After resolving the Kanima problem, Scott and his pack returned to their usual teenage lives, going to school, hanging out, and enjoying moments of normalcy.
However, tonight was a full moon, and Scott, Allison, her parents, and Malia headed to the woods. It was a significant night for Victoria, it was her first full moon after receiving the Bite.
When they arrived at the forest, stepping out of their cars, Victoria glanced at her husband with a mix of nerves and excitement.
"Wish me luck." She said, her voice steady despite the anticipation.
Chris smiled reassuringly. "Good luck."
Allison joined in with a bright grin. "Good luck, Mom."
Victoria took a deep breath and stepped forward, her gaze lifting to the glowing moon. The transformation began almost immediately. Her golden eyes ignited like embers, black stripes etched themselves across her face, and claws extended from her fingertips.
"How are you feeling, Mom?" Allison asked, watching her closely.
Victoria flexed her hands, feeling the surge of strength course through her. "I feel incredible. Stronger than ever before. And... I can feel the connection—to you, to Scott, to Malia, and the rest of the pack."
Allison's excitement grew. "Can you shift further, Mom?"
Victoria tilted her head thoughtfully. "I think I can. Let me try."
Closing her eyes, she concentrated deeply. Moments later, her body began to shift again. Thick orange fur sprouted across her skin, her frame expanded, and within seconds, she stood fully transformed into a tiger. Her massive form dwarfed Scott's betas but wasn't quite as large as Melissa or Allison in their fully shifted wolf forms.
"Cool!" Allison exclaimed, rushing to her mother and brushing her hands through the vibrant fur.
Malia joined her, running her fingers through the soft fur. "She looks amazing." Malia said, before adding with a smirk. "But not as amazing as my coyote form, of course."
Chris approached his now-tiger wife cautiously. "Victoria, are you okay? You don't feel like losing control or anything, right?"
Victoria opened her mouth to respond but only managed a growl. After a few tries, her voice emerged—deep, resonant, and almost melodic despite its inhuman timbre. "I'm fine, Chris. Just as Scott said, I don't feel out of control at all."
Chris sighed in relief. "That's good to hear."
Victoria's golden eyes gleamed with excitement. "I think I want to run. Girls, care to join me?"
Allison grinned. "Absolutely, Mom!" Without hesitation, she shifted into her wolf form.
Malia and Chris froze for a moment, staring at the massive white wolf before them, easily the size of a bull, her crimson eyes glowing in the moonlight.
"Wow, Allison." Malia said, clearly impressed. "You're huge."
Allison's voice, though lupine, was clear. "Dad, you've never seen me like this before. What do you think?"
Chris stepped closer, placing a hand on her massive head. "You're beautiful."
Victoria's voice rumbled playfully. "Come on, girls. Let's go! I need to see what this body can do."
Without saying a word, Malia shifted into her coyote form and darted off into the trees. Laughing, Allison and Victoria quickly followed, their huge forms disappearing into the forest.
Scott watched them vanish before turning to Chris. "So... do you want the Bite?"
Chris snorted. "No."
Scott chuckled. "What do you have to lose? You'd be stronger, and you wouldn't have to worry about losing control. Plus, you could protect your family better. Just think about it. I'll give you the Bite whenever you're ready."
With that, Scott turned and headed toward his car. Before getting in, he glanced back. "Don't wait here for them. They won't come back, and it's not safe to stay here alone, even for a hunter."
Chris nodded, watching as Scott climbed into his car and drove off toward home, leaving the moonlit woods behind.
---
Meanwhile
Melissa had just finished grocery shopping. After placing the bags in her trunk, she was about to get into her car when she heard the distinct sound of a gun being loaded.
Without hesitation, Melissa moved at supernatural speed, disappearing from her spot.
A bullet whizzed through the air where she had stood moments earlier. Turning, Melissa saw an older man aiming a gun at her.
She narrowed her eyes. "Who are you? I can tell you're a werewolf, but I don't remember seeing you before. Why are you attacking me?"
The man smirked. "I'm Gerard Argent. Your son ruined my life, and I'm here to kill you."
"You're Gerard." Melissa's eyes glowed red. "Then you're out of luck. If you try to kill me, you're already dead. Even if I spare your life, my son wouldn't."
Gerard's confidence faltered as he saw her glowing eyes. Realizing his mistake, his own eyes glowed blue as he shifted into his werewolf form. Instead of attacking, he bolted toward the nearby supermarket.
Melissa blurred after him, grabbing his arm. In desperation, Gerard slashed at his own arm with a knife, severing it, and stumbled into the store, shifting back into his human form and shouting for help.
"Help! Someone cut my arm! Please call the Sheriff!" he screamed as people gathered around him.
Melissa watched from the shadows, her glowing eyes dimming. Sighing, she returned to her car, carrying Gerard's severed arm. She got in and drove away, contacting Scott through their telepathic link.
[Scott, Gerard attacked me. He tried to kill me, but when I was about to deal with him, he cut his arm and ran into a crowded supermarket. I couldn't follow him there.]
Scott, already driving home, growled in anger. [Alright, he's dead tonight. Where is the supermarket?]
After Melissa told him, she added. [Be careful.]
Scott replied firmly. [Don't worry.]
Arriving at the supermarket, Scott found no trace of Gerard. Following his scent, he hit a dead end, Gerard had escaped by car.
Scott clenched his fists. "That old bastard must be hiding or on his way out of Beacon Hills. If I see him again, he's dead."
---
Gerard drove out of Beacon Hills, his severed arm bandaged. He cursed under his breath. "I lost an arm and nearly my life. I'll have to hide from Scott and his pack for the rest of my life. If I'd known his mother was an Alpha, I wouldn't have dared attack her, not without a proper plan."
After hours of driving, he stopped at a gas station to refuel. As he stepped out of the car, a hard punch landed on his face, knocking him to the ground.
Dazed, Gerard looked up at the woman standing over him. His eyes widened in shock.
The woman smirked coldly, stepping closer. "Hello, Dad."