Scott leaned back against a fallen log, his arm wrapped around Allison. She looked at him, eyes wide with anticipation.
"Remember when I told you I only know two werewolves other than me who can transform into a full werewolf form?" Scott started, his tone both serious and excited.
Allison nodded. "Yeah, the one that came near my house, and the other… the one you promised you'd tell me about later."
Scott grinned, savoring the suspense for just a moment longer. "The other one is called La Bête du Gévaudan… or just La Bête."
Allison's eyes narrowed in thought. "It means The Beast of Gévaudan." She paused, glancing at him with curiosity. "But what does that have to do with my family, Scott?"
"Oh, he had everything to do with your family, babe." He grinned, teasingly dragging out the moment.
Allison arched an eyebrow. "Alright, McCall, out with it. Spill the beans."
Scott chuckled, settling in for the story. "Alright, sit tight because this is quite the tale."
Clearing his throat, Scott began the story with dramatic flair. "It all starts in France, back in the early 1700s…"
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France, Early 1700s
Sebastien Valet was a French soldier, fearless and determined, who had spent his life in battles. In the height of the Seven Years' War, he and his loyal friend, Marcel, were fighting side-by-side, allied with the Native Americans to resist the British forces. But one rainy night, while fleeing the British, Sebastien tripped and fell. His face landed directly in a muddy puddle, and in that moment, he unknowingly drank from it.
"But it wasn't just any puddle," Scott explained, leaning closer to Allison as he painted the picture. "It was water collected in the paw print of a wolf."
Allison shivered, captivated. "What happened to him?"
"Sebastien was… transformed," Scott continued, voice dropping to a hush. "Not just into any werewolf. He became La Bête—a monstrous creature made of shadows, a beast who loved tearing anything in his path apart." He leaned back, eyes twinkling as he gauged her reaction. "And Marcel helped him keep it a secret. They went around terrorizing the countryside, and soon enough, everyone was talking about "La Bête"."
Allison was hooked. She leaned in closer, eyes wide. "Then what?"
"When Sebastien returned to his home village in Gévaudan, the murders got worse. The people were terrified, and the first casualty in the village was a boy named Emil. That's when they organized a hunting party, led by Sebastien's sister—Marie-Jeanne Valet." Scott paused for effect, watching as Allison's face shifted from intrigue to realization.
"She was… his sister?"
Scott nodded. "Yup. Known for her hunting skills, Marie-Jeanne was determined to put an end to the terror plaguing her village, no matter the cost. And she didn't work alone. There was a man named Henri Argent—a wise villager with knowledge about herbs and supernatural defenses. Rumor has it, he might've been a Druid. He knew about mistletoe, mountain ash, all the stuff that can hurt creatures like La Bête."
The air felt charged with anticipation, and Scott could see Allison's eyes flicker with admiration for Marie-Jeanne and Henri.
"With Henri's help, Marie-Jeanne tracked Sebastien across the wild landscapes of Auvergne and South Dordogne. She chased him for months, through forests, villages, and mountains. But one night, she discovered the awful truth—the Beast was her own brother."
Allison's face twisted in a mixture of horror and awe. "So… did she hunt her own brother?"
Scott nodded, voice dropping. "Yeah. She didn't hesitate. Her sense of duty was stronger than the heartbreak. Armed with Henri's knowledge, she went after him, determined to end the suffering he was causing. And she did it. She killed him and became a legend for it."
Allison sat in stunned silence for a moment, the gravity of the story settling over her. "So… she killed her own brother to save the people. That's… incredible. And tragic."
Scott reached over, taking her hand. "Marie-Jeanne wasn't just any hunter, Allison. She was your ancestor. The first true Argent."
Allison's jaw dropped. "Wait… Marie-Jeanne Valet… she's really my ancestor?"
Scott chuckled. "According to the story, yeah. And that Beast? That was your… many-greats-uncle, Sebastien."
Allison wrinkled her nose, her expression somewhere between disbelief and disgust. "That… thing is not related to me."
Scott laughed, his warm grin softening her look of disgust. "So, I take it you're disowning him?"
Allison burst into laughter, shaking her head. "Absolutely." Then, narrowing her eyes, she asked, "Wait, how do you know all this?"
Scott's thoughts flashed to the truth—that he knew because he'd watched it all unfold on-screen, because he was from another world entirely. He won't tell her that, though. He's not going to share that with anyone. Therefore, he came up with the idea of creating a wise, mysterious person and give him his other name, Jacob. So, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, he put on a mysterious tone.
"I helped an old man named Jacob a couple of weeks ago," he said casually. "Whatever he was, he wasn't a normal human. He knew what I was and even that I was a True Alpha. He said to me, 'Young pup, Since you seem to be new to the whole wolf thing, allow me, an elderly man, to let you know what you're getting yourself into as a thank you for your help.' So, he told me a lot about the supernatural, and When we got to the hunters, he told me about your family because you are the ones that live in Beacon Hills. That is why I know about your family's history."
Allison looked intrigued. "So, where is this old man Jacob now?"
Scott shrugged. "He left Beacon Hills, said he liked wandering around the world."
"Do you actually believe what he said about my family?" she asked, looking at him with wide eyes.
Scott nodded. "Absolutely. Besides, I already knew your father, mother, and aunt are Hunters, and they don't mess around. They're not afraid to do whatever it takes to take down anything they see as a threat."
Allison took a deep breath, her face turning serious as she absorbed this. "So… my dad, my family… they'd come after… after you?"
Scott gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "If they knew about me, and if they thought I was dangerous… yeah. That's why I've kept everything hidden—and why I hesitated to tell you. But… you should be more worried about them, not me."
Allison shot him a playful glare, grabbing his ear and giving it a gentle twist. "What would you do to them, Mr. Big Bad Wolf?"
Scott yelped, laughing as he pretended to pull away. "Ow! Okay, okay! Don't worry, babe, I'm just going to beat your fathe… no I mean, tell your father that if he gets between us, I'm going to kidnap you and run away, take you somewhere he'd never find us. As for your mom…"
Allison gave him a challenging look. "what about my mom?"
Scott thought for a second, then grinned. "I'd cook for her, win her over with my culinary skills. I bet I could charm her eventually."
Allison laughed, giving his ear one last tug before letting go. "You're dreaming. She's as stubborn as they come."
They both laughed, the tension easing as they settled back together. Allison looked away for a moment, a thoughtful frown settling on her face. "Why didn't he ever tell me any of this?"
Scott reached over, rubbing her back gently. "He's probably trying to protect you, hoping you'll have a normal life for as long as possible. But you have the right to know—and I didn't want to keep it from you. Especially since…" He trailed off, his voice softening. "Especially since you mean everything to me."
Allison's expression softened, her gaze searching his face. She cupped his face in her hands, her eyes shining with emotion. "Scott, I'm glad you told me. I don't want you hiding things from me. If this is who you are, then I want to be part of it."
Scott leaned his forehead against hers, taking a deep breath. "You have no idea how much it means to me hearing you say that. But, Allison… this is dangerous. People get hurt. And if your family finds out about us…"
Allison smiled, her thumb brushing against his cheek. "Then we'll face it together."
Scott's heart swelled, and he pulled her into his arms, holding her close. They both knew the world they were entering was treacherous and uncertain, but in that moment, with Allison by his side, Scott felt like he could face anything.
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