Chapter 3

Scott flinched to hold back the tears.

"It was like it happened yesterday," he thought.

But it had been two years ago, not long after the Nemeton had been reactivated. He, Allison and Stiles had all been affected, but for Stiles it was worse. When the murders began, he became convinced that he was the killer.

"Why Stiles?" he wondered, but deep down, Scott knew.

Stiles couldn't live with himself thinking he had killed all those people. Ending his life seemed the only way out. He died thinking he was responsible, but he was wrong. The nogitsune had taken his shape...the nogitsune had possessed his mind...the nogitsune had been the murderer and Stiles had paid for it.

Scott swallowed hard. The memory seemed too fresh. He didn't want to dwell on it.

"No," he said to himself as he looked at his former mentor, "...better to focus on someone else's memories."

Pushing the thoughts of Stiles from his mind, he refocused on a now unconscious Deaton, searching through his mind for anything that might lead him to the truth.

"We have what we need...we don't need Hale anymore...he's collateral damage," Deaton stated.

"Like Beverly was?"

Scott recognized the thin woman from the druid meeting.

"Beverly knew what she was getting into, Abbie. She said herself that Peter was little more than a wild raging animal. She knew the risks."

"Perhaps we are moving too quickly," the balding man piped up.

Scott noted that over the years Cedric had gained a sense of confidence that had previously been absent.

Deaton grunted.

"As I said...we have what we need...Hale is dangerous and expendable," he reasserted.

"You can't even be sure this boy will become a true alpha," Cedric countered.

"He will," Deaton affirmed, "I see it in him."

"And what if something happens to him...the hunters are heavy in Beacon Hills...and there are other packs out there. Even if you're sure he'll become a true alpha, you can't be sure he'll survive long enough to do for us what needs to be done," Abbie interjected.

The thin woman waved her arms around as though she were giving a great oratory speech.

"He'll survive and he'll complete what needs to done," Deaton said, unflinchingly.

"Nevertheless, the council has voted to keep Hale alive...for obvious reasons," Cedric interrupted.

It was the first time Scott had ever seen Deaton genuinely look furious. It occurred to Scott that at least in Druid circles, his mentor was not used to being questioned.

Taking a deep breath, he contained his fury and nodded at the two.

"Of course...I don't agree...but I'd never go against the council."

The answer seemed to satisfy the two as they retreated from the clinic leaving Deaton alone. He reached for the phone and Scott was surprised when he heard his own voice on the other side. It was the day that Deaton had told him that Peter's nurse had been the one who took the picture of the deer...the day that he ensured that Scott would tell Derek and in turn ensure that Derek would kill Peter Hale.

Scott managed to keep his calm as he digested the new information. Everything Deaton had done was to move Scott forward into becoming a true alpha. Every plan...every decision...every move that Deaton had influenced Scott to make was all to the end of bringing out the true alpha spark that had been birthed in him through Peter's bite, but to what end? Why did the druids need with a true alpha?

"To restore the balance," thought Scott as he recalled Deaton's earlier memory.

Scott furrowed his brow and looked around him. How was he supposed to do that? Beacon Hills was a mess, overgrown with giant vines and wild trees. Supernatural creatures ran rampant. It hardly even resembled a town at all anymore. The people that could leave were gone...those that couldn't were dead and Scott was left alone trying to figure out what went wrong. What was he supposed to do now?

"It'll be alright Scott."

"Allison?" Scott whispered.

It was only in his mind. Allison was gone...she had been gone almost as long as Stiles.

Though painful, the memories offered some comfort in the midst of his confusion.

They had gone their separate ways for a short time...she with Isaac...he with Kira. That all changed after Stiles death. Kira left Beacon Hills and Isaac and Allison began to drift apart. Scott found himself in Allison's company more frequently, and with time, they found each other again. Once again Allison became Scott's anchor...not an anchor for the shift...but an anchor of the heart. Without her Scott didn't think he would have made it through Stiles passing. Unfortunately, their reunion was brief and once again he found himself struggling to continue on. The darkness was swallowing up Beacon Hills as the Nemeton called out to the supernatural and Scott was losing hope.

She had been missing for nearly a week when they found her. Scott didn't even remember what particular creature they had been tracking when her body was discovered...there had been so many. He did remember the expression plastered on her motionless face. Strangely, it was one of peace. The coroner had said her neck had been snapped, but Scott avoided asking if that meant she died instantly or if she had suffered. He simply did not want to know.

Kneeling next to her he had quietly stared. He mourned the fact that he didn't get to say goodbye.

Reaching out he grazed the tips of her fingers with his fingertips as if he thought the act would bring a response. It was met only with the cold unyielding touch of death. Scott pulled away and swore he could hear her voice gently drifting down from the treetops.

"It'll be alright Scott."

Those were the words she had whispered to him at Stiles funeral...the words he recalled when she died...the words he heard now as he pondered the truth behind Deaton's lies. Even now she was being for him an anchor...and anchor of hope.