Derek, Braeden, Cora, and Boyd arrived at the ranch and made their way to the living room, where the rest of the pack was already gathered.
Scott looked up as they entered and said. "You reek of blood. What happened?"
Derek sat down, his expression grim. "Eleven vampires attacked Braeden and me tonight. After I dealt with them and read their memories, I found out they thought I was a lone wolf. Their plan was to capture me alive."
Stiles frowned. "Capture you alive? What for?"
Derek shook his head. "I don't know. I only read the memories of four of them, and they were all just lesser vampires. The one who probably knows why they wanted to capture me managed to escaped."
Scott raised an eyebrow. "He managed to escape from you? Was he that strong?"
Derek snorted. "No, not really. He tried to grab Braeden and use her against me, but I stopped him. I didn't want to kill him, I wanted to read his memories. But when he ordered the others to attack her, I had to let him go and handle them instead. That's how he got away."
Braeden looked down. "Sorry…"
Derek gave her a soft look. "Don't apologize. Like I said, I'm just glad you're okay."
Stiles muttered. "Couldn't you have just, I don't know, broken his legs before letting him go?"
Derek said. "I punched him hard in the face and sent him crashing into the wall. Thought it'd knock him out. Apparently, I didn't hit him hard enough. I was trying not to make his head explode."
Chris asked. "Did you find out anything about Victor from their memories?"
Derek shook his head. "No. Like the other ten vampires under Stiles' control, they only knew the name of the one who turned them, his name is Frank. They don't know where to find him. He's the one who finds them when he needs something."
Scott growled, frustration clear in his tone. "Damn those bloodsuckers, they are too cautious. They're starting to get on my nerves."
Derek looked at Scott. "Hey, can Braeden stay here? At least until we deal with the vampire situation."
Scott nodded without hesitation. "Of course she can."
"Thanks." Derek said. "By the way, there are ten vampire bodies in Boyd's truck. Someone should burn them."
Scott turned to Stiles. "Stiles, go burn them."
Stiles blinked. "Why me? Parrish can use fire too."
Scott replied. "Then both of you go."
Stiles groaned. "Then you come help us too."
Scott's eyes glowed red. "I'm not in the mood."
Without another word, he stood and walked out of the pack house. A moment later, he shifted into his full wolf form, a massive black wolf the size of an elephant.
The entire pack followed him outside. Those who hadn't seen his wolf form before stared at him in shock.
Derek stepped forward, speechless for a second. "Cora told me about your wolf form, but seeing it with my own eyes… it's unbelievable."
Stiles smirked. "Hey Scott, use your fire ability and show..."
Allison interrupted him. "Stiles… can't you feel it?"
Stiles frowned. "Feel what?"
Allison shook her head gently. "He's not in a good mood right now."
Scott said in a deep, rumbling voice. "Guys, I'm going out on patrol. See you later."
And with that, he vanished into shadow.
Melissa watched her son disappear, her expression a mix of worry and pride. "He's probably angry because he couldn't find those vampires. And now that they've attacked Derek, it means they're ready to make a move. If we don't find them soon, Beacon Hills could turn into a bloody mess."
Allison said. "I should go after him."
Melissa placed a hand on her shoulder. "Let him be for a little while. You can find him later. Just make sure you remind him… he's not alone."
Allison nodded. "I will."
---
After two hours patrolling the Beacon Hills Preserve, Scott—still in his enormous wolf form—climbed a hill and looked down at the glowing town below. Then, he let out a powerful, haunting howl that echoed across the entire town. Every supernatural being in Beacon Hills heard it.
Then he lay down, his glowing red eyes still fixed on the town. The moonlight shimmered on his black fur.
A few moments later, a beautiful white wolf the size of a horse emerged from the trees behind him. She padded silently over, rubbed her head against his, and lay beside him, and together, they watched over Beacon Hills in silence.
---
Victor's Manor
After escaping from Derek, Frank used every ounce of speed he had, becoming a blur in the night. He ran around town for a while, making absolutely sure he wasn't being followed. Once confident, he returned to Victor's manor.
Inside the grand dining hall, Victor and six other vampires were seated around an elegant table, enjoying their blood-soaked meal in eerie silence. The chandeliers above flickered with dim light, casting long shadows across the gothic room.
Victor glanced up as Frank entered.
"Where is Derek?" He asked coldly.
Frank lowered his head. "I'm sorry, sir. He was too strong. He killed all the lesser vampires with ease… and he was faster and stronger than me."
