I pulled up to the Argents' house, The urgency in my chest was impossible to ignore—Derek was missing. I knew this confrontation might get messy, but there was no time to hesitate. I parked the truck, yanked the handbrake, and killed the engine, before stepping out into the cool morning air.
Without bothering to knock, I strode up to the front door and pushed it open, my voice echoing through the hallway as I called out, "Chris! Where did your sister just take Derek?" My tone was sharp, the kind that brooked no argument. I didn't care about politeness; I cared about answers.
The house was quiet for a split second, the kind of silence that comes before a storm. I moved quickly, ignoring the staircase and glancing into the dining room, and through into the kitchen, where I spotted Victoria Argent. She stood by the counter, her posture tense, eyes narrowing as she registered my presence.
I met her gaze, keeping my voice firm but measured. "Victoria, where is Kate? Please, don't play games with me. I need to know, now."
She bristled, her voice rising in anger. "You can't just barge into our house like this! Get out!" Her hand hovered near a drawer, and I could see the protective instinct in her eyes—a mother, a wife, ready to defend her family.
"I'll leave the moment I know where Kate is," I replied, trying to keep my own frustration in check. "This isn't about you or your family. I'm here because Derek's life might be at risk."
Before I could say more, Chris appeared from around the corner, his expression grim. He held a handgun, raising it in my direction, but his hands shook slightly—a sign of nerves, not aggression. I reacted instinctively, I lunged towards him taking the gun into my hand before the sound of the gun going off my hand stinging I throw Chris across the hallway
"Chris, I'm not here to fight you," I said, my voice steady but urgent. "I need to know where your sister is. This is serious."
Victoria, now gripping a kitchen knife, stepped towards us, her voice trembling with emotion. "Get away from my husband!" she demanded, her stance defensive.
I took walk to her husband and pick him up by his shoulder, my eyes never leaving Chris. "But you have to understand—your sister stormed the Hale house while I was talking to Derek. She brought a group of men with her. Things got out of hand. I Killed three of the four men, but Kate took Derek. I've heard she is involving Allison, and I need to know where they are. I promise, I'm not here to threaten your family."
Chris struggled in my arms, wincing as he did. "Allison has nothing to do with this," he insisted, his voice strained. "She's not trained, and we haven't told her anything. Kate wouldn't involve her."
Victoria's eyes flashed with anger and fear. "Stay away from my daughter," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "I don't care how strong you are."
I shook my head, trying to keep the conversation from spiralling out of control. "If Allison is involved, it's not by your choice. I told you before, Chris, what would happen if things got out of hand. I can see you didn't know about this, so I'm giving you a chance to find out where Kate is and let me know. I want Derek back, and I want to make sure Allison is safe. You have a code, and attacking Derek goes against it."
Chris tried to interrupt, but I held up a hand. "Don't mention his blue eyes—we both know how he got them. There isn't a supernatural alive who doesn't know he mercy killed his girlfriend after the bite failed. This isn't about blame. It's about stopping things from getting worse."
I released Chris, letting him slump against the wall, breathing heavily. "Patch him up, Victoria, and please find out where Kate is. I'm here to stop things from escalating. I don't like doing this—I'd rather be going after real threats, and I know you two aren't the enemy. Get the hunters in line, find Kate, and everyone will be fine. And as for Allison—she's not a threat to me. Even if things were different, she's under eighteen. I'd do everything I could to avoid hurting her."
Victoria knelt beside Chris, checking him for injuries, her expression softening just a fraction as she realized I wasn't here to cause harm. The tension in the room was palpable, but I could see the wheels turning in her mind—she was already thinking about how to reach Kate, how to keep her family safe.
Chris looked up at me, his eyes weary but resolute. "If I find out where Kate is, will you promise not to hurt her? She's my sister, Ross. I know she's reckless, but she's still family."
I nodded, my tone sincere. "I'm not here for revenge, Chris. I just want Derek back, and I want to make sure no one else gets hurt. If Kate cooperates, there's no reason for this to go to far I promise, I do owe her for the gun shoot to my leg however."
Victoria stood, helping Chris to his feet. "We'll do what we can," she said quietly. "But you must understand—this family has been through enough. We're not your enemies."
