Teen Wolf: Alpha Reborn

After Melissa decided to stay home, determined to read more of the books in the chest, Scott, Stiles, Allison, and Lydia set out for the Beacon Hills Preserve. The morning sun filtered through the thick canopy above as Stiles' trusty Jeep rattled to a stop near the edge of the woods. 

The group got out, energized and curious, their chatter filling the quiet forest. 

"All right, should we split up?" Stiles asked. 

"No splitting up, Stiles. This isn't a Scooby-Doo episode," Scott said with a smirk. "Stick together. It's safer." 

They walked deeper into the woods, the forest alive with birdsong and the occasional rustle of leaves. Allison got close to Lydia. 

"Hey, Lydia." she began, her tone light. "Are you still thinking about getting back with Jackson?" 

Lydia hesitated before shaking her head. "No. I'm done with him. I won't lie, I was heartbroken when he dumped me. For a while, I thought I wanted him back. But that was before…" She glanced at the group. "Before all of you and Melissa. I'm in a better place now. I just want to be me and enjoy life with my real friends." 

Allison smiled warmly. "That's good to hear. Honestly, Jackson doesn't deserve you anyway." 

Scott, walking ahead, chimed in. "I think Jackson's already gotten the bite from Derek. I'm just curious what he'll turn into." 

"A weredonkey, maybe?" Stiles quipped, sending everyone into laughter. 

As they continued, their conversation shifted to myths and creatures. 

"You guys think herbivore shapeshifters exist?" Scott asked. 

Stiles stroked his chin theatrically. "Hmm. A wererabbit, perhaps? The terror of all carrot patches." 

Lydia rolled her eyes but added. "What about a Minotaur? I read about them in one of those books. But according to the book, they are known to eat people." 

"That's a comforting thought." Scott said dryly. "But yeah, Minotaurs. I forgot about those. I wonder if we'll ever run into one." 

"What about Centaurs?" Allison asked. "Half-human, half-horse. Do you think they exist?" 

"If they do." Stiles said. "then elves, dwarves, and dragons probably do too." 

Scott sighed. "I don't know about elves and dwarves. But I really hope dragons aren't real. Dealing with one would be... difficult." 

As the banter continued, they approached a small pond nestled among the trees. Scott stopped abruptly, his expression turning serious. 

Lydia stepped forward, her gaze locked on the pond. "You feel it too, don't you?" 

Scott nodded. "Yeah. Something's definitely off." 

Allison and Stiles exchanged uneasy glances. 

"What's wrong?" Allison asked. "I don't feel anything." 

Scott explained. "My senses are sharper than yours. And Lydia…" He glanced at her. "Well, you're a banshee. It makes sense." 

Stiles leaned closer to the pond. "What do you think it is?" 

"I don't know." Scott replied, his eyes narrowing. "But I think we're about to find out. Back up, guys. Something's coming." 

They barely had time to move before a long, slimy tongue shot out of the water, aiming for Scott. With lightning reflexes, he sidestepped and grabbed the tongue, yanking hard. A massive, grotesque frog-like creature was pulled from the pond, landing on its back with a heavy thud. 

"What… what is that?" Stiles stammered, his eyes wide. 

"It's a frog, if you can still call it that." Lydia said. 

The creature managed to flip onto its feet, its tongue shooting out again. Scott dodged and slashed at it with his claws, severing the tongue. The frog croaked in pain, but to everyone's shock, its tongue began to regenerate. 

"Cool! It can regenerate!" Stiles exclaimed. 

Scott grinned. "I'm definitely taking that power for myself." 

The frog crouched low, inhaling deeply, its body swelling. 

"Move!" Scott yelled. "I think it's about to attack with sound!" 

The group scattered as the creature unleashed a deafening croak, the soundwave tearing through trees and leaving destruction in its wake. 

Then, the frog tried to retreat to the water, Scott leaped onto its back, delivering powerful blows to its head. The creature croaked in pain, struggling to escape. Finally, Scott plunged his claws into its body, absorbing its power. When the process was complete, he delivered a final punch, ending its life. 

