Archive of Our Own ^beta

If only they knew how wrong they were.
Everyone said it was childish. They spoke of safety and a lack of danger. Claims nothing bad would happen . . .
Lies.
To tell a child there was no need to fear the dark was cruel. Insensitive. The mere decision to foster a lie that could very well prove fatal was unforgivable. How could a person set someone so young up for such false hope? How could they pretend the world wasn’t a place of vicious torment? To declare the dark ‘harmless’ was the worst lie anyone could tell.
Darkness. The very personification of evil. It lured unsuspecting victims into a never-ending abyss of heartache; no good ever came of walking around at night or in an unlit room.

There was a time where he fell prey to the same lies, the same deception, and he resented that above all else. He was led to believe he would be safe. That nothing could hurt him. He grew up for a few years believing they would protect him, instead, three masked strangers entered his room in the middle of the night. What was supposed to be his home, his safe haven, was invaded. He was manipulated into following their lead, blind to the ensuing repercussions. Unaware of the torture and pain, the loneliness and fear that lay in his future, he walked out of his house, kidnapped without a moment’s notice.

His parents were supposed to protect him. They’d sworn no one would hurt him, and yet, they slept peacefully in their bed, one door down from his, while he was convinced to kill his sister. He was subjected to the shadows that lurk behind closed eyes. A witness to the truth. His parents failed him. Their rose-coloured view of the world never did him any favours. It just left him vulnerable to attack. He remained unprepared and susceptible, in turn, leading to a life of horror.

The receding sunset was not ‘beautiful’. It was not a sight to be admired, but rather a warning. One chance to return home, lock your doors and turn on every light within reach. A sign with only one meaning.
Hide.
It is not better to waste away in ignorance. Innocence is temporary, knowledge valuable. To know what lay outside those four walls, and of the monsters who hid within the shadows, those who would invade one’s home at any given moment, would have offered protection. A means of shielding himself. Was it not better to be a knight in battle than a pawn in someone else’s game?
When faced by mortality, one does not track the predator. A person does not lie in wait. If staring down the barrel of a gun, one does not smile or greet the owner.
You run.

Don’t stray from the light—it’ll only leave you fighting for survival. A fight no one ever won. To make it through the night and live to see another day, one must maintain that precious element. Savour its presence. Bottle the promise of life, feed it without fault. Lamps, bulbs, electricity . . . Anything to recreate the sun’s warmth, anything to keep the darkness out.
It was a person’s only hope.

He was used to it. A constant in his daily routine. He didn’t blink at the use of power, or the fact he required a lamp to sleep. It was a basic need. Long since had he pushed the habit to the back of his mind. There was only one problem. As much as he was trying, he couldn’t find peace. Why, you ask? It might have something to do with the infuriating beta who wouldn’t leave him alone.
Liam stood outside asking to be let in. Oh, how he would love to ignore the beta. How he would have loved to pretend he was still alone and that there wasn’t an irritating toddler at his front door. Believe him, he’d tried. Tonight really brought Liam’s age into question because only a two-year-old would whine about being left on the porch. On one hand, he knew it was dark.  On the other, he wasn’t the one stupid enough to go outside.

This wasn’t his fault, nor was he obligated to allow the idiot in. Let the beta stew. Maybe a little cold would knock some sense into that thick skull. Nothing would have changed . . . if it weren’t for the insufferable beta threatening to stand there all night. That in itself, wasn’t too bad. It was what followed that made him see red.
Liam had every intention of following through on the threat, and when he still refused to respond, the beta begun the intolerable torture of a tone deaf rendition of ‘Cotton-Eyed Joe’.
Hence, why he was currently trapped in his room, screaming into a mattress. He hated it. Pillow pressed firmly over his head, he risked both suffocation and nightmare-riddled sleep, all for the hope of shutting out that incessant song. He groaned as the repetitive, maddening lyrics cut through the fabric. Cruel and unusual punishment. It was the only explanation.

“Stop!” His shout went unheeded—the beta never missed a beat. “Liam!” All he wanted was to be left alone. A quiet night in. Locked within the walls of his house. Was that too much to ask?
Eyes screwed shut, claws tearing through soft material, teeth ground tight. A growl slipped out, and he was starting to question his ‘no murder’ rule. Scott would understand. Anyone would snap after hearing if it hadn't been for cotton-eyed Joe for the twentieth time in a row. One couldn’t deem it murder; not when preforming a service to the people. An act of mercy to anyone with ears.

“Liam! Stop singing!” A permanent hole had been drilled in his sanity. He would never forget this torture. Maybe he was doing this wrong. Maybe it shouldn’t be him, but rather Liam he suffocated. You can’t sing with a pillow stifling your breath. If he just knocked the beta out . . . No. This was Liam. He wouldn’t put it passed the beta to find a way.
“Shut up!”
There were only so many times a person could hear that song without losing their mind . . . and Liam was on the thirty-second verse. Thirty-two! It was at the point he was considering slamming his head against the wall. Anything to drown out the agonising loop of:
If it hadn't been for cotton-eyed Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from? Where did you go?
Where did you come from, cotton-eyed Joe?

Nothing worked. Nothing he said made Liam stop. The only way to end the suffering was the give in and admit defeat. In one sharp motion, he pushed off the bed, pillow discarded in a fit of rage. Every step hit the floorboards with a vicious force, one the beta would have heard even without supernatural hearing. Even now, Liam didn’t let up. The continued squeal of where did you come from? Where did you go? driving him closer towards throwing Liam out a window.
Let’s see the idiot sing with a broken back.
A second later, the door opened to an arrogant smirk. The singing ceased in a blessed moment of respite. Liam didn’t wait for his agreement before turning to walk in, only to be stopped by his immediate step forward. Arms crossed, he refused to budge. This was his house. He wouldn’t be ordered around.
“I don’t remember inviting you in.”

“Since when has that stopped me?” Liam said without hesitation. “I don’t need permission.”
“You do if you want to come into my house.”
“You’re at mine all the time. I’m returning the favour.”
He was not over at the Geyer’s house a lot. The only time he’d gone was when the Pack meetings were held there, and the occasional study session. All this time and he was still being used by the Pack. His knowledge of the Supernatural wasn’t the only part that could be accessed. Liam wanted his knowledge of science as well, under the specific instructions ‘he could not afford to fail biology’. How Liam could say otherwise without batting an eye was unbelievable. The little shit actually thought it was right to demand entrance. “I never asked to come over. Nor did you for that matter.”
“Formalities.”

“A Pack meeting is hardly a social call.” He huffed at the raised eyebrow he received. “It’s the middle of the night.”
“Theo,” Liam sighed. He didn’t miss the dry tone or the eye roll. “Seven PM is not late. Don’t blame me because you’re socially inept.”
Oh, that does it. “Go home.”
“Don’t even think about it.” Liam’s outstretched hand caught the door before it could close. He could, of course, lock the beta out without batting an eye despite the minimal weight, but the foot lodged in the doorway presented a challenge.
“Move.”
“No.”
“Get out of the way, Liam, before I tear it off.” He wouldn’t be manipulated into breaking. He had enough dignity to know no one was entitled to demand entry into his house. When the beta made no attempt to respect his decision, he snapped. “You don’t see me breaking into your home.” The eye roll in response was downright rude.

“If I wanted to break in, I would have smashed a window. This was too much fun to pass up. I’ll never tire of annoying you.”
If looks could kill, Liam would have paid dearly for that comment. There was no choice. Not if he wanted to end this conversation any time soon, and despite his earlier thoughts, Scott wouldn’t accept murdering Liam as a solution. He’d earn a one-way ticket to his former underground prison.
“Hurry up before I change my mind.” Ignoring the smug grin, he stepped aside for Liam to pass, eyes roaming the pitch black street. Securing the lock, a heavy breath brushed his lips, and he turned . . . to find the beta’s retreating figure halfway down the hall. Great. Curious puppy that Liam was, he was bound to babysit the little shit, lest Liam break anything. This was after all Liam’s first time here. No one had been over yet.
No one had asked.

Trudging behind, thoughts of escape played through his mind. It might be too late to ignore the idiot, but he could still knock the beta out. Tie Liam up. It wouldn’t be hard. He had everything he needed. Ropes, duck tape, mountain ash. It was better to be prepared for anything than find yourself missing a vital tool when facing an enemy. Sure, the beta would wake screaming, but that was easily solved.
Socks made for the perfect gag.
Before he could entertain the possibility of going through with the plan, Liam opened a door to the left and walked in. The same one leading to his bedroom. A room that was supposed to be his, and that to this day had remained undisturbed by the Pack. Yet, sure enough, nothing was beyond reason when it came to Liam. He found the beta standing in the middle of his room, looking around as if having stumbled upon Wonderland.

“I can’t believe I’m actually in your bedroom.”
A single huff was all he had to say. This was ridiculous. Why did he ever agree to let Liam step foot inside? He should have threatened to kick the idiot off his porch and be done with it, but oh no. He had to welcome Liam in, reluctant or not. This was his punishment.
“Is that a microscope?” Liam stepped forward, hand extended towards the device, stopping just short of tracing the lens. Confusion filled the beta’s gaze, taking in his hand locked firmly around Liam’s arm.
“Lay a finger on it and I’ll cut it off.”
“What’s your problem?” Liam snapped, pulling the arm free, rubbing the skin where he may have pressed a little harder than necessary. “I was just looking.”
“It’s mine.”
“I never said it wasn’t.” Liam huffed. “It’s just interesting. Why are you so possessive over it? It’s not a million dollars.”

Nostrils flaring, arms crossed. Of course, Liam didn’t understand. The beta grew up with a sense of security. A roof overhead and a warm bed every night. He, on the other hand, knew what it was like to not have that security. For months, he knew how it felt to be homeless and live in his truck. He was used to having almost no money. More often than not, he’d gone without the basic essentials. He knew what it was like to go without. One week in particular was draining. The week where he’d had nothing to eat. Functioning on the little he managed to scrounge up on a good day, meant he was already weak. Take that away, and he was nearly unconscious by the end of the week. So, no. It might not be a million dollars, but it was one of the only items he could afford.

