Kyle slips out the side door of the van his boots sinking several inches in the snow. He scans the frozen forest with a frown. The hunters get out and walk to the back opening the back doors and gathering equipment. "Catch" One of the hunters says tossing a pack his way. Kyle fumbles and nearly drops it. Stiles stands next to the young Beta and slips his arm around him. "How are you doing?" He asks. "Derek was right." Kyle says with a shake of his head before turning to Stiles. "My senses are dull my reflexes are slow. I should stay here." "Negative." The hunter who had questioned his stability at the house says. "Can't guarantee your safety if you are here on your own." "What do you care?" Kyle asks without turning to look. "You're part of my team that makes you my responsibility. I'm also not interested in having to explain to your Alpha why you were left on your own. Kyle huffs out a small laugh turning to face the hunters. "Peter is the one you really need to worry about." "Fair enough." The other hunter says impatiently. "Let's get a move on before I freeze my ass off." Kyle looks over at Stiles who nods his head encouragingly. The group forms up and slowly makes their way through the trees towards the small complex.
"A little bribery can go a long way." Chris says as the hatch covering the sewer entrance is lifted away. The group moves quietly through the opening and faces the young man who had let them in. "Thanks for your assistance." Peter says before slamming the man against a wall knocking him out. "That wasn't necessary!" Chris snaps bending to check the unconscious man's vitals. "I typically prefer that dead men tell no tales but in this case I'll settle for unconscious men don't have a chance to reconsider betraying their employers." Peter says as he scans the surroundings. "If you care so much for him you'll want to get him far away from here." The enforcer deadpans snatching the access card from the unconscious man's belt and swiping it over the reader securing the door to the stairs.
"You're clear all the way to the 7th floor." Danny's voice comes over their ear pieces. "I'll take care of things here." Chris says crouching and opening the large duffle bag he had brought with him. Scott and Derek enter the stairwell. Peter holds the door then moves to follow them. He pauses and looks back at Chris. Sensing eyes on him Chris looks up. "After all these years you still don't" "Good luck." Peter says cutting him off then slipping through the door. Chris chuckles in surprise to himself then sets to preparing.
Stiles smells the hunter before Kyle does. He emerges from his place of concealment and puts a knife to the wolf's throat. Kyle reacts instantly shrugging out of the hunters grip and spinning around. Eyes flaring dimly he matches the hunter blow for blow. He shrugs off the hits that land and presses forward taking the offensive. The hunter team lead puts his hand on the other hunters arm when he brings up his crossbow. "Wait." He whispers. Kyle sweeps the hunter's legs out from under him awkwardly and the two tumble to the ground. Kyle headbutts the overwhelmed man before rolling on top. He drives his fist into his face several times stopping when the hunter sags into unconsciousness.. Breathing heavily Kyle lunches to his feet Beta shifted and growling quietly. Stiles steps over the hunter and pats Kyle on the arms and chest checking for injuries. "You OK?" Kyle's eyes jerk up from the hunter Stiles's.. They are far brighter than they have been in a long time. Human features sliding back into place Kyle exhales heavily. "First shift in a long time." Stiles affectionately strokes Kyle's brighter stronger presence on the pack bond. "Welcome back pup." He says too softly for the hunters to hear. "Let's go ladies." The leader says turning with a smirk and leading the way away from the scene.
"Guys." Danny says over the radio. "Something is up everyone is being asked to check in. This is not their standard procedure." Scott glares at Peter. "Probably because one of their guards has gone missing." "Couldn't be trusted." Peter says continuing up the stairs. "Too late to turn back now." Derek says putting his arm on Scott's shoulder before gesturing for him to continue up behind Peter. "You are clear for now but activity is increasing." The group increases its pace.
"This place looks abandoned." Stiles says scanning the compound. "Or not fully active yet." Kyle says giving the hunter a brief nod when he offers the weakened Beta his binoculars. "Paul is a high value asset. They would not move him here with so few staff. All that is here is security." One of the hunters says. "They have breached the facility." the other hunter says pocketing his phone. "Let's move." In moments they are at the designated entry point and slip inside after the electronic lock and security system is bypassed. As they slowly make their way down a well lit hallway it becomes more and more apparent that their assessment was correct. Room after room they pass is empty. Several areas have the prep work for cameras, mounts, and cables but no actual security. The entire place has a sense of nearly complete construction. What appears to be a large laboratory is only half complete with many components still in their boxes on the floor. The lead hunter looks around the room with a shake of his head. "OK guys I'm calling it. He's got to be at the other facility. This place is at least a week or two away from completion. Let's get out of here before anyone shows up. Kyle doesn't move incomplete room. "C'mon pup." Stiles says tugging at Kyle's hand. He looks at his pack mom with tears in his eyes. "I guess it didn't hit me until just now. Looking at this place. He's nothing more than an experiment to them. 'A high value asset' " He says gesturing with his head at the hunters. "My mate." Kyle continues shaking his head as the tears begin to fall. "My sweet, gentle, loving mate. Is just a thing for them to experiment on. If he doesn't come back I won't rest. I won't stop until I've tracked down every hunter and ended them. Afraid of wolves? I'll give them something to fear." Kyle's eyes flare yellow as he turns and strides out of the room.
As the stairway door opens Scott steps through he stops and shudders. A look of relief crosses his face as the familiar scent fills his nostrils. Practically sobbing with relief he says "He's here!" then runs down the hall. "Scott wait!" Derek says urgently as he and Peter race after him wildly looking around for threats. Scott reaches the door first and bulldozes right through it without slowing down. The stink of misery, pain, and loss stings at his nose. The scent is almost as powerful as the music blasting from large speakers at each corner of the room. The scent of Paul in the room is so intense he seems to be everywhere. Flinching from the loud music Scott looks around, his head whipping to the left when the music stops suddenly. Derek looks up from a control panel he's found that controlled the music. A whimper draws their eyes eyes to a cage partially blocked by a partition. The three of them quickly move towards the sound. The cage is small not even tall enough to stand up in. Cowering in the back corner a naked man covered in scars and wounds slowly uncovers his head and looks at them. Blinking back tears of rage Scott asks. "Paul?"