**************************

December 8 2004 5:30PM

Like any ordinary Monday before dinner, Lucian stood in front of the small mirror in his room, carefully inspecting his reflection. He posed, trying out different smiles, grins, and smirks, a hint of amusement in his black eyes.

"I am so handsome," he said, smoothing down his black hair with his hand.

"Okay, stop being narcissistic again," Cortana's voice appeared in his mind, her usual playful tone laced with a hint of exasperation.

Lucian smirked, his expression turning mischievous. "No way, I wasn't even half cute or handsome in my past life."

He made his way to the orphanage dining room, where children of all ages were gathered, chattering and laughing.

Lucian walked towards his table, a group of children his age and slightly older.

His seat was at the very end of the table, a lonely spot that reflected his place in the orphanage.

The other kids, with their boisterous laughter and playful chatter, seemed oblivious to him. They were constantly being compared to him, their achievements overshadowed by his brilliance. The Matron, however, showered him with praise and attention, which only made the other kids resent him more.

Lucian, however, didn't care.

He was a genius, his mind a supercomputer thanks to Cortana's abilities. Fast computation and complex calculations were easy for him. He'd always loved reading,

And He didn't need friends. He always preferred his own company, his own thoughts. He enjoyed peace and quiet more than playing with brats.

Lucian had a goal to be free, to be himself, to he was a genius. So he can speak freely, to let his knowledge flow without making people think he was a monster.

As he might go crazy acting like a child all the time.

6:38 PM

Lucian lay down on his bed, staring at the window as the late afternoon light streamed through the glass.

The shadows stretched and danced across his room, mimicking the restless thoughts in his mind.

"Do you think Malia is going to remember me?" he asked Cortana, his voice a soft murmur.

He already knew it was impossible for a child a month old to remember him.

He was just trying to pass the time until sleep claimed him.

He was tired of pretending to be a normal child. He was tired of waiting for the moment he could finally embrace his true nature. He was tired of being a prisoner in his own body.

"Let's try training tomorrow, Cortana. Otherwise, I'm going to go crazy," he said, his gaze fixed on the moonlit window.

"I know. Just don't push yourself too hard," Cortana said, appearing in her miniature form. They both looked at the moon, its silver light shimmering on the windowpane. Suddenly, they saw a reflection in the corner of the room a man, standing there in full black, his features obscured by the shadows.

Lucian's eyes widened in shock. He turned his head, but the man had already vanished. But then, his instincts took over, and he instinctively ducked as a hand reached out from behind him. He rolled to the other side of the bed, his heart pounding in his chest.

He saw the man again, his dark form emerging from the shadows.

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

'Ninja?!' Lucian thought, but before he could react, a hand shot out from under the bed, striking him on the neck.

The last thing Lucian thought was,

'This world isn't just Teen Wolf' as he fell unconscious.

He faintly heard Cortana's voice.

"Wake up."

He slowly opened his eyes, finding himself in the familiar expanse of the Soul Space. He lay on the dark, transparent ground, a sense of disorientation washing over him.

He saw Cortana kneeling before him, her golden soul form glowing softly, a worried look on her face.

She gently placed her right hand on his cheek.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't help you," was the first thing Cortana said, her voice filled with remorse. She saw the fear in Lucian's eyes, the way he trembled slightly. If she had a body, maybe the outcome would have been different.

Lucian flicked his middle finger at her forehead. As he hugged her, he said, "There's no point looking at my body and that guy. We can't win. We are just unlucky." He was pissed off too, but he wouldn't blame Cortana. He knew his limitations.

Cortana rested her head on Lucian's shoulder, her form shimmering against his. She didn't say anything. She truly thought that no matter what, if she didn't have a body, she should have been able to truly help him. She was powerless, a ghost trapped in a world she couldn't touch, a cruel irony that fueled her guilt.

Sensing her thoughts, Lucian hugged her more tightly.

He knew she blamed herself, but he wouldn't allow it. He had made a decision. No matter what it took, he would find a way to give her a body, to make her whole again. He would make it his mission. They were bound, their fates intertwined, and he wouldn't let her suffer.

•-----•-----•-----•-----•

As Lucian's unconscious body was carried out of the town of Beacon Hills, the Nemeton sensed it. A surge of energy rippled through the ancient tree, its trunk glowing with a vibrant green light. It was a powerful beacon, tapping into the depths of Yggdrasil's power, calling to someone who could help.

Ten minutes later, a man, his face etched with age and wisdom, walked up to the Nemeton's towering trunk. He was Deaton, the veterinarian and druid, a man who walked the line between the human and the supernatural worlds.

