Iván was lying on the couch, bored out of his mind. His mother had ruthlessly told him not to go to school, even after he insisted he felt better.
He had never seen her so worried before—it kind of spooked him. She looked at him like he was dying or something.
His eyes drifted down to the necklace she had given him—the crescent moon pendant.
It was dark in color, the metal looking ancient, with engravings etched into its surface. He moved closer, sliding his thumb over it, remembering the story behind it.
Dad…
"Why does Mum wear a moon necklace?" he had once asked, curiosity in his voice.
"Ah, wondering about that old thing?" his father said with a grin. "It's a family heirloom—been passed down for generations. Some even say it's older than the Bible itself," he added with a laugh. "And if we ever sold it, well… it'd probably go for millions."
"As for why your mum has it… I gave it to her to show just how much I love her."
"Eww…" Little Iván scrunched up his face in disgust. "Dad, that's gross."
His father chuckled. "One day, when you're older, you'll understand. And I'm sure your mother will give it to you. Then you'll truly see the value it holds."
"The true value it holds, huh?"
He looked down at the pendant, guilt tugging at his chest. Mom had never once taken it off—yet she had just handed it to him without hesitation.
He should give it back—even if she refused to take it.
Then, a sudden knock echoed through the door.
Huh?
Iván grabbed a bat and walked toward the front of the house, cautiously peeking through the window. Standing at the door was a well-dressed Black man in a white coat—the kind a doctor would wear.
"Iván, your mother called me. She asked me to check up on you."
What the hell? Mom never mentioned anyone coming to check on him. Iván frowned—this was hella sus.
"Wrong house," he said firmly, gripping the bat.
"Iván, it's me—Alan."
"Alan?" Iván blinked, lowering the bat slightly. He quickly unlocked the door. "Alan, what are you doing in Beacon Hills? The last time I saw you was five years ago, after my dad went missing."
"Yes, well… I'm glad you remember me," Alan said with a small smile. "May I come in?"
"Oh—yeah, come in." Iván stepped aside, letting him in.
Alan, carrying a medical bag, walked in and glanced around the room. "Now, before we catch up, tell me—what symptoms are you experiencing, and when did they start?"
Iván sat down, rubbing his chest slightly. "It started yesterday. This weird feeling in my chest… and my body feels constantly on edge."
Alan gave a slow nod, pulling out a small flashlight. "Alright. Any fever? Strange visions? Flashes of anything unusual?"
"Yeah… last night. In the middle of the night, actually."
Alan leaned in, raising the flashlight. "Normal. Open your mouth, please."
Iván opened his mouth.
"Any discomfort in your teeth?" Alan asked, checking carefully.
"No."
Alan then moved to inspect his eyes. "They seem a little more sensitive to light. How's your hearing?"
"Um… yesterday at the cafeteria, I had a weird moment. I thought I saw red eyes staring at me. Then it was like someone—Rowan, I think—screamed in my ear. He's kinda… sus."
"I see," Alan said, his expression unreadable. He took out a stethoscope. "Alright, let me listen to your heartbeat."
As he examined him, Alan added casually, "So, you've met Rowan. Good to know. And if you've met him, then you've probably met my niece—Charlotte."
"Wait… she's your niece?"
"Yes," Alan said gently. "She's my late sister's daughter. Her mother died in a car accident years ago. Since her father, an attorney, is often away, Charlotte stays with me most of the time."
After finishing the exam, Alan stepped back and offered a calm smile. "Now, physically, you're healthy. However, the discomfort you're experiencing? That will likely continue for about thirty days. After that, you'll go through what I'd describe as… an overload. Think of it as a delayed hormone surge."
He began packing up his tools. "Your mother will explain the rest."
"Wait—so… is something wrong with me or not?" Iván asked, still confused.
Alan turned to him with a knowing look. "Other than being a late bloomer… no. Nothing is wrong at all."
Iván let out a relieved sigh. "Hey, Alan… since when were you a doctor in Beacon Hills?"
Alan chuckled softly, glancing at his phone. "Oh, I've been here a long time now."
Then Alan noticed the necklace around Iván's neck. "I see your mother gave you the family heirloom."
"Yeah, she did," Iván replied, glancing down at it. "But… I feel kind of guilty. My dad gave it to her."
"There's no need to feel guilty," Alan said gently. "That heirloom has always been passed down to the firstborn in your family. Cherish it. It's part of your legacy."
Legacy?
Iván looked down at the necklace. Alan was right—many before him had held this very heirloom in their hands. It had witnessed lifetimes of memories.
…Now he understood why his father had given it to his mother. It wasn't just a gift—it was a symbol. Something so important, so deeply rooted in family history, passed to her to show how much she meant to him.
Cheesy… but kind of romantic.
Soon, Alan's phone rang.
"Looks like your mother is calling," he said as he answered.
"How is he?" came Daniela's voice from the other end of the line.
Alan stepped away, lowering his voice. "Everything's normal… for what we suspected."
"No…" Daniela whispered.
"I'm afraid so," he said gently.
"I thought—since I'm… you know—maybe it wouldn't pass on to him."
"You could've asked me, Daniela. I would've explained how the gene works."
"I know…" she paused. "How long?"
"Thirty days," Alan replied.
"And… my little Sofia?"
"She's still a few years away. For now, there's no need to worry."
Alan paused, then added, "There's something else. Iván mentioned seeing two glowing red eyes. I had my suspicions before… but if there's an Alpha nearby, your son could be in danger."
"What am I supposed to do?" she asked, panic rising in her voice.
"Fortunately for you," Alan said calmly, "Derek Hale is in town. He can protect him—and more importantly, teach him how to handle what's coming."