A/N:

Here's the prequel to my Story "Two's a Crowd."

If you came from the other story you know that I will be updating this story in bulk, the first 2 arcs are up now and I'm going through the third one currently before posting it. If you stumbled upon this story on your own, I hope you enjoy it, but also be aware of it not being updated very frequently. After the third arc is up, I plan on having the next half up after about 3-5 weeks or so.

The story occurs in the Teen Wolf Universe, starting from right before season one and will end a little before season five where the other story will take over.

It's a darker story line than most of Teen Wolf, but I have a few fun sections that I plan on throwing in. Let me know how you like it so far. Thanks!

Hunting Season

"You can fight better than that," August said as the stick shattered on Steve's face.

"Some of us don't have to hold back," Steve growled.

"Then don't." August tossed a sword to Steve as he spun his own. Steve's eyes glowed blue as he smiled, stepping forward.

"Neither of you can regrow an arm," Kaia said knocking the blades out of both of their hands with her bo.

"You ruin all the fun," Steve told her.

"You want fun? Try this," she tossed a blindfold at Steve. "We'll both be at a disadvantage." She tied her blindfold on.

August and Steve shared a look before Steve grabbed a bo and put the blind fold on. He chuckled when he heard Kaia run for him. He swung his staff out to reach her, but heard the clack as wood met wood. Steve smile faded as he was knocked back when her staff connected with his chin.

"It's not a disadvantage if you've been practicing it," Steve heard Yuki say as she walked into the room.

"A fox fights with no honor," Steve joked in Japanese as he removed the blindfold.

"Maybe a wolf should learn," Yuki replied also in Japanese. She kicked up a staff and the mother and child charged him.

Steve leapt back away from their attacks. They continued to push him back until he neared the wall. Steve sensed Charlie enter the house. "What to join?" Steve thought to Charlie via their pack link.

"I dunno, you're not doing too bad," Charlie thought back.

Steve felt his back hit the wall. His assailants stepped back to charge. He ran at them a leapt into the, stabbing the bo into the ground to gain extra height. Yuki turned and knocked the bo from the ground and Steve's hand. He started to fall but twisted his body into a flip before landing on his feet, unarmed.

"You sure about that?" Steve asked. He heard Charlie chuckle in response.

The two rushed at him causing Steve to continue his attempts to dodge the attacks. He blocked on from Yuki with his forearm and felt his ulna break. Steve hit the wall near the door and Yuki and Kaia charged, not giving Steve time to espcape. He jumped straight up as their bos impaled the wall. He landed on the two staffs, smiling. "The wolf has learned," he told them.

He jumped into the air again as Charlie came through the door and tackled Kaia to the ground. He spun his body to send a kick to Yuki's face but his body stopped rotating as she snatched his ankle and slammed him into the ground.

"Not enough," Yuki stated, pulling her staff from the wall and swung it so it hovered right above Steve's neck.

"Dead," August mocked.

"That was three times you got your ass kicked?" Charlie asked helping Steve to his feet.

"'Cause I would have won against the seven-hundred-year-old kitsune."

"Six-hundred," Yuki corrected.

"And yet still so beautiful," Mary joked as she stepped in. "The Senate is meeting tonight, figured I'd make some rounds and save my voice."

Everyone else nodded. "Training is over for the day," Yuki told them.

Charlie, Steve and August headed out of the kitsune's house and stepped out into the valley. Steve breathed in the crisp mountain air. It was late fall and the trees had already lost their leaves.

"We'll see you tonight?" Steve asked August. He nodded before giving Steve a peck on the cheek and jogging down the path back home. "Want to race?" Steve asked Charlie.

"That would be the fourth time you got your ass kicked today," Charlie smiled flashing his golden eyes. The two took off, running into the woods.

Charlie turned to the side, shouting that it was a shortcut. Steve chuckled and shook his head as he continued straight ahead to the pack house. Steve skidded to a stop when he felt a pain on his side. He reached down and felt blood as he traced the claw marks. His eye started to glow blue as he shifted and searched for the attack. He gasped as his back was scratched.

"You're an ass," Steve shouted. Jay appeared out from behind a tree laughing.

"Charlie told me you were down here," the werecheetah said. "He also said you got your ass kicked three times. But I guess now it's four."

"You know I could've killed you, right?"

"Ah, but you figured it out before you did. Besides you'd have to catch me first," Jay replied, smiling.