I offered a small, understanding smile. "I know. And I'm not yours. We're all just trying to protect the people we care about. Let's work together, not against each other."
The room was quiet for a moment, the only sound the ticking of a clock somewhere in the house. Finally, Chris nodded. "Give us time. We'll see what we can find out."
I stepped back, giving them space, my heart pounding with a mix of relief and lingering anxiety. The confrontation hadn't gone the way I'd expected, but maybe—just maybe—it was the first step toward finding Derek and keeping everyone safe. I grab a piece of paper and a pen from the side and I write my number down "My number, Text me when you have found her, or you can text me when he is released but then ill have to chase her down" I wave goodbye before heading out
***
Scott
***
The evening air was thick with tension as I arrived home, my footsteps hurried and heavy. Mom and I, moved through the dimly lit corridor, shadows flickering against the stone walls from the flickering lanterns. Outside, the wind howled softly, carrying the distant echoes of the forest's whispers.
I felt a knot tighten in my stomach — worried about Jackson, whether the giant had arrived in time, whether he had saved him from Derek's wrath. The silence from Mom was deafening; her face unreadable, eyes clouded with concern. She hadn't spoken a word in response to the barrage of questions I'd hurled outside.
Instead, she only said, in a quiet, steady voice, "We will talk in the morning unless you want to tell me what Ross meant by 'Promising answers'. Do you want to tell me now? It seems like you know already?" Her words hung in the air, heavy and foreboding, like a dark cloud looming over us.
I clamped my mouth shut, feeling the weight of her gaze.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps upstairs soft, hurried. Allison was getting off my bed. I called out, my voice echoing through the house, "Allison!"
I sprinted up the staircase, my shoes pounding softly against the wooden steps. "Allison, you there?" I asked as I reached the top, my heart pounding in my chest.
"Yeah, I'm here," she replied hurriedly. "Thought I just got a text from my Aunt Kate. I need to go," she added, her voice tinged with urgency.
I paused, taking a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Look, I know you wanted to talk. I'm sorry I had to run out. It was important," I said, my voice trembling slightly. I looked at her, hope flickering in my eyes — maybe, just maybe, if Mom knew, I could finally tell Allison everything. I wouldn't have to keep hiding.
"Okay," I continued, voice earnest. "This is hard for me — really hard. Can you come over tomorrow? First thing. I promise, I'll tell you everything. No more lies, no more secrets. I need to tell you, I think I'm in love with you. And if I'm going to do this right, I can't start it with secrets. Please. I know you've given me chances, but I'm willing to tell you everything. I just need you to come here tomorrow morning?"
Allison looked at me, her face a mixture of curiosity and surprise. "Why not now? Why can't you tell me right now?" she asked, her voice gentle but inquisitive.
I hesitated, then confessed, "I'm going to tell my mom the secret as well, and it will be easier if I don't have to say it multiple times."
She nodded, her expression softening. "Okay," she said quietly. "I'll see you tomorrow."
I started to walk her down the stairs, my mind swirling with anticipation and fear. As I reached the bottom, I heard the soft click of my mom's door closing — an ominous finality to the night's heavy silence.
*****
Melissa McCall woke to the scent of coffee and sweet pastries, maybe. For a fleeting moment, she let herself believe it was a normal morning, the kind she used to have before Scott grew up and the world grew strange. But the heaviness in her chest reminded her something was wrong.
She pulled on her robe and padded into the kitchen, blinking against the golden sunlight streaming through the window. The table was set with orange juice, and a spread of bagels and pastries. Ross stood at the counter, unpacking a paper bag, his broad shoulders tense. Scott hovered nearby, arms folded, eyes darting between his mother and Ross.
Melissa tried to smile. "This looks… nice. Thank you, Ross."
Ross glanced up, his expression awkward but earnest. "I figured after last night; we could all use something nice to break the tension of us ruining your date. Hope you like cinnamon rolls, Scott."
Scott gave a distracted nod, barely looking at the food. Melissa felt a prickle of anxiety. Something was off. She could see it in the way Scott's jaw clenched, the way Ross's hands shook as he poured coffee from the paper cups into mugs.
