Ch: 94-98
Chapter 94: A Sheriff's Request
The school cafeteria hummed with the usual midday chaos. Jacob, Allison, and Lydia were in the school cafeteria having lunch when a visibly depressed Scott joined them, setting his tray down with a clatter.
The three of them looked at him with raised eyebrows. Lydia smirked. "What's wrong with you, Scott? Did Jay hit on your mom again?"
Scott shot a half-hearted glare at Jacob. "In fact, he did. He went to visit her yesterday at work." He sighed, the anger dissipating into pure gloom. "But that's not it."
"Then what's wrong?" Allison asked.
"I don't have a date for the formal yet." Scott mumbled, staring at his food.
Jacob said. "There are a lot of girls in this school. I'm sure you can find one. Just go and ask around. What's the worst that can happen? Them saying no? Besides, you just need a date for the formal, not a girlfriend."
"But I really want a girlfriend." Scott insisted, his voice tinged with longing.
"I can't help you with that." Jacob said, shrugging. "You have to find her yourself. You're the captain of the lacrosse team, after all. It should be easy for you."
Just then, Stiles arrived with a shy-looking Erica by his side. "Jacob, this is Erica. Erica, this is Jacob."
"Hi. Nice to meet you." Erica said softly, her eyes darting downward.
Jacob offered a warm smile. "Nice to meet you, too."
"Erica, come sit next to me." Allison said, patting the empty chair beside her.
Erica sat down, and Lydia leaned forward. "We're going shopping after school. Do you want to come with us? We'll buy you a dress for the formal."
"Can I go with you?" Erica asked, her eyes lighting up.
"Of course." Lydia said.
"But... I can pay for the dress myself..." Erica began.
Allison cut her off gently. "No, since we're taking you shopping, we'll pay for it."
"Thank you." Erica said, her gratitude evident.
Stiles just smiled and didn't say anything.
The group fell into easy conversation, which was abruptly interrupted when a new girl strode into the cafeteria.
Everyone in the cafeteria turned to look at the unfamiliar, stunning girl with wild hair and an almost feral confidence that commanded the room.
Scott's eyes widened, his jaw slightly slack. "Who is she?"
A slow, appreciative smile spread across Jacob's face. "She's gorgeous, isn't she?"
"Yes, she is." Scott whispered. "Guys… I think I just found my date for the formal. And hopefully, my girlfriend."
Lydia and Allison exchanged a knowing, pitying smile.
Scott suddenly remembered his company and turned to Jacob with a look of panic. "Jacob, don't you dare have any ideas about her…" He saw the smirk on Jacob's face and his confidence faltered. "Please..." He pleaded. "J-just let me have this one."
Jacob merely chuckled and waved a dismissive hand. "Sure, man. Go ahead and ask her out."
"Thanks." Scott said, standing up and smoothing down his shirt. "Wish me luck, guys." He took a deep breath. "Here goes nothing."
Stiles, watching Jacob's amused expression, leaned over. "Jacob, you're up to no good again. Who is that girl?"
"Just watch." Jacob said, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"Poor Scott." Allison murmured, shaking her head.
They watched as Scott nervously adjusted his collar and stepped directly into the new girl's path. "Hi... I-I'm Scott." He stammered.
The girl—Malia—stopped and raised a single, skeptical brow, looking at him as if he'd sprouted a second head. "Yes, I know."
"You... you know?" Scott's hopes soared. "Then… do you want to go out with me?"
Malia's response was immediate. She punched him squarely in the face. "Why are you acting so weird today? And no, I don't want to go out with you, idiot."
Scott hissed in pain, clutching his nose. Malia brushed past him without a second glance and walked straight to Jacob's table, where everyone was trying—and failing—to hold back their laughter. She sat down next to Jacob, took a bite of his food, and grimaced. "Ugh, this tastes awful."
Scott stumbled back to the table, his face red with embarrassment, and sat down heavily. He glared at Jacob, who was laughing openly now. "You said the worst thing that could happen is her saying no!"
"Don't glare at me." Jacob said, his amusement fading into mild annoyance. "I should be the angry one here. You just hit on my girlfriend. You're lucky I didn't beat your ass."
Scott and Stiles spoke in unison, shocked. "Girlfriend?!"
Stiles's eyes widened as he looked at Malia, realization dawning. "You're Malia, aren't you?"
Malia ignored him, picking at Jacob's food.
'She is definitely Malia.' Stiles thought. 'She is just as rude as she is in her coyote form.'
Scott turned his betrayed look to Lydia and Allison, humiliation washing over him. "Damn it! Why didn't you guys tell me she was Malia? I made a fool of myself, and now the whole cafeteria is laughing at me!"
Lydia's smile was sweet and utterly unapologetic. "We didn't tell you to ask her out. You decided that on your own."
Jacob stood up. "Alright, see you guys later. Malia, let's go."
With that, Jacob and Malia left the cafeteria, meeting Cogman outside the school. Cogman opened the car doors for them. As they slid into the backseat, Cogman took his place behind the wheel and drove off toward the sheriff's station.
Inside the car, Jacob turned to Malia. "By the way, Malia, you need to drop your blood on this tattoo." He raised his right hand, revealing a faintly glowing red tattoo—an intricate circle with a dragon's head at its center.
"Why?" Malia asked, eyeing it curiously.
"To become my mate. You'll understand after you do it." Jacob explained. "But think carefully. Once your blood is on it, we'll be bound together for life."
Malia didn't hesitate. She bit her thumb and let a drop of her blood fall onto the tattoo on his palm. The symbol glowed with a bright, vivid light, then slowly faded until it vanished entirely.
Both of them closed their eyes as the magical contract sealed their bond. In Jacob's mind, a screen materialized:
[Contract Successful. Congratulations, Host. You are now married to Malia Hale. The two of you are bound for life. You cannot betray one another, and her mind is protected from being read by any other creature. You can communicate with her telepathically, and you will sense when she is in danger.]
'Malia Hale!' Jacob thought. 'So the System used her real name. Speaking of Hale, I should probably save that idiot Peter and not let him die. He is her father, after all, and she might want to get to know him. But not until after Derek takes the Alpha spark from him. I don't want to miss a sign-in. I'll just use one of those expired beans to save him. That'll be fun.'
Jacob opened his eyes and looked at Malia, who was still processing the connection with her eyes shut. 'I wonder what kind of bloodline she'll get when we sleep together.' He mused.
Soon, Malia opened her eyes, a look of wonder on her face.
"Do you understand what that tattoo was now?" Jacob asked.
"Yes," Malia said, a small smile playing on her lips. "And just now, I talked to Lydia and Allison in my head. It's amazing."
Jacob retrieved a Quen Scroll from his pocket dimension and handed it to her. "Here. Open this, and you'll learn an ability that lets you create an energy barrier to protect yourself."
Malia took the scroll and unrolled it. It glowed brightly, dissolving into a stream of golden light that flowed directly into her mind.
Five minutes later, Malia had fully learned the new ability. She opened her eyes, buzzing with excitement. "I want to try it!"
"Wait until we get home." Jacob said with a chuckle. "And I still have something else for you." He pulled a spatial ring from his pocket dimension and handed it to her. "Drop your blood on it."
Malia did as instructed, and her eyes widened as she realized what it was. She immediately took out the phone Cogman had given her earlier and practiced storing it in the ring and retrieving it several times, a delighted grin on her face. Then, she threw her arms around Jacob's neck. "Thank you!"
Jacob smirked, wrapping his arms around her waist. "You're not sincere enough."
