Night had fallen over Beacon Hills, and the moon lit the old Hale house with a silver glow that made shadows flicker across the walls. Inside, the hallways were quiet, broken only by the gasps of a woman struggling to bring a new life into the world. Her name was Ylba Arkadia, an alpha from an ancient lineage, a direct descendant of Licaon, the first werewolf.
Talia Hale knelt beside her, hands steady on Ylba's belly, guiding every breath.
"Breathe, Ylba… you can do this," she whispered, her voice soft but firm.
"Talia… take care of him for me…" Ylba gasped, sweat glistening on her forehead. "He's… special…"
A final cry rang out, mixing with the baby's wail. Talia lifted him carefully, feeling the warmth of the tiny life in her arms. Her eyes met Ylba's for a fleeting moment.
"You're so small… but so strong," Ylba whispered, her smile fragile. "Protect him…" Then her body went still.
Talia swallowed hard, holding Grey close.
"I will. I promise," she murmured.
The baby, named Grey, became the heart of a new beginning. His mother was gone, but her legacy and essence would live on through him. Talia took on the responsibility of raising him, teaching him to understand who he was and the power running through his blood.
Grey's early years passed in the warmth of the Hale house. Cora, Talia's daughter, became his inseparable companion. They explored every corner of the gardens, raced through the woods, and hid among the trees, inventing games and secrets that only they shared.
"Look, Grey! I found the perfect place!" Cora exclaimed, pointing to a small hidden cave under the roots of an oak tree. "We can make plans that no one else will understand."
"Perfect," Grey said with a grin. "No one will ever find us here."
Talia watched from a distance, her heart torn between worry and love. Every evening, by the fire, she spoke to Grey about his mother.
"Ylba loved you with all her heart, Grey. Never forget that," she said, gently stroking his hair. "She wanted your life to be happy and safe."
Grey absorbed every word, feeling his mother's presence in the stories, the lessons, and the warmth of Talia.
At nine, Grey experienced the first real surge of his nature. He and Cora were running through the forest when an instinct suddenly surged inside him. His body shifted, muscles tensing, senses sharpening, and a strange exhilaration filled him. He gasped, both terrified and amazed.
"Talia! Cora!" he shouted, panting. "I… I did it! I transformed!"
Talia ran to him, pride and concern flashing in her eyes.
"I knew it, Grey… but now you have to learn control."
Cora laughed, excited.
"Come on, Grey! I'll show you how to move without losing it," she said, grabbing his hand and guiding him through the trees.
The following days were filled with exercises and discoveries. Grey ran between trees, dodged branches, leapt over rocks, and felt the world sharpen around him. Each misstep was met with laughter or gentle correction.
"Slow down! Control your strength!" Cora shouted as Grey stumbled over a root.
"Breathe, feel the ground beneath your feet, not just your power," Talia added, her voice calm but firm.
Grey felt his senses expand. He could hear birds in the distance, smell the damp earth, even sense Cora's heartbeat as they ran together.
"That's it!" Cora cheered when Grey landed a perfect jump between two rocks. "You nailed it!"
"Thanks… but I still feel like something's off," Grey admitted, frowning as he concentrated.
"Everything takes time," Talia said softly. "Your power is strong, but so are you. Never forget that."
At eleven, the calm of his childhood shattered. One night, smoke and red-orange light filled the sky; the Hale house was on fire. Hunters had attacked. Talia knew immediately they had no time to waste. She grabbed Grey and Cora, dodging falling beams and flames licking the walls.
"Hold on tight!" she shouted, her voice slicing through the roar of the fire. "We have to get out!"
Peter, trapped in the library trying to save old documents, suffered severe burns. Talia barely got him out, but his body went limp: Peter fell into a coma as the fire consumed the house.
The air outside was thick, full of ashes and smoke. Talia stopped for a moment, holding the children close.
"Breathe… we made it," she said, her voice steady despite the tremor beneath it. "We're alive."
Laura and Derek, who weren't in Beacon Hills, were safe.
As the fire devoured their home, Grey looked at Talia and Cora, understanding something he hadn't fully realized before: life was fragile, but the bond between them was stronger than any danger. His lineage gave him power, yes, but also the responsibility to protect those he loved.
"Will it always be like this?" Grey asked, his eyes shining under the moon, still shadowed with smoke and ashes.
Talia brushed his hair back gently.
"There will be challenges, Grey. But as long as we have each other, there is always hope."
Cora clung to him, sharing a smile that mixed fear and certainty.
"Always together," she said firmly.
Grey nodded, feeling that his story was just beginning. The night was dark, but there was enough light to guide his path. Ylba's legacy and the Hales' lived on in him. Despite the loss, he was not alone.