Longer chapter over 2K words!!!!
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The clearing was quiet except for wind brushing through the trees.
Thea stood in the center of it, staring down at her hands.
Her claws were still out.
Amber eyes glowing.
Fangs pressing slightly against her lower lip.
She flexed her fingers slowly.
The claws slid back.
Then out again.
Then back.
Her grin widened. "Okay... this is officially the coolest thing that's ever happened to me."
Nova snorted softly. "Wow. Babe. Real smooth."
Thea looked up. "What?"
Nova crossed her arms, arching an eyebrow. "And here I thought the coolest thing that ever happened to you was meeting me."
She paused a beat. "Or, you know... becoming a mother."
Thea didn't hesitate.
She smirked."Oh those are definitely up there."
She flexed her claws again, admiring them. "...But this one comes with claws."
Nova rolled her eyes. "You are unbelievable."
She lifted one hand and let her own Alpha claws slide out with a soft click, holding them up between them. "By the way, I also have claws."
Thea glanced at them, then back at Nova with a crooked grin. "Yeah, but you've had yours for years."
She wiggled her fingers proudly. "These are brand new."
Nova snorted. "You're like a kid who just discovered sharp objects."
Thea stepped closer, grin softening. "Relax, Hale. "
She bumped Nova's shoulder with hers. "You're still number one."
Nova pretended to think about it. "Good answer."
Then her expression shifted back to serious. "Now slow down."
Thea blinked. "What?"
Nova stepped closer. "Power's great."
Her red Alpha eyes flickered briefly. "Control is what keeps you from killing someone by accident."
Thea's grin faded slightly. "...Right."
Nova nodded. "Shifting isn't just something that happens when you want it to."
She gestured toward Thea. "Right now you're doing a partial shift. This is the most that most were creatures can do in their lifetime. Eyes, claws, fangs. It is super rare to completely be able to shift into the creature you are."
Thea blinked.
The glow in her eyes dimmed.
Then returned.
Nova noticed.
Good.
That meant the instincts were already responding to thought.
Nova began pacing slowly around the clearing. "There are a few things that trigger shifts."
Thea crossed her arms. "Let me guess. Full moon."
Nova pointed at her. "Correct. Full moons force a transformation for most new shifters."
She continued. "Second trigger is emotion."
Thea raised an eyebrow. "Anger?"
Nova nodded. "Rage. Fear. Stress."
She tapped her temple. "If you lose control emotionally, your body reacts."
Thea flexed her claws again. "So if someone pisses me off enough I just go full monster mode?"
Nova gave her a look. "Pretty much."
Thea whistled. "That seems like a design flaw."
Nova smirked faintly. "Welcome to the supernatural."
She continued. "Third trigger is instinct. The beast within."
Thea tilted her head. "...That sounds ominous."
Nova didn't argue. "Because it is."
She stopped pacing. "Every shifter has an animal side. Instincts. Predatory impulses."
Her red Alpha eyes flickered again. "If that side takes over completely... you stop thinking like a person."
Thea's smile disappeared. "Like going feral?"
Nova nodded slowly. "Yeah."
Wind rustled through the trees.
Thea glanced at the trees nearby.
Then she suddenly grinned. "Hold on."
Nova narrowed her eyes. "What are you doing?"
Thea walked over to a thick tree trunk.
She flexed her fingers.
Claws sliding out again.
Then she swiped the bark experimentally.
The wood shredded instantly.
Four deep claw marks carved through the trunk.
Thea stared.
Then looked at Nova.
Eyes wide.
"Holy shit."
She swiped again.
More bark splintered.
"Okay that is ridiculously satisfying."
Nova sighed and rubbed her temple. "Please stop testing your murder mittens on the Queen family trees."
Thea laughed. "Relax, they'll grow back."
Nova gave her a flat look. "That's not how trees work."
Thea shrugged. "Still cool though."
Nova exhaled slowly.
Then continued the lecture. "There are also weaknesses."
Thea groaned. "Of course there are."
Nova ticked them off on her fingers. "Wolfsbane."
Thea blinked. "...Like the flower?"
Nova nodded. "Poison for wolves. Causes fever, hallucinations, weakness."
She added calmly— "Enough exposure can kill you."
Thea grimaced. "Great."
Nova continued.