Malia smiled mischievously, climbed onto his lap, and they began kissing passionately. They didn't stop until Cogman cleared his throat loudly from the driver's seat. "Sir, we have arrived at the sheriff's station."
Jacob and Malia broke apart, slightly flushed, and got out of the car. The three of them walked into the station.
The moment they entered, a screen appeared in front of Jacob's eyes.
[Location Sign-In Available:
You can sign-in inside Sheriff Stilinski's office.]
Jacob smiled. 'Great.'
They walked to the front desk, where Jacob addressed the deputy on duty. "We're here to see Sheriff Stilinski. Tell him it's Jacob, and it's important."
The deputy nodded. "Wait a moment." He called the sheriff, hung up, and gestured for them to follow. "Right this way."
Soon, they reached the sheriff's office. The deputy knocked and left. Noah opened the door. "Come in." He said, ushering them inside.
Once they had entered, Noah closed the door and returned to his desk. Jacob and Malia took the seats opposite him, while Cogman remained standing politely behind them.
Noah looked at Jacob. "So, why do you need to see me, kid?"
Jacob gestured to Malia. "I need your help with her situation."
Noah leaned forward. "What's going on?"
"Her name is Malia Tate, and..."
Noah cut him off, his brow furrowed in thought. "Malia Tate... I think I know that name..." His eyes widened as the memory clicked. He looked at Malia with shock. "You're the girl who went missing from that car accident over seven years ago. Where have you been all this time?"
Malia visibly tensed at the mention of the accident. Jacob reached over and took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Let me tell you what happened." He said to Noah.
Jacob then recounted the entire story—the crash, the woman with blue eyes, Malia's first shift, her years alone in the woods believing she had killed her family, and the truth Lydia had uncovered.
Noah listened intently, his expression growing more sympathetic. When Jacob finished, the sheriff looked at Malia with profound sadness. "I'm sorry you had to go through all of that, kid."
Malia remained silent, so Jacob continued. "Anyway, can you help with her legal status? Cogman will be her legal guardian, so we'll need your help with that paperwork, too."
Noah nodded, his professional demeanor returning. "Okay, I'll take care of it starting tomorrow. But since you're here today, I want your help with something."
"What is it?" Jacob asked.
"I have a case with two dead men." Noah explained, his expression grim. "Both have strange, circular puncture wounds—one around the face, the other on the neck."
Cogman, who had been listening quietly, spoke up. "Were they drained of their blood?"
"Yes," Noah confirmed. "After the autopsy, the coroner confirmed the victims had been drained of their blood."
"Then I believe you are dealing with a Lamprey." Cogman stated.
Jacob raised an eyebrow. "A Lamprey?"
"Yes, sir." Cogman replied. "It is the only creature that leaves those specific marks and drains blood."
"A Lamprey?" Noah echoed, bewildered. "You mean the eel-like fish with the disk-shaped mouth?"
"We're not talking about a fish." Jacob clarified. "We're talking about a shapeshifter with a mouth like a lamprey fish. They're known for feeding on humans by sucking their blood."
Noah pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Oh, great. That's just what I need right now." He looked at Jacob. "Can you help me with this case, kid?"
"Sure," Jacob agreed easily. "I don't have anything else to do. But what are you planning to do with the Lamprey once we find it?"
Noah thought for a moment. "Let's find it first, and then we'll decide."
"Do you have any surveillance footage from where you found the victims?" Jacob asked. "Give it to Cogman."
Noah shook his head. "Unfortunately, there is no footage."
"Then take us to see the bodies. I need to see if Malia and I can catch a scent."
Noah stood up. "Alright, let's go."
As they followed the Sheriff out of his office, Jacob thought. 'System, sign in.'
[Location Sign-In Successful. Rewards Obtained:
- White Honey Potion (The Witcher) x15: An enhanced version of the White Honey Potion that grants permanent immunity to all poisons upon consumption.
- Full Carcass of a Sker Buffalo x10 (Kong: Skull Island): Delicious, juicy, and brimming with primal energy. Consumed daily, its potent nutrients grant a small but permanent, cumulative increase to raw physical strength and stamina.
- Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP]
Jacob followed Noah and the others while reading the rewards. 'Nice! The White Honey Potion is useless to me since I'm already immune to all poison, but it'll be useful for the girls. Maybe I'll give one to Stiles and Scott, too. I was worried about running out of good meat since the Sea King meat is almost gone, so this Sker Buffalo meat came just in time. I hope it's as delicious as the System says. And the bike should be good. I can't wait to ride it.'
They drove to the hospital. When they arrived, Jacob thought. 'System, why didn't you give me a location sign-in at the hospital? Hurry up and give me one.'
[Do not be greedy, Host. You just received a location sign-in.]
'But this is an important location from the Teen Wolf series canon! You should give me a sign-in opportunity here. I've been here twice now!'
[You will get your sign-in opportunity, Host. Just not today.]
'Fine, I guess.' Jacob grumbled internally.
Soon, they met Melissa. After greeting Noah, she looked at Jacob with a warm smile. "Are you here to visit me again, kid? When you left yesterday, Scott came in, and he was very grumpy."
Jacob laughed. "Yeah, I ran into him on my way out. He told me to stop visiting you."
"Don't mind him." Melissa said, waving a hand dismissively. "He just worries too much."
"I don't care about him." Jacob said, grinning. "I like talking to you. So, no matter what your idiot son says, I won't stop visiting."
Noah cleared his throat, interrupting. "Anyway, Melissa, can you show us the bodies?"
"Sure." She replied, her professional demeanor returning. "Follow me."
She led them to the morgue and showed them the two corpses.
Jacob leaned in slightly, then shook his head. "There's only the smell of chemicals and death on them now. Do you still have their clothes?"
"Yes," Noah said. "We kept them as evidence back at the station."
"Good. Have someone bring them here." Jacob instructed.
As Noah stepped aside to make the call, Melissa looked at the bodies with a somber expression. "What kind of creature did this?"
"A blood-sucking shapeshifter called a Lamprey." Jacob explained. "Those puncture wounds were made by its teeth. By the way, did these two die on the same day?"
Noah, having ended his call, rejoined them. "No. We found them this morning, but in different locations. According to the coroner, one died yesterday and the other three days ago. But since it's winter and they were drained of blood, they haven't... decomposed."
Malia wrinkled her nose. "Maybe they haven't decomposed to you, but to me, they stink."
Jacob nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Melissa, can you put them back in the fridge, or whatever you call it?"
"It's called a mortuary refrigerator." She said with a slight smile.
"Is that so? Good to know. Now, let's get out of here. It really does stink."
After Melissa returned the bodies to the refrigerator, they left the morgue. They parted ways with Melissa, who went back to work, and waited outside the hospital for the deputy to arrive with the victims' clothing.
Chapter 95: Hunting the Lamprey
Jacob, Malia, Cogman, and Noah waited outside the hospital. When a deputy delivered the victims' clothing, Noah dismissed him immediately, not wanting to expose him to the supernatural world. Malia and Jacob leaned close to the clothes, their enhanced senses picking up the traces left behind.
"There's a strong, fishy smell on both sets of clothes." Jacob said, wrinkling his nose. "Do you catch it, Malia?"
Malia nodded. "Yes. And there's another strong scent on both, too. A woman's scent."
"I smelled it as well." Jacob confirmed. "So now we have the scent of the Lamprey in both its beast and human forms. Let's just hope we can still follow the trail, but I doubt it since it rained yesterday."
Noah looked puzzled. "Wait, do shapeshifters have two different scents?"
