Ch: 85-88
Chapter 85: A Town in Shock
A few days had passed since Jacob dealt with the wendigo family. The news of a cannibalistic family living in Beacon Hills, responsible for countless murders, had spread like wildfire, dominating headlines not just in town, but across the country and the world. Beacon Hills High had sent students home for the rest of the week. Parents were freaking out because Sean had been a student there, and journalists relentlessly harassed the students and anyone associated with the school for comments.
It was Saturday morning. Jacob and the girls had finished breakfast and moved to the living room.
Lydia turned on the TV, and they settled in to watch the news.
Jacob, sitting in a recliner with Malia curled up and sleeping on his lap, stroked her fur absently. "They're still talking about the wendigos."
"Well, it's a huge deal." Allison said. "They found thirty bodies hanging in that basement. And they discovered a warehouse owned by the Walcotts filled with human bones. The news said the cops have identified more than a hundred victims from them, and they're still discovering more."
"Guys, look!" Lydia said, pointing at the screen. "They're talking about what they found at the grandparents' house."
A reporter was on screen, standing in front of a house in Sitka, Alaska. ["I'm reporting live from Sitka, in front of the home of the elderly cannibal couple, John Walcott and his wife, Judith, who were found dead in Beacon Hills three days ago. Police and the FBI have discovered a cold room in the basement here containing more than twenty human bodies. We've just received news that the couple also owned a farm where police found additional victims hanging, and even more human bones buried on the property. Excavations are currently underway."]
The anchor in the studio responded. ["Thank you, Noura. We'll check back with you later."] The scene changed to show police in Chicago surrounding a farmhouse, with two body bags being carried out. The anchor continued. ["In a related development, police in Chicago have just killed Frank Walcott and his wife, confirmed cannibals, after they refused to surrender. Human body parts were found in their refrigerator, and a cold room in their kitchen contained additional victims. Frank Walcott was the eldest son of John and Judith Walcott."]
Lydia and Allison watched in stunned silence. Even Jacob, who usually cracked jokes, was in no mood for humor.
"Damn bastards." He muttered darkly. "How many people did they eat?"
"I'm glad we killed them." Allison said. "Now the entire Walcott family and anyone related to them is wanted not just here, but all over the world."
"You know what's worse?" Lydia added. "That's just one family of wendigos. How many other wendigo families are out there? How many cannibalistic creatures like them are hunting people?"
"Don't go there, Lydia." Jacob said firmly. "Don't think about that stuff. We did our part and killed the wendigos we knew about. That's all we can do. This case will wake the government up, and hopefully, they'll start hunting wendigos all over the world."
"I hope so." Allison agreed. "One Walcott family killed more than 130 people, and that's just the branch living here. I don't even want to think about how many the entire extended family has killed, or how many people are killed by wendigos every year."
"Lydia, turn the TV off." Jacob said. "I don't want to see or think about wendigos anymore."
Malia opened her eyes and barked at Lydia, who was about to turn the TV off. Understanding, Lydia smiled and changed the channel to an animal documentary. Malia wagged her tail a few times in happiness before focusing intently on the screen.
Cogman, having finished washing the breakfast dishes, entered and sat in an armchair, opening a book to read.
Allison looked over at him. "Cogman, did you do what I asked you to do yesterday?"
"Yes, my lady." He replied without looking up from his book. "I searched the internet all night for any wendigo I could find worldwide and sent the information to the relevant authorities and hunter networks."
Allison said. "That's good. Did you find any more wendigos here in town?"
"No, I did not find any in Beacon Hills. They are scattered here and there all over the states, but the highest concentration was in Alaska and Canada."
Jacob said. "Well, let the authorities and hunters handle them."
Lydia and Allison began scrolling through their phones, and Cogman returned to his book. A quiet, heavy silence fell over the room.
Jacob sighed and thought. 'System, sign in.'
[Daily Sign-In Successful. Rewards Obtained:
- Cheesecake x10
- Pearl Jewelry Sets for Women x6: Each set includes a bracelet, necklace, and earrings.
- Hot Wheels 1970 Models x5: Dodge Charger, Ford Mustang, Ford F100, Jeep CJ-5, Heavy Chevy (Chevrolet Chevelle)]
Jacob read through the list. 'Cheesecake, that's nice, I guess. The jewelry is for the girls.' Then he saw the last reward and his eyes lit up. 'Hot Wheels! Now that's a good reward. My hoarding instincts are tingling.'
He moved Malia from his lap to the recliner and sat down at the table. He retrieved the Hot Wheels cars from his pocket dimension and began inspecting them, handling each one with the reverence of a collector examining priceless treasure.
Lydia and Allison, intrigued by his sudden focus, leaned closer. Each picked up a car to look at it. Lydia then tried to open the plastic case to take the car out.
Jacob let out a horrified scream and snatched the car from her hand. "Aaaahhh! What are you doing?!"
Lydia blinked in confusion. "Um… I'm trying to take it out to look at it."
"No! You can't do that!" He exclaimed, clutching the car protectively. "If you take it out, it will lose its value!"
He then swiftly took the car from Allison's hand. "Give me that! You girls are not allowed to touch my Hot Wheels!"
Seeing Lydia pout, he softened. He took six boxes from his pocket dimension and handed them over. "Here, this is for you girls."
Lydia took the boxes and opened one. Her eyes widened. "Wow, pearls! How much did these cost?"
"I didn't buy them." Jacob said. "I found them in my pocket dimension this morning."
Lydia turned to the Cogman. "Cogman, see if you can find out how much this pearl jewelry is worth."
Cogman took one set and scanned it meticulously. "According to my observation and cross-referencing with online databases, these pearls are authentic. This particular set is made of South Sea pearls. Given their size, perfect shape, and the white gold setting, I would estimate its value to be at least $70k."
"Really?" Allison said, impressed. She handed him another box. "What about this one?"
Jacob ignored them and went back to admiring his Hot Wheels, thinking. 'I should ask Cogman to make a display in the gaming room for my collection, and help me buy more Hot Wheels... no, I should do that myself. That's the fun part.'
Half an hour later, Lydia and Allison had split the pearl jewelry sets, each taking three and storing them safely in their spatial rings.
Just then, a car pulled up in front of the mansion gate.
"Cogman." Jacob said. "go open the gate for Scott and Stiles."
Cogman went out, opened the gate, and Scott drove his new car—a white 2000 Mustang GT—into the driveway. He and Stiles entered the mansion, with Cogman following after closing the gate.
Stiles and Scott sat down. "Hey, Cogman." Stiles began. "Can you please get us something to eat? I spent the night at Scott's and we haven't had breakfast yet. Please?"
Cogman, who had just settled back into his armchair with his book—American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis—flipped a page and said flatly. "We are out of food."
Allison gave him a look. "Cogman, be nice."
"Fine." Cogman relented, closing his book with a sigh. "I'll make them something."
As Cogman went to the kitchen, Stiles asked. "What is he reading, anyway?" He picked up the book. "Oh, he's reading American Psycho. I saw that movie; it was not bad."
Lydia shuddered slightly. "The book is filled with extreme graphic violence. I tried to read it, but it was really disturbing."
Stiles put the book back exactly where Cogman had left it. "I guess that's why Cogman is reading it."
Then, Stiles noticed the Hot Wheels on the table. "Oh, are you collecting Hot Wheels, Jacob?"
"These five are my first." Jacob said proudly. "I'm planning to start a collection."
They kept talking, and soon Cogman returned with breakfast for Stiles and Scott. Jacob, though he had already eaten, joined them at the table.
