Pack
AN: So, thanks to a review on the prequel, One's Not Enough (I don't think I mentioned the title last time) that brought to my attention the fact that the separation of scenes I had been putting in on Word were not showing up online. Everyone will be spared the headache of trying to figure out what is happening as the scenes will begin to break a lot more in the coming chapters.
I've updated the previous ones, though there was maybe a total of 7 so you might not have noticed. Also, it's a bit of a pain to do them, but it gives me a second check for grammar. A few things were corrected. I recommend Grammarly if you are looking for a decent editing program that can pick up some stuff that was missed. I have it as the Chrome extension, had it on Word, but it's a bit buggy so I removed it.
The next set of chapters has been uploaded to the prequel so check that out if you would like. I've also decided to expand it a bit more so will be uploading 2 more times on that story before the end of this one. The second half of this story is my favorite and I'm hoping you all enjoy the interactions between Scott and Steve's pack as they were pretty fun to write. Also, this chapter starts the changes in canon.
Steve ran after Stiles. The Jeep had broken down halfway down the road, the storm had finally come to an end. There was smoke coming out from the ajar door and the open hood. He could hear Stiles coughing as he approached. Stiles chucked the toolbox across the road. The metal tools clanged on the pavement as Stiles slammed the hood down. Stiles grabbed the wrench Scott had given him earlier from the passenger side as Steve reached the back of the Jeep. The boy went to throw it after the wrench towards the other tools, but turned and threw it at the Jeep instead.
Steve grabbed the wrench before it hit the windshield. "Couldn't let me have that?" Stiles asked breathing hard. Steve tossed the wrench aside. "Why are you here anyway?" Stiles yelled.
"I wanted to make sure you're okay," Steve replied, slightly taken aback.
"No, I mean in Beacon Hills. You said you wanted help, but you never said what it was," Stiles approached the alpha.
"My friend is going to explode."
"What does that even mean? How could Scott help with that?" Stiles was still yelling.
"I have a fire kitsune in my pack. We'd been fighting a phoenix and losing. But the phoenix was growing old. Seeing the kitsune as a perfect incubator, the phoenix entered the kitsune to wait and be reborn. When the phoenix hatches, the kitsune will explode. A strong true alpha could help us save her."
"So, why didn't you take Scott there and explain it to him?"
"I don't think Scott will be able to help us."
"So, what now? Are you going to just leave?" Stiles shouted as he held his arms up.
"No, I'm going to help stop the Dread Doctors before I die."
"What?" Stiles breathed as he started to calm down. "What do you mean before you die?"
"The mental link with my pack isn't just for fighting and talking. We can take each other's pain and heal each other through it. The pain of her body being blow apart will be insurmountable. It will force its way through the link and into all of us, killing us as well. We can't heal her on our own, so we would increase our healing capabilities with a strong true alpha."
Stiles sat against the Jeep's tire. He rubbed his face as his head leaned against the rubber. Steve joined him on the pavement. "What would happen if Scott tried to help you, right now?" Stiles asked as he looked at a streetlight.
"He'd die," Steve said flatly. Stiles looked at him surprised. "Why don't I give you a ride home."
"Your car is on the other side of the town," Stiles whispered. "We'd walk past my house to get to your car."
"Well, we're both headed that way. I'll walk with you." Steve said standing up. He offered his hand to help Stiles up, but the boy ignored it.
"I think I want to be alone for now," Stiles said looking at the ground.
"You can be alone, after you're safe at home and not in the middle of the road." Stiles still ignored the outstretched hand "That or I can just creepily follow you home," Steve added. Stiles looked up and took Steve's hand and the alpha pulled Stiles to his feet. Stiles looked back at the Jeep as they started off down the road in silence.
"When did you determine Scott wasn't going to be able to help? Was it tonight?" Stiles asked when they got to his house.
"No, I've been thinking that for a while now. His asthma returned, he had a horrible plan to catch the Dread Doctors, and then what he's done since that night. That's not how strong alphas acts."
Stiles nodded. "I'll see you around then, I guess," Stiles said before walking into his house.
Steve retrieved his car and headed home. When he arrived, the pack was huddled around the coffee table, which was covered with books and laptops.