"Yes." Jacob explained. "When a shapeshifter shifts into their beast form, their scent becomes completely different from their human side."
"I see." Noah said. "Then let's go. You might still be able to catch the Lamprey's scent at the crime scene where we found the victim who died yesterday. He died at night, and it only rained yesterday morning."
Noah got into his cruiser and led the way. Cogman drove the Rolls-Royce, with Jacob and Malia inside, following close behind.
They arrived at an abandoned building. Inside, Jacob and Malia immediately picked up both the pungent fishy scent and the woman scent. They tracked it through the dilapidated halls, but once they exited the building, the trail vanished into the open air.
"I lost the scent." Malia said.
"Me too." Jacob said. "Maybe she has a car." He turned to his butler. "Cogman, see if you can find any security cameras in the area. Hopefully, we can find the person we're looking for."
"I was already scanning for cameras but haven't found any yet." Cogman replied. "Allow me to survey the neighborhood more thoroughly."
"Go ahead." Jacob said. "We'll wait for you by the cars."
Cogman departed on his search, while Jacob and the others returned to the vehicles.
They waited for about twenty minutes before Cogman returned. "I found one camera." He reported. "Three cars came through here last night, so I cannot determine which belongs to the Lamprey. Furthermore, the footage quality is too poor to read the license plates."
"Where's the camera?" Noah asked. "I'll take the footage to the station. Maybe we can enhance it."
"Believe me, Sheriff." Jacob said. "If Cogman can't clear the footage and read the plates, your computers back at the station won't be able to either. Let's go to the other location. Maybe we'll get lucky there."
They drove to the second crime scene: an underground parking garage in a new, still-vacant building.
This time, Cogman's search was more fruitful. He returned to the group waiting by the cars with news. "I was fortunate. I obtained footage from an apartment in the building opposite. A car, similar to one of the vehicles from the first crime scene, arrived here three nights ago and left shortly after. I was able to read the license plate and see the driver. It was a woman."
"Give me the plate number." Noah said immediately. "I'll run it."
"No need." Cogman stated. "I have already identified her, and hacked into her phone. She is staying at a motel on the outskirts of town. Her name is Petra Fisk, from Jacksonville, Florida. She moves around frequently, never staying in one place for more than a month."
"Well, that's good news, I guess." Jacob said, feeling relieved. "I was worried she lived here in Beacon Hills with a whole family of bloodsuckers, and their basement was filled with dead people like the Wendigos."
Noah's eyes went wide. "I didn't even think about that." He looked at Cogman urgently. "Are you sure she's alone?"
"Yes." Cogman confirmed. "And according to her phone's location, she is currently in her motel room."
"Then there's no time to waste." Noah said. "Let's go get her."
They got back into their cars and drove to the motel. Once they arrived. Noah went to the reception desk and instructed the clerk to stay put before rejoining the group. Then, they moved silently toward the Lamprey's room.
Standing outside the door, Jacob glanced at Noah and whispered. "Should we knock, or just kick it in?"
"Are you sure it's her?" Noah whispered back, his hand hovering near his holster.
"Definitely." Jacob confirmed. "The same fishy smell and the woman's scent from the victims' clothes is reeking from this room. And she's not alone in there."
"Alright." Noah said, steeling himself. "Kick the door open."
"Got it." Jacob nodded. "Malia, stay back. Sheriff, you stay next to her. I won't let that woman get past me, but just in case."
With that, Jacob delivered a powerful kick that shattered the lock and sent the door flying open. He entered first, followed closely by Cogman, then Malia and the Sheriff.
Inside, they found an unconscious man strapped to the bed with an IV drip containing a strange purple liquid hooked into his arm. Jacob frowned, looking at the man. 'I think I know that guy, but I can't remember from where.'
Just then, a naked woman in her thirties emerged from the bathroom, still dripping wet from a shower. She froze, her eyes sweeping over the intruders before locking onto Malia, the only one her senses identified as a supernatural creature.
Cogman spoke calmly. "It's her, sir. She is the Lamprey."
The woman's eyes widened in panic. 'Damn it! How did they find me? I was so careful, like always!' Her shock quickly melted into a predatory smirk. "Well, since you know what I am, there's no need to deny it. I will feast on your blood." Her gaze slid to Jacob, and she licked her lips. Her eyes glowed a milky white. "Especially you, handsome. I bet your blood is delicious."
Malia let out a low, warning growl. "Okay, can we kill the bitch already?"
The woman lunged at Jacob with startling speed. He didn't even move from his spot; he simply slapped her across the face with enough force to send her crashing back through the bathroom doorway, smashing part of the wall.
The woman was dazed but recovered quickly, scrambling to her feet. This time, she didn't bother with pretense. Her body began to twist and contort, shifting into her true, monstrous form. Her skin became grayish-yellow, her body hunched and muscular. Her mouth widening into a horrifying, circular maw lined with rows of inward-pointing, razor-sharp teeth, exactly like a lamprey's. Glowing, pupil-less white eyes fixed on them, and the room filled with an overpowering, rotten-fish stench.
Jacob recoiled. "Ugh, disgusting. You weren't beautiful to begin with, but this... this is a face not even a mother could love. Cogman, beat this stinky, ugly bitch back into her human form."
"With pleasure, sir." Cogman replied, a dark glee in his eyes. He advanced on the creature.
The Lamprey attacked, swiping with a clawed hand. Cogman caught her arm and twisted it behind her back, and snapped the bone. The creature screamed—a sound that made Cogman smile in delight. He shoved her to the floor, then aimed a finger and fired several thin laser beams, piercing her torso.
The Lamprey shrieked again, then fell still. But then, a thick, mucus-like liquid began to seep from her wounds, and the injuries started to knit themselves closed; her broken arm began to mend with a sickening crackle.
"Damn it!" Jacob snapped, pushing Cogman aside. "You're just making it worse!" He raised his hand, and a crackling bolt of electricity shot out, engulfing the twitching monster. The Lamprey convulsed violently, her form shrinking and shifting until she lay on the floor as a naked, unconscious woman, smoke curling from her lips.
Jacob glared at Cogman, who looked like he wanted to protest the interruption. "I told you to make her shift back because she stinks! But you made her bleed that stinky mucus, which smells even worse!"
"I didn't know her wounds would secrete that liquid." Cogman said defensively. He then brightened. "Anyway, can I take her to the woods and have some fun with her?"
Noah stared in horror. "What?! I can't let you rape a woman, even if she is an evil creature!"
Cogman and Jacob exchanged a look, then burst into laughter.
After their laughter subsided, Jacob looked at the confused Sheriff. "Don't worry, Sheriff. Cogman doesn't want to rape her. He's just a psycho who enjoys killing. But he only kills bad people."
Noah looked from Cogman to the unconscious woman, his expression conflicted. "Even so, I can't let you just kill her."
"Then what do you want to do with her?" Jacob asked. "You can't put her in jail. You know that, right?"
Malia raised her hand. "I say we kill her."
Cogman promptly raised his hand too. "I second that."
Jacob also raised his hand. "Me three."
Noah sighed heavily, the weight of his duty warring with the grim reality. "Is there really no other choice?"
"I don't think there is." Jacob said.
"Fine." Noah said, his voice heavy with resignation. "Then kill her here. I need her body to close the case. Hopefully, her digestive system still has traces of the victims' blood."
Cogman nodded eagerly. "Alright then. I'll rip her head off."
"Don't!" Noah said quickly. "How am I supposed to explain that?"
Cogman fixed him with a flat stare. "You know, you're starting to piss me off."
