an empty restroom.
Allison looked around. "Where are we?"
Scott grinned. "Come outside and see."
They exited the restroom, and Allison gasped when she saw the entrance. Smiling wide, she kissed him. "You're the best! I haven't been to Disneyland in years."
"I'm glad you like it." Scott said.
"Like it?" Allison laughed. "I love it! Let's get in line."
Scott replied. "No need to wait in line—I already bought VIP passes online."
With that, Allison and Scott started their day at Disneyland. There was no line to join and no crowd to navigate. Instead, they were greeted by a smiling, impeccably dressed guide.
"Good morning, Scott and Allison! Ready for a day of magic?" the guide said, handing them personalized lanyards that held their VIP passes.
The day passed in a blur of rides, laughter, and snacks. Allison especially loved the Haunted Mansion. After lunch, they explored every corner of the park until evening.
When the sun began to set, Allison carried an oversized Minnie Mouse plush while Scott found a quiet, hidden spot. He opened another shadow portal—this time just outside the ranch so they could enjoy a peaceful walk home.
---
Meanwhile, after Scott and Allison left in the morning, Noah, Parrish, and Braeden headed out for work, while the rest of the pack stayed behind to get ready for the birthday party.
"Melissa and I will handle the cake." Victoria announced, tying an apron neatly over her blouse.
"Someone needs to buy balloons, decorations, and candles." Melissa added, pushing aside a pile of ingredients.
"Isaac and I will take care of that." Erica volunteered.
Lydia chimed in. "Kira and I will go with you guys."
Malia crossed her arms. "What about meat? Please tell me this party isn't going to be just cake."
Victoria smiled. "Don't worry. There will be plenty of meat. We're planning a real feast."
Chris clapped his hands together. "Good. Who's helping me butcher a bull?"
"I'll help!" Malia said immediately.
"Peter and I will help too." Derek added.
Peter raised an eyebrow. "Wait, I'm helping too? Aren't three people enough?"
"Four is better than three." Derek replied flatly, dragging Peter along as they followed Chris and Malia outside to do the work.
The rest of the pack split into teams, everyone pitching in to make sure Allison's birthday would be perfect.
By mid-afternoon, Chris, Malia, Derek, and Peter returned with coolers packed full of fresh beef. Soon the scent of grilling meat filled the air as Boyd, Liam, and Stiles set up outdoor fire pits.
In the kitchen, Victoria and Melissa worked side by side in the kitchen, covered in flour and cocoa.
"You know, it's nice to have a normal day. No supernatural crises—just a big family celebrating a birthday." Melissa said as she smoothed ganache over the towering cake.
Victoria gave her a faint smile. "Indeed. I just hope no blind idiot decides to ruin today for us."
Melissa knocked on the wooden countertop. "Don't jinx it."
The cake turned out to be a three-tier masterpiece of rich chocolate ganache and fresh berries. When Lydia saw it, she gasped. "This cake looks like it belongs in a wedding magazine!"
Then she shot Melissa and Victoria a mock glare. "Not fair! You didn't make me a cake like this on my birthday."
Melissa rolled her eyes. "Weren't you the one who insisted on strawberry pie instead of cake?"
Lydia blushed, then grinned. "Oops. I forgot. Anyway, next year I expect a cake like this."
By sundown, everything was ready. The pack house was beautifully decorated, the dining table was piled high with food, and the cake was front and center.
"Everything's perfect." Lydia said, finally letting herself exhale. "Now we just wait for the birthday girl to show up."
---
Scott and Allison stepped out of a shadow portal onto the road near the ranch and began walking home.
Allison intertwined her fingers with his, smiling. "Thank you for today. It was perfect."
Scott glanced at her, grinning. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
He stopped, pulled her close, and murmured. "Happy birthday."
Allison smiled, kissing him softly. "Thank you." Then, with a mischievous glint in her eye, she whispered. "And since you made me so happy today, you're not just meeting Wolf Girl Allison tonight… you're meeting Wild Wolf Girl Allison."
She gave him a playful slap on the ass and bolted down the road.
Scott let out a low, teasing howl and chased after her, catching up at the ranch gate. "Should we skip the party and just go straight home?"
"Party?" Allison asked.
"Oops! I guess the surprise is ruined." Scott grinned. "Oh well, you knew about it anyway."
Allison's sharp ears picked up whispers and laughter coming from the pack house, along with the mouthwatering scent of food.
"Well, I figured they'd throw a party." She said warmly. "Besides, it's pretty hard to surprise a werewolf."
Scott smiled. "Just try to act surprised, okay?"
Hand in hand, they walked to the front door, exchanging a knowing look as they overheard Lydia scolding Stiles in a low voice after he popped a party popper too early.
Scott and Allison stepped through the front door of the pack house, only to be met with a loud chorus of voices.
"SURPRISE!"
The entire pack was crammed inside, grinning and holding up streamers and party poppers. Allison laughed, putting a hand over her heart. "You guys… I told you not to make a big deal out of my birthday."
Lydia smirked. "Like we were going to listen to you."
They ate together, the air filled with laughter and the smell of grilled beef and chocolate cake. Gifts were passed around, and jokes traded.
When the evening wound down, Scott caught Allison's hand and whispered. "Ready for my gift?"
With a grin, he opened a shadow portal. The two of them stepped through and emerged in the quiet warmth of the lake house.
"Close your eyes." Scott said softly.
Allison raised an eyebrow. "Should I be worried?"
"No, I promise you are going to love it." He said.
He led her outside, guiding her a few careful steps before stopping. "Okay. Open them."
Allison's eyes opened—and immediately went wide. Parked in front of her was a gleaming red Ferrari 458 Spider, its curves catching the moonlight.
Her breath caught, then she let out a squeal of joy and practically bounced on her heels. "Scott… I… I LOVE it!"
Before he could answer, two snowy-white wolf ears flickered into view on top of her head. Allison spun toward him, eyes bright with excitement, and leapt into his arms, kissing him hard.
Scott laughed against her lips, scooping her up as if she weighed nothing. Without breaking their kiss, he carried her back inside the lake house.
