Division

AN: So, I've changed my mind on the prequal. Instead of doing a full dump, I've decided to do it in halves.

I was hoping to have the first three arcs up, but I'm still editing the third arc. The first two arcs set up some ground work for the characters, while the third is going to go over the pack's mental link in detail and formation of Steve's pack. It's up to you if you want to read this chapter or the prequal first. I should have the third arc sometime before the next chapter is posted as the pack gets more involved starting next chapter. There are some time jumps that are in the prequal, but I had to work within the cannon of the show and not wanting to make the arcs very long as the prequal is mainly for backstory and information that would gum up the plot of this story.

The second half of the prequal will be posted before the end of this story as it will be needed to understand the epilogue.

But in the meantime, I hope you all enjoy this chapter and hopefully you enjoy the prequal as well.

A few days had passed since Liam and Hayden were found. No one has seen the Doctors since the two had been taken. Hayden and Corey seemed to be growing stronger each day as well. Maybe they were the first successes.

Steve hadn't talked with Scott since Scott invaded Corey's mind. Every time the two alphas saw each other at school they headed separate ways. With how things had been going, there likely wouldn't be much talking in that interaction. Scott's whole pack seemed to be separated. The only two working together were Stiles and Lydia as they searched for the Nemeton. Steve joined them when he could. They hadn't told Parrish yet, hoping they could confirm their suspicion before involving the deputy

"They're on their way," August said as Steve returned home. Steve looked at him confused. "I called them. We could use the help," he continued.

"We're doing fine on our own. Things have been quiet lately," Steve told him.

"I know you can feel it. The dread of doom approaching. Something is going to happen and we are going to need to work together."

"We are working together."

"We're barely talking."

Steve sighed he had been trying to avoid the hunter since his arrival. "Then let's talk." August stared at the alpha in silence. "You're not a distraction—," Steve started.

"You left me behind—," August interrupted.

"You're not a distraction," Steve repeated cutting August off. "We were together when Kaia was attacked. I wasn't paying attention to the others and I blamed myself. I blamed you, but it wasn't your fault."

"It wasn't yours either."

"It doesn't matter. At this point Scott isn't going to be able to help us."

"Then why are we still here?"

"Maybe we can help some people during our last few days," Steve told him.

"Our last few days," August muttered. "Would be nice to spend it with good friends, with the pack," August said turning to Steve. The werewolf sighed. "You know the first thing we are going to need to deal with, right?"

"Yeah," Steve muttered.

"Just listen to what he has to say," August said as he returned to his computer.

Steve headed to the preserve the next morning. Stiles and Lydia had already gotten a head start, yet the alpha found the two a few yards from Lydia's car. "It's like this thing doesn't want to be found," Steve heard Stiles say as he approached.

"Maybe it knows we're late for class," Lydia said.

"How'd you get ahead of us?" Stiles asked when he saw Steve.

"He's didn't we've been here. Twice." Lydia replied pointing at a marked tree.

"Crap," Stiles said.

"Can we talk to Parrish now?" Lydia asked.

"If we can't find it while looking, maybe Parrish would need another body to find it though. And we don't exactly have one for him to take," Steve stated.

"Well, hang on. If the Nematon is already covered in bodies shouldn't you be able to find them?" Stiles asked looking at Lydia.

"Me?"

"Yes, you. That's what you do. You're the banshee. You find the bodies."

"Well, the banshee's having an off day, so how 'bout we talk to Parrish?"

"We can't," Stiles stated.

"Why not?" Lydia asked.

"Because one of the bodies," Stiles paused, "One of them could be. Could be, uh—"

"Could be what?" Lydia interrupted.

"One of them could be a clue."

"I'm leaving now, Stiles. I'm going to talk to Parrish and tell him that he's the one taking the bodies," Lydia said as she started walking away, "It's always better when they know."

"Well then he should know that he owes me a Jeep."

"Right, which means I'm your ride, so come on," Lydia shouted holding up her keys.

