After school, Sean went to the Argents' house. Chris greeted him, and Mrs. Argent was right beside him.
Sean,"Hello, Mrs. Argent. I hope you're having a lovely day."
As Sean was speaking, someone coming out of the door looked at him. It was Kate Argent!
Kate,"Oooh, and who is this sweet boy?"
Chris,"Don't start, Kate. That's Sean. Scott's brother."
Kate replied,"Hmmm. Two handsome boys in one family."
Sean smiled "Thank you. Kate, right? May I call you that directly?"
Kate,"Of course, however you like…" and stepped closer to Sean.
When she got right up close, Sean grabbed her by the waist."You're quite a bold woman, aren't you, Mrs. Kate?"
Kate flinched at the sudden movement but continued. She grabbed Sean's waist and traced his shoulder with her finger "Look who's talking. A bit rough, aren't we? Sweethearth..."
Sean raised his right hand, brought it to Kate's neck, first brushed it, then turned it into a claw, and leaned toward her ear."You're not my type, Mrs. Kate. I hate women like you."
After stepping back, he looked at Chris."Well, old man. What are we using for the hunt? You're not going to say rifles, are you? Do you have a bow?"
Chris and Mrs. Argent looked at Sean in shock. They had seen someone handle Kate for the first time.
Chris replied,"Yes, we do. Come on, pick what you like. Take what you choose, and let's go."
The two went to the storage, took bows and arrows, and then went into the forest.
Sean spotted a bird on a distant branch. He raised his hand and slowed Chris down. He drew his bow and released the arrow.
Chris watched the arrow's path.
The arrow first struck the target and held it. Then it continued and struck the other bird behind it as well.
When the arrow finally fell to the ground, Sean looked at Chris."Did you have lunch?" he asked.
The two hunted for a while. Chris won by a small margin.
Sean said stubbornly,"Tsk… really beginner's luck, old man. If it weren't for that herd that came to you at the end, you wouldn't have beaten me."
Chris smiled."I just didn't push too hard."
And that was true.
Shortly after Chris and Sean parted ways, Sean heard sounds in the forest. It was as if a group was moving. He noticed a familiar scent.
Kate Argent.
When he looked in the direction they were heading, they were going to Derek's house. Sean ignored it at first, but then he turned back and decided to help Derek.
Meanwhile, Kate had already arrived at Derek's house.
When Sean arrived, Derek was crawling on the ground. Kate was looking at the device in her hand."900 thousand volts of electricity. Really, Derek, you've never been good with electricity… or fire. That's why I'll tell you a secret. We can help each other."
Sean noticed that the people Derek had injured were getting up. Sean took one of the pistols one of them was carrying.
Kate moved very close to Derek."Such a traumatic event. Your sister was killed as bait. Interesting. But we didn't do this, Derek. You can check whether I'm lying or not—?"
A Growl!!
Derek suddenly turned his head and looked at the person standing on the broken beam on the second floor. The person's face couldn't be seen because of the angle. Even if it could, the hood they were wearing cast a shadow over it.
Derek knew exactly who it was. The same stance, the same mockery, and the same savage aura… it was Sean.
Kate turned her head as well."So there's another werewolf? You weren't alone, Derek."
Ploc… ploc…
Kate's eyes caught the drops of blood dripping down from the second floor. She struck Derek first with the electric shock baton, then called out to the werewolf on the second floor."Come closer, sweetheart. Are we going to talk from a distance?"
After Kate spoke, a deep voice echoed.
"Someone who really disregards the Argent family's rules?"
Boom!
With the sound of a gunshot, Kate screamed and grabbed her face. The bullet had grazed her cheek.
Kate shouted angrily and in shock,"Who the hell are you?!"
When the shadow on the second floor lifted its head again, it was gone. Kate carefully checked her surroundings. Hearing a sound from the door, she fired at it with the gun she kept in reserve.
Unfortunately, the person coming through the door was one of the people she had brought with her. After the man riddled with bullets fell, a voice was heard behind him."Tsk tsk… really, just a single bullet mark. Not a werewolf's work, logically speaking, right?"
Kate activated the electric baton with her left hand. She cautiously looked at the fallen man. But there was no one behind her. Her face was full of shock. 'How could this be?' she thought.
The next second, another gunshot rang out, and the device in her hand fell to the ground. As she made a quick move to grab it, she was seized by the throat and slammed into the wall. After breaking through it, she collapsed to the ground."Arghh!!!"
She lifted her head and pulled out the gun she had hidden at her waist. She aimed it at the spot she had just been thrown from but there was no one there.
Kate shouted,"You… who are you?!"
Sean growled once more, and another gunshot rang out. This time, the bullet hit the barrel of the gun directly. With her last weapon gone, Kate stood up. Her unease was obvious from her heartbeat.
Sean chuckled. It sounded as if his chuckle came from behind Kate.
From her shadow.
Kate quickly turned around, and when she turned back forward, a hooded figure was standing in front of her. His eyes were glowing golden as he completely covered her face with his right hand and lifted her into the air. She couldn't even touch Sean's hood with her arms.
Sean lifted her higher."Listen… your answer will decide your fate."
"They are dark and always on the run away. Without the sun, there would be none. What are they?"
As Kate struggled in the air, her breath was fading."W-What?"
Sean repeated,"They are dark and always on the run away. Without the sun, there would be none. What are they? Come on, Kate… I just want the answer to my riddle."
Kate shouted,"I don't know!"
Crack.
"ARGGHH!!"Her finger broke.
Sean said,"I'm asking again. They are dark and always on the run away. Without the sun, there would be none. What is this?"
Kate screamed,"SHADOW!! SHADOWS!!"
She suddenly fell to the ground and began coughing violently.
When she opened her eyes, there was a head in front of her. Bloody and separated from its body. Kate's eyes widened. As she tried to turn away, a hand stopped her."Tsk tsk tsk… you can't turn away, sweetheart…"
Kate broke free and ran, disappearing into the forest.
Sean turned around and looked at Derek, who was staring at him in shock.
As Sean walked toward Derek with slow steps, he said,"Do you know why I make an effort to stay close to the Argents, Derek?"
Derek looked at Sean, as if waiting for the answer.
Sean continued,"Because if you don't know your enemy's moves, you can't fight them. Every rooted family has its own unique patterns. If you observe them, you can deal with them. Because little by little, you'll come to know them better than they know themselves."
Derek's eyes widened, and as he looked at Sean, he felt fear.