Jacob reached into his pocket dimension and pulled out a handgun he'd taken from one of the hunters he'd fought before. He handed it to Cogman. "Here. Wipe it down, put it in her hand, and fire a few shots into the wall behind the Sheriff."
Cogman took the gun, meticulously wiped it free of any prints, and placed it in the unconscious woman's limp hand. He pointed it at the wall behind Noah and fired three rounds, leaving clear bullet holes. Then he let the gun drop from her hand.
Jacob looked at Noah. "Now, you shoot her in the head. If you can't, give your gun to Cogman. He'll gladly do it."
"No." Noah said firmly, his jaw set. "I'll do it." He drew his service weapon, took a steadying breath, aimed, and fired a single, decisive shot into the Lamprey's head.
After Noah killed the Lamprey, Jacob walked to the bed, unhooked the IV from the man, and untied him.
Noah looked at the unconscious figure with concern. "Is he okay?"
"He'll be fine." Jacob said. "He's a werewolf. The purple liquid in the IV is diluted wolfsbane. He should wake up soon."
As if on cue, the man groaned, his eyes fluttering open. He looked around in confusion at Jacob and the others, then his gaze landed on the dead woman. Panic surged through him; his eyes glowed yellow. "What's happening here? What do you guys want from me?!"
"Calm down." Jacob said. "We just saved your stupid ass. That woman was a Lamprey. She was probably going to use you as a blood bag for a few days before killing you."
Noah stepped forward, his authoritative demeanor in place. "What's your name? How did you end up here?"
The man frowned, trying to piece his memory together. "My name is Demarco Montana. I delivered a pizza to this woman at 1 p.m. today... well, probably today, unless she kept me unconscious here for longer."
As Demarco and Noah talked, they confirmed he had delivered the pizza just that afternoon.
'Demarco!' Jacob thought, recognition clicking. 'I remember now, he is from Satomi's pack. He died because of the Deadpool.' Aloud, he said. "Anyway, Sheriff, we've done our part. It's time for us to leave."
"Alright." Noah agreed, though he still looked troubled. "I'll take it from here. Thank you." He then turned to Malia. "You and Cogman should come to my office tomorrow so I can start the paperwork for your situation."
Jacob gave Demarco a pointed look. "Help the Sheriff with his report, and don't mention we were here or talk about the supernatural to the other deputies. Just say you were kidnapped, and the Sheriff rescued you."
Demarco nodded in understanding.
With that, Jacob, Cogman, and Malia left. Cogman drove them to a quiet, empty road on the outskirts of town before Jacob told him to stop.
"Cogman, stop here. Malia and I aren't going straight back home."
Cogman pulled over, and Jacob got out. He retrieved his new Ducati Hypermotard 1100 EVO SP from his pocket dimension. He swung a leg over the bike and settled into the seat. "Malia, get on."
Malia climbed on behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Jacob handed her a helmet and put one on himself. With a powerful roar, the engine came to life, and they sped off.
Jacob spent the next hour riding around town, enjoying the feel of the new bike, with Malia holding tight behind him. Eventually, he pulled into the parking lot of a nice restaurant.
As they got off the bike, Malia took off her helmet, her eyes bright with excitement. "You have to teach me how to ride one of these."
Jacob smiled, taking his own helmet off. "Sure."
"And you have to buy me a bike. And a car, too." Malia added, giving him a hopeful look.
Jacob chuckled, taking her hand as they walked toward the restaurant entrance. "First, you need a driver's license. Then I'll buy you the car and bike you want."
Malia grinned. "I'll get it next week."
"That's not how it works." Jacob said with an amused shake of his head. "You need to study for the written test, pass the driving test, and gather all the necessary documents. It'll take a few months, at least."
Malia's face fell into a pout. "That sounds troublesome and takes too long. Can't Cogman do something about it?"
"He could." Jacob admitted. "But I won't let him help you get your license that way. You need to learn traffic signs, signals, rules of the road, and the laws. You need to know how to drive properly, or you'll cause an accident and hurt innocent people."
"Fine." Malia grumbled, though she knew he was right.
After enjoying a meal at the restaurant, they took a short stroll through town before getting back on the bike. Jacob drove them to the school, arriving just as the final bell had rung and students were streaming out.
They found Allison, Lydia, and Erica waiting by the curb, presumably for Cogman to pick them up for their shopping trip. Allison's eyes immediately went to the sleek, new motorcycle.
"Nice bike." She said, walking over and running a hand along the fuel tank. "Is it mine?"
"Nope." Jacob said, patting the seat affectionately. "She's mine. Her name is Scarlet."
Allison pouted dramatically. "I see. You don't love me anymore."
"Didn't I offer to buy you one, and you said no?" Jacob reminded her, raising an eyebrow. "And didn't I give you the money to buy one, and you still didn't?"
Allison smiled sweetly, batting her eyelashes. "But I want yours. It makes me feel close to you."
Jacob snorted. "Yeah, right." His expression softened into a smile. "Anyway, you can ride my bikes anytime you want. Just don't break them. We both know what kind of driver you are."
Allison glared at him, her hands on her hips. "Hey! That stupid dog came out of nowhere! It was not my fault!"
"If you say so." Jacob replied, his tone playful. He took the helmet from Malia as she got down from the bike; then he looked around. "Where are Scott and Stiles?"
Lydia answered. "They have a lacrosse game."
"I see." Jacob said.
"Aren't you coming shopping with us?" Lydia asked.
"Nope." Jacob said, already putting his helmet back on. "See you girls at home." Before Lydia could say anything else, he started the bike and rode away.
Lydia stomped her foot in frustration. "Damn it! He ran away again!"
Just then, the Rolls-Royce pulled up smoothly to the curb. Cogman stepped out and opened the rear door.
Allison took Erica's hand with a smile. "Forget about that idiot. Let's go shopping, and maybe we can catch a movie together afterward."
With that, the four girls got into the luxurious car, and Cogman drove them off toward a shopping mall.
Chapter 96: A Visit from Derek
Jacob rode his bike straight home after escaping the shopping trip with the girls.
He went to the backyard and retrieved a carcass of a Sker Buffalo from his pocket dimension. He stared at it in astonishment. It was a truly massive creature, nearly 14 meters tall at the shoulder, stretching 13 meters in length, and weighing an estimated 22 tons.
"Wow... this thing is huge." Jacob exclaimed, walking a slow circle around the colossal beast. "But it still needs to be skinned and processed... Well, I've got nothing else to do. Might as well get to work."
He changed his clothes, took out the magically sharp dagger he'd acquired from the auction house—the one that never lost its edge—and got to work. It took him two hours to finish butchering the behemoth. He incinerated the unwanted parts to ash, stored half of the meat in his pocket dimension, and placed the other half in the large cold room in the kitchen.
Then, he returned to the backyard, pulled out a grill from his pocket dimension, and started cooking some Sker Buffalo steaks. Once the first piece was done, he took a bite. His face lit up with satisfaction. "It tastes great! It melts in the mouth just like Wagyu, but the flavor is richer, and it's brimming with energy."
Content, he continued grilling and eating, enjoying the incredible meal, until he heard a car pull up and stop in front of the gate. It was Scott, Stiles, and Derek.
Jacob let them in and invited them to join him in the backyard for the barbecue.
Stiles eagerly took a bite of the offered meat. His eyes went wide. "What kind of meat is this? It tastes amazing!"
Scott and Derek tried it and had identical reactions. All three of them ate their portions quickly and immediately held out their plates to Jacob for more.
Jacob smiled and served them second helpings. However, after finishing those, they were all completely full and couldn't eat another bite.