After they finished, Jacob asked. "How's your old man doing, Stiles?"
"Not good." Stiles replied. "These days he's barely getting any sleep with all the FBI and reporters in town. What he saw in that basement really got to him. He's even blaming himself for not catching those wendigos sooner."
Scott added. "Even my useless father is back in town."
Lydia looked curious. "What does your father do?"
"He's an FBI agent. He lives in San Francisco."
Stiles turned to Scott, surprised. "Rafael is back? Did you meet him?"
"No." Scott said. "He came to my house yesterday morning, but I didn't meet him."
Jacob narrowed his eyes. "He didn't spend the night, did he?"
Scott raised an eyebrow. "No, my mom kicked him out."
Jacob sighed in obvious relief. "Good. I don't want him spending time with Melissa."
The room went silent.
Jacob suddenly came back to his senses and found Scott and the girls glaring at him, while Stiles was smirking. He said. "Shit, did I say that out loud?"
Stiles laughed. "Yes, you did."
Jacob quickly moved away from Allison, who had been sitting next to him. He went to the recliner, scooped up Malia, sat down, and placed her on his lap as a furry barrier. He then winked at Allison, who just snorted and looked away.
"Jacob, stay away from my mom." Scott warned. Then a sly smirk spread across his face. "You know what? I think I'll just persuade her to forgive Dad and get back with him. I don't like him, but it's better him than you."
Jacob's eyes narrowed. "Do that, and I'll ask Kate to go after your stupid werewolf ass. And don't worry, I won't let her kill you. She'll just have fun with you. Just a heads up, she's a sexual predator and a dominatrix who likes minors. So she's going to have a really good time with you and might help you awaken some new traits... turn you into a masochist."
Scott looked at Allison for help. She just shrugged. "Don't look at me. Kate would probably do much worse things to you than what Jay just said."
Lydia smirked. "Like she'll tie you up, and she'll be the male during sex."
Scott's eyes widened in horror. He looked back at Jacob. "Don't! Don't let that crazy bitch get near me!"
Stiles howled with laughter. "Scott, are you sure? I mean, it might be fun. You might enjoy it."
Scott glared at his best friend. "Screw you! If you think it's so fun, then go find Kate yourself!"
Jacob smiled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Scott, don't worry. Nothing will happen between me and Melissa, at least until I turn 18. And would it be so bad? I mean, I would make her stronger and protect her."
"Yes, it would be bad!" Scott insisted. "I don't want my mom to date my friend."
"You know." Jacob mused. "the more you tell me to stay away from her, the more I want to get close. I don't know why... it's like she's the forbidden fruit." He trailed off, lost in his imagination, a distant look in his eyes. "Like, you're the king, Melissa is the mother queen, and I'm the hot stable boy..."
Lydia's eyes lit up with interest. "What kind of dirty book have you been reading? Because I'd like to borrow it."
Stiles raised his hand. "Me too! I'd like to borrow that book, please."
Jacob didn't answer them. He was completely lost in thought, smirking like an idiot.
"Earth to Jacob? Hello?" Lydia called, waving her hand.
Allison smiled wryly. "The pervert is gone."
Stiles grinned and patted Scott's shoulder. "He's probably already married your mom in his dream, become the king, and kicked you out of the palace."
"Shut up, Stiles!" Scott retorted. "It's not like you don't have Erica to worry about. He might go after her, too."
"No, he won't." Stiles said confidently. "He was the one who told me to go after her. I don't think he's sick enough to ask me to date a girl he's interested in. In case you haven't noticed, he's very possessive. I saw him beat up three guys from the opposing school's soccer team last week just because they tried to hit on Lydia and Allison when they walked by."
Allison looked surprised. "He did what? I didn't know about that."
"Well, you girls were heading to class and passed by those poor bastards." Stiles explained. "They tried to talk to you. I didn't hear what mean thing Lydia said to them, but you two left laughing, leaving the guys stunned. Then Jacob followed them to the locker room and beat the shit out of them. One of them even peed himself. The best part? Those guys didn't even know why Jacob was beating them. They were just begging him to stop without knowing what they did wrong. It was hilarious."
Allison looked over at Jacob, about to say something, but she stopped. She saw that both Jacob and Malia had fallen fast asleep. She sighed softly. "Sometimes I envy him. He can sleep whenever he wants."
Scott smirked. "Stiles, wake him up."
"Are you stupid?" Stiles hissed, pointing at the sleeping pair. "Look at him! He's smiling in his sleep. He's probably having a nice dream about Melissa. Do you want me to wake him up and get my ass beaten? No, thank you. You can wake him up yourself. I'm going to play games."
Allison added. "Take the plates back to the kitchen before you go. Cogman is lost in his book; he hasn't even looked up since he brought you guys breakfast."
Stiles pointed at Scott. "You take them." With that, he quickly made his exit to the gaming room.
Scott sighed in defeat, gathered the plates, and took them to the kitchen before following Stiles.
Left in the quiet living room, Allison and Lydia shared a smile and went back to scrolling through their phones.
Chapter 86: Unwelcome Guests
It was Sunday afternoon. The Argents were in their living room, having just finished lunch, when a firm knock echoed from the front door.
Chris walked over to the security monitor and saw an old man with a powerful build standing there, flanked by two others. The old man looked directly into the camera and said. "Argent. Open the door. We come in peace."
Chris didn't respond. He moved silently to the garage, opened a specific case in his armory, and retrieved three rusted iron daggers and three small pouches. He then loaded three handguns with bullets that had rusted iron heads. Returning to the house, he handed two daggers, two guns, and two pouches to Victoria and Kate.
Kate and Victoria quickly hid the daggers and pouches on their persons. Victoria's voice was tense. "Which Bogatyr family are we dealing with?"
"The worst." Chris replied grimly.
Kate's eyes narrowed. "The Zimas?"
Chris gave a single, sharp nod. "Yes. Prepare for the worst."
He then went and opened the door, his expression stony as he looked at the old man. "It's a long way from Poland, Bartek."
Bartek offered a thin, humorless smile. "You're rude, Chris. I'm a friend of your father, after all. I can be considered your elder. Shouldn't you at least invite me in?"
"Sure." Chris said, his voice flat. "Come on in."
Bartek and the two men behind him entered. Chris led them to the living room, where he, Kate, and Victoria sat opposite them.
"Why are you here, old man?" Chris demanded, skipping any further pleasantries.
Bartek ignored the question and gestured to the man on his right, who was about Chris's age. "This is my son, Piotr. I'm sure you've heard of him."
"Nothing good, but I've heard the name." Chris acknowledged coldly.
Bartek smiled and pointed to the young man on his left, who had a strong, athletic build. "And this is my grandson, Antoni. He's seventeen, about the same age as your daughter. I heard from Gerard that she is a beauty. Perhaps we can let the kids get to know each other. Where is she?"
"There is no need for my daughter to know a bastard from the Zima family." Chris stated, his voice dripping with contempt. "If that's why you're here, then you can leave, old man."
Antoni jumped up, angry. "Watch your tongue, you weakling!"
Bartek sharply scolded his grandson. "Shut up, Antoni! They may be weakling humans, but they can still kill you. So, sit down and shut up." He turned his deceptive, kindly smile back to Chris. "Don't mind him. He is still young and has much to learn."
"I don't like you or your family." Chris said, his patience gone. "So tell me what brought you to this town, and then leave my house."
Bartek's facade of friendliness finally dropped. "We were passing by when we heard about the wendigos in this town. We came to take a look. I saw the dead wendigos in the morgue. Three were shot, probably by you and your hunters. But one was definitely cut by magic. And there was an alpha wendigo that was beaten to death. For something to kill an alpha wendigo with brute force… it must be extremely powerful. Even the three of us together couldn't have done it."