Nineteen-years-old, a year after his resurrection, and he finally had a job. It wasn’t much, but it paid well. Enough that he could rent a house near the outskirts of Beacon Hills, and for the first time in a long time, sleep in the safety of a comfortable bed. With most of his money going towards bills and the simple pleasures of a blanket that wasn’t threadbare and falling apart, there wasn’t much left over for luxuries.
The microscope was the only one he’d been able to save for, and he wouldn’t allow anything to happen to it. If that meant being seen as overprotective, he was fine with that.
“I said don’t touch it.” It was his house. His rules. No one could decide for him.
“Don’t get your panties in a knot.” Liam said, pouting for a moment before letting those blue eyes glance around the bare space.

Deep breath. One punch. Just one. It was only fair after being accused of being emotional. He did not take lightly to the implication he couldn’t control himself. In just a few seconds, he could be restraining an unconscious beta to a chair and locking the idiot in his closet. An hour or two spent in the narrow space should make Liam rethink turning up unannounced. Better yet, he might just leave the beta there all night.
“Where is the rest of your stuff?”
Give him strength. “I don’t have any. Now, get out.”
“What do you mean you don’t have any? There’s nothing here other than your microscope and a bed.”
“Keen observation skills, Dunbar.”
“Lose the sarcasm. I’m serious. Why haven’t you bought anything else?”
Liam wasn’t giving up. There was no way around the conversation. He may as well answer and get it over with. “Seeing as I would need money for that, I don’t have a choice. I’d rather pay for the house and avoid being kicked out.”

“Surely, you can spare a little to buy yourself-”
“I don’t know about you,” he interrupted, “but I’m not interested in living in my truck again.”
Liam froze. Gaze wide. He was met with shock and an open mouth stare. An inability to form words despite the constant movement of lips—Liam couldn’t wrap that brain around . . . something. What, he had no idea. It wasn’t that surprising he’d like to keep his house.
“Wha-wha . . .” A stuttered attempt at speech escaped, and it was at least a little entertaining. “What do you mean ‘again’?”
And just like that, the amusement was gone. Thinking back to his previous remarks, he cursed his stupidity. It was a slip—a vital one. An admission he’d never intended to make. “Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me, Theo.” Liam snapped, shock giving way to anger. “When did you live in your truck?”
“I’m not-”
“Answer the question!”

Arms crossed, he huffed. One mistake and he was subjected to an interrogation. “From the second you brought me back.”
“What?!” Liam couldn’t look any more ridiculous. Anyone would think the beta was ready to explode at the drop of a hat.
“Where did you think I lived? I didn’t exactly have a job or money. It’s not like you or the Pack were offering me a place to stay.” The truth was he wouldn’t have accepted even if they had. Not after everything he’d done. Not after the decision to send him to that prison. He would not allow them to have that control over him again. He would not be that vulnerable a second time. Sleep would be impossible, worse than it was now.
How could he sleep knowing the people who sentenced him to a fate worse than death were waiting down the hall? He may have formed a tentative ally status with the Pack, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t take the opportunity to be free of him. Waking up in the middle of the night to find himself being dragged under was not an enticing offer.
“You were homeless and you never told us?!” Liam shouted. “I would have helped!”

Lying is one issue, but ignoring a previous comment when making such a lie was infuriating. He knew the truth. Liam was acting as though he were too stupid to realise. “No one would have cared, including you, Liam. You wouldn’t have blinked an eye or lost a night’s sleep over me, or did I imagine the entire ‘whatever happened to you down there, you deserved it’ speech?”
“I- I was wrong.” Liam’s anger faded, regret and guilt radiating off the beta in waves.
“You don’t say.” He wasn’t in the mood. All he wanted was to be left alone and not taunted about his prior living situations. “I never would have guessed that Liam Dunbar could be wrong. Someone alert the news.”
“Theo, I would have helped. No matter what I said. I never would have let you stay in your truck. It’s not okay on an ordinary day, but it’s Beacon Hills . . . Anyone could have found you. The hunters-”

“Don’t you think I know, Liam? It was my life. I’m the one who was shot at. I’m the one who didn’t have to worry about what I’d eat for dinner, or what video game to play next, and you know why? I was too busy running from hunters and trying to find a safe place to sleep. I’m not one of your projects, Liam. I didn’t deserve your help before, so don’t pretend now. I’m fine with it. I don’t need it, but don’t come in here and pretend like you care now.”
“I never knew, Theo! You never told us!”
“Why would I?! I’m not going to waste my breath when I already know the answer!” Arguing about this was far from how he wanted to spend the night, but he wasn’t given a choice. As usual, the beta had a different plan, and he had to go along with it, whether he liked it or not.
“I would have helped! Theo, I never would have left you there.”
Gaze narrowed, a growl passed his lips.
“I’m not cruel.” Liam pressed.
Lies. More lies. His fist connected with the beta’s jaw, a loud crack following. His knuckles bled. Breathing laboured, growls piercing the tension like a knife.

“What the Hell?!”
“You’re not innocent!” He was furious. How dare Liam cry victim? How dare the beta claim to be a helpless bystander? “The entire McCall Pack are worse than I ever was!”
“Bullshit.” Liam hissed. “We are nothing like you were.”
“You said you should have left me in the ground! You threatened to use me as bait! You threatened to send me back!” Passed the point of control, he snapped. Yelling was not unreasonable given the circumstances. Liam was intruding. He would not be made to feel like a villain in his own home. It wasn’t fair.
“That was at the start.”
“Oh, my bad. How insensitive of me. I should have known you wouldn’t want to be reminded of the time you actively attacked me. What was I thinking? Who was I to think that I was wronged? It’s not like being told you belong in an eternal torture chamber is hurtful.”

“Stop being so dramatic.”
“How is that not cruel?!” He screamed, arms thrown up. “How can you stand there and ignore everything you said? How can you pretend you care when you never wanted me to be free? If you had the chance, you’d send me back without a second thought. Who cares what happened to me, right? I’m just a murderous, evil chimera.”
“I hated you. We all did.”
“Nice, Dunbar.” He spat, jaw tense. Fist clenched at his side. “Remind me, how is this supposed to convince me you care?”
Liam had done nothing but lie tonight, and he wanted it to stop. What should have been a relatively quiet night had derailed into yet another argument. It was tiring.
“It’s no secret, Theo.” Liam huffed. “I didn’t trust you. Of course, I questioned the need for your assistance, and you know what? I did want to send you back.”

He flinched, small enough that it remained unnoticed. Liam was too concerned with berating him and reminding him why he didn’t deserve to be here to pay attention to such a subtle detail.
“After all the pain you put us through, it seemed only fair that you experience your own.”
He swallowed, pushing the rising nausea down. It might be true, and while he knew beforehand, it still cut deep. Every word opened old wounds.
“Hell was the perfect place for that.” Liam said, ignoring the sharp sting it carried. “You gave me no reason to believe a word you said, let alone  help you. So yes, Theo. I wanted to send you back. I wanted nothing more than to watch you beg for your freedom. The same freedom you stole from everyone you led to the Dread Doctors, everyone you killed. I figured it was the least you deserved.”

“Well, if that’s how you feel, then you can go home.” His voice sounded automated, emotionless even to him. As much as Liam’s thoughts had ripped open his many scars, he would not let Liam see. “I’m not interested in hearing your opinion of me or how much you wish I was dead.”
“Don’t you understand?”
“Obviously not.” Arms crossed, he stood back, ensuring a safe distance remained between himself and Liam. He refused to stand too close in case . . . A shiver threatened to expose the true affect the beta’s intentions had on him, but he forced it down. “Enlighten me.”
“That was when you first returned. All I knew was the manipulative, power hungry version of you who tried to tear apart my Pack.” Liam pushed. “I know better now. I’ve seen how you’ve helped us. I’ve seen you risk your own life for me time and time again. Without you, we might not have been able to defeat the Ghost Riders or Monroe and the hunters. You could have run. It would have been easy to leave without a word, start anew somewhere else, but you didn’t. You stayed.”

“What’s your point?”
“Theo, I watched you take Gabe’s pain. I saw how much you wanted to ease his pain, and you did. Even after he shot you and tried to kill us.”
His gaze fell, eyes locked on the ground beneath his feet, he let his mind process the beta’s speech. Did Liam . . . Did Liam mean what he thought he meant?
“You’ve changed, Theo.”
His heart threatened to stutter under the unexpected admission. He never imagined he’d hear those words. A slow breath out, and he steeled his mind against the sudden influx of emotions. The last thing he needed right now was for Liam to know just how much he’d needed to hear that.
“I want to help.”
“I managed on my own.” It was a struggle to maintain a neutral tone. His chemo-signals and heartbeat rioting within and threatening to expose him. “I found a job. I make enough money to pay rent, and I can finally afford to buy the essentials. I didn’t need my hand held then, and I don’t need a babysitter now, Dunbar.”

“I never said you did.”
“You sure about that?” Eyebrow raised, an open challenge. The assumption was there in the beta’s insistence that he couldn’t take care of himself, whether Liam specifically stated it or not.
“For someone who claims they don’t need a babysitter, you certainly act like you do.”
He was so close to throwing caution to the wind and just tying the beta up. He’d love to see the look on the beta’s face when he secured the mountain ash line. It would be nice to watch the tables turn, to have the upper hand for once. “Do you want another broken jaw?”
“Fine. Be like that.”
“What do you want, Liam?” He sighed.
“Walk with me.”
He can’t have heard that correctly. He must have missed something. “A walk?” Surely, that wasn’t really why Liam had come all the way here?
“Yes, Theo. You know. What people do when they lift their legs to cross a space moving one foot after the other? Sound familiar?”
“I know what it means.”

“You sure?” Liam’s lips tilted upwards.
He couldn’t help but mimic the expression. It almost felt . . . normal. “Where would we be going?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?”
“It’s pretty self-explanatory.”
“This was your idea.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t plan the entire trip. I just thought it would be nice to enjoy the cold night air. We could just walk around town. Talk a little.”
This made less and less sense with every ‘explanation’. Liam was here because the beta wanted to spend time with him. Not only that, but Liam wanted to do so by going outside. In the dark. At night . . . with no destination. “Are you insane?”
“Excuse me?”
“Why would I want to stare at the same streets I’ve seen a thousand times? Why would I care what houses we pass?”
“It’s relaxing.”
“It’s stupid.” There was nothing even remotely good about being out there. “I’m not wasting my time on a ridiculous idea.”

