The forest was bathed in early morning mist, the air thick with anticipation. Stella woke to the sound of Derek's sharp voice outside the cabin, barking instructions to Scott. She groaned, pushing herself off the couch, every muscle in her body aching from the relentless training the day before.
"Another day of boot camp," Stiles muttered from his makeshift bed on the floor, rubbing his eyes. "At this point, I'm expecting Derek to start shouting military slogans."
Stella smirked as she tied her boots. "You're not even the one being thrown into trees."
"True," Stiles said, sitting up. "But I am emotionally scarred from watching."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. Stiles's constant quips had become a lifeline, keeping her grounded in the chaos.
Outside, Derek and Scott were already deep into their morning drills. Scott's movements were faster, more precise, his confidence growing with each day. Stella watched for a moment before Derek turned and pointed at her.
"You're late," he said flatly.
"Good morning to you too," Stella muttered, joining Scott in the clearing.
"Focus," Derek barked. "If we're going to lure this Alpha out, you need to be ready. That means no hesitation, no mistakes. He won't show mercy, and neither should you."
Scott glanced at Stella, his expression tense. "Let's get to it," he said.
The training was brutal. Derek paired Stella and Scott against each other in mock fights, pushing them to their limits. Every time Stella thought she'd caught her breath, Derek would shout for them to start again. Her claws extended without her meaning to, her wolf instincts threatening to take over.
"Control it!" Derek yelled as Stella dodged Scott's attack. "Don't let it control you."
"I'm trying!" Stella snapped, her frustration boiling over.
"Trying isn't enough," Derek said, stepping closer. "If you lose control, you lose everything. Do it again."
Stella clenched her fists, her breathing ragged as she reset her stance. Scott gave her a small nod, his silent way of encouraging her. This time, she focused on her anchor, the steady hum of Stiles's voice in the back of her mind: "You've got this."
When Scott lunged, Stella reacted instinctively, dodging his strike and pinning him to the ground. Her claws retracted as she steadied her breathing, the wolf inside her calming.
"Better," Derek said, his tone begrudgingly approving. "But you're not done yet."
Later that afternoon, the group gathered in the cabin to strategize. The injured wolf, who had finally introduced himself as Liam, sat in the corner, his strength slowly returning. He had been quiet for most of the day, but now his voice was steady.
"If you're going to lure the Alpha out," Liam said, "you need to understand how he thinks. He doesn't care about alliances or loyalty. He only cares about power. If he sees you as a threat, he'll come."
"That's the idea," Derek said. "But we're not waiting for him to come to us. We're going to draw him out."
"How?" Stella asked, her stomach tightening.
"We leave a trail," Derek said, leaning over the table where a map of the forest was spread out. "A message he can't ignore."
"And by 'message,' you mean bait," Stiles said, crossing his arms. "Why do I feel like this is going to end with us running for our lives?"
"Because it might," Derek said bluntly. "But it's the only way."
Scott frowned. "What kind of trail are we talking about?"
"Marks," Derek said. "Scent. Anything that tells him this is our territory now. He'll take it as a challenge."
Stella's chest tightened. The thought of deliberately provoking the Alpha made her stomach churn, but she knew Derek was right. They couldn't stay on the defensive forever.
The group spent the evening preparing. Scott and Stella worked on creating claw marks in strategic locations around the forest, leaving behind scents that would be impossible for the Alpha to miss. Stiles stayed close to Stella, watching her back as she worked.
"You okay?" he asked as she scratched deep marks into a tree trunk.
"Not really," she admitted. "This feels like poking a bear."
"Yeah, but you're way scarier than a bear," Stiles said, his grin easing some of her tension. "Seriously, Stell, you've got this."
She managed a small smile. "Thanks, Stiles."
As night fell, the forest grew quiet, the stillness almost suffocating. Back at the cabin, the group huddled together, their nerves palpable. Derek stood near the window, his eyes scanning the darkness.
"He'll come," Derek said. "It's only a matter of time."
Scott nodded, his jaw tight. "And when he does, we'll be ready."
Stella sat beside Stiles, her hands clenched into fists. Her senses were on high alert, every creak and rustle outside the cabin making her heart race.
"You're shaking," Stiles said softly, his voice laced with concern.
"I'm fine," Stella said quickly, though her voice wavered.
Stiles reached out, his hand brushing hers. "You don't have to be fine, you know. It's okay to be scared."
She looked at him, his steady gaze grounding her. "Thanks," she said quietly, her chest loosening just slightly.
"Anytime," he replied, his voice soft but sure.
Hours passed, and the tension only grew. Just as Stella was beginning to wonder if the Alpha would come at all, a low growl echoed through the forest. Everyone froze.
"He's here," Derek said, his voice a harsh whisper. "Stay sharp."
Stella's heart pounded as she stood, her claws extending instinctively. The growl grew louder, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps approaching the cabin.
The Alpha's shadow loomed outside, its glowing red eyes piercing through the darkness. Stella's breath hitched as she locked eyes with the massive figure, her fear and determination warring within her.
This was it. The fight was coming—and there was no turning back now.
The low, guttural growl reverberated through the cabin, making the walls feel thinner than they should have. Stella's heart raced, her claws extending reflexively. Everyone was on edge, frozen as the Alpha's shadow moved closer to the door.
