The forest was no longer a forest. The trunks of the trees were split open by the marks of battle, their bark darkened with blood. Limbs were impaled into branches, swaying in the wind; severed arms and legs were nailed to trees as if they belonged to the land itself. The leaves were coated in fresh blood so much so that in places the natural color of the soil had vanished entirely, the ground transformed into a glossy, sticky red. With every step, crushed leaves made a dull sound as they sank into mud mixed with blood.
The air was heavy. The scent of iron and death clung to the forest. Breathing itself was difficult; every inhale carried the taste of death down the throat. There was no sound among the trees yet it was not silence either. It was that ominous emptiness left behind after slaughter. Birds had fled, insects had gone quiet, even the wind moved as if afraid. It was as though the forest itself refused to witness what had happened.
At the center of the blood-soaked ground stood a figure.
Sean.
His claws were still wet. Blood dripped slowly from his fingers, leaving dark stains where it touched the earth. None of it belonged to him that much was obvious. A few steps in front of him stood three figures, staring back with golden eyes.
Sean tilted his head slightly to the side. The corner of his lips curled upward.
A mocking, cold, terrifying smile.
A Growl.
Sean watched as one of the werewolves charged at him, slashing forward with its claws. The moment the claws reached his chest, part of his torso turned into shadow, and the attack passed straight through him. The werewolf staggered forward a few steps. When it turned around, it was already too late. Its heart had been torn from its body. Its life force drained away, and it collapsed to the ground.
The remaining two werewolves stared at Sean in terror. Something had drawn them to this town a force they couldn't resist. They were a pack without an Alpha. Dozens of werewolves had come here.
Now only two remained.
The entire pack had been slaughtered by the unknown werewolf standing before them.
The long-haired werewolf turned to shout to his companion, trying to tell him to run but froze mid-sentence. From his ally's throat, a shadowy spike erupted, piercing through the back of his neck. Fear seized his entire body. The gold faded from his eyes. He dropped to his knees, trembling violently.
"You're… a monster," he said, his heart pounding wildly as his body shook from terror.
Step… step.
He heard the approaching footsteps. He lifted his head and looked at his executioner. Long black hair, stained crimson with blood. Eyes drowned in darkness, with only golden irises burning within.
Sean raised his hand, gripping the werewolf's face and forcing him to look closer.
"A monster?" Sean said calmly. "Why do humans call things they don't understand 'monsters'? Even though you're the ones who pushed me to this. I warned you. This is my territory… but your so-called leader didn't make a very smart decision."
The pressure of his grip increased.
"Arrrghhh!"
Puff.
The shattered skull hit the ground. Even in death, the golden glow in his eyes slowly faded as the moonlight above shone down, almost as if blessing Sean.
Sean lifted his gaze and stared at the moon for a moment. As he withdrew his transformation, he spoke quietly.
"With Peter gone, the town's security has fallen apart. In just a few days, my hands have been soaked in more blood than ever before."
Fully returning to human form, he took a step forward to leave the forest.
Scream.
Sean instantly turned toward the familiar sound. "Lydia?" he muttered, sprinting toward where it came from.
After running for a long time without finding the source, he wandered through the darkness until he spotted Stiles, Scott, and Allison. Scott was hanging upside down, clearly caught in a hunter's trap.
"Someone's coming," Scott whispered urgently. "Hide. Now."
Stiles and Allison ducked behind a tree as Chris Argent approached the trap.
Chris crouched down. "Scott? What are you doing out here?"
"Just hanging out," Scott replied. "Pretty solid trap design, by the way. Tight grip."
"Why are you here, Scott?"
"I'm looking for a friend."
"Oh right," Chris said. "Lydia's part of your group too, isn't she?"
Suddenly, Scott dropped to the ground.
Chris stepped back in surprise and then a familiar voice sounded behind him.
"Well, well… looks like our seasoned hunter is here."
Sean smiled mockingly at Chris.
Chris stared at Sean's blood-covered state. Scott did the same. From afar, Stiles and Allison looked on in shock.
Chris smirked "Honestly, the word 'hunter' suits you better these days, Sean."
Allison flinched at the tone in her father's voice. She was never used to hearing him sound like that.
Sean sighed, glancing down at the blood on his hands. "Beacon Hills is becoming more dangerous by the day."
Chris and Sean locked eyes for a moment. Chris reached into his pocket, unfolded a piece of paper, and showed it to him. Sean frowned as he read it.
"Let's talk somewhere else," Sean said.
Chris nodded, casting one last look at Scott. "There won't be a second time, Scott. Remember that."
He turned and walked away.
As Sean followed him, he suddenly glanced toward a tree in the distance. Stiles and Allison stiffened as their eyes met his. The scent of fresh death surrounded them.
Sean smirked then turned away and continued walking.
Once Sean and Chris were gone, Allison and Stiles stepped out from their hiding place. Allison helped Scott to his feet. Stiles stared in the direction Sean had disappeared.
Scott noticed his expression and tapped his shoulder. Stiles flinched.
"You know," Stiles said quietly, "no matter how much time passes… it's hard to get used to. To us, his hands are covered in blood."
Allison watched them silently, unreadable.
"Let's go inside," Scott said, trying to change the subject, and headed toward the Hale house.
Sean and Chris later sat near a waterfall, resting against a rock. Chris gazed at the view.
"I still don't understand how you found this place. I've never seen it before."
Sean stared at the cascading water, a hollow expression in his eyes. Chris noticed and said nothing. Instead, he took out the paper again.
After a long discussion, Chris spoke.
"My father is coming tomorrow. He's not like me, Sean. This cooperation… it has to stay secret."
Sean nodded "I understand. No problem."
As Chris stood to leave, Sean called after him.
"Hey, old man. You got one?"
Chris reached into his jacket and handed him a small bottle.
Sean opened it and took a long drink, grimacing as the bitter liquid burned his throat.
There was something about this waterfall something that pulled him in. Ever since he'd found it, he came here almost every night. As he stared at the flowing water, his vision drifted.
A girl with black hair and brown eyes appeared in his mind.
He raised the bottle and finished it in one go, then looked back at the waterfall. His body refused to let him get drunk. Even though each drink hurt, he kept going.
Barely audible, he murmured a name.
"Marina…"
After Derek became the Alpha, he'd once asked Stiles to describe a girl Stiles had mentioned. At that moment, something had clicked inside Sean. He'd gone completely silent and somehow, without knowing how, found his way here.
Sean leaned back, watching the bright moon sink lower in the sky.
And slowly, he drifted into sleep.
//
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Author: It took me a while to start the second season. I'm rewatching the second season of the series and refreshing my knowledge. I hope it was a good episode. Thank you for reading.