Chris remained impassive. "And your point is?"
"My point," Bartek's voice grew deeper, more threatening, "is that you had the help of a powerful supernatural creature. I want to know where it is."
"So you can kill it?" Chris asked.
"Yes." Bartek confirmed. "All supernatural creatures must be killed, especially the strong ones."
Kate sneered. "Then why don't you kill yourselves first? Aren't Bogatyrs supernatural, too?"
Piotr leaned forward. "We are chosen humans, blessed with power! Our duty is to purge the filthy monsters that roam our world!"
"Sure." Kate retorted sarcastically. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, you freak."
Piotr shot to his feet, ready to lunge at Kate, but Chris was faster, his gun now aimed squarely at Piotr's head. "Get out of my house."
"Piotr, calm down!" Bartek ordered his son. He turned his cold gaze back to Chris. "Don't forget that you are a hunter, Chris. I might be willing to look the other way and forgive you this once for working with a supernatural, but..."
Before Bartek could finish his threat, Victoria acted. In one swift motion, she flung the contents of the pouch Chris had given her—a cloud of fine, rusted iron dust that engulfed Piotr's head.
Caught completely off guard, Piotr inhaled the dust. He began to choke violently, his body seizing up before collapsing to the floor. He was completely paralyzed, able only to cough and choke helplessly.
Bartek and Antoni tried to stand, but Chris and Kate aimed their guns at them.
"Don't move." Chris commanded, his voice cold. "Or we'll blow your heads off. And believe me, you can't heal from that."
Bartek glared, pure hatred in his eyes. "You used rusted iron..."
"Take your son and get lost." Chris said. "And if you come near my family again, I will kill you."
Kate smirked, enjoying their fury. "If I were you, old man, I'd leave this town as soon as possible. The people you're looking for hate bastards like you more than anything. If they find out you're here, you won't leave this town alive. And death would be the least of your concerns. If the guy who killed that alpha wendigo catches you, you'll experience something far worse than death. Believe me, he's a psychopath."
Bartek slowly stood, his body trembling with suppressed rage. "Antoni. Get your father. We're leaving."
Antoni, shooting them a venomous look, hauled his paralyzed, choking father off the floor and followed his grandfather out of the house.
Chris followed them to the door, watching until their car sped away. He locked the door and returned to the living room, his expression grim.
He sank into a chair. "We need to warn the kids. Allison can handle herself, but Bartek is said to be as strong as an alpha. And they'll know she's supernatural the moment they see her. They can sense it."
Victoria was already on her feet. "Then let's go. Now."
They got into their car and drove straight to Jacob's mansion. Cogman opened the gate for them and guided them to the living room. Inside, they found Allison snuggling with Malia on the couch watching TV, while Lydia sat nearby scrolling through her phone.
Allison stood up and greeted her parents with kisses on their cheeks. She then looked at Kate and said, simply. "Kate."
"Where's my kiss?" Kate asked with a smirk.
Allison ignored her and sat back down next to Malia. "Cogman, could you make some tea and bring some snacks, please?"
"Right away, my lady." Cogman replied before heading to the kitchen.
The Argents sat down, and Chris got straight to the point. "Where's Jacob?"
"He's sleeping." Allison said. "Do you need him for something?"
"Yes." Chris said. "Wake him up."
Allison raised her voice toward the staircase. "Jacob! Wake up! My dad wants to talk to you!"
They waited, but there was no response. Allison shouted again. "Jacob, I know you heard me! Come down or I'll come up and drag you down myself!"
A muffled shout came from upstairs. "Damn it, Allison! You're too loud! Believe it or not, I'll spank you in front of your parents!"
Allison blushed as Victoria raised an eyebrow.
Soon, Jacob came downstairs, grumbling, and slumped into the recliner.
"Didn't you get enough sleep?" Allison asked.
"And whose fault do you think that is, huh?" Jacob retorted. "You and Lydia woke up so early this morning and started training in the backyard. And if that wasn't loud enough, stupid Lydia started screaming."
"Hey!" Lydia interjected. "That was not my fault! She asked me to attack her with my sonic scream. Besides, when are you going to get enough sleep? You're like an old man. You sleep in class, you always have to take a nap in the afternoon. I mean, you're a supernatural creature; you can go days without sleep if you want."
"What do you know?" Jacob shot back. "I'm still in my growing stage. I need a lot of food and sleep. And you know what I am; my kind is known for laziness, too."
Lydia said. "Then use earplugs or something, and stop complaining whenever we make noise in the house."
Jacob snorted. "I'll deal with you girls later."
Lydia winked at him. "Do your worst."
"Alright, that's enough, you two." Allison said, ending the bickering.
Just then, Cogman returned with tea and snacks.
Jacob sighed, took a sip of tea, and looked at Chris. "What's up?"
"The news about the dead wendigos brought something bad to town." Chris said grimly.
Allison leaned forward. "What came to town?"
"Hunters." Chris explained. "But not normal hunters. They're supernatural humans called Bogatyrs. The ones who came here are three members of the Zima family, a hunter family from Poland. They're known for being extreme; they kill every supernatural creature they can find. They don't care if the creature is innocent or not. They even kill normal humans who help or are in a relationship with supernatural creatures."
Jacob raised an eyebrow. "And where did you meet these guys?"
"They came to my house asking about the creature that helped me kill the alpha wendigo."
"Do you know where they are now?" Jacob's voice was cold. "They won't live past tonight."
"No." Chris said. "I kicked them out. I don't know where they went, or how many of them are actually in Beacon Hills."
"I see…" Jacob turned to his butler. "Cogman, tell me what you know about Bogatyr."
Cogman straightened. "Bogatyrs are supernatural hunters from Slavic mythology. They believe all supernatural life is a disease to be purged. They possess supernatural strength and speed, and can channel energy to defend or attack their enemies. They are immune to compulsion, and their eyes can identify supernatural creatures on sight—they may not know what the creature is, but they know it's not human. Their fanaticism is absolute, showing no mercy to the innocent or guilty. Their primary weakness is rusted iron, which acts on them like Wolfsbane, burning their skin and crippling their powers."
Lydia frowned. "Aren't those idiots supernatural themselves? Why do they hate supernatural creatures so much?"
"Who knows?" Jacob shrugged. "Cogman, you can track them and kill them all."
"With pleasure, sir." Cogman said, a dark gleam in his eye. He turned to Chris. "Can you describe their appearance to me?"
"I can do better." Chris said, pulling out his phone. "I have a doorbell camera connected to this." He handed the phone over.
Cogman took it, connected to the feed, and watched the video of the Zimas' visit. He handed the phone back. "Thank you. That's perfect. Finding them will be easy now."
Cogman closed his eyes, connecting to the internet. Moments later, his eyes snapped open. "Sir, I've found them. They're at a hotel on a busy street downtown. I can't kill them there."
"You mean you don't want to kill them there." Jacob corrected him. "Because you can't torture them properly."
"You are right, sir." Cogman admitted without shame. "While I could torture them and keep them quiet, it wouldn't be as... satisfying. I need to hear them scream. I want to tear their limbs and break their bo..."
Jacob cut him off. "That's enough, you psycho. Just lure them to the woods. You'll need bait for that."
"I'll be the bait." Allison volunteered immediately.
"No." Jacob said. "They know your parents, so they might know what you look like and choose not to follow you. Cogman, use Scott. Tell him and Stiles what's going on. The three of you go to the hotel where these guys are staying. When the Bogatyrs see Scott, they'll know he's supernatural. Lure them out to the woods."
