Chapter 1
Out of the corner of his left eye, Liam Dunbar noticed Lydia Martin slowly approaching the lacrosse field, clearly in a trance. She was still a distance away, so Liam kept his eyes on the ball. With five of his teammates, Liam was part of an impromptu training session observed by Mason Hewitt. When Bobby Finstock heard about the practice, he was happy to attend and go into coach mode.
"Don't hold back!" Finstock yelled. "I know you have a stronger arm than that." Finstock suddenly stopped and everyone else noticed. They saw him staring towards the woods, where a wolf was steadily approaching.
Liam held his ground while his teammates slowly backed away. He looked back at Lydia and having a hunch, took off his helmet as the wolf drew closer.
"Who are you?" Liam asked the wolf.
"Dunbar!" Finstock yelled. "Is that a wolf wolf or a werewolf?"
"Don't come any closer until you tell us who you are," Liam said to the wolf, ignoring Finstock. He looked back at Lydia, who appeared to still be in a trance as she reached the lacrosse field.
The wolf appeared to hesitate, then continued her path towards the lacrosse players.
"I am the made beta of the true alpha," Liam yelled. "Identify yourself to me!"
The wolf slowly shifted into a young and naked human woman.
"Oh, I can't believe that worked," Liam quietly commented while mouths behind him dropped.
"I'm Erin Ramesh. You're the true alpha's beta? Is he still here?"
"Yeah," Liam answered while Mason ran up to the pair and offered Erin two jackets for cover.
A young man suddenly appeared from the woods and ran up to Erin and Liam.
"Lahey!" Finstock yelled. "What is going on here?"
"Sorry, coach," Isaac answered. "I don't think I have a good answer for that."
"Are you Isaac?" Liam asked. "I've heard about you."
"That's me. Sorry about Erin. It's been a while since she took human form. Hi, Lydia."
"Two forces of death are coming," said Lydia. "We must let one take its path."
"What?" Isaac asked.
"She does that," Mason explained.
Lydia seemed to snap out of her trance. "Isaac, what are you doing here?"
"I was hoping to get some help. What are you doing here? I thought you'd be at college."
"I was going to go to MIT, but I had to defer enrollment a year because of a crisis here. Scott, too."
"So he is here. Good. What were you saying about forces of death?" Isaac asked.
"I'm not sure . . . yet."
Scott, Lydia, Liam, Mason, Alec, Malia, Isaac, and Erin soon met at Scott's house for introductions and an explanation.
"I might be leading them here. They've been tracking me. I'm really sorry for taking that risk, but I didn't know what else to do," Isaac stated.
"You're a part of my pack," Scott replied. "You can always count on us, but I am worried about what will happen when they come."
"We can handle whatever is coming," Malia assured.
"Others might not be able to," Mason cautioned.
"What do these things look like?" Scott asked.
"They're really wide and maybe around seven feet tall. They look like they wear armor, but the armor looks and feels like huge yellow fingernails."
"That sounds gross," Liam commented.
"How fast are they?" Malia asked.
"They're not very fast," Isaac answered. "They're maybe like a normal non-athletic person, but they're strong and their claws are sharp. They're resilient."
"And they're coming here?" Alec asked.
Scott picked up on the subtle tone in Alec's voice. "We'll figure something out. I'll talk to Chris Argent in the morning, see if he knows anything. It sounds like we have some time. Do you have a place to stay, Isaac?"
"No, we didn't plan that far ahead."
"Alec is using your old bed, but I can find something for you two."
Isaac and Erin glanced at each other.
"Umm," Isaac began. "We'll just need one bed."
Scott later prepared a room and bed.
"So that's your pack?" Isaac asked.
"Yeah, until I finally start at UC Davis. I had to defer enrollment."
"I heard. What about Stiles?"
"He's with us sometimes, but he's at George Washington University and coming from DC is hard. He was in LA with us when we found Alec. He was there for an FBI thing. There's also Theo, kind of. We see him sometimes. I don't know if I'd call him part of my pack."
"So, Stiles' dad and Lydia's mom? That's strange," Isaac commented.
"It was for Stiles and Lydia, but they got used to it. Besides, that's not the weirdest new couple here," Scott replied. "Here, you should take this comforter."
"Well, don't just leave me hanging. That look on your face begs the question."
Scott smiled. "There's a reason why I talk to Chris Argent so much. And see him."
It took Isaac a few seconds to interpret the statement, and then his eyes widened.
"No way. He doesn't seem like your mom's type."
"You can ask my mom in the morning. You didn't keep in touch?"
"You know why I left Beacon Hills. It was just a matter of time before he and I drifted apart."
"Oh, I can ask Dr. Deaton about those things chasing you, too. I've been working for him full-time."
"And we're public now? In Beacon Hills?" Isaac asked.
"Yeah, you've missed a lot."
"I'm guessing I'll be glad I did once you tell me all about it."
The next morning, Lydia received an unexpected visitor at home.
