Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Seeing Brett practicing on the Devenford field feels all kinds of awful. He spots familiar faces in the boys he's playing a pickup game with. It’s not anything official, not with the whole team. He’d managed to avoid them outside of games where he had Scott, Stiles, Kira, and even Coach Finstock. Honestly being on campus felt bad. What made everything worse though wasn’t Brett, or the familiar campus, or the new string of deaths and maimings. It was Lori on the bleachers. She must have lined up her study hall with Brett’s. Knowing her, after the dead-pool she had likely tried to align as many classes with Brett as she could.

Liam spotted her well after she had spotted him. He really needed to get better at being a werewolf. She was leaning on the railing where he and Mason were approaching. There was no way he was avoiding this. He stopped on their path to Brett and looked up at her. Unlike any interaction he’d had with her before her face was guarded. “Hey Lori, do you think you could answer a few questions for us? Something strange is happening at Beacon Hills and we, Scott, could use some help.” Mason was still staring at the impromptu Lacrosse game.

“He’s a werewolf?” Liam would love to bemoan Mason's awful taste but he quickly glanced at Brett’s bare chest too and could suddenly feel himself swallowing. He knew he didn’t have a leg to stand on.

“Yes. So is Lori. She’s actually Brett’s sister.” He thinks that suddenly a great deal more is registering for Mason.

Liam can feel Brett’s gaze on him even though he’s actively still participating in the game. Liam’s not going to look back. “Do you recognize this girl?” He pulls up Tracy’s yearbook photo on his phone to show to her. Lori never left the bleachers so he’s pushing up on his tiptoes to show her the screen. The soft, brief laugh she lets out at this is both reassuring and vaguely heart wrenching. Lori had been his friend once.

“I don’t recognize her, no. We’ve never had that many young wolves on the commune just us, Jiang, and Tierney and we were all born.” Lori moves to sit on the bleachers dangling her legs off to put her closer to Liam and Mason. “You can ask Brett too, obviously, but you aren’t likely to get a different answer.”

Almost as if summoned, the game ends and the other boys scatter quickly. They’re glaring at Liam but give him a wide berth likely at Brett’s request. They probably think he’s going to snap Liam in half for associating with Lori again. As he jogs toward the trio he tosses his pads and stick on his lacrosse bag but doesn’t stop for his shirt. Mason’s eyes seem much brighter when he sees this.

When Brett reaches them he throws his arm around Liam’s shoulder and rests his other arm on top of the bleachers beside him. Liam freezes up and Mason’s eyes thin at the contact like he’s puzzling something out. Lori kicks out at Brett’s shoulder, thankfully not the one by Liam’s face, and scowls. Brett snags her uniform loafer off her foot and smirks which receives a huff. “Who are you looking for?”

Liam shows Brett the same picture of Tracy. “She’s cute but Lori is right she’s not a part of our pack.”

“Is there any way Satomi may have bitten someone without the two of you knowing?”

“After the dead-pool she hasn’t exactly been looking to recruit.” Even Liam with his frankly awful ability to pick up chemosignals can sense the sudden flood of grief coming from the two. He reaches his hand out and squeezes Lori’s ankle in what he hopes is comfort. It feels nice to have her smile at him again even if it’s not the full force beam from before.

“So is that how werewolves are made? Alphas just go around biting people?” Brett and Lori both look at Mason after he blurts that out. He’s really taking this in stride.

“Werewolves are either bitten like Liam and Scott or born like the two of us.” Brett’s run down feeds Mason's curiosity and he doesn’t follow it up with another question.

“So, Mason right? You’re not a werewolf. I can tell because you don’t really smell supernatural. But I thought Stiles was your pack's Druid in training? Is Mason also training to be a druid?” Liam shrugged in response to Lori’s question. He knew that most packs consisted of an Alpha werewolf, their werewolf betas, and a druid in the role of emissary. Scott was creating quite an oddity and Liam and the rest of the pack knew it. Mason looked excited at said prospect.

He glanced back down at the photo instead of verbally responding. Then he saw the necklace Tracy was wearing and realized he’d seen it before. “I think I found something.” All eyes were on his phone as he zoomed in to show them the necklace.

“It’s a necklace.”

“Yea but I’ve seen it before. The other day Stiles dragged me out to the preserve to help him stalk Theo.”

“Who is Theo?” Lori shared a glance with Brett. They were ultimately from a different pack and while said pack was indebted to Scott that didn’t mean they weren’t going to look out for themselves first and foremost. They wanted to make sure they brought any changes in the neighboring pack to Satomi.

“He’s some werewolf that transferred to Beacon Hills for his senior year.” Mason was excited to be in the inner circle and know those kinds of things.

“So he’s an omega?” Brett shared a look with Lori. Liam shifted restlessly under his arm.

“Not exactly. Scott wants to let him join because you know how he is. He sees the best in people. The only problem is Stiles really doesn’t like him. He gets weird vibes from him. That’s why he took me to stalk him on the preserve. They got in a fight that was really intense because Stiles thinks that he can’t trust anyone since Scott trusts everyone. Stiles punched his jeep and everything. They kissed and made up but like it was a lot so he’s…”He trailed off. Liam had definitely over shared.

“So you’ve seen this necklace before on the preserve?” Lori saves him from oversharing anymore.

“Yea I fell into a sinkhole and it was in the mud at the bottom.”

“You fell into a sinkhole?” Brett huffs out a laugh.

“Anyways maybe we should go to the preserve and see if we can find it.” Liam didn’t want to talk about it.

“You boys will have to go without me.” With this Lori stands and brushes her kakis off. Brett launches her shoe at her face. She looks unimpressed as she catches it and slides it back on. “I’ve got rehearsal and I can’t miss it.”

“What show are you doing?” Liam’s curious. As a junior Lori likely has a role with multiple lines even if she’s not a lead. Especially since many of the people who’d been in A Midsummer Night's Dream had graduated or been blacklisted due to prop closet misuse. This earns him a smile at full force.

“She Kills Monsters. It’s way more interesting. I think you’d enjoy watching this one way more.” With that Lori takes her leave and makes her way back towards the building that houses the auditorium. She shouts over her shoulder that she’ll get a ride and then it’s just the three of them.

“Let me shower and change and then I’ll drive us.” Brett back tracks for his gear then heads off in the direction of the locker rooms. Mason almost immediately turns and opens his mouth. Liam lunges towards him to silence him until Brett is out of ear shot.

“What was that?” Mason has leaned towards him but isn’t really whispering.

“What was what?” Mason looks at him and waits. “I don’t know Mase. He used to do it all the time to get a rise out of me. It’s not a big deal.”

“It is so a big deal. Him and his eight pack were all over you Liam.”

“Yea to get a reaction from me. Probably also Lori. She hated when he’d do that.”

“You’re so oblivious. It’s like he’s pulling on your pigtails. I bet the reason it gets a rise out of Lori is because he’s putting the moves on her friend.” Liam shakes his head and starts walking in the direction of the locker rooms.

“You’re wrong. He’s never even liked me. He tolerated me at Devenford for Lori. He’s going to help us out because Scott helped save his pack. It’s nothing more than that.

“Ok but I’m telling you that you’re wrong.”

***

Hiking through the woods of the preserve had been wildly draining for what felt like no reason. He had the stamina for it but Liam felt like he lacked the emotional strength to deal with another round of insanity so close to the first. Scott had just gotten attacked at the Senior Scribe night and Theo had shown up and caused tension in the pack.

Mason had at least been nice enough to let Liam have the front seat for their trek to and from the preserve. There had likely been ulterior motives but Liam would worry about those after he slept off his emotional exhaustion.

It ended up being easier for Mason to get dropped off first. That news led to an attempted looks based conversation that Liam avoided by not looking back then a text based one which Liam avoided by keeping his phone in his pocket and ignoring the repeated vibrations. He was so tired he didn’t think he could handle a continuation of their earlier conversation. Everything was supernaturally complicated; he didn't need Mason’s ideas to make it romantically complicated as well.

Mason’s head appeared between the two front seats as they pulled into his driveway. The lights were dark which meant Mason's parents were tucked away safely in bed and unlikely to notice the late hour he’d come home at. “Thank you for your help Brett. Liam, I'll see you at school.” He clapped Liam’s shoulder then climbed out of the backseat and made his way inside. Brett didn’t pull away until they heard the front door’s lock click into place.

The short distance from Mason’s to Liam’s was almost silent. The radio was set to a low volume and a station that was playing the latest chart toppers. It wasn’t even a long enough car ride to fall asleep during but Liam’s eye lids felt so heavy that he managed to anyway. His eyes could only have been closed for two minutes but the next time they cracked open the car had come to a stop in his driveway.

Brett’s hand had just brushed his shoulder to gently shake him awake. The yawn he let out made his jaw crack. Brett stifled his own yawn that followed. “Thanks Brett.” Liam did not make any move to get out of the vehicle. He knew he needed to but he also needed a minute before he tried to get out of the vehicle. He was already so fucking tired and it was barely September. Liam’s eyes twisted shut and he tilted his head back onto the headrest.

“Your hand is still on my shoulder.” Brett’s hand was still on his shoulder and it had no reason to be. “Lori’s not even here to be mad at you for not being considerate of her friend’s personal space.” The laugh he followed this up with was more of a half hearted rush of air then anything.

He cracked his eyes open to look over at Brett who hadn’t responded. Brett was looking back at him. Suddenly something clicked into place. “Wait, all those times Lori was pissed at you you’d just had your hand on my shoulder or something. Were you scent marking me to piss off Lori? Is this the werewolf sibling equivalent of licking the last cookie so you have dibs?” Maybe not the best analogy but hopefully Brett would cut him a break.

The other boy's cheeks had gone the slightest shade of pink. It would have been imperceptible if Liam hadn’t been looking right at him for that reason. “It wasn’t like that entirely. Maybe the first time or two.”

“Why bother keeping up with it? Was it really that exciting to make me feel uncomfortable? Was my embarrassment worth it?” Liam was starting to get irritated. He had tried so hard to make it work at Devenford. No, Brett's weird habit of invading Liam’s personal space was not that big of a deal when he thought about his time there but he could tell he was already on the way from zero to one-hundred.

“Uncomfortable? Dude you can say what you want but we both know that’s not that’s not the full story. You may suck at using your abilities for this kind of shit but I don’t. You can’t fool me.” That was enough to send Liam flying out of the car. He almost ripped his seatbelt off in his haste to escape.

“I’m not trying to! Whatever you thought you were seeing or smelling was wrong.” The lie almost felt as if it burned or maybe it was the burn of rage at having to face. He slammed the door open and yanked himself out of the car. The cool evening air was a relief. “The sun.” He mumbled to himself to try to bring himself back from his burning rage. “The moon.” If he’d been less upset he may have cared about Brett viewing him as the same rabid dog as before.“The truth.”

It felt like hours passed before he could turn back to the car and get his bag. The door was still open and the light from the car didn’t stretch far enough to illuminate Liam’s moment. He avoided Brett’s eyes as he returned to get his bag. Unlike before when he spoke he kept his voice steady and low. “Even if there is or was something there it wouldn’t matter. You’ve made it clear that you can barely tolerate me on a good day. In the spring when you helped me and I asked why you told me I didn’t know how lucky I was to have Scott as my alpha.” He finally looked at Brett who was turned as much as he could in the driver's seat. Brett seemed to realize Liam wasn’t done. “I do realize that. I know I don’t even deserve what I do have but I’m trying Brett I swear. I’ve been trying this whole time. Me trying wasn’t enough at Devenford and it’s not enough now but it’s all I can do.” He started to retreat. He’d been plenty vulnerable and was feeling exhausted again.

“Thanks for the ride and the help. Drive safe.” He closed the door more gently then he’d opened it and tried his hardest not to hear Brett’s response. Despite that he couldn’t help but hear that the car didn’t pull away until the door was locked and he was safely tucked away in bed.

Chapter Text

It didn’t count as avoiding Brett if Liam wouldn’t have run into him anyways. If he were though he’d say he’d done really well so far. He had, at least, stopped avoiding Lori. He hadn’t seen her in person but he’d been brave enough to open his text thread to her, spot exactly how long it had been since he last texted her, close it, then finally open it back up and ask her how her rehearsals had been going.

However, Beacon Hills was always going to find ways to make Liam suffer. When he had agreed to go out with Mason he hadn’t given much thought to what that would entail. Mason had apparently decided that as sophomores they needed to experience more of Beacon Hills nightlife. Personally the nightlife that Liam experienced on the regular was plenty of excitement and he didn’t think they needed more. As excited as Mason was to be a part of the inner circle he still had normal experiences he wanted to enjoy as well. Clubbing was his current experience of choices

First it was Hayden at the door which would have been a positive if she’d stuck with refusing to let him in. Then the lights, sounds, and smells were overwhelming in ways he hadn’t known were possible. Of course that wasn’t enough though Mason also had managed to pick a night where the person he was, and ok he’d admit it, definitely avoiding. Seeing Brett across the club dancing was several kinds of painful and successfully tanked the minuscule amount of positivity that’d he’d managed to work up for Mason’s experience at Sinema.

Mason had managed to quickly get Brett’s attention and ended up over by the couches doing shots. As soon as the two had made eye contact Liam had slunk away to station himself where he could keep an eye on Mason but be out of the way. He wanted Mason to enjoy himself and Brett was probably going to give Mason a better experience than he would.

The two of them were letting him do this but he didn’t imagine that they’d let him go the entire night tucked away from them or the action. It was only a matter of time before he had to deal with whatever it was he started the last time he’d seen Brett.

Despite all the thoughts racing in his head and the very distracting everything around him there seemed to be something else going on. Something or someone there was different and he had a feeling it wasn’t paranoia that was telling him it wasn’t good. As he slowly examined the room trying to find what it was that was setting off that feeling Brett made his way from the couches back to the bar and Mason immediately beelined to where Liam had set up.

“So whatever happened after I got out of that car must have been intense because the energy the two of you are giving off is insane. I can’t tell if Brett thinks that because I don’t have werewolf senses I can’t see him glancing over at you every five seconds or if he doesn’t care that I’m seeing it but his eyes have been glued to you since we got here.” Liam had noticed the looks but had managed to avoid eye contact.

“It was nothing, Mase.” They both knew that was bullshit.

“Ok well if it’s nothing then you’ll come back over there with me. Flight attendants can’t do their job if they’re 100 feet away from the plane.” Liam definitely could have stopped Mason from steering him back towards the couches and they both knew it. He couldn’t bear to let Mason down though by fully standing his ground.

“I’m just not sure that’s a good idea, you’re having fun and you don’t actually need my help finding somebody.” As Liam turned to wiggle out of Mason’s grasp and gently send him back on his own he bumped into Hayden and her tray of shots. Perfect.

“Are you kidding me? I have to pay for those.” Hayden was so pissed that even Liam’s slowly developing ability to read chemosignals could smell her rage.

“I’m so sorry I have,” He fumbled around in his pockets. He hadn’t planned on wasting money on drinks. “Twelve dollars and seventy cents?” It wasn’t a question but his nerves made it sound like one.

“You owe me two-hundred more dollars.” Hayden returned to the bar rightfully pissed off. Mason used Liam’s distraction to steer him over to the couches where he had been doing shots moments ago.

Liam felt awkward hovering beside the couches. Brett had returned with his and Mason’s drinks along with a bottle of water for Liam. Mason had jumped right back into their conversation seemingly content with bringing Liam over to be near the two. Then, as he’d likely planned Mason quickly left to join the crowd abandoning Liam to Brett

“We don’t have to talk about it anymore if you don’t want to.” Brett’s offer was sincere and he looked like he would drop it if Liam asked.

“What is there left to talk about?” He hadn’t meant to sound so defensive immediately.

“Maybe the fact that you’re assuming how I feel. Yes I was a douche when I first saw you after you ruined coach’s car. I’m not proud of the way I handled that.” Brett was reaching for him. He’d thoughtlessly been inching away and Brett’s hand was hovering uncertainly between them.

“It’s fine. I know I fucked up. You and the rest of the team were right to be upset.” Liam stopped moving away but didn’t move back within reaching distance.

“That’s not the point! Look you’re clearly on edge and not in the right headspace for this conversation. I don’t want to fight Liam.” The hand that had been between them was now running through sweat-dampened curls. “What is with you anyway? You reek of stress and I know it’s not because of our conversation.”

“You haven’t caught anything weird? Anyone who's like us?”

“No, I don’t think so. Why does it matter?”

“It felt different. It felt wrong.” The panic was rising. He glanced around but didn’t see anything amiss. Mason was on the floor enjoying himself.

“Why don’t you come dance with me? We can stick by Mason and you can see if it’s anyone on the floor that you’re sensing.” Brett was rising from the couch as he spoke moving in to tower over Liam. He didn’t try to reach out for him again though. Instead he waited.

“I don’t know how.” It felt like a lame and halfhearted excuse.

“You’ve always been a fast learner.” That didn’t feel true but he didn’t want to start a petty argument. Finally Liam felt himself give a slight nod to Brett.

Immediately Brett’s hand darted forward to rest on his waist and he felt himself being steered backwards towards the throngs of people. His head twisted to spot Mason and make sure he was still in sight. “Relax Li I can see he's fine.”

Brett was tugging him closer. Liam hadn’t been sure where to put his hands when Brett had started moving them so they’d ended up awkwardly resting on his forearms. “I’m still not sure what I’m doing Brett.”

“Put your hands on my chest. Like that. Now just relax and let me lead.” It felt a bit like his heart would give out any moment the way it was pounding in his chest. The spot where Brett’s other hand rested on his back was overly warm. Then again he felt as if he was burning up in general. As they danced Liam slid his hands up Brett’s chest over his shoulders fully pressing their bodies together.

“Shit Liam.” Brett could probably taste Liam’s wrecked state if that was possible. He could certainly smell and see it. The other boy's gaze snapped away from Liam which momentarily reminded him that he was here for Mason. Mason, who was heading right for them. Brett’s hand moved up to cup the back of Liam’s neck as they stopped moving. Liam let his head fall forward to rest on Brett’s chest.

“Intense guys. Do you see that guy over there? He keeps looking over at me” The question was aimed at Brett so Liam stayed where he was, trying to take calming breaths but ultimately just inhaling a mix of his and Brett’s scents. It wasn’t getting him the desired results.

“Yea that’s Lucas.” Brett’s hand was gently messing with the hairs on the back of Liam’s head. Liam stifled a whine. “He’s a regular.”

“I’m going to go talk to him.”

As Mason made his way over to Lucas Liam finally lifted his head back up to look at Brett. “Liam can I-“

“Please.” He wasn’t patient enough to let Brett finish. He was pushing towards Brett or maybe Brett was tugging him forward so their mouths could meet.

He hadn’t given much thought to what it would be like to kiss Brett. It hadn’t been something he’d thought he could have. Not at Devenford and certainly not after. He felt embarrassed that he had no idea what he was doing. He wanted to be closer but they were already pressed flush together. The hand on the back of his head tightened in his hair and encouraged him to tilt his head back allowing the taller wolf to lick his way into Liam’s mouth. Liam’s hands were fisted in the material at Brett’s shoulders trying to force them closer together. Brett’s leg slipped between his and Brett’s mouth pulled away to nip at his neck. Liam whined which got a low groan in response.

They were kissing again and the slick slide of their mouths together was urgent. Brett’s other hand was sliding from his waist and-

There was something wrong. Liam, regretfully, yanked himself out of the kiss. Brett’s eyes shot open and were on him, searching his face. “Something is wrong. We need to find Mason.” He was flushed and still much too close to Brett to fully focus. He pulled himself away further but wrapped a hand around Brett’s wrist to keep them together. His eyes frantically searched the room.

Brett must have realized that he was likely sensing the same thing from earlier. “He’s not over where I last saw him. Neither is Lucas. They’re probably in one of the back rooms looking for privacy.” Liam immediately moved where Brett had gestured trying to distinguish Mason from the many other people around him. The other beta must have caught a scent or something because Liam was no longer dragging Brett aimlessly towards where Mason might have been. Instead Liam was being forcefully directed towards one of the beaded curtains acting as a screen.

The crowded dance floor was a pain to move through though. Keeping a hand on Brett’s wrist was no longer working and Liam felt panicked as they were separated. Hopefully Brett was still following whatever he’d picked up on to Mason. He finally managed to push through the crowd to one of the beaded curtains. He shoved through them already feeling his face shift.

Brett was already fighting with Lucas. Liam wasn’t sure what Lucas was. The spines on his arms weren’t something he’d seen before but then again up until last year he hadn’t known about werewolves and now he was one. Lucas had quickly dispatched Brett and Liam didn’t last long when he threw himself into the fray. Lucas was something else. He was very thankful that Scott continued to maintain his ability to show up at just the right moment. Liam imagined it must have been part of being a true alpha or something.

Scott had brought Kira with him which was a blessing in the sense that she was able to destroy Lucas. What was not a blessing was the fact that she wasn’t showing any mercy. He also couldn’t understand what she was saying. He hadn’t realized that she spoke another language but maybe it just hadn’t come up before?

“Kira stop!” Scott was trying to maintain control of the situation of his pack mate. Liam was thankful it worked. Kira would have likely had a difficult time if something so big happened when she was out of it like that. Not that it would have mattered. Malia had been adamant that there had been men in masks there who had dealt the final blow to Tracy. He had believed her when she said that it hadn’t been her that killed Tracy but he hadn’t been able to imagine the figures in the balcony that had.

Looking over to Brett and Mason kept him worried. Scott was dealing with Kira and whatever they’d all just witnessed. Mason’s hands were pressed to Brett’s side where he’d been injured. He should have started healing. He moved to join the two on the floor and dropped to Brett’s other side.

“How does it look?” Mason moved his hands so they could all see. It likely had healed some in the time since Lucas had injured him; however he clearly wasn’t done yet and the blood was making it hard to see how bad it still was.

“Should it be taking this long? I thought werewolves were supposed to heal fast.” Mason sounded nervous.

“We do. It’ll be fine in a few minutes.” Brett moved to stand and winced. Liam tucked himself under Brett’s arm and helped push him to his feet. Once on his feet Liam stayed put to continue keeping Brett upright. Based on the amount of weight he was taking Brett was worse off then he said.

Scott seemed to have decided he’d done enough debriefing with Kira as he finally approached the trio. Liam thought he saw the alphas nose twitch and desperately hoped the adrenaline from the fight had masked the scent of any activities he’d previously been engaged in. As soon as Scott knew Stiles would know and he wasn’t prepared for that.

“Thank you Brett, I appreciate what you’ve done for Mason and Liam.” The flash of red and responding flash of gold seemed to be enough of a conversation for Scott. It was likely he wanted to get Kira out of there. Scott clapped Brett’s shoulder then left his hand there. His veins turned black as he pulled away some of the betas pain. Then he turned to Liam and Mason. Scott went from fearless pack leader to mother hen. He inspected Liam for scratches that had been bad enough to linger. He gave a quick glance to Mason, though he seemed to have realized Mason was more emotionally damaged by the experience than physically. Scott reached for Liam to take his nonexistent pain. Liam waved his hands away turning pink at the attention. Scott was finally satisfied with the health of his pack mates and moved to usher Kira out and call for assistance with Lucas’ corpse.

With Scott gone Brett seemed to lean more heavily on Liam. “We should leave. There’s nothing more we can do and we don’t want to be here when Sheriff Stilinski shows up.” Mason pressed himself under Brett’s other arm and helped Liam move him towards the parking lot.

“Are you going to be able to drive home like that?” Liam was really hoping the response he got was yes because the fight may have sobered Mason up but he didn’t want to risk it and he wasn’t going to be able to. Driving made him anxious and so learning to drive with his parents was probably going about as well for him as it was for Malia.

“I think so. Scott taking my pain helped. I should be okay if we give it a few minutes.” It did seem like Brett was supporting more of his own weight. “How did you two even get here?”

“We ubered from Mason’s house. His parents are out of town so.” Liam awkwardly shrugged due to the arm around his shoulder.

“You should come back with me.” Liam stopped walking. They were almost at Brett’s car. “Both of you. After what just happened It doesn’t seem like a good idea for either of you to be alone. I don’t even know what the deal was with those plague doctors.” Liam started moving again. That made more sense than his first thought. He turned to Mason. If Mason indicated that he wanted to go home then that was what they’d do. If he needed to he could keep watch, keep Mason safe.

“I’m fine with that. Safety in numbers.” Mason had decided so they were going. Brett was fully supporting his own weight but still had his arm around Liam and a hand on Mason’s shoulder. He was keeping them close.

As they settled into the car Brett pulled his phone from his pocket, to confirm with Satomi that he could bring two non-members into the commune. He then turned his phone off and leaned his head back against the headrest.

“Are you sure you’re ok?” Liam’s hand rested on Brett’s shoulder.

“I’m ok Li. I can get us there.” Brett turned to smile at Liam then started the car. The drive felt much longer than it probably was. Liam felt his eyes drooping but fought to stay awake. He could hear Mason in the back seat. He wasn’t sleeping either. Brett rested his right arm on the center console with his palm facing up. Liam reached for his hand and twisted in the passenger seat so his body was facing Brett’s.

When they finally parked again Liam wasn’t sure he’d make it inside. With a gentle squeeze Brett let go of his hand and got out. Mason and Liam followed suit. The three of them shuffled inside. It felt oddly comedic when he and Mason both stumbled into Brett’s back when they crossed into the living area of the commune. “Shoes off.” They made the rest of their way to Brett’s room, shoes in hand.

If Liam weren’t so tired he may have tried to observe his surroundings a little more. He was tired though so all he really noticed was the queen sized bed. “You two can take my bed and I’ll crash on Lori’s floor.” Liam made a noise of protest at that.

“You just got torn up by a scorpion man. You really want to have Lori tear you up too for waking her up at this hour.”

“Lori’s not asleep. She stays up till I get back if I go clubbing.” That made sense for her. Lori was constantly worried about Brett despite being the younger sibling. “I’m going to go get you both some sweats from the welcome closet.” Brett hurried out the door.

What could only have been a few seconds passed before the other door in the room swung open. Thoughtlessly Liam shoved Mason behind him with a growl. When Lori’s head poked out Liam dropped his shift. “Lori what the hell! Why were you in Brett’s closet?” He looked closer. “Bathroom. Why were you in his bathroom? You scared the shit out of me.”

“First of all it’s my bathroom too. We ended up with one of the Jack and Jill bathrooms since we’re siblings so it made more sense for us to share. Second, what are you two doing here? What do you mean he got torn up by a scorpion man?” Lori had started off sounding relaxed as she shared such an inane fact but panic had quickly seeped into her voice as she asked the more legitimate questions.

“Lor I’m fine, chill. I’ll explain everything in a bit but I really want to shower off the blood and pass out for a few hours.” Brett pushed the door closed behind him as he entered. He presented Mason and Liam each with some kind of plastic packaged essentials kit. Each one looked to contain a pair of sweatpants, a plain t-shirt, a toothbrush, a travel sized toothpaste tube. Lori was staring hard at the slash marks in Brett’s shirt which was cemented to his body with the dried blood.

“I call dibs on the bathroom first.” Mason announced then shuffled to the bathroom and shut the door. He was in and out in about six minutes. Lori and Brett did not talk anymore during those six minutes. The silence was awkward. When Mason came out Liam slipped and tried to be just as quick. He was pretty sure the two siblings were still just staring.

Clad in the provided clothes and with freshly brushed teeth Liam emerged from the bathroom as quickly as he could. “Alright bedtime. Let’s leave them to it.” Brett announced then hurried Lori back through the bathroom door to her adjoining room.

“Goodnight Mason. Goodnight Liam.” The two remaining boys mumbled good night's back. Liam headed to the light switch and Mason crawled under the comforter. Once the room was plunged into darkness Liam made his way to the side Mason had left open and crawled in.

“Goodnight Mase.” Liam wasn’t sure he was coherent. Mason’s response certainly wasn’t. Within minutes Mason’s breath had even out. Liam wasn’t far behind soothed by the surrounding scent and the sound of the shower then hushed conversation.

The morning sun came in brightly through the single window. Mason was still deeply sleeping. He needed it, Liam was sure. The night before had been much more than Mason had planned for. Thankfully his phone still had some charge so he could entertain himself while he waited. Once he’d retrieved it as quietly as he could he returned to the bed. He had two texts. One from Scott letting him know that they’d taken care of everything and to stay safe. A second from Lori that simply said you’re awake.

He wasn’t sure how to respond to Lori so he texted Scott back first. He updated his alpha that he and Mason had gone with Brett for the night. As he thumbed out the response he received another text from Lori that just read rude. A third text followed: come here.

Liam shuffled out of bed again and made his way through the bathroom, gently knocking on the other door despite Lori’s demand that he come to her. “Come in.” Lori’s voice was soft. When he opened the door he saw that Lori was alone. Even though he hadn’t heard a second heartbeat he had expected to see Brett. Apparently Lori knew just what he was expecting. “He’s debriefing with Satomi. Based on what little he shared with me last night he’s going to be with her for a while. It’s only been like 15 minutes.”

Lori was already dressed and sounded wide awake so she had likely risen when Brett had gone to Satomi. “I’m not even sure I know what went down and I was there.” He fidgeted in the doorway, carefully listening for Mason’s breathing to change.

“We should go to breakfast when Mason wakes up so you three can tell me what I missed.” Lori likely knew quite a bit from Brett.

“Sure. I’m not fit for public though.” He felt gross now that he’d had enough sleep to feel anything other than tired.

“Brett’s going to be awhile. I can take you to get your’s and Mason's stuff.”

“I don’t know if Mason should be left alone.”

“He’ll be fine. Let him know you’re going to be right back so he doesn’t worry if he wakes up.” Lori got up and that was that. She’d decided. Liam returned to the other room and gently shook Mason to let him know he’d be right back. He then waited for Mason’s breath to even back out.

Lori didn’t have her own car yet so they were back in Brett’s. She cranked the seat forward, adjusted all the mirrors, and changed the radio station. She then turned the volume low enough that even they could barely hear it. Finally she turned to Liam in the passenger seat. “Point me to Mason’s.” He gave her directions as she went but didn’t say much else on the ride there. Her mouthing along to the radio fill the time instead.

Once there he realized he hadn’t thought to grab Mason’s keys. Hopefully the spare was in the same place as last time. Lori had stayed in the car so he was trying to be quick grabbing his stuff and Mason’s. Hopefully the two could shower before Lori dragged them into public and then interrogated them within an inch of their lives.

On the car ride back Liam tries to be a better passenger. He readjusts in the passenger seat for the first few minutes before finally trying to talk to his once friend. “How have classes been?” It’s so very lame maybe he should have sat in silence again.

“They’ve been fine. It’s junior year so I’m trying to jam in as much as I can to make my applications stand out next year.” She shrugs, like she hasn’t put that much thought into it, into her future.

“You must have an idea of where you want to go then?” Liam knew she was overly anxious about her’s and Brett’s futures. She gave a noncommittal shrug in response. New topic then. “You mentioned you were in the fall show? How is that going?” He wanted to open the car door and roll out onto the road. He must have started to smell stressed because Lori kept glancing over at him.

“It’s going well. Mackenzie B. And Kara are the leads though so that’s a little awkward.”

“Did they…” He trailed off. Last time he’d gotten behind the scenes knowledge on the theater kids Lori had said Kara was helping Mackenzie heal romantically from Ethan.

“No. Ok so the show is about a girl whose whole family died including her way younger sister. Then she gets to know who her sister was as a person through her D &D campaign. It’s way more modern than A Midsummer Night's Dream. What makes it awkward is that Kara and Mackenzie are playing sisters.”

“It’s just a play though? Isn’t the whole point that you can play a different person.” He wasn’t sure he saw the big deal. Lori had often spoken of how she was just excited to get to be in the show her sophomore year but that the older kids were very catty about getting the leads. “Shouldn’t the two be happy to have lead roles? Especially Kara since she’s a junior.”

“You would think but Mackenzie B. keeps bringing it up? I don’t know. It isn’t as bad as last year. That’s what I keep telling myself anyways.” She had managed to safely return them within a half hour. She had probably broken several vehicle related laws to do it.

“Is it ok if I grab a quick shower. I reek.” Lori scented the air and immediately wrinkled her nose.

“Yes you do. Please shower.” She then escorted him back inside to do just that. The slide of water was a relief. He hadn’t realized how much the stench of the night before had been feeding into the low grade annoyance he could feel in the back of his skull. After he was clean Liam gave into the urge to rest his head on the cool tiles and breathe. He tried not to loiter for too long. Mason needed to be woken up and he had heard Brett enter his room while he had shampooed.

When he emerged from the bathroom, this time into Brett’s room, he finally took in the space. It was a simple set up. A bed, wardrobe, and desk were the only pieces of furniture that took up space. Brett himself was seated in the desk chair, a simple wheeled one. He had been lost in thought, with the chair turned so he could stare out the single window, his gaze had snapped to Liam as he’d exited the bathroom though. He looked so very exhausted.

Mason was still asleep so Liam let himself go to Brett. He stood in front of the other boy and waited for him to speak first. Instead Brett reached out and reeled him closer so he was standing between the other boy's legs. Then, once Liam was close enough, Brett leaned forward and rested his head on Liam’s abdomen. It made him tense arms hovering at his side. Brett’s hands were still fisted in his zip up and his exhale was harsh. It felt intimate to lift his hand and card it through Brett’s curls but considering what they’d been doing the night before it was probably ok. It must have been as when Brett picked his head up he still looked exhausted but his body language seemed more relaxed. Liam’s hand had stayed in Brett’s hair when he’d pulled back. As their eyes met Liam lifted his other hand to rest on Brett’s broad shoulder. He felt the hands that had been gripping the material of his sweatshirt shift to grab at his hips instead.