What followed was wild, passionate, and completely theirs—a night where the rest of the world faded away, leaving only the two of them.
Chapter 197: The Attack on Liam
Aug 25, 2025
The next day after the birthday party passed quietly. Scott and the teens went to school, and after classes ended, Scott and Allison headed to the animal clinic, Stiles and Malia went to the sheriff's station, and the rest of the pack returned to the ranch.
Liam didn't go with them. Instead, he went to say goodbye to Mason, who was leaving Beacon Hills with his parents. Later that night, after leaving Mason's house, Liam walked alone, earbuds in, music playing as he cut through the woods toward the ranch.
At first, the night was quiet—too quiet. The deeper Liam went, the more his instincts screamed that something was wrong. He stopped walking, yanked out his earbuds, and scanned the trees.
"Get out." He growled, his eyes flashing crimson. "I can smell you."
A deep chuckle echoed through the woods. A tall man with broad shoulders stepped from behind a tree twenty meters away, strolling toward him with a cocky grin.
"You're new to this, little boy." The man said casually. "Didn't even realize I've been following you all this time."
Liam sized him up and felt it immediately—this man was strong. "Who are you? What do you want?"
The man's eyes glowed blood-red, pupils narrowing into reptilian slits. "What do I want? To capture you, of course. But first, let's have a good fight. I've heard the McCall Pack is tough, so don't disappoint me, little boy."
Without warning, the man lunged. Liam dodged the strike and leapt back to create distance. "Your eyes… they look reptilian." Liam said. "You must be the Cipactli. Mateo—from the Chaos Pride."
Mateo froze for a split second, surprised. "How do you know about me, kid?"
Liam partially shifted, fur bristling along his cheeks, claws sliding out. "Guess."
Mateo's claws extended, his grin widening. "Doesn't matter. I'll find out after I catch you."
He attacked again—faster this time. Liam blocked the slash and countered, but Mateo parried easily and drove a brutal kick into Liam's gut. Liam flew backward, splintering a tree trunk before landing hard in the dirt.
Snarling, Liam launched himself forward. They collided in a flurry of claws and fists, slashing and striking so fast that sparks flew off rocks and torn branches rained from above. Liam scored shallow wounds on Mateo's arms, but every one of Mateo's blows landed heavier, leaving Liam's ribs aching and his breath ragged.
With a roar, Liam backed off and let his full shift take over. His body swelled to 2.4 meters, his clothes shredding into rags, thick gray fur sprouted across his skin, his face stretching into a wolf's muzzle, and a long tail whipping behind him.
Mateo's grin widened. "So you have a real form, kid. Guess I'll have to get serious too."
But Liam didn't give him the chance to shift. He lunged forward with terrifying speed, his claws ripping a deep gash along Mateo's side. Mateo staggered, but Liam kept pressing—slashes, punches, kicks—until he slammed Mateo to the ground and tried to pin him.
Mateo opened his mouth and blasted a powerful stream of water straight into Liam's face, forcing him back several steps. Mateo rose, muscles swelling as his own shift began. His body stretched to 3 meters, dark green scales armoring his skin. His clothes shredded as his head reshaped into that of a crocodile, a massive tail lashing behind him.
Liam attacked, but Mateo spun and smashed Liam with his tail, sending him flying into a tree and snapping it in half.
Liam roared, scrambling to his feet. Across from him, Mateo answered with a roar of his own. Neither moved for a heartbeat—then they charged. The clash was devastating, a primal explosion of muscle and fury.The forest shook under the sound of the two of them colliding.
Liam ducked under a swipe of Mateo's tail and hammered a punch straight into his ribs. The impact sent a shockwave through the clearing, forcing Mateo back a step.
Mateo grinned—a low, guttural rumble in his reptilian chest—and retaliated with a backhand slash. His claws ripped through Liam's shoulder, spraying blood. Liam roared, more anger than pain, and answered with a spinning kick to Mateo's knee. The massive reptile staggered, scales denting where Liam's heel struck.
Mateo's tail lashed out like a whip, catching Liam across the chest and hurling him into a tree again.
Bark exploded as Liam crashed through the trunk, but he was up in an instant, charging again.
They met in a frenzy of claws and fists. Liam's strikes hammered Mateo's armored torso—each blow bruising, denting, forcing small cracks between scales. Mateo responded in kind, carving bloody slashes into Liam's arms and chest, his claws like machetes.
Mateo reared back, opened his jaws, and unleashed a roaring torrent of water. It hit Liam like a battering ram, blasting him off his feet and driving him several meters into the dirt. Liam rolled, snarling, and bounded forward on all fours, dodging the next stream by inches. He closed the gap, leapt, and drove both feet into Mateo's chest with a dropkick that sent the massive reptile sliding backward, gouging deep grooves in the earth.
Liam pressed the attack, claws slashing, fists pounding. He slammed Mateo against a boulder, cracking stone, then raked his claws across Mateo's side, tearing through the scales to the flesh beneath. Mateo roared, enraged, and swung a massive uppercut that lifted Liam off his feet and sent him crashing into the ground hard enough to leave a crater.
Before Liam could rise, Mateo's tail whipped around again, cracking against his ribs. Liam felt bones creak, but he rolled with it, ducking a follow-up strike, and countered with a brutal punch to Mateo's jaw.
The Cipactli staggered, then lunged forward, jaws gaping wide. Before Liam could dodge, Mateo clamped down on his arm. His crocodilian teeth sank deep, piercing fur and flesh. Liam roared in agony, thrashing, his massive frame shaking as he tried to wrench free—but Mateo's grip was iron. Blood streamed down Liam's arm, dripping into the dirt.
Snarling, Liam did the only thing he could—he lunged forward instead of back, driving his free claws straight into Mateo's face and gouging deep into one of the reptilian's eye sockets.
Mateo howled in pain, releasing Liam instantly and staggering back to clutch his ruined eye. Liam fell to one knee, clutching his shredded arm, his breath ragged—but his fury still burned.
