The Youngest (Teen Wolf) Rewritten

Chapitre Ten

Kate pulled up in front of the forest, the engine of her car rumbling softly before she cut it off. She stepped out, taking Kylie in her arms and slinging a big black duffel bag over her shoulder. The forest loomed ahead, the trees thick and shadowy, their branches swaying gently in the breeze. Without hesitation, Kate walked into the woods, her boots crunching over dried leaves and twigs.

She eventually set Kylie down, watching as the toddler looked around, her eyes wide with curiosity but completely at ease. Kylie seemed unfazed by the dark forest, her tiny feet moving confidently over the uneven ground. They continued walking, pushing deeper and deeper until Kate decided they had gone far enough. The air felt cooler here, the canopy above casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.

Kate placed the duffel bag against a large tree, the bark rough beneath her fingers. She unzipped it and pulled out a worn book. It wasn't exactly a book, more like an old journal with its frayed edges and scuffed leather cover. But to Kylie, a journal and a book were the same thing—just something filled with secrets and stories. Kate glanced down at Kylie, who watched her with innocent fascination, her small hands gripping the hem of her shirt.

"Come here," Kate waved her over.

Kylie ran to her, her little feet rustling the leaves beneath her. Kate picked her up, settling her comfortably on her lap as she leaned back against the sturdy trunk of the tree. She opened the journal across Kylie's small lap, the pages yellowed and filled with scribbles and sketches. Kate's fingers flipped through until they stopped at a page that showed a wolf with very human features. The drawing was detailed—its eyes held an intelligence that seemed almost unsettling, and its posture was halfway between a wild animal and a person.

Kylie stared at the drawing, her eyes widening with curiosity. She reached out, her tiny fingers brushing over the wolf's face. Kate watched her closely, her expression unreadable.

"Tell me, what do you see?" Kate asked the three-year-old, her voice soft yet commanding.

Kylie observed the picture, tilting her head to the side as she studied it. "A wolf," she stated simply.

Kate chuckled, shaking her head gently. "No, a werewolf," she corrected, her tone carrying an edge of seriousness.

"Oh! Like me then?" Kylie asked, her voice suddenly filled with excitement, her eyes lighting up.

Kate's face tightened slightly, and she quickly shook her head. "No, no, certainly not. You are still a cub, which means there's still time to teach you to do the right thing," she said, her voice softening, though her eyes remained intent. "Which is what I will do. Werewolves are bad, Kylie. They hurt innocent people for fun. You don't hurt people for fun, right?"

Kylie rapidly shook her head, her curls bouncing with the motion. "No!" she said emphatically, her expression earnest.

Kate laughed softly, her lips curling into a smile. "Good," she said, her voice almost affectionate. "To give you an example, werewolves are like the monsters that hide under your bed at night. You don't like those, do you?" She leaned in closer, her eyes narrowing slightly. "They scare people and hurt them."

Kylie frowned, her tiny brows knitting together. "I don't like them," she whispered, her voice small, and she snuggled closer to Kate for comfort.

Kate nodded, her smile widening, though her eyes held a cold determination. "That's right. We don't like monsters, and we won't let them hurt anyone. Not ever," she said, her voice firm. She looked down at Kylie, her expression softening slightly. "And you're going to help me make sure of that, aren't you, little cub?"