After Jacob left, Allison went back to the living room and looked at her parents and aunt.
She sat down, deep in thought. 'Mom, Dad, and Kate probably know what that man-bear thing really was. They've all been acting weird lately… And this morning, Kate said her car just needed a jump start yesterday, but her window was broken. Something's not right. Let me ask and see how they react.'
She spoke up. "Dad, what was that thing that attacked us?"
Chris glanced at her and calmly said. "Nothing to worry about, sweetheart. It was just a bear."
Allison frowned. "That thing was definitely not a bear, Dad. We all saw it."
Victoria chimed in. "It was just a bear, Allison. Maybe a sick one or something. Now go to your room and do your homework."
"But..."
"No buts." Victoria cut her off. "And from now on, no more going out at night. It's too dangerous."
"That's not fair!"
"No arguing. Go."
Allison sighed and went to her room, thinking. 'They definitely know something. They're just not telling me. I'll see if I can get anything out of Jay tomorrow.'
Once she was upstairs, Chris turned to Kate. "What's going on, Kate? Why is the Alpha targeting you?"
Kate sat on the couch and shrugged. "Because I'm an Argent."
Chris narrowed his eyes. "No. This feels personal. He attacked you yesterday, and like that smartass kid said, when the Alpha attacked us tonight, his eyes were only on you."
Kate leaned back. "I don't know what to tell you. Maybe I hunted someone from his pack in the past or something... I really don't know."
Chris nodded slowly. "Either way, we need to be more careful. And we have to protect Allison."
Kate said firmly. "I think you should tell her the truth. And it's about time you started training her to be a hunter."
"No." Chris said sharply. "And don't you dare say anything to her. I want her to have a normal life for as long as she can."
"You're not protecting her, Chris. You're holding her back."
Chris glared. "Leave Allison out of this. What we need to do is find the Beta. I'm almost certain he's a teenager—I shot him in the woods a few days ago, but he was rescued by another werewolf."
Victoria asked. "Rescued by another Beta?"
"I'm not sure." Chris replied. "Could've been a Beta or the Alpha. We didn't get a clear look—he was too fast."
Kate crossed her arms. "By the way, have you tested that kid Jacob? He could be the Beta."
Chris shook his head. "Unfortunately, he's not. We already tested him—he's not a werewolf."
Kate smirked. "Well, he's brave. Could make a great hunter."
Then she added. "Oh, I just remembered—I shot the Beta with a wolfsbane bullet last night. Maybe that's why the Alpha attacked us tonight."
Chris nodded. "Maybe. If his Beta dies, he'll likely try to make more. Teenagers are the best candidates, so we need to keep an eye on Beacon Hills High."
---
Meanwhile, Jacob arrived at his mansion and found Stiles, Scott, and a dying Derek waiting for him at the iron gate.
He parked his bike and raised an eyebrow. "What's up, guys?"
Stiles crossed his arms. "Where have you been? We've been waiting here for over an hour!"
"I was at Allison's house." Jacob said casually. "Couldn't you have just called me?"
"We did, several times." Scott replied. "You didn't answer."
Jacob patted his pockets. "Looks like I forgot my phone. Anyway… what's going on?"
Stiles pointed at Derek. "He's dying."
"I can smell that." Jacob said calmly. "What I want to know is why he's dying—and why bring him here?"
Stiles explained. "He's the werewolf who got shot by your girlfriend's crazy aunt. He came to us for help, and you're the only one we know who might be able to help him."
Jacob nodded. "Alright. Let's get inside first and see what I can do."
After they got inside the mansion, Stiles and Scott helped Derek onto the couch in the living room.
Jacob crossed his arms and looked at Derek. "How can I help you?"
Derek hissed in pain and said. "I was shot with Nordic Blue wolfsbane… Do you have any?"
Jacob shook his head. "Unfortunately, no."
Derek spoke with effort. "Then go back to the Argent house… and bring me the bullet Kate shot me with."
Jacob frowned. "Why would I do that? I don't even know you that well, and I definitely don't want to expose myself to the Argents just yet."
Derek muttered. "Then coming here was a waste of time."
Jacob shrugged. "Seems like it."
Stiles stepped in, trying to mediate. "Hey, Jacob, are you sure you can't help him?"
Jacob replied. "I can, but this guy's ordering me around like I owe him something. That's not how you ask for help."
Stiles waved a hand dismissively. "Don't mind him—he's just a little prideful."
Jacob chuckled. "So am I. Actually, I'm very prideful. To the point where if someone hurts my pride, I might lose control—kind of like how werewolves go crazy during a full moon."
