Chapter 8: A Mother’s Love and A Father’s Debt

After watching Allison's car pull away into the darkening evening, Scott closed the clinic door and leaned against it for a moment. His mind replayed the evening's events, a small grin spreading across his face. Everything felt good—better than good, actually. He had managed to connect with Allison in a way the original Scott probably never could, and his life was slowly but surely aligning with his plan. It felt right. 

Taking a deep breath, Scott locked the clinic and made his way home, his thoughts now shifting to what lay ahead. Tonight, it wasn't just about himself. He wanted to do something nice for his mom. **She deserves that much, at least**, he thought.

---

After Scott got home, the kitchen was filled with the warm scent of something delicious cooking on the stove. He had decided to make dinner for Melissa—a rare occurrence, but one he knew would make her happy.

The stove sizzled as he flipped the pan, steam rising into the air. Garlic, onions, and vegetables mixed with chicken, a simple stir-fry that filled the small kitchen with rich aromas. Scott hummed to himself, feeling surprisingly relaxed.

Just as he was setting the table, he heard the familiar sound of the front door opening. His mom, Melissa McCall, came through the door with her usual exhausted expression after a long day at the hospital. But when she saw Scott standing in the kitchen, an apron tied around his waist, and dinner nearly ready, her tired look melted into one of complete surprise.

"Scott?" Melissa's voice was filled with curiosity and a little disbelief. "What's going on here? You're cooking?"

Scott flashed her a confident grin, setting down a plate of food in front of her chair. "Yep. Figured I'd give it a shot. You know, take some of the load off."

Melissa raised an eyebrow, eyeing the food suspiciously before smiling. "I don't think I've ever seen you near the stove unless you were making instant ramen. What's the occasion?"

Scott chuckled, sitting down across from her. "No occasion. Just thought it was about time I did something nice for you."

She looked at him, still clearly surprised, but touched by the gesture. "Well, I won't say no to that. This looks amazing. I didn't know you had it in you." She took a bite, her eyebrows raising even further. "It actually tastes amazing too."

Scott grinned. "I learn fast."

They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes before Melissa's curiosity got the better of her again. "Okay, spill. What brought this on? You've never cooked for me before."

Scott leaned back in his chair, his smile softening as he looked at his mom. She'd done so much for him—raised him on her own, worked countless long hours to provide, and always supported him. She was his rock, and he didn't need his time-traveler knowledge to know how important she was.

"I guess I've been thinking," he began, "about how much you've done for me. You've worked so hard, Mom. And I don't say this enough, but I'm proud of you."

Melissa blinked, clearly taken aback by his sudden sincerity. "Scott, I... I appreciate that, but you don't have to—"

"No, I mean it," Scott cut in, his voice steady. "You've been doing everything for me since Dad left. You work crazy hours, you keep everything together, and you never complain. I'm lucky to have you."

Her eyes softened, and for a moment, Scott thought he saw them glisten with tears. But Melissa McCall was strong—stronger than anyone Scott knew. She gave him a warm smile, reaching across the table to squeeze his hand. "Thank you, Scott. That means more than you know."

They sat in silence for a few more moments, the weight of the conversation sinking in. But then Scott cleared his throat, shifting gears to the real reason he wanted to talk tonight.

"Actually, there's something I wanted to ask you about," Scott said, leaning forward slightly. "I've been thinking... about getting a car."

Melissa raised her eyebrows again. "A car?"

"Yeah," Scott nodded. "I mean, I know it's not something we've really talked about before, and I don't want to put more pressure on you. But I was thinking... maybe I could ask Dad."

Melissa's expression changed instantly, her smile fading. "Your father?"

Scott met her gaze, his tone confident but gentle. "Look, I know he hasn't exactly been around. He's basically been useless, to be honest. But he's got the money, right? And I've never asked him for anything. Not once since he left. Maybe it's time he gave me something, y'know?"

Melissa's lips pressed into a thin line as she processed his words. Scott could tell the topic of his father still stung for her. But after a few moments, she sighed softly, running a hand through her hair.

"You don't have to ask him for anything, Scott," she said quietly. "I can save up. It'll take some time, but I'll get you a car. You know I would if I could."

Scott smiled warmly, shaking his head. "I know, Mom. And I appreciate that. But I don't want you to have to worry about it. Dad's out there living his life, barely even thinking about us. It's about time he stepped up and did something for me. Don't you think?"

Melissa looked at him, her eyes searching his face for a long moment before she sighed again, this time in resignation. "I guess... maybe you're right. He owes you that much."

Scott nodded. "Exactly."

There was another pause, and then Melissa finally smiled again, though it was a bit more bittersweet this time. "You've grown up a lot lately. You're... different."

Scott couldn't help but laugh softly at the irony of her words. **If only she knew.**

"Yeah, well, I guess I've just realized that I need to take control of things. No point in waiting around, right?"

---

The next morning, Scott woke up early, feeling refreshed and focused. It was a quiet day at school, with no classes scheduled in the morning. Perfect timing, really, because he had something important he needed to do. Stiles needed to know the truth about what was happening—about the bite, the changes, the powers. There was no way Scott could keep it from him for much longer, and besides, he didn't want to. Stiles was his best friend, and they had been through too much together for Scott to hide something like this.

Scott grabbed his phone and texted Stiles: 

**Hey, can you come over this morning? There's something I need to tell you.**

Within seconds, his phone buzzed with a reply: 

**On my way! What's up?**

Scott smirked, knowing Stiles would probably be expecting some wild conspiracy or a funny prank. **He's not going to see this coming.**

---

Half an hour later, Stiles barged into Scott's house, full of his usual energy and curiosity.

"Alright, McCall," Stiles said, flopping onto the couch. "What's the big mystery? You're being all cryptic, and I don't like it."

Scott leaned against the wall, crossing his arms and giving Stiles a small smile. "You're gonna want to sit down for this one."

Stiles raised an eyebrow, already seated. "Dude, I'm literally sitting down."

Scott chuckled. "Okay, fine. But don't freak out, alright? Just... let me explain."

Stiles immediately leaned forward, eyes wide with excitement. "Oh man, this is gonna be good, isn't it? Please tell me it's aliens. Or government experiments. Or—"

"It's not aliens," Scott interrupted, still grinning. "It's... something else."

There was a pause as Scott took a deep breath. **Here we go.**

"You know how I got bit the other night in the woods?" Scott started.

Stiles nodded, his expression suddenly serious. "Yeah, of course. By that... thing. What was it?"

Scott met his best friend's gaze, his voice steady and calm. "It was a werewolf, Stiles. And now, so am I."

For a moment, the room was silent. Stiles stared at Scott, his mouth slightly open, as if trying to process the words.

Then, in true Stiles fashion, he blurted out, "Wait, what?! Werewolves are real? And you're one of them?!"

Scott nodded, his smile widening as he watched Stiles struggle to wrap his mind around it.

"Yep. I'm a werewolf now. And before you ask, yes, I've got super strength, heightened senses, and I'm basically unstoppable on the lacrosse field."

Stiles blinked, still trying to catch up. "Dude. This is... insane."

Scott laughed, relieved to finally share the truth. "Yeah, welcome to my world."

As Stiles sat there, trying to comprehend it all, Scott felt a strange sense of peace. For the first time since everything had changed, he wasn't hiding anymore. This was his life now—power, control, confidence—and he was ready for whatever came next.