"You have grown, but to call upon a druid like me… I didn't know a Nemeton had that kind of power." Deaton murmured, placing his hand on the rough bark of the trunk.

Visions flooded his mind, images of a child, a small form being kidnapped, taken away. The nemeton focused its energy, sending a clear message. Find the child.

Deaton opened his eyes, shock etched on his face. He hurriedly pulled his hand away from the tree trunk, the visions fading.

"A Nemeton doesn't have that kind of power." He froze, his eyes wide with disbelief, as the nemeton pulsed with a bright green light.

"Unless…" he whispered, a gentle, feminine voice echoing in the air. "Find him."

"It was true," he said, his voice trembling with awe. The green glow faded, leaving the nemeton standing tall and silent, its purpose fulfilled.

Deaton, his mind racing, knew he had to act. He ran towards the Hale Mansion, his every step filled with purpose. He needed to find the child, and for that, he needed help.

•-----•-----•-----•-----•

As Deaton approached the Hale Mansion, he noticed that the windows were dark, the house eerily silent. An uneasy feeling settled in his gut, a sense that something was terribly wrong.

Then, a guttural, mournful howl, the cry of an Alpha wolf, echoed from within the house. He hurried inside, and the sight that greeted him was chilling. Bodies lay scattered on the floor, the air heavy with the scent of blood and fear. The remaining wolves snarled at him, their eyes blazing with a primal rage. They were still sensitive from the previous attack, their senses heightened, their instincts on edge.

"Enough. He's an ally," Satomi Ito commanded, her voice firm, cutting through the tension.

"What happened?" Deaton asked, his voice laced with concern. He saw the body of a ninja, the same type he'd seen in his visions. He slowly walked toward Satomi, his gaze searching for answers.

Satomi shook her head, her face etched with sorrow.

"We don't know. They just suddenly appeared. Their technique and fighting style were unlike anything we've ever seen. We wouldn't have won if not for our superior strength." She looked at her fallen beta, remorse filling her eyes.

"Deaton, I need your help!" Talia's voice called from upstairs.

"Go. We can handle ourselves here," Satomi said, her tone resolute. The wolves were resilient, but those who were dead couldn't be brought back.

Deaton hurried up the stairs, his heart pounding in his chest. The first thing he saw was Talia, her face etched with worry, holding Derek, who was unconscious, a sword embedded in his belly.

Deaton knelt down beside Talia, carefully inspecting Derek's injuries. "Can you save him?" Talia asked, a desperate plea in her voice. She was ready to heal her son herself, even if it meant losing her Alpha status.

(A/N: in the Teen Wolf series, Derek healed Cora, and he became a beta.)

Deaton examined the sword, noticing the poison, the wolfsbane.

It was different, a strange color, almost a luminescent blue, and he knew immediately that it was something unique.

"We need to pull it out," he said, his voice firm. He reached for Derek, ready to assist Talia in moving him to a table.

"He'll bleed out. The wolfsbane stopped his healing a while ago," Laura said, her voice shaking with fear for her brother.

"Yes, but that's not how wolfsbane is supposed to work. It's supposed to weaken your body, poison you slowly, killing you over time. This just weakened his healing." Deaton said, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Are you saying it's not wolfsbane?" Laura asked. Talia put a comforting arm around her daughter's shoulders.

"It is wolfsbane, but it wasn't meant for wolves like you," Deaton said, meeting Talia's gaze.

"What's your plan?" Talia asked, her voice trembling with urgency.

"We need to let him heal himself. We need to burn it out of his wounds," Deaton said. He placed his hand on the sword hilt, his thumb pressing against the poisoned metal.

"Do you have a torch?" Deaton asked, his eyes searching the room.

Before Talia could respond, they heard a heavy thud as something was dropped on the floor.

They turned to see Peter, his face covered in blood, walking towards them. He'd heard their conversation from downstairs. He was holding something close to Derek, a powerful Oxy-Fuel torch, the flames roaring.

(A/N:it's the one that people used to welding metal and cut it)

"Is this fine?" Peter asked, holding the torch out to Deaton.

"Yes, that will do." Deaton replied. He then pulled the sword out of Derek's wound, the metal still warm from the poison.

Peter carefully moved the torch over Derek's wounds.

The intense heat burned, and Derek's eyes suddenly shot open, his eyes blazing a piercing blue.

He Roars in pain, a raw, guttural cry that echoed through the mansion.

All the wolves in the Hale Mansion, their senses heightened, turned their attention to the upstairs room.

Derek's Roars were loud enough to be heard throughout the entire house.