Derek stood by the window, his body tense and ready. "Remember the plan," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "We stick together. Don't break formation, and don't try to take him on alone."
Scott nodded, his jaw set with determination. Stella glanced at him, drawing strength from her brother's calm. Stiles stood beside her, gripping the bat he'd brought from the Jeep. His knuckles were white, but his eyes were steady as they met hers.
"You good?" he whispered.
She nodded, though her stomach churned. "As good as I can be."
The Alpha's footsteps grew louder, slow and deliberate, until they stopped just outside the door. A heavy silence fell over the cabin, the air thick with tension. Then, with a deafening crash, the door splintered inward.
The Alpha stepped into the cabin, its massive frame filling the doorway. Its red eyes glowed like embers, and its claws scraped against the wooden floor. Stella swallowed hard, her instincts screaming at her to run, but she held her ground.
"You've been leaving messages," the Alpha growled, its voice deep and guttural. "Challenging my authority."
Derek stepped forward, his expression cold and unyielding. "This territory isn't yours anymore. You're done terrorizing anyone who stands in your way."
The Alpha laughed, a low, menacing sound. "You think you can stop me? A broken pack and two pups who can barely control themselves?"
Scott bristled, his claws extending as he stepped beside Derek. "We're stronger than you think."
Stella felt the Alpha's gaze shift to her, its eyes narrowing. "And you," it said, a twisted grin spreading across its face. "The little wolf trying so hard to prove herself."
Her chest tightened, but she refused to look away. "I'm not afraid of you."
The Alpha tilted its head, as if amused. "You should be."
Without warning, the Alpha lunged, moving faster than Stella could track. Derek intercepted, slamming into the Alpha and forcing it back. The cabin erupted into chaos as Scott jumped into the fray, his claws slashing at the Alpha's side.
"Stick to the plan!" Derek shouted, his voice strained as he grappled with the Alpha's overwhelming strength.
Stella hesitated for a split second, her mind racing. Then Stiles's voice cut through the noise. "Stella! Focus!"
Her anchor. She locked onto Stiles's voice, the chaos fading just enough for her to move. She rushed forward, joining Scott and Derek as they forced the Alpha toward the center of the cabin. Every strike felt like a test, every dodge a near-miss, but she didn't let fear take over.
The fight was brutal. The Alpha was faster and stronger, but Stella, Scott, and Derek worked in sync, their movements coordinated. Stella felt her confidence grow with each blow she landed, her wolf instincts sharpening without consuming her.
"Behind you!" Stiles yelled, and Stella ducked just in time to avoid a swipe from the Alpha's claws. She rolled to the side, coming up on her feet with her claws extended.
The Alpha turned its attention to her, its red eyes burning with rage. "You think you can win?" it snarled, advancing on her.
She stood her ground, her heart pounding. "We don't have to beat you," she said, her voice steady. "We just have to stand together."
The Alpha lunged, but before it could reach her, Scott tackled it from the side, driving it into the wall. Derek followed, his claws digging into the Alpha's shoulder as he forced it down.
For a moment, the Alpha was pinned, its strength faltering under their combined effort. But then it let out a deafening roar, throwing them off with a burst of energy. Stella hit the floor hard, her vision swimming as the Alpha loomed over her.
"Stella!" Stiles's voice was frantic as he rushed forward, swinging the bat with all his strength. It connected with the Alpha's side, making it stagger just enough for Scott to recover and attack again.
Stiles dropped the bat and pulled Stella to her feet. "You okay?"
"Yeah," she panted, her head spinning. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it," he said, his voice shaking slightly. "Just don't die, okay?"
She managed a weak smile. "I'll do my best."
The fight raged on, the cabin trembling under the force of the struggle. Just as it seemed the Alpha might overpower them, Stella felt a surge of resolve. She focused on her breathing, letting her instincts take over without losing herself to the wolf inside.
She moved with precision, her claws slicing through the Alpha's defenses. Scott and Derek followed her lead, their attacks landing more effectively as they worked together. The Alpha began to falter, its movements growing slower and more desperate.
Finally, with a coordinated strike, they forced the Alpha to the ground. Stella stood over it, her chest heaving as she stared into its glowing red eyes.
"You think this is over?" the Alpha growled, its voice filled with defiance. "There will always be more like me."
"Maybe," Stella said, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her. "But not here. Not anymore."
The Alpha let out one final snarl before its body went limp, the fight draining from it completely. Derek stepped back, his shoulders relaxing for the first time all night.
"It's done," he said.
The cabin was silent except for the sound of heavy breathing. Stella looked around, her gaze landing on Stiles, who was leaning against the wall, clutching his side. "Are you okay?" she asked, rushing to him.
"Yeah," he said, giving her a tired smile. "I'll live. You?"
"I think so," she said, her voice soft. "Thanks for saving me."
"Anytime," he replied, his grin widening. "You're not bad at this whole werewolf thing, by the way."
She laughed, the tension in her chest easing slightly. "I had a good team."
As the night wore on, the group tended to their wounds and cleaned up the wreckage. The Alpha's threat had been neutralized, but Stella knew this wasn't the end. There would always be more challenges, more dangers. But for now, they had won.