"That sound attack was awesome." Stiles said as he and the others approached. 

Scott nodded. "Lydia can do that too, once she's strong enough." 

Lydia smiled faintly. "I can't wait." 

"Did you get its regeneration ability?" Allison asked. 

Scott flexed his fingers. "I think so. I feel that my body is full of vitality. But I'm not testing it." 

"What about the dead frog?" Stiles asked, eyeing the massive frog. 

"Leave it." Scott said with a shrug. "The coyotes will take care of it." 

As they headed back, Lydia suddenly stopped. 

"I think we should go that way." she said, pointing in a different direction. 

Stiles frowned. "But the car's this way. I remember." 

Lydia hesitated. "I just feel like…" She trailed off. "Never mind. Let's go." 

Scott stepped closer. "You felt something, didn't you?" 

Lydia hesitated again before nodding. 

"Trust your instincts." Scott said gently. "And remember, you're not alone. We'll never think you're weird or be scared of you. If you ever feel something—anything—tell us immediately. And promise me one thing." 

"What?" Lydia asked softly. 

"Never go alone." Scott said firmly. "If you feel something or hear something calling to you, wait for us. Always." 

Allison placed a reassuring hand on Lydia's shoulder. "Scott's right. You can sense death and danger, Lydia. But don't face it alone." 

Stiles leaned in closer to Lydia, grinning mischievously. "Yes, yes, you should always tell me. I love mysteries! So, what are you feeling right now?" 

Lydia smirked and lightly pushed him back. "Thank you, guys." Her expression turned serious as she pointed toward a shadowy area deeper in the woods. "I feel something bad over there—something ominous." 

Scott's demeanor shifted immediately. "All right, let's check it out." 

The group walked cautiously until they reached the mouth of a small cave. The air grew colder, and a strange stillness surrounded the area. Inside, they found the desiccated corpses of deer, encased in spider silk-like sacs hanging eerily from the cave walls. 

Allison inspected one of the sacs and opened it. "This one looks fresh. It probably died recently, but…" She frowned. "It's just skin and bones." 

Scott scanned the cave with narrowed eyes. "Whatever did this isn't a spider like that frog. This is the work of a shapeshifter." 

Stiles, standing behind him, tilted his head. "How can you tell?" 

"Use your senses." Scott said, gesturing around. "Smell in particular." 

The others sniffed the air a few times, but they all shook their heads. 

"I only smell dirt, animals, and… us," Allison said. 

Scott sighed, his heightened senses picking up more. "I can smell her. She's a woman, and she was here yesterday or the day before." 

Allison crossed her arms, frowning. "Why is it always women? Almost all the bad guys we've faced so far have been women." 

Stiles raised a finger. "Maybe it's because women are inherently evil." 

Scott turned to him with a deadpan expression. "No wonder you're single." 

Stiles blinked, confused. "What?" 

Scott smirked. "Run, you idiot!" 

Stiles looked at Allison and Lydia, their expressions darkening. He yelped and bolted. 

"Come back here, Stiles!" Allison yelled, chasing after him. "I'll show you how evil we are!" 

Stiles laughed nervously while running. "See! You're just proving my point!" 

Lydia joined the pursuit, laughing as well. The chase didn't last long, Allison caught up to Stiles, delivering a kick to his leg that sent him sprawling to the ground. 

"Aaahhh!" Stiles groaned, clutching his side. "I think I broke something! Girls, I was just joking!" 

Allison smirked, standing over him. "We know." She glanced at Lydia, who grinned back. "But we won't forgive you unless you spar with both of us." 

Stiles looked horrified. "What? That's not fair!" 

Lydia crouched next to him, her grin widening. "Come on, Stiles. Don't be a little bitch. Besides, we all heal quickly now. No excuses." 

Stiles groaned dramatically before throwing up his hands. "Fine, but no hitting the face!" 

The sparring session began, and though Stiles put up a valiant effort, it wasn't long before he ended up on the ground again, thoroughly beaten. 

Scott, leaning casually against a tree, laughed as he watched. "All right, let's head home. I'm starving."