Scott McCall's Arc

Chapter 15 of 30

Scott and Stiles broke through the trees just as the last light died. The Nemeton rose ahead, its carved roots glowing faintly around a hollow eye of amber. The jars sat scattered between the roots, four small guardians half-buried in the dirt. But Malik stood waiting on the stump, fully shifted — a towering jackal-headed figure with obsidian fur and gold markings. A long staff was driven into the wood beside him, its golden jackal head catching the dark. "We're too late," Scott muttered. The creature's amber eyes fixed on him. "You fight for everyone, Scott McCall. But who are you still trying to save?" Scott hesitated. One breath. That was all it took. The Anubite lunged. Scott shifted mid-step and met it head-on. Claws raked his shoulder. He drove the creature back into the roots. "Stiles — the jars!" Stiles was already moving, low and fast, scrambling between the roots. A black claw swiped past his ear. "Okay, okay, not dying, not dying," he breathed, scooping one jar, then another into his jacket. The creature's words kept circling Scott's head. Who are you still trying to save? He took a hit to the ribs and rolled. Malik was faster, stronger, everything Derek had warned about. But Scott didn't need to win. He just needed seconds. He roared and threw his whole weight into the creature's chest, slamming it into the stump. Stiles grabbed the last jar. "Got them! Scott, I've got all four!" The Anubite's head whipped toward him. Scott seized the staff from the wood and swung it across the creature's jaw. Gold sparks burst from the carved head. Malik staggered, snarled, and vanished in a scorched curl of smoke — leaving only blackened bark and the staff in Scott's hand. Stiles dropped to his knees, the four jars cradled against his chest. "We have them. Scott, we actually have them." Scott stared at the empty stump, breathing hard. They had the jars. But Malik was still out there, and the question he'd left behind was lodged somewhere Scott couldn't reach. "He let me hit him," Scott said quietly. "He wanted us to take them."