Chapter 2: Arrival at Beacon Hills
The news of this hunter's release quickly spread around the pack, as they did not really know how to react. The two noticeable emotions were anger and confusion. Indeed, the new people don't really know what happened five years ago and don't know this hunter. But, deciding to follow their instincts, they began to share the anger of the rest of the members of the pack. If they are angry, there is a reason.
Kurt and Aria walked in circles, unsure if they should get on a plane to California. Last time, that's what they did, but given how they were greeted when they arrived, it's not a good idea at all. However, going all this way in wolf form is very long and very tiring. If they go there, it's to defeat an army of heavily armed werewolf hunters, something they won't be able to do if they arrive completely tired.
After a few more hours of reflection, the decision to land at Los Angeles airport was made. The town is not very far from where they need to go, which makes the route passable by wolf. This way, they will not arrive tired and will be directly ready for combat. Of course, they hope there won't be any bloodshed, even though it's almost inevitable. Beacon Hills is a town full of werewolves, divided into very small packs, compared to theirs. Most residents of this small town are unaware of their presence, whether willingly or not. So, if a megalomaniacal old man manages to once again establish a climate of fear, these packs will quickly be decimated.
No one seemed to object to the idea of going there in wolf form, although it would be a long shot. Doing it from Los Angeles takes less time, but it's still a bit long. But, fortunately for them, they feel very little fatigue and will therefore be fit for combat without even needing to rest.
Meanwhile, in Beacon Hills, Gerard prepared his army. He had provided an astronomical quantity of weapons and ammunition, enough to exterminate the entire population of the largest city in the country. Of course, his goal is not to wipe out an entire city, but only the werewolf species. He hates them with all his soul and would do anything and everything to reduce them to dust. Moreover, his first target was a pack residing in Pennsylvania, which had him imprisoned for five years in an old dilapidated prison. After five long years of imprisonment, he was released for, supposedly, good behavior. It's true that he never made waves, but he never thought that being so calm would one day set him free.
Since his release, he has put his revenge plan into action. He started by calling on old acquaintances to come and help him. Taking on such a pack requires a lot of men, otherwise there is a risk that his revenge will fail. Also, he had to provide a very large quantity of weapons to be able to face them. From what he knows, they are very fast, agile and lively werewolves, not hesitating to use the element of surprise to achieve their ends. They are very resistant, simple bullets are not enough to injure them. They will only ricochet off their skin, which seems to stiffen and solidify at the slightest impact.
These two parameters having been settled, all he has to do is find their territory and pay them a little surprise visit. Surely they must have been aware that he was released and must have acted accordingly. They will probably hide deep in their territory, too afraid to attack. But, perhaps they will attempt a frontal attack to impress, before retreating to their well-guarded hiding place. According to his research, some have children. Removing them would be an excellent means of pressure, although it risks triggering an extreme angry reaction.
Back in the pack's territory, the pack was preparing to leave. No need to pack, they won't really need a change of clothes. They're used to seeing each other naked, so it doesn't bother them as much as it used to. Simple backpacks are enough to carry what they need to take. Other than that, it's useless. If they want to eat, they will go hunting. If they want to drink, they will find a water point. And, it is obvious to say that their children will not follow them on this adventure. It is far too dangerous for them and they are still too young to participate in such a thing. They haven't really learned to fight yet.
Once again, Kurt was walking in circles, unsure of the situation. Although he was an Alpha, he never enjoyed having to fight, regardless of the reason. He always does his best to avoid fighting as much as possible, always preferring calm and reasoned dialogue. However, he knows that, in certain cases, dialogue is impossible. This is what happened with this hunter. No matter what arguments could be given to him, he refused to listen to reason and called for hatred. He went so far as to raise an army to eradicate the werewolves. He almost achieved his goal. He would have reached it if this Scott had not warned them and asked for their help. Besides, he must be aware of the situation and may not know how to handle it, too.
" I do not know what to do. We already beat him once, but it wasn't with blows. We only made it clear that he was speaking insanely and did not deserve attention. But here, he seems to want war and knowing the packs that live in this city, he is going to have it. They are lunar werewolves. They are more primitive and focused on aggression. Most prefer to attack before arguing. So when we get there, we're going to have to be really careful. Apart from the Alpha we saw, the other werewolves don't know us. They might mistake us for enemies and attack us. If this ever happens, let's try to be cordial and make them understand that we are not enemies."