Stiles looked at Jacob, buzzing with energy. "Seriously, what is this? I feel like I just chugged ten energy drinks."
"It's monster meat." Jacob said simply.
Scott blinked. "What? Monster meat? What kind of monster are we talking about?"
Derek, who had been silently observing, pointed a finger to the side of the yard, not far from where they were sitting. "That monster."
Scott and Stiles turned and saw it: the severed, huge head of the Sker Buffalo, complete with its massive horns. Stiles yelped. "What kind of monster cow is that?!"
"It's a supernatural water buffalo." Jacob explained.
"Where did you even find it?" Scott asked, his voice full of awe.
"I didn't find it; I bought it. I just finished processing it. I left the head for Cogman to deal with later."
Stiles stared at the colossal head. "Are you... are you going to eat the head, too?"
"Of course." Jacob said matter-of-factly. "That thing has a lot of meat on it. And it has the brain, too. I want to try that."
"How much did that thing even cost?" Stiles wondered aloud.
Jacob waved a dismissive hand. "Don't worry about it. Poor people like you would just be shocked if you heard the price."
Stiles smirked, not offended in the least. "You're right, it would probably give me a heart attack. But I do hope you'll treat us to this meat from time to time."
Jacob smiled. "Sure. Now, let's go inside. Tell me why you brought Derek here."
They moved into the mansion, and Jacob offered everyone drinks as they settled in the living room.
Jacob looked directly at Derek. "So, what brings you here?"
"The Argents caught two of Peter's Betas." Derek stated bluntly. "He wants to rescue them."
Jacob took a sip of his Coke. "Two Betas? I know about one—I'm the one who told the Argents to catch him. He killed his parents. But when did they catch the other one, and who is it?"
Stiles answered. "It's Jackson's other friend, and they caught him today."
"I see." Jacob said. He turned his gaze back to Derek. "But why are you telling me about this?"
"The Argents and Peter are going to fight any day now." Derek explained, his expression grim. "I want to know where you stand. Because if you're going to protect Kate, I won't participate. I don't want to die."
Jacob leaned back. "I won't interfere between Peter and Kate. Let them fight it out. And I know what you really want, Derek. You want the Alpha spark. So, as long as you don't hurt Chris or Victoria Argent, you can do whatever you want."
Stiles looked from Jacob to Derek, realization dawning. "So... you're not actually on Peter's side? You're just waiting for an opportunity to kill him and steal his power?"
Derek's eyes hardened. "I'm not stealing anything. I'm taking back what's rightfully mine."
Scott looked confused. "But what about revenge for your family?"
"Revenge won't bring them back." Derek stated flatly. "And like I said before, I don't want to die. Even if Jacob doesn't protect Kate, his girlfriend definitely would try to save her aunt. And if she couldn't save Kate, she would definitely kill the one who killed her. So, let Peter deal with Kate."
"How do you know Allison could kill you or Peter?" Scott asked.
Derek gave Scott an exasperated look. "Are you stupid? Even if Allison couldn't kill me or Peter herself, can't she just ask Jacob for help? Besides, I think Allison could probably kill Peter on her own. I don't know what she is, but she's definitely a supernatural creature. I felt danger radiating from her when we met in the woods that night."
Jacob interjected, steering the conversation back on track. "Let me know before the fight between Peter and the Argents starts."
Derek nodded. "I will."
Jacob mused. "But I have to admit, I didn't think Peter would risk his life just to rescue his Betas."
"That's not the real reason." Derek clarified. "To an Alpha, losing a Beta is like losing a limb, but Peter isn't that sentimental, and he is not stupid. He knows the Argents are using them as bait for an ambush. His actual goal is to kill Kate. He wants to use the excuse of rescuing his Betas so you won't blame him if he succeeds."
"Besides the two who got caught, how many Betas does he have left?" Jacob asked.
"He has three others." Derek counted off. "The guy you met in the woods that night with us, and two other newly-turned Betas... and Jackson makes a fourth, if you can even count him."
Stiles frowned. "Why can't you count Jackson?"
"Because, although he survived the bite, he has no powers." Derek explained.
Scott looked surprised. "Is that even possible? Isn't the bite supposed to either kill you or turn you into a shapeshifter?"
"Yes," Derek confirmed. "But maybe he's immune, or something."
"Or maybe he is a shapeshifter, and you just don't know what kind yet." Jacob suggested.
"Maybe," Derek conceded with a shrug. "But that's Peter's problem, not mine." He stood up. "Alright, time for me to go."
With that, Derek left. Once he was gone, Stiles turned to Jacob. "Are you really not going to interfere in the fight between Peter and the Argents?"
"No, I won't." Jacob confirmed. "Now, let's talk about something else."
Scott asked. "Where's Cogman?"
"He went with the girls shopping." Jacob replied.
Stiles said. "My dad told me you helped him solve a case this afternoon. Why didn't you call me to help?"
"You were in school." Jacob said. "And believe me, a Lamprey isn't something you'd want to look at. She was a disgusting, stinky, ugly bitch."
Scott said. "By the way, Jacob, can I borrow a suit for the formal?"
"Do you even have a date?" Jacob asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes." Scott said, a little defensively.
"Who?"
"You wouldn't know her. I don't even really know her. We're just going together for the formal. That's it."
"Well, it's better than going alone, I guess." Jacob said. "But my suits won't fit you; they're all tailored for me."
Scott shrugged. "I don't mind."
Jacob took out a stack of bills from his pocket dimension. "Here's $4,000. Take it, and you two go buy some new suits."
Scott shook his head. "No, we can't. That's too much money. Just let me borrow one of your suits for the formal. I'll wash it and bring it back to you the day after."
Jacob smiled faintly. "My cheapest suit costs $3,000. Do you really want to borrow it?"
Scott's eyes widened. "What? $3,000?!"
Jacob nodded. "Yes. So just take the money and don't feel guilty about it. I'm super rich, and I don't mind you guys taking advantage of that from time to time."
Stiles grinned and immediately took the money. "Thanks! We'll take it. I need a suit, too. The one I have is old."
"Thanks." Scott echoed.
"Don't worry about it." Jacob said.
They continued talking for another hour before Scott and Stiles finally left.
Alone, Jacob walked over to the large fireplace and settled into a comfortable recliner. He closed his eyes, and drifted into a light nap while waiting for the girls to return.
An hour later, he was woken by the sound of the Rolls-Royce pulling up to the iron gate. Soon after, the front door opened, and the cheerful chatter of the returning group filled the mansion.
Allison walked straight over to Jacob, leaned down to kiss him, and then settled comfortably in his lap.
Malia, on the other hand, sniffed the air and marched directly in front of him. "You ate something delicious. Where's my share?"
Jacob smiled. "Where's my kiss first?"
Malia obliged, giving him a kiss. Satisfied, Jacob retrieved two generous portions of the grilled Sker Buffalo meat from his pocket dimension and handed one to each of them.
Both girls took a bite, and their faces lit up with delight.
"This is amazing!" Allison said.
"I want more." Malia stated immediately, finishing her piece in a few quick bites.
"There are about 10 tons of it in the cold room." Jacob said. "Ask Cogman to cook some for you."
Malia looked puzzled. "How much is 10 tons?"
"A lot. Go see for yourself. And I still have more in my pocket dimension."
Malia turned to Cogman. "Old man, let's go see how much meat he's talking about."
As the two headed for the kitchen, Jacob called out. "Cogman, the buffalo's head is still in the backyard. Deal with it after you cook for Malia."
"I will, sir." Cogman replied.