“Do you have to complain about everything? Can’t you just agree for once? Is it really that hard to have a little fun?”
“No, Liam. It’s not. I’m just waiting for the day when your suggestion isn’t idiotic, boring or borderline psychotic.”
“Don’t be an-” Liam growled.
“Let me guess. An ass? At least try to be original. You’re not even scratching the surface anymore. Do you even want to beat me, or have you finally given up?”
“I am not psychotic-”
“I believe I said borderline.” How could he not smirk at the angry twitch in Liam’s left eye? He’d touched a nerve.
“I’m not-”
“You rode into the wild hunt. You approached a group of armed hunters alone. You wanted to take on a hospital full of Ghost Riders without anyone to save your ass when your foolish ‘bravado’ inevitably landed you in trouble. Face it, Liam. You’re going to get yourself killed one day.”
“Look,” Liam huffed, a nasally breath of air filling the air between them. “I didn’t come here for you to insult me. I came to ask if you’d like to hang out instead of spending another night by yourself.”
“I’m fine right here.” He didn’t need to be monitored. He was perfectly content with how his life was—at least in terms of social contacts. He didn’t need to borrow ‘rent-a-friend’.

“Wouldn’t you like company for once?”
“I’m not interested in a pity party. Go take your walk and find a hole to fall in.” His smirk returned, wider than before upon hearing the familiar growl. It was so easy to rile Liam up.
“I’m not leaving until you agree to come.”
“Leave me alone, Liam.” He sighed, rubbing a hand over his tired eyes. Was it too much to ask that he be allowed to rest in peace? Reformed villain or not, he deserved a chance to live a normal life. He . . . Oh, who was he kidding? There was no such concept when it involved him. The best he could hope for was a moment of quiet every once in a while. A moment in which he didn’t have to be on alert. Just once, he’d like to breathe freely.
“I’m not asking a lot, Theo.” Liam whined, lips tilted in a pout.
The frown made him pause. He didn’t like it. As strange as it was, he wanted to wipe it away and make the beta smile. No. A simple pout would not change his mind. He was better than this, stronger than this. Liam pushed the lower lip out further, and he cursed his inability to say no. When had he fallen prey to the beta’s tricks? Where did his control go? Fight it. Refuse to obey the command.

“Ask Mason. I’m sure he’d love to entertain you. Better yet, he’ll probably enjoy it, too. You get your walk, and I get to go back to my night. Goodbye Liam.”
“Mase is on a date tonight.”
Damn it. He should have known. Corey and Mason were virtually fused at the hip. It was practically impossible to find one without the other. “As wonderful as it is to know I’m your second choice, or rather last resort since I assume the rest of the Pack is also busy, I’m tired. Now, if you’ll excuse me-”
“I want you to come.”
Okay, that was unexpected. Since when did Liam choose to spend time with him over the Pack? It didn’t seem right. There had to be another reason for why Liam was here.
“And?”
“And, what?”
“What’s the catch?”
“Nothing. Look, Theo. You really need to learn to trust people. How are you supposed to get anywhere if you always suspect the worst?”
“Trust? You want me to just trust you?”

The simple fact was he did. He’d been able to trust Liam for a while now. In fact, it begun as early as when the beta saved him from the Ghost Rider. Even after promising not to help him and to use him as bait, Liam still protected him. The fact there was still no sign of deception only solidified said trust. Liam’s heartbeat never skipped, and with the beta’s chemo-signals remaining even, there was no doubt that the ‘no catch’ comment was sincere. How was that possible? Could the beta really want to spend time with him? Given the choice of being in a room with a reformed murderer and the Pack, Liam chose him.
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why would you want to walk with me of all people?” Surely, literally anyone else would have been a more reasonable, plausible option.
“Believe it or not, Theo, I actually like spending time with you. When you’re not insulting me, that is. So? What do you say?” Liam’s eyes were wide open, almost begging him to agree.

He for one was at a loss. What did one say to finding out their company was not only requested, but that they weren’t, in fact, a burden?
“I . . .”
“Come on. It’s really not that strange.”
“It’s late.” It was becoming harder to speak by the second, tongue-tied and on the verge of surrender, he barely maintained an even tone. If he wasn’t careful, his voice might just crack.
“I’m not talking about running a marathon.” Liam refused to give up, frown deepening with every excuse.
It did sound nice—he could admit as much, at least to himself. The idea of spending time with Liam that didn’t involve running from hunters or fighting the latest threat to Beacon Hills. Just two ordinary teenagers. If only he could leave the house. “Can’t you at least think of something even remotely interesting?” He had never seen the beta this irritable before. The glare he received was downright vicious. “I’m going to sleep, Liam. Go home. If you’re lucky, I might consider it in the morning.”

All he got in response was a huff of annoyance. Why was it so hard to believe he would keep his word? Just because he’d keep his enjoyment to himself, didn’t mean he wouldn’t uphold his promise.
“Do I look stupid to you, Theo?” Liam bit back, arms crossed, shoulders squared. “Don’t answer that. Look, I know you, and you’re hiding something. What aren’t you telling me?”
Oh, no. He was not discussing that. Not under any circumstances. No amount of staring would change his mind. So what if he was the unwilling participant in a competition of willpower? So what if Liam wanted to know the truth? It was his decision, and he chose to say nothing of the matter.
“I said, go home.”
“Not until you give me a real answer.”
Stubborn ass. When did ‘no’ stop meaning no? Did he miss the redefinition of the English dictionary while he was imprisoned under ground.

“Liam-”
“We’re going.”
Without another word, Liam turned and stormed out towards the hall. Could it really be over? Just like that? If only. His mind latched on the all important ‘we’re’ in that sentence. “I told you-”
Liam didn’t stop, instead simply ignored him in favour of walking out of sight, down the hall and straight for the front door.
“Where are you going?” Complete and utter silence. At this rate, he’d have more luck talking to a wall. With his strained mental health and growing fatigue, it was all too possible that he might very well be losing his mind altogether. “Liam.” Nothing he said made any difference. Before he could prevent it, the beta stood in front of the door, reaching for the handle. One hard pull. It swung open, revealing the dark abyss lurking outside the house.

Liam would leave. He’d be alone and able to return to his room. Safe within the confines of his home. Liam would leave, and everything would be alright . . . Only, that moment never came. The beta remained motionless in the hallway, eyes narrowed and locked on the side of his face. Liam tried to meet his gaze, but given the fact he was focused on one detail and one detail only, there wasn’t much chance. What detail, you ask?
The nothingness beyond these four walls.
“Close the door.” He was lucky his voice didn’t crack. A sign of sheer willpower. On the cusp of losing control and revealing his deepest fear.
“No.”
“Liam, close the-”
“Not until you stop lying.” Liam spoke without restraint, words voiced with determination and the need to know more.
“I’m not lying-”
“You’re not telling the truth.” Liam sounded so sure. No doubt to be found. “Either you admit what’s really going on or we stand here all night.”

His heart skipped a beat, and judging by Liam’s raised eyebrow, the beta heard. Shit. He hadn’t meant for Liam to hear that, nor did he like the way the beta’s eyes narrowed. Studying him. An ultimatum was the last thing he needed. Images ran through his mind, scenes of horror and screams flooding his senses. The icy cold grasp of another’s hand clenched around his chest, squeezing, a memory of a time not so long ago. Static frequencies cut through the silence of an empty street, unknown dangers lurking in the shadows.

“I’m not going to tell you again.” The fact his voice remained unaffected was nothing short of a miracle. His hand however, wasn’t as fortunate. It was only be hiding his hand behind his leg, tucked as inconspicuously as possible, shielding the trembling proof. Liam stood unconcerned about the evil allowed to enter his home. The one place he felt safe was under threat of intrusion, of attack, and the beta remained apathetic. “Shut the door, Liam.”

“I will snap the hinges.”

No, no, no, no, no. Liam can’t . . . There would be no way to fix it, not tonight. He’d be unable to protect himself. Anyone could get in. Anyone might be lying in wait. There would be no way to know. A year scouring the town for money to afford a place to live, and now he stood at risk of losing it. Either he told Liam the truth and faced the humiliation, or he bites the proverbial bullet and walks into the lion’s den.
He hated his life.
“Stop behaving like a toddler who can’t control a tantrum.” If he was forced to go against his will, then he refused to go quietly. “Touch my door and I’ll break your hands.”
Liam glared with a derisive snort. “I’ll heal.”
Smart-ass. “I’ll break them again.”
“Oh, I’m so scared. The big bad chimera wants to hurt me.” Liam mocked, voice high and dangerously close to a coo. “Is that the best you can do?”

This was exactly why Liam could never know the real reason for his reluctance. He’d never hear the end of it—especially once the Pack were informed. There would be no hiding from Stiles and Malia when armed with such knowledge. That said, he wouldn’t be spoken to like that. The sheer disrespect. Storming out onto the small porch and across the hidden grass, the lawn he’d surprisingly kept alive muffled the approaching footsteps. Was he here? Yes. Was he happy about it? No. Did he intend on interacting with Liam at all during this ridiculous trip? Absolutely not. If he made Liam miserable enough, maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t be forced to suffer through this again.

A car drove past, shortly followed by a motorbike. Two people were equally stupid and laughing on the other side of the road. How could anyone willingly enter the minefield that was the night? How could a person find humour and company in being an ignorant idiot? Birds chirping, leaves rustling in a slight breeze, another car.
“Are you even listening to me?” Liam snapped, arms crossed, growl slipping free. “Theo.”
“No, Liam, I’m not. I thought I made that clear already.” He was done playing nice. (A dog barking in a nearby yard.) Why should he help Liam out? Why should he make it easier for the beta? (Another car.) His opinion didn’t count, so why should he care whether he’d offended Liam or not? He would not be forced into playing along.