The whole pack nodded, understanding the urgency of the situation and also its delicacy. Intervening in the territory of other werewolves, especially lunar ones, is always a risky thing. This corresponds to an intrusion and they will surely attack them to repel them. Although everyone gave some sort of approval, some were still doubtful, notably Puck. When he doesn't like something, he doesn't hesitate to say it.
" Yeah, that's it. Go tell some primitive werewolves that we didn't come to invade them. They will definitely believe us. Or, and this is the most logical thing, they will slit our throats as soon as we enter their home. If they are primitive, it is because they behave more savagely than us and they will not hesitate to shed blood! ".
"No, they're not going to do that, especially if we're discreet. Primitive doesn't mean they're going to act like savages and disembowel us as soon as they see us. It's just that they are sensitive to the full moon and that they have behaviors that are similar to those of the first werewolves, that's all. Yes, they are more aggressive, but we are stronger than them. If they know what a pack we are, it would never occur to them to fight us. But, if that happens, it's up to us to show them that we are much stronger than them."
Still unsure, Puck nodded anyway, not wanting to continue arguing. He'll see when they get there. If they are stronger than these primitive werewolves, passing through their territory should not pose a problem. And, if they have a problem, it will be resolved quickly.
Once all the technical details were taken care of, the pack left for the Philadelphia airport. Their flight will last a few hours, which will allow them to rest. Once they land in Los Angeles, they will head straight to Beacon Hills, not wanting to wait for the situation to escalate. Once there, they will have to search and find the headquarters of this hunter, in order to bring him down for good.
After several flights and runs, the pack finally arrived at Beacon Hills. They found the town quite quiet, with no one in the streets. The climate of fear that was established five years ago does not seem to have returned, although it is entirely possible that it is present without being detectable. Deciding to inspect the forest first, the pack left the deserted streets of the city. The place they are looking for must be there and must, surely, be very well protected. There are surely traps everywhere. It's up to them to find and outsmart them, showing this hunter that they're not as stupid as he thinks. A werewolf isn't stupid. Sometimes it's even smarter than a human, although some aren't very bright.
In the forest, nothing particular stood out. No wild animals, no hidden traps or hunters lurking in the bushes. Everything seems calm, although this surely hides a dark reality. Smells of gunpowder could be felt, showing that firearms had been used not long ago. Some hunters, apprentices, have to use the forest as a hunting and training ground, which explains these smells of gunpowder. However, aconite odors are also present, surely indicating one or more cultures of these toxic plants. These are deadly plants for the vast majority of werewolves, except for those in their pack, as they are immune to them.
Indeed, all members of Kurt and Aria's pack are immune to all poisons used to kill or mortally wound werewolves. So they can fight hunters without fear of dying. The same goes for their healing ability, which is much greater than that of other werewolves. As soon as they have an injury, it heals within a second, allowing them to return to combat without having to wait. Thanks to these increased abilities, they can fight almost continuously, without feeling any fatigue or pain.
Continuing its walk in the forest, the pack stopped when it heard a suspicious noise. They heard leaves crunching, a sign that someone is nearby and walking in their direction. There are very few marked paths in this forest and they are all located near the entrance, to prevent walkers from getting lost. Where they are is quite far from the entrance, so it can't be walkers. There is certainly the possibility that it was walkers who got lost, but it is very small. These must surely be hunters looking for prey, and they are certainly not hunting deer or wild boars.
Kurt raised his hand, deciding to get the attention of the entire pack, so that they would all be on their guard. Aria looked around, spotting noises that could indicate the person's direction. Hearing the footsteps, there is only one person who is not heavily armed. They will be able to control it quite easily and prevent it from doing more harm than it has already done. After a brief consultation, Kurt and Aria decided to send Spencer, Emily, Hanna and Alison, because their speed will allow them to attack effectively. Of course, instructions were given to them, including not to kill under any circumstances and to be very careful. This could very well be a trap.