“About last night,” Brett’s hands tightened on his hips and any relaxation that he’d had left his frame. Liam pushed forward with what he was saying. He didn't want to let things stay unaddressed. “I don’t want a casual hook up and I know you don’t want me. Not like how I want you.” His hand was flexing in the material of the Henley below it. “I’d rather deny myself anything then start something casual knowing that I want it more.” Brett’s frame softened, relaxing once more.

“I’m not sure why you don’t think I want you like you want me. I’ve never been subtle. If you’d listen you’d know I’m telling the truth. I want it too.” Liam was listening though. He just didn’t trust it. Thankfully Mason finally decided to join the land of the living and his breathing changed. He brought his hands back close to his body and went to move to Mason. He was still being held by Brett. He squirmed. There was no way Brett hadn’t also realized Mason was awake. “The other night you said you were trying Li so why don’t you try with me.” That seemed to be enough as Liam was finally given the freedom of movement to go to his friend's side.

“Not how I envisioned waking up in a bed that wasn’t mine when I started my night.” Mason was a little dehydrated, a little hungover, and very interested in the shower Liam suggested in response to Mason’s attempt at light heartedness.

“Your stuff is in the bathroom. I forgot to grab your keys so I had to use the spare. Your neighbors may or may not have noticed me sneaking in.” Mason shrugged, clearly not worried about his nosey neighbors. He was up and shuffled into the bathroom before Liam knew it once again leaving him alone with Brett, who had returned to sitting in the desk chair and said little more than that he was glad Mason was ok.

He felt as if Brett had left it in his hands. He didn’t know whether to be grateful to have control or frustrated that he had to make a choice when he didn’t know how. He wanted Brett and apparently Brett wanted him back. It couldn’t be that simple though. “ You didn’t want this last year so what changed?” He stays by the bed's edge, keeps his distance from the chair Brett is in this time. Tries to keep his head clear.

“I did. Last year when Lori started bringing you around I wasn’t subtle. Do you have many people in your life that act how I acted?” The way he said it was matter of fact even, like he knew that he had staked a claim no one else had.

“No I can’t say I have anyone else in my life who has done to me the things you have.” This was the hurdle he couldn’t get over yet. He definitely shouldn’t have wanted this after what had been done to him by the other boy. The fact that it had been done was a sign that he didn't, no matter what he said, no matter how steady his heart was.

“What I did to you was wrong. I let things happen to you that I shouldn’t have both as team captain but also because I cared about you.” Just like before his heart stays steady. He might even smell like regret. This is exactly the wrong time for this conversation. Lori is two rooms away and Mason is one. Liam is tired though. This is the second time they’ve had this conversation. Everything has started going to shit and they’re not even that far into the semester. He wants one nice thing even if it's complicated. The shower is still running so he brings himself back into Brett’s space. He feels his mouth open but nothing comes out. He glances at Brett's hand. Unlike last time he lets Liam choose to come closer.

“You’re sure this is going to mean something?”

“You mean something already Li. Let me prove it?” A slight nod and Brett is on his feet pulling him close and pressing a kiss to his forehead. The water finally shuts off and Liam is first to pull himself away. He’s not sure they’ve worked things out enough yet to be making any declarations especially to Mason and Lori.

By the time they were all ready to go it's probably more of a brunch then breakfast time. Liam and Mason slid into the backseat deferring to Lori’s position as someone who regularly drove said vehicle.

“Lor we talked about this. You have to slide the seat back if you take the car.” Brett was in the process of slowly returning everything in the car to his settings. While the two siblings bickered Liam glanced at his phone and saw a text from Mason. He turned to Mason ready to question it but thought better of it when he saw the look on his friend's face.

The message read: I told you he was into you. Whatever I saw last night was INTENSE. Liam narrowed his eyes at the screen. He wasn’t sure how to respond especially with Mason right there and looking at him. He would just deflect. It would be unsuccessful but he couldn’t have this conversation over text in the same car as the other half of all this. When Mason received his response of it’s rude to text about people right in front of them he quickly responded later then momentarily let it go.

“Why were you two even at Sinema last night, you're sophomores?” Apparently Lori was not happy with waiting for breakfast and wanted to start getting the full story now.

“We needed a night off. Not that we got one.” Mason seemed dejected which Liam supposed was valid.

“Is it already that crazy of a year? The semester just started.” Lori’s thought process would make sense if it weren’t for the fact that Bacon Hills High School seemed to be the town's very own hellmouth.

“Public school is insane. It’s not even school though.” Mason is so much better at small talk and even just talking in general. It’s a blessing for Liam. “It’s the supernatural crisis that apparently appears every few months.”

“It’s not normally like this. Your pack is just weird.”

“It was like this before I was turned too! Beacon Hills has apparently always had crazy supernatural shit happening .” Liam felt obligated to defend his pack even if they weren't all there.

“Only for Scott. I mean none of the teachers at Devenford ever turned out to be an assassin.”

“He wasn’t a teacher, he was just a proctor for the PSATs.”

“My proctor was just a normal guy.” Brett added.

“It was because of the dead-pool. It shouldn’t count because we were all on it.” Liam was not going to win this conversation.

“I definitely wasn’t.” Mason had been filled more in on the dead-pool when Liam had finally told him about the werewolf thing. It hadn’t really made what he’d witnessed less confusing but Liam wasn’t entirely sure whether he understood it and he had lived through it. He let his head rest against the window for the rest of the drive to the diner.

When the four of them arrived and shuffled inside Lori all but shoved him into the booth and slid in beside him. Brett let Mason sit down first before settling in across from Lori. Liam looked to the slightly sticky menu trying to figure out what he wanted before the interrogation started again. “Brett, that's my ankle.” Liam glanced up when Lori spoke. Brett smiled at Lori in response.

“Oh sorry.”

“Ow!” Brett had kicked Lori. Then Liam felt a foot hook around his ankle. His head snapped towards Brett face tinging pink.

“So can we talk about-“ it was Liam’s turn to, much more gently then Brett had done to Lori, kick across the booth at Mason using his foot that wasn’t hooked with Brett’s. They weren’t talking about it right now. Brett was sprawled across the booth seat next to Mason with his foot around Liam’s ankle who was pressed into Lori’s side. It felt much too nice and normal to ruin by discussing anything. If he could only have this one moment of normalcy this year he wanted to enjoy it.

Chapter Text

Sunday's, now that Liam was a werewolf, were normally dedicated to spending time with his pack. Of course this wasn’t the only time they spent together. Scott and Stiles carted him around to random events like they were first time parents to a toddler. When things weren’t life or death they had movie nights. They had managed to get a few of those in over the summer but with the school year already introducing something to deal with tonight was not likely to be a movie night.

Stiles was in charge of getting him to the McCall house that day. Normally he would have enjoyed getting to spend time one on one with his pack mate. Today he wasn’t feeling up to much of anything. “Dude. If something is going on just know that Scott won’t be able to resist sticking his wolfy little nose into your business in the name of helping. At least if you tell me I can try to run damage control before he embarasses you.” Something was off with Stiles. He was acting like himself but he smelled and looked off. The acting was just that, an act.

“You can’t good parent, bad parent, me Stiles. I know that whatever I tell you you’ll spill to Scott anyways.” His grumbled out statement definitely didn’t dispel Stiles' view of him as his angst ridden son. Maybe he should ask about what was wrong with Stiles to distract him from what was up with Liam.

“It’s your funeral Liam.” The rest of the ride passed without conversation. Stiles kept glancing at Liam while he kept his eyes forward and shredded the string of his zip up.

Entering the living room immediately seals his fate of not getting a moment of peace till he is back home. Kira is tucked under Malia’s arm on the couch. Malia had been laughing at whatever Kira had said before he entered but had stopped immediately upon Liam’s entering. She sat up straight and leaned towards him without getting up. Damn. “Why do you smell like that?”

“How has your weekend been?” Kira sounds sincere as she greets him like a normal person. She also sounds like she possibly hadn’t thought through her question. “You know other than the whole Scorpion man trying to murder your friend's thing.” She trailed off.

“It's been fine.”

“Seems like you managed to have a better than fine time with all that happening.” Malia was too excited. “Liam smells like that Brett guy from Satomi’s pack.” She announces at Stiles' puzzled expression. Liam contemplates turning around and walking home. The two of them have matching expressions of glee. At least Kira has the decency to look sympathetic at his private life being shared by the werecoyote. They hadn’t even done anything so he wasn’t sure why he smelled like the other beta. At least it was distracting from the underlying scent of anguish and anxiety that he was sure he was also giving off.

The universe half took pity on him as Theo arrived and Lydia and Scott emerged from the kitchen. He shrunk into his hoodie as they took a moment to glance at him. Malia opened her mouth to keep up the interrogation. Kira jumped in to interrupt Malia. “So you said we were going to try to get through some of the book together?” Malia was undeterred by her girlfriends subject change.

“So why is Brett’s scent all over you? If you’d had sex we would have been able to tell but it's not that. You still barely smell like us though.” Malia definitely saw and was choosing to ignore the social cues that Kira had tried to signal.

“So the book? Malia, you said you read it already?” Kira is trying her hardest to bail him out. She's his favorite.

“What are you talking about? What book?” It’d been forty-eight hours since he’d seen Kira and Scott. He had no clue what they were even talking about. The quick timeline of events that Lydia, Stiles, Scott, and Kira run him through in explanation is mind boggling. “So between Friday night and now you four went to Eichen and ran into these ‘Dread Doctors’ and that's not even all of it? You didn’t think to involve me?”

“It seems like you were busy Liam. I didn’t go either so you weren’t the only one left out.” Malia’s response was not comforting.

“At least you had the choice.” He could hear that he sounded whiney but he didn’t care.

“Liam, we have more important things to worry about!” Lydia had apparently been injured by the Dread Doctors so her frustration made sense.

“Right like what Liam was up to when he left with Mason and Brett.”

“If I tell you, will we finally be able to focus on the Dread Doctors of it all?” He was getting short with her he knew. It was stupid but he didn’t want to talk about it. “Brett took Mason and I back with him to the commune so we wouldn’t be alone. We spent the night. He gave up his bed so that's why I smell like him.” It isn’t a lie so he hopes his heart isn’t picking up.

“That sounds reasonable!” Kira deserves the world; she's trying so hard to get Malia to let go of this. Luckily it's finally let go of in place of the new insanity of the month. He, Malia, and Theo get a more in-depth explanation of their busy twenty-four hours had by the other four. By the time they’re filled in there's not enough time to do more than share dinner and enjoy a chapter of the world’s worst read aloud courtesy of the lack of copies.

“Kira and I will make copies of this on Monday because we’re not going to make it through the book like this.” Lydia volunteers herself. She’d gotten irritated very quickly by the argument of how they were going to read the first chapter together. Despite her love for Stiles his turn reading out loud had cemented her misery.

“I liked it! I tried to skim it and it was hard to understand.” Kira’s voice trailed off at the end like she was embarrassed of the fact. Liam was sure she had nothing to be ashamed about having heard the first chapter. It made very little sense and they were currently living through something similar.

“See, Kira liked it. The voices were to help with comprehension!” While Stiles defended himself Liam took a chance to look at his phone. His mom had texted ten minutes ago asking for an ETA.

“Are we done? My mom is wondering where I am.” Scott nodded in understanding. Liam stayed put though looking expectantly at Stiles. “Should I start walking?” Liam honestly would be fine to get home on foot but he would prefer not to be questioned about why he wasn’t dropped off.

“I drove him here.” Stiles was quick to try to nose goes his way out of it. Liam settled with glaring at him. He knew Stiles did care but sometimes he couldn’t help but think back to when he was first bitten. About how Stiles saw him as a ticking time bomb who could so easily hurt Scott or Lydia or the rest of the pack.

“I can always take you home Liam. I should head out too. I’m sure my parents would want me home soon.” Nothing Theo says is particularly concerning. Stiles' response makes it seem like Theo has publicly declared he’s planning on kidnapping Liam straight from the McCall house.

“No, that's ok. I drove him here so I should take him home. We wouldn’t want Mister and Mrs.Dunbar to worry about us letting their baby hangout with virtual strangers.”

“Doctor and Mrs.Geyer Stiles, you know that. You’ve met them how many times now?” His voice had a bit of a bite to it. He’d kept his fathers name purely because of the difficulties of paperwork but his mom was free of it.

“Right, whatever, let's get you home to them.” Stiles is on his feet already. Liam lets himself be rushed out the door with almost no goodbye. He’d see them all tomorrow.

“I know you don’t trust the guy but if he’s up to something I’m not sure that kidnapping me is it.” Liam doesn’t even wait until they're in the jeep.

“I don’t know Liam, you seem pretty kidnappable to me.” He’s mostly teasing.

“You and Scott are the only people currently living to have kidnapped me and look at where that got us.”

“More miles on my jeep and werewolf jedi training? I never realized parenting would be like this.” Stiles takes joy in his ribbing and while Liam is maintaining a scowl he does appreciate the indications that Stiles cares about him.

The light out front is on just like he knew it would be. It isn’t actually all that late but he’s sure his mom will want to hear about how hanging out with his friends went. He lets himself inside with a wave goodbye to Stiles. His mom is in the living room with a cup of sleepy time tea and some sitcom softly playing in the background, her feet tucked under his dad's thighs. Liam heads to the couch so she makes room for him.

“How was Scott’s kiddo?” His dad poses the question but it's his mom who looks at him expectantly.

“It was fine. We ate and they did some reading.”

“Last minute homework?” Liam nods. The conversation dies but he sits with his parents for twenty minutes until the credits for the episode of whatever they were watching rolls. He lets that be his que to wish them a goodnight and head to bed hoping for a restful sleep to prepare for whatever is brought his way.

Chapter Text

Despite the last conversation the two had about trying, Liam hadn’t heard from Brett in three days. He wasn’t going to push it and text first. Everything was verging on crazy so it felt wrong to bother the older boy. He had been keeping up an ongoing conversation with Lori which was how he found himself at Devenford about to face Brett anyways. Lori had insisted that he come back and spend time with her without having a near death experience the night before. With Scott and Stiles' blessing the two had dropped him off at Devenford before heading back to the McCall house for more reading.

If seeing the Devenford field again felt bad then Liam wasn't sure how to describe how wandering the hallway to meet Lori outside the locker room felt. She was dressed strangely athletically. Most of the time they spent together had been in school, meaning a uniform of loafers, khakis, and her preferred Devenford polo in either maroon or green. Every time he’d seen her in casual clothes she’d always preferred jeans, sneakers, and her one leather jacket. The leggings and athletic tank were odd. His face must have given something away because Lori was quick to dive into an explanation.

“We’re doing stage combat in rehearsal. It’s weirdly difficult to fake a fight with a sword when I know how to actually use a bo staff or regularly have to actually fight monsters with these.” She wiggles her claw tipped fingers at him with this. It’s startling to realize that he’s never seen her shift in any way. He only knows that she’s like him but has never gotten to see the proof.

“I feel like fighting with a sword is way cooler than whatever you had going on last year.” Lori nodded in agreement. The locker room across from them had started to empty out. Liam tried to keep his focus fully on Lori. Games were different then seeing someone face to face. He’d made his peace with his old teammates in counseling. They were cruel idiots who didn’t realize how fucked up hazing was. That didn’t make him feel any better about being mostly alone near any of them let alone a large chunk of them.

“It is way cooler. It’s also crazy how good it feels to be the cool junior kid who knows what she’s doing? I mean I really don’t but the underclassman on the cast don’t know that.” Lori looks so wildly happy it’s insane to think less than a year ago she’d thought she’d be dead and accepted it. His weirdly melancholy moment is put on pause as more people emerge from the locker room. This time they aren’t happy with just ignoring him or side eyeing him as they walk by.

“Dunbar, are you even allowed on school grounds after what you did?” Davis was not someone Liam had ever been friends with which was something true about almost all of them. “Lori, don't tell us you’re slumming it with him again.” He said it in that way that several of the guys on the team did. Like by virtue of being on the same team as Brett they were close with Lori. It had always rubbed Liam the wrong way. Lori rolled her eyes but didn’t acknowledge him outside of it so he tried to follow her lead.

“You still haven’t told me what part you got. You got side tracked with the Mackenzie B. and Kara of it all.” He’s trying his hardest to keep looking at her and not get agitated.

“So most of the characters have two roles right.” He nods. She’d mentioned D&D as a plot point. “So I play Kelly who is Kaliope.” He nods again. He hasn’t seen the show so the name means almost nothing to him. Before she can give him the context about who Kelly is, Davis moves closer to them instead of the doors.

“Lori if you’re really going to do this to yourself again can you at least have the decency to keep him off campus.” Davis was still talking like he had actually ever had a full conversation with Lori before. The posturing wasn’t exactly drawing a crowd but as more people exited they certainly weren’t rushing out like Liam knew they normally would.

Mercifully, before Davis could continue with his one sided conversation, Brett emerged. Whether Lori had told him to expect a guest or he’d heard Liam’s voice he wasn’t surprised to see Liam. It feels nice to be tucked under Brett’s arm again which is the first thing Brett does. The second thing he does is usher Liam and Lori out of the building and to his car. The “See you tomorrow” is the most Davis gets as they exit the hallway.

“Everyone ok?” It’s said into Liam’s hair as Brett presses a kiss to the top of his head but it was meant for both of them. It was nice to have confirmation that Brett had been somewhat serious about what he’d said.

“I’m not hurt and I’m alive.” He hoped it came off as light hearted and relaxed. He was above getting upset by the lacrosse team.

“Chivalry isn’t dead.” Lori deadpans as Brett opens Liam’s door for him. He’s in the back again. “We should lay down some ground rules.” Lori puts her hand on the gear stick before Brett can try to back up. “Two things, one Liam is coming over as my friend. You can try to harass him after dinner but I have dibs for at least the next two hours.” The car starts to take on the scent of embarrassment. He’s thankful that the two siblings ignore it. “Two you have to remember that Liam is my friend and my room is next door so whatever is going on with you two I don’t want to know. I don’t want to see, hear, or smell it.” The car floods with the stench of his embarrassment. This is not ignored. They both turn to look at him in sync which he learns he hates so much.

Liam is not sure how to get words out in response. “Lori, you’re going to kill him before I do anything with him.” Brett isn’t helping.

“Can we go?” Liam’s voice, adding to the embarrassment he already feels, squeaks out. He rolls the window down to try to alleviate the smell of embarrassment that had filled the car. He also texts his mom that he’s with Lori and Brett not Scott and Stiles. Having the blessing of his pack parents does not outweigh his actual parents. Lori fiddles with the radio switching from the top forty’s station it had been on every other time he’d been in the car to a classic rock station. She was half mouthing the words to the song playing. He didn’t imagine the following look shared with Brett. The thing that sucked about Lori and Brett being born was that they had trained enough to be able to do things he couldn’t imagine. That included not projecting everything they felt to anyone who was supernatural. Lori wasn’t scenting particularly sad but both of them knew she was upset. It made more sense why she’d wanted to hangout. Not that he doubted she wanted to actually see him.

Once safely within her room Lori threw herself on the bed and began pulling what he assumed was homework from her bag. Liam took a seat at her desk. Unlike in Brett’s room her desk didn’t seem to get used much for its intended purpose of homework and studying. She, like Brett, has a collage of things above her desk. There were photos of her on opening night surrounded by pack members, selfies with Brett, a playbill, an older photo that must have been of her family, and a painting of stacked stones signed Lori Rohr.

“We should probably be responsible and do our homework.” She was right so Liam unpacked his work as well. He’d had a study hall earlier so he’d managed to get a majority done already. He just had some math problems left to finish for the next day. As he worked through the first problem he tried to figure out how to broach the topic of her feelings. It didn’t make sense to try to be subtle so he was just going to go for it.

“Are you feeling ok?” If he didn’t beat around the bush maybe she wouldn’t either. The sound of her pencil moving across her homework stopped briefly.

“I’m fine. Fall is always hard anyways.” She kept her voice soft and glanced back at the wall. “I was nine when they died. We were both at sleepaway camp while at home hunters were burning our whole pack. It wasn’t like there were that many of us. We weren’t a well known or old pack by any means.” It was horrific to think about how many werewolves had been burned alive by hunters trying to decimate entire packs for grievances they’d invented. “I was really close with my dad, we were supposed to start building a treehouse after we got back.”

“Just the two of you?” She’d not only helped with set painting but also building for A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He hadn’t realized that she’d had any experience with construction beforehand even if it was just as a kid.

“Yes. Brett’s older so he was supposed to eventually take over for mom. It’s why he's a Talbot. That was the pack name so he was given it even though we were the Rohr’s through dad. I got to take dads last name though. I got to be a daddy's girl when I was a kid.” Liam wasn’t super well versed with how packs work. He hasn’t been a werewolf long and Derek hadn’t ever been super available as a resource to him even before he left town.

“But Brett isn’t…”

“No.” He could tell Lori’s answer was the end of that conversation. “He was really close with mom so he was happier under her feet in the kitchen or her office. He’s never touched a power tool.”

“Your dad was letting you use power tools at eight?” He tried to take a playful tone. He couldn’t imagine letting a kid anywhere near a saw.

“I had adult supervision and a supernatural healing ability.” She was mock offended and tossed her pencil at him. He tossed it right back.

It feels wrong to say that he’s sorry for her loss. He knows she doesn’t want to hear that.“I’m sorry you never got your treehouse.”

“It's ok. I’ve grown around my grief. I still have Brett and Satomi and the rest of the pack.” Her smile was watery. “I’m just not sure I can take any more losses so close to the dead-pool. With all the stuff going on this weekend I think I got a little freaked out and a little sad. I’m okay though!” She must have decided she’d been emotionally vulnerable enough because she turned back to her homework.

“What do you know about America’s involvement in the Panama Canal?” Lori was firmly moving them back to homework.

“Not that much. My historical interests are way more focused on Ancient World History than American History. Pass over your book though and I’ll learn while you work on another assignment.” Textbooks were not his favorite way to learn history. He liked autobiographies, museum trips, and documentaries much more. Since he was just trying to get up to speed to help with homework he could make do.

One less than exciting textbook chapter and a chemistry worksheet later they had finished their homework like the slightly responsible high schoolers they were. “Thank you for coming to keep me company.”

“It’s been nice to spend time with you again. I should have been better about reaching out after I got expelled.” If Lori could be brave and emotionally vulnerable, so could he.

“I’m not going to say it's okay because I was mad especially when Brett came home from almost dying and then being kidnapped to tell me you’d been turned. It's in the past though. As long as it isn’t something you do frequently it shouldn’t bring you unhappiness in the long run.” His grin was sheepish. He’d briefly thought about reaching out to her after he’d made his original peace with Brett but had chickened out in the end.

“I’m doing good with my control? Or at least I’m getting better. They haven’t had to chain me up on the full moon recently.” Lori’s face did something weird in response to that.

“That’s an interesting technique.”

“I guess. Scott’s never had to do this for someone else before.”

“I can tell. That’s not how my family did it and it’s not how Satomi’s ever done it either.” Lori left the bed and came over to the desk where Liam had made himself at home. “Want to watch something? We’ve still got about half an hour before dinner.”

“Sure whatever you want.” Lori retrieved a well loved laptop from her top desk drawer before returning to the bed. Liam wheeled the computer chair back so it was next to the bed and propped his feet up while she booted it up.

“Movie, YouTube, tv show? What are you feeling?” She was trying to be nice and let him pick as the guest. He didn’t particularly mind though.

“I’m ok with anything. Maybe a comedy or something we’ve seen enough death and emotional heart to hearts to need to see any of it tv.” Lori nodded then started scrolling for something random to throw on. After several minutes of uselessly scrolling through whatever she was on she ends up throwing something mindless on that Liam isn't sure he's ever heard of.

A little after six Lori turned her head to her bedroom door and moments later an oddly low knock sounded. Then before getting a response her door was pushed open. Brett was carrying three bowls which he set on the desk. “I brought dinner. I thought it may be a little much to ask Liam to brave the kitchen.” Lori seemingly agreed with Brett’s assessment since she moved to sit on the floor. “Bree is on kitchen duty this week so hopefully you didn’t have high hopes.”

The three gathered on the small circular carpet on Lori’s floor and ate mostly in silence. At one point Brett’s hand made its way to gently hold onto Liam’s ankle. It was a nice small point of contact which made him smile slightly.

“I’ll take the dishes back since I’m on dish duty anyways. You two can do me a solid and take this out of my room.” She gestured to Brett’s hand resting on Liam's ankle. Brett just offered Liam a hand up after getting to his feet, seemingly too happy he was getting his way to react. Brett also scooped up Liam’s school and lacrosse bag leaving Liam to follow behind him through the bathroom closing the two doors behind him. As he deposited Liam’s things next to his desk Brett’s head cocked to the side. Liam was sure he was listening to Lori collect the bowls and make her way to wherever the kitchen was. When Brett deemed her a sufficient distance he turned to Liam and lunged closer so he could press their mouths together. Liam eagerly returned the kiss before pulling back.

“Did you get a haircut?” Was not what he had planned on saying. Luckily Brett finds his inability to keep his cool and function like a casual person charming.

“I did.” He’s smiling which Liam takes as a good sign.

“It’s nice.” He wondered how Kira managed to make it seem so charming when she was awkward. He felt like a disaster.

“Did you really want to talk about my hair Liam?”

“No.” He felt his embarrassment appear on his face.

“Whoa it’s okay Liam. I’m just teasing you.” Brett rubs him arms in a soothing manner as he tries to reign in his emotions.

“Right of course. It’s not that I want to talk about your hair specifically, I just wanted to talk.” Brett made a noise of understanding then tugs him towards the bed. The other boy settle’s himself upright against the headboard and maneuvers Liam until his back is pressed to Brett’s chest. It’s nice even though Liam is a bit broader than Brett he feels secure. He forgets for a second that he’d wanted to actually have a conversation with Brett that wasn’t centered around the heightened emotions of a recent near death experience.

“What’s on your mind Li?”

“It wasn’t anything specific.” He picked up Brett’s hand. “How was practice today?”

“Trying to get intel on the enemy Dunbar? I’m surprised that your captain would condone such underhanded tactics.”

“Scott would never. Stiles though?” He felt more than heard the laugh he got in response.

“What would you even do with that information? You and Scott are the only good players. Everyone else is passable at best.”

“Hey Kira is good she just hasn’t managed that much play time with getting kidnapped.”

“Right, so you have three good players. We’re definitely going to kick your asses again this season.” Liam hummed noncommittally in response. “Hopefully we can take states this year. I had a couple of coaches show an interest last year but I’m hoping for as close to a full ride as I can get so I’ve gotta make sure I’m at my best.”

“Have you finished applying yet?”

“Of course. Nowhere to far though. I can’t abandon Lori.”

“You wouldn’t be.” That admission was soft. Liam wasn’t sure if that would feel true for either of the two but he knew Brett would never actually abandon Lori even if he was going to school on the other coast.

“Are you staying? Or do you need a ride home.” That was the end of that conversation. That was ok honestly. He wasn’t confident in his ability to continue to provide comfort. He wasn’t sure he’d even provided comfort to Lori earlier.

“I didn’t think staying was an option.”

“Only if you want to.”

“Let me check in with my parents. I only told them I was coming over for dinner.” Liam was sad to extract himself but it would be worth it. He took his phone over to Brett’s desk chair and decided to call. His mom would appreciate being able to tell he wasn’t anywhere he shouldn’t be or in imminent danger. She picked up after one ring. He spun so he was facing the desk. It would be weird to look at Brett while he talked to his mom.

“Liam sweetie did you need a ride?” At least he’d always have an escape route if he needed one. The space above Brett’s desk had a corkboard as opposed to Lori who had her photos stuck directly to the wall. Pinned to it was a game schedule, the same older photo of child Brett and Lori with their family, a calendar, and a more recent photograph that contained the siblings and Satomi.

“No mom, everything is ok. I was actually wondering if I could stay here tonight?” He wondered if it was actually embarrassing to have to ask permission or if he was overthinking it.

“On a school night?” His mom sounded sceptical. He could hear his stepdad in the background asking if things were ok.

“Brett has his license and so does Lori so I’d be able to get to school.” He knows she worries. He can hear her thinking it through.

“I suppose but I don’t want you to make a habit of this ok?” She relents with minimal fussing thankfully. He knows she could have gone on more.

“Yes mom I promise I won’t. I love you.” He doesn’t want to get stuck on the phone.

“I love you too. I’ll see you tomorrow after school.”

“Bye.” He hangs up and spins the chair to face Brett. “Looks like I’m staying.”

“Perfect.” Brett was still seated against his headboard looking over expectantly. Liam was slow to return thinking through how he wanted to proceed. He went with the option where he threw caution to the wind. When he returned to the bed, instead of returning to the vee of Brett’s legs to resume cuddling he straddled his legs so they were facing each other. Kneeling on the bed made Liam slightly taller. Brett had kept his hands firmly on the mattress below, smirking up at Liam. He was letting Liam lead but couldn’t help being smug as if it was what he’d planned the whole time. He lifts his hands to Brett’s face and tries to kiss it away.

At Sinema when they’d kissed before he’d felt like he needed as much from Brett as he could get as soon as possible. There had been no time for anything gentle or exploratory. He wants that though. Liam doesn’t have a clue what he’s actually doing. The slide of their lips is gentle. His mouth opens tentatively and the kiss becomes slicker. There are hands at his waist tugging him more firmly into Brett’s lap. It feels nice to be held securely in place like this, to have his mouth parted gently by another.

It turns decidedly less gentle when Brett bites at his lips while his hands push up under Liam's shirt. The hand on his back is pushing him closer, putting as much of their bodies in contact as possible. It would be better if the contact featured a bit more skin to skin. They’re definitely going too fast. It’s hard to worry about that when a hand returns to his hip and gently rocks him down, when Brett’s mouth leaves his and teeth find their way to his neck to leave marks that won't stay. A moan stutters out. Liam lets his hands migrate from Brett’s face to cradle the back of his head encouraging the sharp nips to his neck. He rocks again and the hand on his hip flexes.

His body is thinking faster than his brain, which is lagging behind, and his hands are sliding down to tug at the t-shirt. Brett pulls back. “Yea?” Liam nods and the shirt is shedded immediately. Brett’s hand slid from under Liam’s own shirt and pulled on the hem wordlessly asking if he wanted to do the same. Liam pulled his off as well. His thighs press tighter around Brett’s waist as his arms loop back around the other boy's neck. He doesn’t dive right back into the kiss though. “Li baby, what do you want?” Liam squirmed which turned into a grind. “Fuck.” There were hands on his thighs and he was being gently guided onto his back. “Is this ok?”

“This is good.” Brett settles in between his legs and returns to mouthing at his neck. For a moment the teeth at his neck feel sharper and he bucks up harder. “Brett.” It's a whine. He’s asking for something but he doesn’t know what. It's not sex. He doesn’t want that, not fully and not yet. The teeth at this neck are definitely sharper. His eyes flash as he drags his hands up. Brett’s haircut is nice but the shorter length stops him from being able to grab it like he wants. Brett groans into his neck as he grinds down, grips Liam’s thighs harder. As those hands traveled from his thighs to the button of his jeans he feels his brain kick online and try to fight through the haze that the scent of their arousal was leaving in his head. “Wait.” Brett freezes immediately.

“What's wrong?” Liam tries to keep the pathetic sound he wants to make as distance is created inside. It's mostly effective.

“Nothing is wrong. We would just stop before we go any further. I’m not-” He finishes with a shrug then immediately bites at his lip. He doesn’t want to disappoint Brett.

“Of course Li if that's what you want.” It's said like it's easy and maybe it is. Brett fully pulls away and stands. Liam lays there and breathes wills himself to let go of the arousal that had been simmering. There’s rummaging and rustling as Brett gets dressed. A shirt strikes his face then a pair of athletic shorts. “Did you want to take a shower?” Liam’s yes is muffled by the fabric. A towel joins the pile on his face. The fact that each of the items smells like Brett is not helpful. Still he makes himself get up. He scoops up his lacrosse bag as well so he can use his own soaps. After a knock on the door he locks himself inside.

Out of the shower and back in the room he’s glad to see the window is open and the room is airing out. As they trade places so Brett can brush his teeth Liam considers the bed. Does Brett have a preferred side? Liam retrieves his charger from his bag to plug his phone in instead of getting into bed and accidentally taking Brett’s spot. He’s thankful that Brett had already showered after practice and returns quickly. He pulls the covers down on the right side of the bed closest to the door so Liam leaves his phone charging on the desk and joins him on the left side.

He’s not sure what to do from here. Obviously he’s going to go to bed but does he stay on his side of the mattress? Brett answers for him by tugging him closer until his pillow is overlapping Brett’s shoulder and he’s partially slung over Brett laying on his back. “Good night Li.”

“Good night.” He’s out quicker than last time he spent the night in Brett’s bed.

The following morning as he stumbles through getting ready in a different location he tries not to think about the inquisition Malia is going to lead a thought that only strengthens when Brett eyeballs the t-shirt he’s wearing and tosses one of the few flannels in his closet at Liam. “I didn’t realize you cared about fashion Brett.” He tried to snark but it was dampened by the way he immediately pulled it on. It fit well enough that he could add it to his rotation.

Brett’s closet was probably never going to see it again. In a habit that he had most certainly picked up from Malia he had a slowly growing collection of pack mates clothes that he incorporated into as many outfits as possible. He smelled like his pack anyways but it was nice to have the added layer. With this he was at five with a gray flannel that had been Stiles’, a tan flannel from Malia that had originally belonged to her dad, a blue and red bomber jacket that had once upon a time been Masons, and hooded sweatshirt of unidentified origin that might have been Scott’s or Kira’s.