August and Fiona stood and pulled Steve aside. "So, the supermoon is tomorrow," August said. "It'll give you guys a massive boost in power. It might be enough to do some damage to the Dread Doctors, but we'll all be weaker without the link."
"Not to mention that without the link, one of you could lose control. And it will already be harder to bring you back down. With everything that has happened the past few weeks—," Fiona started before stopping herself.
"No, you're right. I'm not a hundred percent myself right now. But which option do you predict is better?"
"People die in both," the banshee stated dryly.
"Who?" Steve asked.
"It's hard to say. There are too many variables. A lot of people are at risk, you included."
Steve thought for a moment. "We should stay in. I don't want to lose any of us any sooner than we have to," Steve said before turning to August. "Did you bring mountain ash? We don't need one of us running off again," he said glancing at Jay.
"Yeah, I can put up a perimeter," August told him.
"You okay?" Jay asked as the three returned to the living room. "You smell terrible."
Steve took a seat by the pack. "It doesn't seem like Scott's going to be able to help us."
"So, what do we do now?" Charlie asked.
"Fix what's happening here, then go home," Steve said. "We should all get some rest," Steve added. Everyone nodded slowly and headed towards the stairs. Leonard stayed behind with Steve
"There has to be another way to save her," Leonard whispered.
"We've tried everything we could. The phoenix is too strong for use to force out on our own. And to heal Kaia at the same time," Steve shook his head "If we tried, we'd all wind up dead and Kaia would still explode."
"Why can't Scott help? He's a true alpha."
"He is a true alpha, but he's not the alpha we thought he was. We'd have the same results."
"He took out Kate and Gerard, and the alpha pack. He's stronger than you."
"He might have been stronger than me," Steve corrected him. "Something's changed. He and his pack are both weakened," Steve said quietly looking at the floor. "Why don't you get some sleep?" He said looking back at Leonard.
"You're just giving up?" Leonard asked not moving.
"No, I still want to figure out how we can save her."
Leonard stared at Steve for a minute before going upstairs.
Steve woke up in the chair when he heard a knock at the door.
Theo was standing in the doorway. "I thought Scott told you to leave," Theo sneered.
"I'm not going anywhere," Steve replied flashing his eyes.
"Woah, I'm not here to fight. I wouldn't be able to beat you," Theo held his hands up and backed away.
"Then I suggest you leave."
"Scott's keeping an eye out for you. If he sees you, he'll probably kill you."
"I can handle myself."
"I don't know, after last night, he seems pretty angry."
"Maybe someone should tell him the truth," Steve growled.
"He found out on his own. I told him what I knew when he asked me." Theo's heartbeat had remained steady. It never spiked. It didn't change with the fear he had shown when Steve threatened him either. "I just wanted to tell you to steer clear of Scott, especially tonight with the supermoon."
"Won't be a problem."
"That's good, wouldn't want you to get hurt," Theo said smiling before he left.
The rest of the day continued in relative silence. The pack had retreated to their rooms, isolating themselves as they dealt with last night's news.
August came downstairs as night started to fall. "No one leaves the house tonight," He said to Steve as he pulled out a jar of mountain ash and started to line the house with it.
Steve's phone buzzed. Stiles had messaged him, "I'm following Parrish, he's moving Corey and Beth. I'm going to follow him to the Nemeton. Leaving the sheriff's station now."
Steve hopped out the door, right before the last section of ash could settle on the floor. "What're you doing?" August asked as he finished the line.
"I think I have a plan," Steve told August from across the border. "Keep everyone else inside and safe. I'll be smart," Steve added as August opened his mouth.
Steve ran down the street towards the station. "Between the supermoon and the pack link, I might be able to bring back a chimera or two. They could help against the Doctors. Worse case they get a second chance at life." Steve thought as he looked up at the moon. "Just need the link." Steve picked up Stiles's scent and continued running down the road.
As he neared the county's impound he heard Theo's voice. "I never lied about why I came to Beacon Hills. I'm here for a pack. I came for the werecoyote, the one whose first instinct is to kill. I came for the banshee, the girl surrounded by death. I came for the dark kitsune, the beta with anger issues, and I came for Void Stiles. That's the pack I want. Unfortunately, it doesn't include Scott," Theo paused, "Your heartbeat's rising Stiles," Theo laughed shuffling around. "And it's not because you're afraid, the nogitsune is gone. But you've still got more blood on your hands than any of us."
