I gasped, my whole body jolting as I pushed myself upright. "Woah, woah," I felt a hand press down on my shoulder and my eyes glanced up to meet Theo's.

I scrambled backwards, making his hand drop. "Get the hell away from me," I snapped, gritting my teeth. "Where am I?"

"Just calm down, you're gonna be okay," he said, holding a hand out in front of him. "Do you remember what happened?"

"Liam," I blurted, recalling back to the last thing I remembered. Liam went up against the beast and I followed. Quickly, I swung my legs over and planted my feet on the ground. "Liam, is he-"

"He's fine," Theo confirmed.

"I want to see him," I said, attempting to push past him, until he ended up pulling me backwards. "Just let me go, Theo, dammit."

"You and I need to have a little chat, Kara."

I stepped backwards and Theo stepped forwards, his eyes piercing mine. "About?"

He tilted his head to the side, his tongue brushing over his lips briefly. "Teaching you control."

I moved backwards again, my back pressing against the wall now. "I told you already, I don't want your help."

"You need me," he said, coming even closer towards me. So close that my breath hitched in my throat. "Don't you?"

"I don't need you, you son of a bitch," I went to push him away but he slammed his palms down against the wall, his strong arms either side of me.

"I don't think you're quite understanding that you're in my pack now. You're on my side."

"Go fuck yourself, Theo," I seethed, my eyes narrowing into an icy glare.

His mouth curled into a smile, a silent laugh escaping between his lips as he tilted his head to the side. "Why do you keep lying to yourself?" He reached his hand out, his finger brushing a small strand of hair away from my face.

I snatched his wrist, pulling his hand away. "Don't touch me."

"Still hate me huh?" He asked as I let my fingers fall from their grip around his wrist.

"I don't think anybody really likes you, to be honest, Theo."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "I guess not," He was breathing heavily, his eyes gazing into mine. "It didn't have to be like this."

"I'm pretty sure we can't go back and change you being a psychopath," I retorted.

Theo moved his other hand from the wall, taking a step backwards. "You think I'm a psychopath?"

"I don't think you're a psychopath, I know you're a psychopath, Theo." I started to push past him but he grabbed my arm, twisting me back around.

"You still like me," he grinned teasingly, causing me to become more irritated with him. I didn't know what game he was playing and I didn't want to be a part of it at all. "Don't bother denying it."

Angrily, I slammed my hand against his chest. To my surprise, there was a sharp sound of my claws coming out as I pushed him backwards with my new found strength. He hit his back against the wall, the smirk tugging at his lips again. "I could kill you," I threatened, my hand still pinning him to the wall.

"But you won't," he said arrogantly. "You like me too much."

Without warning, he pushed his lips against mine with a fervent urge. I moved forwards, slowly sliding my betraying hand from his chest to his shoulder. He squeezed his own hands on my hips, bring my body closer to his. My brain completely shut down, as our mouths swirled with each passionate kiss. Theo spun me around, pressing me against the wall as a small gasp escaped between my lips. My fingers traced through the back of his hair whilst his rough hands started to slide underneath my shirt. A deep warmth spread through my body, all the pent up tension and aches about my current situation dissolved by one moment.

I'd always known, deep down, that something like this would happen again. I'd feared it and only hoped that, if it did, I'd push him away or maybe even slap him- he did deserve it. But there was something heart aching about it now. I was once a normal girl. Sure, I was living in a not-so-normal world, but I was as normal as I could possibly be. Now, I'm fading into the darkness. And if I'm not careful, I'm going to be completely separated from that normal world. The lines will blur and I'll become like Theo. That's what I was afraid of.

"Kara?" Theo's voice, deep and smoother than honey all of a sudden, snapped me back into my reality. He was watching me, his eyes searching mine for something.

I opened my mouth in shock, annoyed at myself for playing into his hands so easily. "I- I need to- to leave."

I couldn't really read his expression, for once, but he seemed hesitant to let me leave. "You sure you don't want to stay?"

"Listen, just because you're a good kisser, doesn't mean I like you," I fired back, my eyes widening as I realised what I'd just admitted. Sure, maybe I had enjoyed the few moments Theo and I had shared. Maybe I craved the heart racing, passionate adrenaline I got from it; the danger. But I knew that nothing good could ever come of it. Everything about it, all the little complexities, just made it so wrong. He was insane. Was he even capable of love? "Look, I need to get back to my brother."

"Liam's fine," he said bluntly. "He's out with Scott, looking for Mason. But-"

I frowned, confusion settling over me. Theo's face changed as he cut off, seeming to realise that he'd let something secretive slip. "Looking for Mason?" I asked. "Why's he looking for Mason?"

"If you come with me, I can explain everything."

