<h4>Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Shadows of the Past</h4>


    Scott leaned down, his sharp ws sliding into the back of the shriveled Eric. As his ws pierced the vampire''s skin, Scott''s mind was flooded with a surge of memories, vivid and brutal. He closed his eyes, letting the torrent of Eric''s long, dark life unfold before him.


    Eric''s memories were a twisted archive of over two centuries of carnage. Scott saw how Eric had been turned into a vampire at the age of forty, his aging frozen at that moment. His transformation into a predator unleashed an insatiable bloodlust, and Eric reveled in it. From the very beginning, he had targeted women exclusively, finding their blood more ptable. Scott grimaced as he watched the trail of death Eric had left behind—a butcher of innocents.


    Through Eric''s eyes, Scott saw glimpses of history. Eric had participated in both World War I and World War II. In thetter, Eric had been a Nazi soldier, nicknamed Der hter. Despite not understanding German, Scott didn''t need trantion. The blood-soaked images of Eric''s brutality on the battlefield were enough to exin the title.


    Scott''s heart sank further as he realized the depth of supernatural involvement in both wars. Werewolves, kitsunes, wendigos, and other creatures fought alongside humans, blending into history''s shadows. Eric had thrived in that chaos, his violence unchecked and his thirst unending.


    Scott saw Eric''s arrival in America during the 1970s. Eric had continued his predatory spree, moving from city to city, his charm masking his monstrous nature. He drained and murdered countless women, discarding them like trash. Then, a month ago, when he was passing by Beacon Hills, Eric felt a mystical force pulling him to the heart of the woods.


    Through Eric''s perspective, Scott saw his discovery of the Nemeton tree. The vampire had panicked, knowing that such a ce was likely protected by a powerful guardian. Eric had investigated cautiously, eventually learning about Talia Hale''s role as the Nemeton''s guardian. Upon discovering her death, Eric felt secure enough to stay in Beacon Hills.


    Still, Eric had been cautious, avoiding murder until one fateful night when his thirst overpowered him. He killed a woman in the woods, but his crime did not go unnoticed. A ck-haired woman appeared, her smirk unnerving. Eric had fled in fear, sensing she could annihte him with ease.


    Scott wondered who that woman was.


    Then Scott''s grip tightened, anger building as he witnessed Eric''s more recent atrocities. The vampire hadpelled Melissa to forget catching him drinking stolen blood. He had then killed a nurse named Jennifer, stashing her body in the morgue. The memories stopped abruptly at their encounter earlier that night.


    When Scott withdrew his ws, his eyes narrowed as he processed what he''d seen. ''This monster has lived too long.'' He thought.


    However, one memory piqued his interest. Scott smirked as he saw Eric''s hidden wealth—a bank ount under a false name holding over $100 million. "Not bad for a butcher," Scott muttered.


    Melissa approached cautiously. "What did you see, Scott?"


    Scott gestured to Eric. "You need to see this for yourself, Mom. It''s ugly, but you''re part of this world now. You need to know what kind of creatures exist out there."


    Melissa hesitated, then nodded. "Alright." She crouched beside Eric, sank her ws into his neck, and gasped as his memories poured into her mind.


    When she pulled back, her eyes were glowing red with rage. She kicked the withered vampire, her voice trembling. "You vile, disgusting bastard!"


    Scott caught her in aforting hug before she couldsh out further. "It''s okay, Mom. He won''t make it past tonight."


    Melissa exhaled shakily, letting Scott''s presence calm her.


    Scott released her and turned back to Eric, his gaze cold. "Let''s see if you''ve got anything left to take." He drove his ws into Eric again, this time draining the vampire of his remaining power. Eric''s body shriveled further, his skin clinging tightly to his bones like a mummified corpse.


    Melissa stepped closer, her curiosity piqued. "How do we kill a vampire, Scott?"


    Scott shrugged. "Let''s try the ssic. Wooden stake to the heart, right?"


    Spotting a dry branch nearby, Scott snapped it into a sharp point. With one decisive motion, he drove it into Eric''s heart. The vampire let out a final, rasping wheeze before disintegrating into a pile of dust.


    Melissa watched, wide-eyed. "The world is really magical." She muttered.


    ---


    Scott wiped his hands clean and turned to Melissa. "I''m heading to Eric''s house. He had some books on supernatural creatures I need to grab."


    Melissa frowned. "Scott, don''t you think someone might notice if you show up there? It could lead to trouble."


    "Don''t worry," Scott said with a grin. "I''ll be quick, and I''ll cover my tracks."


    Melissa shook her head but smiled. "Fine, just be careful. I''m going to run some more in my wolf form. I''ll meet you back at the house."


    Scott nodded. "Okay, Mom. Be careful and trust your instincts, if anything feels off, run. And you can always talk to me telepathically."


    Melissa smiled warmly. "Got it."


    She began to shift, but something unexpected happened. Instead of her wolf form, Melissa transformed into her full werewolf form by ident. Fur sprouted across her entire body, covering her from head to toe. Her glowing red eyes intensified, radiating power. She grew taller, her muscles bing more defined, and her posture shifted to a blend of human and wolf. Her head transformedpletely, elongating into a wolf''s snout, sharp teeth visible as her jaw flexed.


    To her surprise, her clothes didn''t tear apart but instead stretched tight over her new form. A long, bushy tail emerged from her pants, swaying slightly as she adjusted to her new body.


    "Whoa," Melissa muttered, her voice a mix of awe and surprise. "What just happened?"


    Scottughed. "Looks like you can shift into your full werewolf form now that you''re an alpha. Congrats!"


    Melissa examined her hands, now wed and covered in fur. "How do I look?"


    Scott scratched his head, grinning. "How should I put it? You look... cute. Hahaha!"


    He stepped closer and started rubbing her head affectionately. Before he could enjoy teasing her any further, Melissa growled and bit his arm—not hard, but enough to make him yelp.


    "Ow! Mom, what are you doing?" Scott eximed, pulling his arm back.


    Melissa red at him. "I''m not a dog, Scott. I''m a wolf. Don''t pat my head like I''m some golden retriever."


    Scott chuckled nervously, backing off. "Alright, alright! No head pats. Got it."


    With an exasperated sigh, Melissa walked behind the car and slipped out of her clothes before shifting. Her limbs reforming into powerful legs, and her face elongated into a majestic wolf''s muzzle. She emerged from behind the car in her wolf form, her thick grey fur shining under the moonlight.


    Melissa padded forward, her tail swishing. [Wow.] she said telepathically. [I think I''ve gotten bigger.]


    Scott took a step back, marveling at her transformation. She was massive, easily the size of a cow, her red eyes sharp and piercing. "You look majestic." Scott said, his voice filled with awe.


    Melissa wagged her tail slightly, then nodded. "Alright, I''m going. See you at home, Scott. Be careful."


    Scott smiled. "Always."


    With that, Melissa darted into the woods, herrge frame disappearing into the shadows.


    ---


    Scott drove to Stiles'' house, dialing his best friend on the way.


    When Stiles answered, his voice was full of excitement. "What''s up, Scott?"


    "Throw on a ck hoodie and grab some gloves. We''re going on a little mission."


    Stiles'' curiosity peaked. "Mission? Where?"


    Scott smirked. "I''ll exin when I get there. Just be ready."


    Stiles''ugh echoed through the phone. "Alright, I''m in. See you soon."


    As Scott hung up, his mind reyed Eric''s memories. The knowledge of what supernatural forces had lurked throughout history filled him with determination. Beacon Hills was his territory, and he would ensure it remained safe—no matter the cost.