Tribunal

Chapter 21

Note to readers: This chapter has not been beta tested but I have had numerous requests to update so I am releasing it in the rough form.

Whoo Hoo! Just caught up on Season 3. Wow! Is about all I can say and does not seem to cover it. Granted my story is in an AU but the current plot line is definitively intriguing. I can't want to see what happens next.

Full Moon – Sacrifice

The shadows of the forest swallowed up Jackson and Stiles. Still Scott waited until he could no longer make out the sound of their heartbeats and climbed to his feet. Now that Stiles was gone there was nothing to buffer him from his bond with Allison. Scott could here her heart and almost feel her breathing for even now the bond was open and raw. Scott was surprised that he was now close enough and open enough to sense her actual injures in some detail. The pain throbbed from the open wound on her face and thigh, but Scott could tell the wounds (despite her pain) were only superficial and not life threatening. He gave small thanks for the fact that she was considered important because she was an Argent. But even with her pain, Allison was alert and focused on the two hunters who were talking again. Scott poised himself to listen. Perhaps they would let something slip and he would have an opportunity to strike.

Allison feigned unconsciousness but she was not sure how long it would take them to notice she was awake. Scott and any of the other wolves would have noticed instantly. Human hearing was just not that sharp. Thinking of Scott made her heart hurt and soar at the same time. He had come to save her and at the same time this virtuous action would get him killed. Guilt flooded her chest with an aching pressure that she could not shake, for once again someone was going to be hurt and it was all her fault. She had only wanted to warn him and the pack, but now she had possibly damned them all. God how she wished her father was here! Such a childish emotion filled her with shame.

She had to do something.

Ever so carefully, Allison opened her eyes just wide enough to see through her long eyelashes. At a quick glance it would seem that she was still asleep, but Allison grasped at every detail in the blaze of the flood lights the hunters had erected to light the base camp. These men didn't care if they were going to be seen or not. That was part of the trap, and yet, it seemed foolish. Local law enforcement could see the light just as well as the pack or even the casual hiker. Not that Allison expected anyone to be out hiking this late at night. Perhaps, these men, like those on the Tribunal, had ties to government agencies. Allison knew enough from her father and the military contracts he held, that there were countless ways any government group could section off an area and make access restricted, even to the sheriff. Noting the firepower that was in the area, Allison was certain that these men had such contacts, other wise there would have been no other way to get the fire power they would need to take down a pack of werewolves.

Allison tried to move as little as possible. When she had passed out, someone, probably Mickey, had wrapped her hands in a zip tie behind her back. Allison gave small thanks for that since her aunt had once upon a time, showed her how to break free of such restraints. Remembering back to that night, Kate had told Allison that learning how to escape such restraints were useful if she was going to be kidnapped and raped, but now Allison knew that this was Kate's own twisted way to sneak in some hunter training below her father's radar. But until Allison could get to her feet and gain some leverage the restraints would hold, for now. She knew she had to just be patient, bid her time, and wait for the opportunity to break free. Pretending to be helpless seemed like a good idea and not that difficult to pretend.

The cuts on her face still burned, but they were doing better than the one on her side and across her chest. But the worst was her left shoulder. Allison wondered if she would even be able to hold a bow again. Something was helping her block out the pain. Whether this was adrenaline, the mate bond, or simply her mind trying to protect her, Allison had no way of knowing, but she was thankful either way. The pain she did feel seemed to help sharpen her mind. The cuts on her side and chest hurt every time she drew a breath, and had dirt, leaves, and other derby ground into them. Still Allison could tell that all her wounds were superficial. They would not kill her but hurt like a son of a bitch. Ever so carefully she tested her bonds, slowly and with her right arm. The slightest movement sent shooting pain down her left arm, but she remained silent.

"I see you are awake," David said coming up behind Allison.

The sound of his voice right behind her, made Allison jerk to the side. She managed to roll, despite the zip tie restraints. The force of her body on the ground against her wounds, stole the breath from Allison for a moment, as tears burned down her face. Two hands grabbed her by her right shoulder and the back of her neck and pulled her into a kneeling position. The force was the final straw and all the food that had been sitting in Allison's stomach came screaming up her throat. The hands held her as she vomited only to drag her away from the mess and leave her kneeling in a spot of light.