"I bet I could."

"Aren't you already losing a race?" the werecheetah said with a smile.

"That's cheating," Steve told Charlie as he started running back to the pack house.

Charlie was waiting for him at the pack house. Charlie opened his mouth to gloat before they heard shouting from.

"We can't work with these hunters!" Cassie yelled as the two entered the house.

"You're overreacting a bit," John told her as he cuddled with Sam on the couch.

"What're you talking about?" Steve asked

"Argents," Cassie hissed.

"Argents?" Charlie asked. "What do they have to do with us?"

"They're coming to the Senate meeting tonight, to help deal with wendigos," she told them.

"Which I can't see as a bad thing. They take care of the wendigos for us while we sit back and relax," John commented.

"We work with the Caesars all the time, Cassie. It's not that big of a deal," Sam said.

"But the Argents aren't like the Caesars," Blake interrupted stepping into the house.

"No, their creed is nous chassons ceux qui nous chassent," Steve explained

"I don't know Italian," Cassie spat.

"It's French," Charlie explained. "We hunt those who hunt us."

"And we don't kill people," John stated. "Not normal people," he added when Sam sat up and looked at him.

"So, they shouldn't have a reason to go after us then?" Sam asked.

"That's right," Steve said.

"However, there are stories of them not following that creed," Blake stated.


"There's not a chance in Hell that I'd allow a hunting family with that reputation to enter the territory and put my family in danger," Malik stated as August walked into his home.

"I've worked with Chris before. The Argents follow their code, so long as we don't attack them, no one should get hurt," Tiberius told the werelion.

"Unfortunately, Chris isn't the only one coming," Malik grumbled.

"A solid show of support from everyone would be a good start to the peaceful relationship," Tiberius told the werelion.

"And I suppose I should let them share quarters with my son, the future of our pride?" Malik stated pointing to Leonard.

"Don't be ridiculous, Malik," Dianna stated. "All we are allowing is them to enter the area and help us. We are outnumbered, especially with your pride sitting out on this fight."

"I'd be perfectly willing to help out," Daren stated from next to Leonard.

"No, you'll stay by Leonard's side and keep him safe," Malik told the weretiger. As Leonard walked over to August

"What're they talking about?" August asked as the other continued to argue.

"The Argents have requested to enter the territory to help get rid of the wendigos. Apparently, attacks have reached the town."

"Damn, I was hoping we could at least contain the attacks. What do you think about it?" August asked the younger werelion.

"I don't really have a say, yet."

"And if you did?"

"I've read about their history, they're really efficient. But I've also heard the stories. Maybe they could help, but I don't know if we could trust them."

"So, you would say no?"

"If the wendigos are attacking the nearby towns then we aren't able to handle this on our own. I'd say yes, but at what cost?"

"I'll be voting no, and that's final. Leonard let's go," Malik said, interrupting the conversation.

"I assume Leonard filled you in, son?" Tiberius asked as the werecats exited the house.

"Yeah, have the wendigos really made their way into town?"

Tiberius nodded, "There are just too many of them in the area for us to handle."

"And you think the Argents can help?"

"We trust Chris," Dianna told him. "He may not like working with other the other groups, but he won't attack them either."

"Malik said Chris wasn't the only one coming to help?"

"No, his sister is coming to, as well as their men," a voice said from the doorway. August turned and watched his uncle, Nero, enter the house.

"And she isn't like Chris?" August asked.

"You've heard what happened to the Hales?" Dianna asked.

"She did that?" August breathed.

"That's the rumor," Nero stated, smiling. "But you know how things can get distorted."


"This is stupid," Cassie told the rest of the pack through the link. "We shouldn't all be here, it'll make us easy targets."

"We're all together in case there is an attack. The Argents should be unarmed anyway," Blake told her.

"Just remember that Tiberius wants this meeting to be respectful," Steve told her.

The pack entered the hall for the Senate meeting. The other families of the Republic were already in their normal positions. Mary sat between Tiberius and Yuki. The rest of the Caesar family stood behind him, August's younger brother Marcus was the only one not present. Yuki's husband, Hiroki, stood beside her. Mai, her sister, stood behind her next to Kaia.

The pack took their spot, on Tiberius's left. Directly across from the Malik's pride. Leonard stood next to his mother, Ariel. He was the eldest of their children and the only one to come to the meetings. Daren and Jay behind them. Malik was reclined in his chair, his feet on the table.

