The human monster of teen wolf

I parked the car in my driveway and helped Derek inside, practically dragging him to the couch. He was pale, drenched in sweat, and barely holding it together.

"Wolfsbane," I muttered again, pacing back and forth. "Kate must've used a different kind than what I've seen before."

Derek groaned, clutching his side. "I don't know what type it is, but it's... spreading. I can feel it."

I pulled out my phone and sent another urgent text to Scott and Stiles.

Kai: Get here now. Derek's in worse shape than I thought.

Within minutes, they arrived. Stiles rushed in, wide-eyed. "Oh my God, he looks like death."

"No kidding," I snapped, kneeling next to Derek. "Scott, we need the bullet that hit him. It's the only way to figure out what kind of wolfsbane we're dealing with."

Scott froze. "The bullet? How am I supposed to—"

"Go to Argent," I cut him off. "Play it cool. Use your connection with Allison, but get that bullet. It's our only shot at saving him."

Scott hesitated but nodded, bolting out the door.

Meanwhile, Stiles and I did everything we could to keep Derek alive. His breathing was shallow, his skin burning hot. We tried cold compresses, but nothing seemed to work. Time crawled by, and as night fell, Scott finally burst through the door, holding a small plastic bag with the bullet inside.

"Got it!" Scott exclaimed, out of breath.

I grabbed it from him and handed it to Derek, who was barely conscious. "Here, do your thing."

Derek's hands shook as he took the bullet. He pried it open, spilling its contents onto my table. A faint, acrid smell filled the room. He grabbed a lighter and burned the wolfsbane residue, the flame flickering blue for a moment before going out.

"What now?" Stiles asked, leaning in.

Derek didn't answer. Instead, he rolled the ashes into a small ball, pressed it into his wound, and screamed. The sound was guttural, primal. Stiles flinched, but I held my ground, watching as Derek's body started to heal. The veins around the wound faded, his breathing steadied, and color returned to his face.

After a long moment of silence, Derek sat up, looking exhausted but alive.

"That was awesome," Stiles said, breaking the tension.

"Good work, Scott," I said, clapping him on the shoulder

After everyone left my house, I finally had some peace. I cooked myself a quick meal—nothing fancy—and went to bed, hoping for a dreamless night.

The next morning, my phone buzzed with another grim news alert: Another person dead. Authorities suspect animal attack.

I stared at the screen, unmoving. The Alpha was still working through its list. I didn't see the point in stopping it. These people weren't innocent; they'd killed innocents in the Hale Fire. Maybe this was karma catching up to them.

I pushed the thought aside and got ready for school. The day felt normal—boring, even. That is, until I noticed Allison standing at her locker.

When she opened it, balloons spilled out, bouncing around the hallway. It must've been her birthday. 

I wasn't paying attention as I turned the corner and bumped into someone. They fell to the floor, books scattering everywhere.

"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention," I said quickly, crouching to help.

The girl looked up, and I recognized her: Erica. She looked pale, almost sickly, her eyes avoiding mine.

"You okay?" I asked, handing her one of her books.

"Yes, I am," she said softly, still not meeting my gaze.

"You sure? You don't look—" I stopped myself. It wasn't my place to press.

"I'm fine," she insisted, her voice quiet but firm.

"Okay. I'm Kai," I said, offering a small smile.

"Erica," she replied, finally glancing at me.

"Nice to meet you," I said, standing and offering her a hand.

"Nice to meet you, too," she said, taking my hand and standing up and walked away.

Today, I decided to switch things up. Instead of sitting with the usual crowd, I made my way to a quieter corner of the cafeteria where Boyd sat alone, eating his lunch in peace.

He looked up as I approached, surprised but guarded.

"Hey," I said, setting my tray down across from him. "Name's Kai."

"Boyd," he replied after a pause, watching me carefully.

"Nice to meet you," I said with a smile.

"Why are you sitting with me?" he asked, his tone more curious than hostile.

"I just... want to make new friends," I said honestly.

He seemed to consider that for a moment, then gave a small nod. We started talking, slowly at first, sharing bits and pieces about ourselves. Boyd didn't open up much, but I could tell he was listening. He seemed like the kind of guy who valued actions over words.

As we talked, I noticed Erica walking through the cafeteria, looking even more nervous than usual. She moved quickly, avoiding eye contact with anyone, as if trying to blend into the background.

"Erica!" I called out, waving her over.

She froze mid-step, her eyes darting to me, then to Boyd, and back again. For a moment, it seemed like she might bolt. But after a deep breath, she hesitantly walked over to our table, clutching her tray tightly.

"Hey, Erica," I said with a warm smile. "Do you want to eat lunch with us?"

She glanced at Boyd, who shrugged and gestured to the empty seat next to him.

"Uh... sure," she said quietly, sliding into the seat.

The three of us sat there, the conversation slow but not uncomfortable. I made sure to include both of them, asking questions and sharing little anecdotes to keep the mood light.

After school, I headed straight home. The day had been uneventful, but as I walked up to my front door, I noticed several large packages stacked neatly on the porch. My heart skipped a beat. My gear had finally arrived.

I hurriedly carried the boxes inside, locking the door behind me. Setting them down in the living room, I grabbed a knife from the kitchen and started opening them one by one.

The first package contained my light armor. It was sleek, made of durable materials that were both lightweight and flexible. I tried on the vest first—it fit perfectly, snug but allowing me a full range of motion. There were also protective guards for my arms and legs, and even reinforced gloves with padded knuckles. It was exactly what I'd been looking for.

The second package held my new weapon—a three-section staff connected by sturdy metal rings. I held it up, marveling at the craftsmanship. The sections were smooth but solid, and the joints moved seamlessly. It wasn't just a weapon—it was art.

I took a moment to test it out, swinging it carefully in the living room. The weight felt perfect in my hands, and the sound it made as the sections moved was oddly satisfying. I couldn't wait to train with it properly.

The final package contained smaller items: a few throwing knives, a collapsible baton, and a utility belt to carry it all. Everything was exactly as I'd imagined.

After unpacking, I went down to my gym. I spent the next few hours familiarizing myself with the three-section staff, practicing basic moves and transitions. It was tricky at first—the weapon required precision and control—but I loved the challenge.

By the time I was done, I was drenched in sweat but grinning. This gear wasn't just going to help me defend myself—it was going to make me better, sharper.

After a quick shower, I cooked a simple dinner, feeling more at ease than I had in days. As I sat down to eat, I thought about what might come next. The Alpha was still out there But with this gear, I felt more prepared than ever. Whatever was coming, I'd be ready.