"Electricity."
"High voltage disrupts healing."
"Mountain ash."
Thea blinked again. "The tree?"
Nova nodded. "Creates supernatural barriers. You literally can't cross it."
Thea let out a long breath. "Okay that one is just rude."
Nova smirked.
Then she finished the list.
"Biggest danger though?"
Thea raised an eyebrow.
Nova tapped her temple. "Losing yourself."
Thea nodded slowly. "Yeah."
A quiet moment passed.
Then Thea asked: "So... what exactly am I?"
Nova sighed. "Still working on that."
She pulled her phone out of her pocket and opened a file.
The digital bestiary.
A massive document compiled by the Hale pack, the Argents, and the Beacon Hills crew.
Supernatural creatures.
Hunters.
Legends.
Thea leaned over her shoulder. "You guys seriously made a monster encyclopedia?"
Nova scrolled through entries. "We call it survival research."
Pages flashed past.
Werewolves.
Kanima.
Kitsune.
Wendigo.
Nogitsune.
Werejaguar.
Hellhound.
Nova paused.
Then muttered under her breath.
"Thank god you're not a werejaguar like that bitch Kate."
Thea blinked. "...I'm sorry what?"
Nova froze.
Thea folded her arms. "Back up."
Nova sighed. "Kate Argent."
Thea nodded slowly. "The one who burned your house down."
Nova nodded. "Yeah."
Thea waited.
Nova rubbed the back of her neck.
"...She came back... to life after um... Peter killed her."
Thea blinked. "...Of course she did."
Nova nodded. "...As a werejaguar."
Thea stared. "...This town sounds exhausting."
Nova snorted. "You have no idea."
She went back to scrolling through the bestiary.
Eyes narrowing.
Searching.
Amber Gold eyes.
Feline traits.
Claws.
Fangs.
Predatory instincts.
But not wolf.
Not jaguar.
Something else.
Thea leaned back against a tree.
Flexing her fingers again.
Claws sliding out.
Amber golden eyes glowing faintly.
A strange sound vibrated deep in her chest.
Low.
Deep.
Nova looked up.
Brows furrowing.
That wasn't a growl.
It was deeper.
More powerful.
Almost like—
A lion's rumble.
Nova stared.
Thea blinked. "What?"
Nova slowly lowered her phone.
Eyes narrowing.
Because suddenly— She had a very interesting theory.
Her thumb moved across the screen again.
Scrolling.
Past another entry.
Then another.
Her movement slowed.
Then stopped.
Nova froze.
Thea noticed immediately. "What?"
Nova didn't answer.
She was staring at the screen.
At the page she had just scrolled to.
At the top of the entry—
In large black letters across the page—
WERELION
Thea leaned closer. "That seems... promising."
Nova's eyes flicked up to Thea.
Then back to the screen.
Then slowly down the page again, reading.
Her eyebrows lifted. "...Huh."
Thea crossed her arms. "You gonna share with the class?"
Nova tilted the phone so Thea could see.
Thea read the title again.
WERELION
She blinked.
Then looked back at Nova. "...Are you telling me I'm a lion now?"
Nova glanced at her glowing amber eyes.
The feline claws.
The deeper chest rumble she'd just heard.
Then back to the screen.
A slow smile spread across her face. "Yeah. A lioness."
She nodded once. "I'm pretty sure you are."
Thea stared at her for a second.
Then grinned.
Wide.
Dangerous.
And a little too pleased with herself. "...Okay that is way cooler than a wolf."
Nova rolled her eyes immediately."Don't let Derek hear you say that, Kitty." 🦁
Nova looked down at the bestiary again.
At the bold word on the screen.
WERELION
Then back at Thea.
Still glowing.
Still powerful.
Still smiling.
Nova shook her head slowly.
Their lives had just gotten a lot more complicated.
And they hadn't even figured out everything Thea could do yet. 🦁
— The Lion's Entry
The clearing had gone quiet again.
Thea sat on the ground with her back against a wide oak tree, legs stretched out in front of her.
Nova sat sideways on her lap.
Thea's arms were wrapped loosely around Nova's waist, holding her in place while Nova held the phone out in front of them both.
The screen glowed softly in the shade.
At the top of the page in bold letters was the entry Nova had just found.