As much as he appreciated the smell Lori did not. As soon as she’d seen him she’d pulled him into a headlock and started complaining while messing up his hair leaving some of her own scent behind. “Vile Brett! You can barely smell that it’s Liam.”

“How is leaving your own scent on him helping with that?” Lori didn’t respond, just marched out to the car so they could leave with enough time to get Liam to his own classes.

Chapter Text

Spotting Brett on the bleachers with Mason makes his heart kick up. Liam hadn’t expected to see the other boy quite so soon after being dropped off that morning. He was going to blame his sudden mistake on that. He and a decent number of other student athletes, like Hayden, had a study hall at the end of the day that they used to warm up during. Hayden’s hatred was still going strong and it fed into his competitive rage quite a bit. That and Brett’s eyes on him as he warmed up.

He let the sound of Brett and Mason talking fade into background noise as he engaged in an ill advised pissing contest with Hayden. It’s ill advised nature reared its head fully as he let his last throw take on a bit more strength then he reasonably should've had. As he approached his teammate in goal who was still sprawled on the ground he heard Brett ask Mason about Hayden. He could feel Mason’s glee. Liam was sure he was pulling up their middle school yearbook. He wasn’t going to dwell on how Brett would feel about his and Hayden’s matching black eyes. It wasn’t as if his control issues were a secret. Before he could finish assisting his teammate in goal he heard someone racing towards the field in search of an inhaler. Why they would head to the field for it he didn’t understand. Maybe they were hoping the med kit kept by the athletics team would have one? He listened more intently to whoever was yelling. Scott was having an asthma attack.

Scott’s asthma was something Liam had only heard stories of. Scott had been a werewolf the whole time Liam had known him meaning no asthma. Liam abandoned his teammate. He was off like a shot to get to Scott. As he slammed into the locker room he almost took out the center lockers in his haste to get to the med kit. It contained an inhaler for emergencies and Liam wasn’t sure if Scott’s locker would even have a current one. He was leaving a path of destruction that he’d need to tidy up once he was sure Scott would be ok.

Seeing his alpha almost catatonic on the floor of one of the science labs was a scary sight. When Scott got hurt Liam knew he’d ultimately be fine as long as he was still able to move. If they could move they could heal. The stillness aside from the panting was unsettling. If he hadn’t had the ability to heal he likely would have had friction burns on his knees from the speed he slammed himself across the floor to Scott’s side. He needed Scott to move. He pressed the inhaler into Scott’s hand. Scott wasn’t moving. Scott wasn’t bringing the inhaler to his mouth and stopping his asthma attack.

“Scott, use your inhaler.” He twisted his hands in the hem of his shorts. He glanced around and leaned in closer. “Scott.” He let himself shift slightly as he said it. He didn’t really carry the same command as Scott but it still managed to kick Scott’s brain back online enough to have him shake his inhaler and take one puff then a moment later the second. With Scott now visibly fine the room started to clear out without something to see. Ms.Finch didn’t put up a fight as Liam took charge of Scott.

“Make sure he goes to the nurse.” He nodded to her and got Scott back on his feet. As he pulled Scott up he ignored Scott’s claim to be fine. He took a majority of Scott’s weight and moved them out of the room. The ease with which he could do this was a sign that Scott’s claim wasn’t the truth. Mason and Brett were hovering outside the room having followed him inside. He directed Scott towards them instead of the nurses office that he was supposed to be escorting Scott to. Scott squinted at Brett with slight confusion.

“I’m okay Liam.” Scott’s reassurance was no more effective this time then the previous one had been. He did remove himself from Liam though and was standing fully on his own.

“This shouldn’t be happening.” Liam's gaze shifted to Brett. As the only born wolf he knew the most by default. The unwavering surprise he saw was not comforting. If werewolves spontaneously regained their asthma then Brett had certainly never seen it.

“It wasn’t an actual asthma attack. Or at least I don’t think it was. It was my suppressed memory, the one the book is supposed to trigger. I just didn’t expect it to be like that.” Everyone had gotten their own copy after Lydia had made copies on Monday. Most of the pack had participated in an impromptu pack meeting last night and finished the book. Liam was still only five chapters into the copy Lydia had given him. It was not the kind of bedtime story he was interested in so he hadn’t been in a rush.

“Malia almost got hit by a car.” It probably shouldn’t have been a surprise that even their memories were starting to be hazardous.

“Liam, can I borrow your copy after you're done?” Mason needed to work on his timing if he wanted to stop getting odd looks from their packmates.

“Absolutely not. What if you get hurt?” Liam was absolutely not letting Mason anywhere near that book until after they’d defeated the Dread Doctors.

“As fascinating as it is to try to piece this together I have to get back for practice.” Brett seemed uncharacteristically awkward interrupting.

“I’ll walk you to your car!” Liam likely came off as an overeager puppy but he didn’t care. Seeing Scott like that had shaken him a bit. He did feel a bit odd as he walked with Brett to his car, like maybe he should have continued to hound Scott about what had just happened. The concern fled his mind as Brett leaned back against the driver's side door and dragged Liam in for a messy kiss.

“I’d ask how you are but it seems clear that it’s not as easy a question as it’s supposed to be.” Brett hadn’t actually pulled far away when he broke the kiss instead leaving their foreheads pressed together.

“I hate to say it but on the Beacon Hills scale of bad things that was probably pretty tame.” If he acted like it wasn't that big of a deal he wouldn’t have to think about what it would actually mean for Scott’s asthma to return. How he may not be able to heal as well. How Scott would be more likely to get hurt in his endless crusade to protect his people.

“I’m sure Scott is right and there's nothing to worry about Liam. Your alpha is strong. He’ll be fine.” Liam pressed forward for another kiss. He lets his hands ball up in Brett’s stupid Devenford vest keeping him close. The vests had always seemed like the most pretentious uniform option and most of the students opted for the polos or sweaters. Liam wouldn’t admit, even under duress, that Brett did manage to pull it off. He made the private school asshole thing work for him. He made it work well enough that Liam was making the questionable choice to make out with him pressed up against his third hand car in the parking lot where anyone could see.

He could feel his phone vibrating in his pocket breaking him out of the moment. “I should let you get back for practice.” His hands are still fisted in the other beta’s sweater vest. He gets a final soft kiss as a goodbye. Looking to his phone to see what had interrupted them he supposed he shouldn’t have been surprised to see it was Mason. Mason who was, upon returning to the building, on the stairs by the enerance in the direct line of sight of where Liam had been publicly making out with Brett.

“So do we get to talk about it now?” Mason looked expectantly at Liam. “You’re not supposed to have to keep secrets from me since I know about the supernatural. So spill.” Liam trudged back towards the field but dutifully headed towards the bleachers so he could give Mason answers.

“There’s not much to spill Mase. We’re trying it out.”

“Trying what out? Is it serious? Is it casual? Have you hooked up?” Mason was going a mile a minute but his last question made Liam’s face flame. “Dude!”

“It wasn’t like that!” His voice was loud enough that a few students still out on the field practicing glanced over. “It wasn’t like that.” He repeated at a much more reasonable volume.

“So what was it like then?”

“We just made out and then we went to sleep. I thought you saw me get dropped off this morning?”

“You spent the night? Honestly this feels like a bigger deal than the werewolf thing.” Mason was probably being dramatic.

“Yes I spent the night. I went over to see Lori and then after that I ended up with Brett and he asked if I wanted to stay.”

“ I can’t believe we went to Sinema so you could be my wingman and somehow ended up with a boyfriend.”

“He’s not my-“

“You spent the night and he played footsie with you in front of me and my breakfast burrito last weekend. That’s not casual.” Liam slumped down in the bleachers.

“I know.” He covered his face with his hands. “I like him and it’s definitely all going to crash and burn.” Mason's hand landed on his shoulder and gave it a gentle shake.

“I’m sure it won’t. Also has it been long enough to say that I totally called this.”

“It will never have been long enough. Maybe it’s a fake memory from the Dread Doctors or a witch's curse.”

“Do we have confirmation on the existence of witches?”

“I’ve never met one but with all the Druid stuff I wouldn’t be surprised.”

“Intense.”

***

Unlike Mason Liam doesn’t exactly have a lot of free flowing cash. He is, however, set on actually paying Hayden back. It’s probably a sign of Beacon Hill’s questionable quality of education that he didn’t get diagnosed until he was fourteen and almost facing legal action. It wasn’t as if there hadn’t been signs that there was something different. Hayden accidentally getting hit when he was having what was probably an episode was just one of many. Looking back on it he’s glad he didn’t hurt her more, that getting hit hadn’t pushed him farther. As just a human he had been capable of doing quite a bit of damage. That was probably why Hayden had held onto her grudge despite the fact that it had been over three years. The what-ifs and could have been’s that existed in her head based on his violence.

Paying her back wouldn’t actually get rid of them but it might show her that he wasn’t a danger to her anymore. That’s why he was at Sinema before they opened with one-hundred and eighty-eight dollars worth of allowance and birthday money to finish paying her. Hayden had never been happy to see him and she certainly wasn't starting now based on what happened with her face when she spots him skirting around a few of her coworkers. It's directly on him though this time. He did show up at her place of work. He wasn’t going to try to give her a wad of cash at school though and he wasn’t going to show up at her house. He knew for a fact that would be going too far.

“What do you want Liam?” She’s exasperated and he hasn’t even said anything.

“I have the rest of what I owe you.” He goes for his wallet to get it out for her. She doesn’t want him here and so he’s going to get this over with quickly. He doesn’t love it in Sinema anyways, there was a reason he hadn’t been back. Even without all the people, it smells weird in a bad way. It’s strong enough that Hayden can smell it based on her wrinkled nose. It may be wrinkled in distaste at his existence though.

“I don’t want your money Liam.” She keeps working, probably in an attempt to get rid of him.

“You said I owed you two-hundred. Here it is.” She continued to unpack the glasses she’d grabbed on the bar.

“I really don’t care that you’re suddenly trying to be a good person.”

“I’m just trying to make up for what I did to you in the sixth grade.” She let out a scoff.

“That's not happening. Look, could you just forget about it?”

“I know it for your medication. I don’t know what you take, it's none of my business, but whatever it is I’m sure it's expensive so just take it.” He held the money out for her. She looks down at the money before finally reaching out to take it on her way past him. She was moving towards the booths farther from the bar, turning on the candles as she went. It hadn’t seemed like she was sending him away when she took the money so he continued to walk with her.

“Phil takes half of it anyway.” She's frowning. “It’s for mycophenolate. I had a kidney transplant a few years ago.” He reaches out to grab the other tea light on the table and click it on. “I don’t want my sister to have to pay for it so here I am.”

“Does he really take half?”

“Yes and he never shuts up about it. I mean just listen.” Liam did and heard nothing. He glanced back to Hayden and saw her continuing to glare, almost getting more intense at whatever she was hearing. He listens again and sure enough Phil is bragging from where he is over by the bar. There is no chance Hayden can hear them. Not unless she’s like him or more likely a chimera.

“Could you do something for me?” He’s about to absolutely ruin whatever momentary truce they’d just managed. She gives a hesitant nod. “Close your eyes for two seconds.”

“What?”

“Just for like three seconds ok?” Hayden’s sign is dramatic but she does what he asked. Mason and Brett had managed to come up with a list of traits to look for. Glowing eyes seemed like a clear indicator he could easily test for. He should have thought about how he was going to test it before he got Hayden to close her eyes.

“Liam?” Her eyes were still closed but she’d lifted her eyebrow in question. Below the booth Liam spotted an unused glow stick. That could work. In his rush to grab it and crack it he manages to bump his head off the bottom of the booth. At least it makes Hayden laugh though her eyes have opened back up. As he clambers back to his feet she squeezes them shut again smiling. With the cracked glow stick hovering in the air by Hayden’s face he finally instructed her to open them. Her eyes are glowing.

“Shit.” Hayden’s amusement drops off her face.

“What? You’re acting weird.” She’s inching away from him.

“Ok I’m about to tell you something and it's going to sound insane. Please just hear me out.” His face must show that he’s serious. Where the hell does he even start? He didn’t have a great introduction and kidnapping Hayden would be so much worse than punching her. “Fuck ok. So you’re a chimera.” Her mouth immediately opens to question what he's said. He distracts her from the question by continuing to talk and moving to the next table so that Hayden can continue turning on the tealights. “When I say chimera I mean that you have two sets of DNA in your body. You also have two sets of supernatural DNA.” There are no more tea lights to turn on and Hayden is running out of patience and amusement is almost out.

“You sound insane.”

“I know I do but I’m being serious. There are these guys called the Dread Doctors who've been experimenting on people to see if they can create a part werewolf, part other supernatural creature.” Hayden has decided he’s unstable enough that she’d led him out of the club portion of Sinema and towards the back where the staff exit is. She makes a break for it. He’s not far behind. “Hayden, wait!” He's managed to screw this up so bad that she's leaving work to get away.

“You sound insane.” She's repeating herself but to be fair this is crazy. “It was weird that you had me closing my eyes so you could stare into them with a glow stick. Me being some dead doctor's science experiment is on another level.”

“They’re Dread Doctors and I can prove it just-” He’s not focused enough when he shifts. Instead of it being a matter of fact showing of his werewolf features but instead an eruption of teeth and sound. She punches him. Another sign was supposed to be immense strength. When he hit the ground he couldn’t help but think that she had just checked another box.

***

When Liam had first noticed that Hayden was a Chimera he hadn’t really thought they would end up like this. He had no clue where they were only that wherever it was the Dread Doctors hadn’t had hospitality in mind. Whatever sludge they had pumped into him had left him dizzy. He could talk and sit up. Doing anything else was beyond his ability. He wasn’t even sure he could remember things. It was all so fuzzy. He thinks he might have been screaming? His throat aches enough for that. He shouldn’t be aching though. He should be healing. He should be up and trying to escape. Instead Liam is curled up at Hayden’s side trying to remain conscious. He can’t believe he managed to convince Hayden that they could keep her safe only to get her kidnapped and very likely terminated. He was truly awful at this whole werewolf thing.

“Liam, you need to stay awake.” Hayden was gently elbowing him from where he’d started to fall more heavily into her side. She didn’t want to be awake on her own now that they’d seen Zach get dragged away.

“You think I’m not trying?” He couldn’t help but be a little snippy with her.

“If you are, you're not doing a very good job.” The antagonistic banter was soothing in its normalcy. He would miss this. He would miss many things. They weren’t dead yet though so no more of that.

“It’s a little difficult considering they pumped me full of that sludge.”

“You’ve had worse I’m sure.”

“You’re right. I think you got some of your blood in my mouth when you kicked my ass back in sixth grade. That was definitely way worse.” He could feel a small smile return to his face. He was still unwell but this was surprisingly helpful.

“Gross Liam. There is no way that’s true.” This time she wasn’t elbowing him to stay awake. She also managed a small smile. It quickly vanished. “Do you think they’re going to find us?” It had only happened three times so far but each time he saw Hayden be vulnerable his heart twisted in his chest. For all that they’d hated each other she was just some girl who’d been dragged into something she hadn’t asked for.

“Of course they are.” He had faith in his pack. He had to.

“What is it like to be a part of a pack?” He wonders if the idea of a pack is a good one for Hayden. She only had her sister who’d taken custody of Hayden from their grandparents as soon as she could before they had promptly passed. It had been the talk of 8th grade at the time.

“It's nice. You have a built-in second family I guess at least in Scott’s case. Sometimes it’s an actual family and sometimes it's more of a community thing. I actually think we're a little different from how it normally goes because of how young we all are. Maybe you can try to come to one of our pack nights when all of this dies down.” Scott would definitely welcome Hayden into the pack after this was all over. There was no way his guilt over using her as bait would allow for anything else.

“Do you know a lot of other werewolf packs? I mean how many werewolves could there possibly be before everyone knows about them.” Her question sounded a bit panicked but maybe he was reading into it. The panic easily could have been from the whole them being kidnapped and her secretly being a science experiment thing.

“Personally I only know one other current pack. There used to be the Hale pack right in Beacon Hills and also a Talbot pack somewhere nearby but they both died out.” Perhaps that was a poor choice of words. “Satomi’s pack is actually pretty big or it was. They run more like a commune probably because of how many of them there are.”

“I’m not sure I’d believe you if I wasn’t currently living this. Honestly I’m still hoping this is a really weird nightmare.” Liam shrugged at that. He hadn’t believed it either.

“It's not so bad. This isn’t how it- well ok this is the first time I’ve been- it's not normally like this.” Hayden did not look reassured. A noise echoed through the weird cage they were being kept in from someone fast approaching. “They’re coming back.” He’s managed to recover enough that he and Hayden can help each other to their feet. He can smell that the movement has jostled Hayden’s injury enough that any of the small amount of healing she’d managed was ruined. She should have already healed but he was trying not to think about it.

“Liam? Hayden?” Never before had Liam ever thought he’d be happy to see Theo. Stiles would appreciate hearing about the other wolf getting electrocuted after all this was over. It’d probably make him feel better about the fact that Theo had staged their heroic rescue.

They were stumbling through the tunnels on their way out much slower than was probably safe. Any time he or Hayden tried to move faster though they ended up careening into the walls together. Theo had tried to assist them but they had decided they were going to continue to cling to each other instead. It felt like it had been over an hour in between the time Theo had shown up to rescue them and they’d finally actually gotten in his truck and were safely driving away.

In the back of Theo’s truck it was becoming clear that Hayden’s injuries not healing was an issue that now needed to be addressed. Her breathing was labored and sweat was beading on her temples and dripping down her face. “I should be healed.” She gritted out. Theo glanced at the two of them in his rearview mirror.

“Maybe it’s the pain? I can try again or-” Instead of finishing he glances up to try to meet Theo’s gaze in the mirror.

“I haven’t either and I’m driving.” Theo gives a helpless shrug. “We can try once we’re back at Scott’s house.”

“Ok um.” He grasps Hayden’s hand again. He’s not being pumped full of what had to have been wolfsbane so he’s already got a better chance. He’s had his pain taken by plenty of people. It hurts of course, taking her pain. Her gasps of both relief and also surprise are soothing. He's grateful he could provide her that relief this time. He doesn’t expect it to be so draining though. It feels like time is coming in and out for the rest of the ride. He tries to keep taking her pain in the moments when he’s not out of it. They’re both so tired by the time they get to the McCall house that they pass out on the couch on top of one another before anyone else has made it back.

Chapter Text

Since everything had started falling apart the previous weekend Liam, Mason, Hayden, and Corey had formed a loose quartet during school hours. Liam was pretty sure it was mostly for his benefit as he wasn’t handling the disintegrating of his pack well. After he’d been kidnapped all he’d wanted was to keep his pack close and yet he’d lost most of them. It probably seemed dramatic as it had only been a week but most of the pack hadn’t convened at the McCall house on Sunday. He hadn’t spoken to Malia, Kira, Stiles, or Lydia in at least two days.

He was the last addition, if you excluded Theo, and it seemed like he’d been dropped. At least he’d made new connections. He was surprised Corey had wanted anything to do with him or Hayden after what Scott had done in order to find them but Mason was enough of a draw to cancel that out.

“You don’t need to check on me in between each period.” Hayden was laughing as she said it so he knew he wasn’t smothering her too much. She was certainly capable of letting him know what she wanted. They’d had some variation of this conversation every day since they were taken. Sometimes she sounded more scared than others.

“I want to.” Being kidnapped alongside her had given them a bit of an unshakable bond. She linked arms with him as they ducked out from the bus area. She and Corey were handling being chimeras much better then he had started off handling the werewolf of it all. Hayden did seem to find the sensory input she received a little much. Meeting away from everyone by the buses allowed him to confirm Hayden was ok and for her to have a break. She linked her arm through his as they returned to the building.

They met with Corey and Mason for their shared physics class which soothed him. Technically Hayden and Corey were not pack. Mason was barely pack. Liam didn’t think he really cared about those technicallys though. It was the same bit of instinct that made him feel like Lori and Brett were more than just a friend and boyfriend respectively. It could have been anxiety and not his supernatural side.

He felt like he was making rounds everyday to try to keep himself in check. He started in the morning with his parents and then at school his pack members even if he didn’t talk to most of them. At some point he’d text Brett and Lori so he knew they were okay. He hadn’t been able to visit last Wednesday in an attempt to make up for his forty-eight hour vanishing act. Ms.McCall had been kind enough to call and tell his parents it was an impromptu two day sleepover. Finally he’d end the night at home curled up on the couch with his mom while his dad read in the chair beside them. It would be a nice routine if it wasn’t fueled by the anxiety that any of them were next. That at any moment those bonds would disintegrate too.

This Wednesday he’d been allowed to go though it was just him and Brett since Lori had an extended rehearsal. It wasn’t quite hell week but she was putting in extra time to help with backstage and set duties. This left him alone outside the locker room at Devenford waiting for Brett. Playing on his phone and listening to music was only so effective when you have heightened senses but he’d done this enough times that the other players barely glanced at him as they shuffled out. Without Lori there Brett could be immediately handsy without repercussions which he must have realized beforehand. Brett came in hot, boxing Liam back against the bulletin board on the wall behind him. Brett always emerged last as captain and so the hall had cleared out. His intent to take advantage of that was clear as he pressed an eager kiss to the mouth below.

The bag on Brett’s shoulder hit the ground with a thud as he freed up his hand to cradle Liam’s face. It felt like his mouth was being pried open. He settled his hands on the taller beta’s waist, not sure what to do but happy to figure it out as they went. As his grip tightened and he brought them closer together Brett let out a groan.

Horrifically the groan was accompanied by the sound of the locker room door opening. There was no way to hide what they’d been up to. Brett’s incredibly panicked eyes met his. “Brett what are you- Dunbar?” Coach Andrews' voice hit him like a sledgehammer. It could only have been him of course. Brett was the last player there; the only person left after him was the coach. Brett slowly turned, keeping his body partially in front of Liam’s. The hands that had previously rested on Brett’s waist had dropped and instead were fisted at his sides. His claws hadn’t come out yet at least. He was resolutely staring at the place above coach Andrews shoulder.

“Hey coach.” At least Brett was here to keep most of the attention on him.

“Brett what are you doing? That is completely inappropriate behavior for the school building after hours or not.” Coach Andrews appears to have decided not to acknowledge the Liam of it all and instead fall back on a spiel about appropriate behavior that he has absolutely given before.

“Of course coach I’m sorry and we will go right now.” Brett reaches one hand down for his bag and the other encircles Liam’s wrist to tug him along.

“Sorry.” Liam’s voice is robotic and reflexive. They make it halfway down the hall before coach Andrews speaks again.

“Dunbar, you should wait outside when you need a ride. The building is closed to the public outside of special events.”

“Right of course, sorry.” He keeps his eyes straight ahead on their escape as he responds. He’s not even sure coach Andrews can hear him. Once they’re in the lot and in the car safely away from coach Andrews apologies start to spill from Brett’s mouth.

“Liam I shouldn’t have put you in that situation I wasn’t thinking.” Liam manages a nod in response.

“Can we go?” He just wants to be as far from Devenford as possible. He doesn’t let Brett hold his hand until they’ve pulled onto the main road.

“I’m sorry. I should have been paying attention.” Brett apologizes again as soon as Liam relents to the hand holding.

“I could have been paying attention too. No wonder I managed to get myself and Hayden kidnapped.” It sounds as self deprecating as he meant it to.

“Hey, that wasn’t your fault. You never should have been put in that position. Scott is supposed to protect you.” That's the wrong thing to say and Liam feels it itching at the back of his brain. Not only was he just forced to see coach Andrews with almost no buffer but he’s just been kidnapped and the supermoon is coming. It's a bad cocktail.

“I don’t need protection!” He’s gone from zero to sixty on Brett. They’d left and he’d been in a cold funk. Now there was heat and a barely held back shift as he responded. Brett doesn’t react visibly but Liam feels a quick squeeze on his hand that he thinks is unintentional.

“You don’t need protection but you deserve it. Satomi took us into hiding during the deadpool to keep us safe. Scott is letting you be bait? It's not right.” Were this normal it would have been another wrong thing to say. He hadn’t started off on good terms with Scott but now he was one of the most important people in his life. Lately though he’d become distant. Stiles and Lydia had paired off, Malia had been doing her own thing with Kira busy, and Scott had been with Theo during his free time. It seemed as if whenever Liam had looked for Scott the past three days he’d gotten both of them. Instead of Brett’s statement adding to the anger licking up his brain it's just there.

“I wasn’t bait Hayden was.” He might not be pissed about what Brett has implied about Scott but he’s still going to defend his alpha. His defense gets a scoff.

“Collateral then.” Brett gives one last intentional squeeze to Liam's hand before taking his back so he could finish getting them back to the commune. Even without Lori there Brett seemed to have learned the routine from previous visits well enough to enact a modified version of it. The routine was helpful. Brett spread out his homework on his desk and Liam felt weird doing homework on the other beta’s bed so he found himself using the footboard as a backrest and spreading out his own work on the floor. It wasn’t exactly the same but it was close enough.

Lori did get out in time for dinner so Liam rode with Brett to pick her up. It didn’t make sense for them to go out twice so Liam texted his mom that he would be home early. Brett likely realized that Liam was stressed about the safety of his friends as they picked Lori up before taking Liam home. When they pulled into the lot once more Liam got out of the front seat to let Lori have it. While still outside of the car making the switch Lori pulled him in for a hug. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Me too Lor.” With the seat switch enacted Brett takes Liam home. His dad must have a late shift as his mom’s car is the only one in the driveway.

“Bye Li! See you next week.” Lori twists in her seat to give him a smile and wave. Brett had left the car on but was getting out so he must have been planning on walking Liam to the door a few feet away. Cute.

Liam hastily gets out as well. His mom has definitely clocked the extra car in her driveway but she’d give him a few minutes before she came to the door worried about why he hasn’t come inside. He shouldn’t waste the time he had. Liam comes to a stop on the stoop. He’s a step up but still doesn’t manage to be taller than Brett. He speaks first. “Thank you for today. I wasn’t good company but I appreciated that you tried.” It’s hard to resist the urge to play with the strap of his bag slung over his shoulder. Brett’s giving him a small genuine smile.

“You deserve a lot more than you think.” Brett’s seemingly very aware of the fact that Liam’s mom is right nearby or maybe their encounter with coach Andrews has made him more cautious. Whatever it is when he goes in to kiss Liam goodbye it's close mouthed and sweet. Liam pulls away from it with a smile.

“I’ll try to remember that. Goodnight Brett.”

“Goodnight Li.” Brett presses a final quick kiss to Liam’s cheek and returns to the car.

“You two are gross.” Escapes from the car when Brett opens the door to the car and Liam opens the door to go inside.

With the door shut behind him he sees the car back out of the driveway through the window. He also sees his mom, spoon in hand, staring at Liam. Her brow slowly lifts. “So who was that? I swear I recognize him but I can’t put my finger on it.” Clearly still trying to figure out who Brett was, his mom returned to the kitchen to keep an eye on dinner. Fall meant soup. Liam lowers his backpack to leave it by the door for tomorrow and heads into the kitchen.

Liam takes a seat on a stool by the counter. His mom isn’t looking at him as she gives what is probably an unnecessary stir to the crockpot. It's on warm, which means it's done. He knows what she’s doing though. Liam is more likely to talk if he can start the conversation by confessing to the ether. It takes a moment before he can. His mom is in the cabinet grabbing bowls when he speaks. “You probably remember Brett from lacrosse. He goes to Devenford.” If he weren’t a werewolf he wouldn’t have caught the way his mom froze in what she was doing as she quickly and seamlessly went back to ladling soup into the bowls.

“You mean Brett who you had a sleepover with last month?” His face heats up.

“We weren’t dating then!” They hadn’t put a name on it at that point anyway and they hadn’t ever been on an actual date at that point either. It’s clear that's not the point his mom was getting at though.

“I just hope you’re being safe sweetie.” She placates him with her words but his face gets even redder. He didn’t want to be having that conversation.

“Mom, you don’t need to worry about me okay?”

“I’m always going to worry about you squirt. Now eat your soup.” His mom definitely wants to ask more questions but she must sense that they would make him clam up. Instead, as they eat at the counter, she asks him how his day was. He’s been trying not to let her know that he’s been having a hard time and been half successful. When they’re done he lets his mom make him his own cup of sleepy time so they can watch an episode of whatever sitcom is on that night and then retire feeling better then he has in a while.

***

Watching silver blood trickle down Hayden’s face during their check in is startling. Just the day before she’d been fine. His fear must show because she immediately seems panicked. “Don’t tell anyone.” She grabs his biceps and her hands are shaking. “You can’t tell anyone!”

“I won’t. Maybe it doesn’t mean anything?” They both know it does. Silver blood meant failure, it meant death.

“I feel fine.” Hayden is attempting to reassure the both of them. “We have class and they only come out at night right?” He nods and lets her lead them out from the bus area. The zipper of his bomber jacket isn’t all that loud but he can only fiddle with it after he and Hayden head their separate ways. When he tries to fidget with it as a distraction while they’re walking back she swats at his hands. If the small sound of a zipper is frustrating her then her control has slipped and she's not actually fine. He can’t help but lose focus in his first class consumed with the idea that she isn’t okay.

In their second period history class, even though Hayden is right there, he has a moment of panic when he hears the sound of an ambulance. He twists to look at her, make sure she's still breathing. When she turns to look back at him they realize.

“Corey.” Despite her shock and fear she remembers to whisper because they’re still in class. As soon as the teacher's back is to him Liam is on his phone texting Mason then Scott trying to get an update. He hasn’t managed to get a response by the time he and Hayden have to head separate ways. He doesn’t learn a single thing in his third period class, his focus instead on the steady beats in the room next to him where Hayden is.

He’s so distracted during third period that he almost misses the texts. Not the texts from Mason and Scott which had come right at the beginning of the period but texts from both Lori and Brett. Lori’s actually managed to read as more relaxed then Brett’s. Her message read: Syd txtd & said there was an ambulance at Beacon?!?

Brett’s message was much more panicked. It was probably fueled by his anxiety from the previous night. Liam hadn’t managed to bring himself out of his funk and it’d been clear that Brett felt like it was his fault. He had sent several messages in quick succession. That’s what had originally caught his attention. The first one read: Lori said someone got carted away from your school. You good? The second one said: Mason said it was Corey but that he was alive when they loaded him up. After that he’d gotten: I know you’re already involved but please be safe. Being in class made fully responding difficult so he shot off a message that he’d try and resolved himself to call and give an in-depth update later.

At lunch he shows Hayden the responses he’d gotten. Corey is alive. It wasn’t the Dread Doctors but instead Corey deteriorating to the point of vomiting up black and silver blood. Neither of them had much of an appetite knowing that Corey was hospitalized. It was just the two of them as Mason had been sent home due to the traumatizing nature of what he’d witnessed. The guidance counselor had insisted on the fact unknowing that Mason was deeply entrenched in all this. Liam’s not sure if it's better to have him far away from everything that's happening or worse because Mason is outside of their protection.

The whole day is a wash honestly. He doesn’t learn a single thing in his classes. By the time his last class is out he’s spent the whole day alternating between panic and trying to figure out how to keep Hayden safe. All he’s managed to come up with is staying with her and hoping that numbers would help keep her safe. With Mason having been sent home he’s rideless. Hayden has a car at least so that fixes both things. He can get a ride and keep her safe.

“Liam, I have to go to work! What am I supposed to do?” Hayden was slumped against the driver's side window as they sat in the parking lot.

“I’ll just go with you.”

“To work? Yea that’ll go over really well with Phil.”

“Then I’ll stay in the car until you open. You park close enough that I’ll be able to hear anything go wrong.” Hayden wasn’t sold on the plan but she was scared like he was and so she was willing to try.

Sinema’s parking lot was empty. There wasn’t a single other car there. “Where is everyone?” Hayden wasn’t necessarily posing the question to anyone just wondering aloud. It did let him know that it wasn’t normal for the lot to be so empty.

“Maybe I should walk you in?” He got a nod in response from her. Just like the parking lot the building was empty. He couldn’t hear anyone in the building other than Hayden who was behind the bar making sure that they weren’t about to stumble on a chimera corpse.

“This is weird right?”

“Definitely.”The lights flickered and a movie kicked on. “They’re here.” Liam closed in on the bar trying to make sure he was close to her. The Dread Doctors were probably in the building but they hadn’t entered the main space.

“We should run.” Hayden grabbed his wrist to make sure they didn’t get split up as they headed for one of the exits. They don’t even make it out of the main space before the Dread Doctors are there and attacking. Liam can’t fight them off by himself and Hayden can’t engage in the fight because it’d put her close enough to get grabbed. Not that the distance stops that from happening. Even with Scott and Theo managing to show up making it three on three he still loses sight of her.

When Theo yanks one of the Dread Doctors off Liam and tells him to “Grab Hayden and get out of here,” he’s not sure where to find her. Sinema was designed to have multiple nooks and crannies for people to sneak off and use. Listening for her does reveal that she’s struggling over behind one of the beaded curtains. He already feels like a failure as he’s scrambling to his feet and rushing towards her. The feeling of failure is cemented when he pushes through the curtain just in time to see them stick her and fill her with mercury.

Hayden’s body is tossed aside and Liam is tossed towards where she’s crumpled on the floor after he lunges for the Dread Doctor that had injected her. Instead of trying again he rolls so he’s facing Hayden. She’s still breathing. He pushes himself onto his hands and knees. The Dread Doctors are saying something in the other room but they’re also leaving. “Hayden, look at me.” He stretches a hand out to touch her shoulder. Her eyes are closed but she hasn’t passed out as once he makes contact they open up. They may be a more silver shade or he might be filling in that detail.

