The Night Everything Changed (Pt. 1)

My name is Thomas Hale, I'm not human, well not completely. I'm a werewolf, from a long line of werewolves. I have lived the past fourteen years with my family in Beacon Hills California. I am the third-born child of the Evolved Alpha Talia Hale, the Alpha of the Hale pack, Protectors of Beacon Hills. She taught me most of what I know. The most important to me was about how to act as a good person, and how to control my abilities as a werewolf. The most important thing she taught me about both is that vengeance isn't justice, and that as Werewolves we aren't monsters but predators.

I have an uncle named Peter Hale. He is fun to be around, always trying to get into some trouble. The thing is.... he is sneaky enough to seldom get caught. He is the most cunning of the Hale pack. Always looking for a way to increase his power. I learned patience from him, or how to wait for the perfect moment to act and how to think my plans through.

My eldest sibling is Laura Hale. She has always been like a second mother to me, always picking me back up when I needed it and pushing me to always be better. On the rare occasions that my mother was too busy overseeing the pack. It was Laura helping me with schoolwork. When I was younger, she even taught me how to dance. As I grew older, she began to teach me more about how to fight, both in our partial transformation and human forms. I was able to take the graceful footing of dancing and begin forming personal fighting styles. One as a human where I would try to dance around my opponent, always right outside of their reach, while looking to go for grappling moves and end the fight quickly. Then in my partial transformation, I try to get inside their guard quickly. Looking to disable my opponent by going for their wrists, elbows, knees, or ankles. While keeping my opponent off balance. It isn't even close to perfect yet, but one day I will be the best fighter of the Hale pack and hopefully even Laura's second, if the future is kind.

My older brother is Derek Hale. He is two years older than me, we used to be as thick as thieves. That was before last year,  when his eyes changed from their golden color to glowing blue. He closed himself off, even from me, becoming quiet and withdrawn, no matter what I try he doesn't open up to me. Before that, he helped me the most with how to use my senses in tandem with each other. Bringing my senses to a higher level as I get older, and become better at using them all the time. My best sense is my smell. I can pick up scents further than even Peter can.

My younger sister is Cora Hale. She is like my shadow, always following me. If it wasn't for her inability to hide her scent, I wouldn't even know when she follows me. It makes me grateful in a way. Cora gives me ample opportunities to hone my abilities as a werewolf, except for my fighting ability. I spend a lot of my time with Cora practicing my abilities and teaching her what I have learned.

Outside of them, I have more family of all ages living in our home. Both blood and pack. The most important person to me is the niece of my Mother's Emissary Allen. Her name is Monica. She is a year older than me, but we have been friends since we were both little. Whenever Allen brings Monica with him we will spend hours together. When I first began my transformations during the full moon after hitting puberty, it was Monica Who helped me gain control. I don't mean that she was there helping me. No, it was the thought of her that brought me back to myself. I found out from Laura that it means Monica is my anchor.

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Today started like any other weekday. Waking up, dressing in Grey shorts, and a shirt. Then running through the forest surrounding the Hale house, which is more like a manor but apparently, it was named before even Mom was the Alpha of our pack. It's just had additional rooms built throughout the years. Ever since the Hale pack first settled in Beacon Hills.

As I start my run, I catch Cora's scent and know that she is following me. I smirk before my eyes change to a bright golden. I take off with all the speed I can, rushing past the trees of the forest. Occasionally I jump toward a tree just to use it as a springboard increasing my already supernatural speed. I kept my speed for as long as I could. I didn't pay attention to where I was going, just trying to make sure Cora wouldn't be able to find me easily.

Within fifteen minutes I was in a location of the forest that I didn't know. I saw a giant stump, all that was left of what must have been a beautiful tree in the center of a clearing. I ran my hand over the stump, wishing I could see what it looked like back when the tree was still standing. When an image of the most beautiful and ancient-looking tree flashes before my eyes. Before I can process what just happened, I then hear a voice behind me followed by a laugh I know well.

"Well, well... What do we have here a lost Wolf? What are you doing here little Hale?"

"Hahahaha"

I spin around and see Monica, and her Mother Marin Morrell, so I say while rubbing the back of my head.

"Hahahaha, nice seeing you two here... I was just running through the forest when I found this place."

While looking back at the stump I ask.

"Seems how a druid is here that this is an important site for the supernatural. What is it?"

Marin walked up to my left side, while Monica was on my right, as Marin said.

"It's called the Nemeton. It was once one of the most sacred places to not just my people, but the whole supernatural world. There are other Nemetons out there, all over the world, over intersecting lay lines. But most, like this one, were cut down and we stopped giving them any form of sacrifice."

I nod then say.

"I bet it was beautiful. Even now just being here sets my whole being at peace."

Monica says.

"That is because all Nemetons act as beacons to the supernatural, even being cut down. With how close we are to this one it's only natural you would have a reaction being around it."

Marin smiles before looking to the left and saying.

"Correct, remember the feeling you have from the Nemeton. It will make it easier to find it in the future if you are ever in need... Why don't you two go back to your house Thomas, you both need to hurry up."

Monica just nods before turning and beginning to walk away, but I look in the direction Marin was looking and inhaling through my nose. Catching a scent I haven't caught for over a year,

Deucalion. I look at Marin who just smiles at me before she says.

"Go Thomas... This isn't your business"

I nod before running to catch up to Monica.

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For the rest of the morning, we both slowly walked through the forest while talking and joking about what we wanted to do when we were adults and on our own.

It wasn't until we reached the edge of the property of my house, that I caught the scent of Derek, along with a scent I have smelt on him a lot lately. That of a female. I look at Monica, seeing her smirk at me, making me smirk back before I say.

"Want to go find out who my brother's mystery girl is?"

She nods before taking my hand in hers as she says.

"I think we deserve to know what she looks like at least. I mean it's only fair you are his family, and as your... Your Best friend I have that same right."

Following the scent we eventually find where Derek and his mystery girl are. Only to find that it isn't a girl but a fully grown woman, they are in the cellar under the house, currently screwing like rabbits. When I get a good look at her face. I pale while grabbing Monica's wrist, I then silently pull her with me making our exit.

When we are back outside I turn to Monica while whispering.

"That was Kate Argent, The future Head of the Argent family... Monica this could be very bad"

Before I can keep panicking Monica places he hands against my cheeks, while getting me to look into her eyes as she says.

"Thomas calm down. No reason to rush to conclusions... All we know is what we saw, maybe they have feelings for each other. I'm not saying that it's not concerning on multiple levels, but we can't jump to conclusions just yet. When we get a chance we will ask Derek what is going on, okay?"

At some point, her hands went from my cheeks to my neck. We both just stood in silence staring into each other's eyes, slowly leaning towards each other. When something hard hit us both in the back of the head, the last thing I saw was a group of 5 men wearing black tactical outfits, carrying guns.

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