The moment they saw the massive black wolf holding the Alpha at bay—
They ran.
"GO!" Stiles shouted, grabbing Lydia's arm and pulling her toward the hallway.
Behind them, the sound of claws tearing into tile and metal echoed like a storm breaking inside the school.
They burst into the science lab, slamming the door behind them.
Allison pressed her back against it, breathing hard. "What is that thing?!"
No one answered.
Because none of them knew.
Lydia, however, was focused—almost eerily calm.
She crouched near the desk, staring at the bottle she had assembled.
"…Jackson," she said slowly, "what exactly did you hand me?"
Jackson scoffed, pacing. "What you asked for."
"No," Lydia snapped, looking up at him sharply. "I asked for potassium chlorate. You handed me something else."
Jackson rolled his eyes. "It's a chemistry lab, Lydia. Everything looks the same."
"It doesn't," she shot back, her voice tightening. "Not if you actually know what you're doing."
Stiles raised a hand slightly. "For the record, I do not know what either of you are doing, and I'd like to live."
Jackson glared. "Then stop talking."
Lydia looked back down at the bottle, unease creeping into her expression.
"…This might not work."
------
Scott stood frozen at the edge of the gym.
The fight had escalated.
The Alpha was adapting.
Learning. It was clearly not as used to fighting on all fours as the black wolf. It kept standing upright to deliver counters and steady itself from the black wolves' aggressive attacks.
The black wolf was faster, sharper, relentless…
But the Alpha?
It was enduring.
Healing.
Waiting.
The two beasts clashed again, fangs snapping, claws raking across fur....
Then...
CRASH.
The Alpha twisted mid-impact and slammed Malik through the wall, sending him tearing through plaster and lockers beyond.
The black wolf hit hard—but rolled, already trying to rise.
Scott's heart pounded.
Now.
He hurled the bottle Lydia had made.
It spun through the air....
Hit the ground....
Shattered.
Nothing.
No fire. No explosion.
Just broken glass and wasted hope.
Scott's eyes widened.
"…No."
A low growl answered him.
Scott turned....
The Alpha was already on him.
It slammed him to the ground, claws pinning his shoulders.
Its red eyes burned into his.
Then...
It growled. Deep. Low. Commanding. Something inside Scott snapped. Pain exploded through his body. Bones cracked. Muscles were torn and rebuilt.
Scott screamed.....
Then the scream became a snarl. His eyes flashed amber. Fangs extended. Claws tore through his fingers. The Alpha stepped back, watching. Observing. Satisfied.
Scott rose slowly...
No longer fully himself.
------
The classroom door rattled.
Allison stepped closer. "Scott?"
Outside—
Scott stood still. Breathing slowly. Heavy. The key trembled in his hand as he brought it to the lock.
Inside, Stiles frowned. "Why isn't he opening it?"
Lydia tilted her head slightly. "Something's wrong."
Scott inserted the key. Paused.
Allison's voice came through the door.
"Scott…?"
And suddenly...
Memories hit him. Her smile. Her laugh. The way she looked at him. The way she said his name. His claws tightened. The key bent.
His breathing hitched...
Then with a sharp, desperate motion...
SNAP.
The key broke off inside the lock.
Inside, Allison jumped. "What was that?!"
She tried the handle.
It wouldn't budge.
"Scott?!"
No answer.
Then Lydia's head snapped toward the window.
"…Listen."
Faint at first, then growing louder. Police sirens. Stiles rushed to the window
. "Oh, thank God."
Sheriff's vehicles flooded into the parking lot. Red and blue lights cut through the darkness.
Jackson exhaled. "Finally."
Allison stepped back from the door slowly. Confused. Hurt.
------
Elsewhere—
Scott collapsed onto all fours. His claws dug into the floor as he gasped for air. The transformation receded. Fangs shrinking. Glow in his eyes fading.
He lifted his head, human again, but shaken.
Outside the school, paramedics moved quickly. Officers secured the area. Scott and Stiles walked beside Sheriff Stilinski.
"You're sure it was Derek Hale?" the sheriff asked.
Scott hesitated only a second.
"…Yeah."
Stiles nodded quickly. "We both saw him."
The sheriff studied them.
Then sighed.
"The janitor's body is missing. We're still searching."
Scott's stomach dropped.
Missing?
Stiles tried to lighten it. "Hey… we made it out. We outlasted the Alpha."
Scott shook his head.
"No… it let me live."
Stiles blinked. "What?"
Scott's voice lowered.
"It could've killed me in the gym. It didn't."
He looked at his hands.
"…It wants me."
Stiles went quiet.
Scott swallowed.
"And I think… before I can join it…"
His voice cracked slightly.
"…I have to kill my old pack."
Stiles stared at him. "You don't mean—"
"Allison. You. Jackson. Lydia."
Silence.
Scott looked up, haunted.
"When it made me shift… I wanted to."
Scott's eyes shifted toward the ambulances.
There, sitting on the back of one, was Dr. Deaton. Alive. Calm. Scott frowned and approached.
"You… got out?" he asked.
Deaton nodded. "Barely. I was lucky."
Scott studied him. Something didn't add up.
"…Yeah," Scott said slowly.
Deaton offered a small smile. "Thank you, Scott. For helping me."
Scott didn't respond. Then he saw her. Allison stood near one of the police cars, arms wrapped around herself. Scott approached carefully.
"Allison—"
She turned.
Her expression stopped him cold.
"I don't understand what you did in there," she said.
Scott shook his head. "I can explain—"
"Can you?" she cut in.
Her voice wasn't angry. It was worse. It was hurt.
"I trusted you."
Scott stepped closer. "I was trying to protect you."
"By locking me in a room?" she asked. "By not telling me what's going on?"
He didn't have an answer.
She looked away.
"…I don't trust you."
The words hit harder than any blow.
"Allison, please—"
"Don't call me," she said quietly.
Then she turned and walked away.
Scott stood there.
Alone.
High above the school on the roof, five deep claw marks carved into the concrete formed a spiral.
And in the shadows beyond, two amber eyes watched. Silent. Calculating.