Stiles noticed Steve walking into the impound. "And I'm about to get more," Stiles replied. Steve shifted and roared behind Theo, who turned around surprised. Stiles held his hand up to Steve as he sucker punched Theo in the jaw.
"There he is," Theo laughed, wiping the blood from his lip, "That's Void Stiles. It felt good, didn't it?" Stiles responded with a second punch that knocked Theo to the ground. Theo spat out some blood. "But we won't tell Scott. 'Cause you can't lose your best friend, right? Even though we both know you never needed him." Steve lifted Theo up by his throat. "You hate me now, but you'll get it eventually." Theo choked out, looking at Stiles still smiling. "This is the hard part. You can't help Scott and save your dad's life."
"I think your math is wrong," Steve growled.
Theo smiled at Steve. "Either of you show up to help Scott, and I won't tell you where the Sheriff is. You've still got time to save him, Stiles," Theo said, looking down at the boy.
"I can track him down," Steve growled tightening his grip.
"You don't have that much time," Theo chuckled.
"Steve. My dad. Please." Stiles begged
Steve tossed Theo towards Theo's truck. Theo laughed again as he started to pull himself up. "Good choice, Stiles. Head east, I'll text you where he is once I know neither of you are following me." Theo moved around to the driver's seat.
"When we find the Sheriff. I'll come kill you," Steve growled.
"I'll be an alpha by then. Better get moving." Theo got into his car and drove away.
The two ran out of the impound and headed east. "Call Liam and Mason," Steve said as they were running. "Their scent wasn't on Theo. They can help Scott." Stiles ignored him as they continued down the street.
Stiles's phone buzzed after they ran a few miles. Stiles stopped and looked around, panting as sweat dripped down his face.
"What is it?" Steve panted
"It's the house where Liam and Hayden were kept. I don't know where that is," Stiles said as his breathing accelerated.
Steve spun around before he stopped, facing one of the houses. "There," Steve pointed when he picked up the Sheriff's scent. Steve called 911 as they ran into the basement.
Stiles ran to the sheriff and grabbed his hand, "Dad? Dad?" Stiles shouted. The sheriff groaned in response.
His phone buzzed after the dispatcher hung up on him. It was Fiona. "Scott just died."
Steve froze for a moment. "I'm going to make sure everyone else is okay. An ambulance is on the way. I'll be back"
Stiles nodded but kept his eyes on his dad.
Steve ran out and tried to find Theo's scent. He made it back to the impound but couldn't smell anything except gas. He knelt down and saw gas trickling out from under a few of the cars. He snarled before making his way to Scott's house. "Find Scott's body, find Theo's scent," he thought to himself.
As he neared Scott's house he heard Scott's voice. "I lost, Mom." Steve slid to a stop in confusion.
"Every leader suffers loss. Sometimes more than you think is bearable."
"This time I lost everyone."
"You'll get them back. You have to."
"Why would they come back?"
"Because you're their leader. And even when a leader thinks there is nothing left to give. There's still one thing." Melissa paused for a moment. "Hope. Give them hope."
Fiona's car pulled up to the side of the road.
"What are you doing?" Steve asked as he approached the car.
"If you can break the rules so can I," she answered. "Get in."
"I thought you said Scott died?" Steve asked ducking into the car.
"He did," she said turning to him. Steve shook his head as he pointed at his house. She looked ahead, confused before starting off down the road.
"Where's everyone else?" Steve asked as Fiona turned the car.
"Still at the house," She replied, not taking her eyes off the road.
"I need August to track down the rest of Scott's pack and make sure they're okay," Steve said pulling out his phone. "Where are we going anyway?"
"I don't know."
They continued driving and Fiona turned towards downtown. Steve noticed headlights coming at them from down the road. Both Fiona and the SUV facing them were in the middle of the road.
"Fiona, turn the car," Steve said as the SUV neared. She continued to stare ahead. He grabbed the wheel, but Fiona pulled it back. "Fiona!" Steve smashed the horn to warn the other driver. The car in front swerved, barely missing them before spinning in a circle. Fiona stopped the car and was looking out the rearview mirror.
"Fiona, we need to move. You almost hit that car."
"Who is that?" she asked as a man stepped out of the other car.
