Night fell over Beacon Hills.
The forest was alive.
Not with peace—
But with tension.
The wind moved through the trees in slow whispers.
Branches creaked.
Leaves rustled.
And somewhere in the darkness—
Something watched.
Aiden stood at the center of a small clearing.
Calm.
Still.
Like he belonged to the night itself.
Across from him—
Scott McCall shifted nervously.
"This place again?"
Aiden didn't answer.
Behind Scott—
Allison Argent stepped into the clearing.
Her eyes scanned the forest carefully.
"You brought us here to train?"
"Yes."
Simple.
Direct.
Scott frowned.
"At night?"
Aiden finally looked at him.
"That's when you lose control."
Scott had no reply to that.
A pause.
Then—
Aiden stepped forward.
"Show me."
Scott blinked.
"Show you what?"
"Your control."
Scott hesitated.
Then took a breath.
His eyes flickered yellow.
Claws extended.
Muscles tensed.
For a moment—
He held it.
Then—
His breathing grew heavier.
Faster.
Unstable.
Aiden watched silently.
Scott's control slipped.
Just slightly.
But enough.
"Stop," Aiden said.
Scott immediately relaxed.
Panting.
"…See?" Scott muttered.
"I am trying."
Aiden stepped closer.
"Trying isn't enough."
Before Scott could react—
Aiden moved.
A punch.
Fast.
Precise.
Scott barely blocked it.
Stumbling back.
"Hey—what the hell?!" Scott shouted.
"Fight me."
Scott froze.
"…Are you serious?"
"Yes."
There was no emotion in Aiden's voice.
Only expectation.
Scott clenched his fists.
"You're way stronger than me."
Aiden's eyes flickered faintly.
"Then survive longer."
That hit harder than the punch.
Scott growled.
And lunged.
Fast.
Aggressive.
Aiden didn't move.
At the last second—
He tilted his head.
Dodging effortlessly.
Scott attacked again.
And again.
And again.
Each time—
Aiden avoided him.
Minimal movement.
No wasted effort.
Like Scott wasn't even a threat.
Frustration built quickly.
"Stop holding back!" Scott shouted.
Aiden's gaze sharpened.
"I'm not."
That broke something.
Scott roared.
His attacks became wild.
Uncontrolled.
Exactly what Aiden wanted.
In an instant—
Aiden struck.
A sharp hit to Scott's side.
Then his shoulder.
Then his leg.
Precise.
Controlled.
Scott dropped to one knee.
Breathing hard.
"You're losing control," Aiden said.
Scott gritted his teeth.
"I know that!"
Aiden stepped closer.
"No," he said quietly.
"You feel it."
A pause.
"You don't understand it."
Scott looked up.
Confused.
Aiden crouched slightly.
"Your anger… your fear… your instincts…"
He tapped Scott's chest.
"None of this is your enemy."
Scott frowned.
"Then what is?"
Aiden's eyes burned faintly.
"Your refusal to accept them."
Silence.
That sank in.
Behind them—
Allison watched everything.
Every movement.
Every word.
And something inside her—
Shifted.
Because Aiden wasn't just strong.
He understood this world.
Controlled it.
Scott slowly stood.
"…Then what do I do?"
Aiden stepped back.
"Stop fighting yourself."
A pause.
"Fight me again."
Scott took a deep breath.
This time—
When his eyes turned yellow—
They didn't flicker.
They steadied.
He moved again.
Slower.
More controlled.
Aiden noticed.
And for the first time—
He attacked properly.
Their clash echoed through the clearing.
Scott blocked.
Dodged.
Countered.
Not perfect.
But better.
Much better.
Aiden struck again—
Harder this time.
Scott slid back—
But stayed standing.
Aiden stopped.
"…Good," he said.
Scott blinked.
"That's it?"
"For now."
Scott collapsed onto the ground.
Exhausted.
"Your training methods suck," he muttered.
Aiden ignored him.
Because his attention—
Shifted.
To Allison.
She was still watching him.
But now—
There was something different in her eyes.
Not just curiosity.
Not just attraction.
Trust.
"You didn't hurt him," she said softly.
Aiden walked toward her.
Slow.
Steady.
"I told you," he replied.
She didn't step back.
Not this time.
"You could have," she said.
Aiden stopped in front of her.
Close.
"But I didn't."
Their eyes locked again.
The world seemed to quiet.
Allison's breath slowed.
But her heart—
Raced.
"You always decide everything like that?" she asked quietly.
Aiden tilted his head slightly.
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
That answer—
Did something to her.
Before she could stop herself—
She stepped closer.
Too close now.
"You're dangerous," she whispered.
Aiden's gaze darkened slightly.
"I know."
A pause.
"And you're still here."
Her breath caught.
"…I should probably rethink that."
"But you won't."
Silence.
Because he was right.
Behind them—
Scott groaned from the ground.
"I can still hear you guys, you know."
Neither of them moved.
Aiden leaned slightly closer.
"Then stop listening."
Scott sighed.
"…I hate both of you."
Allison almost laughed—
But didn't.
Because her focus was still on Aiden.
And the closer he got—
The harder it was to think clearly.
Then—
Suddenly—
Aiden's expression changed.
Sharp.
Alert.
He turned instantly.
The forest went quiet.
Too quiet.
Scott sat up.
"What is it?"
Aiden's eyes burned faintly.
"…We're not alone."
A low growl echoed from the darkness.
Not Scott.
Not Aiden.
Something else.
Watching them.
Waiting.
And this time—
It didn't feel like Peter.
Aiden stepped forward.
Flames flickering faintly in his eyes.
"Stay behind me."
Because whatever was coming—
Was something new.
And far more dangerous.