After admiring his new sword, Jacob turned to face Gerard and the surviving hunters, an unsettling, evil smirk curling his lips.
The two surviving Bogatyrs were already shivering with primal fear. The moment Jacob had appeared, unleashing lightning and fire, they felt his immense, unconcealed power—his concealment ability had dropped the moment he attacked.
The Bogatyr with the frozen leg began desperately crawling backward through the dirt. The one standing beside Gerard took slow, stumbling steps away, his eyes wide with terror.
Gerard clutched the frozen stump of his arm, the part from the elbow down now missing. He glared at the retreating Bogatyr. "What's wrong with you? Why do you look so terrified of that kid?"
The Bogatyr's voice was a hoarse whisper. "You might not feel it, but that kid is a monster. I've never sensed anything like him before." He turned and used every ounce of his enhanced speed to flee.
Jacob vanished.
He teleported directly into the Bogatyr's path and swung his sword in a single, fluid arc. The hunter's head tumbled from his shoulders. His headless body ran for a few more staggering steps before collapsing to the forest floor.
Then Jacob looked at the crawling Bogatyr. He raised a hand, and his telekinesis clamped down. With a sickening, wet crunch, the hunter was compressed into a bloody mist that hung in the cold air for a moment before spattering the leaves.
Jacob turned his gaze to the five remaining human hunters. "Which ones of you are Argent hunters? Go stand next to Gerard."
The five hunters exchanged panicked looks but remained frozen.
Jacob growled, the sound vibrating with power. "Hurry up. I don't have all night."
Chris stepped out of the shadows and into the clearing. He stood beside his father, his expression grim. He pointed to two of the hunters. "Frank. John. Over here. Now, if you want to live past tonight."
The two hunters, Frank and John, didn't hesitate. They hurried over to Chris, leaving the three Laurent family hunters standing alone, weapons trembling in their hands.
Jacob considered for a moment, then reached out telepathically. [Malia, where are you guys now?]
Malia's voice answered in his mind. [We're back at the mansion. We didn't find the Black Shuck at the motel.]
[The Black Shuck is dead. I just killed him.] He stored his sword back into his pocket dimension and teleported.
He reappeared in the mansion's living room, where Malia and Cogman were watching TV. He kissed Malia quickly, then looked at Cogman. "Do you want to have some fun?"
Cogman, who had been sitting in an armchair, sprang to his feet, his eyes gleaming. "Yes, sir. Who are we killing?"
Jacob briefed them on the Zima and Laurent hunters in town for revenge. "I left three of them alive in the woods for you."
Cogman's smile turned predatory. "What about the rest of their forces in town?"
Jacob shrugged. "Find them. Hunt them when you have time."
Cogman's smirk was pure, wicked delight. "Excellent. I shall find them. Perhaps I will hunt a few each night. I do hope there are a great many of them."
"Alright, let's go." Jacob placed his hands on Cogman and Malia and teleported them back to the edge of the clearing, next to Allison and the others.
He pointed at the three Laurent hunters, who were still standing paralyzed, scanning the darkness for him. "Those are them, Cogman."
Cogman studied the terrified men for a moment, then looked back at Jacob. "Thank you, sir. And, sir…"
"What is it?"
Cogman's voice was uncharacteristically sincere. "I do love you very much. You are my favorite master. Ever."
Jacob smiled. "Alright, go, go. Don't make this awkward."
Allison stepped forward, her face stern. "Cogman, take them somewhere far from here. I don't want to see or hear what you're going to do to them."
"As you wish, my lady," Cogman said with a slight bow. Then he turned and began walking toward the three hunters. His eyes glowed an icy blue, and an expression of evil joy spread across his face.
The hunters took one look at him and opened fire. Bullets riddled his chest and face, but they merely flattened against his nanotech skin with soft pings. He didn't even flinch. He rubbed his hands together gleefully.
"I do love it when my prey fights back," he chuckled.
The three hunters exchanged one final look of horror, turned, and bolted into the dark woods.
Cogman followed at a leisurely pace, his voice echoing cheerfully after them. "Wait! Don't run! I'll be gentle!" Soon, he and his prey disappeared into the trees.
Lydia shook her head, a mix of pity and dark amusement in her eyes. "Poor bastards."
Jacob turned to Melissa, who was watching with a troubled, conflicted expression. "Melissa, the Laurent and Zima hunters aren't just hunters. They're evil. The Laurents hunt anyone—supernatural or human—for money, with no regard for innocence. The Zimas hate all supernatural creatures and have made it their mission to exterminate them, good or bad. They also kill anyone related to a supernatural being. So don't feel sorry for them."
"Really?" Melissa asked, her voice soft.
"Yes, Mom," Scott confirmed, his tone serious. "The last time the Zimas were here, they tried to kill me just because I'm a werewolf."
That was all Melissa needed to hear. Her expression hardened, all traces of pity vanishing. "Then I hope every single one of them dies."