Allison continued to shiver and fight the pain. Her stomach seemed to turn and dance, but there was nothing left inside. The taste of bile crawled up her throat but Allison forced it back down as she tilted her head up to look at the hunters under the glaring light.

"Your grandfather would be disappointed," David said.

"What are you talking about?" Allison managed asked. Her voice was horse, and garbled but she managed to get her question out.

"Gerard Argent is the most deadly of all hunters," David explained. "I am surprised he has no come to assist your father especially with the Pack Master in the mix."

"How can you be so certain the Pack Master is here?" Allison asked.

David smiled. "Call it a gut feeling,"

Allison was having her own gut feeling. Her father had spoken only a little of his father. Allison could not even remember meeting her grandfather. If he was such a big mucky-muck in the hunter world why wasn't he here? Gerard would be here, by David's side to fight the good fight. That means that even if David told Gerard, then he didn't believe him, and why was that?

Mickey came back into view. He leaned over to whisper something to David that Allison could not make out. Now more than ever, Allison could see the advantages to being a werewolf. Scott not only would have been able to make out what they were saying, but he would have healed from all these wounds by now, broken free of the restraints and attacked. Still, Allison knew she would never want to change places with Scott no matter how much she loved him. Allison could almost feel Scott coming closer. Every time she got a sense of him, Allison focused on throwing back a warning, demanding he stay away, but she knew better. No matter how much she wanted otherwise, Scott was coming for her.

The two hunters finished talking. David, looked down at Allison, shook his head and walked away. Mickey, just stood there, towering over her with a wicked smile on his face. At least Jericho was out of sight distance. The other two hunters who had been her guards, and had been standing about a meter away, now changed their focus as Mickey knelt down besides her.

"Ya ready for da show?" Mickey asked.

"What show?" Allison asked back. If she could keep him talking maybe she could learn something useful.

"Oh, ita willa be a good 'um," Mickey said. "We gots us all sorta surprises."

Allison did not like the sound of that.

"I like surprises," Allison said her sarcasm bitter in her mouth.

Mickey looked at her, blinked, then let out a roar of laughter.

"Then you'se gonna luv this," Mickey practically purred. "After we did done kill 'tall them um mongrels, you and I is gonna have some special kinda fun."

"I think you will have to wait for Jericho to have his turn," Allison said, surprising herself with her own words. If she had a choice between torture and rape, she'd take Mickey raping her, at least he would give her plenty of opportunities to kill him. Jericho, well he was just down right terrifying.

"Now, dontcha worry none. I get ya first. David did done promise me that," Mickey said, then paused. "That is, if I live through this here battle."

As much as Allison wanted to kill this man, he had a point.

"Are you guys insane?" Allison asked.

"Woulda appear dat way, ta you, I guess," Mickey said. "But yall have no clue what we done."

There was some noise coming from the direction where David had wandered off too. Allison had been unable to follow him with her eyes, since Mickey was right in her face to see where David had gone or what he had done. Men began to walk over to them. More hunters, from what Allison could see. Only this time, there was an old man with them. He look pale and hard, like ice as he surveyed the base camp. Mickey seemed to know who the old man was, because he came right to his feet at attention as the old man, along with David and two others, joined them in the halo of light.

"I thought you'll 'tweren't comin'," Mickey said.

"Who said I wasn't coming?" the old man in the hat said stepping out of the shadows. "Hello Allison."

"Who are you?" Allison asked.

"Well, you can call me grandpa," Gerard said.

"Gerard, glad you could make it," David said.

Mickey stepped forward and offered out his hand. "Honor to meetcha, sir." Mickey said.

Gerard took it and then looked back down at his kneeling granddaughter.

"What is she doing here? Is Chris around?" Gerard asked.

David shook his head. "Your son was a little… put out about this hunt and what it would mean for him and his precious pride."

"Of that I have no doubt," Gerard said. "And my granddaughter?"

