The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon as Deaton arrived, his face calm but clearly intrigued by Scott's message. Deaton greeted Scott and Styles with a nod, but before they could dive into the strange situation, Derek reappeared, looking as if he'd missed out on something important.
Scott looked at Derek with a mocking grin. "So that's how you handle hunters, huh?" he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "The second you hear them coming, you just tuck your tail between your legs and run?" He raised an eyebrow, relishing the opportunity to mess with Derek.
Derek's jaw tightened, but he brushed it off with a dismissive grunt. "I'm not stupid enough to hang around when they show up armed."
Scott laughed. "So whenever you see them, you just bolt? Sounds like a real alpha-in-the-making to me." He threw Derek a teasing grin, nudging Styles, who stifled a laugh.
Derek glared at Styles, who quickly darted behind Scott for protection. "That's just how it works," Derek muttered defensively.
"Yeah, exactly what a coward would say," Scott shot back, his tone light but his gaze challenging. "Running from hunters just makes them more aggressive. They start thinking they're the apex. If they come after me, I'll remind them who's actually the hunter and who's the prey. We're predators, Derek; don't ever forget that."
Derek's eyes narrowed, his voice low. "You have no idea what you're talking about."
Scott rolled his eyes, shrugging. "Whatever makes you happy, man."
With Derek silenced, Scott turned to Deaton, who had knelt beside the massive boar's corpse. "So, Doc, any clue what this thing is? Where did it come from?"
Just as Deaton began to answer, Derek cut in, eyeing Deaton suspiciously. "Who are you, and why are you here?"
Scott stepped between the two, protecting Deaton. "Relax, Derek. I called him here. He's a friend—a vet I work with—and no, he's not the Alpha, so stop looking at him like that."
Derek snorted, unconvinced. "How do you know he's not the Alpha?"
Scott shrugged. "For starters, he was your mother's emissary."
Derek's eyes widened. "What?"
Deaton's voice was calm. "Yes, but that was a long time ago. It's not something I discuss anymore."
With that, Deaton turned his focus back to the boar, carefully examining its massive tusks and the strange red glint in its lifeless eyes. After a few moments, he straightened, looking perplexed. "I don't know what this creature is. I've never seen or even heard of anything like it in Beacon Hills."
Styles, always curious, stepped closer. "But do you know anything that might be similar, Doc? Even a legend or myth?"
Deaton nodded. "There is one story that comes to mind. Have any of you read about the Erymanthian Boar?"
Scott, Derek, and Styles exchanged confused glances, shaking their heads.
Deaton's tone turned contemplative. "In Greek mythology, the Erymanthian Boar was a massive, fearsome creature. It was described as a wild, untamable beast with jagged tusks and a hunger for destruction. Hercules himself was sent to capture it as one of his twelve labors. The way it's described—black, huge, with eyes that burned like fire—sounds very much like this."
Styles glanced back at the massive boar, eyes widening. "So… this thing is, what, Hercules' boar? Some ancient creature brought to life?"
Deaton shook his head. "No, not exactly. This one is clearly not as large as the Erymanthian Boar from the legends, and it doesn't seem supernatural in the same way, but it's undeniably close in appearance."
"Does that mean there could be more of them out there?" Styles asked, his voice full of a nervous energy that only seemed to grow the more he thought about it.
"That, I don't know. But Scott…" Deaton's gaze turned serious. "Remember what I told you about the Nemeton?"
Scott nodded. "Yeah. You said it's like a beacon, drawing supernatural creatures toward it."
"Yes. But that's only part of it." Deaton's gaze drifted to the massive boar. "In ancient druidic tales, it's said that when a Nemeton has a strong surge of energy, it can sometimes do more than attract creatures—it can transform the ones already around it. Its power seeps into the environment, and animals that were once ordinary gain supernatural traits."
Styles' face drained of color. "So not only can this tree bring every monster and ghost to Beacon Hills, but it might also turn innocent little animals into… into this?" He gestured wildly at the boar.
Scott chuckled, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes. "Sounds like things are about to get a whole lot more interesting."
Styles threw him an exasperated look. "Interesting? You think this is interesting? Not only do we have a psychotic Alpha tearing up the town, but now I have to worry about a pack of giant mutant squirrels or, I don't know, a zombie raccoon going for my throat? I swear, if some demonic bug shows up in my room one night, I'm moving to Canada."
Scott burst out laughing. "Oh, come on, Styles, where's your sense of adventure?"
"Adventure? This is a nightmare waiting to happen!" Styles shot back, half-serious but smiling. "Easy for you to say, Mr. I've-got-werewolf-powers-to-save-my-butt."
Scott laughed harder, clapping Styles on the shoulder. "You'll be fine. Just stay close to me."
The tension melted away as they laughed, standing around the bizarre scene of the giant boar. For now, the danger had passed, but something told Scott this was just the beginning.
Deaton looked at Scott with a slight smile. "Well, if anyone's up for the challenge, I suppose it's you two. Just be careful, Scott. There are things out there beyond our knowledge. The world is full of mysteries, and not all of them are easy to tame."
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