---
A hundred meters away, hidden in the trees, two figures observed the clash. Amara's arms were crossed, her eyes glinting in the moonlight, while Luca leaned against a trunk, smirking at the sight of Liam and Mateo tearing into each other.
"That kid's tougher than he looks." Luca muttered. "Should we step in, give Mateo a hand?"
Amara shook her head, a cold smile playing on her lips. "No. Let him have his fun."
---
Liam and Mateo glared at one another, their monstrous forms heaving as wounds slowly knit themselves shut. The night was thick with the smell of blood and torn earth.
Then, a voice broke through Liam's fury—clear and urgent inside his head.
[Liam, what's happening? I can feel your pain.]
It was Scott.
Liam blinked, snapping out of his haze of rage. [The Chaos Pride attacked me. It's the Cipactli, Mateo. He's strong… and he wants to capture me.]
[Hang on. I'm coming to you.]
---
Elsewhere—inside the Chaos Pride's bar—the atmosphere was the opposite. Music, laughter, and clinking glasses filled the air as Darius and his pride reveled in their own company.
But suddenly, both twins—Cara and Ciara—froze. Their eyes clouded white, their bodies shivering violently as the visions took hold. Moments later, they gasped, returning to themselves pale and trembling.
"Shit!" Ciara breathed, clutching her chest. "What was that thing? Those three idiots… they're going to die."
Cara snatched her phone and immediately dialed Amara.
The call clicked alive. "What's up? Why are..." Amara began.
"Shut up and listen." Cara snapped, her voice sharp with fear. "Get out of there. Now. You, Mateo, and Luca—leave. Immediately. If you stay, you'll all die."
Amara frowned. "What are you talking about? I don't feel any danger. Sure, the kid's strong, but Mateo can..."
"I said shut up!" Cara cut her off, voice rising. "I saw it. I saw the three of you dead—torn apart by something I couldn't even look at in my vision. A monster. If you don't leave now, you're dead."
Amara's eyes narrowed. "Then we help Mateo capture the kid and leave fast."
"No!" Cara barked. "Just leave. As soon as possible."
Amara hesitated, then exhaled. "Alright."
The call ended. Every eye in the bar was fixed on the twins. Darius leaned forward, interest gleaming in his gaze. "What did you see?"
Cara's lips trembled. "I saw Amara, Luca, and Mateo—dead. All three of them."
Valeria asked. "Dead? By what?"
Ciara's voice quivered. "I don't know. I couldn't see it clearly. Just… darkness. A massive shape inside it. And glowing red eyes."
Cara added, shuddering. "And it looked straight at me. Even in the vision, it saw me. It knew I was watching."
Ciara hugged her arms. "I felt it too. If I hadn't pulled out, I swear it would've attacked me through the vision."
Darius leaned back and laughed, excitement flashing across his face. "So… you think it was Scott McCall?"
Cara's voice was unsteady. "I'm not sure. But if it was him… then you need to rethink attacking the McCall Pack."
Selene scoffed. "You don't seriously think McCall is stronger than Darius, do you?"
Cara locked eyes with her. "I know Darius is strong, but I had visions of him before, and he never felt like the monster I just saw in my vision."
Ciara nodded, pale. "She's right. That thing I saw… it wasn't just strong. It was a real monster."
Darius grinned wider, his laughter booming. "Good. Then I'm looking forward to meeting this monster."
---
Back in the woods
Mateo and Liam circled, catching their breath. Before either could move, Amara and Luca rushed out of the trees.
Liam tensed, crouching low, ready to fight or flee. But to his surprise, the two didn't even look at him. Instead, they grabbed Mateo by the arms and pulled.
"What are you two idiots doing?" Mateo growled, resisting.
"Cara called." Amara snapped. "She said if we don't leave, we die. I'm not gambling my life against the word of a White Lady."
Mateo's glowing eye flickered, his massive form shrank back into his human form. He pulled free and ran alongside them. "That's a shame. I was really enjoying my fight with that kid."
"Living's more important." Luca muttered.
Amara glanced over her shoulder as the three sprinted through the trees. "Who do you think Cara saw in her vision? Who are we running from?"
"The McCall Pack, most likely." Luca said. "Let's ask her when we go back. Now use your speed and let's go somewhere to make them lose our scent, then head back to the bar."
And with that, the three Chaos Pride members vanished into the night.
Liam was left standing alone in the clearing, confusion and unease twisting in his gut.
Two minutes later, Scott arrived. He looked at Liam and asked. "Where is he?"
Liam said. "Two of his friends showed up when you contacted me. They said that someone named Cara told them to run or they would die. From what the woman said, I think the one called Cara is something called a White Lady. Anyway… Mateo and his friends ran off."
Scott sighed, rubbing his forehead. "If only you were somewhere I'd seen before, then I could have teleported directly to you. And I felt like someone was watching me while I was coming here. I assume it was the White Lady having a vision about me."
Liam frowned. "What's a White Lady?"
"She's like a banshee." Scott explained. "A harbinger of death."
Liam shifted back to his human form, standing there naked. He covered himself with his hands and said. "Uh… Scott, can I borrow something to cover up?"
Scott walked up to him, smacked the back of his head, and said. "Didn't I tell you not to go out alone? And why didn't you tell me and the rest of the pack the moment that guy attacked you?"
Liam said quickly. "I'm sorry. I went to say goodbye to Mason and didn't think someone would attack me. And I didn't tell you I was being attacked because I… I lost myself to anger. I'm sorry."
Scott sighed but nodded. "Alright, let's go to the ranch. But don't you dare go out alone again, you hear me?"
Liam said. "Yes. I won't do it again."
With that, Scott opened a shadow portal to the ranch, Once they were inside the pack house, Liam quickly put some clothes on, and Scott gathered the pack and explained what had happened.
Melissa marched over, grabbed Liam by the ear, and yanked. "Didn't we agree? No one goes out alone! What if it hadn't just been the crocodile guy? What if all three of them jumped you?"
"Ow, ow!" Liam winced in pain. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I swear I won't do it again!"