"She came here on her own," David said looking down at Allison then back at Gerard. "I take it you have spoken to your daughter-in-law about this pack and the hold they have on this one, correct?"

Gerard nodded. "Sadly, yes. It is safe to guess that you are using her as bait for the rest of the pack."

"Correct," David said.
"I expected you to treat her better, she still is family," Gerard said.'

For a moment, Allison had a bit of hope. Maybe he could be fooled somehow into letting her go. Gerard knelt down next to Allison and took a look at her face, and other wounds.

"I see, you did not permanent damage. But that shoulder will need to be looked at the moment this is over," Gerard said touching Allison's left side, only to hear her gasp in pain.

All hope Allison had, died. There would be no help from this man. Not even for her.

"Where do we stand in operations?" Gerard asked, pulling himself to his feet.

"We tagged two betas heading off into the woods," David reported. "Retrieval Team One is in pursuit. The Home Team will watch for others until they return. Right now no other activity." David smiled at the shocked look on Allison's bloody face. "You don't think that I would just bring six men with me to hunt a pack master."

Allison's eyes went wide. Who were they after? It couldn't be Scott, Allison was certain she would have been able to sense it.

"When will you dispose of them?" Gerard asked.

"Once we have confirmation on the alpha and perhaps once we confirm the pack master's arrival."

"What about the code?" Allison asked. "Those are just teenagers. They haven't hurt anyone!"

Gerard scoffed at her. "That code you talk about is bit of nonsense was cooked up by your grandma and her family. They liked to think that they were so much better than the rest of the nine families."

"Nine families?" Allison asked.

"So your father hasn't told you about them," David sneered. "No doubt he didn't trust you since you seem to be choosing a mongrel over your own blood relatives."

"You have no idea what you are talking about," Allison growled.

Mickey laughed. "Well lookie thar, she done even growls like a dog. Tell me youngin' are ya justa bitch in heat waiting ta wrap dem skinny legs around twhatever mutt y'all come across-" he was cut short by a sudden blow to his chin by Gerard's gun butt.

"I would remind you that this is my granddaughter and you will not speak to her as if she was one of your whores."

Beneath the mutter of swearing and curses, Mickey backed down from Gerard.

"I apologize for his behavior, he has been on too many of these hunts as of late," David said and looked up at the full moon. "As have I."

Gerard gave David a nod.

"Why are you doing this?" Allison asked.

"We are hunters, this is what we do," Gerard said. "But I understand your meaning. Why come all this way, to a territory where my son has been ordered to maintain, without care or warning to him and those under his command, is that it?"

Allison could only nod.

"I will make it simple, my dear. " Gerard said and gave her a sad smile. "Being here is much better than lying in some hospital bed, waiting for death to take me. I will face my own death tonight. I will meet this fabled pack master that David believes exists and I will stare him down as we try to kill one another."

He is insane. Allison thought. Her grandfather had a serious death wish.

"Has the cancer spread?" David asked.

Gerard popped a pill. "Yes. They give me a month tops."

"We will do what we can to give you what you want," David said and Mickey nodded in agreement.

Allison had to acknowledge, that these men held an almost reverence for her grandfather. This whole battle seemed to be some sort of sick final last wish of the old man and these fanatical hunters were about to grant that wish.

Almost as it the forest had given her a cue, Allison went ridged. Something had changed with Scott and for the first time she knew exactly where he was. Still it was all she could do to keep her eyes fixed on David and not look in the direction where she knew Scott was hiding. The hunters seemed to have sense something had changed as well. Allison begged and prayed with all her might that Scott would leave or that he would have some of the pack with him. Maybe Derek was there, he was supposed to be an alpha now, but then again, that was what David was counting on, wasn't it? Allison blinked rapidly to push back the tears, but she knew were eyes looked glassy with moisture. Had he father been here, he could have read her like a book. Thankfully Gerard was not so insightful.

The radio on David's belt began to chirp and Allison held her breath as the news of the hunt filtered in.

Jackson and Stiles raced through the woods, no longer bothering to keep quiet. There were several men rapidly following them, though Stiles had no idea how they were managing to keep up. Somehow whichever way they turned, there seemed to be the scent of hunters pushing in around them. The smell of gun oil and sweat was almost pungent. Heart racing, Stiles almost collided with William and instead hit the dirt.