Steve looked back and saw Parrish walking across the street. "Pull over and wait for me," he told her as he hopped out of the car and ran after Parrish. He heard Fiona running through a puddle behind him.
Parrish turned to face the pair. "What are you doing?"
"I think Lydia is in trouble, but we were led to you," Fiona answered.
"Banshee," Steve said pointing at her.
Parrish nodded. "I felt it too." The three of them ran into the woods.
"Lydia!" Parrish shouted panning his flashlight around. A few steps later the flashlight died out and they were left in the dark.
Parrish dug a flare from his bag and lit it. He used it to look around for a moment, before dropping it on the ground and wandering into the darkness. Steve's eyes turned red as he grabbed Fiona's hand and followed.
"Lydia," he said dropping down next to her. "She's freezing." He looked towards Steve and Fiona.
"She's alive though." Fiona knelt on the other side of her. "Look," she said pointing at a star carved into the tree.
"No," Steve thought, "We were too late."
"I have to get to Scott," Parrish said as he lifted Lydia off the ground. He paused when he saw Steve staring at the carving.
"Go. Help her," Steve said without turning. Parrish ran back towards the road leaving Steve and Fiona alone.
"I can feel it too," Fiona said.
Steve pulled his eyes away from the star and looked around the tree. He saw five of the chimera's bodies lying on the ground. The leaves around them had been disturbed and he noticed the imprints of the four that were missing. He paused for a moment before shifting and walking towards the bodies.
Fiona turned as Steve knelt between Lucas and another boy. He brought out his claws and dug them into the back of their necks. "Stop!" Fiona shouted running to Steve. "If you try to bring them back alone you'll die."
Steve ignored her protest and black tendrils started to climb up his arms. The tendrils quickly spread across his face and his arms turned completely black. He felt himself start to fall backwards as Fiona screamed behind him.
The moon broke from behind a cloud as the tendrils suddenly receded, flowing away from his face and back down his arms. Lucas and the boy rose as Steve removed his claws. Steve saw Lucas's spines as their silhouettes covered the majority of the moon's light. The other boy sprouted wings, covering the rest of the moon.
"Steve, what did you just do?" Charlie's voice rang in his head.
"Follow her," Steve commanded the two chimeras. The boy's wings closed and were absorbed into his body. Steve turned to the banshee. "Take them back home. I have to get to the hospital." She nodded before heading back to the car.
"Malia is okay, she's with a woman right now. Talking about killing the Desert Wolf," Jay's voice sounded.
"Liam and Mason are okay. Liam has minor injuries, but otherwise, they're safe," Leonard's voice followed after.
"No one can take orders, I see," Steve replied.
"You started it," August told him.
Steve chucked lightly as he neared the hospital. "We don't know how the chimeras will act," Charlie scolded.
"I know, but it's a risk we need to take. I need you to train them, in case they're needed soon."
"You could have died."
"I'm aware."
Steve entered the hospital and found Stiles in the lobby. "Stiles, I'm so sorry."
"It's okay," he breathed, "My day's going to be fine. I can see him once the anesthesia wears off." He gave a half smile before noticing Steve's confused stare. "What?" he asked sitting up in his seat.
Steve opened his mouth before Melissa came into the lobby. "Stiles, can you come with me?" The boy froze in his seat for a moment. Steve helped Stiles to his feet and followed him to the door. "We need to talk to him alone," Melissa added looking at Steve.
"No, it's fine he can come to," Stiles said quietly.
"Okay," she sighed before leading them to the doctor. Stiles looked into the room and saw his father as they walked past.
"We wanted to update you on your father's condition," the doctor started, "There seems to be a toxin in his body that is causing his body to deteriorate. At this point, we don't know what the cause is."
"What do you mean you don't know?" Stiles said, "Two hours ago he was fine, and now it looks like someone took a baseball bat to his neck."
"He could have some minor internal injuries," the doctor stated calmly.
"Did you just say minor internal? Since when is anything internal minor?" Stiles said annoyed. Steve closed his eyes and sniffed towards the room to see if he could help, but only caught the scent of death. He opened his eyes and saw Scott looking in the window. Steve's eyes flashed red briefly.
"Stiles," Melissa said calmly.