Once they were gone, Jacob looked at Allison, who was still curled contentedly in his lap. "Where's Lydia?"
"We dropped her off at her mom's house. She wanted to spend the night there."
"I see. So, what did you girls do tonight?"
"We bought a few dresses and watched a movie."
"Which one?"
"Conan the Barbarian. It was fun—lots of sword fights."
Jacob raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised you didn't watch a romance."
"We were planning on a romantic comedy." Allison admitted with a laugh. "But Malia said no. She insisted on an action movie."
She continued, telling him about their evening, how Malia had hated shopping and despised trying on dresses, before she started discussing the dresses and clothes they'd bought in detail.
Jacob simply stared at her with a soft smile. Suddenly, Allison stopped and waved a hand in front of his face.
"Jay... Jay, are you even listening to me?"
Jacob snapped back to the reality. "Sorry, what did you say?"
Allison pouted, her arms crossing. "You weren't listening at all!"
Jacob smiled, gently brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Sorry. I was lost in your beautiful smile."
He tilted her chin up and kissed her softly. "Have I ever told you how much I love you?" He kissed her again, deeper this time. "I love the sound of your voice. I love your laughter." He kissed the corner of her mouth where a dimple appeared. "I love the dimples that show up right here when you smile."
Then he kissed her lips again, slowly, savoring the feeling of her lips against his. When he finally pulled back, he rested his forehead against hers, his voice a low murmur. "And I love your beautiful eyes."
Allison, who had been blushing fiercely, suddenly stood up. "That's it."
"What?" Jacob asked, confused.
In one fluid motion, Allison caught him, lifted him, and threw him over her shoulder. "We're going upstairs."
Jacob pretended to struggle. "Upstairs? What are you planning to do to me? Put me down, you pervert!"
Allison playfully spanked his backside. "Shut up! Tonight, you're going to love me until I pass out."
Just then, Jacob saw Malia and Cogman walking past with some meat, heading to the backyard grill. "Malia! Help me!"
Malia didn't even glance their way, continuing on her path. "Don't talk to me right now. I'm busy."
Jacob just smiled as Allison carried him toward her room, thinking. 'Phew, that was close. The moment she started talking about dresses and clothes, I zoned out. I was actually wondering if fish get thirsty. Wait... damn it, now I'm thinking about it again.'
He didn't snap fully back to reality until Allison unceremoniously dumped him onto her bed. She jumped on top of him, ripping his clothes off before her mouth found his in a fierce, hungry kiss.
He swiftly reversed their positions, pinning her beneath him. He kissed her deeply, then pulled back just enough to murmur against her lips. "Let's see how long you can last tonight."
It wasn't long before the room was filled with the sound of Allison's breathless moans.
Chapter 97: Malia's Curiosity
Lydia returned to the mansion early after spending the night at her mother's. She found Cogman already making breakfast in the kitchen. After a quick greeting, she headed upstairs. Pushing open the door to Allison's room, she found Jacob and Allison asleep, both naked.
She sat on the edge of the bed and began gently shaking them. Jacob didn't even wake up; he just pulled Allison closer and buried his face in her hair, sighing contentedly. Allison's eyes fluttered open. "I just fell asleep. Let me rest a little more." She mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.
Lydia raised an eyebrow. "You just fell asleep? What were you doing all night?"
Allison rolled her eyes. "Look at us. Naked. In bed. What do you think we were doing?"
Lydia smiled. "All night? You're really brave, Allison."
Just then, Malia walked into the room, yawning. "Allison, you were way too loud last night."
A slight blush crept up Allison's cheeks, but she smiled. "Sorry if I kept you awake. I just… couldn't control myself."
Malia shrugged, looking completely unbothered. "I wasn't awake. After eating that amazing meat yesterday, I went straight to my room and slipped into a deep food coma." She then crawled into the bed and lay next to Jacob. Her hands began wandering curiously over his bare chest and stomach until her fingers brushed lower and closed around his soft, flaccid little dragon. "Oh!" She exclaimed with frank curiosity. "So this is what made you shout so loud? It's so… soft."
Allison immediately pulled the covers back. Seeing what Malia was touching, she whispered. "Malia, stop touching it. You'll wake it up."
"Wake it up?" Malia asked, confused but not letting go.
"It gets bigger and harder." Allison explained patiently. "So if you wake it up, you or Lydia will have to deal with it. I can't do it anymore."
Lydia reached over and tried to pry Malia's hand away. "Malia, let go. Jacob won't go after you since you haven't slept with him yet—he'll go after me. And I don't want to be late for school."
Malia smirked, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Is that so?" But she didn't release her grip. If anything, her hand moved slightly.
Lydia tightened her hold on Malia's wrist. "I mean it. Let go."
Malia's eyes widened with dawning understanding. "Oh! It's really getting bigger and harder!"
Allison scrambled out of bed. "Okay! That's my cue. Time for me to leave."
"Me too!" Lydia said, trying to stand.
But Jacob's eyes snapped open. His hand shot out, catching the wrist of the hand Lydia was using to hold Malia's. "Not so fast." He murmured, his voice still rough with sleep.
"Oh, Come on!" Lydia complained. "I don't want to take another shower and redo my makeup. We'll be late for school. Wait until after school, and you can do whatever you want to me. All night."
Jacob sat up. "Don't worry." He said with a slow, predatory smile. "I'll be quick." He leaned over and gave Malia a brief, deep kiss, then looked at Allison. "Take the mischievous coyote with you."
Malia pouted. "I don't want to leave. I want to watch."
Allison crossed her arms. "Actually, you and Lydia are the ones who need to leave. This is my room."
Jacob considered this for a second. "Fair enough." He stood up in one fluid motion, scooped a squealing Lydia into his arms, and headed for the door. "Let's go to your room."
As they left, Lydia shot a glare over Jacob's shoulder. "Malia, I hate you."
Malia just smiled brightly and made to follow them, but Allison caught her arm.
"Where are you going?"
"I want to watch them! There's a lot I need to learn."
"Don't worry." Allison said, steering her back toward the bed. "Jay is a very good teacher. He'll teach you everything you need to know. Besides, he won't let you watch. He doesn't like that. He's… very possessive."
Malia sat back down, curiosity overtaking her mischief. "Really? He's never asked you and Lydia to, you know, be with him at the same time?"
"Never." Allison confirmed, sitting beside her. "You know, I was worried he would ask for a threesome. I told him I didn't want that. But it turned out I was worried for nothing. He really is possessive. And honestly… I love that about him."
Malia tilted her head. "Really? Why don't you want a threesome?"
Allison raised an eyebrow. "Do you want one?"
"Nope." Malia said bluntly. "I'd definitely end up biting the other girl and scratching her with my claws. I like Jay. I don't like you and Lydia."
Allison feigned a wince. "Ouch. That's hurtful."
"It's not that I don't like you two." Malia clarified, her expression turning thoughtful. "But the way I feel about you and Lydia is different from how I feel about Jay. I think of you two as… as family. Especially after I dropped my blood on his tattoo and became his mate. What I mean is, if I had to choose between saving you two or saving Jay, I'd choose him. Every time. And I'd use you to save him if I had to."
Allison just smiled, unfazed by the brutal honesty. "That's called love, Malia. And luckily for us, we'll probably never have to make that choice. He's strong enough that he doesn't need saving. The best help we can give him is to not be a liability." She paused, her tone softening. "And Malia, if I was in trouble, or Lydia was, you'd help if you could, right?"
Malia nodded without hesitation. "I would. I just said if I had to choose between you two and him, I'd pick him."