Once the order was given, they went directly in the direction where the footsteps were coming from. Taking their wolf form to go faster, Spencer guided their small group. She is the most strategist and best able to manage the situation. In this case, it is the mastery of a hunter. Once this is done, they will be able to interrogate him and find out where their headquarters is and, thus, attack him.
Meanwhile, Derek was walking in the forest. Doing this from time to time does him a lot of good and allows him to let off steam. He doesn't care about attacking a deer. In addition, it allows him to eat as much as he wants and when he wants to. Few people know he does this and he doesn't want it to be known either. Everyone has their own little hidden rituals and so does he.
However, while walking, he heard suspicious noises and immediately put himself on guard. Since Gérard Argent's release, Scott's entire pack had been on alert, ready to attack at the slightest suspicious noise. So, for Derek, hearing someone, other than him or someone from the pack, running in the forest is not normal. Groaning, he began to run in the direction of the noise. Analyzing it, he realized that it was a group of four people, probably heavily armed.
Spencer, at the head of the group, felt a scent coming closer, so she slowed down to take the time to analyze. The others did the same and tensed when they saw a tall man with bright blue eyes coming towards them. He had fangs and claws, a sign that he too is a werewolf. However, he didn't seem friendly at all. He was growling and wanted to attack them for some unknown reason.
Emily was the first to return to her human form, wanting to talk with this man and find out the reason for his aggression towards them. Derek stopped short when he discovered four large wolves who transformed into young girls. They were no older than Scott, but seemed fiercer. It's the first time he's seen werewolves capable of doing this and he wonders what else they are capable of doing. Seeing one of them approaching, he decided to start a discussion. He wants to know what they are doing here.
"Okay, girls, who are you? And above all, what are you? Werewolves? Because this is the first time I've seen people like you. Few people know how to transform into a wolf. In fact, only those who are in full harmony with their animal side, their wolf side, are capable of that."
"Maybe for you, but not for us. We are non-lunar werewolves, we are naturally capable of doing this. We don't need harmony or anything else. Besides, we have mastered another form, in addition to this one, but we don't want to undress to show it to you. Just tell us why you were aggressive."
"Because I thought you were hunters. The city is full of them, so you better get the hell out of here and quickly, if you don't want your head on the end of a spear."
"Cool, it's precisely the hunters we're looking for. Besides, we also thought you were one. Our Alphas heard a suspicious noise and sent us to investigate. We'll be able to tell them we found another werewolf. And, you who know the region so well, you will be able to guide us."
Groaning again, Derek nodded weakly and agreed to follow them. He didn't want to at all, but talking with the Alphas would be interesting. A pack led by two Alphas is not at all common, if not impossible. Also, why would an unknown pack be looking for werewolf hunters. Derek is not the Alpha of the Beacon Hills pack, but having information for Scott is significant. He must be informed of the arrival of an unknown and possibly rival pack.
While taking the path back to the pack, Hanna stepped into a bear trap hidden in some dead leaves. She opened it with a single movement and threw it further. As she did so, she noticed a small red dot on her chest and ducked down before the dart could hit it. She let out a powerful warning howl, so that the pack would hear her and come and help them. They were attacked by hunters and the werewolf they found quickly found itself overwhelmed. He slashed his claws in the air, never reaching his target.
Spencer watched him do it and decided to go help him. He had been shot and didn't seem to be healing. However, when she went to help him, she also walked into a trap hidden under some dead leaves. However, unlike Hanna, she did not have time to remove it, because someone came and hit her in the head with the butt of his gun. Less than a second later, she felt a damp tissue applied to her mouth and nose. It only took a second for her to recognize the smell of chloroform and immediately fell asleep. Indeed, chloroform is the only product capable of sedating the werewolves of the original pack.
Meanwhile, Kurt and Aria were worried about the time they were taking to check on the situation. The moment they heard Hanna's distressed howl, they rushed in her direction, the entire pack following them. It was clear that they had been attacked and needed help.
Arriving at the scene of the attack, all Kurt and Aria found were bear traps thrown aside. The spikes had slight traces of blood, a sign that someone had stepped on them. There were also white handkerchiefs littering the floor. Curious, Finn picked one up and smelled it. He almost passed out, so he put it down straight away. Kurt went to analyze it and realized that it was chloroform. The hunters found them and removed them. They think, surely, that they have an asset to beat them, that they will be able to reveal the position of the pack, but this is not the case. Torturing them will do no good, because, like all members of the pack, they do not feel pain. So, if the hunters want to make them talk, they will have to be more ingenious.
