Night settled heavily over Beacon Hills, but the darkness no longer felt natural.
It felt watched.
Hunted.
On the rooftop where Aiden stood, the wind carried more than just the scent of the forest.
Blood.
Gun oil.
And something colder—
Intent.
Aiden's eyes narrowed slightly.
"The hunters are moving faster than expected…"
The arrival of Chris Argent wasn't just a coincidence.
It meant the Argent family already suspected an Alpha was active.
Which meant one thing—
Scott was in danger.
Across town—
Inside his room, Scott McCall paced back and forth anxiously.
His senses were out of control again.
Every sound felt louder.
Every smell stronger.
Even his heartbeat sounded like thunder in his ears.
"Why is this getting worse…"
His fingers trembled slightly.
Then—
A sudden sound.
A faint heartbeat.
Not his.
Scott froze.
"…Someone's outside."
At that exact moment—
A shadow moved across the window.
Scott turned sharply.
"Who's there?!"
The window slid open slowly.
And a familiar figure stepped inside.
Calm.
Silent.
Eyes glowing faintly orange.
Aiden Blackwell
Scott blinked.
"…Do you always enter like a ninja?"
Aiden smirked slightly.
"Doors are overrated."
Scott sighed in frustration.
"I think I'm losing control again."
Aiden stepped closer, studying him carefully.
Scott's heartbeat was unstable.
His eyes flickered yellow.
His instincts were rising again.
"Yeah," Aiden said calmly, "you are."
Scott ran a hand through his hair.
"I can't stop it."
Aiden tilted his head slightly.
"You're not trying the right way."
Scott frowned.
"What does that even mean?"
Aiden looked directly at him.
"Control doesn't come from suppressing the wolf."
He paused.
"It comes from accepting it."
Scott shook his head.
"That sounds like something Derek would say."
Aiden chuckled.
"Derek forces control."
He stepped closer.
"I teach it."
Scott hesitated.
"…What do I do?"
Aiden raised his hand slightly.
"Focus on my voice."
Scott looked unsure—but nodded.
"Okay…"
"Close your eyes."
Scott hesitated for a second—
Then obeyed.
The room fell quiet.
Aiden's voice became calm. Steady.
"Listen to your heartbeat."
Scott focused.
It was fast.
Chaotic.
"Now slow it."
"I—I can't—"
"You can."
Aiden's voice sharpened slightly.
"Focus."
Scott clenched his fists.
Breathing in.
Breathing out.
Slowly—
The heartbeat began to steady.
Aiden watched carefully.
Good.
Very good.
Scott had stronger willpower than he realized.
But then—
Aiden's expression changed instantly.
His head snapped toward the window.
His Hellhound senses screamed.
Danger.
"Scott—open your eyes."
Scott did.
"What—"
Before he could finish—
CRASH!
The front door downstairs exploded inward.
Scott froze.
"…That didn't sound normal."
Aiden's eyes darkened.
"No."
His voice turned cold.
"That's a hunter."
Downstairs—
Heavy footsteps echoed.
Slow.
Controlled.
Not rushed.
Someone confident.
Someone trained.
Scott's breathing sped up again.
"What do we do?!"
Aiden didn't hesitate.
"Stay behind me."
Scott blinked.
"Wait—you're going to fight them?!"
Aiden smirked slightly.
"I'm going to talk first."
A pause.
"…Maybe fight."
They moved downstairs.
Carefully.
Silently.
Standing in the living room—
Holding a gun loaded with specialized rounds—
Was Chris Argent
His eyes were calm.
Focused.
Dangerous.
Scott froze.
"That's Allison's dad…"
Chris looked at him.
"I was wondering when you'd show signs."
Scott's heart dropped.
"…You know?"
Chris didn't answer.
Instead—
His gaze shifted to Aiden.
"And you."
His grip tightened slightly on the weapon.
"You're not a werewolf."
Aiden smiled faintly.
"Good observation."
Chris's voice hardened.
"So what are you?"
A brief silence filled the room.
Scott looked between them nervously.
"…This feels bad."
Aiden stepped forward slightly.
The air around him warmed.
"Let's just say…"
His eyes flickered with faint hellfire.
"I'm not your target."
Chris's finger rested near the trigger.
"Everything supernatural in this town is my concern."
Aiden chuckled softly.
"That's ambitious."
For a moment—
The tension was suffocating.
Hunter.
Hellhound.
Beta werewolf.
All in one room.
Then—
Aiden spoke again.
Calm.
Controlled.
"If you're here for Scott…"
He stepped slightly in front of him.
"You'll leave disappointed."
Scott blinked.
"…Wait, what?"
Chris's eyes narrowed.
"You're protecting him?"
Aiden didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
That single word changed everything.
Chris slowly raised the gun.
Not fully aiming—
But ready.
"You're interfering with a hunt."
Aiden's smile faded slightly.
"And you're hunting someone who hasn't hurt anyone."
A pause.
Then—
Aiden's voice dropped.
Cold.
"But someone else has."
Chris's expression shifted slightly.
"…The Alpha."
Aiden nodded.
"Peter Hale."
Scott's eyes widened.
"So that's his name…"
Chris lowered the gun slightly.
Thinking.
Calculating.
Then he spoke—
"If what you're saying is true…"
He looked at Scott.
"…Then he's not my priority."
Scott let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
But Chris wasn't finished.
His gaze returned to Aiden.
"But you…"
A pause.
"You're something new."
Aiden smirked.
"I get that a lot."
Chris turned toward the door.
"We're not done."
Aiden's eyes flickered.
"I know."
As the hunter left—
The house fell silent again.
Scott collapsed onto the couch.
"Okay…"
He looked at Aiden.
"That was terrifying."
Aiden chuckled.
"You handled it."
Scott groaned.
"No, YOU handled it."
Aiden turned toward the window.
Looking out into the dark.
His expression slowly hardened.
Because now—
Everything was in motion.
Hunters.
Alpha.
And Scott caught in the middle.
Aiden's eyes burned faintly with hellfire.
"Good."
He muttered quietly.
"Let the game begin."