“What is your problem?” Liam’s eyes flashed, gold seeping into blue, fangs elongated. “Are you really saying you’d have preferred to stay home and do nothing? Is sleep really better than human contact?”
“If that contact is you, then yes.”
“Hey!”
“Shut up, Liam. Let’s get this over with, so I can go home already.”
“I was just trying to include you-”
“Well, don’t.” He wasn’t a charity case. If the Pack didn’t want him around, fine, but he didn’t need their pity. He didn’t need to be shown false attention. Staying clear of their group might even keep him safe. The McCall Pack attract trouble wherever they go, and it was only a matter of time before another catastrophic event plagued the town. He, for one, wasn’t in any rush to repeat the hunter’s war. A little distance might just give him time to breathe without watching for bullets.
Not that he expected it to happen.

As much as he complained about Scott and the Pack, he could never leave. Oh, how he wished he could deny it. He’d tried to hide from reality, but despite every failed attempt, the truth was he couldn’t stay away from Liam. Infuriating. The beta drive him crazy, and yet, he didn’t have the strength to avoid all contact. Damn it. Of all people to fall in love with, why did it have to be Liam?
“You’re not better than us, Theo.”
This is why he hated his feelings. Aside from knowing nothing would ever come of them, the beta never missed an opportunity to remind him of his failures. Granted, he made fun of Liam as well, but it hurt to know he was still seen as ‘less’. Don’t get him wrong. He wasn’t blind. It was obvious to anyone who saw them, the Pack would always remember his mistakes. They would never let him forget his past, but just once, he’d like to be recognised for his contributions and intellect.

“If you’re just going to insult me-”
“Drop the sympathy act.” Liam rolled his eyes, and with crossed arms, raised an eyebrow.
Excuse me? He was not seeking sympathy. Slowing to a stop, he turned to face the beta, jaw locked and his nostrils flared. Did Liam seriously think he wanted . . . “I don’t-”
“Yeah, right. Every time we see you, when we see you, all we get is sarcasm and remarks on your hurt pride. You don’t know how to act like a normal person.”
Swallowing hard, his chest tightened. ‘You’re barely human’. The words played over and over through his mind, echoing his insecurities. It was true when Scott first said them back in the Beacon Hills High School library, and it was true now. Liam wasn’t holding back. He never expected such a low blow; certainly, not one the beta had never used before. “That’s not-”
“Don’t complain about being insulted when that’s all you do to us.”

A second passed, then another. A cat scurried past into a neighbouring house, his eyes darting to watch it disappear into a darkened bush. One step back. That’s all it took to break the silence between them. Spinning on his feet, he resumed walking—unwilling to stand out in the open, uncovered and helpless. An unknown destination was better than no destination. The longer they waited, the higher the chance someone would find them.
“Nothing to say?” Liam huffed before muttering, “that’s  a first.”
Why should he respond? Liam didn’t deserve an answer. Under no circumstances would he give the insatiable idiot the satisfaction of seeing him snap. He was entitled to his silence. Reformed villain and ex-murderer be damned. He stillhad rights. No one could take his privacy away from him. His thoughts were his, and no amount of torture or experimentation could strip him of that. No one could make him talk.

“You’re being a child.” Liam huffed, voice strained. The anger boiling underneath pressed against the surface, itching to break.
Deep breath. If he attacked Liam now, there was no telling where he’d stop, and it would only push the beta over the edge. He didn’t need a rampaging Liam chasing him through the streets. That said, it was one thing to insult him, but relegating his opinions to that of a child was too far.
“Would you look at me for a minute?”
Ignore it. No one was speaking. Just pretend Liam wasn’t even there. No one was behind him, forcing him to embark on a ridiculous night walk. He was at home, wrapped in blankets, reading. It was just him. It might have worked were it not for the passing car and questionable rustle of leaves. A roadside bush stretched far into the distance, obscuring his vision. The buds shifted, plant moving despite there being no wind.

It was the perfect cover for-
“What are you looking at?” Liam’s voice, sharp and cutting slices through the brief silence.
Losing focus, his jaw clenched, teeth ground together. “Nothing.” If he just looked close enough-
“I’m not stupid, Theo.”
Oh, for the love of . . . “You could have fooled me.” He couldn’t concentrate with the beta talking in his ear. There was no time for this. Every step took them closer and closer to that very bush. Every step led them deeper into the abyss.
“I’ve seen you watching the cars and people who pass by. The slightest movement and you’re staring it down. You’ve been on alert since we left. Why are you so on edge?”
Nothing had jumped out at them yet, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t someone—or something—waiting for them to steer too close. One moment’s lapse in concentration and they could be under attack. The unmissable noise Liam was creating would not help them hide from anyone preying on them.

“Hasn’t Mason ever taught you how to shut up? If not, he needs to start.”
“There’s nothing out there, Theo.” Liam continued, ignoring him in favour of pressing his patience. “The war’s over. Monroe’s gone. We can breathe.”
He bit his tongue, teeth ground to near breaking point, fists clenched. Foolish. How idiotic could Liam be? Just keep walking. Eyes forward. Pass the bush, and . . . Okay. It was just the lingering trace of an earlier breeze. Nothing sinister—yet.
“You don’t have to look over your shoulder anymore, Theo.”
It was getting harder to hold back a retort. He didn’t know how much longer he could maintain control over his anger. “Stop talking, Liam.”

“We won.”
Oh, Liam wouldn’t. The beta might be stupid, but he wouldn’t, he couldn’t-
“We’re-”
Coming to a complete stop, he spun to face a wide-eyed Liam, flustered and confused by the abrupt halt. There was no hiding the pure shock underlying those blue eyes, Liam stumbling to break momentum. Half a second later and they’d have crashed into one another, but that wasn’t his concern. He couldn’t care less about colliding. Not when there were more pressing matters at hand. “Don’t you dare say it.”

Liam stared, mouth agape, uselessly trying to form a question. He refused to back down, gaze narrowed and shoulders squared for a fight. The beta’s lips moved, unspoken words failing to come out. A soft brush of air grazed Liam’s lower lip, a soft breath, and he knew. One acknowledgment. Such a simple motion, and yet, it was all he needed to know exactly what Liam would do next. Brows furrowed, his gaze turned deadly. Nostrils flared, deep breath. A desperate attempt to stay calm in the face of pure anger, and then . . .

“We’re safe.”
That’s it. He was done listening to this. “You’re an idiot.” So what if he snapped? So what if his voice was laced with spite and hatred? He would not stand here and accept such a blatant disregard for his opinions. Liam tried to protest, but he was through putting up with this bullshit. No amount of torture could make him talk, and yet, Liam had found a way to do just that. Liam had found the one sore spot he couldn’t hide from. The one reason he was even on this forsaken walk. No amount of torture would work, but apparently, ignorance would. “I had no idea how moronic you could be.”

Liam scoffed. It was obvious the beta was offended, What with the false sense of righteousness flooding his senses. This was not his fault. If Liam thought this was over, the beta was in for a surprise because he was nowhere near done.
“You think you’re so smart. You think you know everything, well guess what? You don’t.” He growled, effectively cutting off another protest. “We are not safe, Liam. We are anything but safe. Aside from living in Beacon Hills, a town that houses more supernatural creatures than any other and attracts more trouble than the entire country, it’s late. We’re standing in the open street, in the middle of the night, in the freezing cold. For all we know, we’re being followed right now.”

“You’re overreacting, Theo.”
“I am not overreacting!”
“Keep telling yourself that.” Liam scoffed.
“I am not paranoid, Liam! Darkness brings nothing but pain and death. Parents tell their children that it’s harmless. They claim it’s innocent. Humans try to say that the boogie man isn’t real and sleeping isn’t a near death sentence. Well, you know what? It’s a lie. Nothing but a vicious, vindictive lie. The idea that there is nothing lurking in the shadows, that nothing can hurt you is a sadistic injustice. Monsters are real. They can and have attacked under the cover of darkness, and they’ll do it again. If you’re lucky, you make it back unscathed. If not, if you’re like any weak, defenceless human, you’re doomed.”

“Theo-” Liam whispered. Breathless. 
“You more than anyone should know that. How many times have you and the Pack been attacked at night? How many times have the hunters shot at you? You’ve nearly been killed countless times, and you still think the dark isn’t dangerous?”
“I . . . We were attacked during the day . . .”
Pathetic. Was that poor attempt at a opposition supposed to change his mind? He was right. Liam knew he was right. There was no way to disagree and sound plausible. “Tell me, Liam. Which was more dangerous? Which one left you and the Pack fighting for life? Almost all of the hunter’s assaults were at night. Almost every time we faced a life or death situation, we were surrounded by darkness. So you were hurt at school. You had people around to help. Coach was there. He pulled Gabe and Nolan off you.” Chest heaving, his lips twitched in a sardonic smile at Liam’s increasing shock. “Yes, Liam. I know about that.” The smile dimmed, teeth bared, menacing. “They’re lucky Coach got there first. If it had been me, neither one would have walked out of that room.”

Silence. A blessing and a curse. He craved the relief it brought from Liam’s endless defence, but it allowed the chilling reality to set in. The late hour turning his blood to ice; the cold sinking into his bones, refusing to leave, heartbeat rising.
“You- you would have stepped in?”
Nausea swirled through his stomach, making him almost grateful for the sound of Liam’s voice.

“Of course, I would! In case you haven’t noticed, I’m constantly saving your ass. You’re too busy trying to save the world. Scott’s way isn’t the only answer. You can’t just let people walk all over you. There’s a difference between protecting the innocent and being bullied. It’s okay to defend yourself. No one expects you to beat the shot out of them, but don’t just sit there and take it either. You may as well open death’s door and ask for an invite. Darkness isn’t a joke, Liam. It’s not designed to be taken lightly. It will kill you.” Anyone who claimed otherwise was an imbecile. “Just look at any horror movie. There’s a reason why they always contain ‘creatures of the night’. Werewolves, vampires, zombies . . . Serial killers and murderous clowns . . . They all include dark rooms or sewers because everyone knows they mask danger.”