"I need to know what's going with him, okay? Someone needs to tell me what's happening. Somebody needs to tell me what's happening to him!" Stiles shouted at both of them.
"We don't know," Melissa told him.
Stiles looked toward his dad's room and saw Scott looking into the window. "Stiles," Steve said as he tried to stop Stiles, but the boy pushed through the doors towards Scott. He grabbed Scott's collar before throwing him against the wall and pulled both of them to the floor. Steve ran into the room, followed by Melissa and the doctor.
"Where were you?" Stiles asked holding Scott down. "You trusted him. You believed him. Right, huh? So, where were you?"
"Hey, hey, hey," Melissa called out as she moved down the hall.
"Where the hell were you?" Stiles yelled as Steve pulled him away from Scott.
"Stop it," Melissa yelled.
"Calm down, Stiles," Steve whispered as a deputy reached for Stiles.
"Okay, alright, alright," Stiles said putting his hands up, still breathing heavily.
Another deputy had helped Scott to his feet. "Look your dad's not the only one who got hurt," he said.
"Oh, you'll heal," Stiles remarked looking at the blood spot on Scott's shirt.
"I'm not talking about me," Scott said.
Steve loosened his grip on Stiles. "It's Lydia, Stiles."
"No," Stiles breathed, "where is she?"
"She's downstairs," Scott told them.
Stiles and Steve headed towards the elevator behind Scott. Steve paused and leaned towards Scott, "Who'd you kill tonight?" he whispered nodding down at Scott's blood-stained shirt. Scott froze as the two continue walking away.
The two stepped off the elevator and headed to Lydia's room. Stiles walked in slowly and Lydia's head rolled to face him, emotionless and wide-eyed.
"No," Ms. Martin said looking back at Stiles. "No, you don't." Stiles stepped back up as she rose. "You're not coming in here." Stiles moved forward opening his mouth before Ms. Martin yelled, "Get out!"
"Just wait, wait. I think I know who did this, okay? I just need to look at the back of her neck," Stiles explained.
"I know who did this. You." She yelled shoving Stiles. Steve stepped into the room. "All of you! Get out!" She shoved Stiles into Steve.
"Come on, please. You just gotta listen to me. You just gotta check the back—" he begged but she shoved him again forcing both boys out of the room.
"Just get out!"
"Just check the back of her neck," Stiles tried to yell over her.
"Out!" she yelled before slamming the door in his face.
Stiles tried to gather himself once they were in the hallway. He looked up at the alpha.
"I saw the marks," Steve said quietly. "It was him."
"I told you to stay in the car. I told you to stay in the car," Steve heard Lydia repeat from behind the door.
The elevator dinged as Scott, Melissa, and Parrish stepped out.
"We need to talk," Melissa said as they exited. She paused and looked at Steve.
"He's coming too," Stiles told her. Her face tightened a bit as she continued to look at Steve before she turned and lead the group to an empty supply room.
They gathered around a table, Steve leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.
"It could be a side effect of shock," Parrish said once everyone was in the room.
"She's catatonic. It was Theo digging his way through her mind," Stiles corrected him.
"Why would he do that? What is he looking for?" Melissa asked.
"The same thing he's always looking for. An advantage," Scott declared.
"We found her at the Nemeton, some of the bodies were missing," Steve told them.
The group looked towards Parish, "I didn't notice," he said, "What would he want with the bodies? What did he gain by trying to kill Stilinski?"
"It left me alone with Liam. He wanted to make sure no one would be there to stop him from killing me."
"Okay, so he gutted my dad as a distraction," Stiles said angrily.
"And wants us to distract us now by having us track down the bodies?" Steve asked
"We need to find this kid," Parrish said.
"Isn't that a little dangerous? Especially since he almost killed my kid?"
"Technically he did," Steve commented.
"Yeah, but he didn't want my dad to die."
"Are you sure?" Parrish asked surprised.
"He told us where to find him. So, maybe he also knows how to save him."
"What do you want to do? Talk to him?" Melissa asked.
"If it saves my dad, then yeah."
"I have a different plan," Steve said revealing his claws.
"We won't get any information if you kill him," Melissa said glaring at Steve.
"I can go with Stiles. He doesn't know I'm alive. Maybe that gives us an advantage," Scott said before Steve could respond.
"He'll know you're there," Stiles shook his head.