Jacob looked at Allison. "Do you want to come meet your grandfather?"
Allison made a face. "Nope. I'm good."
"Alright. Let me go have a word with him, and then we'll go home."
As Jacob started walking toward the clearing, Kate fell into step beside him. "Wait, Jacob. I'm coming, too."
The two of them walked up to Gerard, Chris, and the two remaining Argent hunters. Gerard and his men watched them approach with deep, wary tension.
Jacob said to Chris, "Did you tell him who I am?"
Chris nodded, his face grim. "Yes. He knows you're Allison's… husband."
Jacob turned to Gerard. "I heard what you said about killing every creature like me in this town. You're only alive right now because of Chris." His voice was calm. "So, here is my only warning. If you try to attack me, my family, or my friends, I will kill you. Chris won't be able to save you. And don't think you can hide. No matter where you go in this world, I can find you. So don't do anything stupid if you want to live a little longer."
Gerard glared at Jacob, his jaw clenched, but he remained silent.
His gaze shifted to Kate, who stood beside Jacob.
"Hello, Dad," Kate said.
Gerard's lips twisted into a sneer. "The moment you were turned into a monster and chose to live instead of doing the honorable thing, you ceased to be my daughter. You are just a creature that needs to be put down, Kate."
Kate's eyes welled with tears, but her voice didn't break. "I turned into a monster because of you. Because I burned good people—even children—just so you would be proud of me."
Gerard's sneer deepened. "You turned into a monster because you didn't finish the job. The Hale mutts you let live came back to bite you. You're a disappointment, Kate. You are the shame of the Argent family. If you want me to be proud of you, then do the honorable thing. Take your own life. Right here, right now. Do it and..."
Before he could finish, a sharp, hissing sound cut through the air.
A crescent blade of condensed green wind shot from the darkness, scything toward Gerard with impossible speed. It struck with surgical precision, severing the remaining stump of his frozen arm cleanly at the shoulder.
Gerard crashed to the ground, a raw, agonized scream tearing from his throat.
Allison's voice, cold and sharp, came from the shadows. "Kate. Let's go."
Chris looked from his screaming father to Jacob, his expression one of weary resignation. "Burn the bodies, will you?"
Jacob gave a nod. He waved a hand, and a fire serpent erupted from his palm. It slithered through the clearing, coiling around each fallen hunter's remains, reducing them to ash in moments. Then he turned and walked back to where Allison and the others waited.
Kate took one last, long look at her father writhing on the frost-covered ground. She let out a shaky sigh, wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand, and followed Jacob without another word.
Chris hauled the bleeding, unconscious Gerard onto his back. "Frank. John. Let's go." He didn't look back as he led the two remaining hunters away into the night.
Gerard, slung over his son's shoulder, regained a flicker of consciousness. His pain-glazed eyes found the retreating backs of Jacob and Kate. His face, pale with blood loss, contorted into a mask of pure hatred.
Jacob, as if sensing the venomous stare, turned his head and met Gerard's gaze over his shoulder. He offered the old hunter a slow, knowing smirk.
He looked at Kate walking beside him. "Gerard looks pissed. I guess he's already planning how to kill us."
Kate didn't even glance back. "Yeah. He'll definitely try."
When they rejoined the group, Kate's eyes found Derek. She walked up to him, stopping a few feet away. "I know it won't mean much to you. And I know what I did can never be forgiven. But still… I am truly, deeply sorry for what I did and for the pain I caused you."
After saying her piece, she turned and walked to Allison, who opened her arms without hesitation. Kate buried her face in her niece's shoulder and finally let the sobs she'd been holding back shake her frame.
Allison held her tight, gently patting her back. She looked at Jacob over Kate's shoulder. "Let's go home."
Jacob nodded. He glanced at Derek. "See you around." Then he wrapped everyone in his telekinetic grip and teleported them all back to the mansion, leaving Derek standing alone in the silent forest.
Derek let out a long, heavy sigh. He looked toward the distant lights of Beacon Hills. 'The town is more dangerous than ever right now. I need to warn Isaac and the others.'
---
Back at the mansion, Kate went straight to a guest room, declining Allison's offer to stay with her. "I just need to be alone for a while," she said softly before closing the door.
Jacob took a long, hot shower to wash away the night's grim residue. When he came out, he found Cogman already back in the kitchen, humming a cheerful tune as he prepared dinner. He was clearly in an excellent mood.
Stiles called his dad to let him know Jacob had dealt with both the organ thief and the Black Shuck.
After they ate, they talked in the living room until late into the night. Allison showed Melissa to a guest room, and Stiles and Scott retired to the rooms they used when staying over.
Finally, Jacob, the girls, and a contented Cogman left for Serendell to spend the night in the peace of their otherworldly home.
To be continued… 😊
____________________
I know a lot of you hate Gerard and want him dead (I do too!), but Jacob can't kill him yet for Chris's sake. He'll have to wait until Gerard provokes him first.