Stiles looked over at Steve, "Catch up with her. I'll keep looking. Um, what's the plan for if I find Donavan," Steve added as Stiles walked away.

Stiles stopped and turned around. His mouth moved a few times before he looked at the ground.

"We'll figure something out," Steve said.

"Stiles! Let's go!" Lydia shouted.

Steve headed into the woods as Stiles ran after the banshee. He marked the trees with his claws as he went, but after a few hours of running in circles he gave up and headed home.

"Find anything?" August asked as Steve stepped into the door.

Steve shook his head. "Can a tree choose to not be found?"

August raised his eyebrow in response and was about to answer when they heard two cars pull into the driveway. "Just listen," August reminded him as he rose from the chair.

Jay and Leonard stepped through the door first. Jay beamed at Steve when he noticed him. "Hey," Steve said waving at the werecheetah.

"Ah, I missed that voice. It's been so quiet in my head lately," Jay joked as he tossed his bags on the couch.

Leonard smiled and patted Steve on the shoulder as he moved to set his stuff on the couch as well.

Fiona was the next one through the door. She ran up and hugged Steve, who grunted in surprise before embracing her as well. "We missed you," she whispered.

Steve looked up from her and saw Charlie standing in the door way. The two stood in silence and Fiona let go of Steve.

"Head upstairs," August told the others.

"I did not miss that bossy voice," Jay said as Leonard and Fiona pushed him up the stairs.

"Hi," Charlie said apprehensively.

"Hey," Steve replied the room was silent for a few moments. "I'm ready to listen," Steve stated.

Charlie slowly approached the alpha. "It might be better for you to see," he said turning around in front of Steve.

August nodded at Steve as the alpha hesitated before placing his claws into the back a Charlies neck.

His mind filled with visions. He watched as Charlie jolted awake in a cold sweat, looking over to a sleeping Steve. Charlie quietly slipped out of bed and headed out of the room.

"Please don't hurt me," the man Steve had seen a few days ago pleaded as Charlie held him against the wall.

"Answer my question," Charlie growled his yellow eyes glowing.

"Yes! Yes, Blake paid me to find and deliver you after I—," the man cried out but was interrupted when Charlie's claws dug into his throat. Charlie's eyes turned blue as he let the man fall to the ground. He turned to leave the house but heard someone sniff in the basement. Charlie went to the door, his eyes still glowing blue. A girl looked up at him as fear hit his nose.

Charlie returned to human form and headed down the stairs. He saw four kids tied with their hands over their heads. Charlie moved to untie the rope from the girl who saw him, and she tried to flinch away. "It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you," Charlie whispered.

She continued to sob as Charlie removed her bindings. He did the same for the other girl and the two boys tied up next to her. "Did you buy us?" one of the boys asked, his voice shaking. "He said someone was coming to purchase us tonight."

"No," Charlie answered him kneeling down. The boy's face was pale and emotionless but his entire body shook. "Do you guys know where home is?" The four children slowly nodded. "Okay," he whispered. He helped the children upstairs and dialed 911 on the landline.

"Hi, I heard a noise in my neighbor's house and I think he kidnapped four kids," Charlie told the dispatcher, his voice shaking a bit.

"Is your neighbor still there?" The dispatched asked.

"Technically," Charlie said as he looked down at the body covered in blood. "He's dead."

"Okay, sir, stay on the line. Units are en route."

Charlie set the phone on the table and went back to the kids. He knelt in front of them. "I'm going to leave, help is on its way. Just stay in this room and wait for the police to arrive, okay?" The children nodded and Charlie moved towards the exit. "Stay safe," he told them, looking back one last time before heading out the door.

"You'd be leading us to slaughter!" Steve yelled as Charlie opened the door. Blake and Steve turned to face Charlie as he flashed his new blue eyes. Steve remembered not being able to hear Charlie's thoughts that night.