Getting Hayden up isn’t easy. She can barely stand let alone stand up straight. Liam has to wrap an arm around her waist and half drag her back to Theo, who managed to get himself upright, and Scott who's still flat on the floor.

“We have to help Hayden! ” Technically he’s speaking to Scott but it feels more like he’s talking to Theo. Scott hasn’t even gotten up yet and they have to do something fast. It’s not clear what they need to do but time matters. Hayden hunches inwards and lets out a moan of pain as if to confirm his thoughts.

“I can take us to the Animal Clinic in my truck. We can get her care there.” Theo’s clearly thinking the same thing. Getting Scott on his feet Theo continues to take charge of the situation and tells Scott to meet them there instead of asking him what he’d like to do. Unlike when Theo rescued Hayden and Liam from the Dread Doctors this time Theo wraps his arm around Hayden’s waist and helps Liam get her out the door and to his truck.

It’s a repeat of the last time the three of them were in a vehicle together. Theo driving as fast as he can to get them out of danger while Liam tries to take Hayden’s pain. “What do we do? Why can’t she heal? It’s not like she’s a failure. She never lost her mind, she’s been acting normal, not like Tracey or Lucas.”

“The chimeras are like cheap knockoffs so even if she’s mentally the same her body can’t do the same things ours can.”

“What if we changed her? Then she’d be able to heal the same way.”

“It’s a good idea Liam but we can’t change her not like-“

“Scott.” Liam interrupts Theo as his mind races a mile a minute. All Liam can do for her is keep taking her pain. Scott though, Scott can fix it. It’s a mantra he keeps repeating the rest of the way there.

Scott can fix it. They finally park.

Scott can fix it. It’s just starting to rain as he carries Hayden inside. She’s too weak to walk.

Scott can fix it. Hayden doesn’t want to be on the metal table after the last time. Liam sits with her on the floor in the corner instead.

He can't help but wonder how things have managed to get even worse than they already were. Hayden and Corey were supposed to be fine. There was no way they could be considered failures. Yet here he was cradling Hayden’s body on the floor of the animal clinic. She wasn’t dead yet though. He could hear Stiles and Scott arguing outside the clinic. He’d been incredibly stressed waiting for his alpha to arrive. Theo was fine but he couldn’t fix anything, they’d established that.

Liam had known that Scott, Stiles, and Lydia had hit a rough patch with Stiles and Lydia pairing off more and more while Scott spent more and more time with Theo. He hadn’t let himself worry though mainly because he’d been too busy with worrying about the chimeras and his own relationship. Maybe he should have cared more about them though as Scott sent Stiles, sent their pack, away. Hayden was dying and they needed all hands on deck if they were going to help her. He couldn’t help but think about what he’d talked about with Theo in the truck as Scott finally joins them in the clinic.

They could still fix this. Scott could still fix this. “You gotta give her the bite!”

“No.” The blood was pounding in his ears.

“What do you mean?” He was momentarily confused before it was quickly eclipsed by anger. “You said we would do anything we could to save her. You promised!”

“Liam look at her.” Scott was still talking, giving bullshit excuses, but Liam was looking at Hayden. She wasn’t well. His friend was hurt and he couldn’t do anything to help her now that he had failed to keep her safe.

“It saved my life.”

“You know that was different.” Did he? Yes. Did it matter? No.

“I’m not going to do something that could kill her.” The fear that Liam feels as Scott starts to have another panic attack lives under his anger. Theo tosses over an inhaler.

“There's got to be another way.” Scott’s voice is steady like his heart. He believes that there is something else they can do. Liam does not. He has faith in his alpha, he does, but Hayden’s life is on the line.

“Whatever the chances are of her surviving a werewolf bite she's not going to survive this if she doesn’t get help soon.” Theo’s voice sends Liam into a harder spiral. Scott takes this as a signal to call his mom to see if there's a non-supernatural medical intervention they can take.

It turns out there is something they can try. Melissa is a god send. She talks them through what she’s going to try. He doesn’t expect it to hurt Hayden more than she already is. It's reflexive to reach out and try to stop Hayden from getting hurt. To share the obvious, “You’re hurting her.”

Melissa’s response of “You’re hurting me”, is a harsh reality check. Theo is talking and so is Scott but he can’t do anything more than look down at Hayden sickly pale on the table. He reaches for her ankle under the blanket to try and relieve some of her pain. At some point Scott and Theo leave the room but he’s still focused on pulling out the pain Hayden is having. At another point Scott comes back to check in.

“It's not working.” Liam has been draining her pain for an unknown period of time at this point. It hasn’t changed at all, lessened in any way.

“She should be improving by now.” Melissa says it clinically. She is a nurse in this moment, still caring but trying to keep it professional. That doesn’t prevent her from stroking Hayden’s hair off her face.

“Can you call Val?” Hayden’s voice is weak.

“I think she’s at the high school. Theo said there were cops everywhere.”

“I don’t want to die without my sister.” Liam feels his heart break. She doesn’t think she’s going to survive this. Hayden thinks she’s going to die and all she wants is her sister, the last remaining family member she has. Her sister who has no idea what the hell has been going on with Hayden for the past month.

“What’re you going to tell Val?” She deserves to know.

“Everything if I have to.” Scott agrees. He takes his coat and leaves Liam and Melissa to keep watch over Hayden. It’s a miserable silence that settles over the three. Finally Melissa declares that they’re trying something else.

“We need to get her to the hospital where I have equipment needed for a human.” The needles and tubes Melissa had attached were carefully pulled out and the spots were bandaged. As he helped Melissa prepare Hayden for transportation he couldn’t help but think that he was preparing her just to die somewhere else.

Chapter Text

After almost killing Scott Liam asks his mom if she'll drive him to an additional counseling appointment. Since being bitten he’d dropped to every other week then quickly to once a month for sessions. They were much less effective when many of the experiences he was having had to be heavily modified in order to be shared in sessions. His session for November was three weeks away and that was too far. Even if the sessions weren’t as helpful as they had been when he was human he knew the right move was to at least attempt to use what he had after his super moon induced relapse. He takes the first session available even though it’s in the middle of the school day.

June seems happy to see him for an additional session. She had advised against dropping from weekly to monthly sessions heavily but he had insisted. “Liam, while I am not glad to hear you’re struggling I’m proud that you utilized your resources in your time of need.” Her cardigan was a soft beige color today.

“I should have used them sooner. I beat up my friend pretty badly during an episode.” It was close enough to the truth. The super moon may have made him more aggressive but the burning numbness he’d experienced as it happened had felt the same as when he destroyed coach Andrews car or beat in the faces of his middle school peers.

“When did this happen?” June is typing on her computer. He doesn’t mind her taking notes as long as they don’t have to look at each other. He’s never liked the eye contact anyways, adding in the lying to her face even for the right reasons is something he wants to avoid.

“Four days ago. He’s okay but I obviously haven’t seen him since then.” Scott was alive so he supposed that would have to suffice as ok.

“What events do you think led to triggering this response? Was it one we’d previously had a focus on for CBT?”

“My other friend Hayden had gotten hurt pretty badly too and I thought it was on Scott.” It didn’t even matter that he couldn’t say an evil chimera tricked me into getting so angry I almost killed somebody. It was the fact that he could get that angry. He was accountable for his actions no matter the role Theo played in it. It's your fault was not an excuse he could ever make again

June nodded and glanced over to him but resumed typing. Liam started back up. “I know it wasn’t on him. He didn’t hurt Hayden. The only one who actually hurt anyone was me.”

“We’ve stepped back several of the things we implemented when you first started seeing me. Sometimes, when we’re doing better, we accidentally sabotage ourselves. We find ourselves doing better so we discontinue the use of the very tools that made us better because We think we don’t need them anymore as we feel better.”

“So what, I fucked myself over?” Perhaps harsher language then he should have been using with June.

“Not on purpose but yes. We took you off your meds so you could join lacrosse then, when lacrosse went well, we cut our sessions down to once a month. With less support when things got bad for the first time since you got your diagnosis you reverted to your old habits.” She was close enough. He’d definitely had moments that would count as relapses, even if they were small, they were all werewolf adjacent though.

“So what, I go back on my meds and reup my sessions?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

“Maybe when we set your appointment up with Dr.Brennan you should discuss other medication options. The Risperdal wasn’t the right fit but there are other options.”

“What if the effects are worse than just being so tired I can’t function?”

“Then we set up another appointment with Dr.Brennan to discuss a dosage or even prescription change. Your what ifs are just excuses powered by fear.” An uncomfortable truth. Something that cannot long be hidden. He was scared of what he could do even before Scott gave him the bite.

“Ok. What times are available with Dr.Brennan?” He wasn’t like Scott, he was a coward, but he could try.

In the end the difference his session makes is likely miniscule in the grand scheme of things but it's better than nothing. It's one session but it's a start. She leaves him, along with a session the next week and an appointment with Dr.Brennan, with the parting wisdom that having hurt one friend didn’t mean he needed to isolate himself from everyone else. That having a strong support system would help not hurt him.

It was with that thought in mind that he finally texted Lori and then Brett that he would be there Wednesday if they would still have him. He had pushed it off until the morning of but he thought it was better than his original plan of just showing up on Wednesday like he hadn’t dropped off the face of the earth. Despite what coach Andrews had said last time Liam had visited he still went inside to wait with Lori. They would just leave immediately like they had the times before he had been caught defiling coach Andrews star player. Technically Brett had been defiling him and there wasn’t any defiling occurring but neither of those things seemed like the kind of thing the coach would care to hear.

“Liam!” Lori’s voice is loud in the empty hallway. Her arms are strong as she drags him in for a tight hug. She’s still in her uniform. The stiff fabric of the maroon polo scratches his cheek and the ends of her hair end up in his eyes. It's the best part of his day. “Dude what the hell is going on? Satomi is being super tight lipped about what she knows but she's definitely let it slip that your pack is in the middle of a shit storm. Again!”

“She said it like that?” He couldn’t help but try to push her buttons.

“Of course not.” She glowered. The lacrosse team exits as a mass, shepherded out by Brett. He was technically the last member out and so he was technically fulfilling his duties.

“Let’s go.” The urgency of leaving apparently extended to leaving the building. After last time Liam was fully on board.

“What’s with the rush?” Lori glanced around as they hauled ass out of the building looking for something wrong.

“Don’t worry about it.” That was absolutely the wrong thing to say to get Lori to let it go.

“Too late. Did something happen at practice?” She’s still under the impression that the urgency is powered by something more serious than general embarrassment. Liam was staying out of it, Brett could dig that hole for them if he wanted to.

“No practice was fine. I’m just done for the day.” Lori starts to drag her heels. Brett’s solution is to physically lift her so she can’t slow them down. Liam doesn’t want to have to tell Lori why Brett is being weird but he is also absolutely not running into coach Andrews again so he helps lift her. Once they hit the stairs outside of the building he stops helping. He’s not trying to get on Lori’s bad side. It’s too late though. By helping Brett he’s revealed that he knows what's going on. She sets her sights on him. As her friend he is the weak link.

“Liam, what is going on?”

“Nothing!” His voice gives away the lie. His heart does too.

“Li, cut the bullshit.” She looks at him expectantly.

“Last week we ran into coach Andrews when we were leaving.” He talks and walks which gets Lori closer to the car so they can leave.

“Legitimately how did you manage that? We’ve never run into him once while we wait.” She contemplates for a moment while Liam throws himself into the backseat. From the safety of the car he watches as she comes to what is probably a mostly correct assumption. “Gross. I wasn’t there once and you pull that shit.”

“Wow Lori, that sounds kinda homophobic.” Brett’s grin as he retorts is quickly replaced when Lori decides to lunge for him to try to wrestle him into submission in the parking lot. For a moment he feels the best he has in weeks. Then, upon the realization that he doesn’t feel like absolute shit, he crashes again. Scott died and he’d helped get him there. If he hadn’t hurt Scott so badly then Scott would have stood a chance against Theo.

The two siblings finally get in the car. Lori’s khakis are dirty and torn at the knees while Brett’s t-shirt has a stretched out neckline and a weird dark spot. He’s managed to permeate the small space with the stink of his sadness in the short amount of time they’d been tussling outside. “So Liam, is there something you want to share maybe?” Lori’s first to broach the topic.

“Not while we’re driving.” He’s going to utilize his support systems or whatever he swears. June would approve. They ride in almost silence with only the low radio and Brett’s mumble singing to the music to distract them.

As soon as they’re parked Lori is twisted around in her seat looking expectantly for him to start sharing. He’d already been in the midst of unbuckling under the apparently wrong assumption that they’d be going inside before he started confessing. “I had an episode after Hayden and Corey died. Then I almost killed Scott and then Theo actually killed him. He’s not dead though! I’m not sure how but he’s alive and fine, I think. He’s not actually talking to me right now which is fine.” Lori blinks slowly and tries to process the awkward rush of words he’d just released.

“What?” She’s not asking because she’s confused. She’s asking because she’s processing as before he’s managed to figure out how he’s going to reword it she’s speaking again. “Scott temporarily died because of your new pack mate?”

“He’s not pack.” Not anymore though there wasn’t a leg to stand on that he’d never been. Scott had treated him like he was up until the betrayal. Stiles would probably feel vindicated. “Well not anymore but I’m probably not either.” The three of them sat in silence in the car.

“I don’t think that’s true. Scott really cares about you. He may need some time but you’re still his beta.” Brett doesn’t turn to look at Liam as he speaks.

“I don’t think I can come back from this. Super moon or not, Theo’s influence or not, that was me. It was my claws and my rage. Being a werewolf might not make me a monster but that doesn’t mean I’m not one anyways.” Lori clamors over the center console and joins him in the back. “Stop. I don’t want you to think I’m trying to get you to feel pity for me.”

“So then don’t throw yourself a pity party Li. If you fucked up then it’s on you to make amends and fix it. Scott will forgive you eventually but you have to show him you deserve it.” Brett twists so he can look Liam in the eye as he speaks. Lori has pressed herself to his side. “Lori you can’t baby him after he just tried to kill his alpha and he doesn’t want you to.”

“I’m not trying to baby him for that Brett. He also had two friends die and his pack is in shambles. Look Liam you messed up. This isn’t absolving you of anything and it isn’t meant to. Multiple things can be true at once, existence on this plane is complex. We’re constantly being reborn with every choice we make.” They stay in the car a bit longer before Brett decides he can’t sit anymore. He opens the door for Liam still and pulls him into a brief hold squeezing the back of the younger beta’s neck in comfort.

As they continued with their regular Wednesday routine of heading into the commune to start homework its revealed to Liam that it isn’t going to be like normal. Brett splits off to his room but it’s just a pit stop to drop his shoes off before rejoining Lori and Liam in Lori’s room. Since Lori has claimed her bed and Liam always set up at the desk Brett ends up spreading his homework out on the rug on Lori’s floor. It’s clear the two are worried as were this any other week Lori wouldn’t have allowed Brett entrance until dinnertime. It’s harder to focus but Liam has to make do. He starts with his own history homework, already half completed from some downtime. He’ll save his math till the end so he and Lori can help each other.

The three of them do manage to work in a companionable silence until dinnertime. He and Lori both do fine without any help. If Brett struggled at all with his homework he hadn’t shown it. Brett was still first to shut down shop and climbed to his feet and dramatically stretched before throwing himself onto Lori’s bed. Liam spins the desk chair to watch his boyfriend harass his sister.

Lori is working through a set of problems, possibly her science homework. She briefly glances at Brett but chooses not to engage. Liam watches Brett’s hand dart out to yank on a strand of Lori’s hair. The sharp hiss Lori lets out is clearly what he was looking for. “Knock it off. I’m trying to finish this.” Lori is trying her hardest to not rise to the bait. The next time the same hand darts to yank on her hair she’s prepared. Lori grabs Brett’s wrist then proceeds to shove him off her bed onto the floor. The groan of pain that follows the thump of his body hitting the floor is definitely over the top.

Liam can’t help but laugh at their antics. Everything is still a mess, he hasn’t fixed anything. For a moment though it feels okay.

Chapter Text

Any and every time Liam spotted Hayden he did a double take. It’d been almost a week and half since the supermoon and he hadn’t managed to speak with her, just spot her out of the corner of his eyes in the hall or at the back of any classes they shared. The texts he sent went unanswered and any time he tried to seek her out she’d slip away. It wasn’t as if that was hard with the way classes had been temporarily modified as half the school was out of commission due to the destruction of the hallway and library. He needed answers though. Thus why he was trailing behind her sister's cruiser waiting for an opportunity to speak to Hayden alone. A creepy power plant or wherever they were wasn’t ideal but the whole situation wasn’t ideal in the first place. There isn’t exactly a good way to approach this but at least he manages to duck under the swing she sends his way after he startles her.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Now that she’s seen its him she scents like she might send a more intentional punch his way. Two is plenty though he isn’t looking for a third.

“I was looking for a chance to talk to you!” Sure it's weird that he showed up here of all places but her tone is out of place, like she was surprised that he would want to see her. “You haven’t answered any of mine or Mason’s texts and you’re avoiding me in school.”

“So?” She’s not giving him much to work with but it's more than he’s managed in the last week and a half so he might as well keep pushing.

“So? I thought you were dead! Then, when I started to think you weren’t Mason and I had to find the Nemeton. Thanks for that by the way, my mom freaked when she got a call from the police because I’d been found at the scene of a crime.” The calming breath he takes isn’t very calming. There’s not an anchor out here for him to connect with, not with Hayden being weird.

“It’s not like I planned that. I just wanted to make sure that they weren’t left there.” They, the chimeras that hadn’t been resurrected. Hayden so easily could have been one of the bodies left at the Nemeton never to truly be found with her sister never getting closure. He needed to be nicer in the way he went about this.

“Okay but why not tell me? Why ignore me?”

“This isn’t about you Liam!” The ground shakes preventing Hayden from fully laying into him like she so clearly wants. Maybe he should have been paying attention to what Hayden’s sister had been doing inside. She wasn’t inside anymore though she was headed right for them shouting to run. Of course they were both already moving because whatever the hell was coming out behind Val was like nothing he’d ever seen before. “What is that thing?” Her voice is almost lost to the wind in his ears as they sprint away.

“No clue, keep running.” Neither of them is sure where they’re going, something that proves to be an issue when they run out of woods to escape through and end up at a ravine.

“Jump, we can make it.” Hayden is out of breath and possibly insane. “We’ve got increased strength and agility. We can make it.” She’s got a hand around his wrist and is tugging him back as she says it. If they’re going to try doing that they’ll need a head start. He nods to her. They’re being approached fast so they might as well try to not die. Hayden clears it, he does not. Looking down from where he’s dangling it looks like he’ll eventually be ok if he drops. That thing though, whatever it is, doesn’t seem like it’ll leave Hayden the same way.

“Do you trust me?” There isn’t time for an answer. He stretches out his hand to grab her ankle and they both tumble back towards the rocks below.

It fucking hurts. The pain isn’t like anything he’s felt before. He can’t feel his legs either. It takes him a few minutes to realize Hayden is standing over him. He mostly comes to the realization that she’s there because she makes him, not so gently tapping his face with her palm. It's really a slapping motion which is just terrible bedside care. She must have healed already. Her mouth is moving. “Liam, are you alive?”

“Not really. I think my back is broken.”

“Will you heal?”

“I think so.” He can tell Hayden is worried about her sister, that she regrets running away leaving her sister vulnerable. That doesn’t make it hurt any less when she moves to leave him at the bottom of a ravine. “You’re just going to leave me here after I saved you?”

“Yea? You’ll be fine and my sister is out there. She could be hurt Liam! Anyway’s fair is fair you left me for dead before.”

“I didn’t leave you for dead Hayden, you died. Parrish took your body to the Nemeton with the rest of the chimeras. Who saved you from that?”

“Theo.” It feels like an awful weight blankets over him as she finally fully walks away leaving him there waiting for his body to heal enough that he can move hoping that nothing tries to attack him.

The next time he runs into one of the resurrected chimeras is better all things considered. With Corey’s body not being at the Nemeton they’d known he had to be out there. Mason’s scent does so much when they see him though. Despite what he’d said earlier, about Hayden being different now that she was back, Corey seemed the same.

“Are you here to help clean up the library?” Liam would actually like nothing less than to spend an extended amount of time in the place where he had his last IED episode. He looks back at Mason. This could be a good opportunity to find out more information. Mason is nodding his head.

“Yes, yes we are.” Mason is getting a dopey look on his face. They’re heading back towards the library and it could almost be normal. They’d been on their way to friendship before all this went down. Now though he’s lurking nearby Corey and Mason maybe flirting trying not to have any more freak outs about how badly he fucked up. He’s going to need to learn how to go to the library without feeling like this. As a sophomore he’s got over two more years here and he’s going to need to be able to come into the library.

Shaking his head to try and get himself to focus he catches on to the end of Corey and Mason’s conversation. “So I’ll see you on Saturday?”

“Before too I hope.” Mason’s conversation with Corey was probably more successful then Liam’s conversation with Hayden but yielded an equally small amount of conversation.

Said date was how Liam found himself at Sinema once again. Mason’s date with Corey was the best lead they had and he couldn’t go to Scott without something to show that he was trying to help deal with Theo. Still couldn’t they have picked somewhere other than Sinema.

Brett seemed to be in agreement as he’d willingly and then, once he realized it wasn’t actually as simple as going out for fun, still willingly but less enthusiastically agreed to come with. They weren’t truly on a reconnaissance mission; it was more about making sure Mason was safe while keeping their fingers crossed that Corey said something. It wasn’t as if Corey hadn’t done the same. He’d come in with Josh though the other chimera had vanished into the crowd out of sight and hopefully doing normal club things.

“Dunbar I hate to say it but you're kind of a bad date? Next time I’m planning.” Brett would have been considered too close with the way he was speaking directly into Liam’s ear if it weren’t for the fact that they were at a club. It’d been at least forty-five minutes since they arrived and it’d all been fine so far.

“That's because it's not a date for us, it's a date for Mason and Corey.” The two of them were certainly enjoying it. They were still on the dance floor though based on the way they were making out they wouldn’t be for much longer. Brett and Liam had set up shop in a different booth then the first time they’d there so they could keep their eye on everything.

“I’m seeing that. Why am I here again?” Brett didn’t sound overly put out but it was clear that he was at least a little disappointed.

“It would be weird if I third wheeled their date?” Brett did not look convinced when Liam twisted away from watching the dance floor to look at him. “I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

“How are you planning on doing that?” Brett brought his hand up to fiddle with the collar of Liam’s coat, fingers brushing the side of his neck

“Well-” Corey and Mason are on the move headed to somewhere out of their sightline and instinctively he moves to follow. The hand in the collar of his jacket tightens.

“Feeling voyeuristic Li?” Despite the joking tone Liam feels his face go red.

“No but-”

“Do you really want to see your best friend get it on?” Liam settled for shaking his head. “Mason will be fine and he’s got Corey with him.” Brett is right. He needs to relax.

“Do you want to dance?” That earns Liam a smile. “You might have to teach me how again.” Brett shoos him out of the booth so he can stand. Liam sheds his jacket to leave in the booth. It’s not one he’s particularly attached to and it's warm with all the bodies. Unlike last time Liam doesn’t need Brett to steer him onto the floor instead he leads them to a section where he won’t feel overwhelmed. Immediately upon stopping Brett was spinning them to be face to face and pressing them close together. This time his hands find their way to Brett’s hips. They dance for a few songs until a roar comes from the parking lot and pulls Liam from where he’d been biting at Brett’s neck leaving short lived marks.

“I heard it too.” Liam hooks a finger through the belt loop by his hand to tug Brett towards the door by the employee lot. Corey is already pushing the door open when they get there shaking his head at Mason who is trying to follow him out.

“Mase you ok?” Mason is more than okay based on the way his shirt is buttoned and the way he smells, something Liam would have been fine never knowing. The nod is encouraging that whatever is past the door has nothing to do with Mason. Still they need to investigate so Liam releases Brett’s belt loop so they can fit Mason between them as they exit behind Corey.

Theo is out in the lot. It's the first thing Liam notices. Of course he wasn’t the one who’d roared. Josh is shifted in the lot, eyes purple and electricity visibly coursing through his limbs. Were he not so clearly enjoying the experience Liam would have assumed Theo was hurting Josh. The stairs are much too crowded with the four of them waiting to make a move. Theo spares them a quick glance but continues to watch Josh. Mason’s hand anchors Liam in his spot. He must have been telegraphing that he wanted to approach.

Theo wasn’t technically laughing in an evil or maniacal way but there wasn’t really another way to interpret the chuckling as he watched Josh. Corey’s gaze was horrified. Still, when Theo finally gave the four his full attention and tilted his head towards the vehicle, Corey left with the rest of the chimeras. “You don’t have to go.” Mason is hopeful that Corey will choose them. He gets a hand squeeze in goodbye. The remaining three stay on the stairs watching while Theo gets in the driver's seat with a smug grin and an irritating wave.

***

The impromptu meeting in the library is exactly the reason why Liam felt like he needed to get over how awful being in the library felt. He had hoped that being reunited via terrible Eichen breakout might help. Not even Brett’s hand on the back of his neck tucked under the collar of his borrowed flannel was really helping. He feels restless as he shifts in the wooden chair but tries to settle when the back of his neck is given a grounding squeeze. Mason was trying to explain to them what he’d apparently rapid fire ran Corey through before texting everyone to meet in the library and stealing Brett abandoning Daniels to take lead on the next interview. Despite the library being almost fully cleaned up they were still on a modified schedule which had allowed for them to meet, excluding Kira and Malia.

“So the Beast has shown up at the cell tower, downtown, and the army base. All places that are or are near transmission sources. If the Dread Doctors are using these high power frequency transmissions for the Beast then the next place that it’s likely to show up would be the charity game.” Even though Liam isn’t looking at Brett he can tell the older beta is frowning at that news.

Lacrosse has been the last thing on Liam’s mind for most of the year. To think it was all consuming just last year. Now he barely remembers when there are games coming up. In his defense it’s technically cross country season so there shouldn’t be any games to keep track of and practices have been sporadic since the Sheriff’s department set a curfew. There weren’t enough fields for every sport to practice after school and there wasn’t enough time after the first round of practices for other teams so every team has had to cut down on their practices a week. Devenford’s lacrosse team has been full steam ahead. They were in their fall ball season and not in the official season that all schools in the area shared, yet they were practicing like they were headed for states. This was how it normally was but Brett had been running the team and himself especially hard. Full rides for lacrosse at the college level weren’t easy to come by.

“So they have these high power frequencies that they play to make it shift?” Lydia didn’t sound convinced.

“I think that the frequencies are just a trigger to force the shift and help it grow. Remember Peter?” Scott had clearly had some kind of epiphone with Mason’s information.

“How could anyone forget?” Lydia was unimpressed. Mason, Liam, and Brett were lost. Stiles took pity on them.

“He got stronger with each full moon until his burns were healed and he could fully go back to his favorite pastime of harassing teenagers. In this case each time the Beast shifts it grows stronger. The faster the better no moon required.” Stiles expanded on Scott’s thoughts.

“Because of Parrish?” Liam knew it wasn’t really a question. What else would the Dread Doctors be worried about.

“What are we supposed to do, the game is tonight?” Lydia was trying to get them on track for planning. The modified schedule had given them more leeway but she still had a class coming up.

“All we really have is a single piece of evidence.” Stiles pulled a photo from his bag. Liam felt Brett rest his head on top of his own trying to get a better look at it.

“A shoe?” Brett didn’t need to sound quite so unimpressed.

“A size ten shoe of indeterminate make.” Stiles explained.

“Indeterminate?” There was no way Lydia didn’t know what it meant so Stiles moved on in his explanation.

“It's not much to go on but there's only going to be one size ten with Parrish’s blood on it out there.”

“We have the where and the how just not the who, why not try to trap it?” Liam knew it was risky but most of the things they tried were.

“You’re right Liam we should play and just cross our fingers hoping it doesn’t turn into a blood-soaked massacre.”

“There are too many people.” Scott’s explanation lacked Stiles' sarcastic bite.

“We don’t even really know if that would actually happen. It could end up being a regular lacrosse game.” Lydia was being weirdly optimistic which made Brett scoff in response. The three older members turned to glare at him.

“We’re still getting the game canceled aren’t we?”

“Oh yea.” Stiles nodded then abruptly stood. Liam watched Stiles press a kiss to the top of Lydia’s head and hesitated for just a moment before deciding to clap Scott’s shoulder. Things were still shaky between the three of them. Scott and Lydia moved to exit the library as well leaving Mason, Liam, and Brett at the table.

“So how likely do you think it is that Siles can get the game canceled?” Mason posed the question.

“The charity game raises thousands of dollars, gets TV coverage, and provides footage for scouts despite the fact that it's the off season. There's not a chance they pull this off.” Brett’s answer was confident. It was better than Liam’s shrug.

Brett had another interview before lunch which truly astonished Liam. Beacon Hills was in the middle of a crisis and yet the news had nothing better to do than spend the morning interviewing two teens about a charity lacrosse game. Maybe the morning news was too early to cover so much violence and gore. During lunch Brett had found his way to Liam, Corey, and Mason. He’d been accompanied by Daniels but Liam had pressed himself to Brett’s side and resolved to ignore Daniels. He had been ignored right back. It felt weirdly like being at Devenford for one brief moment. Of course if they were still at Devenford Brett wouldn’t have spent the lunch block playing with Liam’s hair and stealing half of the mediocre cafeteria fries from his tray.

Unsurprisingly Stiles can’t get the game canceled so he and Scott instead go on a side quest to come up with a backup plan. The rundown he gave everyone to explain made enough sense that they should be okay. Mason and Corey will stay out of danger and away from the danger on the Devenford bus as they look for the shoes. Lori will check the shoes of the people in the stands, something that she’d clearly not been thrilled with the idea of judging by the look she sent to Scott from her place beside Liam. Malia will ensure the vans aren’t transmitting any signal. Everyone else will be on the field keeping watch. It's almost game time and it’ll be okay.

“Good luck.” Liam had managed to pull Brett aside for just a moment before the game started. While they’d been able to grab Brett for the impromptu meeting earlier, after lunch he’d returned to Devenford for afternoon classes. Instead he'd had to get the updated plan texted to him.

“I won’t need it.” The smug statement was punctuated with a surprisingly sweet kiss. It was time to get their heads in the game. They both jogged over to their respective sides of the field. Of course, as with all McCall pack plans, it goes off with several hitches. With the game officially happening Liam’s new job was to play lacrosse and buy Malia enough time to destroy the broadcasting equipment. He could manage that.

What could not be managed was another bout of Kira losing her goddamn mind. He knew more about what was happening then when she fought Lucas. He could equate it to his IED in a way. Her fox was triggered by things that were not proportional to the damage it wrought. He would have offered her an understanding ear if they weren’t actively playing in a game. Instead he had to settle for the idea of talking to her after. Assuming she even wanted to bring it up. While discussing it and working through it would no doubt help she would have to decide to accept it. It seemed to him this was mostly a mental thing.

The plan may have been for Kira to go after Brett so she could be ejected but they hadn’t imagined she’d be so out of control that his helmet would go flying.It couldn’t be understated just how momentarily frightening it was to see Brett get hurt. Even with the knowledge that he would be perfectly fine from something as mundane as getting backhanded with a lacrosse stick it was still hard to watch.

He also hadn’t imagined that he would end up listening to his pack member try to beat the shit out of his friend. They were far enough that he couldn’t fully figure out what was going on. It wasn’t as if Scott joining the fray made it clearer. It had the unintended side effect of leaving the Beacon Hills team in bad shape. It was embarrassing. It was also fucking up the plan. Liam could only do so much especially with the anger that Devenford had started playing with once Kira was off the field. At least he wasn’t the sole target.

“Your team sucks. It’s impossible to lose against you.” Liam could feel his face go through several emotions at Brett’s words. They didn’t exactly have time for a chat.

“So what are we supposed to do?” He knew they weren’t great but still.

“Try not sucking?” Brett left Liam with those sage words of wisdom before returning to Devenford’s bench. Hayden was waiting by Beacon Hill’s bench. He approached with caution. She wouldn’t do anything with all these people around but they hadn’t ever confirmed whether she was with them or with Theo.

“Do you think that offer to try out a pack night is still open?” She speaks first

“What?”

“I want to be with you and your pack.”

“Why?” He was really out of the loop as to why she had a sudden change of heart. He wasn’t upset though.

“You were right about Scott.” He can’t fully respond as the whistle is blowing meaning he’s got to get back to the field. He settles for a gentle arm squeeze.

“It’ll be okay. We can talk more after with Scott.” It feels nice to have Corey and Hayden not just back but as soon to be pack. He takes to the field with a renewed sense of vigor. The second half is much more successful then the first. Liam is the only one to score of course but three to six is better than one to five. Then, with seconds on the clock, shit hits the fan. The sound that summons the beast isn’t so bad that it immobilizes him where he’s sprawled on the field. It does make Liam’s vision go fuzzy for just a moment before he gets to his feet. He hears confusion from the crowd. Hayden is right that noise is something bad.

It's not even a fully formed thought before he’s sprinting across the field. He can hear the beast approaching. People are fleeing already. Stiles is shouting at him to stop. He doesn’t have a choice though. Stiles is human, Hayden is still new to this, and while Brett could fight in theory his pack was Buddhist and he wasn’t particularly practiced. He lets his eyes shift as he pushes off the ground and throws his body at the Beast.

