A few peaceful days had passed since the pack dealt with the Bulgasari. They hadn't found the Dread Doctor who escaped yet, but they had found all the chimeras—and Deaton had even managed to heal them.
Now, Scott and his pack were having lunch in the school cafeteria.
Scott looked at Liam. "How's Hayden?"
Liam smiled. "She's good. Deaton asked if she wanted to be healed and go back to normal or keep her powers—and she chose to keep her powers."
Lydia asked. "Isn't she going to die if she keeps them?"
Liam shook his head. "No. Deaton and Marin managed to develop a serum that can turn people into shapeshifters without side effects. They used the Dread Doctors' research and combined it with what was left behind by the crazy people who created the Deadpool."
Lydia raised an eyebrow. "Did he inject Hayden with it?"
Liam nodded. "Yeah, but even though she's technically a werewolf now, she's not that strong."
Cora asked. "Is she still immune to wolfsbane and mountain ash like the Dread Doctors' chimeras?"
Liam replied. "Yeah, she is."
Stiles frowned. "Why are we just hearing about all this now?"
Scott said. "Deaton's been busy working on the cure for the chimeras. We haven't seen him in days. That's probably why he didn't tell us."
Liam added. "Yeah, and he's still keeping Hayden under observation. But he said she'll be able to leave tomorrow."
Lydia leaned forward. "If that serum really works, do you guys realize how valuable it is?"
Allison nodded. "Yeah. I think people would pay anything to get their hands on something that can create supernatural creatures immune to mountain ash—even if they're not as powerful as natural ones."
Stiles grinned. "So… should we sell it?"
Scott shook his head. "Not now. First, we need to make sure it can't be replicated. And we need to grow stronger. Do you realize how much trouble that serum could bring?"
Lydia said. "The first ones to come after us will be the military and the government. They'll do anything to get their hands on Deaton and Marin."
Scott nodded. "Exactly. And even worse people than them will come. And if they find out how special we are, our peaceful days are over. Even though we're strong, I don't think we're ready to face the military or the government. Who knows what kind of creatures or weapons they might have?"
Stiles leaned back. "Okay, maybe there are weapons out there that could hurt you. But do you think there's a supernatural creature stronger than you, Scott?"
Scott nodded. "Yes—and probably a lot of them. I mean, we haven't even faced a truly strong creature yet."
Isaac asked. "Like what?"
Scott replied. "Like a real chimera. Not fake ones like Theo and those artificial shapeshifters. I'm talking about the actual mythological chimera—the fire-breathing, winged monster with the body of a lion, a goat's head on its back, and a snake for a tail."
Erica blinked. "You think creatures like that are real?"
Scott said. "Yes. And I believe there are other terrifying creatures out there, like the Hydra—that giant serpent with multiple heads. And different kinds of dragons. I know Deaton and Chris said they're extinct, but the world is so big, dragons could still exist in some of its remote corners. There's also the Thunderbird, the Griffin, the Phoenix… and demons are probably real too. And who knows what kind of other scary monsters exist in our world?"
Allison asked. "Do you really think those creatures are stronger than you?"
Scott answered honestly. "Probably yes."
Stiles muttered. "Then let's hope none of them show up in Beacon Hills."
Lydia sighed. "We're probably going to face them eventually."
Scott looked around at his friends. "I just don't want you guys to think we're invincible. But don't worry too much. We're a pack, we'll fight together if we face something too strong. And we'll keep absorbing powers and grow stronger until no creature can threaten us."
Boyd said. "I wonder what would happen if we absorbed the powers of a creature like a dragon. Would we just get stronger and gain dragon abilities, or would we also get things like scales or wings?"
Stiles replied thoughtfully. "I don't know, but now I'm kind of looking forward to fighting a dragon. Or other strong creatures like it."
Looking at his pack, who were all smirking and clearly imagining what kind of powers they might gain from defeating powerful creatures, Scott shook his head in amusement and said. "Stop daydreaming and let's get back to class."
---
After school ended, the girls left, and Scott and the boys stayed behind to play a lacrosse game.
Once the game was over and they'd changed, Scott climbed into the Jeep with Stiles, who started driving toward the animal clinic.
As he drove, Stiles said. "By the way, I'm planning to build my own house on the ranch."
Scott smirked. "Were you kicked out of the pack house?"
Stiles said. "No... well, yes. But that's not the only reason. Malia said she wants her own den like Allison. Those were her exact words."
Scott said. "I see. Well, go ahead then. Why are you telling me?"
Stiles said. "I was thinking of building the house next to your lake house."
Scott immediately replied. "No, no, no! You can't build it there. Allison and I like the peace and quiet. I don't need to hear you moaning every night. Seriously—what's with the moaning? And why do you have to shout every detail of what you're doing with Malia in bed?"
Stiles said. "Sometimes I can't control myself. But I don't shout every night. It only happens when me and Malia go wild."
