Jacob commanded in his mind. 'System, do all three sign-ins at once.'
[Sign-In Successful. Rewards Obtained:
1. System Upgrade: New Function Available
-System Shop: Host can now purchase any reward previously obtained from Daily Sign-Ins. Food items from Event, Location, Quest, and Monthly Sign-Ins are also available for purchase.
Note: Other items (potions, abilities, bloodlines, etc.) require further system upgrades to unlock in the shop.
Currency: System Coins. Host will now receive a random amount of coins from Daily Sign-Ins. Rewards from Event, Location, Quest, and Monthly Sign-Ins that are unwanted can be sold back to the system for coins instead of being destroyed.
2. Telekinesis: The ability to move or manipulate objects with the mind, without physical contact.
3. Heat Vision: The ability to generate and project concentrated beams of intense thermal energy from the eyes.
4. Iron Man Mark 85: Tony Stark's final and most advanced nanotech suit from the MCU.
5. Dragon's Blood Essence Potion: A potent elixir made from the blood of an ancient dragon. When consumed, it strengthens your connection to your draconic heritage and permanently expands your energy reserves.
6. Dragon Egg.
7. Captain Jack Sparrow's Compass: A supernatural compass that does not point north, but toward the thing its holder most desires at that moment.
8. Hulk Serum x20: A stabilized serum made from the Hulk's blood, with all harmful side effects removed. Imparts immense superhuman strength and renders the user's skin impervious to small-arms fire.
9. Spartan Laser x10 (Halo): A heavy directed-energy weapon that emits a sustained, high-powered crimson laser beam capable of vaporizing infantry and light vehicles. Possesses unlimited internal energy and does not require recharging between shots.]
Jacob read through the list, his excitement growing with each item. 'Excellent. Telekinesis and Heat Vision are both powerful abilities. The dragon potion must be incredible—last time, just a drop of essence made me significantly stronger. I can't wait to see the boost now.'
He focused internally. 'System, can I drink the Hulk Serum?'
[Yes, Host. However, it is unnecessary. After consuming the Dragon's Blood Essence Potion, your physical strength will be enhanced to a degree that renders the Hulk Serum's additive effects negligible. It will provide no additional benefit to you.]
'I see.' Jacob thought. 'I'll save them for the girls, then.' He continued his mental review. 'The System Shop is a great addition, though I wish I could use normal money. The Mark 85 is perfect for Cogman. The Spartan Lasers are cool. I wonder what kind of dragon will hatch from that egg. And I've always wanted Jack Sparrow's compass…'
"Jacob." Derek called him, but Jacob was too absorbed in his system interface to notice.
Stiles nudged him in the ribs. "Jacob!"
Jacob blinked, the translucent screens fading from his vision. "What?"
"Derek is talking to you." Stiles said, jerking his thumb toward the new Alpha.
Jacob turned. "What did you say?"
"Thank you. For your help." Derek said.
"Don't worry about it." Jacob said with a dismissive wave. "By the way, I need you to do me a favor right now."
Derek's posture stiffened slightly. "What do you need? If I can, I'll do it."
"Relax, it's nothing too difficult." Jacob assured him. "I just need you to give Erica the Bite."
Derek frowned. "Who is Erica?"
Jacob looked over to where Erica was standing nervously with Lydia, and Malia. "Erica, come here."
Erica walked over, and stood close to Stiles.
Derek studied her, then looked back at Jacob. "Does she know the risks?"
"She knows." Jacob confirmed. "And remember, even after the Bite, she isn't part of your pack. Don't get any ideas. She's my friend, and under my protection."
Derek said. "Alright, but you'll have to teach her control if she survives."
"Don't worry about that. Just give her the Bite." Jacob said.
Derek stepped up to Erica. His eyes flashed red. "Give me your arm."
Erica extended her arm, trembling slightly. Derek's fangs lengthened, and he bit down firmly into her forearm. Erica winced, sucking in a sharp breath but didn't cry out.
As soon as Derek released her, Jacob took out a roll of bandages from his pocket dimension. Stiles immediately took them and began gently wrapping the bleeding wound on Erica's arm.
---
Not far away, Allison was standing with her parents. Victoria watched the scene with clear disapproval. "Allison, why is Jacob helping that girl become a monster? Doesn't he know the boy Peter turned ended up killing his own parents?"
"He knows, Mom." Allison said patiently. "But Erica has epilepsy. Becoming a werewolf will cure her. Besides, don't worry. We'll teach her control."
Chris studied his daughter's face, his own expression troubled. "You don't seem very upset about Kate's death."
Allison stepped closer, lowering her voice. She hugged both her parents and whispered directly into their ears. "Kate isn't dead. Jacob says she's still alive. She's… changing."
Both Chris and Victoria stiffened, their eyes widening in shock.
Chris's voice dropped to a hushed, urgent whisper. "You mean Peter turned her? With his claws?"