"That sounds oddly suspicious," I commented. I couldn't quite think of any reason as to why they'd be looking for Mason other than he'd been taken. That thought was absolutely terrifying, Mason was so innocent in all of this.

"I'm meeting with your brother and Scott in fifteen minutes," Theo informed, giving off a vibe of impatience and desperation. I didn't understand why he needed me in his pack so much. Was it to cause some kind of shift in Scott's pack? Was it just to make him more powerful? "If you come with me to meet them, I'll tell you everything about Mason and The Beast."

My eyes widened, my whole body shuddering at the mention of the abomination. I could still recall some of that horrifying night I fought the monster with my brother. "The beast? What's that got to do with Mason?" Theo tilted his head to the side and my mind suddenly answered my own question. "Oh my god," I breathed out. "It's Mason. Mason is the beast."

~

Relief instantly flooded through me and I ran, pulling my brother into a bone crushing hug. I placed my hands either side of his face, checking him over. "You're okay?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine," he chuckled slightly, trying to push me away.

"I was so worried," I breathed out, not wanting to let him go. "Don't ever do that again you idiot."

Scott, who had been busy looking at something else, gave me a gentle smile. Theo nodded behind him, to a tube that I had only noticed a couple of minutes prior to Scott and Liam arriving. I hadn't really taken much notice to my surroundings when I woke up, but I realised I was in some kind of operating theatre. There was a tube with some kind of figure inside, green liquid bubbling around it.

"They called him Der Soldat," Theo informed. "That's German for 'The Soldier.' I'm pretty sure he fought in World War II."

"He was a Nazi?" Scott asked.

"And an Alpha werewolf," Theo said. "The Dread Doctors were using him to prolong their lives. They've been doing it for decades. Actually, probably longer."

"How old are these guys?" Liam questioned, suddenly intrigued.

Theo shrugged. "Who knows. But wherever they go, he goes, too."

"So how do we find him?" I asked.

"Keeping him alive requires a pretty unique set of conditions," he explained. "There's got to be a power source. It has to be underground-"

Scott cut him off, pulling a piece of folded paper out of his pocket. "And on a telluric current." When he opened it, I realised it was a map.

Theo took the map and opened it, the infamous smirk returning back to his face. "Looks like we're going for a hike."

We didn't waste any time heading into the woods. It was a pretty eerie night, adding a whole lot more tension and paranoia.

"Where is he?" Scott asked after a while.

"I thought we were looking for him," Theo replied.

"You know who I'm talking about."

"Deucalion?" Theo asked.

"You shouldn't trust him," Scott stated.

"And you're the one who let him live," Theo countered.

"I'm not a murderer," Scott replied sternly.

"You still think you're gonna get through all this without killing anyone?" Theo asked, a hint of disbelief, or was it amusement, in his voice.

"I didn't say that."

Theo and Scott started to slow down, as did I. I stopped, turning around to see that Liam had paused, concentrating on something. "We're close."

"Can get his scent?" Scott asked, receiving a nod from my brother.

"Which way?" Theo questioned, causing Scott and Liam to share a look. I frowned for a moment, but then realised that they obviously didn't want Theo to continue with us. And despite the fact I probably should have agreed with them, we actually did need Theo with us. "You think you're going to leave me behind?"

"Liam-" Scott started.

"Look, he wants to kill him-"
Liam started.

"I just want his power," Theo argued, his voice raising. "You want to fight someone that actually wants to kill Mason? Go fight Parrish."

"Who did you see when you put on the mask?" Liam queried.

"I already told you it wasn't Mason."

"Who was it?" Liam snapped.

"I saw a man dying in the snow," Theo finally said, exasperation clear in his voice. "He was impaled on a spear."

"It's called a pike," Scott corrected. "Lydia told us the story."

"Then the three of you know what it means. Time's running out," Theo glanced back at my brother again. "Where is he, Liam? What direction?"

Liam was reluctant at first as the four of us stood in silence for a while. "This way," he harshly walked ahead, leading the way through the woods.

We hadn't been walking for before Scott grabbed Liam, tugging him back. "Listen."

I also listened carefully, focusing on just my hearing. There was a heart beating inside.

"It's him." Without hesitation, Liam pulled open the door, heading inside. Scott and I followed him, climbing down the steps. The room was illuminated by a green light.

"Mason?" Liam whispered. The three of us turned the corner and Liam immediately bent down next to his unconscious best friend, slumped on the floor. There was a tank behind him with a green liquid and bubbles pulsing from the bottom. I looked up, noticing a long line attached from Mason to the top of the tube.

"It's connected to him," Scott realised. The two of us bent down next to Mason.

I turned around, facing Theo. "What the is this?"

"I don't know." And he looked genuinely confused.

"Liam, I can feel it," Mason suddenly said, short gasps of breath escaping him. "It's in my skull."

