That night, the Hale mansion seemed like a haven of peace. Talia, Cora, and Elias were together in the main room, with the warm glow of the fireplace illuminating their faces, filling the space with a tranquility that seemed to defy the shadows looming over Beacon Hills. Derek and Peter had gone out that afternoon, and although Talia had expressed some concern for their safety, she trusted that both were fine.
Inside, Elias felt an emptiness that seemed to grow larger. Talia's words about his lineage and the responsibility resting on him were beginning to weigh heavily. Cora, noticing the unease on her friend's face, patted him on the shoulder and smiled.
—Hey, are you okay? You've been quiet all night —Cora said, trying to break the silence.
Elias nodded, though his mind was elsewhere.
—It's just… I can't stop thinking about the danger that's coming. I don't know if I'm ready to protect everyone —he admitted, lowering his gaze.
Talia watched him with understanding, realizing the burden Elias carried. She knew he felt responsible, but he wasn't alone. She stepped closer and hugged him, sensing that tonight would be especially important for all of them.
Suddenly, Elias felt a shift in the atmosphere. It was as if a cold gust of air passed through him, and a feeling of danger shook every fiber of his being. He stood up immediately, alert, as his breath became heavier.
—Talia, Cora… something is wrong —he said in a tense voice.
Before he could explain, a loud crash echoed from the main entrance, and the smell of smoke began to seep into the room. Talia, Elias, and Cora exchanged terrified glances; it was as if the home they knew had suddenly become a deadly trap.
—We have to get out of here! —Talia shouted, grabbing Cora's hand and pushing Elias toward the door.
The fire spread rapidly, flames engulfing every corner of the mansion with an inhuman ferocity. Elias felt the heat burning his skin, and as they ran, a sense of helplessness grew in his chest. His vision had warned him about the fire, but he had never imagined it would be so destructive.
As they struggled to make their way through the smoke and chaos, they heard a faint scream from upstairs. It was Derek, trapped among the flames, fighting to find an escape. Without hesitation, Talia released Elias and Cora and ran for the stairs to rescue her son.
—Don't stop, Elias! Get Cora to safety —Talia ordered firmly.
Elias took Cora's trembling hand, and together they ran toward the exit. But upon reaching the door, Elias paused. A part of him couldn't bear the thought of abandoning Talia, Derek, and the others still inside the mansion. He couldn't let the family that had taken him in and loved him suffer like this.
—Elias, please, let's go —Cora begged, tears in her eyes.
Before he could respond, another scream caught his attention. This time it came from the basement, and the tone was unmistakable. It was Peter Hale, Talia's brother, trapped in the lower floor, where the fire seemed to be concentrated most. Elias hesitated for only a second, but when he heard the pain in Peter's voice, he knew he couldn't leave him behind.
—Go, Cora. Get out of here and find help. I'm going for Peter and Derek —Elias said firmly.
Cora, although reluctant to leave him, nodded and ran outside in search of help. Meanwhile, Elias re-entered the burning mansion, moving through the smoke and flames that consumed every inch of his home.
Elias found Peter lying on the basement floor, pinned down by a fallen beam that prevented him from moving. His face was covered in soot, and his body already showed signs of severe burns. Elias felt a pang of pain at seeing him like that, but he didn't hesitate for a moment. Using all his strength, he lifted the beam and helped Peter to his feet.
—Peter, we have to get out of here. Now —Elias said, trying to stay calm.
Peter could barely respond, nodding as he leaned on Elias to move forward. The fire was so close that the heat was unbearable, and each step felt like a titanic effort. Just as they reached the stairs, a noise behind them made them look back.
Derek was racing down the stairs, covering his face to protect himself from the smoke. Talia, limping with an injured arm, followed closely behind. Upon seeing Elias and Peter, their eyes lit up briefly with relief.
—Come on, we're almost out —Elias urged them to continue.
Together, they managed to make it to the exit of the mansion. But when they finally crossed the threshold, an explosion of fire engulfed the entrance, blocking their way behind them and sealing the fate of the Hale mansion forever.
Outside, Cora was waiting for them with tears in her eyes, watching as the flames devoured what was left of their home. Derek, still in shock, collapsed next to her, and Talia, although trying to stay strong, couldn't hide the sadness and helplessness she felt.
Elias, on the other hand, remained silent. The loss hit him with an intensity he had never felt before. They had saved Peter and Derek, but the price had been too high. He knew that as a wolf of lineage, as a guardian, he should have done more. He should have been stronger.
Emotions flooded him, a mix of rage, sadness, and despair. Unable to contain himself, he fell to his knees, watching the flames and feeling something change within him. It was a primitive impulse, a connection to his lineage that called to him, as if the very spirit of Lycaon awakened inside him.
The pain and guilt he felt were so intense that his body began to tremble. Something deep and unknown began to emerge from within, a force he could not control. Before he could comprehend what was happening, he felt his muscles tense and his skin quiver. His claws elongated from his hands, his eyes shone with a supernatural intensity, and suddenly, he felt his form change completely.
Talia and the others watched in awe as Elias transformed before them. His body grew and became covered in white fur, as pure as the light of the moon, with eyes that glowed with an ethereal brightness. He had taken the form of a white wolf, majestic and powerful, the embodiment of the lineage that coursed through his veins.
Elias let out a howl that resonated throughout the forest, a lament and a promise at the same time. That howl was not only an expression of pain but a vow: he would protect his family at any cost.
With the fire still raging and his new form manifested, Elias began to feel the weight of what it meant to be a white wolf. He knew his destiny was intertwined with that of the Hales and that, although the mansion had fallen, his duty to protect those who remained was still firm.
This moment would be the beginning of a new chapter, one that would change the course of his life and that of his loved ones forever. The tragedy of the fire had awakened the power he carried within, and now, as a white wolf, he was ready to face any threat that sought to destroy what he loved.