Teen Wolf: Alpha Reborn

Chapter 7: A Chance Encounter

The smell of antiseptic filled the animal clinic as Scott pushed open the door, a quiet hum of fluorescent lights above him. He liked working here, the calm atmosphere and the steady routine. It gave him time to think—something he needed now more than ever with all the changes happening inside him. After the lacrosse game earlier, Scott had felt even more confident in his new life. Everything seemed to be falling into place. He was stronger, faster, and in control. Now, as he stepped inside the clinic, he was ready for a quieter evening.

As soon as he walked in, Scott noticed Deaton standing by the door.

"Hey, Scott," Deaton greeted with his usual calm tone. "I've got to head out for a bit. Do you mind closing up after feeding the animals and tidying up?"

Scott gave him a relaxed smile. "No problem. I got it covered."

Deaton nodded, giving him a look that Scott couldn't quite place. It was almost as if he knew there was something different about Scott today. "Alright then. I trust everything will be in good hands."

With that, Deaton got into his car and drove off, leaving Scott alone in the clinic. As Scott moved around the back, getting ready to feed the animals, he felt the shift in the air almost immediately. The dogs in their kennels went from barking excitedly to whimpering, their tails tucking between their legs. The cats, normally aloof and indifferent, hissed and paced anxiously in their cages. Scott frowned, realizing what was happening.

**" Is it because of me?"**

Even though he had complete dominion over his abilities, Scott hadn't quite gotten used to how his presence affected animals. His natural werewolf aura was powerful, and the creatures in the clinic could sense it. It unnerved them, scared them even. Scott closed his eyes and focused, reaching into himself to pull back the invisible energy he was radiating.

"Calm down," Scott muttered to himself, working to control the force within him.

It took a few moments, but soon enough, he felt the shift. His aura softened, and the dogs stopped whimpering. The cats went back to their usual irritated glares, though one of them still swatted at the bars of its cage for good measure. Satisfied, Scott smirked to himself. **This was getting easier.**

Just as he finished feeding the last of the animals, the sound of a car pulling up outside caught his attention. He frowned, wiping his hands as he headed toward the door. It was after hours, so whoever was here clearly needed something urgent.

As he opened the door, Scott's eyes widened in surprise. Standing there, looking frazzled and worried, was Allison. Her hair was damp from the light drizzle outside, her face a mix of concern and panic.

"Allison?" Scott asked, stepping forward. "What's going on?"

"Scott," she breathed out, clearly upset. "I think I hit something. I didn't mean to, but I couldn't stop in time. I didn't know what to do, and I didn't want to just leave it there."

Scott's eyebrows furrowed in concern. "It? What do you mean?"

Allison motioned toward her car, parked just outside the clinic. "It's a dog. I think it's hurt. It's in the trunk. I didn't know where else to go, so I came here."

Without missing a beat, Scott followed her to the car. As they reached it, she popped open the trunk, revealing a large dog curled up in the back. The animal was growling softly, clearly scared and in pain. Scott could sense its fear immediately. But more than that, he could feel Allison's tension, the way her hands shook slightly as she stood beside him.

"I... I don't think it's too hurt, but it won't let me near it," Allison said, her voice trembling.

Scott placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring smile. "Relax. It's just scared."

She let out a shaky breath, nodding but still clearly on edge. "That makes two of us."

Scott's smile widened a bit. "Let me see if I have better luck."

He knelt down by the car, making soft, soothing noises as he got closer to the dog. Slowly, he released a small bit of his aura, just enough to calm the animal down without overwhelming it. The dog's growling stopped, its ears lowering as it relaxed slightly in his presence. Scott carefully reached out, and to his relief, the dog let him touch its fur. After a moment, he gently lifted it from the trunk.

"See?" Scott said, casting a glance at Allison. "No problem."

Allison stared at him, her eyes wide with amazement. "How did you do that? It wasn't letting me anywhere near it."

Scott chuckled softly. "I guess I've just got a way with animals."

Together, they carried the dog inside the clinic. After a quick inspection, Scott was relieved to see that the dog wasn't too badly hurt—just a minor wound on its leg. He carefully bandaged it up while Allison stood nearby, her anxiety finally starting to fade.

Allison wandered off for a moment and returned wearing one of Scott's old hoodies, her damp clothes exchanged for something warm and dry.

"Thanks for doing this," she said as she came back into the room. She looked at him with a sheepish smile, pulling the hoodie tighter around herself. "I completely freaked out. Like a total girl."

Scott glanced up from the dog, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You're a girl! Allison."

She rolled her eyes but smiled. "I freaked out like a girly-girl and I'm not a girly-girl. At least, I didn't think I was."

Scott tilted his head, giving her a curious look. "Oh yeah? What kind of girl are you?"

Allison hesitated for a moment before smirking. "Tougher than that. At least, I thought I was."

Scott leaned back, resting his arms on the counter as he looked her over. "Hey, if it makes you feel better, I would've probably cried. Like, full-on, ugly crying. I'm not talking manly tears either. I mean, the biggest, most pathetic girly-girl meltdown."

That finally got a laugh out of her. "Yeah, right."

Scott grinned. "I'm serious. I'd be a mess."

Allison chuckled again, shaking her head. "You're ridiculous."

"Ridiculously charming, you mean."

Allison rolled her eyes but smiled, her mood clearly lightened. "Okay, maybe that too."

Scott finished bandaging the dog and looked up at Allison. "She's going to be fine. You did the right thing bringing her here. Want to try petting her now?"

Allison hesitated, but after Scott reassured her, she reached out and gently stroked the dog's fur. The animal seemed to relax even more under her touch, and Scott smiled as he watched.

"She likes you," he said, his voice softer now. "Maybe she can tell you're not a girly girl after all."

Allison glanced up at him, noticing the way he was watching her. "What?"

Scott blinked, suddenly realizing he had been staring. "Sorry... I apologize if this is a little forward, but I think you're totally gorgeous."

Allison blushed, her cheeks turning pink as she laughed nervously. "I look like a mess right now. I've been crying, I'm soaked, and I'm wearing your hoodie."

Scott reached out and gently wiped a stray tear from her cheek. "You're still gorgeous."

The moment lingered for a second longer before Scott finally spoke again. "So... I was wondering. Would you like to go to Lydia's party with me?"

Allison hesitated for a moment, clearly caught off guard by the invitation. "I don't really like parties," she admitted, her voice soft.

Scott grinned, not missing a beat. "That's fine. How about we skip the party on Saturday and I take you out on Sunday? Just the two of us. What do you think?"

Allison's face lit up with a bright smile. "Definitely yes."

Scott's heart swelled at her answer, his confidence only growing stronger.