What else they noticed was the scent of another werewolf, who seemed to have managed to escape. Indeed, there are only four handkerchiefs and not five, which suggests that he fled. No werewolf hunter would accept having one in their ranks, even as a diversion and advantage. So the other werewolf who was there must know what happened. It is therefore imperative to find him, so that he can explain himself and help them find them.
Further away, Derek ran as fast as he could, wanting to escape these hunters. He doesn't yet know how they managed to keep him from feeling them, but they succeeded. The wolves he found were kidnapped, and if their Alphas find out he was there and didn't do much to help them, he might get yelled at. After all, it's normal. An Alpha will always do anything to protect his pack and will resent anyone who fails to do so. And, in this case, it's two Alphas, who will be more than upset when they realize the situation.
Not bothering to think, Derek rushed into the center of Beacon Hills, towards the veterinary center to get treatment from it. Although he is a veterinarian, his medical knowledge is not limited to animals. He knows werewolves very well, their morphology as well as everything that can hurt them or be fatal to them. If a werewolf is injured, he goes to see him instead of going to a hospital.
After a few long minutes of running, Derek burst into the vet's waiting room. By now it should be closed, but it's not. Doctor Deaton always leaves a door open, in case a werewolf needs emergency treatment. He wasn't really surprised to see Derek walk through his door, but he still wondered what had happened to him. He took him to his examination room and began his examination directly. He quickly spotted the problem, namely a bullet which had lodged in his shoulder. With a few strokes of the scalpel, he removed it and sewed Derek up. Realizing that the bullet was covered in aconite, he decided to cauterize the wound using a small blowtorch, which he keeps expressly for this type of situation.
"It's a bullet that was covered in aconite, that's why I had to cauterize the wound. Now I would like you to explain to me what happened."
"I was in the forest, and I saw a group of four werewolves, girls. They could turn into wolves and, apparently, into something else too, but they didn't tell me. According to them, they were looking for werewolf hunters in the area. And, they told me that their Alphas would be interested in being guided by someone who knows the region well. Right after that, some hunters came upon us and I took this bullet. From what I know, the hunters took them away. I fled, I ran as fast as I could to avoid getting killed."
"Werewolves who know how to transform into wolves and who belong to a pack led by two Alphas? And, they master another form that you don't know? Don't say more, I know what they are."
"Yeah, they told me they're non-lunar werewolves. I've never heard of them, so they must be very rare."
"On the contrary, it is the most representative kind of werewolf of the species. But, the particularity of those you met is the fact that their pack is led by two Alphas. The only one like that is called the original pack. It is from her that all werewolves are descended, regardless of their gender or type. All werewolves owe them respect."
"So it's prime prey. I understand why the hunters attacked them. I guess they're looking for revenge."
"No, they are not vengeful at all. In fact, one of their golden rules is to try as much as possible to avoid killing, regardless of the context. Killing should only occur as a last resort. If they are in the region, it is because they want to rid us of the hunters present there. From memory, they had already come five years ago, but their pack was half as small as now."
At the end of Deaton's explanation, Derek nodded, understanding a little about who he was dealing with when he met them. He better understood their imposing stature, although they were still slender and agile. They were just highly respected werewolves among werewolves, but they didn't emphasize that point. In fact, they even seemed to ignore it, or they were very modest and did not want to see anyone bowing to them to show them respect.
At the same time, Emily wakes up, not knowing where she is at all. The place is lit by an old yellow lamp which does not allow her to correctly discern what is around her. She then decided to rely on her hearing as well as her sense of smell to know where she is. Smelling the room, she instantly recognized the scent of Spencer, Hanna, and Alison, indicating that they were there too. Apart from these first observations, she recognized nothing else and could not report her position to the pack. The place is enclosed and probably soundproof. Noticing that Spencer is the only one else awake, she decides to strike up a conversation to find out where they are.
"Hey, do you know where we are and what happened? I don't remember anything."
"I don't remember anything either. All I remember is that we were in the forest and we came across a guy, another werewolf and that was it. We must have been drugged, but I couldn't say with what."
