Archive of Our Own ^beta

In retrospect Nolan had no idea how his life had gotten to this point. He didn't want to be a hunter. As pointed out many times to him by people in Monroe's camp and Gerard he was the worst hunter they had. He didn't even like many of the things associated with it, especially the guns. The first time he picked one up he felt a swooping sensation in his stomach and his hands betrayed a continuous tremble. But ever since the discovery of werewolves and many other things that go bump in the night. He didn't know what else to do to stop being so afraid all the time.

It all started with summer counseling sessions with Monroe and from there he allowed himself to be slowly led to Gerard to then become a hunter in training.

"This is how you control the fear, Nolan and take back your life." She'd tell him while handing him a gun for target practice. "You can't let yourself become a victim. That's what they want."

His parents were rarely home often on business trips or out of the country, so all the new changes in his life went unnoticed. Not when he came home with rope burns, knife cuts, or excess gun powder.

At first he didn't think much of Gerard other than just an old man who used to be a hunter and was now mentoring Monroe. But he was finding out very quickly just how wrong he was.

Gerard was.....cruel.

Or maybe he was too soft like everyone said, but torturing for just torture sake or having no issue cutting down people he felt were hindering his cause made it seem like he chose the wrong side. Maybe he might just be safer with the monsters.

He was so deep in that Nolan didn't see any other way out that wouldn't end with him discreetly meeting his end as an example for the rest of the hunters. Even knowing Gabe who always tried to protect him was less comforting the longer time went on, as Gabe grew more and more frustrated with him.

"If you don't start pulling your weight they're going to think your only use is being monster bait. For fucks sake you better kill one of them soon or I'll shoot you myself. All the work I do for you and for what?" He hissed at him as the two walked to meet Monroe give a lesson on interrogation and werewolf abilities.

Now he had been finally given an ultimatum by Monroe and Gerard. Nolan had to kill a werewolf tonight and provide proof that said creature was dead, or he shouldn’t come back. Coming back without one was heavily implied would end one way as Gerard looked pointedly at a sawed in half werewolf corpse Nolan barely resisted retching, even if he felt himself paling.

So that's where he was on a Friday night wandering the just above freezing woods with only a crossbow for protection. A crossbow he still couldn't shoot straight for the life of him. A loud voice in the back of his head said there's no way this night was going to end well for him.

All the tracking and hunting lessons seemed far away from the forefront of his brain. And worst of all Nolan could barely see anything in the dark using his phone to continuously check the time and occasionally to see. It really shouldn't have come as any surprise, when he found himself stepping on a bear trap and ensnaring his leg. Nolan was pretty sure he screamed loud enough to wake the dead if zombies existed too.

He must have passed out from the pain, because he woke up on the ground extremely cold and leg still inside the metal jaws and bleeding sluggishly. The cold was likely slowing down the blood flow. At first he tried pulling it apart and kept it up for over an hour. Then he tried some sticks but they all broke upon being wedged inside the metal.

Glancing at his phone sadly he thought about who to call. His parents were out of the country. Gabe was out as helping Nolan would be putting himself at risk. Liam was definitely out as he thought about what they did to him a few weeks ago, same with Corey. No way would they want to help. That didn't really leave anyone left. He was new to lacrosse and didn't really have any other guys on the team's numbers. Nor did he really have any other friends apart from Gabe, if you even could call them friends.

His eyes were beginning to feel heavier, and some part of his brain that was still working helpfully chimed hypothermia. Maybe if he just closed his eyes for a second he could try uselessly fighting the bear trap again when he woke up.

Warmth was the first thought he had followed by distant voices he heard, as Nolan blearily drifted before curling in a tighter ball on whatever he was laying on.

"Sure you don't need any help with baby hunter over there? I can stay if you need me too."

"Go catch up with Aiden. I'll be fine. I already told Argent and Scott I'd keep them informed on what I find out today."

He heard them say goodbye before realization hit. He was in the home of a werewolf which meant he had to get out of here. They would kill him, once they found out who he was or worse torture him then kill him. He made an attempted breakaway that fell short in two steps as Nolan forgot about his leg and was caught as he cried out from the pain that caused before being placed back on the couch, while he recoiled back and tried not to hyperventilate.

"You need to calm down before you work yourself into a panic attack." The man sternly instructed, taking a few steps back to give him some breathing room. "Think about it, if I was going to hurt you would I have broken you out of the trap, brought you back to my loft, cleaned and bandaged your wound all for naught the minute you woke?"

That....made sense but still Nolan couldn't stop himself from shaking entirely.

"I.....don't understand." Nolan asked quietly. "What....do you want something from me?"

"Information." Was his response. This also made sense because if he didn't kill Nolan what other purpose would saving his life have.

"I don't know anything." He quickly and honestly replied. If this was going to be an interrogation. There wasn't going to be much he could share because no one shared much with him, even Gabe.

"I'm sure you can tell me something and bear in mind I can tell if you're lying." The man answered before changing positions and moving to take a seat on the coffee table in front of him. "First question, what were you doing last night with this?" Holding up Nolan's crossbow.

"Hunting," Nolan murmured. The man's face and demeanor screamed intimidating even if he wasn't trying.

"For?" In the tone of someone who already knew the answer.

His answer of werewolves was barely audible.

"Let me guess this was a test from Gerard for one of his new recruits? Kill a werewolf and you get to stay."

Nolan said nothing.

The man let out a loud and long sigh. "What's your name?"

Nolan felt his face shutter before shifting to confusion. "What?”

"What is. Your name. This will go easier for both of us if we have each other's names. My name is Derek."

