It was the night of the full moon, and the McCall Pack had gathered in front of the pack house to witness Braeden go through her first transformation.
Stiles, standing next to Scott, nudged him. "So, what do you think she is?"
Scott crossed his arms. "We already know she's a cat after seeing her claws this morning."
"I know, I was there." Stiles replied. "What I meant is, what kind of cat is she?"
Scott shrugged. "We're about to find out."
Braeden stepped forward and looked up at the moon, barely visible through the thick storm clouds. As its light hit her face, her eyes shifted and glowed gold. Moments later, her body began to morph. Bones cracked, fur sprouted, and within seconds, Braeden stood fully transformed into a black panther.
Stiles muttered. "Wow, what kind of cat is that?"
Chris said. "She's a leopard—but because of her black fur, her kind is known as a werepanther, or more accurately, a shadow cat."
Derek, gently brushing his hand along Braeden's back, raised an eyebrow. "Shadow cat? You mean like the shapeshifters known as Night Assassins?"
Victoria nodded. "Exactly. They can teleport short distances using shadow. Braeden—give it a try."
Braeden narrowed her glowing eyes and focused. In a blink, she dissolved into a swirl of black mist and reappeared eight meters away, silent as a whisper.
"Cool." Stiles said. "It's like Scott's shadow teleportation."
With the transformation complete and the rain beginning to fall, the pack headed back into the house to enjoy dinner together.
---
Later that Night – 11:00 PM
The teens gathered in front of the pack house, ready for the Senior Scribe tradition.
Liam jogged up behind them. "Can I come with you guys?"
Stiles raised a hand. "Nope, this is a senior thing, and you're not a senior."
Liam frowned. "Are you guys going to have a party after writing your initials?"
"No." Stiles said. "There's no party."
"So, you're just going to school at night to carve your names into wood? Sounds like stupid vandalism to me. Why can't I go?"
Stiles gasped. "It's not vandalism—and it's not stupid! Scott, talk to your Beta."
Scott chuckled. "Alright, Liam, don't call the Senior Scribe thing stupid. It's very important to Stiles. And you can come if you want."
Stiles threw his arms up. "You're spoiling him! You should be stricter."
"I'm not his father." Scott said, smirking.
Meanwhile, Allison noticed Lydia staring silently at the sky. "What's wrong? You've been quiet for a while now."
Lydia frowned. "I don't like this weather. It feels... wrong. Like something bad is coming."
And as if on cue, a loud thunderclap echoed through the sky, followed by a bolt of lightning that struck a tree not far from the ranch. Moments later, heavy rain began to pour.
Scott looked at the storm, then back at the group. "Alright, Lydia, stop thinking about it too much. Whatever's coming, we'll deal with it as a pack. Now let's go to school."
Everyone rushed to their cars and drove through the downpour toward Beacon Hills High.
---
After writing their initials beneath the yearbook shelf, continuing the tradition of the Senior Scribe, Scott and his pack were leaving the school in a hurry under the heavy rain. But just as they got close to their cars, a strange figure stepped out of the shadows—tall, pale, and covered in a slick black goop.
Stiles looked at the man and said. "Uh... Who are you? And what's with all the goop? Are you some kind of slime or something like that?"
Scott narrowed his eyes and recognized him instantly. He thought. 'Oh, if I remember correctly, his name is Belasko. He's the first chimera Scott met in the Teen Wolf show.'
Belasko looked at Scott and said. "I'm here for you."
"For me?" Scott asked. "Who even are you?"
"I'm a devoted fan." Belasko replied. "I came for the True Alpha—the one who took down Deucalion and broke the Argents."
Stiles said. "Well, Goop Dude, I hate to disappoint you, but Scott wasn't the one who took down Deucalion, and the Argents are definitely not broken. Whoever gave you your info clearly sucks."
Belasko hesitated for a second, his expression briefly confused. Then he growled. "It doesn't matter. I came for your powers, Scott."
And then he attacked.
Scott calmly said. "Lydia."
Lydia smirked—and in a blur of speed, she was in front of the charging Belasko. Her talons slashed across his chest, paralyzing him with her venom.
Belasko fell to the ground paralyzed from head to toe and said. "Wha… what's happening to me…?"
Scott walked up calmly and kicked him in the head, knocking him unconscious.
Then he looked at the others. "Can you smell it?"
Cora nodded, frowning. "Yeah. Something's wrong with him. He smells… off."
Isaac crouched near the unconscious Belasko. "I don't know how to describe it, but he smells fake, like he's not a real supernatural being."
"Lydia." Scott said. "Try to read his memories. Let's see who sent him."
Lydia put her hand on Belasko's head and started reading his memories, but soon he started having a seizure and a silver liquid started leaking from his mouth.
Seeing that, Lydia stopped and said. "His name is Belasko. He was sent here on a mission—to eliminate the threat to whoever turned him into this."
Erica asked. "Are we the threat?"