Melissa finally let go, shooting him a warning glare before turning to the pack. "We need to stick together until this Chaos Pride situation is over."
Scott nodded. "Mom is right. Although we're strong, we're not invincible. So be careful, everyone."
Chapter 198: Setting a Trap
Aug 28, 2025
More than a week passed without any sign of the Chaos Pride. It was a calm Saturday morning at the lake house. Scott and Allison were lying in bed, hugging each other.
Scott lazily played with a strand of Allison's hair. "So, what's the plan for today?"
"I'm all yours this morning." Allison said with a smile. "But I promised to spend the afternoon with Mom."
"What?!" Scott sat up a little. "You should've told me earlier—it's already eleven and we've just been lying here… doing nothing."
Allison rolled her eyes. "Nothing? I thought hugging me was fun."
Scott smirked, rolling on top of her. "Hugging's fine… but I had something else in mind."
He started kissing her neck, making Allison giggle. Their lips were just about to meet when Lydia's panicked voice sounded in Scott's head.
[Scott, I just had a vision. My mom—she's in danger. Please go to my house and check on her. I'll fly and follow you.]
Scott stood up and jumped instantly from bed, answering Lydia telepathically. [I'm on my way. You don't need to go—I'll bring her to the ranch if she's home.]
Allison sat up. "What's wrong?"
"Lydia says her mom's in danger." Scott opened a shadow portal on the spot.
"Wait..." Allison started, but Scott was already stepping through.
He appeared in Lydia's living room—completely naked. A loud crash of glass drew his eyes to Natalie Martin, standing frozen with shock, a hand over her mouth.
Scott glanced down, covered himself awkwardly, and gave a sheepish smile. "Uh… sorry. I was in a hurry."
A moment later, Allison stepped through wearing a nightgown and immediately tossed Scott a pair of sweatpants. "You went naked, you idiot." She scolded, glaring at him before turning apologetically to Natalie. "Sorry about him."
Natalie was still wide-eyed. "Forget about that. What is that dark… thing behind you? And how did you just appear in my living room?"
Scott pulled on the sweatpants quickly. "Come with us and we'll explain everything."
Allison took Natalie's hand. "Lydia's worried about you. She'll explain."
"Lydia? Why would she be worried about..." Natalie began, but Allison didn't wait for an argument. She guided her straight through the portal, back to the lake house.
Once there, Allison spoke to Lydia telepathically. [Lydia, come to my place. We brought your mom—she's safe, but she's freaking out.]
[I'm on my way.] Lydia answered.
Meanwhile, Scott quickly searched Lydia's house for any sign of danger—inside, outside, nothing. Satisfied, he returned to the lake house through another portal.
He put on a shirt and went downstairs to the living room, Lydia had just arrived. She was holding her mom tight. "I was so scared something might've happened to you." Lydia whispered.
Natalie pulled back slightly, still shaken. "Why would something happen to me? And can someone please explain how I got here from my house?"
Scott said. "Lydia will explain everything. But first…" He motioned for Lydia to sit. "Tell me about your vision."
Lydia separated from her mom, sat beside her, and said. "In the vision… I saw her dying. She was poisoned—I think. And there was a Lamia standing over her. Two other women were there too. They were talking to me, but I couldn't understand the words."
Allison frowned. "Are they from the Chaos Pride?"
"I'm not sure." Lydia said, voice low.
Scott said. "Whether they're Chaos Pride or not, they went after Lydia's mom. They're going to pay—and we're going to catch them."
Lydia asked. "How?"
Scott grinned. "Since they're trying to get to your mom… let's let them."
Lydia shot him a look. "What? No! What if they poison her or kill her?"
Scott's grin turned sly. "I'm not talking about using your mom. I mean someone who looks like your mom."
Allison caught on immediately. "Oh. You mean Stiles."
"Exactly." Scott nodded.
Lydia groaned. "Do we really have to? The last thing I want is that idiot walking around as my mom."
Scott shrugged. "Sorry, but it's the best way. If we just wait at your house, they'll sense something's wrong and disappear. And if they're Chaos Pride, that teleporter might be with them again—if he's healed. We can't risk them slipping away. Letting Stiles disguise as your mom and do what she usually does on a Saturday is our best chance of catching those guys."
Lydia sighed heavily. "Fine. But I'm not happy about it."
Scott spoke telepathically. [Stiles, get to my place. Now.]
[What for?] Stiles replied groggily.
[For something fun, I promise.]
[Give me five minutes. I just woke up.]
Scott said. "I just told him. He'll be here soon."
Before Allison could respond, Natalie screamed, pointing toward the window. "What is that?!"
The three turned to see a massive white wolf staring in curiously.
Allison smiled. "That's Luna. And if you look at the other window…" She gestured to the opposite side. "That's Vesper. They're our pets."
Natalie looked—and froze as an equally huge black wolf peered in. "AAAAHHH! There's another one!"
Lydia couldn't help but laugh. "Mom, don't freak out—they're friendlier than Prada. Come on, let's go meet them."
"No way." Natalie said firmly, backing up. "I'm not going anywhere near those… monsters."
"They're not monsters." Lydia said gently, taking her mother's hand and dragging her toward the door despite her protests.
Outside, Lydia called. "Luna! Vesper! Come meet my mom!"
Natalie saw the two wolves—bigger than any horse she'd ever seen—coming closer. She got scared and ducked behind her daughter, trembling.
The wolves sat obediently in front of Lydia. She patted their massive heads. "Mom, don't be afraid. They're not normal wolves. They're supernatural beings—smart enough to understand every word we're saying. They won't hurt you. Trust me."
Natalie hesitated, then slowly stepped out from behind Lydia. She reached out and touched Luna's fur. The giant wolf nuzzled against her chest gently.
Natalie exhaled, tension easing. "They're… incredible. What are they? I've never even heard of wolves like this."
"They're called Amarok wolves." Lydia explained. "They're rare supernatural creatures, and can shrink to normal wolf size. That's why regular people have no idea they exist."
