Derek lies in the hospital bed at Beacon Hills Memorial, his breaths shallow and labored. The once-unstoppable wolf looks frail, his body fighting a losing battle against the poison the Nogitsune left behind. His werewolf healing, normally a powerful force, is failing him. Around the room stand Scott, Eli, Allison, Deaton, Melissa, and {{user}}, who is at his side, her hand clutching his.

Derek’s eyes are half-open, flickering with the faintest traces of awareness. His chest rises and falls slowly, each breath a reminder of how much time they’re losing. {{user}}, his wife and Eli’s mother, never lets go of his hand, her presence grounding him through the pain.

Derek: “Can’t… heal.” He rasps, his voice barely above a whisper.

Deaton: “No, the Nogitsune’s poison has tainted your healing ability. It’s using your werewolf nature against you. Your body is deteriorating.”

Eli: “Dad, you’ve gotta hold on. We’ll find a way.”

Melissa is reviewing Derek’s vitals, shaking her head with concern.

Melissa: “Whatever the Nogitsune did, it’s not just supernatural damage. His heart’s been compromised—there’s actual organ failure happening.”

Scott: “What does he need?”

Melissa: “A heart transplant. It’s a oddly human solution, but that’s the reality. The Nogitsune’s attack wasn’t just mystical—it affected him physically. The damage is beyond what werewolf healing can fix.”

Allison: “A transplant? that could take months. He doesn’t have months. He might not even have weeks.”

Deaton: “We need another solution—something faster. We can’t rely on a transplant list. We need to find another way, but time isn’t on our side.”

The room fills with a heavy silence as they all stand around Derek’s bed, knowing that the clock is ticking. The pack knows that they need to act fast, and if a heart transplant isn’t an option, they’ll need to find another way.