Jacob and his friends arrived back at the mansion and settled into the living room, the festive mood of the formal dissipated into an uneasy tension.
Jacob looked directly at Erica, who was holding Stiles's hand tightly. "So, did you think carefully about everything Stiles told you? The bite can heal you, but there's also the risk of dying."
Erica hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering between Jacob and Stiles. Stiles squeezed her hand gently. "Don't worry about me." He said softly. "Just think about what you really want. I won't break up with you, no matter what you choose."
Empowered by his words, Erica turned back to Jacob, her expression firming with resolve. "I want the bite. If there's even a chance I might be cured, then I'm willing to take it."
"And did you consider everything Stiles told you about the dangers of becoming a shapeshifter?" Jacob asked.
"I did." Erica confirmed, her voice steady. "And I still want it."
"Alright." Jacob nodded, a slight smile touching his lips. "And don't worry too much. Call it a hunch, but I think you'll be just fine."
Having settled that, Jacob's demeanor shifted. He turned his focus to Allison, his expression turning grave. "Allison, your family and the Hales are going to fight tonight." He glanced at his watch. "In less than two hours."
Allison's eyes widened slightly. "Are you sure? My parents and Kate didn't tell me anything."
"I'm sure." Jacob said. "And you don't have to worry about your parents. I warned Derek not to harm them. But Kate… Kate will probably not survive. So, Allison… the choice is yours. Do you want to save her or not?"
Allison let out a slow, heavy sigh. She pulled out her phone and stared at a picture of herself with Kate, her aunt's smiling face frozen in a happier time.
Lydia reached over gently, catching Allison's hand, and said softly. "Hey, if you want to save her, we'll understand. We won't judge you, and of course, we'll help. She's a monster, but we know you love her."
Allison gave Lydia a small, weary smile. "Thanks." Then she looked back at Jacob, searching his face.
Jacob met her gaze. "Whatever you choose, I'll stand by your side."
Allison stood up, leaned over, and kissed him softly. "Thanks." She took a steadying breath. "I'm going to Sere..." She caught herself, remembering Stiles, Scott, and Erica were present. "I'm going to our other home to think for a bit."
"Alright." Jacob said.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Lydia offered.
Allison shook her head. "No. I need to be alone for a little while." With that, she left the living room, walked out of the mansion, and teleported to the palace in Serendell.
Just as Allison left, Scott's phone rang. He glanced at the screen. "It's Derek." He answered. "Derek, what's up?"
Derek's voice came through. "The fight with the Argents is tonight at my old house. They're keeping Peter's two Betas there. It's obviously an ambush, but Peter decided to go anyway. He says it's his chance to kill Kate. We attack at midnight." He paused. "And, Scott… do you want to help me deal with Peter?"
"No," Scott said firmly. "I don't want to get involved in your family drama."
"I'd owe you a favor." Derek tried to bargain.
"Nope. I won't help you kill Peter."
From the other end of the line, Derek sighed in frustration. "Can you give me Jacob's number?"
"If you want to talk to him, he's right beside me." Scott said, holding out the phone to Jacob.
Jacob took it. "What's up, Rocket Man?"
"Hahahaha, Rocket Man!" Stiles burst out laughing, unable to contain himself.
Derek's angry voice crackled through the speaker. "Stiles, I can hear you laughing!"
Stiles didn't care. He laughed harder. "I know, and I don't care! I just remembered how you flew that night… hahahahaha!"
Jacob smirked. "What do you want, Derek?"
Derek forced his temper down. "I want you to help me become an Alpha tonight. I'd owe you a favor."
"You already owe me for saving your life." Jacob reminded him.
"Then I'd owe you two favors." Derek said.
Jacob considered it. 'I need to witness Derek become an Alpha tonight anyway for the sign-in, so it's not like I'm losing anything. Besides, I might need his favor when Cora comes to Beacon Hills.' A slow smile spread across his face. "Alright. I'll help you, but after your fight with the Argents ends. And make sure to remind Peter not to harm Chris or his wife. Otherwise, you all might end up dead tonight."
"Thanks." Derek said, the relief clear in his voice. With that, Jacob hung up and handed the phone back to Scott.
Cogman, who had been listening intently, leaned forward, a hopeful glint in his eyes. "Sir, may I participate in that fight?"