Allison nodded, still whispering. "Yes. Tomorrow she'll wake up, healed, and as something new. And we all know she isn't the type to follow the Hunter's Code and take her own life." She pulled back slightly, looking her father directly in the eyes. "So the choice is yours now, Dad. You can kill her… or let her live. But I think you should let her live. I'll talk to her. Hopefully, she can change and use her new powers for good. Let's give her a chance. What do you think?"
Chris didn't need to think long. The grief of believing his sister was dead had been a tangible weight; the possibility of her survival, however complicated, lifted it. "I guess… we can give her a chance." He said, his voice thick with emotion. "I already watched her die once tonight. I can't go through that again. Despite everything she did… she's still my little sister. And I do love her."
Victoria looked at Allison. "Did you forgive her?"
"I don't know." Allison admitted, her voice soft. "But when I heard her last words when she thought she was dying, and when I saw Peter slit her throat and believed she was dead… I was heartbroken for few seconds, before Jay told me she was still alive, that pain made me realize how much I still love her. I don't want her to die."
Chris sighed. "I suppose this outcome is a punishment more fitting for her than death. When Gerard finds out she's become a shapeshifter, he'll despise her. He'll try everything to kill her himself. She'll never get what she truly wanted—his pride, approval, and love. She'll have lost everything."
"Speaking of Gerard." Allison said, her tone turning serious. "I really hope you can stop him from provoking Jay when he comes to town. Because Jay really hates him, and he'll kill him without hesitation."
"Why does Jacob hate him, anyway?" Chris asked.
"I have no idea." Allison said with a shrug. "And honestly, I don't like him either. He's the one who made Kate into the monster she became. I hate him for that."
Despite their hushed tones, Derek's enhanced hearing picked up every word. His gaze drifted to Kate's motionless form, still lying on the ground covered by Allison's jacket, a mix of old hatred and new conflict in his eyes.
Jacob's voice cut through his thoughts. "If you want to live longer, don't even think about killing her now. Allison already gave you and Peter your chance for vengeance. Instead of killing her, stupid Peter—like an amateur Alpha—slashed her throat with his claws and turned her. So drop the thought. Allison won't stand aside this time, and I won't help you."
Derek let out a frustrated sigh. "As long as Kate doesn't come after me, I won't attack her. I just hope Allison won't blame me for defending myself."
"Allison isn't unreasonable." Jacob reassured him. "She understands self-defense."
"By the way," Derek asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. "why did you save Peter?"
Jacob grinned. "Just a whim. I might need a high-quality punching bag someday. That's why I saved his life. And since we're on the subject, watch yourself—he'd stab you in the back without a second thought the moment he gets the chance."
Derek nodded grimly. "I won't trust him."
He then looked toward the Argents, his posture tensing. "I need to talk to them. Can you help?"
"Sure." Jacob said. "Let's go."
They walked over, with Lydia, Malia, Scott, Stiles, and Erica trailing behind them.
As they approached, Chris immediately raised his gun, aiming it at Derek.
Derek raised his hands. "I'm just here to talk."
Before Chris could speak, Allison stepped forward. "We're listening."
Derek met her gaze. "I want your family—and Kate—to stop hunting me."
"You know she's still alive?" Allison asked.
Derek gave a single, stiff nod. "Yes. And as I told Jacob, as long as she doesn't attack me, I won't attack her. After what happened tonight… let's consider the debt between the Hales and the Argents paid. We're even."
"Even?" Chris snapped, his grip tightening on his gun. "You killed twenty of our people tonight!"
"And your sister burned my entire family alive." Derek shot back, his voice cold.
Allison placed a gentle hand on her father's arm. "Dad. Be reasonable."
Chris glared for another moment, then the fight seemed to drain out of him. "Fine."
Derek continued, his tone earnest. "I give you my word. I won't harm innocent people. I intend to protect this town, like my mother did."
Victoria studied him, her eyes sharp. "So you're planning to build a pack."
"Yes." Derek confirmed without hesitation. "I will teach them control, and if one of them takes an innocent life, I'll kill them myself."
Allison held up a hand. "First, answer me one thing truthfully. Why were your eyes blue before? If you're not a cold-blooded killer, I'll guarantee my parents won't attack you."
Derek's eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you sure you can guarantee that?"
"If you don't trust me," Allison said, a hint of a smile touching her lips. "then you should trust Jacob. He's kind of your friend."
Jacob, who had been watching the tense exchange with detached amusement, suddenly found himself in the spotlight. "Whoa, hey, Allison, don't drag me into this." He protested, holding up his hands. "Look at your mom. She's definitely planning to kill Derek, and Peter, and maybe even Kate. And if she could, I think she'd try to kill me, too. So I can't exactly give Derek my word that I'll protect him from a mean woman like her."
Victoria narrowed her eyes at Jacob, then a slow, dangerous smirk spread across her face. "Since I'm so mean," She said sweetly. "then Allison, you are not allowed to stay with Jacob at his house anymore. You will come home before dark every single day."