"Can you even fight?" Steve asked.
"I just need to talk to him. Not fight him." Stiles turned to leave the room.
"Stiles, you can't go alone," Melissa said.
"Does anyone even know how to find him?" Parrish asked.
"We don't have to find him. He'll come to me." Stiles left the room.
"Stiles, I'm coming with you," Scott shouted after him.
"You'll be useless," Steve told him as Scott limped around the table.
"Hey," Melissa warned.
"Theo won't come near Stiles if you're around," Scott said as he stood in front of Steve. "He'll be looking for you, but not me." Steve narrowed his eyes at the other alpha. "We'll go to my house. It'll already have my scent so he won't be able to tell I'm there."
"Fine," Steve spat as Scott walked out of the room and went after Stiles. "Jay, Leonard. I need you to go to Scott's house tomorrow. Stay within earshot and downwind. Be on the lookout for Theo. Let me know when he gets there. We'll have our own conversation with him."
Melissa and Parrish were staring at Steve as he stayed against the wall. "I still have a plan. And it doesn't involve killing," Steve looked at Melissa. "Not yet," he added.
"Maybe, you should let my son deal with his own pack," Melissa warned.
"I would, if the way your son dealt with his pack didn't affect me."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Parish asked.
"That my pack is going to die because of him," Steve stated before he walked out of the room.
Steve returned home and fell asleep, exhausted from the long night. He awoke early the next morning and headed out the door. Jay and Leonard had already gone on ahead of him. "I'm at the animal clinic. Tell Scott to get call me if you need help," Steve sent to Stiles after he stopped his car.
"He's here," Jay announced after a few hours.
"I'm on my way," Steve told them.
Jay and Leonard looked at each other for a moment before they listened in on the conversation.
"Guess we're all telling the truth now," Theo said as they watched him step into the house, out of their view.
"You killed my best friend," Stiles stated.
"Let's be honest Stiles, was he still really your best friend?"
"Are you going to let my father die?"
"If I wanted him to die, I wouldn't have told you where you can find him."
"Then why are they saying that his body is shutting down? That some toxin's poisoning him and they don't know how to stop it?"
"I'm not the bad guy, Stiles. I'm just a realist. I'm a survivor. If you knew the things that I know—"
"Yeah, but what do you know?" Stiles interrupted
"I know what's coming. I know what the Dread Doctors created. And I know what Parrish is."
"What?"
"Lydia figured it out. I saw it in her memories."
"Right after you drove her out of her mind."
"Collateral damage. But if she's right about Parrish, then things around here are gonna get a lot worse."
"I don't care," Stiles whispered.
"You should. Because if your dad does survive, he's not gonna be sheriff of anything much longer."
"What's happening to him? Hey, tell me!"
They heard a thud and Stiles grunt as Theo ran out of the house. Jay ran off after Theo. A few houses down Theo vanished. Jay heard Steve's car come around the corner behind him as the werecheetah skidded to a stop.
"He just, just disappeared," Jay thought.
"What do you mean he disappeared?" Steve asked.
"Like he vanished, in thin air," Jay responded.
"Damnit, head home."
Steve got out of his car and ran towards Stiles, who was laying in front of the open door. Scott was leaning over him. As Steve reached the threshold he was thrown backwards by a barrier.
Stiles rose as Steve was getting back up.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Scott asked offering to help Stiles up.
"I'm fine," he said brushing him aside.
"You blacked out."
"I'm okay. Did you get anything from him?"
"Nothing, he was calm the entire time."
"What about his heart?" Stiles asked.
"I heard it jump, but only once, and only for a second."
"That doesn't mean he was lying."
"Not really, the rest of the time it was steady."
"He does that," Steve stated as he reached the doorway.
"When did it jump? What was I talking about?"
Scott paused to think. "It was when you said that your dad was poisoned."
"That could be something. A jump could mean surprise, right?"
"That would make sense," Steve said.
"So, why would he be surprised that my dad's still dying?"
"Theo didn't say he was the one that attacked your dad," Steve realized. "It must have been someone else."
"Another Chimera," Scott stated.
"Great," Steve sighed. "What's with the mountain ash?" Steve added, still stuck behind the barrier.
"We wanted Theo to think that Stiles didn't know he was a chimera," Scott answered as Stiles broke the seal.