Cogman gave a sharp, eager nod. "Then I'm leaving now, sir."
"Go." Jacob ordered. "Bring them to the place where I killed those hunters a couple of weeks ago. I want to see how these guys fight."
After Cogman left, Chris turned to Jacob, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "What kind of creature is your butler? When he took my phone, the thing started working on its own. Then he closed his eyes, and a moment later he said he'd found Bartek and his men."
Jacob shook his head. "Believe me, you don't want to know. That would just freak you out. Ignorance is a blessing sometimes."
Victoria pressed the point. "Why couldn't he be the bait for the Bogatyrs? Isn't he a supernatural creature?"
"He is." Jacob said. "But he's not like us. The Bogatyrs' sight might not identify him as supernatural. That's all I can tell you."
Kate leaned forward. "Then why didn't you or Lydia go as bait?"
Jacob said. "I'm sure you know what Lydia is by now."
Chris said. "We didn't know at first, but after she predicted the death of the werecoyote girl, we figured out she was a banshee."
Jacob nodded. "And as you know, banshees can step through mountain ash like normal humans. So, I don't know if the Bogatyrs can tell she's supernatural or not."
"And you?" Victoria asked, turning her gaze to Jacob.
"I can hide what I am." He said simply. "I can mask my energy and appear completely human. So, unless it's absolutely necessary, I don't want to expose myself in the middle of town—especially now, when it's filled with strangers and investigators for the wendigo case. Who knows what kind of creatures I might end up drawing to me? I don't want that kind of attention right now."
Allison, who had been listening quietly, changed the subject. "Dad, how do you know the Zima family?"
"I don't, not really." Chris confessed. "They're Gerard's friends. But I know what those bastards do. They leave massacres in their wake. They don't even bother to hide the bodies; they just kill and leave them for the cops to find."
Lydia's face showed her disgust. "I'm starting to think all hunters are crazy, evil killers. I mean, we've never met a good one. No offense, Mr. Argent, but the Argent family has Kate and Gerard. To me, your family doesn't seem like a righteous hunter family."
Chris sighed, a heavy weight in the sound. "Every family has one or two crazy, evil members. I doubt you'd find an entire family that's purely good and righteous, even if you searched the whole world."
Lydia crossed her arms. "We don't have an evil member in our family."
Kate smirked. "What about Cogman?"
Lydia didn't hesitate. "He's a crazy psychopath, but he's not evil."
Kate just shrugged. "If you say so."
Chapter 87: The Bait is Taken
Cogman met with Stiles and Scott and told them about the Bogatyrs.
Stiles said, "Are you telling me that some hunters with supernatural powers are here in town?"
Cogman said, "Weren't you listening to what I just said, you imbecile?"
Stiles scratched the back of his head and said, "I heard. It's just hard to believe, that's all."
Cogman looked at Scott and said, "Anyway, we need to deal with them tonight. If we don't, they will kill every supernatural being—and any human connected to them—they can find in Beacon Hills."
Scott said, "And what do you want from us? I won't kill."
Cogman said, "If they find out that you are a werewolf, they will kill not just you, but your mother too."
Scott said, "Still, I will not kill."
Cogman said, "You are too naive. But don't worry, I don't want you to kill. I just want you to be the bait so we can lure them to the woods. Leave the rest to me and Sir, if he decides to have fun too."
Stiles said, "Is killing fun to you guys?"
Cogman said, "It is certainly fun to me, at least. As for Sir and my ladies, I don't know. They are not cowards like you two wimps; they will kill if necessary. And I think Sir enjoys killing too, even if he says he doesn't."
Stiles said, "Wait, did Lydia and Allison kill people too?"
Cogman said, "Ask them yourself. Now, are you two idiots in or not?"
Scott, despite his aversion to violence, nodded and said, "I'm in. What should I do?"
Cogman said, "Nothing much. Just come with me and show yourself in front of them, and they will probably follow us. Now, let's go."
The three of them drove to the hotel where the Bogatyrs were staying and waited outside until dusk, when dinner time approached. They followed the Bogatyrs as they left the hotel to dine at a nearby restaurant. Cogman, Scott, and Stiles sat at a table not far from them.
The moment the Bogatyrs laid eyes on Scott, they knew.
"Boys," Bartek said under his breath, a predatory smile touching his lips. "It looks like we have a job tonight. Although it's just a weak wilkołak." (Wilkołak is Polish for werewolf.)
Piotr nodded slowly. "It's better than nothing. But, Father, the old man with the wilkołak feels... off. Dangerous, even."
Bartek didn't look directly at Cogman's table. "I know. Even the other boy isn't normal."
He then turned to another member of the Zima family at their table and spoke in Polish. "Lukasz, go tell the others to get ready. Bring the weapons and wait outside the restaurant."
Cogman, who understood every word, didn't react. He let Scott and Stiles finish their meals. After about twenty minutes, the three of them left, deliberately not taking their car and instead walking toward the Beacon Hills Preserve. As planned, the Zima hunters followed at a distance.
Cogman sent a quick text to Jacob: [Sir, they took the bait. We are now heading to the forest.]
As they neared the edge of the preserve, Piotr grew uneasy. He whispered in Polish. "Father, this doesn't feel right. It's as if they are leading us into the woods. Let's kill them here before they enter the tree line."
Bartek shook his head, replying in Polish. "It doesn't matter if it is a trap. There are seven of us; we can kill them with ease. We cannot attack them here. This town is filled with all kinds of people right now; we shouldn't draw attention to ourselves. Besides, look at those idiots."
Piotr looked ahead. Stiles and Scott were joking and laughing loudly, while Cogman was humming a cheerful tune with a serene smile on his face.
"Do you think they have even realized we are following them?" Bartek finished.
Piotr sighed, his suspicion easing. "They look clueless, for sure. Maybe I am just overthinking it."
---
Jacob's Mansion
Jacob read Cogman's text and stood up. "Alright, let's go. Cogman says they took the bait."
"I want to fight one of them." Allison declared.
Kate smirked. "Bartek said he wanted to introduce you to his grandson, since you two are the same age."
Before Allison could retort, Jacob's eyes glowed golden. "Oh, he's eying my Allison? Then it's decided; this Bartek guy is mine." An evil smile spread across his face. "He likes to hunt monsters, right? I'll show him how much of a monster I am."
Allison mirrored his predatory grin. "Then I'll have a playdate with that grandson of his."
Lydia shook her head with a smile and said. "Poor bastards. The worst crime you can commit against Jacob is to hit on one of us. Kate, do you hate that Bartek guy that much? I thought you would like the Zima family since you are evil like them."
Kate said, "I'm not like them. As for Bartek, I hate him, his family, and all the other Bogatyrs. They call normal human hunters like us weaklings, and they despise and look down on us."
Jacob said, "Alright, time to go."
As they moved to leave the mansion, Malia trotted up behind them. Jacob looked down at her. "Do you want to come with us?"
She nodded her head firmly.
"Then stay next to Lydia," Jacob instructed.
With that, they left for the preserve.
As they were heading toward the woods, Jacob thought, 'I haven't signed in today. System, sign in.'
[Daily Sign-In Successful. Rewards Obtained:
- Bottle of Water x30
- 60-Meter Nylon Climbing Rope
- Charcoal Barrel Grill]
Jacob checked the rewards and thought, 'Well, it's better than nothing. The grill is good, though; we don't have one. I'll ask Cogman to smoke some brisket for us when I get back.'