"Nolan." Maybe if he caused a distraction he could escape shooting a fleeting glance to the door. The man caught the look raising an eyebrow but refrained from saying anything. His relaxed stance did nothing to put Nolan at ease. Not to mention he was like twice Nolan's size. His hands alone looked like they could effortlessly crush someone even without the use of claws.

"Alright Nolan what's a high school student like you doing mixed up with someone like Gerard? How did you even meet?"

"I," He gulped, taking a breath and then another. What was going to happen at the end of this interrogation. That thought alone was distracting and terrifying him more than the fact that Monroe and Gerard would kill him if they ever crossed paths again. "He's with Monroe. He was originally teaching her but now ssshhe leads him."

Derek snorted but his expression looked wry. "Gerard follows no one. If he's letting Monroe think that then she's a fool and a puppet who doesn't know who holds her strings."

Turning his attention back to Nolan he continued his questions. "How many followers does she currently have?"

"I...I, I don't know. Mmmaybbee 3 dozen? She seems to have more every meeting."

"What about the armory? What kinda weapons is she dealing out?"'

"I've never been there." He stressed feeling sweat beginning to break out and his leg started to throb. Nolan wasn't lying when he said no one shared anything with him other than a few basic things. "So other than crossbows and guns I don't know what else."

Derek leaned slightly closer causing Nolan to reflexively lean back, while Derek continued to hold his stare. "And where does she hold these meetings?"

"In a warehouse jjjjusstt by the docks just off of the bypass."

Sitting on that information for a second Nolan startled when Derek suddenly stood up and moved toward the kitchen. "Stay there for a sec while I make a call and some tea. You shouldn't put weight on your leg, and if you try to run I can just track you down."

Nolan forced himself to nod and didn't move, sinking slightly into the cushions feeling weary beyond his years. Just a few years ago he was a bright eyed freshman starting off at Beacon Hills whose only goal was making the lacrosse team, not failing out, and maybe meeting a nice girl. Now he was a senior caught between a supernatural war with enough anxiety and nightmares to last the rest of his life.

He didn't listen to the one sided conversation and didn't look up when a tea cup was placed before him. Nolan didn't want to drink it either, but his throat was dry and he was terribly thirsty. He couldn't help himself, draining the large cup in one go. Watching Derek take the cup away to bring back to the kitchen sink. Nolan felt his eyes growing heavier and heavier. His brain chimed one last time drugged at him.

"What...you...give me?" He slurred out sinking back onto the couch cushions knowing this was more than just exhaustion. He felt Derek gently adjusting him so he laid out flat, tugging the blanket back over him into place.

"Just a sleep aid it will wear off in a few hours and by that time Scott and the others will be here. I couldn't have you fighting me the entire time and risk injuring your leg worse."

He tried valiantly to stay awake but it was useless. He was tired, warm, and felt his pain draining away after a hand landed on his wrist.

"Go to sleep Nolan. You're safe and when you wake up we'll talk some more."

If there was more said Nolan couldn't say because in his next breath he was asleep. When the next time he opened his eyes, he found himself feeling better and staring at his former assistant coach sitting in Derek's place next to him on the coffee table and looking at him with shockingly warm compassionate brown eyes. Ones that couldn't be further from Gerard if they tried and Monroe who was getting to that point. Why was this side the one willing to go to bat for him?

"Hey Nolan." He began quietly. "How are you feeling?" And that surprisingly was enough to bite back tears and for his throat to immediately swell up trying to choke them down. Because even after everything he did and had happened that question sounded sincere.

He just nodded hoping that worked as an answer. It appeared to be because Scott continued.

"I asked the others to come a little later because I think we should talk but first I want my mom to take a look at your leg." Motioning to his bandage wrapped leg. "I'm sure Derek did a great job. He knows enough about patching up wounds, but my mom's a nurse and a second set of eyes never hurts."

It was like he was twisting the dagger in deeper with his words and didn't even realize it. "And then after that we should probably have you eat something I picked up two dozen doughnuts and cinnamon rolls for when everyone gets here. Derek said you haven't eaten anything, since he's brought you in so you're probably starving." And with that the dam finally broke, and Nolan was sobbing into his hands.

Feeling Scott move to sit next to him he didn't even say anything, just wrapped an arm around him and let him cry. It felt cathartic but at the same time exhausting, and he slumped against him eventually whispering. "Why don't you hate me? I don't get it."

"I don't, because I know you're afraid not only of me and others like me but also what we can do. You've seen the beast and been led to believe that you're protecting yourselves and others, because we're a danger to you right?"

Scott pulled back slightly to impress upon him. "Nolan I can't tell you that every supernatural creature isn't a danger. We've met some that are very dangerous, and some that have killed people. But whether you're human or supernatural I believe we define ourselves by the choices that we make. For example I didn't get to choose becoming a werewolf and neither did Liam. I only turned him in order to save his life. But now we have the chance to choose who we want to be, how we want to live, and how we affect those around us. Being one or the other doesn't make you superior or inferior."

He paused listening, as he could hear Nolan calming down. "I'm known as a true alpha werewolf. Do you know what that means?"

Nolan shook his head.

"It means that most werewolves usually have to kill an alpha, if they want to take their power and status. Or they were born with it, but in the case of true alphas that title can be earned if you prove to be worthy through the strength of your character. One thing that's very important to me is protecting those around me and to try and avoid taking lives." He let out a sigh looking at the ground. "I don't like the idea of war, and I've done everything in my power to try to end it before it's started, but....I've accepted that's where it's going to lead. So the question I'm going to ask you is where do you want to be when it starts?"

At this point he didn't even need to think it over, because it felt like the first right decision in a while. "I um yours that is....if you want a pale terrified human who can't shoot straight then yes yours."

A small smile stretched across Scott's face. "I'll see that and raise you one other pale brilliant human who's only defense is a bat and sarcasm. You'll meet him later today."