WERELION
Thea leaned her chin against Nova's shoulder. "Okay... let's see what kind of chaos I've become."
Nova snorted softly but scrolled down.
The bestiary entry opened like a digital page from a book.
Bestiary Entry — Werelion
Werelion, also known as Löwenmensch (German: "Lionhuman"), are a rare species of human–animal hybrid shapeshifter.
Like their lupine cousins, the Werewolves, Werelions possess the ability to transform from a normal human appearance into a partial lion form. This form commonly includes:
Glowing eyes
Pointed feline ears
Claws and elongated fangs
A ridged brow
Subtle facial and skeletal changes
While these features are visually similar to those of Werewolves, the differences are noticeable upon closer inspection.
Due to these similarities, Werelions are frequently misidentified as Werewolves by both hunters and inexperienced supernatural observers.
Thea blinked. "Okay... that tracks."
Nova nodded slowly. "Yeah, that explains why I thought you were a wolf at first."
Thea squeezed her waist lightly. "Still offended."
Nova ignored her and continued reading.
Pack Hierarchy
Evidence suggests that Werelions follow a hierarchy structure similar to that of Werewolves.
In the natural world, lions operate within social groups called prides. Because of this, it is theorized that Werelions may also form or join such social structures.
A Werelion may potentially:
Form or join a Werelion pride
Integrate into an existing Werewolf pack
Some research suggests that a Werelion may even experience a power increase when bonded to a pack or pride structure.
However, due to the rarity of Werelions and the lack of documented encounters, this theory has not yet been fully confirmed.
Thea tilted her head slightly. "So I might still count as part of your pack?"
Nova turned in her lap so she could look directly at her.
There wasn't even a second of hesitation. "You are pack."
Thea blinked.
Nova shrugged one shoulder casually. "Doesn't matter what species you are."
She tapped the phone lightly. "You're my girlfriend."
Then she added with a crooked smirk— "And you're the other mother of my kid."
Thea huffed a quiet laugh. "Baby daddy lioness. Great."
Nova rolled her eyes but continued. "Besides, our pack isn't exactly... traditional."
Thea raised an eyebrow.
Nova started counting on her fingers.
"Scott — werewolf."
"Derek, Cora, Peter, Isaac, and Liam — also werewolves."
"Malia — werecoyote."
"Kira — kitsune."
"Lydia — banshee."
"Stiles — technically human, but he's basically a druid in training at this point."
"Deaton — full druid and our emissary."
"Chris Argent — hunter ally."
"Sheriff Stilinski handles the human law enforcement side."
Then she looked back at Thea.
"So honestly?" Nova shrugged. "A werelion barely even moves the weirdness meter."
Thea grinned. "...Good."
She tightened her arms slightly around Nova's waist. "Because I'm not going anywhere."
Nova leaned back against her comfortably. "Good."
Then she glanced down at the glowing WERELION entry again and continued reading.
Documented Abilities
Though extremely rare, documented Werelions appear to possess abilities comparable to, and in some cases stronger than, those of Werewolves.
Known abilities include:
Super Strength
Werelions possess tremendous physical strength derived from their lion heritage.
This strength allows them to:
Match or exceed the strength of Werewolves
Overpower most human opponents effortlessly
Bite through bone, including the skulls of humans or supernatural creatures
Throw fully grown adults across a room with ease
Thea blinked. "...That seems excessive."
Nova shrugged. "Please don't test that on anyone unless necessary."
Super Speed
Werelions possess remarkable running speed and can move fast enough to evade most attacks or quickly close distance in combat.
Super Agility and Reflexes
Because of their feline nature, Werelions possess extraordinary agility.
They are capable of:
Jumping great distances
Landing from several stories without injury
Performing acrobatic maneuvers such as flips, spins, and aerial kicks
Dodging fast-moving attacks
Catching projectiles mid-air
Their reflexes are enhanced to the point that they may even evade bullets.
Thea raised an eyebrow. "...Evade bullets?"
Nova shrugged slightly. "Okay, that part I'd still avoid testing."
Then she added casually, "I mean, I've already been shot once or twice. Not really looking to repeat the experience."
Thea went completely still behind her.
Her arms tightened around Nova's waist instantly. "You've been what?"
Nova blinked. "Shot. It healed."