"You know?" Blake growled. Charlie nodded defiantly. "You'll have to kill me if you want to stop me," the alpha said shifting as he turned to face Steve. Charlie watched as the two werewolves fought.

Steve looked back at Charlie, his eyes as red as the blood covering his face. "What happened to you?" he asked.

"Ran into Argent's men."

"This ends tonight," Steve growled.

Steve removed his claws from Charlie's neck, his hand quivered as he looked down at the bloody claws. "You didn't always know," Steve said not looking up.

Charlie shook his head, "I couldn't tell you after that. Not after seeing those kids, the kids Blake was planning to replace us with," Charlie paused to let his anger fade, "I couldn't stand to see you as broken as they were, not after we had recovered." Steve was still staring at his shaking hand. "If I knew you would have found out like that. . . I would have told you the whole story."

"I understand," he said before looking up at the beta. "I'm sorry."

Steve's phone vibrated in his pocket. Stiles had sent him a message, "Corey is bleeding mercury. Scott's on his way to the hospital to keep an eye on him. Liam and Hayden have disappeared. We need to find them."

"I have to go," Steve swallowed trying to compose himself.

"The mind link isn't back," Charlie started, "We should all go."

The rest of the pack started heading down the stairs.

"No," Steve shook his head. "The best advantage we have is that no one knows you're here right now. It's a search and rescue mission. I can call if I need help."

The other nodded and Steve ran out of the house towards his car. He steadied his hand as he started the car and headed towards the school.

"Why's the link not back?" Jay asked Leonard as they grabbed their bags from the couch. "Mary said it would come back after everyone reconnected. We're all here now. Steve and Charlie reconciled. But the link is still missing."

"Mary said that might work," the werelion corrected. "She also said the mind is unpredictable when after it has been exposed to trauma."

"So, the link might never come back?" Jay asked.

"It's possible," Fiona sighed as she collected her bags.

"I can't just sit around here," Jay stated tapping his foot. He glanced over at the still open door then around as everyone collected their items. Jay dropped his bags and sprinted outside before anyone could move to stop him.

Steve could smell the mercury as soon as he entered the school. He ran towards it to see if it was Hayden. "Beth? Beth!" he heard Ms. Martin call out as he got closer. A door slammed near her voice and he heard footsteps trailing in the distance. "Malia, if you need to use the restroom it's one at a time. And if you're planning on leaving class, I'd consider you recent drop in grades."

"She needs help," Malia told her.

"Not from you."

"You know what's going on? Don't you?" Malia said as Steve made it to the classroom.

"I know that I'd like to see you get through senior year with passing grades."

"You know more than that."

"I think you need to focus more on your schoolwork, all of you," Ms. Martin said and she turned towards Steve as well.

Malia moved past her and out the door. Steve coughed. "I'm very sick," he said before running after Malia.

"Beth, are you okay?" Malia asked once they caught up to the girl at her locker.

"Why are you talking to me?" You—you don't know me, you don't know anything about my condition."

"Beth, what do you mean?" Malia asked moving closer.

"My condition. My condition. My condition," Beth repeated.

"Beth, we're here to help," Steve said slowly approaching the girl, "It's okay."

The girl started to walk away. Malia reached out and grabbed her shoulder. "Hey, you don't want to be alone—" was all she could get out before Beth tossed her into Steve. The two collapsed on the floor as Beth ran down the hall. "Are you freaking kidding me?" Malia said as she started to stand.

"Beth?" Steve shouted down the hall as the pair started to follow. They stopped when they rounded the corner and saw Beth being held by one of the Doctors right outside the school. Steve shifted as they continued to run towards the door, but the Doctor effortlessly snapped Beth's neck, spraying the window with blood.

They opened the door and saw Beth laying in a pool of her own blood. Steve started after the Doctor before pausing to look back at Malia as she fell to her knees next to the girl. "Go," Malia whispered.