Stiles immediately panicked. "Derek, hurry up and apologize! I'm serious—if he loses control, even if you were at full strength and teamed up with Scott, I doubt the two of you could stop him."
Derek looked at Jacob for a long moment, then said. "I'm sorry I was rude. If you can help me… please do. I'll owe you one."
Stiles patted Jacob's shoulder. "Come on, man. He said sorry. Don't be stubborn."
Jacob sighed. "Fine. Wait here."
He went upstairs to his room, reached into his pocket dimension, and pulled out a single Senzu Bean, grinning.
'This is one of the expired Senzu Beans I got from the system for signing in at Stiles' room. It'll heal Derek… but the side effect is ten minutes of uncontrollable farting. Since he was rude, I can give it to him guilt-free.'
Jacob returned downstairs. "Let's go outside."
Scott raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
Jacob replied. "I don't know what will happen when he takes the medicine. Maybe some liquid will leak from his body, or something like that—and I'm not taking any chances with my furniture."
Scott sighed. "Fair enough. Stiles, help me carry him."
The two of them helped Derek outside. Jacob handed him the Senzu Bean. "Eat this. It'll heal you, though it has some… side effects. Nothing serious. Lasts ten minutes, max."
Derek nodded. "As long as I get healed, I can deal with ten minutes of pain."
'Pain? Who said anything about pain?' Jacob smirked to himself. 'If I told him about the side effects, would he still eat it—or choose to die? Maybe he'd just ask to go to the toilet before eating it.'
Stiles noticed Jacob's smirk and thought. 'Derek's screwed. That stupid snake is definitely up to no good.'
Derek popped the Senzu Bean into his mouth and swallowed it. Within seconds, the bullet wound in his arm began to close, and the black veins spreading toward his shoulder faded rapidly.
Scott's eyes widened. "It worked!"
But then, Derek's stomach began to rumble ominously.
He clutched his gut. "Wait… What's happening?"
Then it started.
PHRRRRRTTT!!!
A loud, thunderous fart echoed through the yard. Then another. And another.
Jacob burst out laughing, unable to hold it in, and Stiles quickly followed, howling with laughter. Even Scott, at first concerned, couldn't help but join in.
Derek's face turned crimson from the embarrassment. "Damn it! You didn't tell me about this!"
Without waiting for a reply from Jacob who was too busy laughing—Derek bolted toward the edge of the mansion's grounds trying to leave, still farting uncontrollably. But the moment he reached the edge, he slammed into the invisible supernatural barrier and was launched backward like a missile.
Still farting as he flew through the air.
Stiles doubled over in laughter. "Ahahahaha! He's like a human rocket!"
Jacob was clutching his stomach, tears streaming down his face. "Exactly! Hahaha!"
Scott was laughing uncontrollably too.
Derek groaned and lay on the ground, still farting, playing dead.
After about ten excruciatingly long minutes, the effects finally wore off. Derek stood up slowly and stormed over to Jacob, grabbing him by the collar.
"You didn't say that was the side effect!"
Jacob wiped the tears from his eyes, still chuckling. "Does it matter? You're healed… and we got a good laugh out of it."
Derek snorted and let go of him. "Why couldn't I leave?"
"Oh." Jacob said casually. "I activate a barrier around the mansion every time I return home. That's why you bounced off. But if you're ready to go, I'll deactivate it."
Derek cleared his throat and muttered. "Then I should leave. Thanks… for saving my life."
"You're welcome." Jacob said, smirking.
Derek gave one last glare at Stiles—who was still trying to contain his laughter—and nodded at Scott and Jacob before leaving. Stiles immediately lost it and burst out laughing again as soon as Derek left.
Jacob grinned. "Come on, let's head inside."
As they sat in the living room, Stiles looked over at him and said. "You activated the barrier on purpose, didn't you?"
Jacob didn't even try to deny it. "Yup. And it was worth it. Watching Derek fly through the air while farting… that was hilarious."
Scott shook his head, still grinning. "Where did you even get that pill you gave him?"
Jacob replied. "From some crazy supernatural doctor or inventor—or whatever he calls himself. I got his contact through a friend of my parents. The stuff he sells is insanely expensive."
Stiles grinned. "Do you still have more of those pills?"
"I do." Jacob said. "But they're life-saving medicine. Not meant for pranks."
"Too bad…" Stiles sighed. "You don't happen to have one that just makes people fart, do you?"
Jacob shook his head. "Nope."
After that, Jacob told them about the alpha's attack on the Argents. The three of them had dinner, and Stiles and Scott ended up spending the night at Jacob's mansion.
To be continued… 😊