---
Beacon Hills Preserve
As they went deeper into the woods. Cogman, with his enhanced hearing, picked up Bartek ordering his hunters in Polish to attack.
He turned to Scott and Stiles. "They are about to attack. Let's run! We haven't reached the place where we are supposed to meet Sir yet."
With that, the three of them broke into a sprint.
Behind them, Bartek said. "They've discovered us! Chase them! Don't let them escape!"
Bartek and his hunters gave chase. At first, the two groups maintained their distance, but seeing they weren't closing the gap, the Bogatyrs activated their power. A faint, white energy shimmered around their bodies, and their speed increased dramatically.
Scott glanced over his shoulder. "Shit, they're gaining on us!"
"Worry not." Cogman replied calmly. "We are almost there."
They ran for another five minutes before Cogman finally skidded to a halt. "Alright, we can stop now."
The three of them turned to face their pursuers.
Bartek and his group stopped a few meters away, their faces twisted with contempt. "Are you done running, freaks?" Bartek taunted.
Cogman smirked. "Who said we were running?"
A flicker of unease crossed Bartek's face. "They're waiting for someone. Let's kill them before whoever it is arrives. Attack!"
One of the hunters lunged forward. In response, Cogman's palm slid open, and a small cannon barrel emerged. It fired a blast of blue energy straight into the hunter's chest, sending him flying backward. However, the hunter performed a mid-air flip and landed on his feet, his own white energy having blocked the worst of the blast.
The hunters stared at Cogman in shock. "What are you?" Piotr demanded.
Cogman gave a slight bow. "Just a butler."
"Whoa, that was cool!" Stiles exclaimed. "I didn't know you could do that!"
"I had to make some modifications to my body." Cogman explained conversationally. "I realized my smaller form wasn't strong enough, and my full form, while powerful, is too slow. So, I enhanced my current form and added some new... attacking methods."
Recovering from their surprise, Bartek and his hunters unsheathed their swords. None carried guns; each wielded a blade now coated in their shimmering white energy.
Stiles eyed the glowing swords nervously. "Okay, that looks dangerous. Where is Jacob? And, Cogman, do you have a sword?"
"In fact, I do." Cogman reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out a simple metal hilt. "Good thing I brought it with me. It's a perfect opportunity for a field test." He clicked a button on the base of the hilt, and a brilliant, humming blade of solid blue energy erupted from it.
Stiles screamed in excitement, shaking Scott's arm. "Did you see that?! It's a lightsaber!" He ran over to Cogman. "Can I borrow it, please? After the fight, of course!"
"That's a no." Cogman said firmly. "It is too dangerous." He then shoved Stiles back behind him. "Now stay away. They are attacking."
Just as he pushed Stiles to safety, two hunters closed in on him simultaneously. Cogman met one's energy-coated sword with his own energy blade, blocking the slash. At the same time, he aimed his other palm at the second hunter and fired an energy blast, forcing the man to divert his energy to defend and stumble back.
Cogman exerted more force through his blade, shoving the first hunter backward. Then, in a move no one expected, he opened his mouth. A red laser beam shot out, aimed directly at the hunter.
The hunter tried to block the laser with his energized sword, but his white energy couldn't dissipate the intense heat completely. The metal of the sword began to glow red-hot. The hunter was forced to threw himself into a desperate roll to evade the beam.
The second hunter seized the opening and attacked again. Cogman sidestepped the sword thrust and drove his energy blade into the man's gut, and was about to cut him in half. But a third hunter intervened, forcing Cogman to disengage and leap back.
Cogman parried the new attacker's blade with his own. Then before the hunter could react, his free hand shot out and clamped onto the man's face.
"Got you." Cogman said pleasantly.
He released a point-blank energy blast from his palm directly into the hunter's face. The man hadn't protected his head with his energy. The result was instantaneous and gruesome. His skin vaporized, revealing the scorched skull beneath. His eyes, nose, and lips were utterly gone. The hunter was still alive, but only barely, emitting a silent, agonized scream.
With cold efficiency, Cogman dropped the twitching body to the ground and cleanly severed the head from the torso with his energy sword.
The hunter who had been stabbed in the stomach earlier had backed away, his wound almost fully healed. He now stared at Cogman with a mixture of rage and fear.
Bartek's voice cut through the tension. "Lukasz, Robert, Andrzej! Attack him together!"
The three hunters moved as one, converging on Cogman. But just as they closed in, two sharp, whistling arrows of condensed wind shot from the darkness, aimed at two of the attackers.
The hunters reacted with supernatural speed, twisting to deflect the projectiles with their energy-coated blades. But the wind arrows were impossibly strong, spinning with violent force. The impact sent both men flying backward like ragdolls. They crashed through several trees and then rolled on the ground for a few meters before they stopped.
Cogman, now facing only the third hunter, parried a sword slash with his energy blade. In the same fluid motion, he raised his free hand, index finger extended, and fired several precise laser shots. Small, smoldering holes appeared in the hunter's chest and throat. The man dropped to his knees, coughing up blood.
Cogman deactivated his energy blade and returned the hilt to his pocket. He then grabbed the kneeling hunter by the hair and began driving his knee into the man's face. Once. Twice. He didn't stop. The sound of crunching bone and cartilage filled the clearing. He broke the man's nose and shattered all his teeth before letting him collapse.
He then straddled the hunter's chest and continued punching his face. The blows landed with sickening wet thuds until, finally, the man's skull could take no more and exploded.
Cogman stood up, sighing in deep satisfaction. "Now that was satisfying."
Scott and Stiles watched in horror, instinctively taking several steps backward.
Bartek, however, paid no mind to his dead man. He, his son Piotr, and his grandson Antoni were entirely focused on the tree line from where the wind arrows had originated.
Soon, Jacob and his group emerged from the darkness into the clearing. Bartek and his sons's eyes immediately scanned the newcomers, lingering on Allison, Lydia, and Malia. Then they ignored Malia, their gazes locking with predatory interest on Lydia and Allison.
Allison stepped forward to stand beside Cogman, who was now calmly straightening his suit and wiping blood from his face. Her eyes glowed with a vibrant green light, and a swirling vortex of green wind energy coiled around one of her hands.
Jacob walked over to Stiles and Scott. "You guys alright? You don't look too good."
Stiles stammered. "Well, we just saw your butler make a man's head explode."
"Then you might want to close your eyes or something." Jacob advised casually. "Because we're about to kill the rest of them."
Kate walked over to Scott. "Hey, handsome."
Scott panicked, scrambling to hide behind Jacob. "Jacob, please keep her away from me!"
Jacob laughed. Kate raised an eyebrow. "Why are you scared of me, kid? I was just being friendly."
"They told me you're a sexual predator who likes minors!" Scott blurted out.
Kate rolled her eyes in Jacob's direction. "Stop spreading nasty rumors about me. I'm not that bad." She then winked at Scott. "But I wouldn't mind having some fun with you, handsome. I wouldn't tell if you don't."
Scott looked horrified. "Damn, she really is a predator!"
Kate just smirked and turned her gaze to Stiles.
Stiles panicked. "Don't... don't look at me!" He then ran to stand behind Lydia, pleading. "Lydia, please protect me!"
Bartek ignored the side drama, his disappointed glare fixed on Chris. "Chris, I didn't expect you to help these freaks against fellow hunters. Gerard will be so disappointed in you when he hears about this. But don't worry, I will help Gerard clean his house after I deal with these monsters."
"I don't care what Gerard thinks of me." Chris stated coldly. "I've recently learned he is not the man I thought he was. And don't worry about me, old man. You should worry about yourself. After all, you are about to die."