"No," Jacob said flatly. "You may not."
"But, sir…" Cogman began to protest.
Jacob cut him off, his tone final. "I said no. The Hales are fighting to avenge their family. The Argents are my in-laws. So, who exactly are you planning to have your twisted fun with?"
Cogman leaned back in his armchair with a huff, crossing his arms and turning his face away to sulk.
Jacob shook his head at his butler's dramatics and turned to Stiles and Scott. "What about you two? Are you coming to watch the fight?"
Stiles's eyes lit up. "I'm definitely going!"
"Me too." Scott said, though he sounded more hesitant. "But I'll just watch from a distance."
Erica, looking between them, hesitated for a moment then said. "Can... can I go with you, too?"
Stiles thought for a moment, his expression turning serious. "Sure, but you have to prepare yourself for what you're going to see. A fight between hunters and werewolves isn't something pretty. People will be dying. In gruesome ways."
Erica swallowed hard. "Are we going to be safe if we go to watch?"
"Don't worry about that." Stiles assured her. "As long as Jacob and his girlfriends are there, we'll be totally safe. All of them are crazy strong."
"Really?" Erica asked, glancing at the seemingly normal girls.
"Yep." Stiles said. He pointed a thumb at Malia, who was now zoning out in front of the TV. "I'm not sure about her." Then he gestured to Jacob and Lydia. "But these two, and Allison? They're monsters."
Lydia's head snapped toward him, her eyes narrowing. "Hey. Don't call me a monster, or I'll beat your ass."
Stiles shrugged, unfazed. "I didn't lie, did I? I saw what you did to a monster like Peter that night. So, if you're not a monster yourself, then what are you?"
Lydia's expression morphed into a sweet, terrifying smile. "I warned you." She turned to Cogman, who was still sulking in his armchair. "Cogman. Stiles just insulted me."
It was as if a switch had been flipped. Cogman's sulk vanished instantly. Without a word of warning, he launched himself from the chair, tackling Stiles off the couch. The two of them crashed to the floor and immediately began fighting.
Erica let out a small gasp of panic, but Lydia caught her hand, her tone calm. "Don't worry. They do this from time to time."
Erica watched, wide-eyed, as Stiles, pinned beneath Cogman, took a solid punch to the face.
"AAAAGH! That hurt, you crazy bastard!" Stiles yelled. He retaliated by driving two fingers straight into Cogman's eyes. "Take this, you psycho!"
Cogman recoiled, letting go of Stiles to clutch at his face. "Don't poke my eyes, you wanker! That hurts!"
Seizing the opportunity, Stiles scrambled up and tried to run, but Cogman, still blinking, lunged and caught his leg, tripping him. They fell back to the floor in a tangle of limbs, rolling and wrestling like children. Eventually, Cogman managed to pin Stiles again. This time, he caught both of Stiles's wrists and began using Stiles's own hands to hit him in the face, all while wearing a disturbingly cheerful grin. "Stop hitting yourself! Stop hitting yourself!"
"Jacob, help!" Stiles yelled, struggling uselessly. "Tell him to stop!"
Jacob leaned back, a smirk on his face. "You know, Cogman tried to annoy me today by acting coquettish and using a girly voice. When I electrocuted him, he told me it was your idea. So, you're on your own. Besides, it's not me you should be asking for help. It's Lydia."
Thump. Stiles got smacked with his own hand again. "Ouch! Damn it!" He was about to beg Lydia directly but knew it was futile. Instead, he turned desperate eyes toward Erica. "Babe! Please, ask Lydia to call off her crazy butler!"
Erica looked at Lydia pleadingly. Lydia sighed with theatrical weariness. "Okay, Cogman. That's enough."
"Very well, my lady." Cogman said pleasantly. Then he leaned down, his smile turning cruel. "But before that…" He caught Stiles's left hand and gripped his pinky finger. "Let me break something."
Before Stiles could even yell, there was a sharp crack. Cogman released him, stood up, and calmly straightened his suit, leaving Stiles writhing and screaming on the floor.
Cogman settled back into his armchair, a look of deep satisfaction on his face. "That was most satisfying."
Erica looked at Stiles with genuine worry, but Lydia waved a dismissive hand. "Don't worry, he's fine." She raised her voice. "Stop screaming, you idiot." Then she smirked. "Cogman, help Stiles fix his finger."