Victor calmly sliced into his bloody steak, brought the piece to his mouth, and chewed thoughtfully. Then he looked back at Frank.
"So, you're telling me that you and your ten useless vampires couldn't handle one lone mutt?"
Frank flinched. "He's an Alpha, sir. And his woman was with him. She's human… but she's also a hunter."
Victor calmly took another bite of steak, chewed slowly, then spoke again. "A normal human was with him… and you didn't think to capture her? Use her against him?"
"I tried, sir." Frank said, his voice shaky. "But Derek was too fast. He caught me before I could get close to her."
Victor slowly set down his fork and knife and reached for his napkin. He dabbed at his mouth like a refined nobleman. Then he rose from his seat, his movements slow and deliberate, like a predator savoring the fear of his prey. The room grew colder.
The other six vampires at the table tensed, their eyes flicking nervously between their master and Frank, who stood trembling before him.
Frank swallowed hard, his voice barely a whisper. "I... I did everything I could, sir."
Victor's lips curled into a chilling smile. "Did you?"
Then, without warning, his eyes glowed a deep, blood red color, his fangs elongating as his face twisted into something monstrous, his skin greying, veins bulging, the air itself growing heavy with dread.
Frank gasped as his body seized, his limbs locking in place. His veins darkened beneath his skin as Victor took control of the blood flowing inside him.
"Agh...! P-Please...!" Frank choked, his voice hoarse with agony as his own blood turned against him.
Victor tilted his head, watching with detached amusement as Frank's body convulsed.
With a flick of Victor's fingers, Frank's muscles tore themselves apart from within, blood leaking from his nose, his ears, his eyes.
"You had one task." Victor murmured coldly. "One simple order. And yet, you return to me empty-handed."
Frank let out a guttural scream as Victor forced his blood to boil, the pain unbearable, his skin blistering. The other vampires flinched, their faces pale with terror.
Then, with a lazy flick of his wrist, Victor manipulated the blood in Frank's body, yanking him forward through the air like a puppet. He sank his fangs into Frank's throat. He drank slowly, cruelly, savoring every drop as Frank's strength faded, his body withering.
By the time Victor pulled away, Frank was nothing but a dried husk, his skin clinging to his bones, his eyes sunken and lifeless. Victor tossed him aside like discarded trash.
Victor licked the last traces of blood from his lips, his monstrous visage melting back into his refined, noble gentleman mask. He turned his gaze to the six vampires, who sat frozen in horror.
"Remember this." He said calmly. "Do not let me down. And do not think of running. My blood flows in your veins, so no matter where you go, I'll always find you."
A heavy silence filled the room.
"Now." Victor sighed, straightening his cuffs. "Take Frank and feed him. He'll recover in a few days." His eyes flicked to Karen, who stiffened under his gaze. "Karen. Monitor that girl Allison. Capture her the moment you get a chance. But do not get close to Scott."
Karen swallowed hard, her voice trembling. "Y-Yes, sir. I won't let you down."
Victor smiled, a predator's grin. "I'm sure you won't."
Just then, a powerful howl echoed through the night, sending chills down their spines. Even Victor turned to the window with a worried expression. "That sound…" He murmured. "Something just made the ruler of this town very angry."
Harris stepped forward cautiously. "You mean Scott McCall? You think he's the one howling, sir? Not Derek?"
Victor shook his head. "No, this can't be Derek. Sam said he and a few hunters fought Derek before, and he's not that strong. The only reason Frank failed is because he's too stupid and has no real combat experience. That's why he couldn't catch him. But the one howling now… that's no ordinary wolf. I can feel his power just from the sound."
Sam asked. "Should we go after Derek now and catch him?"
Victor said. "No. Forget about him for now. If I'm right, he's already with Scott. He must've told him about us, that's why Scott howled. It was a warning. He's telling us this is his territory."
Sam hesitated. "Should we keep hunting humans for you to feed on, sir?"
Victor nodded. "Yes. But only outside of Beacon Hills. I'm not ready to fight a monster like Scott, not yet."
The vampires nodded, their voices quiet. "Yes, sir."
Victor waved a hand dismissively. "Now get out of my sight."
The six vampires scrambled to obey. One of them picked up Frank's withered body as they all rushed from the room, leaving Victor alone, staring out the window at the night.
The wind carried the echo of Scott's howl once more.
And Victor felt something for the first time since escaping the seal in the Nemeton.
Uncertainty.
To be continued... 😊