Liam hits the ground hard, the Beast’s claw still in his innards. There are people streaming off the field towards the hopeful safety of inside. They’re giving the beast a wide berth so they probably aren’t seeing him keeping their whole thing underwraps. The Beast isn’t interested in him the same as when he and Hayden ran into it. When he stops putting up a fight in the interest of trying to keep everything inside it lopes off. Hayden and Stiles are first to scoop him up though Brett isn’t far behind. Liam loses sight of the Beast, he can’t really think past the pain. The Beast likely headed towards the school, which really meant they should be taking him anywhere else to heal, but there wasn’t anywhere else for them to take Liam. At some point, while he's still fuzzy with pain, he goes from being dragged by Hayden and Stiles to being carried. It's faster certainly but the switch jostles something enough that Liam can’t stop the cry he lets out.

The blackout that happens next is a relief. When he drifts back it hurts a little less. Stiles is looking sickly pale from where he’s standing beside Liam’s head. Hayden doesn’t look quite so ill. It hurts to lift his head but he needs to see what the damage is. He manages a quick look before he has to put his head back down.

“You’re still healing Li. Don't move.” Brett’s voice is gritted. Liam twists his head to look at Brett. His eyes are slipping shut again but he does manage to see black veins on the back of Brett’s hand resting on his wrist.

Liam jerks his eyes back open immediately. Where is Scott?

“He’s somewhere in the building.” It wasn’t a good sign that he couldn’t tell when he was speaking out loud. This time Liam manages to push himself up onto his elbows. Another deep breath and he swings his legs off the table. He’s sitting up with a wince despite the fact that the three faces around him clearly think he shouldn’t be moving.

“I need to find Scott.” It still hurts but the muscle and skin have knit back together. As he gets to his feet Brett’s hand drops from his and the full force of the pain slams into him. “Oh fuck.” Hayden moves to support him but he waves her off. Brett’s face is twisted up in frustration.

“Liam stop.”

“I need to help my pack! You should go find Lori and make sure she's ok. Hayden, you should stay here with Stiles.” The longer he’s up the better he feels. The time lets his body heal more. Liam doesn’t wait to see if Brett and Hayden are down with the plan he’s created. He hears roaring from elsewhere in the school and bolts towards it.

Of course the Beast is in the library. Throwing his body at the Beast hadn’t been successful the first time but he does it again anyways. At least this time when the Beast tosses him aside his insides stay where they’re supposed to. He’s tossed near Scott who’s been injured much more recently and is doing worse than Liam.

It's Malia’s turn to show up when they need it most as she and Braeden send The Beast through the window. If Scott could have Liam knows he would have followed the Beast out of the window. Scott’s injuries force him to accept help from Liam and Malia. Liam leads them back to the room he’d left Stiles and Hayden in. Brett must have listened to Liam’s instructions as Lori is in the room as well. Propped up on the table Scott immediately starts planning their next steps.

“I need to take Lori home.” Brett was scowling at Scott. He respected Scott a great deal but Liam could tell that didn’t matter in that moment. “If I thought you’d let me I’d take Liam home too but you’re not going to get them both hurt.” Lori was tucked against Brett’s back holding tightly to his arm. She wasn’t injured at that point but Liam could smell dried blood from her, a miracle in itself that he could smell blood other than his own which he was still coated in.

“Of course Brett. We always appreciate your help.” Scott gets a nod in return and Liam knows it’s the best his alpha will get. The other beta is cocky sure but he’s always been able to stay collected and calm even when he’s being an asshole. The panic and frustration he was giving off was not the norm.

“Ok so now that I have the-” Scotts voice was cut off by the door shutting on Scott and the rest of the pack Liam had followed the two out of the classroom they’d been debriefing in even though he was staying. “I’m not hurt and I’m alive.”

“You’re not hurt!” Brett sounded incredulous which was fair all things considered.

“Not anymore! I’m fine now there isn’t a scratch left on me.” He’d stopped being able to see his insides. Lori was horribly quiet.

“That was more than a scratch, what were you thinking?” It wasn’t an actual question but he was still going to answer it.

“I was thinking that I can handle getting a set of claws through my intestines better than Greenberg or Daniels or any of the other people there that aren’t like us!” His voice was raised more than he'd meant for it to be. “I didn’t want anyone to be hurt.” This was softer as he pushed himself into Brett’s space seeking his hold as a safe space even though the other werewolf was frustrated with Liam.

“Liam please be safe.” This was from Lori still pressed tightly against Brett’s back. The three of them stood for a moment in the hallway Liam and Lori sandwiching Brett in. Liam was first to pull away. He needed to go back to his pack and finish what they’d started. Brett needed to get Lori back to their pack before they got themselves or their whole pack dragged into it.

“If we finish this tonight can Mason and I come and see you?” He wouldn’t be able to sleep if he wasn’t with them, if he couldn’t hear their three hearts beating. What had happened tonight was too close for comfort.

“I’d prefer if you did so I can see you're okay for myself.” Brett punctuated this temporary goodbye with a kiss to the top of Liam’s head. Liam parted ways with Lori squeezing her upper arm in what he hoped was comfort. He then dragged himself back into the school and tried to emotionally prepare for another long night.

The group split up as Liam followed Scott out into the parking lot towards another heart wrenching revelation.

Chapter Text

“It’s Mason?” Lori’s voice echoes Brett’s in the background as she can hear their conversation.

“I guess? His body is host to it but he would never do these things.” Liam was trudging his way back to the McCall house. His searching had been fruitless even with Hayden’s help. Scott’s injuries hadn’t healed enough for him to actually help search and he’d been whisked away to rest up. “It might not even be him.” Liam keeps saying it in hopes it might be true.

“Li, Scott tracked the Beast’s scent to Mason’s car and found the bloody shoes in Mason’s trunk.”

“I know! Now he’s gone and I lost his scent and I couldn’t find it.” He knows he sounds pathetic and miserable.

“Do you want us to help with searching? We can check the woods out this way so you can focus on a smaller search radius.”

“Yes please.” Mason is his best friend, someone who he can anchor himself in. Not knowing where Mason is so he can help is killing him.

“If we go now we can cover a decent area before school.” Lori’s voice is softer than it was the last time he caught it. Why couldn’t the charity game have been on a Friday? He hadn’t even thought about the fact that he’d have to spend the day in classes. His mom and dad were busy at the hospital as after the attack it was all hands on deck there. They’d been fine with him ‘crashing at a friends’ as long as he stayed safely inside. Was it wrong to say he hoped they were still busy with the aftermath to allow him to keep searching tonight as well?

“I should go anyway. I’m supposed to touch base with everyone about the search before we leave for school.”

“I’ll let you know if we find anything.” Brett’s voice is kind. It’s clear this is difficult for Liam.

“Thanks. Bye.” Liam can hear Lori start to say goodbye as he hangs up. He’d spent the whole night running around the woods and now he was walking back to the McCall house. He was exhausted and likely going to sleep through at least one of his classes. He couldn’t skip to sleep though both because his parents would be pissed. What if Mason was there?

Liam is still antsy enough that he doesn’t fall asleep as soon as he takes a seat at the island in the McCall kitchen. Everyone else must have been up the whole night as well. He can hear Scott is still asleep upstairs with Stiles watching over him. Kira is tucking her yawns into Malia’s shoulder as they keep guard in the kitchen. Malia is clearly lost in thought and Liam knows it isn’t about Mason and the Beast. He’s not even sure where Lydia is. Kira is kind enough to pull away from Malia’s warmth to pass him a cup of coffee and a protein bar. After his night he’s forgotten how to take care of himself. Kira’s side hug that she gifts him along with breakfast is a nice reminder that he’s not alone in this. Eventually though she returns to Malia’s side and Stiles then Scott finally comes down.

“I lost his scent. Hayden went to check the school before anyone got there but I don’t think Corey would have taken him there.” Liam is looking at Scott hoping for answers he knows his alpha doesn’t have.

“We can ask him.” Scott’s statement is incredibly unsettling. It's made worse by the way he tugs Corey into existence. Liam would like to think that he was friendly with Corey but it was hard to feel that way knowing that he’d taken Mason away from the group of people most capable of protecting him.

“I tried to hide him but they took him anyway.” Corey almost smells upset enough to turn Liam’s rage into an understanding. The key word of course was almost.

“You shouldn’t have taken him in the first place! We could have kept him safe.” If he had more energy he’d be in Corey’s face yelling instead of snarling from the stool he’s on.

“Like you kept Hayden or me safe?” Anger is creeping into the grief scent Corey is letting off. They’re giving off the same chemosignals. It makes him more upset. Corey lost Mason.

“Look, we can still find Mason.” Scott’s not willing to let the two sophomores bicker.

“Then what?” Liam’s trying to keep it all in check. He struggles to use most of his pack mates as anchors for the more supernatural rage he feels and they haven’t figured out if the fluoxetine is even right for him let alone if the dosage is effective. He’s supposed to be ‘low frequency, high intensity’ it's really too soon for another slip.

“We find a way to keep him safe.” Liam lets Scott's optimism soothe him. Scott hadn’t believed they could help Hayden. Mason though? Mason they had a chance with.

There hadn’t been a chance of him maintaining any kind of focus in classes. He was physically present and working but there was almost no thought behind it. Any notes he’d taken were meaningless. Lori and Brett hadn’t found anything before they’d had to attend their own classes either. Malia hadn’t mentioned finding anything as she combed the woods. Neither Scott nor Stiles had heard anything from their parents about spotting Mason. It hadn’t even been six hours and they were desperate for new information. Liam just really wished the new information was from anyone other than Theo. He hated the chimera and the smug look on Theo’s face spoke to the fact that he was aware and enjoyed it.

“We’re on the same side just like I told you we’d be.” Liam takes solace in the fact that he’s not the only one being forced to play nice. Tracey seems as if she’d be happy to kill the two wolves where they stood.

“Can I punch him to remind him we’re not?” He turns to Scott less to ask and more to give himself a momentary reprieve from looking at Theo. The older chimera’s face pissed him off. That just feeds into the smug glee Theo is experiencing by taking part in this.

“Don’t you just love this kid.” Theo has turned to Tracey. What was Theo doing for her that made her so loyal? Hayden and Corey had clearly not received the same treatment.

“No.” Tracey resumes glaring.

“When we were at Eichen for Lydia you took something.” Once again Scott steps in to move the conversation away from Liam getting to bicker with a chimera. The beta probably wouldn’t go further then arguing though, if Theo wanted a fight, he could certainly push the right buttons to start one.

“Worried about the mask?”

“Who did you see when you put it on?”

“Not Mason.”

“What does that mean?” Liam can’t help from interrupting. Scott may be willing to accept vague answers that need deciphering but that takes time. They need straightforward answers.

“Probably means he's a lost cause.” Tracey takes Liam’s interruption as a sign to participate as well. Her voice is too smug to be nonchalant despite the way she’s seated on the bench. Liam doesn’t get farther than a growl in response before Scott’s hand is on his shoulder.

“We just want Mason back, same as you.” Theo doesn’t need to approach Scott and Liam but he does. It makes Scott get a little more frustrated putting himself between Theo and Liam.

“We want him back alive.”

“Do you have the map?” Theo isn’t changing the conversation but he’s directing it in a specific way. Scott nods. “Bring it to the operating theater after school and we’ll go from there.” Theo is dismissing them. It's clear that he’s of the belief that he is in charge of this team up. Liam doesn’t want to be near the two chimeras any longer though so he’s happy to leave. He has one last class to attend which does a horrible job of filling the time. When Scott returns to the school to pick up Liam with the map in hand it’s all he can do not to demand they jump right into searching. Instead they go to meet Theo as planned.

In the operating theater Theo decides to give them a spiel about the Nazi that the Dread Doctors had been keeping. Liam might have been interested in the ways in which supernaturals factored into historical events that were thought of as human but instead it felt like Theo was monologing to waste time. The beta was running on adrenaline and concern at that point so he doesn't have energy or time to waste. By the time the trio is hiking through the woods he does get a second wind. Sitting around waiting for other people to possibly find Mason hadn’t felt good. It felt much better to know he was actively searching. It feels rewarding when he slows to a stop having sensed Mason. It’s barely a hint but Liam has known Mason for as long as he can remember. Scott and Theo make it a bit further before realizing that he’s stopped.

“Well?” Theo is quick to demand Liam share.

“It’s Mason.” Scott and Theo definitely knew that. There’s not any other reason why he’d stop. He lets his gaze slide slowly across the woods in front of him, across Scott and Theo’s faces.

“Which way Liam?” Theo’s voice is harsh. “What, are you hoping to leave me behind?”

“What did you see?”

“Not Mason. I already told you this Liam.” Exasperation joins the harshness in Theo’s voice. There's no point in being charming anymore.

“Then what?”

“Some guy dying in the snow!” Liam lets his gaze drift back past Theo to Scott. Waits. Scott nods.

“This way.” Liam tilts his head towards where he knows Mason must be. The ramshackled building in the woods is exactly the creepy kind of place that they’d end up during this shit. It's creepy enough that Liam definitely shouldn’t be reaching for the door without a thought. It’s Mason though. It’s Mason’s scent, his heart beat. Liam had known he was anxious, untethered but hadn’t realized quite how much. “Mase!” It’s not a true shout. They may not sense the Dread Doctors but they do have the tendency to show up suddenly. Mason is still where he’s leaning against some vat. “What are they doing to him?” If Theo knows they might be able to fix it quicker.

“I don’t know.” Theo may be telling the truth. Liam doesn’t trust himself enough to be sure.

“Liam?” Mason sounds wrecked. Whatever they’re doing to Mason is different from what they did to him or Hayden.

“We’re going to get you out of here Mason.” Liam nods, shows Mason that Scott is telling the truth. “Hold still.” Whatever it is that they’ve got Mason hooked up with there isn’t an easy way to try to brace him for Scott trying to pull it out. Liam tries to hold Mason’s neck steady and siphon off a little pain. As soon as Scott tries to remove it pain is burning through Liam’s hands. Mason shouts.

It's probably not Mason’s shout that summons the Dread Doctors. Scott seems to think the same. Liam takes over trying to free Mason despite his protests. “Liam, you've gotta get out of here. I can feel it pressing against my skull.” Liam tries to take more pain but it does nothing to change the way Mason is gritting his teeth. The beta isn’t even touching the tube at the back of Mason’s neck. Meanwhile the Dread Doctors are taking their time monologuing. Theo must have picked it up from them along with his murderous tendencies. He wants to let Scott and Theo deal with them as a whole but once they’re done insulting Theo and decide to actually fight he knows he has to leave Mason’s side to assist.

If he didn’t know better he’d think the Dread Doctors were mostly robotic. The times he’s fought them they’ve always seemed not quite living. It’s unclear if they should be considered living anyways. The three of them continue their losing streak against the Dread Doctors.

“Mason!” Despite the sheer agony he must be experiencing Mason has never been one to not put up a fight. He’s off though. His heart is beating oddly. His words are odd too.

“That’s not my name.”It isn’t. Those eyes belong to the Beast. The Beast tears through the Dread Doctors like nothing.

The Beast has no interest in them once it’s dispatched the Dread Doctors. Instead it races outside. While the Beast isn’t interested in them Liam and Scott are very interested in keeping their eyes on the Beast. They can’t get Mason back if they don’t know where the Beast is. Outside the Argents' arrival isn’t ideal but they aren't as as bad as Parrish who is an unwelcome addition to their Beast wrangling. It's not Beast wrangling for long though. The Beast, once hurt by Parrish, dissolves into a person. Not Mason though. They don't stick around. When the Argents’ leave Scott and Liam in the woods, Theo long gone, it takes all his energy not to lose hope.

Stiles comes as fast as he can but it doesn’t feel very fast. It's not as if it matters though. They have no clue where they should head. “He’s still alive, we should try to get answers!” Liam gestures to the Dread Doctor on the forest floor beside them.

“How would we get him to talk?”

“We could try torture?” Liam doesn’t think the mood could really be lightened but if it could Stiles wouldn’t be succeeding.

“I just don’t know how this is possible.” Liam hasn’t stopped wondering this. Had Mason been made a chimera by the Dread Doctors like Theo? Why would they have done that?

“He ate his twin in the womb which gave him two sets of DNA, thus a chimera.” Scott looked thoughtful at this.

“All of the chimeras have two sets of DNA right? Just because one is more forward presenting doesn’t mean they aren’t both there. What if, even though we’re seeing Sebastian, Mason’s still in there?”

“Ok but how do we get him to come back out?” Stiles and Scott are on a roll. He doesn’t want to throw them off when they could be moments from a breakthrough. He’s hearing things though. It seems like the kind of thing Scott and Stiles would want to know. Scott's head swivels towards the woods. Maybe Liam isn’t just hearing things. The Dread Doctor stands, intent on following the instructions ‘come to me’. They don’t move into the woods which is where Liam and Scott had both seemed to think Sebastien’s voice had come from. Instead they move back towards the shack. Stiles stays back but Liam and Scott lunge for the Dread Doctor. The jeep is just as uncomfortable to be slammed into as to sit in the back of. Despite the fact that the door is barely holding on they can’t get it off. There's enough nails in the door that it shocks them.

Instead they listen. It makes sense that the Dread Doctors were once people but it's an odd thing to know all the same. Liam doesn’t really care about Marcel, whoever he once was and whatever his motivation may have been. At least, before he’s killed, he manages to tell the Beast, and them, that the Argents have the pike. It's unclear what kind of escape routes the Dread Doctors might have had. Instead of continuing to try breaking into the shack they load into the jeep. Sebastian will be trying to get to the Argents. Liam stands the silence of the jeep for about five minutes.

“Before Mason became the Beast that final time I said his name but his response was weird. He said that it wasn’t his name. What if we can get him back by reminding him who he is?” It’s probably not a good plan but Scott and Stiles hadn’t come up with anything before Sebastien had come back. “Back when Mason first found out about werewolves he read all these old stories.”

“So what? We say his name and then bam he’s Mason again.” Stiles is starting to see Liam’s vision. It takes him a moment then he’s slamming his palms on the steering wheel. “Lydia!” It is, of course, at that moment that Sheriff Stilinski tears by in the direction of the hospital. There is a head of red hair in the passenger seat.

It seems as if this round of fighting will never end. Maybe it's the fact that he’s been up for two days but when Stiles whips the jeep around to follow the sheriff to the hospital Liam feels dizzy. He also feels nervous that he’s going to get caught by his parents. His dad more so than his mom. She technically didn’t work as a nurse at the hospital anymore. She’d taken a school nurse potion when he was a child to provide her with more time for Liam. She still let pediatrics call her in during a crisis though. His dad, he’d specifically have to avoid.

Lydia is ok, once the three are in her room. She’s perched on the bed bandage slapped over a cut on her neck. Scott and Stiles trip over each other to get to her. They may still be figuring their shit out but apparently Lydia getting hurt again is enough to call a temporary truce as Scott ends up cradling the two of them closely and pressing kisses to their hair and cheeks. Lydia must be at least a little shaken to allow it. She’s never been much for letting Scott smother her publicly.

He tries to ignore the three as they whisper together. It isn’t hard once he sits in the corner chair. He honestly might momentarily drift off as it feels like he’s jolting into action once Ms.McCall enters. Lydia gets her ill advised cortisone shot and they’re back on the road. Liam’s running low on hope and he just wants this to end. They’ve split up again with Stiles heading off to help out Malia. Scott’s got a voicemail from Kira too so she's currently AWOL. It doesn’t feel great to be going in to face the Beast with just Scott and an injured Lydia for backup.

It doesn’t feel great to see Scott going toe to toe with Theo either. It’s not even really toe to toe. He’d shoved Lydia out of the water when he’d realized that it was sketchy but hadn’t been able to do anything about himself or Scott. Couldn’t they catch a fucking break? This had been like forty-eight hours of hit after hit. Mason went missing, the Beast had taken over and Mason was Sebastian, now Theo was a mega chimera. He’d gained Josh’s electricity and Tracey’s venom. At least if he’d gained Corey’s invisibility Liam wouldn’t have to keep looking at him.

Liam is pretty sure that when he got electrocuted he didn’t black out. He pushed Lydia, got zapped with Scott, and watched as despite Scott’s best efforts Lydia was separated from them. The timeline checks out. So then when did Argent decide he was on their side? Gerard shooting Theo to paralyze him made sense. Chris threatening Gerard and letting them escape towards the Beast while Theo was healing seemed odd. It wasn’t as if they’d interacted much. Scott was probably still not one hundred percent on board with Liam as trustworthy. That had to be it.

Considering his best friend had turned out to be the perfect host for the Beast, maybe that was fair.

“I’d like that back now.” The beast had once again given way for Sebastian. “It’s a family heirloom you know.”

“Only if you give us back Mason!” Liam should be letting Scott talk. Sebastien’s glance is fleeting. Liam is of no importance to him. The sounds of the Beast and of the shouting have started to draw everyone back together. Several different sets of footsteps are drawing near.

“Your friend is gone.” The tone is as uncaring as the look he’d given Liam earlier. Scott knows Liam has no interest in fighting the beast, that he only will if he has to. When he goes for Sebastien he and Liam are trying to be careful. Mason may receive none of the injuries that happen or he could get them all. Being careful isn’t a great strategy for a fight. Liam is on the floor reaching for the pike to continue to keep it out of Sebastien’s hands. His hands are a bit busy though strangling Scott.

Kira must have broken every road rule there was to get back to them. She isn’t alone. Wherever Theo had tossed Lydia, Kira had found her. With Lydia in range the first attempt to get Mason back fails. Maybe her wound was worse than they’d thought. Maybe they’d waited too long after she’d gotten the cortisone shot. The Mason she calls out isn’t any different from the times any of them have called for Mason despite the fact that he’s possibly gone. Liam begins to draw the pike from the cane, still sprawled on the ground. More of the footsteps arrive at the scene of all the action.

He’d hoped that she’d be able to pull this off. They didn’t have a backup plan that kept Mason safe. If they did then he hadn’t been told. Lydia steels herself and screams.

The pike flies through the air towards the Beast but not towards Mason. Mason is being tugged to safety by Corey. Liam is shoving his way to his feet and making his way to the two of them before the Beast is fully dead. Corey is holding Mason tightly meaning that Liam ends up hugging them both. He’s got his face buried in Mason’s shoulder when the next set of footsteps that had been converging on their point arrive.

The chimeras don’t heal as well as werewolves but Theo is able to walk. Maybe becoming a mega chimera gave him better healing. Liam truly can’t even see Theo over the other two boys that he’s wrapped himself around. He doesn’t seem well even if his back is no longer broken. It's no wonder he can’t even manage to put up a fight before Kira sends him to hell. It seems a bit insane that Kira can do that but Liam knows nothing about any of the trips she's taken in an effort to figure out how to deal with her fox. Maybe sending people to hell was something she could have been doing this whole time.

Despite the fact that it had been a long forty-eight hours the Dread Doctors, the Beast, and Theo had gone down quickly. It almost seems unlikely that they’re really done. Perhaps the Dread Doctors aren’t really dead. Maybe Tracey and Josh will seek revenge for Theo. Liam lets go of Mason and Corey. Whatever comes next they’re done for the moment.

Chapter Text

With their fall round of supernatural bullshit neatly wrapped up Liam is free to attend Lori’s show without having to worry about also keeping an eye out for death and destruction. This time he attends the Saturday show the first weekend. Brett offers to give Liam a ride which somehow turns into Liam having to convince his mom that it’s totally fine for him to spend the night at his boyfriend's place which is, yes, a commune and not a cult. It takes until Brett gets there for him to succeed.

“I’m just not sure why you’re staying the night? This isn’t a cover up for you to go to some party is it?” His mom is seated at the kitchen counter looking at him over her reading glasses as if she’ll be able to see through his lies. The problem is that there aren’t any lies pertaining to what he’s asking.

“Mom, I think you know that I have no interest in any kind of party that Devenford might offer.” He’s trying not to sound exasperated. They’ve had this conversation three times this week and the best he’s gotten is a maybe. She hums thoughtfully.

“Look squirt you know I trust you and lord knows I give you free reign for most things but I worry.” She’s giving in, he can feel it.

“I spend every Wednesday with Lori and Brett and every time I come home by the time you asked with my homework done. I promise that I won’t-“ Time is almost up for him to finish making his case as it’s unlikely the interrupting knock is anyone other than Brett. “I promise that we’re just going to go back to the commune where there are five responsible adults for every one teenager after Lori’s show.” He can hear his dad greeting Brett.

“Fine, you can spend the night. I want you home for dinner tomorrow though. Feel free to invite Brett and Lori of course.”

“I’d have to check with Satomi but I’d love that.” Liam had only seen the smile Brett has pulled out for his mom when he’d done his charming all American prep school bit for teachers and adults he's trying to impress. It’s working on his mom just as well as it had on the reporter for the charity game. “Lori will be bummed she has to pass though. She’s got another show tomorrow night. I normally go to all of them to support her”

“Tomorrow we can have dinner at five so you don’t miss it! We can do another dinner on a night she can come as well. God knows how many times I tried to get Liam to invite his friends over when you attended the same school.” The look his mom levels at him is unimpressed. In the doorway of the kitchen Brett has a new gleeful gleam in his eyes.

“It must have slipped his mind to ask.”

“I’m going to get my stuff. We should head out soon so we can get good seats.” His interruption is less a save and more a desperate attempt to stop him from sinking any lower. He grabs Brett’s wrist to tug him along. There’s not a chance Brett is spending any time alone with his mom.

“It was wonderful meeting you Mrs.Geyer and you as well Dr.Geyer.” Brett gives one last unsettlingly pleasant smile and a wave as he’s pulled out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

“They seem nice?” Brett offers as Liam grabs his pre packed bag and takes a moment to breathe deeply.

“Of course they are, they’re my parents.” It’s not quite what he intends to say. His mom and stepdad are great but it’s not like it was always them and him. Duffle bag in hand he allows himself a quick press of lips before returning downstairs to say goodbye. Brett ends up taking his bag at to the car as his mom isn’t happy to let him rush out the door with a quick goodbye.

“Did you remember to pack your meds kiddo?” His stepfather asks as his mom forces him to give her a dramatically long hug. He’s spending the night elsewhere not going off to war.

“Yes. I’ll see you both tomorrow.” He pulls away.

“With Brett.” His mom is still holding his shoulders.

“Yes mom! I love you.” He presses a kiss to her cheek and bolts before she thinks of something else.

Getting into the passenger seat he feels a bit dramatic at his own speed. “Let’s go!”

“Where’s the fire squirt?” Liam pauses as he clicks his seatbelt in. His head slowly rises to meet Brett with what feels like a horrified glare.

“Fuck off. You weren’t even in the house yet!”

“I think it’s sweet. Why squirt though?” Brett’s shit eating grin hasn’t left his face. They do at least finally leave the driveway.

“I had a Pokémon phase just like every other kid and I thought squirtle was the best one because he looked like a turtle. I was also a small kid.”

“Solid logic. It’s wrong but we can’t all be perfect.”

“Fuck off.” Liam repeats his earlier statement. “I was like six.” He manages to continue glaring as Brett laughs.

“And even at six you had questionable taste.”

“Obviously I do if I’m with you.”

“Ouch Li right in the heart.”

“What was the right answer then?” Brett doesn’t seem to actually have one based on the pause he takes before answering.

“Pikachu.”

“Lame. You’ve got no right to shit on my taste with that answer.”

“I think you might be taking this a little too seriously.”

“You’re the one who started giving me shit in the first place.” Liam wasn’t truly heated but he wasn’t about to back down.

“Yes, because you’re cute when you’re angry.” He gives a noncommittal hum in response. They both know that's not true. When Liam is truly angry there isn’t anything cute about his sudden lack of control. Liam isn’t really interested in the nuances of his rage during a conversation about Pokémon though. It's not as if Brett is trying to underplay his IED; he's just teasing. “When you say you had a Pokémon phase do you mean you just liked the cartoon like most kids or were you into the cards?” The silence spoke for itself. Brett’s laugh is soft.

“I was a kid, it wasn’t embarrassing. If it was so lame then what is the cool alternative that you were into?” This finally earns Liam his own reaction. It isn’t much but Brett gains the slightest blush. “You know my mom calls me squirt. Is it really any more embarrassing than that?” Liam knows Brett as he is. Most things he knows about younger Brett aren’t even through him but instead pieces of information Lori has let slip.

“I was mostly into the normal stuff. Power rangers, scooby-doo, and that stuff.” He’s being deliberately vague.

“What else? There’s gotta be something else to make you blush.” They’re pulling into the parking lot but Liam will resort to refusing to get out if it means Brett spills.

“Fine but you can’t tell anyone.”

“Who would I tell?” Brett’s insistence to be the best there is has served him well. It's also almost irreparably destroyed his ability to not be hyper focused on how he is perceived. If his image, for all that he as a highschooler can have one, is damaged, it's clear he fears everything else will fall apart too. “I promise.” They’re parked so Liam holds up a pinky. A seemingly childish promise for their childhood conversation.

“When I was a kid I was really close with my mom so I’d watch her shows with her instead of napping. It's not the same as your Pokémon phase because it’s not like I was into them but as a kid I definitely saw way too many soap operas. My mom always said I was going to be a casanova one day.” Liam can’t stop the laugh that bubbles up in his chest.

“Thats really fucking cute honestly. Should you even have been watching those?”

“Absolutely not. I was young enough though that I didn’t understand any of the inappropriate stuff. I did cause quite a stir once though in elementary school. I stayed home one day for an appointment and so when I came back I told my teacher all about what I’d watched except I left out the part where it was what I’d watched. She spent about five minutes thinking I had a super fucked up home life.”

“What clued her in?”

“When I mentioned that the guy and his twin might be aliens.”

“Alright casanova no more making fun of me just because you’re jealous I liked normal shit as a kid.” Liam let his smile reassure Brett that he wasn’t taking any of this to heart.

“Ok squirt I’ll lay off.” Liam leans across the center console with a laugh ready to fuck with Brett’s hair in retribution. His wrist is snatched out of the air before he can make contact. In order to continue preventing Liam from trying for his hair again Brett laces their fingers together. A quick look at the clock does show they have time before the doors open. His glance isn’t very subtle and it wasn’t meant to be. Brett must read into the look as he gains a smug grin.

With one hand already out of commission from Brett fending it off Liam lets him grab his other hand as well. With a dramatic flourish his hand is lifted to Brett’s mouth for a smacking kiss followed by an eyebrow wiggle. Liam can only giggle in response. The following kiss placed to the inside of his wrist doesn’t have the same silly energy. After gently nosing at the pulse point at Liam’s wrist Brett places a second kiss there then releases Liam’s hand. His hand is already so close to the other boy's face that Liam decides to slide his hand across the side of Brett’s neck before settling on the back of his neck. With one of his hands now free Brett reaches out to cradle Liam’s face. He has nice hands Liam notes, not for the first time. Brett’s got long fingers and warm palms that don’t reflect his hard work due to the werewolf thing.

The kiss they exchange isn’t very heated. It’s a soft slide of lips that’s content with not becoming more. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t consume Liam in the moment. Maybe it’s a werewolf thing, taking comfort in being so close to another person that you can lose yourself in letting them take up all your senses. It may not be though as it’s probably unsafe to shut the outside world out in favor of the steady heart beat in his ears and the soft dip of Brett’s tongue in his mouth. Losing himself to Brett in the Devenford parking lot does turn out to be a mistake as someone decides to slam their hands down on the car hood hard enough to send Liam lurching backwards far and fast enough to crack his head against the window.

There is no danger posed. Instead it’s a pleased Davis and a more reluctant Daniels in the front of the car. Davis still has his hands on the hood which lets Liam know who to direct his death glare at. “I might kill him.” Brett’s whisper isn’t meant for anyone without supernatural hearing. Liam knows his face is saying what Brett has verbalized. It’s a sign though to get moving. Brett’s out first with a grin that Liam can’t tell if he actually thinks is smarmy or if his view is influenced by his slightly pissed off attitude. He stays looking mad as he gets out slower to join Brett with the two others. Davis has already pulled Brett in for a no homo style bro hug. Daniels offers up a fist bump to Brett. Liam and Daniels seem to be in mutual agreement that they’re going to try as hard as possible to not acknowledge each other. Davis though isn’t happy to take the same approach.

Having got his greetings out of the way Brett places himself next to Liam and slings an arm around his waist. Liam has yet to allow his face to drop the pissy look it adopted when he realized what had startled him. “Chill Dunbar! I was just making sure you didn’t miss the show. Just looking out for Lori ya know?” This is accompanied by a chuckle as Davis is quite proud of himself. Liam took a deep breath and didn’t engage.

“Thanks dude I think we had it though.” How Brett manages to turn on this specific kind of energy will probably always baffle Liam. Maybe it’s something in the way Brett’s voice sounds or how he holds himself but when he’s interacting with people from Devenford he seems different. It’s unsettling.

“Sure dude. That’s my bad.” It is absolutely his bad. Liam feels Brett’s hand squeeze his hip. When he turns his head slightly to look at Brett he gets a concerned brow raise. He lets his face soften in response.

“I didn’t realize either of you were supporters of the arts?” Liam manages to say that with a majority sincere tone. It’s not without a bitchy undertone but it’s mostly non offensive.

“Gotta support my cousin you know?” Davis is absolutely dominating the conversation and Daniels seems fine with that. Knowing him he’d probably wanted to walk right by the car without engaging.

“Kara, right?” Brett has a knack for people that Liam lacks.

“You know it.” They’re still circled up in the parking lot. A glance at his phone tells him they might as well head inside. The doors have opened so they won’t have to wait outside the auditorium. Somehow this has turned into the group hangout from hell for Liam. Instead of splitting up in the parking lot after their uncomfortable interaction they’d ended up entering together. Then, after purchasing tickets, they ended up in the same row of seats. Liam at least ends up on the other side of Brett meaning he can fool around on his phone while Brett kicks up a conversation about his plans for an upcoming practice he has to run since coach Andrews will be out.