Liam watched on, once again lapsing into silence. Blue eyes narrowed, shock faded replaced by suspicion, lips pressed in a firm line. Even now, even with all the evidence on his side, Liam still refused to believe him. Why was he not surprised? How could the beta be so incompetent?
“We are not safe.” Releasing a heavy breath, he met Liam’s unwavering gaze. “Anyone who says differently is lying.”
Nothing. No dispute, no insult, no apology. There was no trace of a reaction as Liam did no more than glare at—watch?—him. A sudden intensity fuelled the continuous fixation. The beta was studying him. The hair on the back of his arms stood on end, discomfort growing. He swallowed, pressing the lump in his throat down. Nerves shot. The familiar sensation of being dissected hit him, nauseating and unwelcome. Phantom pain pierced his chest. Liam tearing through skin, rummaging inside for his deepest weakness, seeking leverage . . .
It was all he saw.

“You’re afraid.” Liam watched him, wide-eyed and loose jaw. “You’re actually afraid.”
The assertion left his heart racing beneath the thin remainder of control. His hand clenched, forming a fist, claws digging into the palm. Blood pooled around the wounds, itching to escape. Humour. That’s what he heard. It filled Liam’s voice, his own expression hardening in return. Claws dug deeper. Fragile skin cut open. He couldn’t deny it, not when he was trapped in the heart of said fear. He also wouldn’t admit to it. They were not having this conversation. Instead, he turned, feet twisting under him and stormed off.
“Where are you going?” Liam called.
“Home!”
Why did he ever agree to come out here? It was a mistake to leave his house. He knew that, and still he’d gone along. He’d let Liam bait him. Stupid. It was always going to end like this. Life never offered him a respite. It never eased his panic or calmed his wandering mind. Exposed. Liam knew the truth. Scott McCall’s beta had seen beyond his walls. Liam knew his biggest secret, that which was his most personal . . .

Nowhere to hide.

The knife sliced through his heart, word still ringing in his ears. ‘You’re afraid.’ The vivid smile lingering on the beta’s lips, a glint burning in the same blue eyes of the man he loved struck hard. ‘Afraid.’ His hand shook, trembling uncontrolled. Gone was his cool facade. The beta had found a way under his skin, claiming it as the heart of a war against him. Liam attacked from within.
‘Afraid, afraid, afraid.’
He should have known this day would come. The universe would never grant him peace. Not after the mistakes he’d made. Not after he’d killed Scott and torn his Pack apart. A murderer. That’s all he was, all he’d ever be. His past was littered in death, hands coated in the blood of the innocent. This was his punishment. By morning, everyone would know. The Pack would be on his doorstep, demanding details and laughing. The worst though, the two who’d no doubt make it their goal to use his fear against him . . . Stiles and Malia. Where the others would be amused, Scott questioning the cause, Stiles would want to make him sweat. Retribution. Fear was a powerful weapon, and one most were willing to use—including Stiles and Malia. Emotional pain was real pain. He’d put them both through the torture of grief and loss, betrayal and deception. He’d toyed with the entire Pack, and those two weren’t past seeking revenge. Malia wouldn’t hesitate to come after him. He wouldn’t be surprised if they cut the power to his house.

He stopped dead in his tracks, feet frozen, melded with the concrete below. His heartbeat rose, threatening to burst with the sudden escalation, racing against his chest cavity. If they did that . . . Throat dry, he swallowed around the growing lump. His legs felt weak, mind running a mile a minute. Lightheaded and at risk of collapse, he fought back tears. Knowing those two, Stiles would wait until after sunset to strike. They would relish in removing his security, to have that power over him . . .
He couldn’t go home. It wasn’t safe. The Pack would be waiting for him, intent on making his life miserable. The one place in this town he felt he belonged, the one place that was his had been taken from him. Compromised. A self-chosen prison cell. He would be trapped, unable to escape, the world beyond lost to the same threat infesting his house. Lip drawn inwards, teeth gnawing at the tender flesh, he drew blood with every prick. Where would he go? How was he supposed to protect himself?

He didn’t want to go back to his truck, not to live. It took too long to free himself from homelessness to go back to curling up on the seat. The cold, the desperation, the inability to find light. He’d never be able to breathe. He’d always be waiting for a hunter or the police to turn up. There would be no end to his attention. Forever looking over his shoulder.
No rest.
A hand came to rest on the curve of his neck, fingers pressed lightly against his collarbone. Pure instinct took over. Fangs bared, he ripped free of the encroaching figure, claws sinking into flesh. The pained hiss went unanswered. Fist locked, he rammed the attacker into a brick wall. Blood rose, trickling over his fingers, another hiss on impact. The person, whoever it was, spoke. Inaudible. Words rendered mute by the adrenaline flooding his senses. Nothing beyond an outline. What else did he need though? The only part that mattered was he was under attack. His claws pressed harder, cutting deeper until he hit bone.

“Theo!”
The pained cry broke through his panic-induced haze, vision clearing and regaining a tentative grasp on reality. He locked eyes with the grimacing figure, shape taking on more details right before him, blinking until . . . Liam. Blue met his green. The change of pace was disorienting. Lightheaded all over again, he loosened his hold on the beta’s hand. One short step back and he stopped. A memory formed, reminding him of how he came to be here. It was the reason he was out at night, storming through the darkened streets, alone. The claim he was safe, his rant and Liam . . . Liam knew about his fear. The beta used his lack of focus to sneak up on him. Low growl passing his bleeding lips—he’d torn open the skin, again—he increased the pressure on Liam’s hand. Claws out, squeezing, tighter, tighter, tighter. A hitched breath later and hands were on his chest, pushing him back, but he didn’t move. Feet locked in place, he leant forward, crowding the beta into a smaller space. He had never been this furious. Heart thumping, chemo-signals through the roof, this is exactly what he’d been worried would happen.

“Stop!” Liam breathe through clenched teeth.
No way. Instead, he closed his fist, claws digging further through the hand. This was far from over. It was only just beginning.
“Theo, you’re hurting me!”
Oh, that was the least of the beta’s problems. He wanted to rip the idiots’ head off. “I’m going to kill you.”
“What did I do?”
How was it so hard to understand? The chemo-signals proved the confusion was real, which in turn, only increased his anger. If Liam truely thought it was okay to go around scaring people, then he’d given the beta too much credit. Scott clearly needed to teach another lesson in compassion. How could he ever believe Liam would want to spend time with him? It was foolish to hope they had made enough process to maybe be considered on good terms, even if they weren’t friends.

This entire night was a trap. He’d believed the lie because Liam managed to manipulate him. How? By telling the truth minus the details. Liam did want him to come tonight, but only to expose his deepest fear, and Liam had used every second of it to terrify him.
He expected that from the Pack. He expected it of Stiles and Malia, but what he didn’t expect was for Liam to do the same. Teasing, yes. Hysterical laughter, absolutely, but this? Outright trying to scare him? Forcing him into the heart of what he hated and taking advantage of his lowered awareness? He never thought he’d have to worry about that. Not from Liam. Not after everything they went through during the war.
So much for trust.

“Where should I start?” He growled, voice dripping with anger. “Luring me out here? Manipulating me? Tormenting me?” All he saw in those blue eyes was complete and utter confusion. How could Liam not understand? How could Liam not know why he was hurt?
“What are you talking about, Theo?”
“Why don’t you tell me?” He for one didn’t have an answer, and Liam owed him one. “Explain to me why you had to bring me out here and follow me? Tell me why you had to sneak up behind me?”
“I came to see if you were okay.” Liam’s breath hitched, teeth grinding under the pressure of holding back a scream. The glare did nothing to ease the tightened hold threatening to slice through the palm at any moment. “I was!”

Scoffing, he rolled his eyes.
“Theo, I’m serious.” Liam continued. “You’re scared of the dark-”
Another gasp, higher than the last, cut the beta off. The prickling sensation of muscles and tendons trying to stitch themselves together prompted his claws to slice further. Liam bit back a curse.
“You ran off! I wanted to make sure you weren’t about to walk into oncoming traffic-” A bone cracked under the relentless pressure, his hand closing in a fist and drawing blood on both sides. A second bone broke, followed by a third. Liam growled around a whine. “Let go.”
“Give me one reason why I should.”
“Theo, I wasn’t trying to scare you. I was worried you might not be in the right state of mind to be alone, and I just wanted to make sure you got home.”

Breathing slowed, evening out as he watched the light in Liam’s eyes. The same eyes that stared back without a trace of cruelty. Closing his own, and with a deep breath in, he loosened his grip and withdrew his claws. One step back. Liam held the injured hand close, clutched in the non-bleeding one. His own arms wrapped round his chest, ignoring the swirling nausea and dizziness running wild. Emotions. He hated them. 
“I can’t believe you broke my hand.” Liam pouted, and it looked so pitiful, he couldn’t help but smirk.
“It’ll heal.”
A slight twitch tugged at the beta’s lips before fading. The tension eased—albeit small. It wasn’t a resolution, but it did offer hope that he might have been quick to assume the worst. Maybe he wasn’t wrong to trust the beta after all.

“I wasn’t following you.” Liam said, soft, earnest, before sighing when he raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t. I called out four times, Theo, but you didn’t answer.”
Oh. That was a surprise.
“Come on.” Liam continued, not seeking an apology or forgiveness. Hand on his shoulder, Liam led him away from the wall. “Let’s go. We can go to your house and talk.”
The unspoken ‘with lights’ did not go unnoticed. It was the most important part, and he couldn’t have been more grateful. Letting the beta pull him forward, legs moving of their own accord, he found himself settling into the arm slipping around his neck. The comfort was nice. He wasn’t used to having someone help him or want him to feel better. It was a long walk back. Heart in his throat, he had an eye on their surroundings the entire way, but Liam never said a word. The beta stood by his side, letting him lean closer at the presence of an unknown sight or noise. As soon as his front door came into view, he wanted to run. He wanted to sprint the remaining distance and lock himself inside, barricade the doors and windows and never come out.