Just then Ghost and Leila, the two pups who were playing near the lake, came running. They dashed past Lydia and Natalie into the house, but Leila paused, glancing back and forth between Lydia and her mother. The little wolf tilted her head as if asking a silent question.
Lydia smiled. "She is my mom."
Natalie crouched and stroked Leila's head. The pup wagged her tail, then scampered inside toward the kitchen.
Inside, Scott was making breakfast. Ghost was already devouring his food when Scott set down another bowl for Leila.
Allison, now dressed, walked into the kitchen. "Need a hand?"
Scott shook his head over the stove. "Nope. But you can take those two bowls out to Vesper and Luna."
"On it." Allison gave both wolf pups a quick pat, then grabbed the oversized bowls of food and carried them outside.
Natalie raised an eyebrow. "Dog food? For… those things?"
Allison smiled. "That's just a snack for them. We feed them raw meat, and they go hunting deer with Dad and Malia once a week."
Natalie blinked. "Oh. …Okay. Now, can you girls tell me what's going on?"
Lydia said. "That's a long story, but the short version? The supernatural is real. Scott and Allison are werewolves."
Natalie stared at her daughter. "You're kidding. Werewolves don't exist."
Allison's eyes glowed bright red. "We're very real."
Natalie gasped. "Y-your eyes…"
"Yep." Allison nodded. "My eyes can glow red, and I can shift into a wolf."
Lydia's eyes glowed red as well. "Me too."
Natalie said. "You're a werewolf too?"
"I'm not a werewolf. I'm a banshee like Grandma, and I can shift into a crow."
Natalie opened her mouth to respond when Stiles and Malia arrived.
Vesper immediately stopped eating and growled at Stiles.
Malia walked right past the massive wolf, giving him a scratch on the head. Vesper wagged his tail for her, then went right back to glaring at Stiles.
Allison chuckled. "Vesper, be nice. Scott invited him."
Vesper snorted and went back to eating his food.
Natalie whispered to Lydia. "I thought you said they are nice and wouldn't hurt anyone!"
"They are." Lydia said dryly. "But Vesper and Stiles don't like each other for some reason, and they fight all the time. And I never said they wouldn't hurt anyone—only that they wouldn't hurt you. If they think someone's a threat, they'll rip them apart."
"Comforting." Natalie muttered.
Allison said. "Alright, guys, let's go inside."
---
Inside, Scott plated up breakfast while Allison and Stiles set the table. Over coffee and eggs, Lydia told Stiles and Malia about her vision, and Scott told them about his plan.
Stiles said. "So… you want me to mimic Lydia's mom?"
Scott nodded. "Exactly. And take some of Lydia's paralyzing venom with you. Use it on those women the moment you get a chance."
Lydia frowned. "Wait. If they're from the Chaos Pride, that means the White Lady in their pride will warn them about the danger, so they might not come after Mom anymore."
Allison groaned. "That's a problem."
Scott thought for a moment. "Then we make sure we have no killing intent. We only plan to capture them. If we're not planning to kill, the White Lady won't see anything."
Lydia nodded slowly. "That could work. A White Lady's visions only trigger around death, so if we have no intention of killing anyone, her powers might not work."
Stiles leaned back. "So we deal with them after we catch them."
Allison gave him a sharp look. "Idiot. What part of no killing intent don't you get? You have to honestly believe that when we capture them, we'll just… inviting them to the ranch as guests, not as prisoners or anything like that."
Stiles grinned wickedly. "Oh, I get it."
Lydia rolled her eyes. "No, you don't. That creepy smile tells me you still don't get it."
"Alright, alright." Stiles said with mock innocence—then smirked and winked at Lydia. "We'll just… bring them here for dinner."
Scott shook his head, laughing. "Stiles. Stop messing around and do your thing."
"Fine." Stiles turned to Natalie—and in seconds, his face and body shifted into her perfect double.
Natalie's jaw dropped.
"Don't you dare do anything weird while you look like my mom." Lydia warned.
Stiles, now Natalie's mirror image, just gave Lydia a mischievous smile and spoke in her mom's voice. "Weird? What do you mean by weird, sweetheart?"
Lydia just glared at him.
Stiles sighed. "Relax. I'm not a perv. Even if I look like her, I mean, look..."
He tugged down the waistband of his pants. "See? I'm smooth down there, so there's nothing to worry about."
Scott raised an eyebrow. "So when you mimic someone, you don't copy their… uh… genitals?"
Stiles said. "Nope." Then he smirked. "But I can make mine show up if I want. Do you guys want to see Lydia's mom with a penis?"
Lydia snapped. "Don't you dare show me that! If you do, I swear I'll cut your dick off!"
"I'll help." Natalie added sharply.
Stiles immediately backed up, hands raised. "Kidding! Totally kidding."
Malia looked at Allison, who was giving her some weird looks.
"What?" Malia asked.
Allison grinned. "You two have definitely done some perverted, questionable things with his mimic ability."
Malia smiled mischievously. "Yes, we did."
"You're telling me everything later." Allison said.
"Sure." Malia replied.
"Hey, babe." Stiles protested. "You can't tell her that—it's private!"
"Fine." Malia said innocently, then winked at Allison anyway.
"I saw that." Stiles groaned. "At least wink when I'm not looking at you."
"Then turn around so I can wink at her." Malia teased.
Stiles threw up his hands. "Forget it. Tell her if you want. I don't care."
Scott shook his head, with a smile. "Alright, let's go to Lydia's house."
He opened a shadow portal to Lydia's house, and the group stepped through.
---
At Lydia's house, Stiles borrowed some of Natalie's clothes to complete the disguise. The pack gathered in the living room.
Scott said. "We're heading out now. Remember, call us the second they show up. If the teleporter's with them, use the paralyzing venom Lydia gave you on him immediately. Don't give him a chance to escape."
Stiles said. "Can the paralyzing venom even stop him from teleporting?"
Scott said. "I'm not sure, but it's worth a try."
Stiles glanced at Natalie. "So… what do you normally do on Saturdays?"
Natalie thought for a moment. "I usually have lunch at my favorite restaurant, then come home, read a book… maybe finish some work."