The beta needs someone to commiserate about this with. Lori is technically not supposed to be on her phone before the show but she’d confessed that most of them didn’t put their phones up until warmups began fifteen minutes before the show. If she’s put it away for some reason then she’d see it after. The text he shoots to her reads: I can’t tell if Davis and Daniels crashed my date or we crashed theirs.

Lori’s first response is an lol. She follows it up by asking why the two of them are there. He relays what Brett had said, that Davis and Kara were cousins. The dots for typing appear then disappear and after a minute haven’t returned. She must have had to put her phone away. He still sends her a final good luck message before returning to fooling around with a phone game. Texting Lori had been a good distraction for the approximate two minutes it had lasted. It’s a relief when the lights are dimmed and he follows instructions to make sure his phone is off. With the conversation he’d been holding over, Brett slumps in his seat and throws an arm over Liam’s shoulder. He’s only seen the show once so far so he’s more interested in watching the show then providing a running commentary.

It’s no wonder that Lori had been so into the show. It’s clear even from the back of the auditorium that she’s having the time of her life. By the time she's done and they’re applauding Liam has let go of the irritation that he’d had in the lead up to the show. That also might have to do with the fact that he was moments away from being free from horrendous company. Lori is first in the auditorium once the cast is released. Most people have started to stand and exit or move to their previously designated meet up spots so halfway to them Lori gives up on the stairs and starts hopping over the rows of auditorium seats. She’s got way too much energy. She continues to demonstrate this by lifting Brett when he goes in for a congratulatory hug. It’s somewhat more manageable when she swoops in for a hug from Liam. He gets to keep his feet on the ground.

“How was it?” Lori’s genuinely proud of what she’s done so it was great. Who is Liam to judge? He entertains people by throwing balls into a net when you really break it down.

“The sword fight was sick Lor! It was even better than last night. Really great job.” Brett gives a tug to one of the short stubby braids Lori’s sporting to allow her to wear a helmet with her costume. Even as she bats his hand away she’s smiling.

“After last night we did a small reblock!” Lori spotted someone over their shoulders and gave an enthusiastic wave. Liam twisted and saw a familiar brunette girl waving. “Syd came, I'm going to go say hi really quick. I can meet you out at the car after I change out of my costume?” Lori was climbing over the seats again without waiting for a response.

“Oh sure Lori. In fact, why don’t I pull the car around for you so you don’t have to walk all the way to the lot.” Despite Brett’s sarcastic tone and the fact that Lori was already several rows away she turned and gave her brother a thumbs up.

“Sounds great!” Lori’s friend lets out an unpleasantly high pitched shriek of congratulations which Lori matches. Liam doesn’t know if he’s ever heard her sound like that before.

“So we’re going to go pull the car around?”

“Yep let's go.” Brett pushes their way out into the cooler November air. It's chaotic as families try to leave. Lori still isn’t outside by the time they manage to navigate to the pickup loop. Brett’s clearly riding the high of Lori’s enthusiasm and joy as he doesn’t text her to hurry up or honk when Lori finally exits only to stop on the sidewalk to continue her conversation with one of her cast mates. It's worth it when the ride back to the commune Liam is surrounded by the scent of happy chemosignals from the two in the front seat.

Chapter Text

Having taken care of the Dread Doctors and the Beast had allowed for a momentary reprieve which meant actual pack nights. This was the first one with Mason, Hayden, and Corey all in attendance. Corey, due to his frankly atrocious home life, was able to come to almost every single one as long as he wasn’t working. Hayden tended to have more family obligations. It was almost perfect as almost everyone who Liam cared about was safely in one place. Of course there was Kira who was currently in the desert, Brett and Lori who weren’t a part of the McCall pack, and his parents who were safely at home and safely in the dark about what he was. Almost perfect was really good after the first half of his sophomore year.

“Gather round!” Stiles was standing in the middle of the living room where half the pack already was. The other half, the younger half, had formed a knot in the kitchen discussing how prepared they were for the Biology exam the following day. “It was Hayden’s turn to pick the movie so tonight settle in for, drumroll please.” Scott and Mason were most willing to give Stiles what he craved. The rest of them were half hearted in their attempts. “Wow, thanks really. We’re watching Bride of Chucky.” Stiles was huffy with the reception of his dramatics. Scott tugged Stiles down on the couch and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Lydia curled up on Stiles' other side and rested her head on his shoulder effectively claiming the couch for the older pack. Malia wedged herself on the end and tucked her feet under Lydia’s legs. It was weird to see her there but no Kira perched on the arm for Malia to lean against. Almost perfect.

This left the younger four members to wrestle over the chair which went to Mason and then space on the floor. Corey had ended up leaning back onto Mason’s legs. Hayden had ended up back to the couch by Malia. Her extended legs became a pillow for Liam’s head. He hadn’t quite moved on from the Dread Doctors of it all and was very physically clingy with both Hayden and Mason. He had to compete for Mason’s space with Corey though.

“Is our puppy pack pile done yet? I wanna start the movie.” Stiles was still pouting despite Scott and Lydia’s loving attention.

A chorus of agreements and instructions to start rose from the floor where the younger members were located. “Hayden, didn't you get enough horror movies working at Sinema?” Liam couldn’t help but question.

“Haven’t we had enough horror in our lives generally?” Corey quipped from his spot by Mason.

“Sinema was using horror as a gimmick! There was no appreciation for horror as a complex genre of film. Sinema was all about horny people having unsafe sex and underaged workers getting scammed.” Hayden was clearly impassioned about the subject in general.

“I don’t think it was all that bad.” Corey’s voice was soft. He knew he was saying something she wouldn't like.

“Of course you would think that. The three of you got to enjoy the horny part of that experience. I was the only one getting scammed. I also got injected with mercury there so that really killed any goodwill I had.” Since she was saying this to Corey her voice lacked any accusing edge. They’d been absorbed into the McCall pack but they had a bond that went a bit deeper.

“I just need to know why you picked this one. It’s the fourth one.” Stiles contributed to their conversation as the ads on the dvd played quietly on the screen.

“I like this one.” Hayden didn’t expand on this and Stiles didn’t have the powers of persuasion over her that he did over Liam.

“Sure but we still could have started with the first one and worked our way to the fourth one.”

“Stiles sweetie, let it go.” Lydia tries to end the conversation.

“It’s not even seasonally appropriate.” Stiles mutters this before burying his face in Lydia’s hair. The movie is fine. Liam’s probably seen it before even though he isn’t the same kind of movie buff as Hayden. It’s more about the atmosphere of having almost everyone together. By the time the credits are rolling it’s late enough for everyone who’s heading out to need to pack up quickly and leave. Stiles and Lydia are staying put so Hayden had offered to take Liam home. Even though he had his license he’d been avoiding driving. As the youngest in the pack, though no longer the newest, they were still letting him get away with it.

As Hayden was being generous enough to offer up her car for a ride for the low price of letting her have his movie night pick he didn’t want to straight up insult the thing. However it was in bad shape which had left them stranded on the side of the road with no service and no spare tire. Both Hayden’s sister and his parents were going to panic if they couldn’t get it fixed or get in contact within the next fifteen minutes.

They weren’t completely fucked though. They may not have been on the main road but another car was sure to pass by. In the meantime one of them could at least try to find a spot where they had service. Liam ends up taking his phone further into the woods, which feels counter productive, in the hopes of getting a bar or two. As he starts to feel desperate enough to contemplate whether climbing a tree to get higher up could result in service he hears Hayden muttering from where she’s waiting for someone to drive by. “Are those the northern lights?” He glances to the sky. Maybe? It would be weird. Partway up the tree he hears the sound of tires on the road and the low sound of an engine. He hadn’t managed to get service yet but maybe whoever it is on the road will have a working phone or a spare they can borrow.

Leaping out of the tree he returns to Hayden and her car. The approach car must be moving slower than he thought if it hasn’t reached where they are. Hayden is already waving trying to flag down the slowly moving vehicle. With the speed the other car is moving there is no way they don’t see the two sophomores. It doesn’t exactly seem like they’re planning on stopping. Not until the vehicle forcibly comes to a stop rolling at a low speed right into the forest where it comes to a stop. The look the two of them share is uneasy. Upon closer inspection the car is missing a windshield and a driver. It's running though.

Not sure what else to do Liam approaches the car Hayden close behind. A tug on the door reveals it is unlocked. It's embarrassing that he’s so freaked out by the whole thing that he’s halfway in the car to shut it off before he realizes he can hear two additional human heartbeats. Even knowing he’s not alone he can't help the small startled shriek he lets out when he looks in the backseat and comes face to face with some kid. As the kid panics far more than makes sense for having been startled by a stranger they ram right into Hayden who had been hovering outside of the car. Almost immediately the kid starts shrieking.

“Don’t let them take me!” Hayden looks to Liam for help. He doesn’t know why. He's got no experience with kids let alone scared possibly traumatized ones.

“Who?” Maybe if the kid gives details they can help.

“Don’t let them take me too!” The kid is freaked out enough that he either isn’t hearing Liam’s questions or doesn’t want to.

“It's okay we won’t.” Hayden is ducting down to look at the kid trying to seem friendly. Liam thinks he manages a non frightening if incredibly awkward smile for the kid.

“What's your name kid?” Following Hayden’s lead he squats down as well. He doesn’t want to freak the kid out so he tries to be subtle as he gets a read on the chemosignals. The kid is scared and that's really all he’s giving off. Its sheer terror though not just a kid spooked by getting lost.

“It's Alex.” Liam isn’t sure if the kid isn’t telling them his last name because of stranger danger or because he simply doesn’t think to. Hayden’s head twists to look down the road. She’s hoping for another car.

“Okay Alex, here's what we're going to do. We’re going to take you to see the Sheriff and he’ll be able to help keep you safe.” Hayden’s plan made on the fly is pretty good.

“With what car?” Liam tries to hiss his question quietly enough that only Hayden hears him. Hayden lets go of Alex and grabs Liam by his arm to drag him over to her car.

“We’ll just borrow the spare tire from Alex’s car. We should be able to at least get back to the main roads.”

“Sure, let me just grab that.” It feels weird to root through what is probably a crime scene but they need to get service about ten minutes ago. Hayden lifts her car a second time to allow Liam to finish switching the tire. Alex is shaking in the backseat after they load him up. Hayden wins rock, paper, scissors so once they hit an area with service Liam dials Val. She’s on duty so Liam calls her extension. They might as well give them a heads up.

“Beacon Hill’s Sheriff's department, How can I help you?”

“Hey Val.” He knows he sounds nervous.

“Liam.” Val hates him. It wasn’t even actually his fault for Hayden disappearing for three days. “Is there a reason you’re calling me?”

“Hayden wanted me to call and make sure you didn’t panic when you called the house phone at nine thirty and she didn’t pick up.”

“Why wouldn’t she pick up?”

“Because we found a kid on the side of the road and now we’re bringing him to the station?” While it's a statement of what's occurring Val makes him nervous enough that it comes out as a question.

“Oh? I can’t wait for you two to explain that one when you get here. How far out are you?”

“Maybe eight minutes?” Liam turns to look at Hayden. Her eyes are wide as she glances at him.

“I’ll see you then.” Val hangs up on him.

“That went well.” Hayden doesn’t try to respond. She knows Val doesn’t like him much. Liam calls his parents next. His dad picks up.

“Hey kiddo are you running late or something?” The clock says it's 9:31 which means his parents haven’t panicked yet but would be keeping an eye out for headlights in the driveway.

“Something like that. Hayden and I found a kid on the side of the road so we’re taking him to the station.” In the background his mom is asking for the phone.

“Liam, how in the world do you get yourself into these things? We’ll come meet you at the station so Hayden doesn’t have to go out of her way. I’m sure Val will want her to head straight home.” His mom is probably right.

“Ok. Thank you. Love you.”

“Love you too.” His mom hangs up. From the backseat grief has overtaken some of the scared scent Alex had been giving off. Hayden turns to look at Alex.

“Hey buddy. Are you doing ok?” She’s definitely trying too hard to be comforting but it might be working. Liam doesn’t know what to do with a kid. Alex nods, a lie, and then sniffles. Liam pulls a napkin out of the glovebox and hands it back. “Maybe you want to tell us what happened? That always makes me feel better.”

“I don’t remember.” He sniffles a bit more. The kid hasn’t cried yet but it seems like he might at any moment.

“Do we think this is something that Scott should know about?” Liam once again tries to lower his voice to try not to add to the kids stress. It's not really a question though since he’s already texting Scott. If there is something weird about this kid, and there definitely is, then he should know about it. They’d had a good run of normalcy. It was time to get back to normal.

Chapter Text

Even though Liam had time before he even had to worry about how he would function without a majority of his pack, without his alpha, he was already feeling the strain. When it came down to it he knew he’d be the stand in leader. Mason was human, Corey wasn’t made for it, and Hayden had other priorities. He would have to be. Inevitably something dangerous would come to Beacon Hills and he would have to lead his three friends against whatever it was. So it wasn’t about being captain of the lacrosse team, not really. He’d explained as much to Lori as he’d lay sprawled across her floor.

“If you’re not ready than say so. Scott just wants what's best for you. He’s not going to make you do something you don’t want to.” Liam groaned at that and rolled over so he was face down on the floor instead of on his back.

“He could be disappointed though because he thinks I can and that I’m holding myself back.” He propped his head up on his hands. “Lori I don't know how to explain to you just how awful it is to have Scott McCall disappointed in you. Also if he’s disappointed then Stiles will definitely have something to say about it and Lydia will keep looking at me while not commenting like I can’t see in her eyes how she feels.”

“It’s sweet that you don’t want to let down your pack parents but also you're just a sophomore who didn’t choose to be a werewolf.”

“Neither did Scott.”

“Scott is a true alpha. His situation is super different.” Lori was starting to sound exasperated. He had been complaining for most of their Wednesday hangout.

“I know.” It comes out whiney.

“Are you planning on helping me with my Cornell notes on the consequences of the Cold War at any point?”

“Ouch Lori. Is that all I am to you?”

“Fuck off!” She launches a pillow at him which he is not exactly positioned to stop. “It’s all going to be okay Li. You’ve got way too many people in your corner to fail. Now help prevent me from failing my junior year.” He returns her pillow to the bed and perches next to her. He’s not the best at Cornell notes but he can break down the text as they read through it.

His complaining must have been more drawn out then he’d realised as they’d barely moved onto other assignments when the customary dinner interruption occurs. After the first few visits they’d started bringing Liam to the dining area to eat. He was slowly getting better about not letting it overwhelm him. Most of the pack kept to themselves or seemingly predetermined configurations so it wasn’t all that bad. He was also more than happy for an excuse to put off math for just a little while longer. The book is closed as soon as Brett’s fist touches the door.

“Homework’s going well then?”

“You could say that. You’d be wrong but that wouldn’t exactly be a first for you.” Lori was quick to respond, packing up at a slower pace. While she was distracted Brett dipped down to kiss Liam where he was seated at her desk. Quick enough to be as non offensive to Lori as they could manage. She was feeling generous and didn’t make any comments.

They made their way to the dining area to allow Brett and Lori time in the presence of pack. Liam sometimes wondered what time with their pack looked like. There were too many of them to function like Liam’s pack did before the dead-pool. Even with the many losses they’d faced it still seemed unlikely they would have changed to doing things differently. Plus most of the pack already lived together in the commune. When they did dinner it wasn’t a group thing. Whoever was on kitchen duty made enough for everyone and everyone showed up in the same two hour period. Liam imagined it worked like a college dining hall. He let his thoughts drift as they parked themselves in the dining area.

He never managed to be social with Satomi’s pack outside of Brett and Lori. He would greet them when he saw them but not much more. He tends to spend dinners in silence which is nice. It’s Brett’s week on dish duty so once they’re done eating Brett stands and stretches prepared to go start cleanup. At the table, after a pointed look from Brett, Lori rolls her eyes and looks away. Liam tilts his face upward to receive a kiss goodbye. Bree, thankfully not on kitchen duty, coos from where she's seated with several other packmates. She’s hushed and the man seated next to her leans over to tell her she’s going to embarrass them.

“Good night Li.” Brett is pulling away and Lori is standing as she’s in charge of getting Liam to his evening practice.

“Bye Brett.” He presses a lightning quick kiss to the taller beta’s cheek once he’s on his feet. He follows Lori out to go get his bag. On his way out he sees Brett scoop up their plates and move to grab the empty plates at Bree’s table as well. He can hear her poor attempts to whisper ask Brett to spill about them since they’re ‘just so sweet’ even outside of the dining area. Lori laughs at his red cheeks and shoves at him as they get his stuff and get into the car.

Athletics hadn’t really recovered from the modified schedule so here lacrosse was, starting weeks after the other teams they’d compete against practicing at seven pm on a school night. It wasn’t even a full practice, just hopefuls and a few actual members to assist. Liam had signed up to try to preemptively get in coach Finstock’s good book before Scott officially announced he wouldn’t be returning as captain. It was mostly a bust. Coach Finstock was difficult to get a read on and what he wanted changed from day to day. Last season he’d seemed like he liked Liam well enough but after that practice he wasn’t sure. He felt defeated as he grabbed his things from the locker room and set off to find Hayden, Mason, and Corey. Scott had gotten distracted talking to some random hopeful so Liam had left him by the field. His phone reveals no texts from the other three indicating they’re done but instead a text from Brett inquiring as to how it had gone. Liam had briefly mentioned that Scott would be stepping down but hadn’t wanted to loiter too much on the idea of becoming captain with the other beta. Brett had been made co-captain as a sophomore to prepare him for full captaincy his junior season. Liam could deal with his own feelings surrounding lacrosse. It’d be a different story to deal with the embarrassment of his lacrosse prodigy boyfriend knowing he could have done better.

The response he decides on is ‘it was fine’. Any further texts can wait. Phone hidden away he decides to head for Hayden who would be in the gym. The girls soccer coach was much more reasonable than coach Finstock and did optional once a week practices during the off season. He’s not even made it halfway there before finding her.

“How was practice?” He’s hoping Mason will arrive while she talks so he won’t have to talk about his mediocre practice.

“It was fine?” Hayden quirks a brow at him, finding the small talk odd.

“So I was going to put the compass back now that I fixed it but the study group was in a different lab. Do we have a back up plan?” Mason and Corey aren’t far behind Hayden finding their way to the two.

“Can’t we have Scott do it?” Hayden seems uninterested in getting caught up in this until she has to. Of course they don’t really have a choice considering that just a few days ago they’d made their way right into this. “Doesn’t this fall under his domain as alpha?”

“It's returning a compass, Hayden, and Scott won’t be around to do that kind of stuff for us for long.” Liam knows his scent gives away how he feels about that to Hayden and Corey. Mason can probably see it on his face.

“Sure but he’s got time to find a replacement and he’s here now.” Corey and Mason shared a glance at Hayden’s words.

“He already has.” Maybe Hayden would believe that if Liam could say it with actual conviction.

“Who Liam?”

“Me.” That comes out with the confidence he wants it to. “I could be the-” He can’t keep the confidence up. Sometimes it felt like being a werewolf had ruined his ability to be confident. In the back of his mind he knew it wasn’t true and that he’d actually just had a better ability to upkeep a cocky facade but fake it till you make it had to have at least some truth to it.

“He could definitely be the alpha.” Mason doesn’t seem like he believes it anymore that Liam himself does but he says it and it's the thought that counts.

“Really.” Hayden isn’t convinced but neither are they. Liam lets his chin drop to his chest in frustration.

“A little faith would go a long way.”

“I’m sorry Liam I just didn’t think that was something you wanted.”

“I don’t! I’m still working on being able to consistently anchor myself and my parents don’t exactly know about the whole werewolf thing so it's not like I can regularly vanish for long periods of time.” He’d been lucky that his parent’s had both been occupied with assisting at the hospital when they’d had to find Mason as the Beast.

“One day we’ll be free of curfews.” At least Hayden shared in his pain. Mason was lucky that his parents let him have free reign.

“Mase, are you still good to give me a ride home?” Hayden’s mention of their never ending curfews was a good reminder that if Mason wasn’t giving him a ride he’d need to call for one. It would take too long to run home and it’d also probably seem suspicious.

“If we leave now, yes. Corey has a night shift and I have to drop him off at his car.”

“Is that legal?”

“Definitely not.” Corey sounds way too relaxed about the fact that it's not legal but considering he spent last fall the way he did Liam supposes it makes sense.

“Yikes, let's go.”

***

“I’m sorry I blew it.” Scott was the only one left in the locker room as Liam took care of equipment. Coach Finstock had shut himself in his office and hadn’t emerged.

“You’d have to be trying in order for that to happen.” The disappointment was inevitable, he'd known it but he’d had hope.

“I think it might be better if someone else were captain.” He didn’t but they weren’t actually talking about being captain. “We’re always dealing with grades and supernatural stuff on top of lacrosse anyways. Why can’t you stay captain?”

“I’ll be graduating soon Liam even if I stay captain it would only be for one last season. It’ll be good for you to ease into responsibilities.” At least Scott was being open about the fact that he saw the position as lacrosse captain as a sign Liam was ready.

“Coach Finstock isn’t interested in having me as captain and I don’t think the team is either.” His relationship with the Beacon Hills lacrosse team was leaps and bounds better than the one he’d had with the Devenford Prep one. He still wasn’t close with any of them. It could be argued that Scott wasn’t either. With Kira gone the person Scott was closest with on the team was probably Liam. That didn’t matter though. The team still respected him. Scott wasn’t going to take that excuse.

“The team is a wreck. We’re weeks behind in terms of practice and almost the entire team lacks any actual skills. What matters is what you want Liam.” Scotts voice isn’t raised but it is pointedly aggressive. “You have to want it otherwise they’ll just keep pushing you down!” Liam does want to be captain is the thing. He’ll survive if he isn’t, he’s put too much effort into forming a healthy mindset around lacrosse, but he’d like to be. His stepfather had managed it and it’d be nice to carry that legacy, blood relation or not. It's the being temporary alpha thing. “You have to show them, leaders don’t run.” It could be a blessing or a curse that coach Finstock interrupts.

Liam must have done something once coach Finstock had returned from rehab because why else would he be looking forward to crushing Liam? He can only hope that it's just coach Finstock being weird as the man almost immediately shuts himself back in his office after his threat. “I won’t be here next year but you will be. It should be you taking charge ok?” Scott seems like the interruption hasn’t made him lose steam.

“I’ll see you tomorrow Scott.” He’s done with this conversation for the time being. Instead of heading straight for the parking lot so he can go home he finds himself making his way towards the library when he hears Mason’s heart kick up. He resists the urge to sprint even though something is wrong. It's not wrong enough that Mason is more than frightened.

Whatever spooked his friend is gone by the time he gets to the library. It’s emptied out quickly for a Thursday night so Mason, and Corey, are the only people there. He can’t hear anyone or anything else in the stacks. “Mase, is everything ok?” He’s dropping his lacrosse bag and reaching for Mason to better inspect him.

“There were Ghost Riders here.” That was worse than he’d thought.

“You saw them?” He can’t deal with another round of Mason being put at risk.

“Not at first but when Corey grabbed me and we turned invisible I could see two of them.”

“Corey, you brought him into this?” Is Corey the right person for Liam to take his slowly growing frustration out on? No, probably not. He should know better though. Mason isn’t like them.

“Liam, I'm fine. They didn’t even care about us.”

“Scott is still here, let me text him so you can tell him what happened too.” They spend the next few minutes in silence while they wait for Scott to show up. Liam is mostly all for this as he’s not sure he can resist the urge to snap at Corey again.

Scott arrives and he’s, thankfully, straight to business. “What happened with the Ghost Riders?”

“There’s not much to tell. I was in the library and I couldn’t see anything. Corey grabbed me to hide and suddenly we could see them on the balcony.” Mason’s breakdown of events leaves much to be desired.

“What were they doing up there?” Scott clearly thinks there has to be more to it.

“Nothing?” Mason has nothing more to give.

“I followed the Ghost Rider up here and they didn’t do anything. They just went up on the balcony then left.” Corey can’t give more information either.

“Why would they just leave?” Liam is willing to ask what he knows they’re wondering.

“Maybe they were looking for something and it wasn’t there?” Corey’s suggestion seems unlikely.

“Are you both sure there wasn’t anyone else here?”

“Yes. It was empty. Just us and the two Ghost Riders.” Mason confirms.

“If you think of anything else let me know.” Scott seems ready to leave just like that.

“Is that it? Mason saw the Ghost Riders, he could be in danger.” Alpha be damned Scott couldn’t just up and leave.

“I don’t think it works like that. We saw them but it didn’t seem like they saw us at all. I couldn’t see them without Corey’s help.” Mason’s words can’t be as comforting as he wants because they don’t actually know enough about the Ghost Riders.

“Liam, Mason will be fine. The storm is on its way out and the Ghost Riders were just here.” Scott claps his shoulder and tries to establish eye contact like that will help Liam believe. He manages a nod and begins chewing on his lip. This time he lets Scott leave.

“Let's get out of here. It suddenly feels way creepier to be here after hours.” Mason leads the two of them to his car.

***

Instead of using his study hall to warm up for practice Liam met with Hayden, Corey, and Mason in the library. He’d actually managed to show up first and unpack his homework before Mason and Corey even arrived. They ushered him up and over to another table. Of course they weren’t meeting up to work on their homework, Liam wasn’t sure he’d ever used the library for homework only for supernatural related research and planning. Almost immediately after dropping her things off at the same table Hayden splits off making a beeline for a girl in the stacks. It looked like it might be Gwen?

“Is there a reason you picked this spot?” Liam can’t help but ask.

“This morning Mason and I had the same idea that we weren’t remembering everything.” Coey starts their explanation.

“We think they were holding someone.” Mason continues. “Ms. Martin wouldn’t let us see the absence list though and Parrish didn’t have anyone reported missing.”

“So what, maybe there's something here? You just said you both already looked.” He sounds bitchy.

“We were hoping a fresh set of eyes would help.” Corey sounds bitchy right back. Things are still a little tense after he got mad at Corey for letting Mason get involved. He was wrong but the sentiment was the same. Corey holds his hand out to Liam, glare still on his face. Liam takes it despite their current issues.

Liam hasn’t experienced Corey’s powers so it takes him a moment to adjust to the green hue the world has suddenly taken on. They probably should have started when they weren’t across from each other as it's very awkward for Liam to try and shuffle around the table so he can stand next to Corey. The library is a bit busy for this but it's worth a try. “What's that up there?” Stuck in the railing of the second floor was a white rectangle. Corey drops Liam’s hand.

“Can you still see it?” Liam tilts towards where Corey had been.

“No.” Corey must have headed up to the second floor as soon as he dropped Liam’s hand as he appears leaning on the railing quickly after. In his hand is the white rectangle. Mason is smiling at the table behind them. They reconvene at the table and pass the card around.

“It's like Schrodinger’s cat! You two changed reality.” Mason is oddly excited. It’s just a blank card. It doesn’t even show the student’s ID on it.

“Corey, can you run it through the card reader?” Liam is suddenly excited as well. This could be an actual lead. They have to wait a few minutes for the librarian to abandon her post so Corey can sneak behind the desk and run the card. During that time Hayden returns and immediately buries her head in her arms.

“So talking with Gwen went that well huh?” Liam doesn’t get a response.

“The card belonged to Jake Sullivan.” Corey reports.

“How did we forget him? He was in our physics study group.” Mason looks freaked out.

“I forgot him too. We had Spanish together.” Liam is freaked out too.

“How did we all forget a whole person completely?” The Ghost Riders is the obvious answer.

“He isn’t the only one.” Hayden’s voice is muffled by her arms.

“What?” Corey is glancing at Hayden in concern. It’s part concern about the Ghost Riders thing, part the Hayden being dejected thing.

“There’s Stiles right? That makes two.” The Stiles that Scott, Lydia, and Malia have been looking for could be a person.

“Phoebe makes three.” Hayden has at least picked her head up to join their conversation.

“Who?” Liam asks as if he’d remember.

“Gwen’s sister Phoebe. She was on the soccer team with me. Before gym today Gwen was freaking out about Phoebe’s locker being cleared out and she accused someone of stealing her stuff. I thought I was making progress because when I talked to her she told me that she saw a guy out on their lawn last night then this morning the guy and her sister were gone and her mom didn’t remember Phoebe.”

“You thought?” Liam’s eyebrow slowly raises.

“I tried to tell her about how I believed her and about the Ghost Riders. She thinks I was making fun of her.” Hayden returns her head to her arms. She smelled embarrassed.

“How did you not learn from when Liam blurted everything out to you?” Mason had to ask.

“I don’t know.” Hayden moans in distress.

“Did you say she saw someone out on the lawn?” Corey brings them back to the main point of conversation.

“Yes?” Hayden’s head is back up.

“Doesn’t that mean she’s marked?” The four of them look at eachother then scramble to their feet to go find the older members of the pack.

Chapter Text

Liam and parties didn’t mix. Three was a pattern and each of the three parties he’d been to had sucked. Still they needed to keep Gwen safe and it was the plan they’d managed to come up with. The ‘puppy pack’, which who had even coined that, was not great at planning. It had been Mason’s idea to ask Brett and Lori to come as added protection, possibly because the plan was awful and so they were banking on numbers to pad it out. Brett was normally a calming presence for Liam, his heart was steady and his scent was warm. He was instead seeking Lori out.

Lori had made herself at home, red solo cup loosely in hand and an unimpressed look plastered across her face, against the kitchen counter. Liam found himself across the counter from her glancing listlessly around. They were joined by Hayden and then Brett which was just another sign they were not good at planning. If they were following the plan they would have been spread throughout the party keeping several sets of eyes on Gwen. Maybe Mason and Corey were sticking to it. Hayden slid a cup across to Liam.

“You know this won’t do anything right?” He watched Hayden’s face flit through a few emotions.

“Really.”

“It has something to do with our bodies healing too fast so it doesn’t work.” He still took the drink.

“You can still get drunk though. It just takes an extra ingredient” Brett spoke from his place bracketing Liam against the counter from behind.

“You can?” Liam and Hayden’s tones were very different though their response was the same.

Lori scoffed. “You’d know all about that wouldn’t you Brett.” She was glowering.

“It’s not a crime to have fun Lori.” Brett slides his hand from its original place on the counter to link his fingers with Liams as he speaks.

“No but last time you were drunk I don’t think anyone was having fun.” Liam stiffened at Lori’s words, back going ramrod straight from where it had previously been pressed against Brett’s chest. Hayden could clearly feel the tension that had grown between the three of them. Tension that she had no current ability to understand. Hayden’s eyes were wide as she took in the three of them.

“I should go find Gwen.” She let her parting words fly over her shoulder as she made her escape.

Brett’s scent was always well controlled. Outside of his basic warm earthy scent he didn’t tend to give off very obvious chemosignals. It made the anguish and frustration coming from behind Liam very abrupt and unsettling.

“We were all thinking it! Normally Liam would be all over you especially after some asshole tried to rough him up but instead he’s been glued to the counter with me or third wheeling Mason and Corey. You’re the one who’s been attaching yourself to him.” Lori had never before taken that tone when speaking to Brett in front of Liam. They’d bickered quite a bit in front of him but her voice was cold.

“Lori drop it.” Brett’s voice was equally cold though there was more of a growling edge to it. His hold on Liam’s hand had tightened but there were no claws.

“He stinks of unease and he has all night!” Lori’s control wasn't as good as Brett’s but it hadn’t ever really needed to be. She had better control then most of the McCall pack so it hadn’t ever been a point of worry. Her eyes seemed a bit brighter and it wasn’t because of the party happening around them.

“I really don’t know if now is the time for this.” Liam’s face was hot with his discomfort. “You two can hash this out later but we are actually here for a reason.” He could hear Hayden above them with Gwen. Someone had their eye on her at least. His personal life hadn’t completely fucked over the plan. The two were still glaring at each other but had at least stopped verbally arguing. Liam resisted the urge to lean back into Brett and bare his neck. The distraction technique wasn’t going to fix the issue and Lori was right about his unease. He didn’t want to do anything vulnerable, feeling the way he did.

In an attempt to flag Mason down in the hopes of a rescue he twisted around facing Brett and the party at large. There was Mason dancing with Corey and not likely to come rescue him from the argument. Not quite salvation would come in the sound of startlingly loud thunder which jostled everyone enough that some of the tension escaped. As the thunder rumbled outside Brett’s hand found its way to Liam’s hip and gripped it tightly, thumb slipping under his shirt. The sound of the storm was joined by the sound of Gwen and Hayden retreating down the stairs away from wherever they’d been cooped up on the second floor of the McCall house. This was at least something he could try to do something about. Not being able to see them was a small issue though. He’d find a way to figure it out once he broke away from Brett to deal with the Ghost Rider.

Gwen slammed into the two of them breaking Brett’s hold on his hip. She clung to them and while most of what she'd said was a nonsensical ramble about the Ghost Rider slowly stalking towards her they at least knew it was there. He passed Gwen off to Brett fully and moved towards where Gwen had gestured and Corey had just now vanished. It was startling to see Corey reappear with one of the Ghost Riders. The volume of the response from everyone at the party was almost worse. They scattered as Corey instructed everyone to run. When Liam glances back Mason has blocked himself and the other four within the kitchen. Gwen should be safe behind the mountain ash barrier with three different werewolves protecting her. If they fail, well he’d rather not think about that. It wasn't looking great though as he and Corey manage to quickly get their asses kicked. He’d be embarrassed if it weren’t for the fact that the ghost rider seemed like they weren’t going to be stopped by the mountain ash either.