"I see." Allison said. "How do you feel about sharing him with other girls, then?"
"I don't like it." Malia admitted. "But I don't mind, because you and Lydia told me having many partners is his nature. He can't change it. But… I feel like sex is something... special. When it happens, I always want to be alone with Jay. What about you?"
"Same." Allison sighed. "I don't want to be having sex with him while he's focused on another girl instead of me. I would hate for her to touch me, and I'd be consumed with jealousy seeing him give her all his attention—leaving me aside. Eventually, I'd even start to hate him. So, like I said, I like the fact that he is possessive and hates sharing his wives, even with his other wives."
Malia processed this, then asked. "Be honest. Do you think Jay is lucky because he's with the three of us and we've accepted he'll have more girls?"
"That idiot is definitely lucky, and he should feel lucky." Allison said with a small laugh. Then her expression grew serious. "But no, that's not how I really feel. After I understood what he is, what he's capable of… I feel like I'm the lucky one. You'll understand once you sleep with him... wait, he already gave you the energy barrier ability, right?"
Malia held up her hand, showing the spatial ring. "Yes. And this."
"So you know how… magical he is." Allison said. "And that's just the start. I don't want to spoil the surprise, so just wait until you sleep with him. You'll understand that if he told the world what he is and what he can do, almost every woman on the planet would fight to be with him. My pride sometimes whispers that he's the lucky one, but the truth is that we are the ones who are so lucky that a creature like him fell in love with us."
Malia tilted her head. "Is he that good at sex?"
Allison laughed, the sound light and genuine. "Sex? Well, he's incredible at that, too. But that's not what I meant. I'm talking about the fact that he can make us stronger and give us all kinds of abilities, magical items, magical food like yesterday's meat, and so much more. Don't get me wrong, though—I loved Jay before I even knew how magical he was. And Malia?"
"Yeah?"
"Never tell him what I just said; let the idiot think he is the lucky one. And when he brings a new girl, make sure to act at least a little angry. Otherwise, he might add every pretty girl he meets to our family. We have to make sure any girl who joins our family is a good one. We have to protect our treasure boy... ahem, I mean our husband."
Malia winked with a smile. "Sure."
"Alright," Allison said, standing up and stretching. "I need a shower. I'm all sticky."
With that, Allison walked into the bathroom, and Malia went downstairs to the kitchen.
---
After Jacob finished his morning love making with Lydia, they took a shower together. He then went to his room, got dressed, and sat on the edge of the bed. 'System, sign in.' He thought.
[Daily Sign-In Successful. Rewards Obtained:
- Sunglasses
- The LEGO Star Wars Death Star 10188 (2008)
- Flower Seeds for the Garden]
Jacob scanned the list. 'The LEGO set is the best reward today, but too bad it's Star Wars—I'm not that into it. It'll make a great birthday gift for Stiles, though.'
'By the way, System, show me my status.'
[Status:
- Name: Jacob Alexander (16 years old)
- Species: Human/Dragon
- Abilities:
1. Pyrokinesis
2. Electrokinesis
3. Geokinesis
4. Magmakinesis
5. Fire and Electricity Immunity
6. Standard Shifter Abilities
7. Poison Immunity
8. Charm (Passive Ability): Makes the host charming only to women he is interested in.
9. Dragonborn Shout (Fus Ro Dah) (Skyrim)
10.Dragon Fire/Lightning/Lava Breath
11.Storm Call (Skyrim)
12.The Quen Sign (The Witcher)
13.Deadpool Healing Factor (MCU)
14.Absolute Anonymity (Passive Ability): Completely conceals your energy and natural scent.
- Weapons & Items: Banana Peel (Mario Kart), Defective Lightsaber, Defective Invisibility Cloak, Excalibur Knockoff, The Joker's Laughing Bomb ×20, A Can of Popeye's Spinach, Mirakuru (Arrow – DC Comics) ×7, Senzu Beans ×2 (He gave them to Allison and Lydia), Expired Senzu Beans ×8, Spatial Ring ×7, Memory Neuralyzer (Men in Black), Replica Katana Shusui (One Piece), Glock 45, S&W 500 Revolver, Alien Wrist Blaster (Cowboys & Aliens), Arc Reactor (MCU), Hand Grenades ×10, Quen Scroll ×6, Phoenix Down x20 (Final Fantasy), The SR-6 (Despicable Me), White Honey Potion (The Witcher) x12.]
After reading his status window, Jacob went downstairs and joined Allison and Malia at the table for breakfast. Lydia joined them soon after.
She glared at Malia. "I'm going to get you back for what you did this morning."
Malia snorted. "It's not like you didn't enjoy it, with all your loud moaning and begging for Jay to go faster."
Lydia sat down, a sly smile gracing her lips. "Well, I admit, it was fun. If it weren't for school, I wouldn't have minded doing it all morning."
As they began eating, Jacob remembered something. He pulled three small vials filled with a milky white liquid from his pocket dimension. "Before I forget, girls. Here, drink this."
Each of them took a vial and drank the contents. They felt a brief, warm sensation that quickly faded.
Allison looked at Jacob with excitement. "What kind of potion did we just drink?"
Jacob took a bite of his food and smiled. "It's called White Honey Potion. It grants permanent immunity to all poisons upon consumption."
"So, we're immune to all poisons now?" Lydia clarified.
"Yes," Jacob confirmed. "And Malia will no longer be affected by wolfsbane."
Allison kissed him deeply. "Thanks, hubby. By the way, did you drink one, too?"
Jacob said. "No, I don't need it. I'm already immune to all poisons."
Malia and Lydia each gave him a kiss as well. After they finished breakfast, Cogman drove Jacob, Allison, and Lydia to school and then took Malia to the sheriff's station to deal with her legal situation.
Chapter 98: A Visit to the Past
Two days passed quickly, and it was now the day before the winter formal. Jacob, Allison, and Lydia had a normal day at school before returning home.
As soon as they got home, Malia kissed Jacob and said. "Jay, I want you to go somewhere with me."
"Right now?" Jacob asked.
Malia nodded. Jacob took her hand. "Then let's go." He looked at Lydia and Allison. "Girls, I'm taking Malia out."
"Okay." Allison said.
"Have fun." Lydia added.
Jacob and Malia left the mansion and got into his Camaro. As they drove away, Jacob asked. "So, are you going to tell me where we're going?"
"To the cemetery." Malia said. "I want to visit my family."
"Do you know where the graves are?"
Malia nodded. "Cogman found them. He said he put the location on my phone; all I have to do is follow it."
"Alright."
He drove to the cemetery and, after they arrived, he took Malia's phone and found the graves using the location.
Malia stood in front of the graves of her parents and sister. "Jay, give me a moment, please."
Jacob took a few steps back.
Malia's eyes started to well up with tears. She touched the grave of her sister, then her father. When she tried to touch her mother's grave, she hesitated. Then she started crying harder and got on her knees in front of it.
"I'm sorry, Mom." She whispered, her voice choked. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said that day."
Jacob came and hugged her. Malia looked up at him, her face streaked with tears. "The night they died, I was having an argument with them. In anger, I told my mom, 'I wish you were all dead.'" She began sobbing again.
Jacob hugged her tighter. "You were nine back then. You didn't even know what death really meant. Besides, it was the full moon that night—it might have messed with your head, too. So don't blame yourself. You didn't mean that, and their death wasn't your fault. It was the blue-eyed woman's fault."
He paused, letting his words sink in. "And Malia... I think I know who that woman is."
Malia stopped crying immediately and looked at him. "What? You know and didn't tell me?"