She gave Stiles the restaurant address, and with that, Scott opened another shadow portal. He and the others stepped through, leaving Stiles to play his part.
Scott went to the pack house to brief everyone on Lydia's vision, while Allison and Lydia stayed at the lake house, explaining the supernatural world to Natalie.
---
Meanwhile, at the Chaos Pride's bar…
Darius and his pride sat around a long table having breakfast. He fixed his gaze on the twins, Cara and Ciara.
"Are you absolutely sure there's no danger in targeting that banshee's mother?" Darius asked.
Ciara nodded confidently. "Yes. We've had no visions, no warnings, so I think we'll be safe. We can capture her, force the banshee to join us, and learn everything about the McCall pack."
Cara smirked. "Maybe she'll even help us destroy the McCall pack from the inside."
Darius leaned back in his chair. "Fine. But take Amara with you."
Amara frowned. "Why me?"
"Because you can use poison." Darius said flatly. "If anyone from the McCall pack shows up, you buy time for the three of you to escape."
Amara asked. "And if Scott shows up?"
Valeria spoke up from across the table. "Then you use your poison to slow him down. Even if he's strong, he'll still be afraid of poison. And you can even charm him. He's still a teenager. You might be able to control him."
Amara shook her head. "No, I won't try to charm him. My charm doesn't work on Darius, and if that kid is really as strong as Darius, then my charm won't work on him either."
Selene chuckled lightly. "Relax. You don't need to charm him. Just use the woman as a hostage. Scott McCall won't risk her life. He's a good person, and good people—no matter how strong—always get tied down by their morals."
Amara muttered. "Still, I'd rather take Declan with us. His teleportation makes everything safer."
Valeria shook her head. "He hasn't healed. He can't even get out of bed."
Cara pushed her chair back. "Amara, stop talking and let's go. We didn't have any visions, so we'll be fine."
Amara exhaled slowly, then smirked. "Fine. As long as Scott doesn't show up, I'm sure I can handle one or two from his pack. Maybe even capture them alive."
Chapter 199: A Deal with the McCall Pack
Sep 1, 2025
Stiles, now perfectly mimicking Natalie, spent the morning exactly as she would—lunch at her favorite restaurant, then a calm walk home. All the while, he could feel the eyes on his back. Ciara, Cara, and Amara followed at a careful distance, but they didn't suspect a thing. His mimic ability didn't just copy Natalie's face and voice; it masked his werewolf nature completely. To them, he looked like an ordinary human woman.
Once "Natalie" stepped inside the house, the three women lingered nearby, watching, making sure Lydia wasn't home. After a few minutes, they approached the door and knocked.
Stiles opened it with a warm smile that matched Natalie's perfectly. "Hello, girls. Are you friends of Lydia?"
Cara nodded quickly. "Yes. We are."
Stiles said pleasantly. "Well, she's not here. She only spends three days a week with me; the rest of the time, she's off with her friends. Didn't you know?"
Ciara stepped forward, all charm. "No, we just got to know her a few days ago, and she gave us her address and told us to visit if we had time. May we come in? Perhaps you could call her and tell her we're here?"
"Of course." Stiles said sweetly, stepping aside. "Come on in."
They settled in the living room while Stiles excused himself.
"Let me get you something to drink." He offered, disappearing into the kitchen.
Amara's eyes narrowed. "Something's off." She muttered. "We should just grab her and go."
In the kitchen, Stiles worked quickly. He dripped a few drops of Lydia's paralyzing venom into three wine glasses, filled them, then rubbed more venom onto his palm. [Scott, they are here.] he said silently, using the pack's telepathic link. [Three of them, all women. They said they're Lydia's friends.]
Scott responded. [Alright, give me a moment. I'm in the shower.]
Stiles returned carrying the wine with a pleasant smile. "I just told Lydia you're here." He said, passing out the glasses. "She'll be home any minute."
But Amara didn't touch hers. She stood abruptly. "No. Something's definitely wrong. Cara, Ciara—we're leaving."
She lunged at Stiles, hand outstretched for his throat. But he caught her wrist in an iron grip and grinned, his voice cold. "Too late to leave now."
Amara's eyes widened as her strength drained. She tried to pull back, but her knees buckled and she crashed to the floor.
"Paralyzing venom…" Cara whispered in shock.
Stiles smirked. "Smart girl."
Ciara's voice hardened. "You're not the banshee's real mother, are you?"
"You're right." Stiles said darkly. "But it's too late for you to figure that out."
Just then, a swirling shadow portal opened behind Stiles. Scott, Allison, Malia, Cora, Kira, and a very angry Lydia stepped through.
Paralyzed on the floor, Amara cursed silently. 'Damn it… I'm dead.'
Ciara and Cara, however, didn't panic. They sat calmly, eyes steady on Scott and his pack.
Scott tilted his head. "You two don't seem surprised. In fact… I can feel you're happy to see us."
Ciara and Cara
Ciara and Cara exchanged a glance, then nodded at Scott before turning to Lydia.
Cara said. "We mean your mother no harm. We only wanted to talk to you first—because you're a creature similar to us before we meet your alpha. But Darius sent Amara with us, and seeing the angry look on your face, you must have seen a vision where your mother got hurt because of her."
Lydia's glare sharpened. "Do you really think I'd believe that?"
Ciara gave a slight shrug. "I know you wouldn't. If I were you, I wouldn't believe me either." Then she looked at Scott. "You're Scott McCall, aren't you? I can feel it. You're a monster… just like Darius."
Allison's eyes flashed red as a growl rumbled in her throat.
Cara shot her sister a warning look. "Ciara, you're being rude."
Ciara looked at Allison. "Apologies. I meant no disrespect. But you must understand—even among supernatural creatures, there are those who are considered… monsters. Darius is one of them. And so is Scott. I don't know exactly what Scott is, but I know Darius is not just a werelion. He's a Nemean lion."
Stiles blinked. "A Nemean lion? Like the one from Hercules stories? Is that even real?"