The desire to retain even a shred of dignity is the only reason he was still by Liam’s side. It took every ounce of strength he possessed to fight off the urge to scream when a car came screeching down the road. Burning rubber. Liam clutched his shoulder, holding him, steadying him. Heart  racing, nausea threatening to spill, face drained of colour. Seconds later, the car sped passed, disappearing into the distance. Gone. The two of them stood there, in the quiet street, alone. Trembling, unable to hide the effect, Liam led him slowly towards his door, taking the keys from his pocket without a word. The lock clicked. His door swung open, light spilling out onto the porch.
A lifeline.

Legs weak, Liam tucked an arm around his waist, supporting his weight and eased him over the threshold. Slow, tentative steps. Once inside, Liam kicked the door, closing it with a resounding thud. Pausing just long enough to lock it behind them, Liam edged him forward, and he could finally breathe. For the first time all night, he wasn’t scared. After that nightmare, he was finally in the safety of his own home. The hall disappeared behind him. He blinked. When did he reach the kitchen? Maybe he wasn’t as calm as he’d thought. How Liam knew where to go was beyond him. It wasn’t important though.

Overwhelming as it was, he took in the scene unfolding around him. Liam telling him to sit down, hands guiding him onto a chair by the counter. The beta wandering around, searching through cupboards, pulling out coffee and sugar. Mugs in hand, Liam set everything around his coffee maker, manoeuvring through his space with the confidence of someone who’d spent years here. When did this become normal? Domesticity. A foreign concept, and yet, it felt right.

“How much sugar do you use?”
Blinking, he studied the beta. Neither moved, silence stretching between them until he shook his head, smile tugging at his lips. “Two.”
Soon, Liam carried the drinks over to the counter, before using the seat beside him. A moment of quiet rose. Just two men. Liam sipped the hot liquid, but he . . . he froze. Neither spoke. The silence festered, suffocating. Time passed slowly. He barely noticed his hand sliding across the countertop, or how his fingers clutched the mug. It never left the surface, but it did provide a focus. Without it, he might have resorted to fiddling with the wrist of his sleeve. He did not need to be seen fidgeting, or worse, biting his nails. He’d lost enough credibility tonight. This wasn’t about power. He didn’t care about leading a Pack, never did. What he did want, more than anything, was to be free. With freedom came control. You had friends. There was a time when he saw becoming an Alpha as the only way out. The key to everything, to his escape.
He was wrong.

All it got him was eternal torture.

“It’ll help you know.” Liam spoke, cautious not to spook him. “Take your mind off it. Rest. Don’t think about anything beyond the coffee and how it tastes.”
He tried it. Instinctual movements, lips pressed to the smooth edge, bitter coffee warming his chest. Lingering memories fell to the side, eyes drifting closed and he breathed. The scent of Liam at peace with him, the knowledge he wasn’t teased. The beta’s first response was to ask if he was okay, the second to ensure he wasn’t alone.
“Are you ready to talk about it?”
The question was sudden, or at least, it seemed that way. More time passed. Faster than he could comprehend. It was always coming, but Liam had waited for his nerves to settle. There was no rush. Liam wasn’t taking this lightly, instead, easing him into the conversation while allowing him the choice. Eyes closed, he released a deep breath. “No.”

“It might help.”
“That’s what you said about the coffee.”
“And, did it?”
Meeting Liam’s gaze briefly, he glanced down, cup still in hand and muttering a quiet “yes.”
“I promise I’ll listen, Theo.”
His hands trembled, grip loose. Revealing everything was sickening. It went against his entire being, and it could go one of two ways. Either Liam would understand and support him . . . or he would be laughed out of the room. Nor was it easy to discuss his past. Could he put himself out there? Would he be able to force himself to say the words? Just thinking about reliving that day sent him into a panic.
“I can’t . . .” His throat closed over, tight and constructive. Eyes brimming with tears. “It’s too- I- I . . .”

“You’re not alone, Theo.”
“No, you- you don’t understand.”
“I’m here.” Liam whispered. “I’m not going anywhere.”
A sideway glance brought him face-to-face with deep blue. Honest, open, concerned. Beyond all reason, he wanted to explain. He wanted to have someone he could lean on, someone who would stand by him. He wanted a friend. If only it were that simple. “Liam, I . . . You can’t laugh.” It would break him. “Promise me you won’t laugh.”
“I swear, Theo. You can trust me.”
He was doing this. Closing his eyes once more, deep breath in, he pushed down the mounting nausea. A hand on his, and before he knew it, the words came spilling out. “I’ve never had good memories with the dark. Every problem I’ve ever encountered involved . . .” Breathe. Just breathe. “The Dread Doctors, killing Tara, the tunnels. It was everywhere. Pain became normal. The experiments were torture. What more could you expect though, right? They didn’t believe in sedation, said it would ‘compromise their success’. I was cut open.” He faltered, voice failing. His chest hardened, the searing phantom pain flooding his stomach. It was all so real. He could almost imagine he was still there. Liam squeezed his hand once, twice, three times—a much needed reminder of the present. Those days were over. The Pack defeated the Dread Doctors. Never again would they tie him down. Never again would he be dissected. “I witnessed every agonising second.”

Liam kept the promise to listen without interruption. At no point was he blamed or questioned about his experiences. It was his decision. How much he revealed and when was up to him. In one moment, Liam granted him the one thing he’d always wanted. Freedom to choose.
“I still remember being strapped to that table. Unable to move, metal instruments laid out, ready to use, the Dread Doctors looming over me . . .” Heart beat at a record high, tears broke, streaks staining his cheeks. “I can still imagine them leaning in and-”
A sharp crack preceded his sob. The broken remnants of his mug scattered across the counter and floor beneath. The hitched gasp caught his attention, but he didn’t look. He barely registered Liam clutching his hand, gently extracting the ceramic shard lodged deep in his palm. Dried blood was all that remained as his skin stitched itself back together. No one would know the difference. His skin was covered in red, still lined with his blood from the claw marks on their walk.
“The missions they sent me on . . . Liam, I didn’t want to. I was nine. What could I do?” A second sob and his body shook. “I was vulnerable and sick. A child was offered strength and power. They offered me a way out when I felt helpless.”

“Theo-”
“They lured me in, Liam. I was manipulated, and once there, I couldn’t get out. I hated following their orders. All I ever wanted was to escape, but the Dread doctors, they . . . nowhere was safe. There was nowhere to hide. They promised me a Pack. I know they lied, but it was a strong lure.” Licking his lips, he stared straight into Liam’s eyes. Begging. The beta had to understand. “Then you and the Pack defeated them and I . . . I didn’t know what to do. I’d just lost my only chance at freedom.” His voice dropped, whining as he asked, “What was I supposed to do?” Liam met his gaze, apologetic. There was no answer. Not one that would change the past.
“I wish I knew, Theo.”
Sniffling, his eyes drifted closed briefly. When he looked back, his entire body was vibrating. “Kira, she- she brought out her sword. She used it to- to . . .” Pressing his eyes shut, he fought off the encroaching nausea.
“Theo.” Liam whispered, placing a light touch along his chin, coaxing him to tilt his head up. “I’m sorry.”

The hushed sincerity had him opening his eyes. He needed to know this wasn’t all in his head. It was possible this entire conversation was a hallucination, and if that were the case, he’d rather know now.
“I’m sorry, Theo.”
“I- I . . . I didn’t say-”
“You don’t have to. It’s okay. I understand.”
Liam did. The beta really did. Not only that, but he knew this wasn’t the end. It was nice to be cared for. The unconditional support gave him the courage to push through. It allowed him to come explain. “Tara took me. It wasn’t . . . I didn’t go to . . .” He couldn’t say the name. The thought alone was too much. “It wasn’t what you’d expect. There was no heat. No fire. Instead, it was cold. A chill that settles deep in your bones and never leaves. I woke in a sealed body locker, pitch black, unable to see. Imagine having no idea where you are or how you got there. I couldn’t get out, Liam. I had to break to door to push free and . . . it only left me standing in the morgue.”

Liam’s grip tightened, a familiar scene unfolding behind widened eyes. “The Ghost Riders . . . the hospital . . . That’s why you didn’t want to hide.”
“It was actually a good idea.” He muttered, more to himself than Liam. It might have worked if he wasn’t terrified of being inside one. Tara already haunted him. Climbing into that metal coffin . . . he wanted to scream, to run, to be anywhere but staring down death.
“You were scared.”
A sob broke passed dry lips. It cut his throat, but he was beyond the frame of mind to care. Lower lip trembling, he struggled to find his voice. “It’s just- I could see it all. Everything I went through.” He all but whispered, “I couldn’t breathe.” Here he was, nineteen and opening his heart to Liam. It wasn’t bad enough that he’d made a fool out of himself already, he had to go and cry. A cruel trick. Why did he have to fall for Scott’s beta? It wasn’t fair. Hadn’t he been through enough? Now said crush was the witness to his mental breakdown.

Unable to prevent the flow of tears, his head dropped, arm coming to rest between it and the countertop. Gentle strokes ran through his hair, shivering at the touch. A warmth he hadn’t known spread through his body, even as it shook from the effort of fighting back audible sobs. He hated being in love. Vulnerability. It made his skin crawl. This was Liam. The beta stood there and watched Tara drag him under. Liam thought he deserved everything that happened, and yet, despite all of that, this was different. They were different. Liam could have laughed, or worse, abandoned him. Not once did he hear the words ‘you deserve it’.
“You’re okay, Theo.” Liam whispered. “I understand. I was terrified of the Berserkers when Scott first turned me. Our lives are filled with monsters and danger, I would be more surprised if you weren’t messed up.”

A violent sob wracked his body, fighting a losing battle. Liam was breaking through his walls, exposing the emotions he ran from. The pain he’d buried, the trauma, the fear . . . He’d spent years pushing it down, and now it was all coming back. There was no more running. No more hiding from his past. If he wanted to get better, he needed to face what had been done to him. The light at the end of the tunnel—but to escape, he must first pass through the dark cavern that was his mind.
Liam’s arm wrapped around his back, rubbing soothing circles along his shirt. Minutes passed, and he withdrew from the nudge, but the beta held tight, lifting his chin up. He collapsed, embracing Liam, fingers clawing at the soft fabric of a shirt. When the tears dried, his head rose from where it sat tucked into the curve of Liam’s neck, lip drawn between his teeth.