"That's being respectful?" Cassie asked staring at Malik.

"It's Malik. What did you expect?" Charlie told her.

Dianna and Mai began discussing supplies they would need to get for the coming weeks.

"You know who's coming?" August asked as he approached Steve.

"Yeah," Steve said. He picked up two voices approaching the ware house and held up his finger when August went to speak again.

"We have a code," a man said.

"'We hunt those who hunt us,' yeah, yeah," a woman mocked. "Nowhere in the code does it say that we have to work with wild animals. I mean, how many times have you said that they're just rabid dogs needing to be put down."

"You know the Caesars. We need Tiberius's permission to operate in their area."

"What's he going to do if we don't? We outnumber him and his friends."

The two paused outside the door. "They know the area best. They can help us finish this before more people get hurt. Try to be civil."

The door opened revealing six hunters, all armed. In front of them stood Kate and Chris Argent.

Jay and Daren moved forward to Malik, pushing the other two behind them. Malik's feet dropped to the floor but he remained seated. August reached for an arrow before his mother's hand stopped him. Cassie growled beside Steve. He reached out and held her back, causing the two of them to lock their glowing blue eyes. The kitsunes and Mary remained where they were, stoic.

Tiberius stood as the Argents walked through the door. "This is a peaceful meeting. It would be appreciated if you would put your guns away," he announced.

"We'd appreciate it if they would put their animals back in their kennels," the Kate whispered to Chris, smiling at the pack as she did. He shot her a look before speaking.

"This is a fairly unusual circumstance for us and we would prefer if our men stay armed," Chris answered before moving on. "As you already know, we've received reports of wendigo attacks in the nearby towns."

"It seems your republic can't handle the threat anymore," Kate added.

"We've come to offer assistance to prevent any others from being hurt," Chris stated ignoring his sister.

"Do you require anything else?" Tiberius asked.

"Just a place to operate from," Chris said.

"Officially, we would have to take a vote to decide whether you are allowed to aid—"

"You give your pets voting rights?" Kate interrupted.

"Excuse my sister, like I said this is an unusual situation for us."

"The respected members of The Republic are quite beneficial when tracking down those who wish to harm other," Tiberius stated, enjoying Kate's discomfort. "As such, they get a say in who we do and do not accept aid from. We will need a brief moment to discuss amongst ourselves, though."

"We'll appreciate any help that results in the end of senseless murders," Chris said half-heartedly.

"I don't know how I feel about this, Steve," Charlie thought. Steve nodded as he headed towards the Caesars and kitsunes. Cassie and John started arguing again in their heads as Blake attempted to calm the two.

"What're the pack's thoughts?" Tiberius asked Steve.

"I don't know if you want to know," he joked as he heard Cassie screaming in his head. "But we're a bit uneasy about it."

"We have some concerns, but we trust Chris," Tiberius told him.

"What about the rumors?" Steve asked.

"We're aware of the rumors," Tiberius stated.

"I'll be keeping an extra close eye on Kate," Nero stated.

"What's the death toll like for either choice?" Steve asked Mary.

"More people will die if we do not accept their help," the banshee told him.

"If we turn them away, our influence with them will be damaged," Tiberius added.

"So, saying yes would be the safer option and we'd be able to get help later on if needed," Steve stated.

Tiberius nodded. "The pack wouldn't have to fight alongside them. If you can find where the wendigos are hiding, we can attack the wendigos at their base with the Argents. It'll keep you separate and out of the potential crossfire."

"I think that's a fair compromise. And it's the better option," Steve told Blake.

Cassie stopped screaming as she waited for Blake's response. "I trust your judgment," Blake thought. Cassie began to argue again before Blake interrupted her. "We'll take our own vote."

"They have their code, Cassie," Steve stated, the hunters, kitsunes, and Mary were staring at him waiting for a response.

"You and your codes!" Cassie glanced over at the beta, likely due to Cassie making an obscene face. Charlie thought he saw Kate smile slightly while she continued to observe the interaction.

"Time for the vote?"

"Yes," John and Cassie responded

Charlie looked to Steve momentarily before replying yes as well.

"Cassie?" Blake turned towards her.

"A majority is a majority," she answered reluctantly.

"We can agree to that," Steve said aloud before he returned to the pack.

"Now we vote," Tiberius said returning to his seat. "Malik?"