Cara gave a small shrug. "I don't know if Hercules was real or just a story. But Nemean lions? They're very real. They're shapeshifters—their bloodline traces back thousands of years to a place called Nemea. These days, that's part of Corinthia in Greece."
Ciara continued calmly. "Nemean lions are known for their impenetrable hide and incredible strength. And Darius can shift into a lion bigger than a horse."
Cora narrowed her eyes. "Why are you telling us all of this? Are you hoping we spare your lives?"
Ciara smiled faintly. "We're not your enemies, so we definitely hope you don't kill us. We still want to live if we can."
Allison stepped forward. "Then why betray your pride? Why come to Lydia?"
Cara said. "Because she can read my memories. That's why I wanted to meet her. Although your alpha can read my memories too, I'm a White Lady, and just like a banshee, I don't have rapid healing. So the claw marks on my neck won't heal quickly and they will leave scars, and I would probably be hurt mentally too."
Ciara nodded. "Once you see our memories, you'll understand everything."
Scott talked to Lydia telepathically. [Go ahead. Read her memories. Don't worry—even if they try something, they can't hurt you mentally. We're immune to mind control and psychic attacks. And honestly? I don't think they're here to play tricks.]
Lydia gave Scott a small nod, then stepped toward Cara. She placed a hand gently on the White Lady's head, closed her eyes, her brow furrowed in concentration as she started reading Cara's memories.
---
Lydia saw Cara and her twin sister, Ciara, grew up in a quiet town in Ireland. When their mother died, an Alpha werewolf woman took them in and raised them as her own daughters. The Alpha werewolf and her pack guarded the town, and for a while, life was peaceful.
But everything changed when Darius and his pride arrived.
Chaos spread like wildfire. Valeria turned townspeople into vampires. George turned others into loup garou. The peaceful town became a nightmare.
Cara and Ciara's adoptive mother—along with her pack—fought to protect the people, but they were hopelessly outmatched. The sisters begged her to leave, but she refused to abandon her home. In the end, the Alpha and her entire pack were slaughtered.
Darius spared Cara and Ciara, because they were his true reason for coming. At sixteen years old, the girls joined his pride to survive, but inside they swore vengeance.
Darius noticed their hatred but was too confident in his own strength to care. For the next ten years, the twins watched as he and his pride left a trail of carnage—spreading chaos for their own amusement.
Cara and Ciara learned to hide their hatred. They waited for a chance to strike.
When they came to Beacon Hills, both sisters had a vision: Scott fighting Darius, matching him blow for blow. They didn't see who won, but it was enough. For the first time in a decade, they saw hope. So they gambled. They decided to approach Scott, even if it meant their deaths.
---
When Lydia finally withdrew her hand, she let out a long breath. Her anger at them—for targeting her mother—had vanished. Then she told Scott and the pack everything she had seen.
Ciara looked at Scott with steady eyes. "I don't know if you can kill Darius… but my sister and I will help, even if it costs our lives. We're done pretending. But Scott, if you are going to stop Darius, then you better hurry. Darius and his pride thrive on chaos. They've already created lesser vampires and beta loup-garous. If you don't draw his attention, he'll start slaughtering innocents."
Cara added. "The best way to make him focus on you is to kidnap one of his wives. He loves them very much. Take one of them, and he'll come after you with everything he has."
Stiles pointed a finger toward Amara. "What about her? Is she one of them?"
Cara shook her head. "No. She's not one of his wives—she's just… a whore. She likes to have orgies and sleep with young people before eating them, so Darius is not interested in her at all. But she is still part of his pride, so if he knew you captured her, he will not come for her, but he will take his anger out on the townsfolk."
On the floor, Amara managed to speak with difficulty, venom dripping from her voice. "You… bitches. Darius will never forgive you for… betraying him."
Cara glared down at her. "We never betrayed him. We were never part of his pride to begin with. Did you really think we'd forget what you monsters did to our mother and her pack, you bitch?"
Before Amara could spit another word, Lydia stepped forward. With a powerful stomp to the head, she knocked her unconscious. Lydia's voice was ice-cold as she looked at Scott and the others.
"This bitch is a Lamia." Lydia said. "I saw her in Cara's memories eating babies and doing some other horrible things."
Chapter 200: The Púca's End
Sep 4, 2025
"Alright, let's take the Lamia to the ranch, but before we kill her, I still need to deal with that teleporter. I don't want to kill her and alarm Darius, because as their Alpha he can feel it if one of his pride dies. And that Púca is troublesome, so I need to kill him first." Scott said.
Ciara replied. "He's still bedridden and hasn't healed from the wound you gave him. Killing him will be easy. He's usually alone in his room on the fourth floor of the building Darius took over."
Scott nodded. "Alright. I'll sneak in, kill the Púca, then kidnap one of Darius's women."
Allison worried, said. "I'll come with you."
Scott shook his head. "No. I'm not going to fight Darius. And if I want to leave, he and his pride can't stop me."
Scott opened a portal back to the pack house, and everyone stepped through, appearing in the living room.
After gathering the pack, Scott looked at Ciara and Cara. "Now, tell us about the Chaos Pride. We already know there are fifteen, and we know what eleven of them are. Tell us about the rest."
Cara asked. "Tell me who you know about."
Scott listed. "The Werelion, the Tarasque, the Ancient Vampire, the Huli Jing, the Nue, the Cipactli, the Lou Garou, the Púca, the two of you…"
Then Scott pointed at the unconscious Amara on the floor. "And this bitch. She's a Lamia. Lydia, you might want to hit her with another dose of your venom—she's awake and just waiting for her body to start moving again."
Amara, who had been pretending to be unconscious, opened her eyes. They shifted into snake eyes as dark scales spread across her skin. Though her body was still paralyzed, she could move a little and desperately tried to crawl away.
Lydia stepped toward Amara. With her talons, she slashed deep wounds into Amara's back, injecting venom. Amara hissed and glared at her with glowing snake eyes.
Melissa said. "You seem like you hate her, Lydia. Did you read her memories?"
Lydia shook her head. "No, but I read Cara's memories. I saw this bitch eating babies—and doing other disgusting things."