“There’s no need to be ashamed, Theo.” Liam pressed, reading his mind.
“I’m acting like a child.”
“No, you’re human.”
He couldn’t have heard that right . . . Could he? ‘You’re barely human’. Scott’s words replayed over and over in his mind, a constant loop of doubt and regret. The Dread Doctors stole that part of him along with everything else; his life, his future, his family and friends. Scott and Stiles grew up happy. They grew up with each other, always knowing they had support through every struggle they faced. Losing a parent wasn’t easy—grief ate away at you unless you had someone to carry you through the worst, but Scott was always there for Stiles.
They had each other—he had no one.
Abandoned in a world of fear and ghosts, shadows winding ever closer, morphing until one resembled the victims who never made it out. Haunted by his mistakes. Doomed to life live as an outcast.

“Scott said-”
“I know what he said, and it’s not true.” Liam cut in, firm and direct. “He was hurt. He didn’t mean it.”
“Yes, he did.”
“Theo, it was just before you killed him. Of course, Scott was angry. That doesn’t make what he thought in the moment true.”
His entire perception of the world and himself had shifted tonight, and Liam was the reason. If what Liam said was true, then he was being offered a new life. He was granted an equal opportunity to exist. It was too good to be real. He did however, have one more question.

“I suppose you’re going to tell the Pack.” He swallowed around the heaviness in his stomach. He could already picture their manic grins. One wrong move and the Pack could use this to break him. They could take every weakness, every insecurity and make his life torture. The final twist of the knife.
“No.”
He stared closely, taking in every inch of Liam’s expression. It was such a simple answer, and yet that was the most confusing part. He’d been prepared for an ‘of course’ or ‘I’m calling them tonight’, but not once did he consider Liam might not. He didn’t know what to believe anymore. Was he hallucinating? Was it a dream? Did a hunter capture him after all? Maybe he was chained to a wall or strapped to a table, unconscious and prepped for more experimentation. On the other hand, he could have imagined the entire night. Liam may never have come over.
“No?”
“You heard me.”
“I thought . . . Why?”
“I figured you wouldn’t want me to.”

Drawing in a sharp breath, he dug into his lower lip, just shy of piercing the skin. Damn habit. “I don’t.” He hated how vulnerable he was right now. It was unnatural.
“I won’t out you, Theo.” Liam promised. “If you want to keep it a secret, that’s your right.”
“You mean that? You’d let me decide?” If this was a lie, he needed to know. Liam wouldn’t be so cruel as to offer him privacy, only to bring the entire Pack here. He couldn’t believe that, didn’t believe it, but his nerves got the better of him.
“It’s your life, Theo.”
“But . . .”
“If I didn’t know you, I’d almost think you wanted me to tell them.” Liam said. “You certainly seem to be trying to convince me.”

Flinching, he shrunk back. “Please don’t.”
“Theo, it was a joke.”
“I just- I thought you’d want the Pack to know. After everything I put you all through . . . It would be fair. Stiles would love the chance to see me cower. It would be his chance to seek revenge for attacking the Sheriff and Lydia.”
Blue eyes flashed gold, an angered huff cutting the air between them. Liam leant closer, fingers intertwined, lips pursed. Well-rounded, tender, sensuous. Slight moisture lining tender skin, the firm press forming a flattened frown . . .
Stop. This wasn’t the time. Liam was one seat across from him, holding his hand. Strong fingers linked with his, tracing the skin over his palm. Eyes shining, attentive, concerned. Stop. If he didn’t get himself under control and soon, Liam would figure it out. He couldn’t lose the beta. Particularly, now he knew Liam cared about his well-being. He wouldn’t risk the closest person he had to a friend. Who would like him? No one wanted him, least of all Scott’s first beta.

Kindness doesn’t equal love.

“Theo.”
The shout, sudden and sharp, broke him out of his spiralling panic. He winced at Liam’s withering scowl. What did he do? How could he have angered the beta when he was trapped in his head the entire time. Did he miss a question? What would he be signing on for if he said yes? Of course, there was no guarantee this warranted a simple response.
“Theo!”
One blink, two, three. Liam was staring at him, gaze narrowed, lips pressed thin. “What?”
“Are you okay? You keep zoning out.”
Shit. This was the very situation he wanted to avoid. Liam wanted an answer. Not any answer, though. Liam wanted to know the reason for his distraction. What was he supposed to say? It’s not like he could go with the truth. ‘Oh, I was just thinking about the voluptuous nature of your lips?’ No, thank you. He wasn’t particularly keen on being seen as a creep. He’d rather not give Liam any more ammunition to despise him.

“I- I . . .”
“You can tell me, Theo.”
Think. He needed a plausible lie. There had to be a solution that wouldn’t out him immediately. Come on. Just *one* lie. He used to be good at this. He had an arsenal of excuses ready for use, and now, he couldn’t even think of one.
“Hey. Look at me.”
When did his gaze fall to the countertop? His hand trembled against Liam’s. This wasn’t good. A single thought. That’s all it should have been.
“Are you scared?”
How . . . Oh. His heartbeat. It was through the roof. In his panic, he’d forgotten to maintain his control.
“Is it still about the darkness? If it is, I promise you’re safe, Theo.” An involuntary whimper left his throat, and Liam squeezed tighter. “I know you don’t believe it, but Theo. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“Even if it means going against the Pack?”
Silence followed. Liam stared blankly, eyes shifting minutely a moment later, studying him. Jaw locked, Liam asked, “You don’t mean-”

“No!” Shit. It wasn’t supposed to sound like a threat. In hindsight, he could understand how the beta misunderstood. “I’m not- I didn’t- I swear I’m not planning anything.”
“Then why-”
“I just meant if Scott and Stiles come after me. I was only asking if you’d still protect me if it meant challenging them.” Don’t run. It would only anger Liam more. “Please, you have to believe me.”
“I do.”
Wait. That’s it? No further questions? No test? How could Liam trust him? How did the beta have such blind faith? “I . . .”
“You’ve changed, Theo. We both have. I know when you’re telling the truth.” Liam smiled. “Oh, and even if Scott has a problem with it, I won’t break my promise. No one will hurt you.”

This was real. He couldn’t believe it. When everything inevitably collapsed, he might survive the attack. He and Liam were a perfect team. If they worked together, they were a force to reckon with. Liam, the same boy who stood by as his dead sister dragged him away only a year ago, now promised to defy the Pack. Scott was a role model to the beta. The alpha. Liam wanted approval. Yet, this could end all of that in a heartbeat, and Liam didn’t hesitate to take his side.
“You’d really choose me?”
“Yes, but Theo. It won’t come to that.”
If only he could rely on Liam’s word. He’d love to pray for a world in which he wasn’t under constant threat, but this was too important. Losing focus now, letting his guard down . . . It would only allow the Pack a chance to strike.
“Liam-”
“I’m serious, Theo.”
“How can you know that? Scott hates me.”

The look he received screamed ‘idiot’. The raised eyebrows, narrowed gaze, exaggerated eye-roll. It all spoke to Liam’s annoyance. “Li-”
“Scott does not hate you.”
“Yes, he does. He’s made it clear he doesn’t want me anywhere near him or the Pack, Liam. If Stiles had his way, I’d already be back in the ground.” The image of dirt splitting, hands gripping the edge, lifeless eyes, his heart torn from his chest filled his vision.
“Theo.” Liam whispered, expression drooping.
“The Pack hates me.” He snapped. He couldn’t take it anymore. The pain and loneliness, the injustice . . . Everything he’d pressed down over the past year, festering inside him since he’d first laid eyes on that cursed sword flowed to the surface. “I don’t blame them. After all, I did try to destroy you. I killed Scott. Of course, he wants me gone. The Pack . . . Liam, you sent me to Hell.” A wave of nausea swept through his stomach, barely held back from making itself known. This was the first time he’d said the word out loud, and it hurt. “Excuse me for not trusting your precious Alpha.”
Chest heaving, he waited. Neither he nor Liam spoke, both unsure of how to proceed. To say he was uncomfortable would be an understatement. He’d just insulted Liam’s alpha and best friend—second only to Mason—and now the beta was staring at him, mouth open, speechless. Had he gone too far? Did he push Liam away? Was this the moment Liam told him to leave and never return?

“Theo . . .” Liam’s voice cracked, tears forming at the mere mention of his name. “I’m sorry.”
“What?”
“I didn’t know.”
Right. So, Liam was apologising for sending him there. Innocent by reason of ignorance. Oh, no. He wasn’t letting the beta off that easy. “What did you think Kira was summoning? A day spa?”
“Well, no, but-”
“It was a never-ending loop of fear. I had to relive the same scene over and over again. All the while, I knew I couldn’t escape. Losing hope is the worst feeling a person can experience.”
“I can’t . . . Are you okay?”
“Am I okay?! No, Liam, I am not okay! I spent months being chased through an abandoned hospital by my dead sister. My only purpose was to suffer at the hands of the first person I ever killed. I had my heart ripped out, Liam. Do you have any idea what it’s like to feel someone tear your heart out? Tara killed me. She hunted me down and killed me.”

“She . . .”
“Her hand, Liam!” By now, he was screaming. His voice no more than a physical manifestation of his anger. “She forced her hand into my chest and ripped out my beating heart! Do you realise what you and the Pack put me through? None of you considered the consequences. You were all happy to leave me there! Not one of you cared about the scars it would leave! Why, Liam?! Why was I cast out?! What made me so much worse than everyone else? Was I really too dangerous to live?!”
Liam sat there, mouth opening and closing without a word. Tears spilling, mirroring his own. A choked sob left his throat, and he pulled his hand from Liam’s. A motion that left the beta crying harder, eyes falling to the empty space.
“We were wrong.” The answer was muttered, spoken against Liam’s chest as the beta tried to form a sentence.
“Really? I never would have guessed, and here I thought it was fair to sentence a person to eternal damnation. Surely it’s normal to force someone face their worst nightmare with no way out? No? Well, colour me surprised.”

