The loft was eerily quiet as the full moon began to rise. Its silvery glow filtered through the cracks in the boarded-up windows, casting long shadows across the concrete floor. The air was thick with tension, every creak and groan of the building setting Stella further on edge.
Alex sat in the center of the room, his hands bound with reinforced chains that Derek insisted would hold him—if he didn't completely lose control. His breaths came in shallow gasps, his eyes darting nervously between Stella, Scott, and Derek.
"I don't think I can do this," Alex whispered, his voice barely audible over the hum of silence.
"Yes, you can," Stella said, crouching in front of him. "You're stronger than you think. Just focus on your anchor, okay? Something that keeps you grounded."
Alex's hands trembled, the chains rattling slightly. "What if it's not enough?"
"It will be," Scott chimed in, stepping closer. "We've been where you are, Alex. It's hard, but you can fight it."
Derek stood off to the side, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. "Words won't mean much once the moon takes over," he said flatly. "If he doesn't control it, we'll have to stop him."
Stiles, leaning against a nearby wall, let out a nervous laugh. "You know, for a guy who's supposedly on our side, you have a real talent for making things worse."
"Reality doesn't care about your feelings," Derek shot back. "If you're not ready to do what's necessary, you shouldn't be here."
Stella clenched her fists, resisting the urge to snap at Derek. Instead, she turned her attention back to Alex, who was visibly shaking now. "We're not going to give up on you," she said firmly. "You're not alone."
The minutes ticked by as the moon climbed higher, its light growing brighter and more intense. Alex's breathing became ragged, his eyes flickering between their natural brown and an eerie yellow. His claws began to extend, scraping against the chains as he struggled to hold himself together.
"Stella," Scott said quietly, his voice laced with concern. "You might want to step back."
"No," Stella said, staying close to Alex. "He needs to know someone's here for him."
Alex let out a low growl, his body jerking against the chains. "It's… it's too much," he choked out. "I can't—"
"Yes, you can," Stella interrupted, her voice steady. "Breathe, Alex. Focus on me."
His glowing eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, it seemed like he might calm down. But then the growl in his chest deepened, his body convulsing as the shift began to take hold. His claws slashed at the floor, and his teeth elongated into sharp fangs.
"Get back!" Derek barked, moving toward them.
Before Stella could react, Alex lunged forward, the chains barely holding him in place. His movements were wild and frenzied, his human side buried beneath the wolf's fury.
"Alex!" Stella shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. "You're stronger than this! Fight it!"
For a split second, Alex hesitated, his glowing eyes flickering back to brown. But the pull of the moon was too strong, and he let out a deafening roar, his strength surging as he strained against the chains.
"Derek!" Scott called, stepping in to help. Together, they reinforced the chains, but even with their combined strength, it was clear Alex was dangerously close to breaking free.
Stiles, clutching a metal pipe he'd grabbed as a makeshift weapon, edged closer to Stella. "Uh, maybe we should let the werewolf pros handle this?"
"I can reach him," Stella said, ignoring the rising panic in her chest. She stepped closer to Alex, her heart racing as his snarls grew louder. "Alex, look at me! You can fight this!"
His gaze snapped to hers, and for a moment, the growls subsided. Stella could see the fear and desperation in his eyes, the faint glimmer of humanity fighting to break through. She reached out cautiously, her voice soft but firm. "You're not alone. We're here. You're not a monster."
Alex's breathing slowed, and his claws retracted slightly. It wasn't much, but it was enough to give Stella hope.
"Good," she whispered. "You're doing it. Just stay with me."
But the moment was short-lived. The moonlight intensified, and Alex let out another guttural roar, his body thrashing violently. The chains groaned under the strain, and Derek stepped forward, his claws out.
"If he breaks free, I'll handle it," Derek said grimly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"No," Stella said, blocking his path. "He's still in there. We just need more time."
"We don't have time!" Derek snapped.
Before he could move, Alex let out a piercing howl, and the chains snapped. He lunged forward, his claws slashing through the air. Stella barely had time to react before Stiles grabbed her arm, pulling her back.
"Stella, move!" Stiles shouted.
Scott tackled Alex, pinning him to the ground, but Alex's strength was overwhelming. He threw Scott off with a wild swing, sending him crashing into a nearby wall.
Derek leapt into the fray, his own wolf form emerging as he wrestled Alex back to the ground. Stella watched in horror, her mind racing. She couldn't just stand there while Alex lost himself completely.
"Alex!" she screamed, stepping closer despite Stiles's protests. "You're stronger than this! Fight it! Don't let it win!"
Her voice seemed to cut through the chaos. Alex froze for a moment, his glowing eyes locking onto hers. Slowly, his body began to relax, his breathing evening out as the wolf receded. His claws and fangs retracted, and his eyes returned to their natural brown.
He collapsed onto the floor, trembling and gasping for air. Stella rushed to his side, kneeling beside him. "You did it," she said softly. "You fought it."
Alex looked up at her, tears streaming down his face. "I… I almost…"
"But you didn't," she said firmly. "You're okay."
Derek and Scott exchanged wary glances, but neither said anything. Stiles let out a shaky breath, lowering the pipe he'd been clutching.
"Well," Stiles said, his voice strained but light, "remind me never to question your methods again."
Stella smiled faintly, relief washing over her. For the first time, she felt like she'd done something right—like she'd made a difference. And as the moonlight faded, she realized that maybe, just maybe, they were all stronger than they thought.