"Do we know what he is?" Steve asked thinking about Theo's vanishing act.
"Werewolf and werecoyote," Scott answered.
Stiles ran out to his car and Scott followed a second later. "How'd he disappear?" Steve thought before heading after them. He heard the car doors lock.
"Stiles," Scott said when he tried to open the door.
"Yeah, I can do the rest myself," Stiles told him, he shot an apologetic look at Steve who nodded.
"You don't even know where to start. All we know is that there's another chimera. Do you even know where you're headed? Come on let me help. I can find the clues that you can't."
"Steve can find those clues too."
"Well, he can't get in the car either."
"No, but I can keep up by running. Not sure if you could," Steve said pointing at Scott's wound. Stiles shifted the car into gear and started to drive away. Scott jumped in front to stop the car, but backed away as his strength failed.
Stiles stopped the car. "You can't do this alone. Okay? You need me, you need all of us," Scott told him looking back to Steve. "I can get more help, I can text Liam."
"Liam just tried to kill you. And the last time you and Steve were together, you fought." Scott looked back to Steve, who glared back at him. "You believed him," Stiles added causing Scott to turn back to him.
"You trusted him too. Theo got to all of us."
"You know, you don't even know the real story," Stiles muttered.
"I don't need to. Okay? All that matters right now is your dad. Come on, Stiles, we survived an alpha pack, a dark druid, professional assassins. We can survive Dread Doctors and chimeras too."
"Hope," Steve thought thinking about what he overheard last night. "Scott's right, Stiles. We'll figure this out. Together."
Stiles nodded and unlocked the doors. He moved to shift the car into gear but paused. "We're not looking for a missing chimera. We're looking for a missing teenager," he said.
The three headed into Stiles's house once the car stopped. Stiles looked up the missing person's reports while Scott stared at a piece of paper taped to the board. "What's this?" Steve asked.
"List of genetic chimeras," Stiles said.
"Meaning?"
"All of the chimeras already had two sets of DNA from some sort of transplant. That's how the Doctors are able to experiment on them," Scott explained.
"There was a call a few hours ago about a sophomore from Beacon High who never came home last night," Stiles announced.
"What's his name?"
"Noah Pattrick."
Scott pointed to the name on the list and the three headed back downstairs to the car. "We need to find something with his scent," Scott said.
"Head to the school," Steve told them. He sent the name to August and had him figure out his locker number. "Locker 1412," Steve told them once they pulled up to the school.
The three made their way through the empty halls until Scott stopped and ripped the lock off the locker. "Now we can catch his scent," Scott said pulling out a hoodie. Steve held his hand out, but Scott tossed it over his head. Malia walked around the corner and caught it.
"You called her?" Stiles asked.
"We need all the help that we can get. I should be calling everyone."
"And I know what this kid looks like," Malia added.
Scott rode with Malia while Stiles and Steve followed. "Why haven't you called in your pack?" Stiles asked as they drove.
"I did. They're looking into other things," Steve told him.
They pulled up to an abandoned train station after a couple of minutes. Stiles and Steve hung back as the Malia looked for the scent, Scott followed her.
"He didn't want you to call me, did he?" Malia asked looking back at Stiles.
"No, is it that bad?"
"We kind of broke up, I guess."
Steve looked to Stiles, but the boy couldn't hear their conversation. His leg was bouncing as he looked around the station.
"Yeah, we kinda broke up too," Scott added as Malia walked away.
Scott jogged after Malia. "Hey, you can tell me what's going on with you. I mean, besides Stiles. You can talk to me."
"I said I'd help find this kid, and I'm doing it to save Stiles's dad. Don't ask me to talk," Malia said without pausing.
"Well, I'm not asking. I'm offering. I'm just saying it's okay if you want to."
"I know," Malia said before moving to a wall and then down a set of stairs. "I got it, I got his scent."
They headed down the stairs and into a tunnel as they followed Noah's scent.
Malia wiped some blood off a pipe. "This is Noah's, he was here," she announced, "I think he's close."
Scott continued ahead, "Guy's, I think we've been down tunnels like this before. When we were looking for Liam and Hayden."
"Okay, so what?" Stiles asked.
"It means that we're closer than we think."
"To what, Scott?" Steve asked.