Steve sprinted through the courtyard in the direction the Doctor left, but he was unable to find any trace of him. He continued around the perimeter of the school looking for any sign of the Doctor, until he circled back to Malia and Beth. He shook his head when Malia looked up at him. The two went back inside just before the final bell rang. They heard a scream behind them as a student discovered Beth's body. Stiles came down the stairs and started towards them when he saw how shaken Malia was.

"Malia? Hey, hey, what happened?" he asked grabbing her hands.

She pulled away from him. "I hate this. I hate losing like this. I'm not like Scott. I can't deal with another body. Another failure." She walked past Stiles and continued around the corner.

Stiles watched her walk away from them. He turned back to Steve, the alpha's hand had started shaking again from what happened earlier. "Hey, are you alright?" Stiles asked moving in front of Steve.

"I don't think any of us can keep this up," Steve admitted to Stiles after a bit.

"Yeah, it's just. . . There's just too much going on right now."

"I know," Steve muttered.

"We need to find Hayden and Liam."

"Their scent isn't here, they must have left a while ago." Steve's phone buzzed. Jay had texted him that Corey had just been killed too. "Any idea where they would have gone?" Steve asked Stiles.

"I have to call Lydia," Stiles's eyes widened as he started to walk down the hall.

"Go back home." Steve sent to Jay before he followed Stiles.

"I'm fast enough to stay out of sight and harm, you need someone on the streets." Steve grunted in frustration.

"Lydia, for the love of God, answer your phone. There's another dead chimera, so right now is probably not a great time to be alone with Parrish. If he's coming to get the body, you can't get in his way. Lydia, do not get in his way." Stiles hung up the phone and immediately started texting.

"Do you want me go find her?"

"No, Lydia is smart," Stiles sighed pressing send and putting his phone away. "We need to find Hayden and Liam. Take me to my Jeep and I'll drive around until you can smell them."

"Alright let's go." The headed out into the parking lot as the police were arriving.

"Steve, can I talk to you for a minute?" The sheriff called out as he stepped out of his car. "Alone?" He added when Stiles stopped with him.

"Uh, it's kind of a bad time," Steve started.

"It'll just be a minute. A while Stiles said you two weren't friends, a few days later, you were at my house," the sheriff started

"Things changed I guess. Can never have too many friends."

"Yeah," the sheriff drew out the word. "I also noticed that it happened shortly after a 911 call was made at the school. The records show you were at the school at the time. You wouldn't happen to know anything about it, would you?"

"Uh, not really, sir. But like I said it's a bad time I have to get going," Steve said heading towards his car.

"What was that about?" Stiles asked.

"I think he's trying to find out about Donovan. You still haven't told him?"

"No, he asked me about it the other night too. I couldn't tell him. He had just arrested Kira for murder. I don't want him to have to arrest me too," Stiles replied when they got in the car. Steve looked at Stiles and opened his mouth before Stiles waved him off. "Hayden and Liam first."

They drove towards the mechanic and switched cars before driving around the town. Eventually night fell, and it started to storm. "I'm not going to be able to pick up a scent with this rain," Steve told Stiles rolling up the window.

"Damn," Stiles whispered. "Now what?" he asked.

"Take me back to my car. I'll keep looking. You can find Lydia."

As they pulled up to the mechanic's Stiles's phone vibrated. "It's Scott, they found Hayden and Liam. He wants me to meet him at the animal clinic." The Jeep stalled and the engine cut out. Stiles turned the key but the Jeep just sputtered. "Hold on," he said stepping out of the Jeep.

"I'll help," Steve said joining him in the downpour. Stiles started to tape up a hose.

Steve reached his hand into the engine. "What're you doing?"

"This wire seems loose," Steve yelled pointing into the engine.

"Hold on, the battery's still on," Stiles said as Steve reached in. Steve pushed the wire back into place, but felt a shock shoot up his arm. He jerked his arm out of the engine, slicing the back of his hand.

"You alright?" Stiles said when Steve pulled his hand back out.

"Yeah. Werewolf, remember?" Steve laughed as the wound started to heal. He wiped the blood off on his white shirt. "Try it now."