Stiles immediately shot up from the floor. "There's no need! I'm fine! I'm already healed!" He quickly sat back down next to Erica.
She looked at him, her brow still furrowed. "Are you okay?"
Stiles smiled reassuringly. "I'm fine. I have superpowers, remember?" Then he glared across the room at Cogman. "One day, I will take my revenge and beat your ass. But I'm very pleased to know you got zapped by Jacob. My prank really worked on you, you idiot."
Cogman glared back, his eyes narrowing.
Stiles's grin widened. "What? Are you pissed? I thought you were smart, but apparently not. You know Jacob hates it when I act like a girl to annoy him, don't you? But you still did it anyway, you dumbass."
Cogman's expression shifted from anger to a slow, calculating smile. He leaned back in his seat. "Pranks, huh? Childish… but I can do pranks, too. So prepare yourself, you dickhead."
"Language!" Lydia chided.
"Sorry, my lady." Cogman said smoothly, not taking his eyes off Stiles. "I will punish myself by beating Stiles again."
Stiles panicked, but Jacob cut in, his tone putting an end to the nonsense. "That's enough, Cogman. Go make us something to eat, and be quick. We need to leave soon to watch the fight."
After Cogman left for the kitchen, Stiles turned his glare on Scott. "Why didn't you help me? You just sat there laughing like an idiot. I thought we were friends!"
Scott just smiled. "Who told you to open your stupid mouth and insult Lydia? And I'm on good terms with Cogman, I don't want to be added to his shit list."
Stiles snorted. "You'll need my help one day, and I'll just watch from the side and laugh."
The group ate a quick meal and continued talking, the atmosphere a mix of anticipation and dark humor, until only forty minutes remained until the scheduled showdown at the Hale house.
That's when Allison returned from Serendell. She walked into the living room, her expression composed but weary, and sat down next to Jacob.
Jacob looked at her, his voice gentle. "So, did you make a decision?"
Allison sighed. "I won't interfere. Let Kate face the consequences of her actions." Her voice hardened. "But, if Peter kills her. I won't kill him. I'll just make him wish I had."
'I won't lie, I'm glad she chose not to interfere.' Jacob thought with relief. 'So let's hope everything goes as in the original—Peter slits Kate's throat and turns her instead of killing her. That way, he and Derek get their revenge, Kate doesn't die, Allison won't be heartbroken, and most importantly, I'll get my sign-in.'
He hugged her and said. "Okay. And maybe Kate will survive. After all, she and your parents are the ones who set the ambush. Since they know they're dealing with a powerful Alpha and his pack, they must have prepared well to face him."
"Ambush?" Allison asked.
Jacob then filled her in on everything Derek had told them earlier. As they were talking, the sound of a piano began to fill the room. It was Cogman, seated at the grand piano in the corner, his playing growing louder and more dramatic by the second.
Jacob snapped. "Cogman! What do you think you're doing?"
Cogman stopped mid-chord and turned, his expression one of mock solemnity. "I am playing 'Funeral March' by Frédéric Chopin, sir. To mourn Kate."
Allison's face instantly darkened.
Before Cogman could react, Jacob summoned a crackling ball of lightning in his palm and sent it streaking across the room with blinding speed. Cogman was hit square in the chest, the impact throwing him backward. He crashed into the piano with a cacophony of shattered wood and discordant notes before crumpling to the ground, convulsing violently.
Stiles burst out laughing and couldn't resist walking over to stand triumphantly over the twitching Cogman. "How do you feel now, you..."
His gloating was cut short as Cogman's hand shot out and grabbed his ankle. Stiles yelped as he was yanked off his feet, landing beside Cogman, where he immediately began convulsing in sync with his attacker.
Jacob ignored them and stood up. "Let's go."
The group left the mansion. Erica glanced back with concern at the still-twitching pair, but the sight of Stiles and Cogman, both spasming on the floor yet still trying to kick each other, made her shake her head. With a sigh, she turned and followed the others.
A few minutes later, Cogman and Stiles—their hair standing on end in spectacular, lightning-struck styles—caught up, bickering quietly but persistently.
Thirty minutes later, Jacob and his group were concealed in the darkness of the woods, a safe distance from the burned-out skeleton of the old Hale house. They watched, and they waited.
The show was about to begin.
To be continued… 😊