Arriving at the ranch, Scott found Melissa, Deaton, and Victoria waiting for them. Noshiko had also arrived.
In front of the pack house, Scott dropped the Nogitsune to the ground and said. "Stiles, go bring some mountain ash. It's in a jar on the bookshelf next to the supernatural books."
Stiles quickly went inside and returned with the jar. Scott then said. "Give it to Deaton. He'll create a barrier around the Nogitsune. That way, even if it turns into a fly again, it won't escape."
Once Deaton completed the barrier, the Nogitsune began laughing. "So, this is your plan? To imprison me inside a mountain ash barrier?"
Allison stepped forward, her eyes cold. "No. We're going to get you out of my dad, and kill you."
The Nogitsune smirked. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"
Scott's eyes glowed red as he stepped toward the creature. "That's easy. I just have to give Chris the Bite."
The Nogitsune's smirk vanished, replaced by panic. "No! If you bite me, Chris will die!"
Scott's expression remained calm. "No, he won't."
Without hesitation, Scott took Chris's limp arm and sank his fangs into it. A moment later, Chris began convulsing, before suddenly vomiting thick bandages. The bandages twisted and shifted, taking the shape of a person.
Sensing the presence of two separate beings, Scott grabbed the bandaged figure and pulled it out of the mountain ash barrier.
Victoria and Allison rushed to his side and began unwrapping the figure's face. As the last layer of fabric fell away, Chris's face was revealed.
Tears welled in Allison's eyes as she threw her arms around him. "Dad! Are you okay?"
Chris hugged her tightly. "I'm fine, sweetheart."
As he let go of Allison, he turned to Victoria, guilt in his eyes. "I'm sorry. If I hadn't been so caught up thinking about Kate and Gerard, none of this would have happened."
Victoria shook her head. "I don't blame you for grieving, Chris. But you took it too far with all the drinking you've been doing."
Chris sighed. "Actually, I wasn't grieving over them. I was afraid. Afraid that one day, I'd become a monster like them and end up hurting you or Allison. And I felt useless, both of you are strong now, and you don't need my protection anymore. And I was terrified that if I took the Bite from Scott, I'd turn into something worse than Gerard or Kate."
Victoria placed her hand on his cheek, her expression softening. "Why didn't you tell me any of this? You know you can talk to me, right?"
Chris placed his hand over hers and sighed. "I know. I was just being stupid. But don't worry. After being possessed these last few days, I had a lot of time to think. I'll never let those thoughts take over again. I promise."
Victoria leaned in and kissed him. "Okay... but I won't forgive you so easily for yelling at me the morning you disappeared."
Chris frowned. "That wasn't me! You know I would never yell at you."
Victoria smirked. "Well, I don't care. You still have to make it up to me."
Chris turned to Allison. "Allison, help me convince your mom to forgive me."
Allison playfully stuck out her tongue. "Nope! That's your problem."
Chris sighed dramatically. "You've changed, Allison. It's all that punk's fault." He shot a look at Scott before turning to Malia. "Malia, help me out here. If you do, I'll ask the school to give you a week off."
Malia's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really?! Okay! How about you let her beat you up?"
Chris blinked. "What? That's not what I meant! I meant you should talk to her and convince her to forgive me!"
Malia shrugged. "I'm not good with words."
Victoria folded her arms. "The girls aren't going to help you, Chris. You'll have to figure this one out yourself."
Chris sighed again, then looked down at the fresh Bite on his arm. He glanced at Scott. "Was this really the only way?"
Scott smirked. "Yep. Welcome to the pack."
Chris exhaled, rubbing his forehead. "I didn't cause too much destruction, did I?"
Scott said. "You hurt a lot of people, but you got lucky. No one died."
Chris nodded solemnly. "I see..."
Scott then turned his gaze toward the Nogitsune, who still looked exactly like Chris inside the mountain ash barrier. "So... who wants to kill him?"
Victoria stepped forward, her eyes glowing red. "Let me."
Without hesitation, she stepped through the mountain ash barrier.
Noshiko and her husband exchanged glances, surprised. They had seen Scott do the same earlier, and now Victoria had done it too. But they kept their questions to themselves for now.
The Nogitsune narrowed its eyes. "How did you enter?"
Victoria didn't answer. Instead, she punched him hard, sending him crashing against the barrier. She continued the assault, striking him repeatedly, but something was wrong. His wounds didn't bleed. Instead, they turned into pure darkness and instantly healed.
Victoria stopped and stepped out of the barrier, frowning. "I can't hurt him with physical attacks."