Life would be much worse if Liam wasn’t surrounded by people with much better timing than him. Deputy Parrish arrived as the Ghost Rider started to drag Gwen from the safety of the kitchen. What Deputy Parrish is capable of continues to be a mystery. Mason’s interest in researching all things supernatural hadn’t revealed nearly enough for Liam to know why Parrish managed to spook the Ghost Rider. Of course it could also be the fact that his body is healing from what would have been a concussion. By the time everything has wrapped up he’s ninety-five percent sure that his would-be concussion has healed. This is, of course, just in time to clean up the party so Ms.McCall doesn’t hate him more than she already does.

There is nothing to be done about the mark on the ceiling so Liam is doomed to never make his way back into Ms.McCall’s good graces. They’ll have to reconvene with Scott on Saturday, well later on as it's already Saturday by the time they’re done, to let him know how keeping Gwen safe went. Clean up is quiet with Hayden having bailed to take Gwen home. The remaining five break off into two groups. Corey goes home with Mason and Liam braces himself for an awkward ride back with Brett and Lori.

The three sit in silence. The radio sits at zero so there is nothing to distract him from the fading scent of adrenaline and the returning scent of irritation. It wasn’t the first time Liam thought maybe he needed to start driving himself places instead of carpooling.

The two hadn’t seemed to have actually spoken since Liam had shut down their argument at the party. It wasn’t that the two didn’t argue, he had witnessed countless squabbles, it was that they never got like this. He didn’t have any siblings so maybe this was normal but if so he hadn’t been around to witness it. As they quietly dragged themselves out of the car and inside, Liam tried to strategize how to deescalate the situation. Lori wished him, and only him, a goodnight as Brett guided him into the bedroom.

Liam gets to be second in line for the shower out of the three. Being free of the grime from fighting and the stench of his drunk frightened peers helped him think slightly better. Laying in Brett’s bed waiting for his boyfriend to be done in the shower he contemplated what the issue had even been. Lori thought she was protecting him. Brett was deeply important to both of them but they also both knew that he had the potential to be a shitty teenage boy. Liam had been on the receiving end of that behavior and it had been deeply difficult to deal with. He’d dealt with it though hadn’t he?

Lori’s observation, that he was acting differently because he was uncomfortable, hadn’t been wrong. He’d wanted to attribute it to Nathan’s rage and the increasing responsibility that he didn’t quite feel ready for. Liam rolled over to bury his face in the pillow below and try to hide his groan of frustration. He’d been concerned about Brett’s part in his treatment at Devenford when they’d first gotten together. It seemed like a sign that Brett wasn’t actually into him. As time had passed he’d put those fears aside as time and time again he’d seen that Brett did care. He’d assumed that meant he was over it. To a degree he was.

A wasted werewolf on the full moon wasn’t exactly set up to make good choices. Liam hadn’t often thought about the conditions that’d had factored into him being assaulted by the Devenford Prep lacrosse team or how the supernatural element he hadn’t known about at the time may have factored in. His musings are interpreted by Brett returning from the shower. He keeps his face buried in the pillow. Brett knows he’s awake, his heart amongst other things must be giving it away. He listens to Brett pad around the room before shutting the light off and climbing into bed next to him.

“I could smell you stressing from the shower.” Their bodies aren’t touching. It seems intentional, the few inches of space between them.

“It’s nothing.” He can feel the look he’s getting in response before he turns to look at the other boy. “I wasn’t expecting Lori to bring that up.” Brett lets out a short laugh.

“I wasn’t either.” There is a pause before he keeps going. “I don’t think I ever actually apologized for the part I played in you leaving Devenford.”

“You were sixteen and drunk. We both know you made a mistake.” It almost sounds like he’s making an excuse. That fact stops him from closing the gap between them.

“I’m sorry.” It's the first time he’s spoken those words to Liam about this specific incident. “You deserved better. You were fourteen and clearly going through something. I knew and I let the team treat you like that. Worse, I treated you like that.” Liam listens to Brett’s heart as he apologizes. Throughout the whole thing it stays steady.

“It’s not okay and it probably never will be.” Is how Liam starts his response. He can see Brett fighting not to immediately internalize what Liam has just said. He rushes to finish. “I’ve made my peace with it though, or I think I have.” He lets himself reach out now, tucks himself under Brett’s chin, and presses a kiss to the bare chest in front of him. The hand that Brett moves to tangle in Liam’s hair is tentative. The older beta runs his fingers through Liam’s hair seemingly not quite ready to respond. That was ok as this was nice too. Liam had said what he wanted to.

“Have I mentioned that I like your hair like this?” Liam nips the other boy's collar bone. “I’m serious. It looks good and-” Brett had wound the strands around his fingers and gave them a tug to accentuate his statement. Liam couldn’t help the gasp he made at the sensation. “It's fun to play with.” Liam rolled Brett on his back and slung his leg over the other boy settling on top of him. The motion had dislodged Brett’s hand but he was quick to return it to twist in the shorter beta’s hair, dragging him down to press their lips together. Liam was smiling when Brett pulled him into the kiss but quickly let his mouth be parted. Brett’s other hand was large and warm as it slid under his shirt and rested on his back, gently pressing them more fully together.

It didn’t stay there for long. As soon as Liam pulled away intent on removing his shirt he felt the hand slide to rest on his ass, guiding him to grind down providing them both with friction. The moan he lets out in response is soft. Brett pushes up halfway to bring their mouths back together. The other beta isn’t content with just making out now that clothes have started coming off. Liam is more than fine with letting Brett use his hair to guide his head to the side making room for him to leave a trail of hickies and letting out a soft sigh.

The whimper that he lets out after Brett guides him through a particularly firm grind has them both pausing. It had been a bit louder then was safe. Liam’s not interested in stopping though. Since he’s paused rocking his hips he brings his hand to cup the tent in Brett’s shorts. The other boy rolls into the hand and lets his own hand make its way to Liam’s waistband. The hand pauses but Liam doesn’t stop him and instead lifts up to try to help take them off. Brett takes this as a sign to switch their positions and sends Liam toppling onto the mattress before finishing yanking them off. With his own hand dislodged he moves to paw at Brett’s waistband.

Liam is rewarded by Brett stripping himself so they’re both bare. He pushes himself back into the taller beta’s space wanting to resume the kissing and rutting they’d been partaking in. He’s immediately invited back in with Brett’s hands bracing themselves on his neck and hip. Liam braced his own on Brett’s chest and let his other slide down the hard planes of Brett’s abdomen towards his dick. The hand in his hair tightens as soon he gets his hand around Brett’s dick, accompanied by a sharp inhale. Almost immediately the hand on his hip migrates to return to favor. Liam twists his face to hide his moan in the pillow below. This is followed by a full body shudder when Brett murmurs “Shit Li you’re so wet.” It doesn’t seem intentional but that doesn’t matter. He loses his focus when the other boy’s thumb brushes the head of his dick causing even more precum to bead at the tip.

Almost immediately after doing this Brett’s hand is gone. It's just for a moment though so Brett can haul Liam even closer, close enough that he can take them both in hand. With Brett having taken charge of getting them both off Liam has no clue what to do with his hands. He ends up desperately gripping Brett’s side with one and using the other to drag him in to kiss in between hiding his face when Brett’s wrist twists in a particularly moan worthy way.

At a certain point he finds himself just hiding his face, giving up entirely on kissing. This seems to displease Brett enough that he tugs on Liam’s hair to get him to look. “Wanna see you.” Liam’s not sure if it's the wrecked quality that Brett’s voice has taken on or the way he’s being moved around but he’s shuddering and leaking. The way he whines and jerks in Brett’s hold would be embarrassing if it weren’t clear that the other boy was into it. His hand picks up speed in response to the reaction Liam gives him.

“Fuck, I’m close.”

“Yea?” Brett’s response is accompanied by a self satisfied smile. Liam manages to nod. It only takes a few more swipes of his thumb across the head of Liam’s dick before he finishes. Liam is happy to kiss Brett through the other beta’s orgasam that follows his own.

There isn’t much time after finishing as Liam immediately feels the exhaustion take over. They’ve managed not to make a mess of anything except for themselves so Liam only has to let Brett shuffle him out of bed to quickly wipe down before he can crash back into the mattress and pass out. He’s not asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow but it's a near thing. Brett has barely arranged them so Liam is sprawled across him before he’s fully out.

He’s still sprawled across Brett’s chest when he wakes up. The heart below his head is still beating slowly with sleep. They’ll need to go back to the McCall house today but Liam can’t do anything until Brett is awake and he doesn’t want to wake his boyfriend up. Instead he closes his eyes and tries to drift back off. He does manage to drift until slightly later when the other heartbeat picks up. It might be nice to stay like this, let the broad hand across his back that's slowly stroking upwards continue. They have things to do though.

“We should get going shouldn’t we?” Brett’s voice helps break Liam away from the idea of having a peaceful morning.

“Yea. Scott will want to meet with us about yesterday.” Liam’s eyes squeeze shut and he presses his forehead harder onto Brett’s chest. “He’s going to be so mad.”

“You did throw a party at his house. Gwen is fine though so even if he doesn’t like the way you did it you managed to do what he told you too.” The hand Brett runs through his hair is soothing enough that Liam gives them a few minutes before pushing himself up and out of bed.

He’s greatly regretting pushing himself out of the bed around nine-thirty as he cranes his neck to look at the ceiling. “So what exactly happened?” Scott looks away from the ceiling and instead to Liam.

“You wanted us to keep Gwen safe so we brought the party here. They shouldn’t have been able to get in.” It's the shortest summary he can manage.

“Who told you to have a party?” Liam’s not sure he can do anything other than disappoint Scott at this point.

“We saved Gwen. Corey made the Ghost Rider visible so we could fight him.”

“Doesn’t the book say seeing the Wild Hunt means you’ll be taken too?” It’s not an actual question. The book does say something along those lines. The air sours as Liam’s scent tanks.

“Everyone at the party saw the Ghost Rider.” Scott’s eyes have widened with the same revelation that Liam is having. “Does that mean-”

“They’re all in danger.” A pause. “I should have been here.” That news weighs heavy on them all as they return their gaze to the spot on the ceiling.

“So what's with the mark?” Brett’s there to both save Mason a trip and to keep himself and Lori, once she stops giving Brett the silent treatment, in the loop. Last year with the dead-pool and the Dread Doctors had been difficult. Calling upon the siblings for occasional assistance was more complicated when they didn’t know what was going on.

“That's where the lightning that the Ghost Rider came in on struck.” Mason explains. “It could be how they got past the mountain ash.”

“If they can ride the lightning then how are we supposed to keep them safe?” Liam looks at Scott. He’s done with making the plans for now.

“This is my fault.” It’s unclear if Corey meant that for everyone to hear as it's said so quietly.

“We'll find a way to protect them.” They don’t have any ideas yet so Scott sets them free. Mason’s clearly worried about Corey feeling at fault as he declares he’s headed to the library after dropping Corey off at work. There’s an invitation there which Liam accepts quickly. They can be better prepared this time.

“I’ll see you Wednesday?” Mason and Corey are already in Mason’s car and Scott is inside so there is a semblance of privacy as he says goodbye.

“Yea. I’ll see you Wednesday.” Brett is cradling his face and pressing a kiss to his mouth. Liam presses forward into the kiss causing Brett to slightly stumble back into his car. His hands clutch at Brett’s side, sliding under the jacket he’s wearing. As he pulls away Brett’s hand brushes a strand back out of Liam’s face. With one last peck Liam retreats to Mason’s car so they can start researching.

Chapter Text

Liam doesn’t know Gwen well enough to keep track of her wherever she is in the school. He had a pretty good grasp on Hayden as Scott's only other bitten beta. He could hear her slam into one of the lockers from where he was in the library. “So you’re just going to stay by my side all day? What are you supposed to do about classes, or practices, or evenings?” Gwen is asking the same question the rest of them are wondering.

“We’re still working on it but for now I’m with you everywhere and maybe if you’re interested we can get dinner sometime?” When Hayden doesn’t get a quick response he starts to feel second hand embarrassment. Maybe Hayden has a handle on Gwen. He’ll stay focused on Mason who's been pulling up some website to show him that they can use to try to track the Ghost Riders.

“Ok so what exactly is a K-index?” He’s been listening to Mason and he read the same blurb but he’s still a little lost. Mason turns his laptop to show Liam his screen.

“The K-index is a scale that's used to measure thunderstorms. Below twenty means we’re in the clear while above thirty-five means that there’s multiple storms. Right now we’re in the clear.” As if to prove Mason wrong Liam watches the program Mason has on the screen climb quickly.

“And now we aren’t. We’ve gotta figure out where to go from here. We’ve gotta fight them.”

“What? Dude no we have to find somewhere to hide them all out. If we can find somewhere underground then we should be able to keep them safe.”

“We thought they’d be safe in the McCall house but they weren’t. Our best bet would be to try to fight the Ghost riders. If we get rid of them then we won’t have to worry about trying to protect everyone.”

“We don’t know how to fight them yet!”

“We managed to fight them last weekend.” Scott must have finished up his own planning with Lydia and Malia because Liam can hear him approaching.

“It took six of us and Parrish. We need to hide them!”

“Hide who?” Scott has entered the conversation. Liam hasn’t shaken the tension that almost all of his conversations with Scott seem to carry now.

“The kids from the party.” Mason is quick to respond.

“We tried to hide Gwen and we ended up putting a whole party at risk. We have to fight them!”

“Fight who?” Scott has to know what they’re talking about.

“The Ghost Riders!”

“I’m telling you that we can keep them safe this time. They got around the mountain ash by riding the lightning but if we can hide them underground that will ground the lightning .”

“We can hide them in the bunker during the storm.” Scott’s feeling the hiding plan that's fine.

“How do we get them in the bunker? There were like five members of the lacrosse team that saw the ghost rider. They’re not going to want to skip the game.”

“You’ll just have to convince them then.”

“Right, no problem.” It was absolutely going to be a problem but he’d manage.

Manage he did. Nathan was probably going to kick his ass into the next year at some point but he’d heal. Somehow though Gwen, despite being the one who should have been most on board, managed to throw a wrench in it all.

Once they realized they weren’t getting Gwen or some of the lacrosse team back in the bunker it became clear they’d need more backup. They’d gotten responses from Malia and Lori. Since Lori had already planned on going to the game that left Malia in the bunker.

Their plan is probably not a good one, they’re spread too thin and the students they’re trying to protect are actively working against them. They’re also absolutely sucking at lacrosse. There is no chance that they aren’t going to be the laughing stock of the lacrosse season.

As he and Scott try to fend off the Wild Hunt he contemplates if there was a scenario in which he and Scott pull this off. He’s giving it his all, physically throwing himself at a Ghost Rider and he’s still not doing enough. Seeing teammates vanish and knowing he’s at fault. Seeing Gwen choose to let herself be taken and knowing how horrified Hayden will be at the loss. He’s hopeful Lori, Hayden, and Mason are safe having lost sight of them.

There’s no one left to protect by the time the two reamerge with Parish in tow. They must have called for backup early on if Parish is here already. They hadn’t planned on needing the hellhound. Hayden still tries to assist, storming the Ghost Rider closest to her. Of course they escape riding off in the lightning. Not before trying to take one more person with them. Parish continues to be a creature of many surprises though. He doesn’t vanish but reverts back to his human state.

It's still pouring though the Wild Hunt is no longer present on the field. It feels fitting. They’re all miserable. The spectators and team members who were not taken have already fled trying to avoid the flood of rain. Liam isn’t hurt but he still finds himself leaning on Hayden and Lori as they trudge back inside. They’re all soaked though the rain outside had already let up. Corey seems exceptionally miserable. Liam is pretty sure it’s because Corey is busy blaming himself just like Liam is. Scott’s farther from the group talking to Malia on the phone. It’s not good.

“Scott I’m-” He pulls away from Hayden to stand by his alpha.

“It’s not your fault Liam. I should have found a way to both protect everyone from the Ghost Riders and fight them.” It still feels like his fault. “I’m going to go meet up with Malia at the hospital to check on Argent. We can pick up with this tomorrow.” Scott doesn’t even bother changing or showering he leaves, pads and all, to go check in on the rest of the pack.

If Liam was being honest with himself he’d been hoping that the locker room would have cleared out more because he wasn’t really fit for people at the moment. The game had ended what felt like eons ago. Coach Finstock must have been holding all the players hostage in the hopes of the game resuming or something equally insane.

“The hero of the hour!” Coach Finstock has a manic energy about him. “Congratulations Dunbar you did what none of the rest of these losers could do!” The man is being way too loud for Liam’s current state of misery.

“Coach we still lost, we lost everything.” They did. Liam doesn’t even know how many people were taken because he can’t remember. He only knows people were taken because the Ghost Riders were there and that's what they do.

“Dunbar, that's exactly the kind of attitude our team needs. I mean listen to that absolute anguish in his voice. Next time we’re going to win and you’re going to lead us to that victory as our new captain!” Coach Finstock tries to rouse the team to applaud and they do briefly. It feels fucking awful. It's short lived at least so Liam can disassociate in the showers while everyone clears out.

He stands under the spray until everyone else has left. He can hear Corey, Mason, and Hayden whispering out in the hall. Coach Finstock must decide that trying to drown himself matches the attitude he wants Liam to bring because he clears out too. Liam feels untethered. The water isn’t helping, the heartbeats aren’t helping, and he’s running low on things to anchor him. He’d made headway in using the people he cared about as anchors and it had been working.

He’s not in a rush to leave, not like this. The other four do at least have the decency to wait until he’s out of the shower to ambush him.

“Liam everyone else has gone home. We should too.” Lori seems a bit out of place from where she’s leaning against the lockers, separated from the other three.

“No. You can all leave but I’m not going anywhere. I’m responsible for so many people being exposed to the wild hunt and so it's my responsibility to fix this. I need to catch one.” Looks are traded around him as he sets out to leave. He can hear the three of them following behind him. “You don’t need to come with me!” There’s a slight stare down as he turns to face his friends.

“We’re not going anywhere.” Mason is first to speak.

“I said I was with you and I meant it.” Hayden tacks on. He can't help but be grateful that he has friends, has a pack, that cares.

“You might as well accept our help Liam.” Lori punctuates her statement with a shrug.

“You’re captain now so what's the plan?” Corey is right he’d need one of those.

“I don’t have one yet.”

“I think I might have a few. They need some workshopping though so that means you need to go home Liam, not go off on your own.” Hayden is also right but he doesn’t like it.

“Fine.” He pauses. “Did I already ask one of you two for a ride? I can’t remember.”

“No.”

“You didn’t ask me but I can give you one. I’m already taking Corey home so.”

“I said I’d drive you home. Am I dropping you off or are you coming back with me?” Lori’s already heading towards the car so he jogs to catch up with her, waving to the other three.

“My dad is working so I’ll come back with you.” Lori turns to him.

“And your mom? Normally she hates when you spend the night on a school night.”

“What? Lori he has the night shift he wouldn’t even know.”

“Okay. It’s your sleepovers with Brett that you’re putting at risk here.” Lori spent the whole ride glancing at Liam trying to puzzle out something he just didn’t know what it was.

He felt weird knocking on Brett’s door with his shoes in hand. Maybe he should have gone home. He didn’t want to be alone though. The way Brett’s brow was furrowed didn’t help with that feeling. “Liam, how did you get here?”

“A car?”

“Your own?”

“No.”

“I’ll set the earlier alarm then. Go brush your teeth.” Liam tries to be in and out quickly. Brett was clearly ready for bed and Liam didn’t want to keep him up. At least he hadn’t seemed upset with Liam’s presence, just confused.

“Sorry I dropped by unannounced.” He twisted the tie of the borrowed sweatpants he’d been given.

“I’m not upset about you being here, I'm just worried about how you’re doing. It’s a Tuesday night. Just get the lights and come here okay.” Brett was already in the bed. Liam did as instructed before getting in on the other side. The bed still smells like them. He could feel Brett staring as he laid back eyes firmly on the ceiling. “On a scale of one to ten how much is your mom going to hate me after our Tuesday night sleepover?”

“What? My dad has the night shift he probably won’t notice.” He turned to look at Brett instead of the ceiling. Brett pursed his lips then pulled Liam in so he could spoon him.

“If you say so.” Brett pauses. Liam is sure he’s trying to figure out what to say next that has the least possibility of setting the younger beta off. He fucking hates that. “How was your game?” Liam feels Brett press a kiss to his shoulder before starting to rub his bare arm. It should have been soothing.

“Awful. We lost and the Ghost Riders showed up. I think they got everyone, not that I’d remember, and I think more people got marked. Coach Finstock definitely thinks I tried to drown myself in the shower and he was going to let me. Hell he probably thought it was another example of me showing the attitude he was looking for.” Brett lets out a sympathetic hiss and presses another kiss to Liam’s shoulder. Liam rolls over and shoves the taller boy on his back so he can stick his face in the other boy's neck as he continues. “I made captain.”

“That’s great Li.” Brett’s hand runs up his bare back. “Just like your stepdad right?”

“Yea.” His exhale is harsh.

“Get some sleep okay. Maybe you’ll feel better in the morning.” He presses a goodnight kiss to Brett’s neck in response. Sleep could be beneficial.

It would have been if it weren’t for how restless his night was. He pulls away from Brett at some point in the night and doesn’t stop moving. The blankets are smothering him. Thunder cracks through the air and he’s not sure if the storm from earlier has returned or if it's a part of his nightmares. Maybe it's both.

The sound of a phone alarm is a relief compared to the sounds of the storm that had filled his night. He’s not tired enough that the fact that it's a different tone doesn’t send a momentary spike of fear through him. He knows he’s safe before he can even open his eyes. Liam doesn’t want to open his eyes. Brett tries to give him time but they both know he needs to get up. It probably isn’t any help to his mental state to pull on yesterday’s jeans. His mental state seems to be weighing heavy on the other boy as well.

Brett is already fully dressed in his uniform, stupid vest included, while Liam holds a shirt in his hand. He must be taking too long as Brett ends up plucking the shirt from his hands and tossing it into his hamper. Instead he passes Liam a shirt from his own drawers and then a hooded sweatshirt once Liam has pulled the shirt on. It’s quiet as they head out to the car. Liam fiddles with the radio until he finds a station playing Joan Jett and slumps in the passenger seat.

They’re a few minutes from Beacon Hills High School when Liam finally breaks the silence. “I think I forgot something in your room.”

“Are you sure it's not in your bag?” Liam takes a moment to search his bag. Books, binders, pencils, pens he has everything. “We can go back but you might be late.”

“I- No it's fine. It wouldn’t be anything I’d need for classes. I didn’t touch my backpack.”

“You can just get it when you come over later.”

“What?” They’re in the parking lot.

“It’s Wednesday, unless something came up?”

“No, it'll be a rest day since we had a game.” Liam gathers his stuff.

“So I’ll see you later.” Liam nods, presses a kiss to Brett’s check.

“Right.” He goes back in for a longer kiss, tangles their tongues together and clutches at the vest. Brett is smirking when he pulls away. “You have to go to class.”Their third kiss is similar to the second.

“Have a good day.” Their fourth is the same as the first. Liam gets out of the car. The energy he drummed up during the car ride dissipates before he makes it to lunch.

***

“Ok Hayden lay in on us. What did you have planned?” Liam knows he’s looking to her hopefully. He hadn’t come up with anything in the eighteen hours since they’d decided to catch a Ghost Rider. Corey had left right at the end of school to get to work so Hayden, Mason, and Liam were left alone to figure it out.

“What? Why are you looking at me?” She seemed startled.

“You told us you had a few ideas?” Mason was equally confused.

“No, I had one bad idea followed by a worse one.”

“Would either of them work?”

“Yes but they’re awful.” Hayden is weirdly adamant despite the fact that she was there for their last plan and it wasn’t good either.

“Let's do it.” They might as well go full steam ahead.

“Fine but without Corey it’s going to be difficult because we’re going to have to break into the storage room and take some stuff to make a lightning rod.”

“Can’t we just buy one?” Building a lightning rod didn’t seem easy.

“Do you have two-thousand dollars lying around?” That would be why Hayden wanted them to build it.

“Ok so breaking into the faculty storage room shouldn’t be too bad.” Liam looks at Mason to make sure he’s on board. He’d been down with borrowing the compass from the physics lab until returning it had become a hassle. They head out from the library. The teachers haven’t fully left since the building is still open. They end up awkwardly loitering around the corner of the storage room.

“Don’t they have lives? I mean honestly go home!” Hayden hisses out after the third time she pokes her head around the corner and sees the same two teachers talking. She might blow their cover if she keeps that up.

“So where’s the list of what we need?” Liam holds his hand out expectantly. He doesn’t have any idea how you’d start to build a lightning rod.

“It’s in my head. We don’t need any evidence if we’re caught.” Good to know Hayden had no faith in the plan. They do manage to get in and out without getting caught. Liam is pretty sure he’s accidentally grabbed a few extra things but it'll be better to have extra then to have left anything behind.

“Whose car are we taking?” They can’t take their stolen materials back to the library. “I don’t have mine so it’ll have to be one of yours.”

“How’d you even get here?” Mason leads them to his vehicle. “You were in too good a mood to have run to school this morning?”

“No, I had to have.” They shift through everything back in the car.“Did we get what we needed?” Liam managed to grab everything he’d been told to at least.

“Yes, we can now make a lightning rod. What’s the rest of the plan?” Hayden pulls up a picture of the bunker’s blueprints to help her explain. Liam is the only one who can look as Mason is busy trying to drive them and their stolen materials away.

“What we can do is use the lightning rod during the next storm to get one of the ghost riders in the tunnels then push him into the bunker so he can’t ride the lightning out.” Her plan sounds simple enough. Mason seems hesitant.

“How do you plan on getting them in the bunker before they realize it’s a trap and ride the lightning back out? They probably have some amount of control over where the lightning strikes and will be out of there as soon as they realize.”

“Um.” Hayden looks to Liam for assistance.

“Hey Mason, where are we going?” Liam is distracted from assisting her. It’s not like he knows how to get around it either.

“What? I’m taking us- oh.” They’re traveling away from Mason’s. Liam is pretty sure they’re a few blocks from Devenford actually. Mason takes a right down a side street to try and get them back on track. “Sorry I got distracted trying to figure out how to make this work. We could probably build something to absorb the lightning strikes but it would take time?”

“Maybe we don’t need to build something? Maybe we just need the right person.” Hayden and Mason both look to him. He didn’t think it sounded that crazy.

“Liam even if we could get Kira out on a day pass from the skinwalkers I don’t know if she could handle those levels.”

“Ok sure but Josh ate electricity so he could probably manage.”

“Josh is dead if you haven’t forgotten.” It’s a sore subject for Hayden so she’s definitely not going to like what he says next.

“His powers aren’t.”

“They might as well be!” He feels bad. She’s clearly very upset by this. Maybe it would be better to tag someone in who he wouldn’t be re-traumatizing. Who would he ask though. The only person not here but in on the plan is Corey and it would definitely traumatize him. He could call- Who could he call? It was on the tip of his tongue. Filling someone else in would be a hassle.

“Listen I know that it’s insane but it might be our best bet!” He’s not sure he can convince either of them honestly.

“Just to be clear, because what I think you’re saying is crazy so maybe I’m just misunderstanding, you want to use Theo to capture a Ghost Rider. As in Theo who murdered multiple people and is currently in Skinwalker prison?” Mason isn’t into it either.

“Maybe being down there has changed him? Look, we need to catch one of the Ghost Riders so we can figure out how to stop this. We know they’ve taken at least four people but there’s no way they haven’t taken more! Don’t classes feel smaller to you? Don’t you feel like you’re forgetting something?”

“It was weird that I automatically started driving us somewhere other than my house.” Validation, thanks Mason.

“Exactly! We didn’t remember Jake until we ran his Library card and at the lacrosse game I know we were protecting people from the Ghost Riders but I couldn’t tell you who.”

“It was Gwen, her and a couple of other dudes from the party.” Hayden’s reminder gives him a brief flash of a girl in lacrosse gear.

“Right Gwen! Plus you just said it was weird that you drove us near Devenford instead of to your house.” He manages to prove his own point. He’s not selling them on Theo himself but instead on how big a problem the Wild Hunt is.

“You think me possibly just missing a turn could be a relic?” Mason seems to take it in stride.

“Maybe! We won’t know until we can get more information from a Ghost Rider. I need you with me on this even if it's crazy.” Mason and Hayden share a look.

“How would we even get to Theo let alone convince him to help.” Hayden is reluctant but that's okay. She’s on board.

“I can reach out to Mrs.Yukimura and we can go from there. In the meantime let's build a lightning rod!” He puts too much enthusiasm in his voice and immediately regrets it. He distracts himself with typing out a text. Kira’s mom had her cell phone right? She would probably see it if he sent a text to Kira.

“Right, about that.” Hayden looks sheepish. “I’m not one hundred percent sure I know how.”

“That's what the internet is for right?” Both Liam and Hayden are banking on Mason knowing what the hell they’re doing. Mason doesn’t but he figures it out. They end up back at Mason’s house without any more subconscious detours. It seems as if they’ve made what they set out to but there isn’t really a way of testing it.

“We have the lightning rod now we just need a way to contain the energy from the lightning strikes. Any word from Kira’s mom?”

“Yes she said it’s a bad idea and that we could meet her in the tunnels.” It wasn’t a comfort to have Mrs.Yukimura immediately dismiss the idea but it wasn’t like he didn’t know this was an awful plan.

“Why would she pick there?”Hayden dutifully loads into the car anyways. It's not like she’s wrong, it's an awful choice of a meeting place. Maybe she thinks that being in the tunnels will remind them why Theo was imprisoned in the first place.

They haven’t forgotten is the thing. It’s clear in each of their minds just what Theo did. When Mrs.Yukimura passes him the blade, when he looks at Hayden and Mason, when he slams it into the ground he’s thinking about what Theo has done. Anything he does next will be on Liam.

It isn’t a surprise that as soon as Theo has dragged himself out of the ground he has his hands wrapped around Liam’s throat. The stone wall is cold on Liam’s back and his head definitely is ringing from striking the wall.

“Where is Tara?” This is probably the worst Theo has ever seemed. He’s caked in dirt and panting. He’s also surrounded by the stench of grief, pain, and fear. It’s almost suffocating.

“She’s dead. You killed her, remember?” Hayden is keeping her distance planted between Theo and Mason. Liam adjusts his grip on Kira’s katana while the chimera is distracted. “We should send him back.” The adjusting of the sword accompanied by Hayden’s words gets Theo to release some of the pressure he’d been applying to Liam’s neck.

“We need you to help us with the Ghost Riders, then you can go do whatever you want.” That was absolutely a lie but Liam knew his heart was racing already so there wouldn’t be a physical give away. “Killing us now will leave you worse off.”

“There’s nothing worse than what I’ve been through.” If Liam could have felt bad for Theo he might have in that moment.

“Why didn’t he paralyzed you?” Mason’s voice is loud after the soft admission Theo had made. He and Hayden moved closer. “He had you pinned and the sword was right there. If he wanted to he could have paralyzed you and taken off with the sword but he didn’t.”

“Why would I do that when you all clearly need my help?” Maybe the skinwalker prison had made Theo a worse liar.

“Do you still even have their powers? Did you kill them for nothing?” Hayden’s reservations were back in full force.

“I was just returning them the way I found them but now we’re back to classic Theo.” The way that he doesn’t give a shit rubs them all the wrong way.

“We should send him back. He can’t help us without Josh’s power.” Hayden repeats her previous wish.

“I can still help.” They aren’t back to classic Theo if he’s so quick to try and please them. “I know plenty about the Wild Hunt. Look just take me to whoever is actually calling the shots whether its Scott or Stiles-”

“Stiles?” The three take on differing tones and look at each other.

“You remember Stiles?” Liam continues. The older pack members have only been able to make so much leeway.

“Obviously? Why wouldn’t I?” Maybe Theo can still help after all.

“We think he was taken by the Ghost Riders. We need to regroup and you need to spill everything you know.” The only place that he can think of to take Theo is the McCall house. Scott and the others will hopefully be back and Liam can explain what’s been going on. Ms. McCall may never forgive him for not only bringing Theo back but into her kitchen. She doesn’t seem to be home when they get there so maybe she’ll never have to know. Scott is still out as well so it feels a little awkward to be crowded around in the McCall kitchen.

“You said you knew about the Wild Hunt so start talking.” Liam, Mason, and Hayden have put the counter in between them and Theo.

“Start talking? About what? You have to be more specific about what you want to know.” Clearly getting clean has rejuvenated Theo enough to get him back to his previous douchebag attitude. Perhaps Liam had been wrong to think he would have changed.

“About the Wild Hunt! They’ve been taking people and causing storms for weeks!” Liam snaps. He can feel a growl start up in his throat.

“Weeks? The Wild Hunt rides in on a storm, takes someone, maybe a family, and then leaves. They shouldn’t be here after a few weeks.” Theo manages to tear his gaze away from the window to look at them.

“They’re stuck then or something?” Liam watches Theo freeze and it's not because of Mason’s words. There are lights in the driveway. The front door opens with enough force that Liam is sure Scott has caught Theo’s scent or heard his voice. He and Malia probably realized he was here as soon as they pulled in because a moment after Theo’s idiodic hug comment Malia is in the other doorway blocking his escape. Liam is beginning to think he should have texted ahead.

His ongoing hatred for Theo, honestly everyone’s ongoing hatred for Theo, is probably made even clearer to Theo when they let Malia beat his face in before dragging her off. None of them try to step in between Malia and Theo when she first sets sight on him anyways. Scott and Liam do step in eventually though. Malia doesn’t need any more blood on her hands.

As soon as she’s off Theo and no longer actively lunging for the chimera’s throat Liam is dragged to the other room. It seems unfair to ask Lydia, Hayden, and Mason to keep Malia from killing Theo but they can manage.