Kate chimed in. "By the way, old man. You said you wanted your grandson to meet our little princess?" She gestured to Allison. "Well, she's right in front of you. And she's very eager to meet him, too."
Bartek looked at Allison with utter disgust. "Your little girl is a monster, and you let her live. I'm truly disappointed in you, Chris. But I'll do what you couldn't. I'll kill her, and then I'll kill you."
Jacob didn't say a word. He simply started walking toward Bartek.
Lydia smirked. "That old geezer is screwed."
Stiles nodded. "Yeah, he is. I should probably look away, but I really want to see what Jacob is going to do to him."
Bartek focused all his attention on the approaching teenager. Yet, no matter how hard he stared, Jacob appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary human. There was no shimmer of energy, no tell-tale sign of the supernatural. But a deep, primal unease settled in Bartek's gut, blooming into genuine fear as he met Jacob's cold, predatory gaze.
The two hunters sent flying by Allison's wind arrows staggered to their feet, blood trickling from their mouths. One stumbled back to stand by Bartek, but the other was enraged. He spat blood, his eyes locking onto Allison with pure hatred, and charged at her with superhuman speed.
Seeing Jacob directly in his path, the hunter dismissed him as a mere human. He swung his sword in a casual, dismissive slash, intending to cut the boy down without breaking stride and continue toward his real target.
Jacob's hand shot out, catching the man's wrist in an unbreakable grip. His eyes never left Bartek. With a sickening crunch, he shattered the hunter's arm, eliciting a scream of agony. Then, still looking at Bartek, Jacob clamped his other hand over the man's face. Fire erupted from his palm, instantly incinerating the hunter's head to ash. The headless body crumpled to the ground.
The moment Jacob used his fire, the veil was lifted. Bartek, Piotr, Antoni, and the other hunter, finally saw the truth—the immense, terrifying energy swirling within Jacob's body. It was a power that made their own feel insignificant.
Jacob grinned, a vicious, predatory expression. He unleashed his full dragon aura. A shockwave of pure, ancient power erupted from him, focused solely on the Zima family. While Allison and the others felt the shockwave, they were spared the crushing psychological weight. For Bartek and his kin, it was like staring into the eyes of an ancient beast.
Bartek bit his tongue hard, using the pain to fight the paralyzing fear. In a desperate, cowardly move, he grabbed the hunter standing beside him and shoved the man directly at Jacob. "Piotr! Antoni! Run!" He screamed. "With only four of us left, we cannot face such a monster!"
Cogman appeared in front of Jacob, catching the flung hunter by the neck. With a brutal, efficient motion, he tore out his windpipe, tossing the bloody tissue aside. Blood fountained from the grievous wound. As the hunter gurgled, still alive due to his supernatural resilience, Cogman snatched the man's fallen sword and decapitated him in one clean stroke.
Lydia teleported directly into the path of the fleeing Bartek and his sons. "And where do you think you're going, you bastards?" She asked sweetly. Then, she opened her mouth and unleashed a devastating sonic scream, blasting the three of them off their feet and sending them flying backward toward Jacob before teleporting back to Malia's side.
Jacob caught Bartek by the neck mid-air, and Cogman caught Piotr.
Allison, seeing Antoni hurtling through the air toward her, simply waved her hand. A powerful gust of wind caught him and sent him soaring high into the sky. She drew the katana Shusui from her spatial ring in a fluid motion. As Antoni began his helpless descent, she swung the blade. A massive, crescent-shaped slash of emerald wind shot toward him.
Antoni, just regaining his senses from Lydia's scream, saw the attack coming. He poured all his energy into his sword and body, forming a desperate shield. But his power was no match for Allison's elemental attack. The wind slash sliced cleanly through his energized blade, then through his torso, cutting him in two at the chest. He was dead before his remains hit the forest floor.
Piotr, held in Cogman's grip, witnessed his son's death. "ANTONI, NOOO!" He screamed, his voice cracking with agony.
Cogman punched him square in the mouth. "Shut up."
Piotr spat out fragments of teeth, glaring at Cogman with hatred. Cogman smiled pleasantly. "Let's see how long you can keep that look." Before Piotr could use his energy, Cogman delivered a savage kick to his balls, making the man howl in pain. "Your pained screams are music to my ears." Cogman said.
He dropped Piotr to the ground and proceeded to stomp on his crotch repeatedly until his pelvis shattered with an audible crack. Finally, he activated his energy sword and stabbed the broken man over and over until all movement ceased.
Chris, Scott, and Stiles winced, their hands instinctively moving to protect their crotches. "That's got to hurt." Stiles muttered, his face pale.
Scott shivered. "Cogman is vicious."
"Yeah." Chris agreed. "That butler is really a psychopath."
Bartek, held immobile by Jacob's grip on his neck, had seen his grandson killed and heard his son's tortured end. Rage gave him a final burst of strength, and he tried to flare his energy to break free.
Jacob didn't even flinch. A powerful current of electricity surged from his hand into Bartek's body, making the old hunter convulse violently and severing his connection to his power.
Jacob leaned close, his voice a low, deadly whisper. "First, I heard you wanted to set up a date between my wife and your grandson. And if that wasn't enough, you just said you were going to kill her because she's a monster. Now, I know you could never actually hurt her—she's more than capable, and I would never let anyone touch her—but still. Hearing you say that pissed me off. I was just planning to beat you to a pulp before killing you..."
Steam and smoke began to curl from Jacob's lips. A trickle of glowing, molten magma dripped from the corner of his mouth. "...but now I think I'll just burn that tongue of yours."
Jacob forced Bartek to his knees, gripping his jaw. Another jolt of electricity made the old hunter's mouth snap open in a silent scream. Jacob leaned in, opened his own mouth, and a stream of magma poured out, directly into Bartek's throat.
The magma scorched his mouth, seared his esophagus, and flooded into his chest, burning him alive from the inside. He couldn't even scream. Jacob released him, and Bartek collapsed, clawing futilely at his own melting throat and chest, only succeeding in burning his hands to the bone. He died in utter agony as the magma consumed his neck, severing his head from his body in a final, gruesome display.
Chapter 88: Aftermath and an Unexpected Meeting
After watching Bartek die, Jacob turned to face Allison and the others. His mouth still dripped with glowing magma. He winked at Kate, who immediately took several steps back and hid behind Victoria. He then looked at Stiles and Scott. "So," he said casually, "have you ever seen a man drink magma before?"
Scott, whose eyes were wide and fixed on Bartek's still-smoldering body, turned away and vomited violently. Stiles, on the other hand, ran up to Jacob, his face alight with excitement. "That was awesome! Can you use magma?"
Jacob raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you just see me use it?"
"Yes! And you were so cool! And awesome! And handsome! And strong!"
Jacob smiled, and patted Stiles on the shoulder. "Yes, I am the most handsome man in the world."
Stiles nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes, you are the most handsome man alive!"
Jacob laughed and gave Stiles a hard pat on the back. "Go on, praise me more!"
Stiles's mouth twitched. Then, a mischievous glint appeared in his eyes, and he switched to a high-pitched, girly voice. "You are so hot! If I was a girl, I woul..."
Jacob smacked him on the back of the head. "Stop! I told you to never use that voice again when talking to me!"
Stiles laughed, but a moment later, a kick sent him crashing to the ground. He looked back to see Lydia glaring down at him, and he said. "What was that for?!"
"Stay away from Jay." Lydia commanded. "It's bad enough I have to share him with other girls; I don't want to share him with boys, too."