Noshiko sighed. "That's what I was afraid of. Do you remember when I told you we needed a bolt of lightning to defeat the Nogitsune?"
Erica asked. "Wait... are you saying only lightning can kill it?"
Noshiko nodded. "It's the only method I know of. But Kira hasn't mastered her powers yet."
The Nogitsune grinned. "I told you... you can't kill me."
Scott smirked and said. "That's not necessary." He turned to Stiles. "Do you want to do it, or should I?"
Stiles gave the Nogitsune a wicked grin. "Leave him to me."
Scott nodded. "Alright. But first, see if you can get anything useful from him."
Stiles stepped into the mountain ash barrier, his eyes glowing red. He drove his hand into the Nogitsune's chest, his claws sinking deep as he began absorbing his power.
The Nogitsune's smirk vanished as it realized what was happening. It struggled, trying to break free, but Stiles grabbed it by the throat with his other hand. "Stay still." He said coldly. "I'll be done soon."
The Nogitsune screamed as his energy was drained. Cracks of black light began forming on his face and limbs, spreading rapidly. Moments later, his entire form crumbled into ash, leaving behind only a lone housefly that tried to to hide in the grass.
Stiles smirked, bending down to pluck the fly from the ground. Holding it between his fingers, he said. "Let's see if you're really immortal." His hand ignited with flames, engulfing the fly in fire until it was reduced to nothing but ash.
Dusting off his hands, Stiles smirked. "Guess not."
Noshiko stared at him in shock. "What... what are you?"
Stiles gave her a casual shrug. "Me? I'm a werewolf."
Noshiko narrowed her eyes. "I've never seen a werewolf like you. Are you sure you're not a Hellhound or something else? And how do you, Victoria and Scott walk through mountain ash like it's nothing?"
Stiles chuckled. "Like I said, I'm a werewolf. As for the mountain ash… that's a secret."
Noshiko sighed, realizing she wasn't going to get an answer. "I see… Well, thank you. That monster has caused enough suffering."
Stiles nodded. "It wasn't just your problem, it was ours too."
Noshiko nodded in gratitude. "Alright, we'll be leaving now. Thank you again."
Ken gave Scott a respectful nod before following Noshiko.
Kira hesitated, looking conflicted. Seeing the sad expression on her face, Allison stepped forward and said. "Hey, Kira. You can still hang out with us. We're friends."
Erica grinned. "Yeah, you're always welcome."
Kira's eyes lit up. "Really? I can still be friends with you guys?"
Lydia smiled. "Of course! In fact, since we all skipped school today, why don't we go shopping? What do you think, girls?"
Erica clapped her hands. "Great idea! Allison, are you coming?"
Allison glanced at her father, then Lydia said. "Allison, even if you want to spend time with him, he looks pretty busy with your mom right now."
Allison chuckled. "You're right. Let's go."
Kira turned to her mother. "Can I go with them, Mom?"
Noshiko smiled and nodded. "Of course."
Kira beamed, hugging her mother. "Thanks!"
After the Yukimuras left, Isaac turned to Stiles and asked. "So… what did you get from the Nogitsune?"
Stiles smirked. "Let me show you."
Dark smoke gathered in Stiles' palm, taking the shape of a firefly. The small glowing insect suddenly darted toward Isaac.
Isaac barely had time to react. "Wait, what...?"
Before he could finish, the firefly flew straight into his mouth.
Isaac coughed violently, his face contorted in disgust.
Scott chuckled. "Stiles, you do remember we're immune to mind control, right?"
Stiles scratched the back of his head. "Oh yeah… I forgot. I was gonna make Isaac do a stupid dance."
Isaac finally recovered and glared at Stiles. "Damn it, Stiles! That was disgusting. I'm fighting you for this."
Stiles grinned and took off running. "Hey! You asked me to show you!"
"You could've just told me! You didn't have to make me swallow a bug!"
The pack burst into laughter as they watched Isaac chase Stiles around the ranch.
Just then, Scott's phone rang. He answered. "You've been here for weeks. Did you finally decide to call?"
A hesitant voice came from the other end. "I'm sorry... I wanted to see you as soon as I arrived, but I didn't know how to face you. Can we meet?"
Scott was silent for a moment before replying. "Sure."
After hanging up, Melissa approached him with a knowing smile. "So, he finally grew some balls and decided to meet you?"
Scott sighed. "Yeah."
Melissa patted his shoulder. "Don't be too hard on him."
Scott smirked. "I'll try."
With that, Scott left, while the rest of the pack went about their day.
To be continued… 😊