The sun was just starting to filter through the trees when Talia, Grey, and Cora arrived at a nearby clearing, far from the smoke still drifting over the remains of the Hale house. The air smelled of ashes and burned wood. Grey took a deep breath, trying to process that the home he had known no longer existed.
"I can still smell the fire," he whispered, his voice shaking, while Cora held his hand to give him strength.
"I know…" Talia said softly. "But we survived. That means we can start over."
From among the trees, Derek and Laura appeared. Their steps were silent, but their eyes carried the weight of the tragedy. Grey and Cora froze, holding their breath.
"Mom…" Laura said first, her voice breaking but determined. "I can't believe we lost everything. I'm sorry… for what happened."
"No…" Talia said, taking a deep breath. "You don't have to apologize. No one expected this. What matters is that we're alive."
Derek stayed silent for a moment, surveying the burned ground before looking at Grey and Cora.
"Grey, Cora," he said firmly, "I know this is hard to understand… but we have to learn to control what we are. Now more than ever."
"Does that mean training?" Grey asked, frowning, a mix of nerves and excitement.
"Yes," Derek nodded. "Not just strength, but discipline. Loss has shown us that power without control can be deadly."
"And not just for you," Laura added, looking at the two children. "For everyone around you too. Grey, Cora, our family depends on you learning to protect yourselves and each other."
Cora looked at Grey and smiled faintly.
"Well… I guess we're going to get really good at this," she said, trying to break the tension.
"Yes… and we'll do it together," Grey replied, squeezing Cora's hand.
Talia watched them, her heart full of pride and worry. She knew training them would be hard, but it was necessary.
"First, we'll start with the basics," Derek said. "Movement, coordination, reaction. Grey, Cora, you have to feel your body and your instincts, not just your strength."
"And remember," Laura added, "it's not about being stronger than others, but stronger than your fears. We are strong, but our strength comes from balance."
The training began that very morning. Grey ran through the trees while Cora followed closely, mimicking every move. Derek corrected them:
"Stay focused… instinct is fine, but control is what saves lives."
Laura moved alongside them, adjusting posture and pointing out details.
"That's it, Grey… feel the ground beneath you, not just your muscles. Cora, don't get ahead—go with him."
Despite falls and mistakes, the children made progress, learning to listen to their senses and trust their bodies. Grey could feel every heartbeat of Cora as they ran together, and he understood that, even if they weren't blood siblings, their bond was as strong as any family.
The first year after the fire was full of pain and memories, but also small victories. Every time they passed the burned remains of the house, the scent of ashes reminded them of the loss. Yet each day brought a new lesson: higher jumps, faster runs, sharper movements in their werewolf forms.
"Remember," Derek said as they ran through the trees, "power without control is dangerous. Not just for you."
"And your instinct will never fail if you learn to listen to it," Laura added. "But always with discipline."
Between laughter, falls, and shared challenges, Grey and Cora grew stronger and closer. They learned that being a werewolf wasn't just about power—it was about responsibility, control, and trust in those around you.
By the end of that first year, as stars began to appear over Beacon Hills, Grey looked at Talia, Cora, Derek, and Laura. The moon lit their faces, and for the first time since the fire, he felt that, despite the loss, they were ready to face whatever came together.
"We're ready," he whispered, more to himself than to anyone else.
Cora smiled, holding his hand tightly.
"Always together," she said firmly.