“Theo, I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry? That’s not good enough, Liam!” His feet were on the floor a second later, storming across the kitchen. Footsteps followed, frantic and rushed. He didn’t wait for the beta to catch up, instead, turning the corner into his hall. “Half of Scott’s Pack is made up of reformed villains. Nearly everyone Scott trusts has killed at one point or another; more than one of whom have tried to kill Scott himself and on more than one occasion. He forgave them.” Liam’s hand on his arm made him stop, levelling the beta with a deadly glare. It didn’t however, break his rant. He was well passed holding back. “Scott trusts them, every single one, and yet, somewhere along the line, you all decided I wasn’t worthy of that. Peter, Jackson, Ethan, Derek . . . Even Deucalion was welcomed with open arms, but not me. Oh, no. I didn’t deserve a second chance.”

Chest heaving, his claws emerged. Letting them sink in, blood dripped from the shallow cuts etched into the skin. He knew anger. It might be the only emotion he could manage. Years of learning to contain it proved helpful. The problem now was dealing with the rest of his emotional state. Fear, anxiety, embarrassment, doubt. It was dizzying to say the least. Overwhelming. ‘You only feel one emotion at a time’. There was a time where he’d wholeheartedly believed that.
How naive he’d been.
“I don’t have an answer.” Liam spoke through tears, reaching for his hand but falling short. Their fingers brushed before he pulled back.
“It’s a simple question, Liam. There must have been a reason.”

“If I could make this better I would-”
“All I want is the truth! Why is that so hard?!” Eyes flashing, he lost control of his wolf. He growled, fangs poking through. His claws grew, slicing deeper. Just another wound. He’d survived worse than a little cut. It would heal. In time, it always did. Emotional pain, on the other hand . . . Well. That was true pain. It left scars. Trauma marred the surface beyond recognition, buried within the depths of a person’s mind. It cut away at one’s sanity, piece by piece until nothing was left.
“Theo, nothing I say will make it better.” Liam cried. This time, the desperation in the beta’s grasp caught his before he could pull away. Fingers linked with his, wrapping tighter at his persistent attempts to break free. “I can’t change the past. If I could, I’d turn back time to before the Dread Doctors took you.”

His breath hitched. Frozen. Gold faded, replaced once again with his usual green. He took in the watery blue gazing back at him, not once breaking contact. He’d expected Liam to end the sentence with a reference to the tunnels. Claiming to regret his role in summoning Tara and wanting to change that moment wasn’t a surprise, but he *didn’t* expect Liam to go as far back as the beginning.
“You-”
“They kidnapped you, Theo. You were a child, and you were taken from your home. I can’t begin to imagine how scared you must have been.”
“I didn’t know what to do.” He whispered, knees giving out. Crumbling, his legs hit the floor, hunched forward, hand still interlaced with Liam’s. The beta didn’t let go. Instead, they fell together, Liam resting a spare hand on his shoulder, squeezing lightly. “Three strangers broke into my room, and no one else could see them. I didn’t . . .”
“I know, Theo. I know.”

“How do you say no to those men? How do you tell three evil scientists to leave? I was nine. They . . . They would have killed me.” He rambled, lost in a string of words designed to ease his own mind more than convince the beta. His gaze, having fallen, remained fixed on the floor below, broken only when fingers lightly cupped his chin, tilting his head. Stopping when their eyes met. Green and blue. Neither moved, both of them staring in silence. Full, reddened lips shifting closer. One glance told him everything. Liam leant in, closing the distance between them, gaze still locked on his. Slow. The beta was seeking permission, his permission. Ensuring he had time to turn down the advances.
Instead, he waited. Liam drew near, breath brushing his skin in warm bursts. Close enough to touch. As soon as his eyes had closed, his breath hitched. Lips moving in sync with Liam’s, mouth parting at the light press of a tongue. Mind numb, he acted on impulse, driven by instinct. The tenderness brought him undone, earning a desperate whine as Liam pulled back. Silence followed. He stood, motionless with closed eyes and in need of a moment to reboot. His eyelids fluttered open, taking in the shy yet candid expression held within those beautiful blue irises.

He blinked once, twice, three times. Mouth opening and closing as if controlled by string, a broken marionette, wordless but straining to converse with the world. He thought in facts—had since he was young. Logic and reason formed his understanding of the universe, but this . . . None of this made sense. He had never known such gentleness to come from those lips.
“You . . . You . . . You . . .”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this speechless before.” Liam laughed.
So much for shy. It should have riled him up, should have provoked a retort but instead, he just stood there, gaping.
“You . . . You . . .”
“Are you planning on saying anything else today? Not that I’m complaining. It’s amusing to see you so flustered.”
Don’t just stare. Say something. Anything. It can’t be worse than ‘you’. Oh, whatever you do, don’t say ‘you’. Anything but ‘you’. If he just opened his mouth . . . Come on, a two-year-old can do this. “I . . .”

Liam snorted, loud and hysterical, grin widening. His cheeks grew hot, blush spreading. It now covered his neck and trailed his collarbone. It wouldn’t be long before it was lining his entire chest.
“Well, at least it’s different.” Liam grinned as the flushed skin broke free, rushing down and disappearing beneath his shirt. “You’re so cute.”
Damn it. Okay, not important. Focus on what matters, and just ask. It’ll be fine. Liam won’t laugh because he asked a question. Just breathe, and get it over with. “Wha-what was that?”
“That, Theo, was a kiss.” Liam smirked.
“I know what a kiss is, Liam.”
“Hey, you asked.”
“I meant why. Why did you. . .”
“Theo.” Liam sighed. “I think it’s clear how I feel. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think you’d changed. None of what you went through is fair, and I would do anything to go back and make your childhood easier. You deserved to grow up with Scott and Stiles. You deserved a chance at a normal life. I can’t change the past, Theo, but I can effect the future. From now on, no one will hurt you. No one will stop you from being happy.”

There were no words for how he felt. Nothing described how much the beta meant to him. He would never be able to thank Liam for everything. Actions spoke louder than words, and so, he did all he could think of. He threw himself forward, arms wrapping around the beta’s chest, head nuzzled against the crook of Liam’s neck. When a gentle squeeze followed, he pressed down, putting every ounce of emotion into one hug. To be able to have Liam, to know he was wanted, to be chosen . . .
It was everything.
“Theo?” Liam whispered, never letting go. “Do you remember what I said about the Pack and your fear?”
His heart dropped. His shoulders tensed, arms tightening, and he forced a hard swallow passed the solid lump blocking his throat.  By the time he managed to speak, his voice was nearly inaudible as he muttered, “No.”
A hand ran softly over his hair, fingers curling through the strands, lingering, soothing. Liam kissed him, a light touch along his neck. “I won’t tell them.”
“You mean it?” He couldn’t help the desperation in his voice. There was no hiding it. He was a child, begging for validation and privacy.
“I promise, Theo. No one needs to know.”

The first teardrop fell. A fresh wave of tears lining his eyes, wetting the fabric of Liam’s shirt. The longer he pressed against the shoulder beneath him, the more it soaked through. There was no way the beta didn’t notice, and yet, Liam said nothing.
“Thank you.” He mumbled, voice wavering. It was so quiet, one might mistake it as having been carried away by the wind.
“It’s okay.”
“Thank you, Liam.” It was all he could say. His tongue refused to cooperate for anything longer, and nothing else mattered. All he cared about was ensuring Liam understood how grateful he was. “Thank you.”
“You’re entitled to your secrets, Theo. You don’t owe anyone an unguarded view of your thoughts.” The arms holding him close tightened, Liam whispering against his hair. “I trust you.”

One word. It changed everything. To be trusted again . . . “Why me?”
Lips twitched, Liam hiding a laugh against his skin. “The old Theo never would have cried.”
A quiet snort rose, disappearing instantly but lingering between them. The way Liam could make him laugh even now.
“Vulnerability is important, Theo.”
“So, all I have to do is display a few tears, and you’ll be all over me?” It was worth the slap. His back stung—damn Liam had a good arm—but he’d do anything to hear that laugh. The gentle chime. Knowing he’d caused it was even better. “I might just use that the next time you ramble on about history.”
“Oh, shut up. Don’t think I’ve forgotten about your ‘I’m impressed’ comment. You love it.”
He did. It would never grow old listening to the beta talk. The idea of sitting curled up in bed, tucked close under the covers, serenaded by battle strategies and the history of Pompeii was more appealing than a world without Liam’s enthusiasm. “I love you.”
The smile was blinding. A beautiful gleam lighting the blue irises, lips stretched wide. “I love you, too, Theo.”

Silence fell between them, but it wasn’t awkward. It wasn’t uncomfortable. This felt right. Sitting here together, without the need to fill the quiet. No noise, no interruptions. Just Liam. “Don’t go.” He wasn’t ready to seperate. He wanted more time, here and now, before they had to face the world. Before they had to face the Pack. This, here, was perfect. “Please.”
“I’m not leaving.”
“You can go home, just . . . Not now.. Please. Stay for tonight.” He clung to Liam’s back, his mind locked on the possibility he’d imagined it all. If he let go, this might all disappear, Liam might disappear.
“Hey.” Liam whispered, pulling back enough that he had to raise his head, but not too far that they broke contact. The arms shifted, sliding from the small of his back to rest on his shoulders, right hand continuing upwards. It came to a stop, cupping his cheek. “I’m not leaving, Theo.”

The meaning in those four words hung in the air, promising to be there when he fell asleep and to be there when he woke up. Liam took his hand,  fingers interlaced, and with a final smile, pulled him to his feet. Arms brushing, breathing in the beta’s sweet scent, the hall fell behind. He blinked, and his bedroom stood in front of them. Liam lowered him onto the bed, pressed a gentle kiss against his lips and tucked the covers around him. The mattress dropped a second later, and Liam climbed under, arm wrapping around his stomach. It was impossible not to lean in, a smile forming at the simple touch. Knowing he didn’t have to close his eyes to a darkened room, alone with his thoughts, was a welcome change. Having someone to lean on when he woke screaming, drenched in sweat and trapped in the memory of his past . . .

It was only the beginning. He had a long way to go before he could say he was better, but finally, there was an end in sight. He may never repair the broken shards of who he once was, but maybe—just maybe—he could piece himself back together.