"I don't know where she is or her name." Jacob clarified. "But I think she is your biological mother."
Malia stared, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Your family, the Tate family, they weren't shapeshifters. They were just normal humans. If they were shapeshifters, that woman wouldn't have been able to kill them that night; they would have killed her instead."
He gentled his voice. "What's more is this: when a werecoyote gives birth to a child, they involuntarily transfer a significant portion of their supernatural power to their child during birth. That means the mother becomes weaker. So, I think that woman was your real mother, and she was trying to kill you to get her powers back."
Malia went silent for a few seconds, absorbing his theory. Then she asked. "Can you help me find her? I will make her pay for what she did."
"I will," Jacob promised without hesitation. "Not only me, but Cogman, Allison, and Lydia will help, too. We'll find her eventually. Besides, now that you've fixed your legal status and will join school next week, she will eventually hear the news and come looking for you herself."
Malia's jaw tightened. "I hope she comes soon."
Jacob wiped the tears from her face and kissed her softly. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your family?"
A small, genuine smile touched Malia's lips. "Sure." She looked at the graves. "Mom, Dad, Kylie... this idiot is Jacob. He is my... my husband."
Jacob looked at the graves, a respectful softness in his expression. "Hello. It's nice to meet you all."
Then, he pretended her father was talking to him. He tilted his head. "What did you say, sir?" He nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, sir. I will take care of her."
He shifted his gaze to Malia's mother's grave, his tone becoming warm and conversational. "Don't worry, ma'am. She is fine and happy. And a little mischievous." He smiled as if listening to a reply. "Yes, she likes to cause trouble at home, and she does like to wear my clothes, too. She hates women's clothes." He feigned a pleading look. "And, ma'am, can you please tell her not to cut her beautiful hair? ...Yes, she wants to cut it short. It's such a shame, really."
He looked back at Malia, a playful glint in his eye. "Did you hear that? Your mom told you not to cut your beautiful hair." But he noticed she was crying again, silent tears rolling down her cheeks.
He pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry. I'll shut up."
Malia smiled through her tears and shook her head, burying her face in his chest. "It's okay. I was just imagining you really talking to them. I miss them. I miss them so much."
Jacob just held her, saying nothing. He knew how she felt—he missed his parents, too—but he understood that what she needed right now was a shoulder to lean on, not someone telling her they understood or how she should feel. So, he stayed there with her in silence as she cried and vented the emotions of missing her family and being alone for years.
After a while, Malia took a deep, shuddering breath and pulled back. "Okay. Let's go." She looked one last time at the graves. "Goodbye, guys. I'll come visit from time to time."
With that, they left the cemetery. At Malia's request, Jacob drove to her old house. She retrieved a few pictures of her family, and then they returned to the mansion.
---
At nightfall, Allison took one of Jacob's bikes and went to her parents' house to spend the night with them.
In the living room, Malia was watching TV, while Jacob played his Game Boy. Lydia, scrolling through her phone beside him, sighed heavily and went upstairs to her room.
Jacob raised a brow, sensing something was off. He followed her and found her standing by the window, staring outside. He wrapped his arms around her from behind. "What's wrong? You've been acting weird all day."
Lydia sighed, leaning back into him. "My mother wants to meet you."
"Then let's go meet her." Jacob said. "Why do you look so troubled?"
"Apparently, she knows you're dating both me and Allison." Lydia said.
"How does she know?"
"She used to be a teacher and still has friends at our school." Lydia explained. "Someone told her I was fooling around with a rich playboy who's dating me and another girl. She's been nagging me for days, demanding I break up with you. When I told her that wasn't going to happen because I love you, she decided she wanted to meet your parents to ask them to keep you away from me. When I told her your parents were dead… she said she wants to meet you."
"Alright," Jacob said calmly. "Let's go have dinner with her. I think it's time to tell her the truth about our world."
"I don't think she's ready for that." Lydia worried.
"She'll have to know eventually." Jacob reasoned. "Better we tell her the truth now, before she tries something stupid—like trying to put you in a nuthouse."
"She would never do that!" Lydia said.
"Didn't she and your father put your grandmother in a mental institution?" Jacob asked.
"That was different!" Lydia protested. "My grandmother didn't know she was a banshee and was hearing voices all the time. It looked like she was losing her mind. Still… you're right. We should tell her the truth."
"Okay," Jacob said. "Call her and tell her we're coming for dinner."
Lydia called her mother. After hanging up, she turned to Jacob. "Go change your clothes. And let's not bring Cogman. I don't want her to meet him yet. He might say something terrifying, or put her on his shit list."
Jacob smiled. "Don't worry. He may be a psycho, but he would never disrespect your mom or add her to his list."
"I know Cogman is polite." Lydia said. "But my mom isn't. She can be a real bitch sometimes. So let's not take him with us, and please, be patient with her if she says something rude. For me."
Jacob kissed her forehead. "Don't worry. I'll charm her. She'll like me."
Lydia's eyes widened in horror. "No, no, no! Don't you dare charm her or have any ideas about her! That's why I was so worried about you meeting her. I don't want to go through what Scott is going through."
Jacob laughed. "I didn't mean I'd make her fall in love with me. I just meant I'll be nice."
"I'll be keeping an eye on you." Lydia warned. "And one more thing: you will only meet her when I'm with you. You are not allowed to meet her alone, you handsome pervert. I don't want her charmed by your face and that ability of yours."
Jacob laughed again. "Don't worry. My charm won't work on her."
"Why not?"
"My charm ability changed. Now it only works on women I'm romantically interested in." He explained. "Haven't you noticed the girls at school haven't been throwing themselves at me for the past week?"
Lydia considered this. "Yeah, Allison and I noticed. But they're still ogling you and smiling at you."
"Well, I'm handsome, after all." Jacob said with a smirk. "My charm ability was just a bonus. Even without it, they can't resist looking at the most gorgeous man they've ever seen."
Lydia rolled her eyes. "Go change, you narcissist. We're going to be late."
Jacob smiled and left to change, then went downstairs and sat with Malia until Lydia was finally ready—which took another forty minutes.
"You said we were going to be late, but it took you forty minutes just to change." Jacob pointed out.
"I have to look good, don't I?" Lydia said, striking a pose. She was wearing an elegant coat. "This coat is Louis Vuitton. I bought it for $12,000." She opened it to reveal a beautiful blue dress underneath. "This dress is also Louis Vuitton. I bought it for $10,000. And my shoes…"
"Okay, stop." Jacob cut her off. "Let's just go."
Lydia pouted. "But I haven't told you about my shoes, my purse, my watch, and…"
"We're going to have dinner with your mom, not make her jealous." Jacob said.
"I have to show her how well you're taking care of me!" Lydia smiled.
"You can show her when we get there and tell her how much your stupid clothes cost." Jacob said. He then kissed Malia—who didn't care about them at all and was still glued to the TV, watching an animal documentary about wolves—before standing up, taking Lydia's hand, and gently leading her out of the mansion.
Cogman followed them to the driveway. "Shall I drive you, sir?"
"No, I want to drive tonight." Jacob said.
He and Lydia got into his Camaro and drove toward her mother's house.
When they arrived, Jacob retrieved a luxurious box of chocolates from his pocket dimension. "How does your mom feel about chocolate? We don't have any wine at home, and I don't have any in my pocket dimension."
"She'll love it." Lydia said. "And she'd probably judge you if you brought her wine."
Jacob smiled. "Good thing I didn't bring any, then."
He took Lydia's hand, and together they walked to the door. With a deep breath, Lydia rang the bell.