"What are you doing here?" Stiles asked, pulling himself to his feet.

"Bear sent me," William huffed.

"Who cares?" Jackson growled. "Run!"

"Wait!" Stiles shouted and grabbed William. "Where is Bear we need to find him. Scott needs our help."

"No time to show you," William said. "Hunters are here."

Jackson turned to fight. As Stiles moved to his right, William grabbed his arm.

"Find Bear, we will hold them for now," William said.

"What?" Jackson yelped.

"You heard me," William snarled throwing Stiles forward. "Get going."

Stiles could only nod and take off running.

"We should follow him!" Jackson snarled.

"No," William said. "We make our stand here. It is what Bear wants."

"Great now we both are going to die…"

"I couldn't agree more," a deep voice said from the shadows.

Jackson and William stood shoulder-to-shoulder facing the oncoming threat. Jackson could not silence the sound of his own heartbeat as it thundered in his chest. He hated that he was so afraid, where William seemed almost calm and at peace with the situation. Maybe it was some adult secret, but Jackson was certain he would not live to learn it.

William turned just in time to see the hunter lower his gun and aim at Jackson, though William shouted, Jackson seemed to be frozen in place. Then there was a blur and the crack of the gunshots piercing the air. Several bullets tore past Jackson, scraping his skin and tearing his flesh, but not one made it into his core. The wounds hurt, but they would not kill him. William was not so lucky. Another bolt of some other weapon launched at them, this time making a static crack like lightening. Jackson let out a howl as did William, before they both hit the ground. The whole attack took merely seconds, but the aftermath, filled Jackson with horror.

"We were supposed to take them alive," the hunter said.

"Hey we got one of them, besides one is all we need to get some answers," the other man snapped.

Jackson lay on his side watching as William shifted back to his human form, and all traces of the wolf and his life, faded away. The gaping hole where his right eye had once been allowed Jackson full view of the inside of his skull, brain, and lots and lots of blood. The smell was sickening. But it was all Jackson could do to keep breathing. Whatever he had been hit with made his body tense so tightly that he could not move and hardly breath. Jackson merely could watch as the two hunters approached him and lashed him tight with bonds made of some sort of metal that practically burned his skin. Despite his pain, he had not shifted back to his human form. Jackson had no idea why but gave silent thanks that if he did get the chance to fight back, at least he would have some weapons at his disposal.

"Base camp, come in, this is Retrieval Team One," the hunter said.

"Base camp, here, over," the radio buzzed.

"We captured one beta, over."

"What of the other? Over." The radio squawked.

"Dead. Over."

Silence followed for a moment. Then the hunter spoke again. "Orders? Over."

"Leave the body, bring the beta to base camp. We will interrogate it with the other. Over."

"Copy. On our way. Over."

The hunter put away the radio and Jackson's heart sank. There was another beta at the base camp. That could only mean one thing. Scott had been captured or worse turned himself in to the hunters in a feeble attempt to rescue Allison. Jackson felt him rage begin to boil. This was all Scott's fault! That stupid kid was going to get them all killed and tortured. How could he have been so stupid as to follow that idiot! The wash of emotions was raging inside Jackson. God damn it! He never asked that other wolf to save him! He was almost willing to deal with whatever scars the hunter would have dealt him. But even as that careless thought entered his mind, Jackson was flooded with shame. When faced with his own mortality, he had cowered. Watching the older wolf take the blow and save his life, had been a relief, and Jackson could not help but feel ashamed at how he had turned and fled. Jackson fed on his rage even as the hunters grabbed him by his restraints and dragged him along the path. Every jarring blow hurt, but Jackson only used that as fuel for his anger. Even now he felt the effects of the hunter's weapon begin to fade as his werewolf healing did its job. By the time he got to base camp, there would be hell to pay, and Jackson was certain he would take his price in blood and flesh, even if that meant Scott or Allison would pay as well. He no longer cared about them or even the pack all he cared about was survival.