Stiles got back in the Jeep and it roared to life. "Thanks," Stiles shouted from the open door.

"You should probably get that looked at soon," Steve told him hoping back into the Jeep.

They pulled up to the animal clinic at the same time as Scott. "Hey, sorry. Had trouble starting the Jeep again. The thing's barely hanging on," Stiles yelled as he got out of the Jeep.

Steve caught the scent of Scott's anger, even through the rain. Steve got out of the Jeep and followed Stiles.

"I couldn't get in touch with Malia or Lydia," Stiles continued heading towards Scott. Steve moved up just behind him. "Scott?" Stiles said after Scott didn't respond.

Scott pulled a wrench from his jacket and held it out to Stiles.

"Where'd you get that?" Stiles asked after backing up a bit.

"This is yours," Scott said waving the wrench. Stiles looked to the side before taking the wrench "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was going to."

"Why didn't you tell me when it happened?"

"I couldn't."

"Scott, some things are hard. . ." Steve started but Scott put a hand up to stop him.

"You killed him?" Scott paused looking between the two of them. "You killed Donovan?"

"Okay, but he was going to kill my dad. Was I supposed to just let him?"

"You weren't supposed to do this. None of us are."

"You think I had a choice?" Stiles asked.

"There's always a choice."

"Not always," Steve said but was met with Scott's glare.

"Yeah, well I can't do what you can Scott. I know you wouldn't have done it. You probably just would have figured something out, right?"

"I try."

"Yeah, cause you're Scott McCall. You're the true alpha. Guess what, all of us can't be true alphas. Some of us have to make mistakes. Some of us have to get our hands a little bloody. Some of us are human," Stiles yelled.

"So, you had to kill him?" Scott asked after a second.

"Scott, he was gonna kill my dad," Stiles stated, barely above a whisper.

"The way that it happened, with the two of you, there's a point where it's not self-defense anymore."

Steve stared at Scott confused. "What're you even talking about? I didn't have a choice, Scott," Stiles paused, "You don't even believe me, do you?"

"I want to."

"Okay great, so believe me. Scott, say you believe me." Scott remained silent. "Say it," Stiles begged, "Say you believe me."

"Stiles, we can't kill people that we're trying to save," Scott stated. "We're not like him," he added quietly.

"Say you believe me," Stiles moved towards Scott who flinched away from him staring at the wrench.

"You can't kill people. Can you believe that?"

"What do I do about this?" Stiles asked. "What do you want me to do? Scott, just tell me how to fix this, alright? Just tell me, what do you want me to do?" Stiles's voice was beginning to crack. Steve felt his anger rise as Stiles was starting to break down.

"Don't worry about Malia, or Lydia. I'll find them. Maybe, uh, maybe you should talk to your dad." Scott started to head towards the clinic while Stiles stood there in shock.

"Scott!" Steve growled as he grabbed Scott's shoulders and threw him across the parking lot. He shifted as he ran over and pulled Scott up by his collar. Steve held Scott against the fence their faces inches from each other. Stiles would be out of earshot with the rain. Not that he would be listening, he was still staring at the ground in shock.

"You'd rather Stiles had died that night?"

"I think you need to leave Beacon Hills."

"Answer my question, Scott," Steve growled.

"Or what, you'll kill me too?" Scott asked as he shook his head and looked at the blood on Steve's shirt. "Who'd you guys kill tonight?"

"What?" Steve asked shifting back to normal, "Scott, we didn't kill anyone. Donovan was going to kill Stiles. And no one was there to protect him."

"You were, but you chose to not save anyone."

"Scott, what do you think happened that night?" Steve asked. He heard the Jeep start before Scott could answer. Steve turned and saw Stiles back away from the clinic.

Scott roared and knocked Steve off of him. Steve looked back to Scott as he slid against the ground. "I'm not going to tell you again. Leave Beacon Hills. Don't come back," Scott warned before he stepped into the clinic.