"There's something else down here. Something we haven't found yet." Scott said with a slight smile.
"Yeah, nothing that helps my dad," Stiles reminded him. Scott's smile disappeared as Steve shook his head behind him. Stiles started to raise his voice. "Look we can't just be standing around here, waiting for something to—"
Noah ran out and pushed Stiles against the wall, knocking him out. Scott ran over to Stiles.
Malia grabbed Noah and tried to hold him still. Steve joined her and the two pinned him against the wall. "What did you do to the sheriff?" Steve growled as his eyes turned red.
"I don't remember. Just let me go, please, please," Noah begged as Stiles got back to his feet, "They're coming."
The group turned their heads as they heard the Doctors clicking further down the tunnel. Malia and Steve let go as they looked down the tunnel. Noah ran away until Stiles threw him against the wall and held his arm against the chimera's neck.
"You're not going anywhere," Stiles told the chimera.
"I said I don't remember anything."
"You don't remember anything?"
"No, not when it happens. Not when I change."
"You clawed my dad half to death, okay, and now it's poisoning him. You're gonna start remembering every detail right now," Stiles told him, his arm still against Noah's throat.
"Scott, I hear them," Malia said.
"Yeah, I do too," he responded.
"Stiles, you need to get out of here. Take him to the hospital. Find a way to save your dad," Steve told him calmly.
"We're not going to be able to stop them."
"Well, I haven't tried yet," Steve said shifting.
"We might be able to slow them down," Scott said facing Steve, "Stiles, go!"
Stiles paused for a moment before looking at the others.
"We got this," Steve told him. Stiles grabbed Noah's shirt and the two ran down the tunnel away from them.
Scott groaned as he started bleeding from his chest again. The Doctors rounded the corner and headed to the remaining three.
"We don't got this," Malia said once Stiles had gotten away.
"Probably not," Steve said.
"We're gonna die down here," she finished.
"No, we're not," Scott told her.
"How can you be so sure?"
"'Cause you're not the only one that I called."
"Get down," Chris shouted behind them. The three dove off to the side as Chris began to fire at the Doctors. Steve looked in shock as The Doctors held up their hands, creating a barrier that caused the bullets to ricochet. "Run," he told them.
They ran back towards the station, Chris followed as he continued to fire at the Dread Doctors. They caught up with Stiles after they made it out of the tunnels.
"I figured it out," Stiles panted, "It was a bone fragment from Noah, but he ran off once I realized.
"Go to the hospital. Save your dad. We'll worry about Noah," Steve told him. Stiles ran to his car.
"I can't find his scent," Malia said once Stiles left.
"Yeah me either," Steve said. "I'm glad you showed up, Chris."
"You two know each other?" Scott asked, surprised.
"Yeah, we've ran into each other a few times."
"I've gotta do something real fast, I'll be right back," Scott stated as he jogged into the tunnels.
"I'm going to see if I can't find Noah's scent in the tunnels." Steve ran in after him.
After a few minutes of searching, Steve still couldn't pick up a scent. He heard metal scraping deeper in the tunnel and headed to check it out. He saw Scott looking at two interlaying circles.
"What's it mean?" Steve asked.
Scott jumped slightly. He rolled up his sleeve to expose a tattoo. "It represents my pack," Scott said.
"It's for Theo, right?" Steve asked stepping forward.
Scott nodded. "And anyone else who's trying to threaten us."
Steve brought out his claws and dug a lightning bolt into the wall next to the circles. Scott looked at him confused. Steve rolled up his sleeve as well. "My pack's symbol. You're not the only one Theo has to worry about."
The two looked at the symbols. "When you came to Beacon Hills you said you needed help, what did you mean?" Scott asked.
"One of my pack members is going to explode and kill me and the rest of my pack. We need the strength of a true alpha to stop it from happening."
"Why didn't you take me there right away?"
"Because we need a strong true alpha and his pack. If we took you there we'd all be dead."
Scott paused. "How long do you guys have?"
"A month, maybe two, if we're lucky," Steve mentioned as they stepped out of the tunnels. Scott's jaw dropped slightly
"Find anything?" Malia asked.
"No, couldn't find the scent again. He's either too deep or has left," Steve told her. "I'm going to go see how Stiles and his dad are doing."