Melissa kicked Amara in the face, breaking her nose. "Disgusting bitch. I still remember the Lamia I fought two years ago. She was a baby-eating perverted monster too."
Victoria walked up to Amara. "You guys are too easy on her."
Her eyes glowed red as she raised her foot and stomped on Amara's spine, breaking it. Amara hissed in pain. "I hate baby-eating monsters." Victoria muttered.
Scott said. "Alright, don't kill her just yet. I don't want to alarm Darius."
Then he looked at the twins. "Now, tell me about the rest of the Chaos Pride."
Ciara explained. "There's a man named Luca. He's a Fire Fairy."
Erica frowned. "A fairy? You mean the magical creatures with wings?"
Cara nodded. "Yes. Fairies are creatures who can control elements. Luca doesn't have wings yet—he's not strong enough. But even so, with his fire control, he's very dangerous."
Scott turned to the pack. "Then Stiles, Parrish, one of you will take care of him."
Parrish said. "Leave him to me. I'll deal with him."
Peter looked at the twins. "Tell us about the other three."
Cara said. "There is a man named Arjun. He is a Yali."
Ciara explained. "A Yali is an Indian mythical creature with the head and trunk of an elephant and the body of a lion. He's extremely strong."
Cara continued. "There's another man named Borys. He's an Ogre—very strong too."
Ciara added. "The last one is a woman named Astrid. She's a Huldra. Her abilities are enchantment, seduction, mist summoning for concealment, and lightning attacks."
Stiles—still in Natalie's form—immediately blurted out. "I call dibs! She's mine, she's mine! I want the lightning ability."
Scott raised his hand. "Alright, calm down. She's all yours."
Stiles grinned evilly. "I can't wait."
Lydia glared. "Stiles, I didn't need to see that creepy expression on my mom's face. Turn back into your stupid self."
Stiles blinked. "Oh, right. I forgot I still look like your mom." Then he smirked at Lydia and added in mock disappointment. "Sweetheart, you really need to stop being angry all the time. Maybe that's why you're still single."
Lydia's eyes glowed red as her talons grew, and she was about to attack him.
Stiles quickly shifted back to himself and ducked behind Malia. "I was just joking, Lydia! Just joking."
Scott laughed and turned to Kira. "Go bring your parents here, just in case Darius targets them."
He opened a shadow portal to Kira's house, and Kira stepped through. A few moments later, she returned with her parents.
Scott nodded. "Good. Now—Isaac, go with Erica to protect her parents. Cora, go with Boyd to protect his parents. Stiles, go with Liam to protect his parents in case the Chaos Pride targets them. And remember, if they attack, tell me immediately."
Boyd asked. "And if they don't attack, are we just going to stay there and not participate in the fight against them?"
Scott shook his head. "I'll call you all back to the ranch tonight before our fight with the Chaos Pride starts."
Stiles raised a brow. "You sure they're going to attack tonight?"
Scott said. "I'm sure. I'm going to kidnap his wife and tell him to come to the ranch to rescue her. Now go."
Stiles quickly changed his clothes and left with Liam, while Erica and the others went to protect their parents.
Then Scott walked over to the Lamia. He inserted his claws into the back of her neck, searching for the location of the Chaos Pride's bar. Once he found it, he quickly pulled his claws out, not wanting to see any of her other memories.
He turned back to the pack. "Then I'll be leaving too."
Melissa and Allison both said at the same time. "Be careful."
Scott smiled. "Don't worry. I'll be fine."
With that, he opened a shadow portal to the closest place he'd visited near the Chaos Pride's bar and stepped through it.
He appeared in an alley and walked toward the location of the bar. After ten minutes, he spotted the building where the Chaos Pride's bar was. Scott opened another shadow portal to the roof, stepped through it, and then quietly slipped inside, making his way to the Púca's room on the fourth floor.
Inside, he found the Púca sleeping soundly, a bandage wrapped across his chest. Scott crept closer.
Sensing danger, the Púca's eyes shot open. He froze when he saw Scott standing over him, red eyes glowing in the darkness. Fear flickered across his face, and he tensed, ready to teleport away.
But before he could, Scott coated his hand with lightning and pressed it against the man's head. A low, crackling hum filled the room as arcs of blue energy danced across the teleporter's scalp, searing into his mind. The man's eyes, wide with panic, lost their focus. He tried to trigger his power, to teleport away, but he couldn't.
Scott's lightning wasn't causing physical pain; it was a targeted electromagnetic pulse, messing with his brain, making it so the part that lets him teleport just wouldn't work. It was like jamming a signal. The man was stuck.
Scott smirked. With his other hand, he drove his claws into the man's chest and began absorbing his power.
When it was done, Scott focused on the abilities he just gained, and thought. 'Cool… not only can I teleport and take people with me for like five hundred meters—unlike my shadow teleportation, which does not allow me to teleport with other people—but I can also shift into other animal forms, not just my wolf form.'
Scott glanced down at the man who was now dying because he'd lost his powers and the wound in his chest was now killing him fast. Scott, with his claws still inside the man's chest, pushed them deeper and pierced the man's heart, killing him.
'If Darius and his pride didn't know I was here before.' Scott thought. 'They'll definitely know now.'
He slashed across the Púca's neck, severing the head. Grabbing it, Scott stepped into the elevator and rode it down to the first floor—straight into the bar.
Downstairs, the Chaos Pride was gathered. Darius was drinking and laughing, when suddenly he froze. He felt it the moment Scott killed the Púca. Slowly, he looked up, his expression shifting to something dark and serious.
Selene noticed. "What's wrong?"
Darius' jaw tightened. "Declan is dead."
Meilin frowned. "Dead? From his wounds? I thought he was healing."
Darius shook his head. "No, someone killed him. I didn't feel their presence before, but now that I've focused, I can feel it clearly."
George stood. "Then let's go upstairs before they escape."
Darius raised a hand. "No need. Whoever it is—they're coming to us."
A slow smile spread across his face. Angry, but also excited.
"That person is very strong."