"No," Malik growled, his eyes not leaving the Argents.

"Yes, we have a warehouse in the valley you are welcome to use," Yuki stated when Tiberius turned to her.

"We'll figure out where the wendigos are holed up and pass the information on to the Caesars," Blake said.

"And we will help hunt the wendigos down alongside you," Tiberius announced as soon as Blake finished.

"So, that's it then?" Kate asked.

"That's it. Your family is welcomed in the territory and we will help where we can. But, while you are here, you must also follow our code, concelamus, conserviamo, contegimus. Hide the supernatural from the outside world, preserve the balance between humanity and the supernatural, and protect the innocents."

"We should have no issues adhering to your code," Chris stated as he turned to leave. The armed hunters started to follow him out. Kate lingered a bit observing the others in the room. Chris turned to Tiberius before he left the room. "I mentioned when I first contacted you that my daughter has come with us. She is not privy as to the real reason why and I intend to keep it that way. I trust August can steer her away from any signs of the supernatural while she is not at home?"

"I've already enrolled at the local school and will be able to keep an eye on her there," August nodded.

"Thank you," Chris walked out the door.


"Hi," August said sitting next to Allison in the cafeteria.

"Hi?" she replied confused. "You're August, right? Aren't you in all of my classes?"

"Yeah, weird how that worked out. Maybe they think the two new kids could be friends."

"We move a lot, and aren't planning on staying here for long. We wouldn't exactly have the longest of friendships."

"No sense in being lonely until then," he said smiling.

"I guess," she replied before returning to her food.


Steve looked up at the full moon shining between the trees. The pack was out in the woods, searching for any sign of the wendigos. "It's been a few weeks since we've seen anything. Think they left?" Charlie asked as he ran beside Steve.

"Not a chance. But they'll be out tonight with the full moon."

"It would probably be easier if we knew where they would go during the full moon."

"All we have to do is find rotting bodies, blood, and other signs of death," Steve joked.

"Yeah, that'll be easy in an area as large as this. Not to mention its hunting season and those smells are everywhere."

"It's been four years and you can't tell the difference between a human corpse and an animal's?"

"Of course I can, don't think that just because you got the hang of this faster than me that I'm incompetent."

"Wait," Steve whispered stopping Charlie after he hopped over a downed tree.

"What's up?" Charlie asked keeping his voice low.

"I smell fear."

They slowly moved through the trees and found a campsite. The tent had been torn to shreds and they watch as a man and a woman consumed the entrails of one of the campers.

"I'm still hungry," a woman complained standing from behind the ruined tent a man stood beside her.

Two more wendigos walked over from behind the trees. "We'll have to find another site quickly. The Argents are still around looking for us."

Charlie brandished his claws. "We're outnumbered," Steve told him. "The pack is on the way, we'll wait for back up."

"This is the first time we've found any for weeks," Charlie argued.

The first wendigo wiped his mouth. "Why do that when we've already had some meals delivered," he said looking towards the two betas.

"Can't wait anymore," Charlie said.

The man ran at Steve, lunging once he reached neared the tree. Steve growled as his eyes glowed blue, he shoved his claws into the wendigo's throat rolling with the body's weight before dropping the corpse.

He looked up and saw Charlie toss the woman into a tree, knocking her out. Charlie turned his golden eyes towards Steve smirking, "Two down."

The two that had previously been behind the tent ran at Charlie while the others headed for Steve. One of the wendigos screamed in pain as Steve slashed across her chest. He ducked under the other's attack when he heard Charlie growl in pain as his chest was cut open.

"You should really stop holding back," Steve joked.

"You're going to criticize my choice of not killing in the middle of a fight?"

"Only when you could be killed," Steve tore open one of the wendigo's stomach, causing him to topple over. His other attacker kicked him over the fresh corpse causing Steve to tumble over it. The wendigo leapt on top of him, her jagged smile wide on her face. Steve looked up matching her smile.

"What's so funny?" she asked right before Blake plowed into her sending them both rolling down a hill. Cassie and John grabbed the two wendigos off Charlie before digging their claws into their chests. Sam grabbed Steve's hand to help him up as the pack headed towards their alpha down the hill.

Cassie paused to finish off the wendigo Charlie had thrown against a tree earlier. "Pathetic," she hissed at Charlie.

