In the middle of the woods, at the ruins of the old Hale household, Derek stood tall in his leather jacket.
Behind him, his uncle Peter sat slumped on the broken stairs, looking more like a man who had lost everything than the predator he once was.
"So… these wolves Iván mentioned—they're after you. Why?" Derek asked, not turning around.
Peter let out a bitter laugh. "You know about Adrastus. You've seen what Iván can do. But what your mother never told you is that there's a hierarchy within the wolves—a hidden order. When they went silent, I thought it was the perfect time for revenge. And then, just as I began making moves… a kid with that bloodline showed up in town."
Derek narrowed his eyes, still listening.
"Of course I was planning to kill him," Peter added casually. "But now, it seems they're active, again."
Before Derek could respond, the soft sound of paws padding across the forest floor drew his attention. Emerging from the shadows of the trees, two large black wolves stepped into the clearing, their golden eyes glinting under the fading sunlight.
Peter moved up beside Derek, his expression shifting to one of suspicion.
"It seems they've sent their scouts," he muttered. "But… Why send Betas? That doesn't make sense unless…"
One of the wolves stepped forward, voice steady and firm.
"We are here to uphold the law. I was sent to take your power—without question."
"What are they saying?" Peter asked.
"They're here to uphold the laws… to take my power," Derek replied.
Peter scoffed and stepped closer.
"Derek, there's no such law that gives them the right to steal your spark. Don't listen to them. I think there's no real leadership in the main family right now. That's why there are no Silver Wolves here."
Derek shot a cold glare at his uncle but said nothing, his eyes shifting back to the approaching wolves, already calculating his next move.
Derek slowly shrugged off his jacket, eyes locked on the wolves.
"So… you want my power?" he said, voice low and steady. "Well, there's only one way to take it—by killing me."
His body began to shift. Muscles stretched, limbs elongated, and fur burst through his skin. His claws extended as his transformation completed, towering over the two wolves in his Lycan form. His fur was a striking mix of black streaked with white, and he let out a deep, guttural growl.
"Be careful, Derek," Peter warned, already retreating toward the safety of the house. "They may be Betas, but they leave a nasty bite."
No more words were exchanged.
Derek lunged.
The Betas reacted instantly—fast and clearly experienced. One sank its teeth into Derek's arm, while the other leapt into the air and slammed into him with its massive front paws, sending Derek crashing backward.
His claws scraped against the earth as he caught himself, growling low.
"So… they're strong," he muttered, eyes narrowing.
Derek rose to his feet, his growl deepening. He was a Hale—and the Hale bloodline was known for producing warriors.
Power surged through him. His frame grew larger, more imposing, and an oppressive aura radiated from his body, pressing down on the forest like a stormfront. The Betas hadn't expected this… they hadn't expected to be facing a Hale.
But they didn't back down.
The real fight had begun.
With a roar, Derek lunged forward, moving faster than before. The earth shook beneath his feet as he slammed into one of the wolves, his claws ripping into its side and slicing through flesh and fur. The second wolf launched at him, aiming for his throat—but Derek twisted his body with incredible speed and force.
With a snarl, he swung the wolf he was holding like a weapon, slamming it into the other mid-air. The collision sent both Betas crashing to the ground with pained yelps.
Unexpectedly, the two wolves stood back up, their wounds closing rapidly as they began to heal. Their golden eyes locked on Derek with renewed fury.
Then they charged—faster than before—until they became nothing but blurs, circling him like shadows. Derek snarled as claws and teeth struck from every angle, too fast to track.
Unable to predict their movements, Derek slammed his foot into the ground with all his strength. The earth cracked beneath him, sending a shockwave through the forest. A powerful gust of wind burst outward, hurling the Betas off their feet and rolling them across the ground.
Breathing heavily, Derek glanced down at his wounds. They were deep—but already beginning to close. Slower than usual… but they were healing.
He wiped the blood from his mouth and growled.
"You are a Hale," one of the wolves growled through the hive mind, their voices echoing in Derek's head. They snarled, circling—then suddenly halted their attack.
"I'm not the one you seek," Derek said firmly, standing tall. "The one you're after… has already been punished. Killed—by me."
The wolves exchanged a glance, confused by the admission. But after a tense pause, they seemed to accept his words—for now. They backed away, their steps perfectly synchronized, and then vanished into the woods in a blur of movement.
Derek exhaled slowly, turning to survey the wreckage left in their wake. Trees were cracked, the ground torn, and the Hale house—what was left of it—stood broken.
"Damn," he muttered. "How do hunters deal with powers like this?"
"Don't be fooled, Derek," Peter said as he stepped beside him. "Even the strongest creature can fall. Your heart… your brain—they're still vulnerable."
Derek remained quiet.
Peter sighed, gesturing toward the ruins. "Now, can we please call that John guy to fix this mess? Our house is gone."
Derek didn't even look back. "Doesn't matter. Let it go, Peter."
In the far distance, the two wolves could be seen darting through the woods, their movements swift and coordinated. As they reached a large tree, they slid to a halt beneath its towering branches. Tilting their heads back, they howled in unison—a haunting, echoing call.
From the other side, something heard them.
The tree trembled, its bark groaning as it shifted—until a glowing portal slowly opened at its base, revealing a hidden realm beyond.
Without hesitation, the wolves slipped inside, disappearing beyond the gate as it sifted back into a normal tree.