Jacob's playful demeanor vanished. "You can't do that. Allison is my wife. My house is her home. You can't keep her away from me."
Victoria's smile widened. "I can, and I will. Unless… you kill Derek for me. Right now."
Jacob nodded, his expression turning eerily serious. "Alright." He turned his head slowly toward Derek, his eyes beginning to glow a menacing gold. "Sorry, man. For my happiness, I have to kill you."
Derek panicked, stumbling back a step. Jacob took a predatory step forward, a wicked smirk playing on his lips.
Scott suddenly jumped between them, his arms spread wide. "Jacob, you can't kill him!"
Jacob's glowing eyes shifted to Scott. "So you want to stand in the way of my happiness, too? I don't mind beating you before I kill Derek."
Scott paled, his bravado crumbling.
Just then, Allison reached out and smacked Jacob firmly on the back of the head. "Stop scaring them, you idiot!"
Jacob's sinister expression melted into a grin, and the golden glow faded from his eyes. He patted Scott's shoulder. "Relax, I was just joking. I can't believe you actually thought I was going to kill Derek."
Scott scratched the back of his head, his face flushing with embarrassment. "Sorry, you sounded really serious."
Stiles, who had been watching the whole exchange with glee, complained. "Allison, why'd you stop him? If you'd let him scare them a little longer, one of them might've actually peed their pants!"
Allison rolled her eyes at Stiles, then turned back to Derek. "Mom and Jay were just joking."
Derek let out a long, shaky breath he hadn't realized he was holding. The tension in his shoulders eased slightly. He met Allison's expectant gaze and finally gave her the truth she'd asked for. "My eyes turned blue because I killed an innocent person."
"That's not the whole truth." Lydia said, her voice holding the certainty of a banshee. "I can feel it."
Allison's expression softened from suspicion to something more probing. "Tell me what really happened."
Derek closed his eyes for a moment, the forest around him fading as he was pulled back into the past. "I was about your age," He began, his voice low. "I was in love with a girl. Paige was her name. But Peter… Peter convinced me that she would hate me if she ever found out what I was. And because I was young and stupid, I let him talk me into a solution—turning her. I knew my mother would never allow it, but Peter had a plan for that, too." His jaw tightened. "I tried to stop it. I realized it was wrong, but I was too late. An Alpha bit her. Her body… it rejected the bite. It caused her unimaginable agony. In the end… she begged me to end her suffering. So I did."
"I'm sorry." Allison said, her earlier sternness gone, replaced by genuine sympathy. "I'm sorry for making you remember that. My parents won't attack you, Derek. Not as long as you keep your word and don't hurt innocent people. But you should be wary of Gerard when he comes. And if he attacks you…" She met her father's gaze briefly, then looked back at Derek. "…you have every right to defend yourself. You can even kill him."
"Allison!" Chris interjected, shocked.
"What?" Allison shot back, her tone firm. "Gerard is a monster who deserves to die. If you really want him to live, Dad, you'll tell him to never set foot in Beacon Hills."
Jacob stepped forward. "Alright. That's enough. Derek is under my protection as a friend. Chris, Victoria, the hunting stops here." He turned his golden gaze on the new Alpha. "Derek, don't let your new powers turn you into a monster. And keep an eye on Peter, and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."
Just then, a figure emerged from the shadow of the Hale house. Peter, now clad in scavenged clothes from one of the fallen hunters, walked toward them.
Derek walked to meet him halfway. "Where are Mike and Oliver?"
"Dead." Peter replied flatly. "Both of them got shot in the chaos."
"Then let's go." Derek said, turning to leave.
Peter stopped, a cold, mocking smile touching his lips. "Did you forget? You just slit my throat and stole my power."
"No, I didn't forget." Derek said, turning back to face him, his crimson eyes glowing faintly. "I took back what was always meant to be mine, and lucky for you, Jacob saved you. You should be thanking him."
Peter's gaze flickered past Derek to where Jacob stood with the others. "Why did he save me?"
Derek shrugged. "He said he might need a high-quality punching bag someday. So he saved you." He gestured toward the woods. "Now, are you coming with me, or are you staying here to see if the Argents feel like finishing the job?"
Peter said. "No. I'm leaving. I'll… thank Jacob some other time."
With that, the two of them left.
Jacob tilted his head, his enhanced hearing picking up distant engines. "Let's go home, everyone. I can hear vehicles approaching."
"Who is it?" Allison asked.
"The clean-up crew I called." Chris answered.
"Alright, we should go." Allison said, walking over to where Kate's body lay. "I'm taking Kate with me. I need to talk to her when she wakes up and teach her to control herself."
Chris nodded. "Okay. We'll come visit tomorrow."
Allison slung Kate over her shoulder, and with a final nod, she and Jacob's group left.
To be continued… 😊