While they were talking, a brighter light came on, dazzling them at the same time. An elderly man entered, followed by a younger woman who looked like him. Of course, recognition came immediately. This old man is none other than the leader of this group of hunters armed to the teeth. He does not seem to have lost his boastful and self-confident appearance and demeanor. And, he always spoke the same way, namely mocking, condescending and insulting. Moreover, he does not hesitate to comment on what he sees, especially to see their reaction. Spencer stood ready to respond and shoot him down.
"Four werewolves took at the same time, that's what I call a very good catch. In all the years I've been hunting, I've never had such a great catch. I should take a photo of it and frame it, but that's not the point."
"And what I want to frame is your insides at the end of my claws. But I imagine you won't like it."
"A fiery one from what I see, that's very good. This will make this interrogation all the more enjoyable."
As Gerard spoke, people were installing a large truck battery on the side and connecting the connections to the grid where they are attached. Indeed, an enormous grille ran along an entire wall and the hunters had tied them to it, their arms crossed above their heads. Since the metal conducts electricity, they used it to torture werewolves. Their goal through this, to make them suffer voluntarily and to obtain some information at the same time.
"Okay, we can get down to business. It is very simple. You give me the answers I want, and it stops. But, if you resist and persist in telling me nothing, the intensity will increase, as will your suffering."
"You're completely crazy, but we already knew that. And, oh yes, we don't feel the pain. So, electrocute us as much as you want, it will do absolutely no good."
Gerard watched as Spencer smiled. He didn't believe her for a second, so he didn't bother to wait and launched the first electric shock. As expected, none of the four flinched, a sign that they didn't feel anything at all. On the contrary, they smiled, displaying their fangs. They were smooth, but nevertheless very sharp, and measured, at least, five centimeters. A perfect size for cutting and slicing anything that goes underneath.
"So, still convinced that we feel something and that your little game does something to us?"
Gerard growled and increased the intensity, truly wanting to make them suffer and forgetting his main goal, which is to know where their pack is. Seeing them busy laughing and making fun of him irritated him to no end. So, to take revenge and show them his power, he wants to hurt them. He began to laugh out loud as he saw them utter slight moans of pain. But his laughter stopped when he realized that they were simulating him, just to make fun of him and his famous infallible techniques.
"How is it possible that electricity doesn't do anything to you? All werewolves are sensitive to it, to different levels of course, but sensitive nonetheless. So, I want you to explain to me what this devilry is."
"We don't really know ourselves, but that's how it is. We don't feel the pain, which really helps us in this kind of situation. So go ahead and continue if you like it that much."
"Werewolves who don't feel pain, that's new. You're not going to tell me that you heal quickly too."
"Yeah, that too. We heal instantly. If you don't believe us, try it and you'll see."
Unsure and not wanting to believe them, Gérard took the largest blade at his disposal and did not hesitate to pass it all along Emily's stomach, which healed directly. She didn't make any special effort for that. She just let it happen and saw his reaction. She wore a small smile, indicating that she is proud of herself and the reaction she provoked. She was even holding back from laughing, but she knows now is not the time.
Gérard looked at Emily's stomach, free of any marks of a knife. This is the first time he's seen a werewolf heal so quickly, and he doesn't know what to do. The only solution that came to mind was to confront them with something stronger than themselves, to see how they would fare. Not bothering to think more than that, he left the room and headed towards his office. Upon entering, he went to his computer and looked at the various surveillance cameras. He searched for a few seconds and found the part he wanted.
A man was locked in a small, poorly lit room. He seemed to have been there for a long time, as his clothes were dirty and had holes in them. He also had small scars, a sign that he had fought. The last thing you notice is his dull blue eyes. In the past they must have been brilliant, but they aren't anymore. He must have killed more than once to become a corrupted werewolf.
Satisfied that he was still able to fight, Gérard went to see him. Opening the door to this small room, he saw the man sitting against the back wall. He looked at him with eyes full of anger and rage. He got up and went to face her. He saw Gérard give him a paper with instructions written on it. Reading it, he understood that he would have to fight again, and against four girls. According to the information given, they were four werewolves from a large pack. They did not want to give their position and will have to pay the price. Never mind, he will take immense pleasure in killing them.