The Hunter’s Trap

The escape from the warehouse was swift, but the tension lingered in the air like a storm waiting to break. Scott, Derek, Stiles, and Lydia moved quickly through the woods, the cold night air biting at their skin. Scott's senses were still heightened from the fight—every rustle of leaves, every snap of a branch felt like another threat lurking in the shadows. The power inside him was still surging, raw and untamed, but he kept it in check for Lydia's sake.

They made their way back to Scott's house, where they regrouped in the living room. Scott's mom was working the night shift at the hospital, so the house was empty, giving them space to breathe and plan.

Lydia sat on the couch, pale but composed, her arms crossed tightly around herself. "I still don't understand why they took me," she said, her voice trembling slightly despite her best effort to stay calm. "Why me? I'm not… like you guys."

Scott exchanged a glance with Derek. They both knew there was something different about Lydia, something they couldn't quite explain yet. But now wasn't the time to dive into that mystery.

"They're targeting people connected to us," Derek said, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed. "It's a message. They're trying to draw us out. To get to Scott."

Scott clenched his fists, anger flaring inside him. "I won't let them hurt anyone else. We need to find out who's behind this and stop them."

Stiles, who had been pacing nervously, finally spoke up. "But how do we do that? It's not like we can just Google 'vampire covens near Beacon Hills.'"

Derek looked grim, his jaw tightening. "We need more information. And I know where to get it."

Scott frowned, already anticipating Derek's answer. "You're thinking of going to the Argents, aren't you?"

Derek nodded. "They're hunters. If anyone knows about vampires in the area, it's them."

At the mention of the Argents, Lydia tensed. "You can't trust them, Derek. Not all of them, anyway."

Scott's thoughts immediately went to Allison, his heart twisting. He hadn't spoken to her since the discovery of her family's secret—since learning that her father was part of a family of ruthless hunters. And now, asking for their help seemed like a dangerous move.

Stiles voiced what Scott was thinking. "Are you crazy? Going to the Argents is like asking to be shot with silver bullets! If they find out about Scott being a hybrid—"

"I'll take care of that," Derek cut in, his tone firm. "They don't know what Scott is, and we need to keep it that way. But right now, they're the best lead we have."

Scott stood up, pacing the room. The last thing he wanted was to involve Allison's family. But he couldn't ignore the fact that they might have answers. Vampires weren't a common threat in Beacon Hills—if the Argents had intel, they couldn't afford to pass it up.

"I'll talk to Allison," Scott said after a moment of silence. His voice was firm, despite the inner turmoil he felt. "I'll ask her if she knows anything without raising suspicion."

Derek studied him for a second, then nodded. "Fine. But be careful. The last thing we need is the Argents turning their attention to us."

Scott agreed, his mind already racing with how he'd approach Allison. But before they could get too far into the discussion, there was a loud knock on the door.

Everyone froze. Scott's enhanced senses immediately kicked into high gear, picking up the faint scent of someone familiar. It wasn't a vampire—but it was still a threat.

"It's your dad," Scott whispered, his heart sinking as he recognized the scent of Agent McCall.

Stiles cursed under his breath. "Great. Just what we needed."

Scott motioned for the others to stay quiet as he moved toward the door, cracking it open just enough to see his father standing on the porch, his face set in a stern expression.

"Dad," Scott said, forcing calm into his voice. "It's late. What's going on?"

Agent McCall didn't waste time with pleasantries. "There's been a string of unusual attacks in town, Scott. I wanted to check in with you. Make sure you and your friends aren't involved."

Scott swallowed hard, trying to keep his expression neutral. "We're fine. What kind of attacks?"

"Violent, but no clear suspects. Some people have gone missing, others have turned up with strange injuries. The police are stumped." Agent McCall's gaze sharpened, his instincts as an FBI agent kicking in. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about this, would you?"

Scott's heart raced. He knew exactly what his dad was talking about, but there was no way he could tell him the truth—not without dragging his dad into the supernatural world.

"No," Scott lied smoothly. "We don't know anything."

Agent McCall studied him for a moment longer, as if trying to read between the lines. Finally, he nodded, though his eyes still held suspicion. "Alright. But if you hear anything, if you see anything unusual, I need you to tell me. People's lives could be in danger."

Scott forced a tight smile. "Got it, Dad."

With one last lingering glance, Agent McCall turned and walked back to his car. Scott closed the door with a sigh of relief, turning to face the others.

"That was too close," Lydia said quietly, her face pale. "What if he finds out?"

"He won't," Scott assured her. But deep down, he knew his father was a persistent man. If the attacks continued, it was only a matter of time before Agent McCall started connecting the dots.

"We need to move fast," Derek said, breaking the tension. "Before more people get hurt. Scott, go talk to Allison tomorrow. Stiles, see if you can dig up any information on recent vampire activity—anything unusual in the area."

Stiles saluted sarcastically. "Aye, aye, Captain."

The plan was set. They would move carefully, gathering intel while keeping their true natures hidden from both the Argents and the authorities. But Scott knew that time wasn't on their side. The vampires were getting bolder, and if they were willing to kidnap Lydia, there was no telling who they'd come for next.

---

The next day, Scott made his way to school with a knot of tension in his stomach. As he walked through the crowded hallways, he spotted Allison at her locker, her usual bright smile absent, replaced by a thoughtful frown.

Scott approached cautiously, trying to act casual despite the weight of the conversation he was about to have. "Hey, Allison."

She turned, her expression softening when she saw him. "Hey, Scott. What's up?"

Scott hesitated for a moment, then plunged ahead. "I've been hearing some weird stuff around town—about attacks and people going missing. Do you… know anything about it? Like, has your dad mentioned anything?"

Allison's brow furrowed, and for a second, Scott worried he'd pushed too far. But then she sighed and shook her head. "My dad's been on edge lately. He didn't tell me much, but I overheard him talking to one of his hunters. They're tracking something… different."

Scott's pulse quickened. "Different how?"

Allison glanced around, lowering her voice. "He said it wasn't like werewolves or anything they've dealt with before. He didn't say the word, but it sounded like he was talking about vampires."

Scott's heart pounded in his chest. "Vampires?"

Allison nodded. "Yeah. I didn't believe it at first either, but he seemed serious. He's been gearing up for something big."

Scott swallowed hard, realizing that things were moving faster than they thought. The Argents were already on the vampires' trail—and if they weren't careful, Scott and his pack could get caught in the crossfire.

"Thanks, Allison," Scott said, trying to keep the tension out of his voice. "Just… be careful, okay? I don't want you getting hurt."

Allison smiled softly, reaching out to touch his arm. "You too, Scott. Promise me you'll stay out of whatever this is. I know my dad can be… intense, but he's just trying to keep people safe."

Scott nodded, though he knew that staying out of it wasn't an option. Not when the vampires were hunting him and his friends. But he couldn't tell Allison that—not yet.

As the school day wore on, Scott's mind raced with the new information. The Argents were gearing up for a vampire war, and Scott was caught right in the middle. The only question now was whether he could stay ahead of both the vampires and the hunters—or if the inevitable battle would swallow them all