Thea's grip tightened even more as she pulled Nova closer against her chest.
A low, instinctive growl rumbled from deep in her throat before she even realized she was doing it.
Nova felt it vibrate against her back.
Thea's voice came out tight. "Someone shot you?"
Nova glanced up over her shoulder. "It was a hunter situation. Beacon Hills gets... complicated."
Thea's eyes flashed amber for a split second.
Her jaw clenched.
Her fingers curled slightly against Nova's waist, claws threatening to push through her skin before she forced them back.
Another quiet growl slipped out before she caught herself. "Who?"
Nova sighed softly. "Dead. Or imprisoned. Or chased out of town. Something like that."
Thea held her tighter anyway, like letting go might somehow make the injury happen again.
Nova shifted slightly in her lap. "Hey."
Thea looked down at her.
Nova gave her a small smile. "See? Healing. Perks of dating a werewolf. Babe, I am fine now."
Thea didn't smile back.
Instead she pressed her forehead lightly against Nova's shoulder.
Her voice was quieter now, but still edged with protective anger. "No one is ever shooting you again."
Nova snorted softly. "That's... optimistic."
Thea's arms tightened again. "I'm serious."
Nova relaxed back against her chest, letting herself be held. "Good thing I've got a werelion now then." 🦁
Super Durability
Werelions are far more durable than humans.
They can withstand:
Blunt force trauma
Violent impacts
Falls from great heights
However, like Werewolves, they remain vulnerable to open wounds.
Super Senses
Werelions possess heightened senses of:
Hearing
Smell
Sight
They can:
See clearly in darkness
Track scents across miles
Hear whispers from great distances
Detect emotional states through scent
These senses also allow Werelions to perceive supernatural phenomena invisible to human eyes.
Thea blinked slowly. "...That explains the bird trilling three fields over."
Nova chuckled. "Yeah, welcome to supernatural hearing."
Accelerated Healing
Werelions possess rapid regenerative healing similar to Werewolves.
They can recover from most injuries quickly and are largely immune to human illness.
They also cannot become intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.
Thea groaned. "Okay that part sucks."
Nova laughed. "You say that now."
Longevity
Because of their accelerated cellular regeneration, Werelions appear to age more slowly than normal humans and may have significantly extended lifespans.
Thea raised an eyebrow. "...Well that's convenient."
Shapeshifting
Werelions possess the ability to shift between human and lion-hybrid forms.
Their transformed appearance typically includes:
Glowing eyes
Fangs and claws
Ridged brows
Feline ears
Subtle facial hair patterns resembling a mane
Like Werewolves, Werelions may display eye colors corresponding to supernatural status:
Red — Alpha
Gold — Beta
Blue — Omega or guilt-marked
Thea smirked slightly. "Gold looks better anyway."
Nova rolled her eyes.
Weaknesses
Werelions are believed to share many weaknesses common to other supernatural shapeshifters, including:
Mountain Ash
Wolfsbane
Electricity
Mistletoe
Because the species is rare, further weaknesses remain largely undocumented.
Nova slowly lowered the phone.
Thea rested her chin on her shoulder again. "So basically I'm a lion version of you."
Nova nodded slowly. "...Yeah."
Then she sighed.
The weight of another realization hit her.
Thea noticed immediately. "What?"
Nova rubbed her forehead. "I turned you."
Thea shrugged. "Yeah. Best decision ever. Still not seeing the problem."
Nova leaned back slightly so she could look at her. "My pack is going to want to know."
Thea nodded. "Okay."
Nova hesitated.
Then added:
"...And your parents."
That made Thea pause.
Moira.
Walter.
Thea glanced toward the distant mansion through the trees.
Then back at Nova.
"You think we should tell them?"
Nova sighed. "Considering you just discovered claws and super strength... I think if you suddenly start growing claws at dinner..."
She gestured vaguely at the shredded tree nearby. "...I think it's going to come up eventually."
Thea smirked. "Fair point."
Nova leaned back against her again, phone still open to the WERELION entry.
Her mind was already racing.
She had to tell Derek.
Scott.
Stiles.
The entire pack.
And somehow explain that she had turned her girlfriend—
Into a Werelion.
Nova exhaled slowly.
Their lives had just gotten a lot more complicated.
And this was only day one. 🦁