The days at Beacon Hills High School were a constant mix of the mundane and the unsettling for Elías. School life, with its classes, lunches, and curious glances, was still a terrain he hadn't fully adjusted to. However, Cora's company and the occasional conversations with Scott and Stiles kept him anchored in a sense of normalcy. Between classes and chats, friendships were growing, and although he sometimes feared the weight of his secrets, Stiles' jokes and antics made him forget, at least for a moment, the burden he carried within.
Scott had become someone close—a friend with whom he could relax and share conversations about life, their dreams for the future, and, of course, about school. Elías listened intently, aware that each word they shared could impact both of their futures. However, Scott's presence was genuine and loyal, and his innocence about the supernatural world made him even more special. Although neither of them knew the impact their crossed paths would have on each other's lives, Elías found a solid foundation in that friendship, as if it were destined to support him in the challenges that lay ahead.
One night, after a long day at school, Elías found himself alone in his room at the Hale house. The house was calm, with a comfortable silence that always settled at dusk. Cora had gone for a walk in the woods, and Talia was in her office, going over documents related to the pack. Taking advantage of the quiet, Elías decided to go out, driven by a restlessness in his chest that he hadn't been able to calm all day.
Once in the woods, he let his instincts guide him to a clearing where the moonlight illuminated the area in an almost magical way. He could feel his blood resonating with the moon's glow, every cell in his body awakening and vibrating in harmony with the night. The wolf inside him roared, urging him to unleash his nature without restraint, but he fought to keep control, remembering Talia's teachings.
As he tried to relax, he became aware of a sound among the trees. A presence approached, subtle and calculated. Elías's senses sharpened instantly, sensing the danger and tension of someone who didn't belong to the forest. Talia's words echoed in his mind, teaching him to recognize intruders and assess if they were a threat or merely curious. He turned slowly and fixed his gaze on the silhouette of a tall, strong man, who watched him from the shadows with a piercing look.
"I didn't expect to find anyone here," said the stranger, his tone a mix of surprise and disdain. "It's rare to see young ones alone in these woods."
Elías held his stance, keeping an eye on the man's every move. The intensity of his gaze and the way his body seemed to meld with the darkness indicated he wasn't an ordinary human. There was something about him—something dangerous and unknown. The man took a step forward, his eyes briefly flashing in the dark.
"Who are you?" Elías asked in a firm tone, trying to hide any hint of vulnerability.
"Ah, it's hard to say who I really am," the man replied, stepping a little closer. "But let's just say I'm here for a reason. And that reason, boy, might include you."
Elías felt his muscles tense, a natural alertness preparing him for whatever might happen. He knew he shouldn't provoke a fight, but he also wasn't willing to let this stranger invade his space without a clear reason. Still holding back his transformation, his eyes glowed with the brightness of his nature—a flash that, for a moment, seemed to unsettle the man.
"You're brave," the man murmured, evaluating Elías's reaction with a sly smile. "But you should be careful. You don't know what lurks in this place."
Without another word, the stranger vanished into the shadows, leaving Elías with a mix of curiosity and tension. The experience had shaken him deeply, but it also taught him a lesson: secrets in Beacon Hills didn't only reside among humans. Even more, it reminded him that his lineage wasn't the only one that carried power worth protecting.
Returning home, he found Talia at the entrance. Her gaze suggested that she already knew what had happened, even though Elías hadn't shared anything yet. Without a word, she accompanied him to the living room, where they both sat in silence.
"Elías, the world is vaster than you imagine," Talia said after a moment. "Here in Beacon Hills, the balance between humans and the supernatural is fragile. But you, with your lineage, must be stronger and wiser. You can't let your instincts control you; you must control them."
He nodded, processing the words of his mentor and protector. Every lesson from Talia seemed to build a map of his future, a path he needed to follow with caution and respect. He knew his time in the shadows wouldn't last long, but he also understood that he still needed to learn more about his power and those who lurked in the darkness of Beacon Hills.
That night, as he tried to sleep, the encounter with the stranger echoed in his mind. The man's voice, his bearing, and the darkness surrounding him were not entirely unfamiliar. Something inside him knew this wouldn't be the last time they'd meet. As he closed his eyes, a mix of anticipation and caution took hold of him. Destiny seemed to have plans he didn't fully understand yet, but he was ready to face them when the time came.
Elías tossed and turned in bed, unable to stop thinking about what he had experienced. The feeling of standing on the edge of something vast and unknown was undeniable. The man who had appeared in the forest was no mere coincidence; his presence carried a warning, or perhaps a test Elías would have to face sooner than he expected.
Closing his eyes, he tried to focus on the beat of his own heart, on the rhythmic and steady sound that reminded him of his humanity. But in his mind, images of the creature he was deep down began to surface: the white wolf that watched him from within, like a reflection of the moon calling him in the darkness. There was a duality within him that, while it made him special, also set him apart from those around him, even from those he loved.
That night, on the edge of consciousness, he seemed to hear his mother's voice, Isolde, resonating like a soft and protective whisper. "Remember who you are, Elías. And remember that power without control can be a burden."
His mother's words filled him with a mix of nostalgia and determination. He didn't want to be a mere spectator in his own story, nor a danger to those who had become important to him. He knew his path would be difficult, but he was willing to take it on, to face whatever it took to fulfill the destiny that awaited him.
However, that certainty faded when, just on the verge of sleep, a terrifying vision invaded him. In the fleeting image, he could see the Hale mansion in ruins, engulfed in flames, and the echo of agonizing screams. A solitary and shadowy figure emerged from the darkness, and Elías felt a sadness and fury in his chest that he could not control. It was a glimpse of the future, or perhaps a warning.
Fear made him open his eyes abruptly, his heart pounding wildly. The walls of his room felt suffocating, and he realized that, although he was safe for now, Beacon Hills wouldn't be for much longer. The destruction of the Hale family, though inconceivable, seemed closer than he thought—an unseen threat that could take away everything he had come to cherish.
For the first time, he understood that his power and lineage might be the only things capable of preventing that tragedy. But he also understood that time was running out. That man, the vision, and the mystery surrounding his true lineage revealed to him that the path ahead would be much darker than he imagined.
He lay back down, trying to find peace, though a small voice within him whispered that the hardest part was yet to come.