Chương 9: Chapter 9: A Gremlin!?

Scott leaned back against the couch, watching Stiles with a wide grin as he processed the revelation. It had been a whirlwind of emotions for both of them—one moment they were best friends dealing with everyday life, and the next, Scott was a full-blown werewolf with powers that could change everything. Now, as the adrenaline from his confession began to settle, the two were left with more questions than answers.

Stiles was still pacing around Scott's living room, his brain working overtime as he tried to make sense of everything. "Okay, okay, so let me get this straight—you can hear, smell, and see everything, right? Super strength, crazy fast reflexes, the whole werewolf package?"

Scott nodded, looking amused. "Yep, that's about right."

"And you don't... like, lose control or turn into some rabid beast during the full moon?"

Scott chuckled. "No. I've got it under control. Dominion over my powers or something like that."

Stiles stopped pacing and narrowed his eyes. "Right... So what if I wanted to become a werewolf too? You could just bite me, and bam—I'd be like you?"

Scott raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Technically, yeah. But, knowing you, Stiles, you wouldn't turn into a werewolf. You'd probably turn into a... I dunno... a Gremlin."

Stiles froze mid-step, then whipped his head toward Scott, a look of mock indignation on his face. "A Gremlin? Seriously?"

Scott burst out laughing, unable to contain himself at the mental image of Stiles as a tiny, mischievous creature causing chaos everywhere. "Yep! You'd be this tiny little monster, probably chewing through wires, knocking things over, and definitely causing mayhem at school."

Stiles pretended to be offended, crossing his arms over his chest. "Oh, you're hilarious. Keep talking, McCall, and I'll show you a Gremlin's fury."

Before Scott could respond, Stiles lunged at him, tackling him onto the couch. The two friends ended up in a mock wrestling match, with Scott holding back just enough to make it fun. Stiles, ever the underdog, tried his best to pin Scott down but quickly realized it was like wrestling a brick wall.

"Dude, you're like... a tank now!" Stiles groaned, trying to push Scott off him but failing miserably.

Scott only laughed harder, effortlessly flipping Stiles onto his back. "I told you, man. Super strength."

After a few minutes of playful wrestling and laughter, the two finally collapsed on the couch, out of breath but still grinning like idiots. It felt good—normal, even—despite everything that had changed.

Stiles, ever the quick thinker, was the first to get back on track. He sat up, wiping sweat from his brow, and looked at Scott with a more serious expression. "Alright, so we're not turning me into a Gremlin... yet. But we do need to figure out what's going on with that monster in the woods. The one that bit you. He's gotta be the same one that killed that girl, right?"

Scott's smile faded slightly, and he nodded. "Yeah... it's gotta be connected. I don't know who—or what—he is yet. But I need to find out."

Stiles nodded, his mind racing again. "And we're sure he's a werewolf? Like, he could be something else, right? Or maybe there are more of them out there?"

Scott sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's possible. We don't know how many supernatural creatures are out there. But we'll figure it out."

Stiles leaned back against the couch, his brow furrowed. "We need a plan. We can't just run around chasing monsters in the woods without a clue. And what if this thing comes after you again? Or worse, what if it comes after Allison?"

Scott's eyes flashed at the mention of Allison. "I won't let that happen. I'll protect her."

Stiles gave him a wary look. "Yeah, but Scott... her family. We still don't know enough about them. What if they're dangerous? You said they're hunters. As in, they hunt werewolves like you."

Scott's jaw tightened slightly, his confidence unwavering. "They don't know about me, and I'm not afraid of them."

Stiles threw his hands up in exasperation. "Dude, they're hunters! They probably have weapons and traps and... I don't know, years of experience killing supernatural creatures! You can't just walk into this blind."

Scott shook his head, still calm but more serious now. "Look, I know what they are. I know Allison's family hunts werewolves. But Allison doesn't know. She's... different. And I'm not going to let her get hurt because of something she's not even part of yet."

Stiles stared at him, his face a mixture of concern and frustration. "Scott, I get it, okay? You like her. But this is serious. What if her dad finds out about you? Or her mom? They're not just going to sit back and let you date their daughter if they find out you're a werewolf."

Scott's eyes narrowed slightly, a fire burning behind them. "Then I'll deal with it. I'm not going to be afraid of them, Stiles."

The intensity in Scott's voice surprised even Stiles, who blinked a few times before nodding slowly. "Okay... okay. I get it. You're not afraid. But just... be careful, alright? I don't want to see you get hurt because of this."

Scott's expression softened, and he gave Stiles a reassuring smile. "I'll be fine. I've got this under control."

Stiles didn't look entirely convinced, but he knew better than to argue with Scott when he had that look in his eyes. "Alright, fine. But promise me one thing. No more secrets, okay? We're in this together."

Scott nodded. "No more secrets. I promise."

There was a brief silence as the two friends sat there, the weight of the conversation settling in. Stiles tapped his fingers against the armrest, his mind still racing with questions and concerns.

"So," Stiles said after a moment, trying to lighten the mood. "About that bite... you're seriously telling me that if you bit me, I'd probably turn into a Gremlin?"

Scott chuckled, the tension easing as he leaned back against the couch. "I'm not saying it's guaranteed, but... you'd definitely be something weird."

Stiles shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "You're the worst."

Scott grinned. "I try."

Another moment of silence passed before Stiles spoke again, this time more seriously. "Okay, so what's our next move?"

Scott thought for a moment before responding. "We need to find out more about this other werewolf. And we need to figure out what other creatures are out there. If there are more supernatural beings in Beacon Hills, we need to know about them." Although he knows who the Alpha is, he is not going to ruin the fun.

Stiles nodded. "Agreed. But where do we start?"

Scott stood up, pacing a bit as he thought it through. "I've been thinking about it. The bite happened in the woods, right? We should start there. Maybe there's something we missed. Tracks, a scent trail—anything."

Stiles raised an eyebrow. "A scent trail? Seriously?"

Scott shrugged, a smirk on his face. "I have super senses now, remember? Might as well use them."

Just then, Stiles' phone buzzed, and he glanced down at the screen. "Uh-oh. I've gotta go. Dad's calling. Probably wants to know why I'm not at home freaking out about school or something."

Scott chuckled. "Good luck with that."

Stiles stood up, still looking at his phone as he walked toward the door. "I'll let you know if I find anything. But seriously, Scott—be careful, okay? And... stay away from Allison's family."

Scott watched as Stiles left, his friend's words lingering in the air. But despite Stiles' warnings, Scott couldn't shake the feeling that he was on the right path. He wasn't the same Scott McCall from the original timeline. He was stronger, smarter, and in control. He wasn't going to let fear dictate his life, and he certainly wasn't going to let anyone—even Allison's family—stand in his way.

---

As Scott stood there, alone in the quiet house, he couldn't help but feel a surge of determination. The world was full of dangers, but he wasn't afraid. He had the power to protect the people he cared about. And nothing—not hunters, not monsters, not even the unknown—was going to stop him.