Stiles stood up, dusting himself off. "I was just joking! I'm straight!"
Lydia said. "If you say so."
Jacob crossed his arms. "Usually when I start talking about how good-looking I am, you and Scott either ignore me or try to attack me and get your asses kicked. So, tell me what you really want, Stiles."
Stiles grinned sheepishly. "I want you to tell Cogman to let me borrow his lightsaber. Please."
"Oh, so that's what you want, huh?" Jacob said. "Then ask him yourself."
"I did, but he said no! Please, it's my childhood dream to play with a lightsaber!"
Jacob looked at Cogman.
"It's too dangerous, sir." Cogman stated. "And I don't like Stiles. Every time I see him, I feel like beating him. But... if he lets me break a few of his bones, I might consider letting him borrow it."
Jacob smiled. "You heard him, Stiles."
Stiles looked pleadingly at Cogman. "Come on, man! Just let me borrow it for a few minutes!"
"I told you what you need to do if you really want my sword." Cogman replied flatly.
Stiles sighed in deep disappointment, his shoulders slumping. Seeing this, Jacob smiled and pulled a lightsaber hilt from his pocket dimension. "Alright, stop looking like your dog just died. Here." He tossed it to Stiles. "It's a defective one. It can only cut walls and rocks, but it's still a lightsaber."
Stiles caught it happily. "Wait, if it can cut walls and rocks, why can't it cut other things?"
"It has a magical restriction on it." Jacob explained.
Stiles's eyes shone. "When should I return it to you?"
"Whenever you want."
Stiles ignited the blue energy blade and shouted in excitement. "Yes!" He was about to run over to Scott but stopped and turned back to Jacob. "You wouldn't happen to have a Jedi robe that I can borrow, would you?"
Jacob kicked him lightly. "Get lost."
Stiles laughed and ran to Scott and began enthusiastically demonstrating his new toy by slicing nearby rocks like a maniac.
Jacob smiled, then waved a hand, summoning flames that quickly consumed all the bodies of the hunters, leaving no trace. He turned to Cogman. "Gather their swords."
Cogman collected the Bogatyrs' swords and handed them to Jacob, who stored them in his pocket dimension. "Did you make sure no one will trace this back to you when they realize these bastards have disappeared?" Jacob asked.
"Yes, sir. I took care of it." Cogman confirmed.
"Good. I don't care if the rest of the Zima family comes after you; you'll be fine. But I don't want them going after Stiles and Scott."
Scott smiled, touched that Jacob seemed worried about him. But then he heard Jacob continue. "I don't really care about those two idiots, but Melissa would be in danger, and I don't want that."
"Damn it." Scott muttered, his smile vanishing.
Jacob grinned. "Alright, let's get out of here."
The group began walking back toward Jacob's mansion.
As they walked, Stiles fell into step beside Allison. "Hey, Allison, you didn't tell us you had supernatural powers!"
"Didn't I?" She replied innocently. "I thought you already knew."
"No, I didn't! Your eyes were glowing green! So, what are you?"
"A fairy." Allison said. "I'm a wind fairy."
Stiles blinked. "What? Can you, like, become tiny?"
"Tiny? No, Stiles." She said with a laugh. "I'm a real fairy, not like the ones from Disney."
Cogman, walking just behind them, chimed in with a scholarly tone. "The Fair Folk, or Sidhe, are human-sized. The small, cute version you're referring to is a literary invention that became popular starting in the Victorian era."
They continued walking and talking, and just as they were about to exit the woods, they ran into a new group: Peter, Derek, and two other men in their forties, and both of them were werewolves.
Peter's gaze swept over Jacob's group, but his eyes locked onto Kate, glowing a furious red. He stared at her for a long, tense moment before turning his attention to Jacob. "Why is someone like you walking and laughing with hunters?" He demanded, his voice a low growl.
Jacob raised a brow, then offered a deceptively mild smile. "They're my in-laws. And, Peter..."
Peter saw that smile and instinctively took a step back. "W-what?"
"Are you telling me who I should and shouldn't talk to?" Jacob asked, his tone light but carrying an unmistakable edge.
"No, no! You can talk to whoev... No, you can do whatever you want! That's not what I meant! I can't tell you what to do... I'm sorry." Peter backtracked, his bravado evaporating. "I just saw Kate Argent, and anger clouded my mind. Please understand, she killed my family and almost killed me, too."
One of the unfamiliar werewolves beside Peter scoffed. "Peter, why are you scared of a kid? From his scent, I can tell he's just a human. Is there an Alpha protecting him or something? We can just kill him and everyone with him and get rid of the bodies. That way, no one will know we were the ones who did it."
Peter looked at the man with sheer terror. "Shut up!"
The man raised a brow, confused by his Alpha's fear. "Why are you scared? I can smell your fear. Where is the Alpha who beat me and forced me to join his pack? I can see they have a werewolf and a werecoyote with them. But we have an Alpha and three Betas on our side. We can take them even if they have hunters with them."
Then, the man's eyes glowed blue as he ogled Allison, Lydia, and Kate. "But we won't kill those three. I want to..."
Before he could finish his vile suggestion, Peter spun and punched him with all his Alpha strength, sending the Beta crashing to the ground. "Are you trying to get us all killed?!" Peter roared.
He then turned back to Jacob. "I have nothing to do with this bastard."
Stiles piped up. "But he just said he's your Beta!"
"He was." Peter stated firmly. "I just kicked him out of my pack."
Jacob smiled. "Is that so?"
"Yes, yes!" Peter said quickly. "He is all yours. I can even kill him for you if you want."
Jacob ignored the offer. "Where did you find him, anyway?"
"He was just passing through town, and I asked him to join my pack." Peter explained.
The disowned Beta got up from the ground, now fully shifted into his werewolf form. Fur bristled on his cheeks, and his claws were extended. He growled at Peter but knew he couldn't beat an Alpha. Instead, he turned his rage on Jacob and charged.
"Dumbass." Derek muttered, shaking his head with a sigh.
Jacob didn't even move from his spot. He simply slapped the charging werewolf across the face with enough force to knock several fangs out of his mouth and send him flying sideways. "Scott, Stiles." Jacob said casually. "Which one of you wants to fight him?"
"I'll fight! I'll fight!" Stiles shouted. "But I won't kill him." He handed the lightsaber to Scott. "Hold this, and watch the debut of Super Stiles!"
The werewolf stood up, his fangs already regrown. It seemed the humiliation had pushed him over the edge into a mindless fury. He ignored everyone else and charged Jacob again. This time, Stiles moved with his own supernatural speed, intercepting him with a powerful kick to the stomach that made the werewolf howl in pain.
Enraged, the werewolf swiped at Stiles with his claws. Stiles dodged and countered with a sharp punch to the nose, breaking it with a sickening crunch. "Aahh, that hurts!" Stiles yelped, shaking his hand.
The werewolf let out a feral roar and tried to bite him. Stiles evaded to the side, and the creature pursued him relentlessly. Stiles ran, dodging behind trees. "Damn, he looks pissed!"
He began toying with the out-of-control Beta, peeking out from behind a tree and landing a solid punch to his face before ducking back into cover. The furious werewolf roared and slammed a fist into the tree, splintering it in half.
"Oops!" Stiles muttered, then sprinted toward another tree with the werewolf hot on his heels. This time, he didn't hide behind it. He ran straight up the trunk, intending to perform a backflip. He managed the flip, and the werewolf crashed into the tree below him. But Stiles had misjudged his strength; instead of one flip, he spun through three rotations and slammed face-first into the dirt.