Scott snorted. "Yeah, right. You two 'go wild' like four nights a week."
Stiles shrugged. "Well... anyway, can I build the house next to yours? We can be neighbors."
Scott replied. "Nope. If you build your house next to mine, I swear I will burn it to ash. Go build on the opposite side of the ranch—far away from me. And if you want a lake, hire someone to dig one. If you don't have enough money, I'll give you more. Just stay away from my house."
Stiles groaned. "Come on, man. Us being neighbors would be fun."
Scott said. "No, it wouldn't. You'd annoy me at night and ruin my mornings with Allison."
Stiles pouted. "I thought we were best friends. I thought we could hang out every night."
Scott said. "We already hang out all day, every day. And we have dinner almost every night at the pack house. I just want some alone time with Allison. Is that so much to ask? And if you want to hang out, just bring Malia over sometimes and spend the night. You don't have to live next door."
Stiles muttered. "Malia already told me you'd say no. But it was worth a shot."
Scott chuckled. "Why don't you build it next to Uncle Noah's place?"
Stiles sighed. "I tried. I went to his house this morning and asked if I could build next to him. My old man didn't even answer me. He picked me up by the back of my neck, carried me outside, and kicked me into the sky with all his strength. I flew half a mile before I hit the ground."
Scott burst out laughing. "So that's a no, huh? Anyway, how are things going between him and Agisa?"
Stiles sighed again. "Not good."
Scott raised an eyebrow. "Really? They look happy together."
Stiles said. "It's not that they're fighting or anything. It's just... Agisa told him she's leaving in about a month. She said she hasn't left Beacon Hills in over 200 years, and it's time for her to see the outside world again. She wants to look for some of her old friends."
Scott asked. "Is she coming back?"
Stiles shook his head. "No. My dad said he wants to marry her eventually. He didn't propose or anything, but they talked about marriage and kids. Agisa said that kind of life isn't for her. She prefers to be free."
Scott looked somber. "I hope Uncle Noah doesn't get too heartbroken when she leaves."
Stiles smiled. "He won't. I asked him, and he told me he'll be a little sad, of course, but since Agisa doesn't want to build a family with him, it's better to end things early. What he really wants is to get married and have kids. Apparently, I'm a failure of a son—according to him, I cause too much trouble, I steal his case files, I lie a lot, and he constantly has to go to my school to hear about my glorious deeds."
Scott smiled. "He's not wrong. You've caused him a lot of trouble—especially since he raised you by himself while also trying to keep this town in order."
Stiles nodded. "I know. Especially after my mom died. I was sad and I started causing trouble on purpose just to get his attention. Then, when I realized he was sad too, I started playing pranks on him, telling him jokes, and causing even more chaos just to make him feel something other than grief. Eventually… I guess it worked. Anyway, I hope he finds a woman who'll love him and have some kids with him."
Then Stiles smirked. "And of course, I'll teach my younger siblings the art of pranks and making trouble."
Scott shook his head and smiled. "I expect no less from you."
After they arrived at the animal clinic, they fed the animals, cleaned the cages, then went back to the ranch.
---
Meanwhile, in town… at a bar
Coach was having a drink when a beautiful Asian woman approached him.
She sat opposite him and said. "Good evening, handsome. Can you buy me a drink?"
Coach looked at her and said. "Go away. Don't ruin my good mood. We just won an important game, and I'm here to celebrate with a few drinks. I'm not looking for a sex worker."
The woman was stunned for a moment before she said. "I'm not a sex worker. I just want to talk."
Coach replied. "I'm not a shrink. Now go away. I don't have the money to buy you a drink, and I don't want to talk to you."
The woman's expression darkened, but then she smiled wickedly and said. "You and I are going to have a lot of fun tonight."
Coach opened his mouth to say something, but the moment he looked into her eyes, a black mist slipped into his mouth. His expression went blank, and his eyes turned dull.
The woman took his drink, sipped it, and said. "Now pay the bill… and follow me."
Coach obeyed without a word. The two of them walked out of the bar. It was located near the woods, and soon they disappeared into the forest, heading deeper and deeper into the trees.
---
Back at the ranch…
The pack was having dinner when Lydia suddenly froze.
Then she said with panic. "Guys… my crows just found the Kumiho."
Stiles said. "That's great, but why are you panicking?"
Lydia replied. "Because she's with Coach. And she's taking him deep into the woods."
Scott, Isaac, Stiles, Boyd, and Aiden all stood up at once. They might complain about Coach… but he was their favorite teacher.
Scott asked. "Lydia, are they anywhere I can teleport to? Somewhere I've visited before?"
Lydia said. "No… but they're about two miles away from the old Hale house. You can teleport there, and I'll guide you the rest of the way."
Scott waved his hand and opened a portal to the old Hale house. "Let's go."
With that, he stepped through the portal. Lydia, Allison, Erica, Malia, Cora, Kira, and the boys followed him.
To be continued… 😊