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Morning came slowly to the Hale territory.
A thin fog hung between the trees as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the forest. The fire had burned itself out during the night, leaving behind nothing but blackened ruins and drifting ash.
The survivors were awake.
Some of the children sat quietly near the fire pit, wrapped in blankets given by the visiting wolves before they left. Others still slept, exhausted from smoke inhalation and injuries.
Nearby, Talia Hale stood at the edge of the clearing, her arms folded as she watched the forest.
(AN: it will be our logic from here onwards. compare to peter, although they are both burned severely, alphas resilience and healing ability are on another level compare to betas)
Even weakened, she carried the authority of an Alpha.
Behind her, Laura Hale approached.
"You haven't slept."
Talia didn't turn.
"Neither have you."
Laura crossed her arms.
"I'm not tired."
Talia finally glanced at her daughter.
"You're angry."
Laura scoffed.
"They burned our house, poisoned our pack, and nearly killed our family."
Her eyes flickered red.
"Of course I'm angry."
Talia nodded slightly.
"Good."
Laura blinked in surprise.
"But anger alone is not enough," Talia continued. "If you let it control you, the hunters win."
Laura looked away.
"So what do we do?"
Talia studied the forest again.
"We prepare."
Across the clearing, Derek Hale was helping move debris from the ruins.
His hands trembled slightly as he lifted a burned beam and tossed it aside.
Every corner of the destroyed house held memories.
His childhood.
His family.
All of it… gone.
He wiped sweat from his forehead when he noticed someone sitting on a fallen log nearby.
Arthur Corvinus.
The boy looked strangely calm considering everything that had happened.
Derek frowned and walked over.
"You should be resting."
Arthur shrugged.
"I've rested enough."
Derek crossed his arms.
"You almost died."
Arthur smirked slightly.
"Almost."
Derek studied him for a moment.
"You're taking this better than most."
Arthur glanced toward the ruins.
"I'm just… processing things differently."
Inside his mind, Arthur sighed.
Because I already knew this was going to happen.
Well…
Most of it.
He glanced toward Talia.
She wasn't supposed to survive.
That single change was like throwing a stone into a lake.
The ripple effects could be massive.
Arthur muttered quietly,
"The timeline is already broken…"
Derek frowned.
"What?"
Arthur blinked.
"Oh—nothing."
Derek narrowed his eyes but said nothing.
Suddenly, Talia's voice cut through the clearing.
"Everyone inside the circle."
The survivors quickly gathered near the fire pit where a ring of mountain ash had been drawn on the ground.
Arthur recognized it immediately.
Supernatural barrier.
Derek stepped beside his mother.
"What's wrong?"
Talia's gaze remained fixed on the forest.
"We're being watched."
A low growl spread through the werewolves present.
Laura stepped forward.
"Hunters"
Talia nodded slowly.
"Their scent is faint… but it's there."
Arthur muttered under his breath.
"Let me guess…"
"Blonde psychopath with a sniper rifle?"
Laura turned toward him.
"What?"
Arthur waved his hands quickly.
"Just guessing!"
Inside his mind he groaned.
Yeah… definitely Kate.
As if to confirm his thoughts—
A gunshot suddenly cracked through the forest.
BOOM.
The bullet slammed into a nearby tree.
The children screamed.
Derek instantly shifted, claws extending as his eyes glowed.
"GET DOWN!"
More shots followed.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
From the ridge above the clearing, a small group of hunters emerged from the trees.
And standing at the front—
Smiling like this was a game—
Was Kate Argent.
She lowered her rifle casually.
"Well well."
Her voice echoed through the clearing.
"Looks like a few puppies survived the fire."
Laura's eyes burned bright red.
"You!"
Kate tilted her head playfully.
"Miss me?"
Derek stepped forward protectively.
"You already did enough."
Kate laughed.
"Oh sweetheart… that was just the warm-up."
She raised her rifle again.
"Time to finish the job."
But before she could fire—
Talia stepped out of the ash circle.
Her presence alone seemed to shake the air.
The hunters hesitated.
Kate lowered her rifle slightly.
"Well… that's unexpected."
She smiled wider.
"The Alpha survived."
Talia's crimson eyes glowed like fire.
"You broke the code."
Kate shrugged.
"Codes are for people who like rules."
Talia's voice became ice.
"You attacked children."
Kate's expression didn't change.
"They were wolves."
The forest suddenly filled with low, furious growls.
Talia stepped forward.
"If you continue this hunt…"
Her eyes shifted slowly to a deep, glowing red.
"…there will be consequences."
Kate met her gaze without fear.
"Looking forward to it."
For a moment, the clearing felt like it might explode into violence.
Then Kate slowly stepped backward.
"Relax."
She raised her hands casually.
"We're leaving."
The hunters behind her lowered their weapons.
Kate turned toward the forest but paused.
"Oh, one more thing."
She glanced back toward the survivors.
"This town isn't big enough for monsters and hunters."
Her smile sharpened.
"So we'll see you again soon."
Then she vanished into the trees.
The hunters disappeared with her.
Silence returned to the clearing.
Derek exhaled slowly.
"They're coming back."
Talia nodded.
"Yes."
Laura clenched her fists.
"Then next time…"
Her eyes glowed dangerously.
"We'll be ready."
Arthur stared toward the forest where Kate had vanished.
He rubbed his face.
Great. i'm tired of this shit. rest, defended, hunted. a repeating cycle, getting ready. Talia is just repeating what she always saying just to comfort the children.
He had survived the Hale fire.
But now it looked like he had another problem.
The story of Teen Wolf wasn't just changing.
It was escalating.
And Arthur was right in the middle of it.