"Jordan," Lydia acknowledged at the door.
"Good morning, Lydia. I hope I'm not bothering you."
"No, of course not," Lydia replied. "Come in."
"Have you had any banshee visions lately?" Jordan asked as he stepped inside.
"How did you know?"
"I didn't. I was just hoping you might help me understand something."
"What's going on?"
"I don't know. We've been getting an urge to go north. Something is pulling us there," Jordan explained.
"Was this a vision?"
"It's nothing like what you experience. This is like something is reaching out to the hellhound in me, telling me to go. I don't know. I can't explain it. That's why I came here. What did your vision tell you?"
"Forces of death are coming, two of them."
"To Beacon Hills?"
"I don't know. It might mean to me. I think I know what one of those forces is. If you're going north, maybe I should go with you."
Scott's pack, Jordan, and Erin convened at Deaton's clinic during Scott's lunch break.
"They don't sound like anything I've heard of before," Deaton explained after Isaac described what was pursuing him and Erin. "Argent didn't know?"
"He said it rang a bell, but he couldn't tell for sure. We should head north with Lydia and Jordan," Scott suggested. "Things are fine in Beacon Hills now. Let's keep it that way and lead those things someplace else. To be honest, maybe Jordan can help us out and we can help him."
"North, like where we just came from?" Erin asked.
"You'll be meeting these things sooner than expected," Deaton pointed out.
"Yeah," Scott responded simply.
"All right," Liam said. "Weekend road trip. At least, I hope it's just the weekend."
"You don't have to come," said Scott.
"I'm coming."
After the work day ended, the group assembled in two cars and drove north. Jordan and Lydia led the trip in the first car, with Isaac and Erin with them. Scott, Malia, Liam, and Alec rode in the second car. They were all unaware that another vehicle was following them, maintaining a consistent distance of approximately one mile.
After a few hours, Jordan turned into a motel. "I think this'll be a good place to stop for the night," he explained to everyone. "If those things catch up tonight, this is an isolated location. We'll minimize collateral damage."
"What about your thing?" Isaac asked.
"It can wait. I think we still have a while to go for that, past at least a couple population centers."
Later, outside their respective rooms that faced dense woods, Scott and Isaac continued to catch each other up.
"Have you thought about coming back to Beacon Hills before?" Scott asked Isaac.
"Yeah, a lot," Isaac answered. "I missed you guys a lot."
"But there's too much pain?"
"My relationship with Erin has been really good for me. When we heard rumors that the supernatural went public, she started talking about moving here."
"Yeah?" Scott responded. "What did you two decide?"
"We haven't gotten that far, yet."
Some rustling caught their attention.
"What do you think?" Scott asked as Isaac took in a deep whiff of air.
"It's them," Isaac answered.
"We knew this was coming," Scott said.
"You can still back out of this. Let this be my problem."
"Come on, Isaac. You know me better than that. Besides, they could be moving on to others after you."
Isaac kept watch while Scott knocked on various doors.
Soon, Scott, Jordan, Malia, Liam, Isaac, and Erin stood at the edge of the forest gearing up for a fight. Lydia and Alec stood at a window in a motel room, watching.
"Does this happen a lot?" Alec asked.
"Not anymore," Lydia replied. She noticed some apprehension from Alec. "In this pack, you're expected to stand up for what's right and help those who can't protect themselves, but you don't have to put yourself in danger yet if you're not ready."
"Is that why you're here with me?" asked Alec.
Lydia's eyes widened. "Well, no. Scott and Jordan want to keep this low-key. Banshee screams are not low-key."
Outside, the group heard the footsteps and rustling approaching.
"What have you been calling these things?" Liam asked Erin and Isaac.
"Uh . . . monsters?" Isaac hesitantly suggested.
Erin shrugged at Isaac.
"Monsters it is," Liam replied.
The pack soon engaged against nine opponents that started to glow with subtle orange auras. Scott, Jordan, and Malia attempted multiple fights at the same time.
"These remind me a lot of the berserkers," Liam commented. He accidently tripped and landed on his back. Seeing sharp claws swiping down towards him, Liam didn't know what to make of his adversary stopping suddenly. Claws dug deep behind the monster, tearing apart the back. Soon, the creature was on the ground, dead, and Peter and Derek Hale stood in its place.
"They are berserkers," Peter informed.
"They smell different," Derek added. "At least, they smell different from previous berserkers, but there's also something familiar."
"What are you two doing here?" Scott asked.
"Following you," Derek answered. "We heard about the berserkers and when you decided to head the direction they're coming from, we figured you could use the help."
"Much appreciated," Jordan commented.
Seven berserkers recovered and ran away when they saw that Peter killed one and Malia killed another with Liam's help.
"Let them go," Derek suggested. "We'll track them, I'm guessing to Kate."
"It's definitely her work again, with some modifications," said Peter.
"Peter and I will follow," Derek offered. "We're rested and you're not. We'll contact you when we get somewhere."