"Don't move," Liam instructed, reaching for the tube.

"Careful," Scott warned.

Liam turned around to look at Theo. "What are they doing to him?"

"I don't know," he repeated.

"Guys, let's focus," Scott said, before softening his voice. "Mason, we're gonna get you out of here," he turned to Liam and I. "Hold him still." I placed a hand on Mason's shoulder, giving him a reassuring smile. "Okay. All right. I'm going to try to pull it out," Scott said. "Let me know if it hurts."

I watched as he touched the smaller tube, causing Mason to scream out in pain. "It hurts! It definitely hurts."

"I barely moved it," Scott said in confusion. Before I could reply, I heard a familiar noise. I glanced up, noticing the dark figures of the dread doctors.

"Oh god no," I breathed out.

"They wanted us here," Theo stated, anger crossing his face.

I looked up at Scott briefly before eyeing the dread doctors with uncertainty. "Liam, Kara, try to get that thing out of Mason's neck," Scott ordered.

There was a hissing sound before footsteps pounded on the floor, along with the sound of a cane scraping along the floor too. "Theo... Theo Raeken."

"He's coming with us," Theo said firmly.

"Failure... Theo Raeken."

"I'm not- not a failure." I turned around, looking at him. I'd never heard anyone's words affect him before. He sounded genuinely hurt, terrified.

"Liam. Get out of here," Mason ordered. "Just go."

"Not a complete failure. We learned from you."

"Theo, he's trying to get to you," Scott said. "This is what they want, don't give it to them. We can't beat them."

"The mark of a true failure. Repeating the same mistake again and again."

"We're taking Mason," Theo said, his voice low as he looked to the ground. When he lifted his head up, his eyes were glowing icy blue. "Then I'm taking what's mine." He let out a roar, stepping forwards. "Let him go!"

"You have the entitlement and narcissism typical of your generation. In that, you are a profound success."

Mason suddenly let out a yell of pain. "God!"

"Scott! Scott, I... I can't get it out," Liam said frantically. "I don't know what to do." Scott headed over, bending down next to Mason again.

"But your failure taught us one thing. The banality of evil. That you were and would always be an ordinary evil."

"You think I'm ordinary?" Theo asked.

"We believed that to resurrect the perfect killer we had to start with the perfect evil. From you we learned true evil only comes by corrupting something truly good."

"Not something," Scott spoke up.

"Someone," Liam finished.

Theo growled, pushing the dread doctor back. "Liam, wait!" I heard Scott call out and I turned my head, watching him throw a punch at the doctor.

I stood up slowly, backing away slightly in fear. I wanted to help and do something but I wasn't confident in my abilities at all. I heard a thudding sound behind me and I spun around, coming face to face with one of the dread doctors. Trying to control my trembling hands, I extended my claws and slammed my hands against the dread doctor.

"Chimera..." I heard it breathe out. I ignored it, pushing again, until my hand was grabbed. I cried out, feeling like my fingers had just been crushed, as I was pushed away, sliding across the floor. Liam and Scott soon fell down beside me, both groaning in pain. I heard Mason crying out in agony again and glanced over, watching as he tried to pull out the tube behind his neck. He slowly started to stand up, almost growling now.

"Transformation...Transformation without frequency."

"Mason!" Liam called out.

He looked up, eyes glowing bright blue now, his voice sounding affected as he spoke. "That is not...my name." He suddenly started to growl again and I watched as black smoke surrounded him before he transformed into the thing we called the Beast.

Quickly, he grabbed one of the dread doctors, launching it towards us. I grabbed Liam as the three of us dived out of the way. One of the doctor's masks fell to the floor, blood splattering along with it. I gasped, moving away slightly.

"Success," I heard the last dread doctor say before being dragged away. Liam and I shared a look as Scott stood up, following. Shakily, I rose from the floor and followed.

The dread doctor had dropped onto the ground outside where a raging ball of fire hurtled through the air, before colliding with the beast. A gunshot rang through the air, followed by a couple  more. There was another puff of black smoke before the beast transformed back into human form. But it wasn't Mason.

"La Bete Du Gevaudan!" Gerard Argent shouted as he stepped out of the shadows. "I  know your name! Do you remember mine?"

The man turned around, his lip curling. "Argent," he said in a French accent. Seconds later, he took off running and Parrish roared after him.

Scott and Liam ran forwards, watching them. "Who the hell was that?" I asked.

"You've seen the Beast of Gevaudan," Gerard said. "That was the Man."

Chris glanced at Gerard, nodding. "Sebastien Valet."

~

A/N

kheo kheo kheo kheo

Sorry for not updating in ages. There's probably about 1 or 2 more chapters of this book left so I'm aiming to get that finished pretty quickly.

Xx