Darkness.
For a moment, Jason thought the loading screen would never end. His last memory was tires screeching, a shove, pain — then silence. Now, something was humming inside his skull, mechanical and alive, like a game running in the background of reality.
> [System Booting…]
[Welcome, Player Jason Ward.]
[Initializing Pack Evolution Protocol.]
Jason's eyes snapped open. He was lying on damp grass under a sky painted with stars. Pine trees loomed around him, shadows stretching like fingers. The air was sharp, clean — too clean. Every inhale tasted like code, like the world itself was a program waiting for him to interact.
"Where… am I?" he whispered.
A translucent window flickered before him, visible only to him:
> Name: Jason Ward
Race: Human (?)
Level: 1
HP: 100 / 100
Status: Reborn (Player Initialization Complete)
Tutorial Quest: Find shelter before sunrise.
He pushed himself to his feet. The ground was uneven, roots snagging his sneakers, and the faint rustle of wildlife echoed through the woods. But deeper, something else stirred — a low, distant growl that sent a shiver down his spine. Not a dog. Not a coyote. Something older, sharper.
Jason laughed under his breath. "Alright, System. Let's play."
> [New Objective Accepted!]
Reward: +10 XP • Basic Skill Unlock (Choose Path)
The trail cut through the forest, moonlight pooling over it. With each step, the System updated his status: stamina, pulse, environmental awareness. The notifications were almost comforting, a guide in a world that didn't yet make sense.
A faint crunch ahead drew his attention. Jason crouched instinctively, muscles coiling. Moonlight reflected off two figures approaching on foot — younger versions of the people he'd only heard about. Scott McCall and Stiles Stilinski.
"Whoa! You okay, man?" Stiles called, eyes wide. He was the kind of nervous energy that could make someone think he was harmless — until you realized he wasn't.
Jason blinked. "I'm fine. Just hiking. Got lost."
"At night?" Stiles raised a brow. "You're either hardcore or insane."
"Maybe both," Jason smirked.
> [Hidden Quest Unlocked – First Contact (Beacon Hills High)]
Objective: Gain the trust of Scott and Stiles.
Reward: Bond Link +1, +50 XP
Scott offered him a hand. Warm, human, real. Jason took it, feeling a faint buzz in his chest — a subtle signal from the System: bond forming, destiny shifting.
"Thanks," Jason said. "Name's Jason."
"Scott," the taller one replied. "And this… is Stiles."
The jeep in the distance rumbled like a heartbeat. Jason climbed in, laughing as Stiles muttered about his driving. The three of them wound through back roads that Jason recognized from memory. Every mile deepened his awareness: scents, sounds, even the subtle hum of supernatural energy lingering in the forests surrounding Beacon Hills.
Then the System pinged.
> [Tutorial Combat Triggered]
Enemy Detected: Lesser Supernatural Entity (Level 2)
Recommended Action: Use Tutorial Skill – Enhanced Reflexes
Jason froze. The wind shifted, carrying a scent of iron and smoke. A shadow burst from the tree line — too fast for a human, too wrong for a wolf. Its eyes glowed faintly red in the moonlight.
"Hold on!" Jason yelled, gripping the jeep's frame. He didn't think; he reacted. The System guided him:
> [Skill Activated – Enhanced Reflexes Level 1]
Cooldown: 10 seconds
Time slowed. Jason twisted, the shadow lurching, its claws swiping past his chest. His reflexes were unnaturally precise. In one fluid motion, he grabbed a nearby branch, swung it, and struck the creature's head. It yelped and skidded backward, retreating into the darkness.
> [Quest Update: Tutorial Combat Complete]
Reward: +100 XP • Skill Point +1 • Pack Awareness +1
Scott gawked. "What… what did you just do?"
Jason's smirk widened. "Told you. Hardcore or insane."
Stiles gaped, the jeep idling. "You just… fought that thing? With a stick?"
Jason's System pulsed against his mind: new options, new paths. Pack-building, evolution, combat — the game was alive, and he was finally in it.
Hours passed in a blur. The three of them found shelter in an abandoned cabin. Jason unpacked his thoughts like a player checking stats after a boss fight. The System was whispering, nudging him toward his first real choice: bond with Scott and Stiles, or wander alone into the chaos of Beacon Hills.
He glanced at Scott's thoughtful eyes and Stiles' jittery energy. His pulse quickened. For the first time since being reborn, he felt that intoxicating mix of power and responsibility, fear and desire.
> [System Notification]
New Bond Opportunity Detected: Scott McCall – Trust Level 1
New Bond Opportunity Detected: Stiles Stilinski – Trust Level 1
Jason grinned. This was no longer just survival. This was a game — one he intended to win.
And maybe… just maybe, he could play it his way.
Outside, the forest stirred. Somewhere deep, a growl answered his own heartbeat. The Pack Evolution System hummed.
> [Chapter Complete – Tutorial Phase]
Reward: Level 2, +200 XP, +1 Skill Point, +1 Bond Link with Scott and Stiles
Jason closed his eyes, letting the night wash over him. The air was alive with possibility, danger, and the faintest spark of something… more.
Game on.