She sat at the table, wrapping her hands around her mug. "Okay. What's going on? Why do I feel like you're about to tell me something I won't believe?"
Ross set the last box on the table and sat, careful not to overwhelm the small chair. He looked at them both, his eyes serious, almost haunted.
"You deserve the truth. Both of you," he said quietly. "I'm not just FBI. I'm a werebear — a shifter. My father was a Kodiak bear, and my mother… she was a Druid. She taught me about the balance between nature and magic, about protecting life, not just fighting. I can shift into a full bear and an upright form as well. I'm not controlled by the moon like a proper WERE creature is either."
Melissa's world tilted. She pushed her chair back, eyes wide, hands trembling. "A… bear? Magic? This is — this is insane. Scott, did you know about this?"
Scott hesitated, then took a deep breath, stepping closer to his mom. "Mom… there's something I need to tell you too. I'm a werewolf. I have been for just over a month now. I didn't want to keep it from you, but I was scared. I didn't want you to worry or think I was a monster. Because I feel like one, I've not hurt anyone but I'm so scared."
Melissa stared at Scott, her breath coming fast. She stood, backing up until she hit the counter. "No. No, this can't be real. Scott, you're my son. You're not — this isn't possible."
Scott moved to her side, gently taking her hand. "Mom, I'm still me. I promise. I'm still your son. I just… I didn't want you to be afraid."
Ross stayed seated, his voice calm and steady. "Melissa, I know this is a lot. I know it's terrifying. But Scott is still your son. He's a good person you've told me all about him. And I'm not here to hurt anyone. I'm here to protect you both. That's why I came to Beacon Hills to stop good honest people from being hurt from supernatural. That's why I wanted to be honest."
Melissa's breathing slowed, but her eyes were still wide with fear. She looked at Scott, then at Ross, searching their faces for any sign of deception. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? How could you keep something like this from me?"
Scott's voice broke. "I was scared, Mom. I didn't want to lose you. I didn't want you to look at me like I was… like this."
Melissa's eyes filled with tears. She pulled Scott into a tight hug, holding him close. "You're my son. Nothing changes that. I just… I need time. This is a lot."
Ross gave a small, grateful smile, his eyes gentle. "There's something else you should know. There's a belief — one that's real for us. Everyone has a soulmate, a perfect half. Most people never feel it; it's a supernatural thing. Even most supernatural feel nothing. But when someone gains enough strength, they start to feel something like a faint pull those that have achieved alpha status might be here depending on how strong they are but those like me, not to toot my own horn but I'm incredibly strong. That pull becomes nearly impossible to ignore. You want to be near that person, to make them happy, even if they can't feel the bond or don't want to be with you. You'd watch over them, protect them, even from afar. Only way to not feel this is to Reject them and trust me not many would do that, the consequences" I shudder
He looked at her, his voice trembling with honesty. "Melissa… you're my soulmate. I feel it every time I'm near you. It's not something I can turn off or ignore. Even if you never wanted to see me again, I'd still want to protect you. That's why I care so much. That's why I'm here."
Melissa's eyes widened again, but this time there was something softer in her gaze — confusion, but also a flicker of understanding. "I… I don't know what to say. I don't feel anything like that, but… I believe you. I can see it in your eyes."
Scott looked between them, then finally spoke, his voice quiet but sincere. "He's telling the truth, Mom. I can see how he is around you. Hell, I can smell it. He'd do anything to keep you safe."
Melissa wiped her eyes, managing a shaky smile. "Ross. You remind me what it feels like to be seen. Ross… promise me you'll let me find my own feelings, in my own time."
Ross nodded, his voice steady. "I promise."
Scott grinned, finally taking a bite of his cinnamon roll. "Just… no bear jokes at breakfast, okay?"
Ross laughed, the sound deep and genuine, the tension in his shoulders easing for the first time all morning. "Deal. But I can't promise I won't eat all the donuts."
Melissa laughed, and for a moment, the weight of the world lifted. In that small kitchen, three people — each carrying their own scars — found a little hope, and the promise of something new.
Ross excused himself and went to the toilet.