As Steve reached the bottom of the hill, he saw Blake pull his claws out from the back of the wendigo's neck and she fell to the ground vacantly staring at the pack. "I'll let Tiberius know where the wendigos are hiding. But the wendigos are planning to turn more people to help fight the Argents. Cassie, go disrupt the restaurant's plan, causing some minor chaos should suffice and keep people away," Blake told her.

"We should stick together," Steve stated.

"You two are injured and need to rest," Blake stated.

"And I work better on my own," she added glaring at John and Sam.

"It is a more covert mission," John stated.

"Fine," Steve surrendered.

Steve and Charlie headed back home. John and Sam went with Blake to tell the Caesars the news while Cassie ran into town.

"So, you're still serious about this whole no killing thing?" Steve asked shoving Charlie once they were alone.

"Once I find a cause worth killing for then I'll jump ship, until then, the rest of pack is more than willing to pick up the slack."

"Yes, Cassie is always happy to help finish the job," Steve joked. "Don't you think avoiding this would be a good enough cause," he added poking Charlie's healing wound.

"Didn't save you from harm," he replied grabbing the gash on Steve's arm causing him to gasp slightly.

"Weird, didn't even realize I got hurt."

"Besides, it's not like any of us ever get seriously injured. The pack is always just one thought away.

"Still, wouldn't it be nice to not get made fun of by Cassie and the others?"

"She makes fun of us anyway. When we train with the kitsunes—"

"Better to know how to fight than to purely rely on instincts," Steve defended

"You're obsession over the creeds—"

"It helps figure out what everyone is going to do. The werecat's creed is to 'protect the line,' which is why they will never help us unless they are in trouble themselves."

"And studying with the Caesars."

"Knowledge is power," Steve said. "All of those things are beneficial, unlike not killing."

"Yeah, they are very beneficial, especially when they let you spend more time with your boyfriend, August, right?" Charlie laughed.

"He's not my boyfriend."

"Sorry, I forgot labels make you uncomfortable."

"I have no problems with labels."

"Sure," Charlie joked as they neared the house.

They were in their room playing video games. Charlie stopped for a moment.

"What's up?" Steve asked as he paused the game.

"You ever think it's weird how all our backgrounds are kinda messed up?"

"Not really. Blake's creed is to save the forsaken, so it makes sense that we didn't have the best of lives growing up. It's much better now though."

"I guess," Charlie said as they returned to the game. After a few hours, they fell asleep.


August yawned as he pulled up to school. He had joined the rest of the hunters in taking out the wendigos at the base. They had gotten most of them, but Kate had said they would stay for a few more week in case any other threat popped up.

August walked into his first class and noticed an empty seat. He sat in the back and pulled out his laptop. He searched the school's database for Allison's name and discovered she had transferred. He quickly packed his laptop back in his bag and headed for the door as the bell rung.

"August, where are you going?" his teacher shouted behind him as he ran down the hall.

He stepped out and noticed a man standing by his SUV. "Shouldn't you be in school?" the man asked.

"Dropped out. Who needs school anyway?" August said moving to the door. The man grabbed his shoulder. "You know, it's against the law to assault a minor."

"Truancy is illegal too. What would your father think?" the man asked.

August turned to face him, noticing the pistol at his hip. "Firearms aren't allowed on school premise either. But I guess neither of interested in following rules."

"I only follow one rule," the man smiled. "Hunt those who hunt us."

"They haven't hunted anyone," August said.

"Not yet. Go back to school," the man stated grabbing August's arm and turning towards the doors.

"Pass," August said kicking out the man's knee and knocking his head against the car next to the SUV. He got in his car and drove back home to warn the others.

August stepped into his house and noticed the other leaders already there.

"Chris left," August said as he stepped into the room.

"We know," Tiberius sighed not looking away from the others.

"One of their men tried to attack me at the school. He implied that they are going to attack."

His father looked at him surprised. "Iacta alea est," Tiberius sighed before turning to Blake. "Do you know where your pack is?"

Blake shook his head. "Cassie never returned home. I assumed she was staying in town for the night, but we'll go find her just in case." The alpha werewolf left the house.

"I knew this would happen," Malik said. "Now you're all in danger for not listening to me."

"You're in danger now too, Malik," Mary told him.

"Nero never came back last night either," Dianna stated. "He was with Kate last."

"What's your plan, Tiberius?" Yuki asked.

"We gather everyone and wait until the break the code."

"And then?" August asked.

"We fight," his father told him.