The werewolf turned, grabbed Stiles by the leg, and lifted him, growling as drool dripped onto Stiles's jeans.
Seeing the slavering jaws about to clamp down on his leg, Stiles panicked. He kicked out wildly, his heel connecting solidly with the werewolf's mouth. The grip loosened, and Stiles wrenched himself free, scrambling to his feet.
Jacob and the others watched the fight with a mixture of confusion and amusement.
Lydia smiled. "Is this a fight or a comedy show?"
Victoria said. "Is that boy, Stiles, a werewolf too?"
"No, he's not." Allison explained. "He drank a magical strengthening potion."
Jacob shouted. "Stiles! You either fight seriously, or I'm taking the lightsaber back!"
Stiles, who was still dodging swipes from the enraged werewolf, yelled back. "Please don't take it away! I'll fight seriously!" He then turned his full attention to the beta. "Alright, mutt." He said, his voice losing all its playful edge. "Playtime's over."
He stopped running. As the werewolf lunged, Stiles didn't dodge. He met the charge head-on, catching the werewolf by his wrists. He used the Beta's own momentum to spin and hurl him into a thick oak tree. The impact shook the trunk.
The werewolf staggered up, disoriented. Stiles didn't give him a chance to recover. He closed the distance in a blur, delivering a rapid series of jabs to his ribs. When the werewolf swiped at him, he ducked under the claws, came up inside his guard, and drove an uppercut into his jaw that snapped his head back.
The werewolf stumbled, his movements becoming sluggish. Stiles pressed his advantage. He swept the werewolf's legs out from under him, and as he fell, he landed a punch with all his strength to his temple.
The werewolf hit the ground hard and stopped moving. Stiles smiled, thought he had won, and turned triumphantly toward Jacob and the others. But then he heard a low growl from behind him. He spun around to see the werewolf already back on his feet, swiping his claws at him. Stiles didn't have time to dodge and was slashed across the chest. The claws tore through his hoodie and left a deep, bleeding gash.
Scott panicked and started walking forward to help his friend, but Jacob stopped him with a hand on his chest. "Don't help him. Let him finish this fight on his own."
"But..." Scott protested.
Jacob cut him off. "Don't worry too much. That werewolf has lost control. He might look dangerous, but he's just a mindless beast now. Stiles just needs to use his brain and not let his guard down. He can win this easily."
Stiles touched the wound on his chest, which was already beginning to heal, and hissed in pain. "That hurt!" He glared at the werewolf. "You should have stayed down."
The werewolf roared and lunged again. This time, Stiles was ready. He dodged to the side and delivered a powerful kick to his knee, sending him crashing to the ground. With an evil smile, he began kicking the downed beta repeatedly with all his strength, finally hearing a sickening crunch as one of the werewolf's arms broke.
The shock of the pain seemed to jolt the werewolf back to his senses. The mindless rage faded from his eyes, replaced by fear. He began begging Stiles to stop.
Stiles ignored his pleas. He grabbed both of his legs and started slamming him from side to side against the hard ground like a ragdoll. After several brutal impacts, he dropped the dazed beta, straddled his chest, and began punching him hard in the face. He didn't stop until the werewolf shifted back into his bloody, bruised human form, barely conscious. Only then did Stiles stand up, breathing heavily.
He walked back to Jacob and the others, a triumphant look on his face. "So, what do you guys think of Super Stiles?"
Jacob nodded appreciatively. "I think you're just one bad day away from having your own supervillain origin story."
Stiles smiled. "A supervillain sounds like fun, but not with you around. I don't want to die by drinking magma."
Jacob threw an arm around Stiles's shoulder. "How about we both become villains? We'll take over the world and steal all the beautiful women. I'll even let you have a few. Let's say... ten? No, five. Actually, two. Two is the most I can give you."
Stiles raised an eyebrow. "All the beauties in the world, and you'll only give me two? How generous of you."
Jacob heard a loud, synchronized "Ahem!" from his side. He looked over to see Lydia and Allison glaring at him. He immediately let go of Stiles and scratched the back of his head nervously. "Don't worry, girls! I'll make you two the queens of the world! Those other women will just be our servants."
Lydia's expression shifted to a thoughtful smile. "That sounds interesting. I'm in."
Allison rolled her eyes. "Just deal with that werewolf, you pervert. And let's go back home."
Jacob smiled and turned back to the unconscious werewolf, raising a hand to incinerate him. But Cogman darted past him. "Wait, sir!"
The butler stood over the helpless man, activated his energy sword, and began stabbing the body repeatedly until all life was gone. He then walked back to Jacob, a look of profound satisfaction on his face. "Now you can burn the body."
Jacob shook his head with a smile, waved his hand, and sent a jet of flame to consume the corpse, turning it to ash in moments.
He then turned his gaze to Peter, who flinched under the attention. Jacob ignored him and looked at Peter's remaining new Beta. "You. Show me your eyes."
The man, wisely, didn't argue. He let his eyes glow a bright yellow.
"I don't know where you came from." Jacob said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "But if you kill innocent people in this town, you'll have only yourself to blame."
He then looked at Derek. "You should stop hanging out with Peter. He's going to get you killed. See you around." With that final warning, he started walking away, his group falling into step behind him.
Kate looked at Peter with a vicious smile and opened her mouth to taunt him, but Allison grabbed her arm. "Don't say a word, Kate. You might anger Jacob, and he could decide to let you fight Peter right here, right now. We both know you wouldn't survive that."
Kate turned to her niece, a smirk playing on her lips. "So, you still care about me, Princess?"
Allison ignored her, let go of her arm, and walked ahead to walk beside Lydia.
Kate's smirk widened as she followed. "How about we go shopping tomorrow? My treat."
Allison didn't even look back. "No, thank you."
Peter watched Jacob and his group leave. Only when they had completely disappeared into the darkness did he finally let out a shaky sigh of relief. "Damn, that was scary. I thought he was going to turn around and beat me to a pulp or burn me again."
His new Beta, James, spoke up, his voice uneasy. "Peter, what kind of monster was that kid? I didn't even realize he was supernatural until he used fire."
"I have no idea what he is." Peter admitted, running a hand through his hair. "All I know is that he's a monster that shouldn't be provoked. Ever. So, James, don't ever provoke him, because I can't save you. And to be perfectly honest, I might even help him deal with you if you're stupid enough to try."
James swallowed hard. "You seem... terrified of him."
"Of course I am!" Peter snapped. "He almost killed me twice. I'm only alive because he decided not to finish me off and left me half-dead."
Derek, who had been silent, finally spoke. "Are we still going after Kate?"
"Of course." Peter said, a cold, calculating glint returning to his eyes. "But we won't go after her. We'll let her find us when we're ready. We'll make sure she attacks us first. That way, Jacob can't blame me if I kill her in self-defense. We just have to make absolutely sure not to kill Chris Argent or his wife in the process."
---
Jacob and his group returned to the mansion. Stiles took a shower and borrowed a change of clothes from Jacob. Cogman prepared dinner for everyone, and they ate together before the Argents finally said their goodbyes and left. Cogman also departed to retrieve the car he had left near the hotel where the Zima family had been staying.
Later, in the living room, Stiles's expression turned serious. "Jacob, I think it's time to tell my dad what's going on. He's going crazy these days and has started drinking again. I'm really worried about him."
Jacob leaned back. "Do you need my help or something?"
Stiles nodded. "Yes, that would be great."
"Alright," Jacob agreed. "When?"
"Tomorrow night." Stiles said.
"Fine by me." Jacob replied.
With that settled, Stiles and Scott said goodnight to Jacob, and the girls, and left the mansion.