The next morning arrived, soft sunlight spilling gently through the hospital window.
Erica stood beside the bed, carefully peeling an apple. Her movements were slow and deliberate. Once she finished slicing, she placed the pieces neatly on a small plate.
"Alright," she said with a smile, helping Asher sit up against the pillows. "Here you go…"
She picked up the first slice and brought it to his mouth.
Asher opened his mouth slightly and took the bite. The flavor was sweet, but chewing sent sharp stings of pain through his jaw. Still, compared to yesterday, the difference was night and day.
"Better," he murmured, exhaling slowly.
Just then, the hospital door swung open.
Scott and Stiles walked in.
"Hey, Asher," Scott greeted, smiling as he stepped closer. "How you feeling, man?"
Asher smirked weakly. "Hmm… with a beauty peeling me apples every day, I can't complain."
He chuckled—then immediately winced, clutching his ribs. "Agh—okay, maybe I can complain…"
"You fine?" Stiles immediately asked.
"Yeah..." Asher exhaled.
Stiles scratched the back of his head. His gaze flicked toward Erica. "Uh, Erica… mind giving us a sec? We, uh… kinda need to talk to Asher alone."
Erica blinked, hesitating for only a moment before nodding quickly. The boldness she once carried had faded; the confident girl from before was now quiet, cautious. Just like she was before. She started to stand, but—
"No," Asher said suddenly, his voice firm. "She can stay."
Scott frowned. "Are you sure?"
"Yes." Asher's tone softened, his eyes drifting to Erica. "She's just like you, after all."
For a second, silence filled the room.
Scott froze. "She's… like me?"
Stiles's eyes widened. "Wait—you mean… she's a werewolf?"
Erica's head snapped toward them, eyes wide. "A werewolf? And Scott is one too?!"
Asher nodded weakly. "At least, that's what I think. Her eyes glow yellow—just like Scott's."
The room went still again.
And then—Scott and Erica turned toward each other.
For a fleeting moment, both their eyes glowed gold.
A quiet, stunned breath escaped Scott.
He looked at Erica as if seeing her for the first time.
"She was turned by some strange creature," Asher continued, his voice low. "Probably the same one that bit you, Scott."
Scott was speechless.
Meanwhile, Stiles sighed, rubbing his temple. "Well… looks like our supernatural club just got another member."
Asher gave him a tired smile. "So… what kind of mess did you two get into this time?"
"Uh," Stiles began awkwardly, glancing at Scott's still-dazed expression. "You might wanna sit tight for this one…"
"Alright," Stiles began, rubbing the back of his neck with a sigh. "First of all… we found out it wasn't Derek who bit Scott."
Asher blinked. "Wait—what?"
"It wasn't him," Stiles continued. "It was another werewolf. An Alpha."
"An Alpha?" Asher repeated slowly. "As in—the leader of a wolf pack?"
"Exactly," Stiles said, nodding. "He's stronger, faster… and he's been searching for Scott." His tone dropped. "And probably for Erica too."
"Me?" Erica's eyes widened. "Why me?"
Stiles hesitated, glancing toward Scott, unsure how to explain.
But before he could answer, Asher spoke quietly, his gaze steady. "It's probably because he's the one who turned you. You're part of his pack—just like Scott."
"Y-Yeah…" Stiles said, startled by how quickly Asher connected the dots. "Exactly that."
Asher leaned back against his pillow, a pained breath slipping out between his lips. "It's quite the problem…"
Then, despite the grim news, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "But at least I was right—Derek was innocent."
Scott nodded. "Yeah… he's actually been helping me learn to control myself now—"
"Wait, wait," Asher interrupted, brow furrowing. "Wasn't he in jail?"
"Oh, that," Stiles said, waving a hand. "Yeah, turns out the body they found was his sister, Laura Hale, like you said. And the medical examiner ruled her death as an animal attack, so Derek got released."
Asher's lips curled into a smug grin. "Knew it."
Then his gaze slid toward Erica. "In that case… someone here needs to learn how to control herself too."
Erica froze.
Her eyes dropped to the floor, guilt washing over her face.