Most of the group slept in the next morning, until Scott received a call.
"Forty-one miles north," Derek said on the phone. "Get some breakfast and stay on the main road. We'll give you specific instructions when you get closer."
"Are you sure you found Kate?"
"Yeah," Derek answered. "The berserkers went into an abandoned warehouse. There's nothing around and they haven't come out. This is definitely their home."
"I'll wake everyone up."
Approximately three hours later, Scott and his group met up with Derek and Peter.
Jordan looked around.
"What is it?" Lydia asked.
"This is where I'm supposed to be," Jordan answered, "But I don't think it's because of Kate and the berserkers."
"It'll come to you," Lydia said.
"We should cover all the exits, and then barge in. Short and simple," Derek suggested.
"I did some recon," Peter said. "I saw fourteen berserkers total."
"That and Kate make fifteen," Isaac realized. "We're outnumbered."
"If Kate's here, I don't think the berserkers will just run off again if we hit back," Derek suggested.
"Let's be honest here," Peter suggested. "Some of us are heavy hitters and should act accordingly. I think we can do this."
"What does Kate want with so many berserkers?" Liam asked.
"Probably some standard plan for domination or extermination, whatever's currently floating her boat," Peter suggested.
"Isaac, we didn't get a chance to go over details last night," Derek said. "Do you have any insight? You two are the ones who encountered these things first."
"We don't know anything," Isaac answered. "They just showed up and attacked us. We tried to fight back, but ended up just running."
"That's what we heard from others, too," said Derek.
Gunfire suddenly drew everyone's attention, as a group of people stormed the warehouse.
"That's Monroe!" Scott realized.
"Who's Monroe?" asked Erin.
"They're hunters," Jordan explained.
"Of berserkers?" Erin asked.
"Of anything supernatural," Lydia answered.
"Lydia," said Liam. "You said there were two forces of death, and we should let one go. Which one is it?"
"I . . . I don't know," Lydia replied.
Members of the group looked at each other.
"What's going on?" Derek asked.
"I had a vision," answered Lydia. "I don't know what to make of it yet, but there are two forces of death coming. We should let one take its path."
"Should we just let those two groups kill each other?" Isaac asked.
Peter began his transformation. "As far as I'm concerned, the berserkers aren't forces of death. Don't flatter Kate that way. From what Isaac just told us and what we've heard, they might not have killed anyone yet, and I'm going after Kate. If there are any hunters in the way, I'll get them, too."
Derek shrugged. "Sounds like a plan," he said. He and Peter ran off towards the warehouse.
"Alec, it's your choice to join or not," Scott said. "If you're not ready to fight yet, keep a clear distance."
Alec nodded.
Everyone else ran into the warehouse and engaged in a three-way battle against Kate and the berserkers and Monroe and the hunters. The berserkers again had subtle orange auras as they fought.
Derek noticed a distinctive necklace tight on Kate's neck. It was clear to everyone that Kate's appearance had slightly changed.
Peter charged up to Kate and fought against her one-on-one. While most of Scott's pack also focused on one opponent each, Lydia directed her screams towards groups of hunters and berserkers and Jordan did the same with heat projections.
Monroe noticed Scott and made her way towards him until a berserker knocked her onto her back. A fellow hunter attacked the berserker, allowing Monroe to get up and inch back. Together the two killed the berserker and saw two more headed their way.
Meanwhile, Peter knocked Kate to the ground and grabbed her necklace.
"Put it on yourself!" Derek yelled.
Peter complied, but found the action to be pointless. Distracted, he was unprepared for another attack by Kate.
After heavy fighting, Monroe decided to retreat with four other surviving hunters. Kate recovered her necklace and feeling vulnerable, retreated. Eleven berserkers followed her. With minor injuries to themselves, Scott's pack surveyed the remains of the area.
Derek and Peter sniffed the dead berserkers.
"I still think I'm right about the necklace. That's how she was controlling them," Derek said.
"What is that smell?" Peter asked. "It's on the tip of my tongue."
"Kitsune," Derek realized. He tore apart a berserker's outfit. "I can't imagine how she did it, but these were enhanced with kitsune blood or genes or spirit or something."
"And I'm not a kitsune, so I couldn't operate the necklace," said Peter.
"Which would mean that somehow, Kate did something to herself too," Derek finished.
"So what now?" Liam asked.
"I want to end both threats," Scott said.
"I agree. We need to take advantage of Kate and Monroe being in the same area," said Derek. "But it'd be a lot easier if we had a kitsune that could use the necklace."
"But I don't know how to contact Kira or her parents," Scott said. "I think her parents are back in New York, but I don't know how to reach them and Kira's sword is still in pieces."
"Wait. I know what this is," Peter announced. "I've seen something like it before. I figured it out. We don't necessarily need a kitsune."
"Who else can use the necklace?" Derek asked.
"Someone who's been possessed by the Nogitsune."