Lydia shook her head. "He's here only for the True Alpha. He wants to absorb Scott's powers with his talons then kill him. His talons seem to be like ours—he can steal powers through them."
Stiles stepped closer. "Did you see who sent him?"
"Unfortunately no. When I was about to read the rest of his memories, he started having a seizure. As a banshee, I knew if I pushed further I would kill him. Whoever is behind him is too cautious and doesn't want anyone to find their whereabouts."
Scott said. "Well, let's take him back to the ranch and show him to the rest of the pack, then we'll get rid of him."
But before they could move, every member of the pack turned their heads in the same direction.
Someone was coming—fast.
A moment later, a werewolf appeared through the storm, drenched from the rain. He stopped, staring at Scott and his pack, then at Belasko lying unconscious on the ground.
"Well." The newcomer said. "Looks like I'm late."
Scott stepped forward. "And you are?"
The stranger shifted back to human form—a guy in his late teens with sharp eyes and a smug expression. "You don't remember me, huh? I guess I do look a little different since fourth grade."
Lydia tilted her head and whispered. "Well… he's cute."
Scott glanced at Stiles. "Dude, do you remember who this guy is?"
Stiles squinted. "Nah, not at all."
Scott muttered. "I don't even remember being in fourth grade. What were we doing back then? Playing with bugs or something like that?"
Stiles smirked. "We were probably playing with sweet Roxy back then."
Scott groaned. "Come on man, you didn't have to bring poor Roxy into this."
Allison raised an eyebrow. "Wait... who's Roxy?"
Stiles said. "Scott's dog. She was killed by another dog when we were kids."
Scott sighed. "Poor, sweet Roxy. May she rest in peace."
Then he turned back to the stranger. "Anyway—who are you again?"
The boy gave a smug little smile. "I'm Theo Raeken. We were friends and classmates in the fourth grade."
Scott squinted. "Doesn't ring a bell. My only friend growing up was Stiles. Anyway, what do you want?"
Theo was confused for a second. This wasn't how he'd imagined their reunion would go. He cleared his throat awkwardly and said. "A couple months ago, I heard rumors about an Alpha in Beacon Hills—and not just a normal alpha, but a True Alpha. And when I found out his name was Scott McCall… I couldn't believe it."
He continued. "And then I heard you took down Deucalion and his pack."
Scott folded his arms. "Whoever told you that got it wrong. I didn't take down Deucalion."
Theo blinked. "Then what happened to him? No one's seen him since he came to Beacon Hills with his pack."
Stiles smirked. "Well, he turned to ash and disappeared. After all, he's known as the Demon Wolf, and demons are known for having weird abilities like that."
Theo turned to Aiden. "What about the rest of Deucalion's pack?"
Aiden narrowed his eyes. "That's enough questions. Just tell us what you're really here for."
Theo looked back at Scott. "I want to join your pack."
Scott didn't hesitate. "Then I'm sorry. The answer's no."
Theo frowned. "Why not?"
Scott shrugged. "Because I said so."
Theo clenched his jaw. "You've changed, McCall. You're not like I remember."
Scott replied. "Yeah, well… growing up does that to people."
Theo sighed, realizing he was getting nowhere. "Alright. I get it. I'm not welcome here. I'll go."
He turned to leave—but Allison stepped forward. "Wait."
Theo paused. "What is it?"
"Do you know Belasko?" She asked.
Theo hesitated. "No."
Cora folded her arms. "You just lied."
Theo exhaled. "Fine. I met him once. He said he was after the True Alpha—that's how I know him. I came here to help Scott fight him."
Scott shook his head. "Well, thanks for the concern. You can leave now, Leo."
Theo frowned. "It's Theo."
"Whatever." Scott said, turning away. "Just go."
Theo walked off, his mind racing. 'McCall is very different from what I thought. I should find another way to get close to him. Maybe I should start with his pack—maybe a girl. The redhead seems interested in me.'
Once Theo was gone, Lydia was the first to speak. "Scott… that guy feels just like Belasko."
Scott nodded. "Yeah. He's not a real shifter either. And he's full of lies."
Stiles muttered. "Then we should have just killed the guy."
Allison raised an eyebrow. "You really hate him, don't you, Stiles? Why?"
Stiles crossed his arms. "I don't know. I just do. He gives me bad vibes."
Scott clapped him on the back. "Don't worry. If he ever tries to hurt the pack, I'll let you teach him how to turn to ash. Just like Deucalion."
Stiles smirked darkly. "Gladly."
Scott looked around. "Alright, let's head back home. Now… who's volunteering to put Goop Guy in their car?"
Everyone backed away.
Stiles groaned. "Just open one of your shadow portals and toss him through it."
Scott nodded. He raised a hand and opened a shadow portal large enough for the cars to pass through. Then he turned to Allison and handed her his keys.
"Drive the car and follow me."
He grabbed Belasko's limp body and stepped into the portal, and Allison and the others followed him through the portal in their cars—heading back to the ranch.
To be continued... 😊