Asher slowly raised a hand, his fingers brushing the thick bandages on his ribs. The room went silent.
Stiles's eyes widened as realization hit him. "Don't tell me…" His voice trailed off in disbelief. "She's the one who—"
Erica flinched, her shoulders trembling. She didn't deny it.
Scott's expression turned to shock, his breath catching. "Erica… you—?"
She couldn't look at any of them. Her hands were shaking, clutching the hem of her jacket tightly.
"Hey, hey, Erica…"
Asher lifted his arm slowly—pain flaring across his chest—and placed his hand over hers. It was the only part of her he could reach from the bed, her fingers still clutching her shirt tightly.
"I already told you…" he said softly. "It's not your fault I got hurt. The full moon was controlling you."
Erica's lips trembled. "Yes, but…"
Her voice broke, and tears began slipping down her cheeks.
Then—she felt it.
A faint, soothing warmth spreading from Asher's hand into hers.
Not burning. Not intense. Just… gentle.
Comforting. Like a small fire in the cold.
Her body relaxed instinctively as he spoke again.
"Erica," Asher murmured with a faint smile, "I thought you were the sexiest and most confident girl in Beacon Hills. Crying doesn't fit a girl like that, does it?"
A quiet, tearful laugh escaped her. "Hehe… you're such an idiot," she muttered, wiping her cheeks.
"Ehm…" Stiles said suddenly, blinking fast, his eyes wide.
Scott's expression mirrored his.
"Asher…" Stiles pointed, stunned. "You just moved your arm."
"Huh?" Asher looked down—and blinked. His arm was indeed holding Erica's hand, steady. "Oh… right," he murmured, realization dawning.
"Didn't Ms. McCall say you wouldn't be able to move properly for months?" Erica said, eyes wide. "Your torso muscles are still destroyed—you shouldn't even be able to lift your arm right now!"
"I think…" Asher said slowly, flexing his fingers slightly, "…my muscles are healing. I feel much better than yesterday."
Scott and Stiles exchanged looks, both equally stunned.
"Asher," Stiles said, his brain racing, "did—did Erica bite you by any chance?"
"Nope," Asher said immediately. "I'm not a werewolf. And honestly, I don't think any werewolf can just turn people. Probably only an Alpha can do that. Otherwise, the town would be crawling with them."
Scott tilted his head, impressed. "That… actually makes sense."
Stiles blinked. Again?
Another perfectly logical theory out of nowhere. He stared at Asher like he'd just seen a real-life Sherlock Holmes.
"Then what are you?" Stiles asked, half in awe, half in disbelief.
"I'm… a human," Asher said simply, frowning at the question. "Maybe just a genetically lucky one. I've always healed fast. I train every day—seven days a week—and my body just… bounces back." He shrugged, still holding Erica's hand.
Stiles looked at him like he'd just grown another head. "A normal human would've died from what you went through! You lost nearly half your blood and had a lung ripped open!"
"Well then," Asher said with a faint grin, "I guess I'm just lucky."
Scott chuckled softly but then looked at him more carefully. "You know…" he said, smiling, "you've changed. You seem more confident now. More… at ease."
Asher paused, thinking. His face softened.
"I don't know," he said quietly. "Maybe it's because of the letters."
Scott and Stiles exchanged a look—then smiled. That simple answer said everything.
"I just…" Asher's voice trembled. "It made me realize how much you all care for me. I… I've never received something like that in my life."
His eyes glistened, tears slipping silently down his cheeks.
"Asher…" Erica whispered, squeezing his hand tighter.
Scott and Stiles both smiled faintly, watching him with a warmth they couldn't quite describe.
Then Stiles, ever the mood breaker, cleared his throat loudly. "Come on, man… we just said you became cool, and now you're crying? You're ruining your reputation."
Asher laughed softly through the tears. "You're right… sorry."
He smiled again—brighter this time.
To be continued...
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How was this chapter? Liked it?
Also, I am starting to write my own novel. It will be about a modern supernatural world like I've already said. Set in the US, the MC will accidentally find himself in a hidden village of strange creatures.