“What were you thinking?” Scott doesn’t bother to lower his voice. They’d all be able to hear it anyway.

“I was thinking that we could use him to catch one of the Ghost riders.”

“Liam last time he got in your head and convinced you to kill me. We can’t trust him.”

“I don’t trust him. We don’t have to trust him. You just have to trust me like Mrs.Yukimura did.”

“I think this is a mistake. He belongs in the ground where Kira put him.”

“You made mistakes when you were starting off.”

“There isn’t time for mistakes.” Scott is clearly disappointed and it's stinking up the space around them.

“You told us you’d do anything to get Stiles back. Anything might have to include Theo.” Liam hopes he’s getting through to Scott. It still smells like disappointment. That smell may just start triggering a rage in him at this rate.

“As soon as he does anything suspicious you’ll put him back?”

“Yes.” They rejoin everyone else. Malia is growling again and Theo is still seated on the floor. He’s fixed his nose from where the werecoyote had broken it at least. “Theo you know what this can do.” Liam brandishes Kira’s sword, as if Theo could possibly think he was talking about anything else. “As soon as you think about betraying us I will use it.”

“Got it.” Liam extends his hand to pull Theo off the ground.

***

Liam was going to fall horribly behind on homework at this rate. He’d had a game Tuesday, spent his Wednesday night freeing a murderous chimera, and now he was about to spend his Thursday with said societal menace and the rest of the pack capturing a Ghost Rider. He and Hayden had stashed Theo for the night and gotten home without breaking curfew too badly on Hayden’s part. Then they’d gone through the motions of classes. As soon as class let out they’d run for the parking lot and Liam could only assume that Hayden had learned as little as he had.

Since he had freed Theo it had been his responsibility to get him where they needed him for their second attempt at the plan. Hayden had been the one to volunteer to help with Theo and it was almost certain that she regretted it. Malia had volunteered as well but followed it up with another death threat so it was for the best that Hayden had come instead. At least she was showing her rage by snapping at Theo and not beating Theo’s face in.

“Is there a reason I have to be here? I told you where it is and the rest of them have already made it there so you know I’m not lying.” Liam is pretty sure that Theo is directing his questions at Hayden because it pisses her off. “I just don’t think I need to be there when this all blows up.”

“It’s not going to blow up! It is a good plan!” Hayden’s voice is sharp. It earns them about two minutes of peace.

“So where is your boyfriend anyways?” Theo still can’t stand the silence. “I’d think he was hiding in the trees based on how strongly his smell is coming off you. Frankly, it's offensive.”

“God, do you ever shut up!” Hayden had regretted her suggested plan since before they’d enacted it and it just kept mounting. Liam, however, paused. It wasn’t a graceful pause, it was more of a lurching stop and stumble.

“I’m sorry what?” Liam hadn’t moved after stopping other than turning on the spot to look at Theo while he addressed him. Hayden had continued moving but was forced to stop as she ran out of chain length. “Are you trying to tell me this Stiles dude was my boyfriend? How many people was this dude even dating? Lydia and Scott were both sure they were in love with whoever this guy was too.”

“What? No not Stiles. Don’t tell me you’ve managed to let multiple McCall pack allies get taken by the wild hunt.” Theo didn’t seem like he was being intentionally misleading but that didn’t mean anything.

“Liam’s hopeless with romance, what are you even talking about?” Hayden was clearly thinking that this was more bullshit from Theo meant to ensure he didn’t get sent back. The sword was broken though so why keep up the charade?

“You know Brett? Tall, kind of douchey, related to Lori?” Theo seemed shocked weirdly enough. “Liam smells like he just rolled around in the dude's bed. How do you not smell that?” Liam paused before answering. He also tucked his nose to his shoulder. He smelled normal didn’t he?

“Who is Lori?” He tried to bring them back on track.

“You forgot your wonder twins? Wow.”

“They aren’t twins.” It’s out of his mouth without a conscious thought.

“Fuck.” Hayden is the one to say it but Liam is thinking it too.

“I think I’m genuinely embarrassed to have been a part of any plan you losers made.” Liam responds by resuming moving along the trail allowing himself to yank more harshly than necessary on the chains and cuffs. This time Theo remains silent for the reminder of the walk.

The random shed Theo identified as having a transformer in it is packed. It really isn’t big enough for the six of them and the cage for the Ghost rider. Mason rewalks them through the plan the three of them had scraped together previously. It sounds better when he explains it then it had when they’d first made it in the car. Maybe Mason had made modifications to it.

Whatever he’d done worked though. By some miracle they catch a Ghost Rider. Of course as they hadn’t really expected to be successful so they ran out of plan to follow.

“Mr. Ghost Rider we need to know how to get our friends-”

“Everyone.” Scott interjects.

“Right, Mr. Rider sir, we need to know how to get everyone back.” Liam can be polite if needed. The Ghost Rider isn’t impressed with his politeness. In fact it’s almost as if the Ghost Rider doesn’t care about him at all. The only response he gets is a howl. That's probably not good.

“Was this your plan? Nicely asking for help while he calls for backup?” Theo hisses out from behind them.

“We didn’t have a plan for this part.” Liam admits. It's weird that he feels sheepish telling Theo about that. “I’m going to text Mason. Maybe he had a part two that we could try.” Mason’s part two is to text Parrish. His rambled response seems like maybe he didn’t have a part two and came up with this on the fly.

Parrish must have been in the area because he arrives quickly once they reach out. He seems pretty unimpressed with being called upon to get involved with their plan. He’s resigned to it though, this is something he needs to do. The deputies involvement does go sideways quickly.

At first it’s fine. Parrish asks, “How do we get everyone back?” Just like Liam had. The Ghost Rider’s voice is fucking weird to experience honestly, it lets out a wail then its voice seems to echo around them.

“We are the Wild Hunt. The Wild Hunt hunts forever.” It’s a useless answer but they got a response so Parrish is already doing leagues better. With Parrish there they also can ask questions. They, of course, means Scott. Liam and Theo are certainly not getting any attention from the Ghost Rider. It's almost like they aren’t there.

“What do you want from us?”

“We are the Wild Hunt. No one resists the Wild Hunt. No one escapes the Wild Hunt.” They Know that can’t be true. Stiles had found a way to contact them even after being taken. The Ghost Rider makes a new noise. That new noise sends Parrish into full hellhound mode. They hadn’t really figured out how his whole being a hellhound thing worked but Liam was pretty sure they hadn’t known that specific sounds could set Parrish off.

“Scott what is he doing?” Neither of them have moved to stop Parrish, not yet.

“I think he’s trying to get them out.” Theo answers instead. That jolts Scott and Liam into action. That and the fact that Parrish is burning the mountain ash circle.

“Parrish stop!” Scott’s command does nothing. Parrish is not an easy guy to move, the two of them are using all their strength to prevent him from advancing. Theo ends up next to him as he attempts to grab Parish’s shoulder and assist in stopping him from getting to the Ghost Rider. Parrish does not like that as shown by the way that he tosses Theo aside. It seems pretty brutal. Parrish must not be fully hellhound then as he hasn’t tried to hurt Scott and Liam just get past them. Liam is hopeful it's a good sign.

While Theo doesn’t actually provide any assistance in stopping Parrish, him getting thrown does get the hellhound in a good position for Liam and Scott to push him out the door and far away from the shed. They have him past where Hayden, Mason, and Corey were waiting before they get Parrish back. They also see Parrish’s back as he goes from being pushed out to running away.

“Parrish, come back!” Scotts shout is useless.

“Don’t follow me!” Parrish’s voice would have been lost to the distance he’d managed to travel if it weren’t for their enhanced hearing. They don’t follow him. They don’t have time to. Of course it doesn’t end up mattering because the Ghost Rider is gone when they return. As are Corey, Hayden, and Mason.

“You let them get away!” Liam is hauling Theo off the ground as he shouts. All that for nothing. “You let them take Mason!” It feels a bit like deja vu, yelling about Mason being missing.

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed Liam but I’m still recovering from trying to help you stop Parrish from letting him out. Classic Theo, remember?” He pushes Liam off him and wipes at the blood on his face. It doesn’t do much.

“The whole reason I even let you out was to help capture a Ghost rider.”

“I did that! It was your buddy Parrish who fucked it up.” Theo is way too nonchalant for someone Liam is moments away from sending back. He hasn’t been giving off many chemosignals since directly after he’d been freed.

“Great, let's send you back then.”

“No!” Theo doesn’t smell scared but he looks it. “I still know more about the Ghost Riders and I remember people you didn’t even know you’d forgotten. Stiles isn’t the only ally you lost. You need me.” Theo is wrong. They dont need him. Liam is still convinced. He needs more information. Last year he hadn’t had any of his memories repressed. He hadn’t known what it was like to not have full access to his memories before this. It had seemed like they’d known something was missing last year. Liam hadn’t even realized anything was missing until Theo said something. He still didn’t feel like he was missing anything. He knew he was but it didn’t feel that way.

“Liam, it's okay.” Scott is partially blocking Theo from his beta’s view. It's really not okay, he's spiraling, but Scott’s words still manage to make him feel the slightest bit better. “Parrish may have gone to the station, let's regroup there.” Scott goes with Liam and Theo for their return trip. Liam tries to let his alpha’s presence comfort him. It’s not successful.

Chapter Text

Liam hadn’t expected for them to return from trying to capture a Ghost Rider to find everyone was missing. The number of people the Ghost Riders had taken seemed as if it was rendering their ability to wipe said people from memories ineffective. Stiles, Phoebe, and Brett he only seemed to know the names of. Whereas Corey, Hayden, and Mason he could clearly envision.

He hasn’t been able to stop thinking about what Theo said. That obviously isn’t entirely true as he'd been very focused on keeping Parrish from getting to the Ghost Rider hours before. Truly there were so many things that he needed to be thinking about and yet his mind was stuck on ‘You know Brett? Tall, kind of douchey, related to Lori?’

He hadn’t remembered Brett or Lori. He still didn’t. Lydia and Scott had almost immediately known there was something missing. Malia had too. Was he a bad boyfriend for not remembering Brett? A bad friend for not remembering Lori? The others were caught up with arguing and planning now that they had Peter. He wasn’t needed for this part. Instead he slunk away to the holding cell where they’d temporarily placed Theo.

Theo is quick to look up when Liam enters but it’s clear he’s disappointed. Liam isn’t in charge and Scott is there so Theo isn't going anywhere. Across from the cell Liam leans against the wall and slowly slides down to sit on the floor. Seated he realizes just how tired he is and lets his head fall back against the concrete behind him. He’s not sleeping, he couldn’t if he tried despite his exhaustion, but his eyes have slipped shut.

When they were dealing with the Dread Doctors Liam hadn’t realized just how much Theo liked to talk. Theo had spent most of his time with Scott, Malia, and Stiles. Liam hadn’t gotten much, if any, one on one time with the chimera so he supposed it made sense. He was starting to realize it though as Theo spoke within five minutes of Liam entering. “Considering you’re not waving Kira’s sword around I’m assuming you’ve decided not to send me back yet.”

“What were they like?” He’s not looking at Theo, not yet.

“Who?” Liam doesn’t bother to give Theo a response. “How would you even know if I was telling the truth?”

“What would you get out of lying?”

“Touché little beta. What will I get if I tell you the truth?”

“I saved you from the skinwalker prison. Isn’t that enough?” Theo scoffs. Liam finally opens his eyes to look at Theo. The chimera is shaking his head.

“Sure. It’s not like I knew them personally. Lets see Brett Talbot, born wolf, beta in Satomi’s pack, and captain of the Devenford lacrosse team which is where you would have met.” Liam nods along to Theo's laundry list of traits. He doesn’t know who Satomi is but he imagines that the whole pack was taken so how could he. Theo’s eyes take on a harsh gleam. “You know when I was trying to figure out just what made you tick I managed to get my hands on the notes from your counselor and psychiatrist. It was honestly pretty boring but then again I’ve never been one for lacrosse and I hadn’t been looking for a beta with coping skills.” Liam knows his irritation has reached Theo as his lips quirk up.

“Maybe I should have sent you back. There's still time to at least.” Theo is a little less pleased as he starts back up.

“What I did find interesting was that you said he’d attacked you pre-bite. Imagine my surprise when you came to a pack night smelling like the kid. I think that's when I realized that you might be more like your alpha than I had originally thought. Just goes to show how good I am though since I still got you to try and kill Scott.” Liam is reaching through the bars before he knows it, teeth bared and claws out. He must be snarling loudly as Scott races in and pulls him back. He feels foolish once Scott has deposited him back in the desk area with everyone else. He must be openly upset as Malia pulls him to her side.

“I’ll distract them if you want another shot at killing Theo. Or you can distract them and I can kill him instead.” He doesn’t think Malia is joking but she’s probably not fully serious. She’d definitely prefer to be the one to kill Theo. She’d hate to be on distraction duty. He leans into her instead of answering and lets her heart beat become a steady background noise as they detail Liam’s part in the plan. Staying behind.

It made sense. Scott, Lydia, and Malia were able to remember Stiles. They had spoken to him even. They needed someone to hold down the fort while they were gone. They were stalling though. They easily could have left to find the rift by then. “The longer we take the less time there will be.” Liam just wanted them to finish trying to get everyone free of the Ghost Riders so they could focus on getting them to move on.

“I don’t think it's a good idea for any of us to be alone.” Scott continued to be worried even though they’d not come up with any alternatives.Technically he wouldn’t be alone, there would be Theo for company awful though it may be. Liam pushes away from Malia to approach Scott

“I’ll be fine Scott. You’ve been telling me to step up so here I am.” He knows Scott is searching his face and deciding whether he actually is ready. He isn’t but he’s found that he can be successful when under pressure. Scott must miss it or he decides that desperation counts as wanting it.

“You’re right.” They finally start moving with the plan.

Liam is alone. His pack, and Peter, are somewhere trying to find the rift. There isn’t much to do other than worry about if they’re ok. It’s storming outside, it has been since they returned from capturing a Ghost Rider, but it doesn’t have the intensity to indicate that the Ghost Riders have made their way back to the Sheriff's station. About five minutes after he’d been left he’d found a stress ball that hadn’t vanished when Val had. Bouncing it across the floor, into the wall, and back had become just another background sound along with the rain and wind.

“Are you just going to ignore me?” Liam is not alone. He startles and the ball rolls under one of the desks. Theo had faded into the background as well.

“I was hoping to.” Liam wheeled over to the acrylic window that looked in on the cell Theo was in. “So if you go back to sitting in silence it’ll make our time together less painless.”

“You wanted me talking earlier. Hell the whole reason you’re keeping me around is for information.”

“I changed my mind.”

“Don’t you want to know why the Ghost Riders are here? They’re supposed to move on after they’ve taken someone. They don’t normally take whole towns.”

The doors rattle. Liam’s claws are out and he’s up within seconds. The Ghost Riders wouldn’t have bothered with a key so while it’s startling he can experience a modicum of comfort in the fact that it isn’t the Wild Hunt. It's also not Scott and the rest. They’d only just texted that they discovered the rift was in the tunnels.

The doors push open. Liam skids to stop from where he’d charged. “Oh thank god.” Liam has never been so thankful to see the Sheriff.

“Liam? Where’s Scott?” Sheriff Stilinski’s eyes are darting around the station taking in the empty desks. “Wait, what is he doing here?” He’s noticed that it's Theo in the cell.

“Scott is looking for the rift so they can bring Stiles back and Theo um.” How does he begin to explain that?

“Never mind. Get Scott on the phone he’s going to want to hear this.” Liam would love to forget about the Theo of it all. He does think that the Sheriff could make his own calls but he’s willing to play secretary for five minutes if they can get through this. Scott picks up on the first ring.

“Liam?” It’s clear that Scott assumes the call is bad news. Liam puts his phone on speaker so the Sheriff could tell Scott whatever he needed to.

“No Scott it’s me.”

“Sheriff Stilinski?” Scott sounds grateful that it’s not bad news.

“It’s my station Scott, you think I’d abandon it?” The Sheriff seemed the slightest bit offended but that was overtaken by the smile that broke out across his face. Liam wasn’t feeling particularly happy considering Beacon Hills had dropped to a population of less than ten in a week.

“Of course not but the Ghost Riders have taken almost all of Beacon Hills. We’re going to go find the rift and get them back.”

“Liam filled me in on that Scott but listen I have a son.” Liam can see Theo rolling his eyes through the window. “His name is Mieczyslaw Stilinski and everyone calls him Stiles but when he was a kid Claudia called him Mischief.” Lydia lets out a gleeful laugh from the other end of the phone. “She also wanted him to have her jeep. She probably didn’t expect him to drive it into a ditch the first time he drove it or to use it to search for bodies in the woods.”

“So you fully remember him, not just vaguely recall that he exists?”

“Yes, and the crazy thing is that when I remember him I could see him clear as day. He was in a train station which doesn’t seem to be any of my memories but I know I have them all.”

“I’ve been dreaming about a train station.” Liam can hear Lydia in the background but Scott must switch his phone to speaker as well so she can share fully. “I think that’s where they are. Which means that when you saw him that was the rift. Remembering Stiles helped you see through the rift. Scott, we have to remember Stiles!”

“We do remember Stiles.” Malia isn’t entirely wrong.

“Not like that. We remember that he existed but we don’t remember who he is. Not yet anyways. We’re going to get him back ok. Just make sure there’s a Beacon Hills to bring him back to.” Scott hangs up, or maybe Malia does since she’s still not great with social niceties.

“Ok now you start talking about why Theo is locked up in a cell instead of in the prison Kira specially made for him?”

“I thought he could help?” He sounds incredibly unconfident.

“If you let me out I can help more.” Stilinski doesn’t bother to give Theo his attention but that’s fine because Liam does when he tries to stare into the chimera’s soul, assuming he has one, and tell Theo to shut the fuck up.

“Oh no you’re staying in there. I’ve got a whole station of armed deputies that’ll do just fine.” Liam looks around at the station. Sheriff Stilinski must be seeing things.

“Um Sheriff Stilinski that’s not-“ He pinches his lips together. The Sheriff is at the radio calling for any of his deputies. Liam can only hope that maybe Parrish answers, who he’d last seen sprinting into the woods. There is no answer.

“I’m not seeming too bad now am I?” Theo truly never shuts up.

“Dude shut up!” The worst part is Liam does think they could use Theo.

“What? You don’t hear them getting closer?” The storm has slowly been intensifying. It’s all wind at the moment. They’ll probably arrive soon which means distraction duty will commence. “If you want a chance at surviving them you’ll let me out.”

“There’s safety in numbers and I still have the sword to return him if necessary.”

“Liam, if he steps a toe out of line I will fill his head with bullets before you can even crack the hell hole he crawled out of open. Got that?” The sheriff gets a nod from Theo and finally enters the room where the one cell is. He seems ready to swipe before last minute yanking it away leaving Theo hanging through the bars. “How do we know he actually knows anything he’s claiming to? He’s not exactly known for his honesty.”

“What would I gain from lying?”

“You get to be here for a few more miserable hours. I’m sure wherever you were before was no picnic.” The sheriff is moving the keycard around. It may be intentional to draw Theo attention. To show that last time he may have been leading everyone around through his plans but not this time. “Tell me something about Stiles.”

“I would have thought I proved I wasn’t lying about remembering when you were interrogating me earlier Liam.” The way Theo is talking is a stark contrast to the way his arm is jammed through the bar from where he’d desperately reached to get the keycard moments before.

“I’m the one with the key card Theo and I’m asking you to tell me something, anything about my son.” Thunder rumbles in the distance.

“Sheriff, they're coming.” Liam can’t tell if it’s the air from the storm making his hair stand on end. It could just be because he’s freaked out.

“You’re going to want me out there so just swipe the card right here.” Theo gestures with his arm still hanging through the bars.

“One thing Theo, just one.” Why the Sheriff isn’t freaked out he’s not sure but its stressing him out.

“He didn’t trust me! He was smart like that.” Theo is rewarded with being released. Lightning strikes the ground. A horse whinnies.

“They’re here.” Liam is happy to let the Sheriff lead.

“How close?”

“Too close.”

“How many?”

“I hear a few horses, so more than one.”

“Five.” Theo probably is better able to do this and five sounds right. “I think yes five at most.”

“Ready?” The Sheriff cocks his gun. Liam lets his claws out.

“Are you crazy? Three of us against five Ghost Riders?” How is it that Theo sat through the whole plan and had spent time as something pack adjacent yet didn’t think they were going to fight the Ghost Riders? He baffled Liam sometimes.

“We can take them.” Liam is trying to think positively or at the very least pretend he can. It's a little hard at the moment. Theo is certainly not convinced but he doesn’t make a break for it to try and save his own skin.

Sheriff Stilinski swings the door open only for them to be greeted by more than five Ghost Riders. Liam has got to stop being so harsh on himself when it comes to his abilities as a werewolf because none of them seem to be good at it. The Ghost Riders open fire. Unlike the two teens the Sheriff doesn’t manage to get out of the way. The shots pause for just a few seconds so Liam reaches across the doorway to pull Theo behind him and make a break for it.

Liam pushes Theo ahead of him towards the other exit by the cruisers. He detours towards the desks and grabs Kira’s Sword then the receptionists desk for the key box. The first cruiser that Theo tries is unlocked.

“You brought the sword? Did you at least manage to grab the keys to this thing while you were worrying about sending me back?” Liam tips open the box of keys he’d snagged. They tumble into his lap and onto the floor. Maybe he should have carried it more carefully.

“Yes! I couldn’t just leave it there. Mrs.Yukimura would kill me if I misplaced Kira’s sword and I can’t be on another person’s shit list.”

“Talk and search for the key Liam or better yet shut up and search.” Liam passes over one key then another.

“Liam This isn’t even a car key!”

“I never drive!” He roots through the box and tosses a few small keys to the ground. He passes another key over. Success. Theo floors it back into a Ghost Rider than off towards the road. “Take us to the hospital.”

“What? Why? We should be heading to the townline.”

“No! Look, you don’t think we can fight them right? So that means we have to hide and I know every inch of that hospital.”

“How is hiding the best that you’ve got?”

“We’re on distraction duty dude. We have to keep them busy and buy Scott enough time to remember Stiles.”

“Why is it so important that he remembers Stiles? Half the town has been forgotten in case you haven’t realized.”

“If they don’t remember Stiles then the rest of us will get forgotten.” The rest of the ride is in silence but Theo steers them towards the hospital. The hospital is the same as the sheriff's station. Abandoned. The ambulance in the bay is half unloaded. But there isn’t a person in sight. Lam doubles back to the ambulance while Theo makes a beeline straight for the hospital’s door. Its a good thing that the sirens can be turned on with a big red switch so he can draw the Ghost Riders towards them.

“What the hell are you doing?” Theo tries to shoulder past him and turn off the siren. Liam can’t let him do that so he shoves him towards the door instead. “Are you trying to tell them where to find us?”

“Yes! If they’re busy looking for us, that's more time for Scott.”

“You don’t care about them getting you?” Theo never made it seem like he thought Liam was smart but it's clear that in this moment he thinks Liam is an idiot.

“They’re going to get us all eventually if we don’t give Scott enough time.”

“They’re taking you first. That's the only reason I’m still with you. As soon as it stops benefiting me I’m gone.” Theo’s voice is raised. In fact it seems like he's only capable of shouting. Rarely is Liam the calm one in any situation. He’s not even that calm. He shoves Theo back again.

“I know.” Theo gives up on arguing and storms into the hospital. Liam watches him slow then freeze just past the front desk. “Theo?” The Chimera’s breaths are shallow puffs. “Theo?” There isn’t any acknowledgment that he’s heard Liam. His gaze is locked on one of the empty wings. Liam moves closer to Theo. It’s probably not a good idea to touch the other boy since he’s clearly not fully there but they don’t have time. “Theo?” He keeps his voice calm and his touch gentle. Theo’s gaze slides to him and sees him. “This way.” Theo nods and follows behind him.

The morgue is in the depths of the hospital so it seems like the most reasonable place to hide out. The Ghost Riders take the living so they can hide with the dead. He tells Theo as much when it becomes clear Theo isn’t impressed by his choice in hiding place. Its not as if Liam wants to be in the morgue. Opening up one of the shelves releases an intense stench of death that makes him immediately change his mind about hiding in the same place they put the bodies. It wasn’t as bad as the bodies they’d hid with to get into Eichen but he wasn’t doing that again.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this but I think I’d rather be in that jail cell.”

“We should have left you in the ground.” Theo’s eyes dart to the sword awkwardly shoved through Liam's belt loop.

“What do you think was going on down there? That I was enjoying quality family time with my sister reminiscing about the good old days?”

“I think you were rotting like you deserved to.”

“You’re right.”

“I hope you know that when the Ghost Riders come I’m going to do exactly what you’d do to me. I’m going to leave you to be bait.” Theo nods in understanding. There are footsteps on the tiles outside. The Ghost Riders have arrived. Liam doesn’t want to be a sitting duck. That’s also not likely to buy all that much time since the Ghost Riders are in the building. He gestures to the autopsy table and then the hall. Theo must pick up what he’s putting down as he joins Liam at the table ready to send it flying into the Ghost Rider.

The Ghost Rider, of course, had friends. Liam prepares to fight the Ghost Riders in the hall. Two on six, he and Theo could manage. Theo’s hand lands on Liam’s shoulder as he speaks. “You getting taken isn’t going to help anyone.” One on six, he could manage.

“If I’m going to get taken anyways I might as well go down fighting.” He shakes Theo’s hand off and charges. Behind him he hears Theo let out a put out sigh then roar. Theo is with him for now.

Fighting the Ghost Riders goes better this time than it did at the party. There was only one that time but Liam had also had no idea what he was dealing with. He’s fought them twice so he sort of knows what he’s dealing with. The Ghost rider he’s tussling with ends up tipping them back into the morgue. Even as he claws at their jugular it seems as if nothing is slowing them. He finds himself back to the Ghost Rider after a dodge that leads to him getting shoved forward into one of the autopsy tables.

The Ghost Riders hand touches the back of Liam’s neck and he panics. His elbow slams backwards into the Ghost Riders face. They don’t seem fully flesh but the contact forces the Ghost Rider off of him. He goes for the gun they’re holding. Getting shot or whipped will end this. The Ghost Riders grip on the gun is firm. He can’t get it away but he can at least keep it from getting pointed at him. The Ghost Rider fires as he pushes it to face the open doors of the morgue where another Ghost Rider has forced Theo to his knees.

Theo gets up; the Ghost Rider doesn’t. Liam forces the barrel towards the Ghost Rider which holds it before forcing their finger down on the trigger. He’s extra careful as he steps over the corpse. Theo is staring but offers him a small smile and a fist. There is no time for celebration. They’ve only dealt with some of the Ghost Riders but the Wild Hunt is much larger.

Liam prepares to continue the fight and has stepped forward before he’s being dragged back. The arms braced around his midsection belong to Theo, not another Ghost Rider. His heels drag across the tile before he’s being tossed back into the elevator. “Theo, what are you doing?”

“I’m being the bait.”

For all his speed he still slams into the elevator doors with Theo alone on the other side. He punches the elevator door and presses his forehead to the cool metal. You can’t hear when someone is taken by the hunt so he has no clue if a bullet has hit or a whip has cracked and vanished Theo until he hears Theo go for another one of the Ghost Riders.

The sword shatters when he hits it off the elevator floor. Liam tries to be careful as he picks up the pieces and tucks them into his pocket to be returned. He still ends with small drops of blood on his palms from where the pieces sliced his hands open before almost immediately healing. Mrs.Yukimura and Ms.McCall can start a club he doesn’t care, except for he really does. He hopes she’s not too mad he broke Kira’s sword. It’s been fixed before and it’s not as if anyone is using it. Theo has changed so they don’t need it to send him back.

The sounds from outside the elevator have trailed off by the time he manages to pick up the pieces of the sword and pry the doors open. The hallway is clear so Liam breaks into a sprint almost immediately to try to avoid it refilling with another wave of the Wild Hunt. He can only hope that he’s bought enough time for them to remember and free Stiles. Leaping over train tracks that weren’t there before aren’t a sign that things are going well but he can only hope that they pull this off.

Chapter Text

Riding a horse hadn’t seemed all that difficult but having had to learn on the fly wasn’t ideal. Liam had managed though. The horse had honestly done most of the work. They’d been on the lawn of Beacon Hills High School one moment, heading for the trees, the next moment the trees had come together and he’d been in a tunnel. Still he’d been glad to dismount the horse relatively quickly even if it’d been in a train station of all places.

It was odd that the Wild Hunt ended in a train station. He supposed that trains had their place when it came to the wild west but the Wild Hunt had been around for longer than that. Were the Ghost Riders even conscious enough to choose how they appeared? They seemed mindless in their goal to take everyone.

Within the train station everyone had scattered. The horse had been pretty loud so he’d probably spooked everyone. Was it a good or bad sign that they were able to be spooked? The they in question was a random assortment of people, some of which he vaguely recognized. He didn’t see Corey or any of his packmates anywhere. There were several doors off of the first room. He’d have to start searching. The first door that he takes leads to a room almost identical to the first one. The people are less active. Only a few seem to not be in a daze

The third room seemed to consist of nurses and patients. They Ghost Riders must have started sweeping through and taking from locations en masse. Unlike in the last room the people in here were out of it in the same way Stiles had described. He’s made it through seven rooms before he spots Hayden and Mason. “Mason!” He’s sweeping the two into a hug before they’ve spotted him. They seem to be frantically looking around the same as him.

“Have you seen Corey?” Mason pushes himself out of the hug and grabs onto Liam’s arms.

“No? Why isn’t he with you?” Liam lets his eyes quickly search the room. Hayden and Mason had already checked so it wasn’t as if he was going to spot him.

“I don’t know. Corey told us to run and I didn’t want to but Hayden insisted.”

“Corey didn’t want you to get hurt Mason and neither did I.” It seemed as if Hayden and Mason had possibly had this disagreement already during their time in the station.

“Unless he was hiding he got taken by the Wild Hunt too. He should be here.” Liam is positive they do not have time to argue.

“He hasn’t been in any of the rooms we’ve checked.” Mason was on the verge of hysterics.

“So then we keep looking. How many rooms have you searched?” Liam hoped they’d gotten through more than he had.

“Fifty-seven.” Hayden sounds exhausted.

“Ok which way did you come from?” They head through one of the doors they hadn’t yet searched. They manage another four before they find another person to join their search party. Liam would have panicked when he felt something slam through the door to the next room into his side of it weren’t for the fact that he could smell it was Lori. She collided with his side and nose seemed to know the sawdust scent belonged to Lori, it was like he hadn’t forgotten her in the first place.

“I’m never going to another lacrosse game at Beacon!”

“That's okay. You’ve had bad luck with them.” She releases him. “Have you seen Corey? We can’t find him.”

“No but I haven’t exactly been searching. I’ve been staying put to keep an eye on my pack. Brett and I-” Liam is pushing towards the door before she can even finish. When his packmates recovered their repressed memories in the fall it had been violent. Malia was almost killed. Remembering things taken by the Wild Hunt isn’t anything like that. One moment he’s got a head full of people that he wants to remember, faint almost memories. The next they've all slid back into place.

He probably shouldn’t be ditching Lori, Mason, and Hayden when he just found them, especially because they really do need to find Corey. He’s only going into the next room. The next room where Brett is. He skids through the door faster than Lori had slammed into his side. Satomi’s pack takes up three of the benches. Some of them are mindlessly waiting on the benches, almost all of them are in fact. Satomi seems more alert, though she's still seated, considering she's actively talking. She’s holding court with her one seemingly present beta. Over the intercom an eta is given.

It's probably rude to interrupt but he’s already running. Brett puts a few steps between him and Satomi, possibly expecting the way Liam is going to slam into him. Liam doesn’t tip them over, only because Brett is prepared. Instead he finds himself steadied after they collide and pushes up for a kiss.

“Is it just you or did they get everyone?”Brett has pulled away but Liam is still clinging.

“Neither. Beacon Hills and this place are merging so I managed to borrow one of the Ghost Riders horses.”

“Sure why not. Gotta be honest that sounds pretty fucking bad Liam. What’s the plan?”

“Find Corey.”

“And?” Brett prompted.

“That’s it on my end.”

“Liam, that is an awful plan.”

“Haven’t you witnessed enough of this to know that Scott always manages?” It's a small comfort for Brett but Satomi seems pleased. She’s still seated on the bench watching over her pack. Mason, Hayden, and Lori are slower to follow. They’re on room sixty-eight of course they’re losing steam. The intercom crackles to life once more. Twenty-five minutes left.

“Did you hear that?” Mason’s eyes are darting around not landing anywhere.

“What the ominous countdown?”

“No, well yes. That’s Corey’s voice!” Mason is confident despite the looks he receives from Hayden and Lori. “I know him, he’s never been able to hide from me. That is him, his voice.”

“Ok Mase lets find him then.” Liam trusts Mason to know Corey.

“What are we meant to do after we find Corey?” Brett hasn’t let go of Liam which is fine by him. He probably would have been content to cling to his boyfriend and have a glad I remember you make out session if it weren’t for the whole Ghost Riders taking Beacon Hills of it all.

“Well Scott and Stiles are working on diverting the train from where they are.” Liam knows that they can’t let the train actually go to Beacon. If everyone stays in the station they have a better chance of being rescued. Once they get on the train it could be game over. It's best not to risk it.

“After that? How do we get everyone out of the station?” Brett’s doubt is reasonable but stressful. Liam doesn’t have a clue what to do. Mason is a planner though and he’s clearly been theorizing.

“The Ghost Riders ride the lightning right? Normally they ride in, take somebody, and leave.” Liam nods. Thats what the lore and Theo had claimed. “Something happened that got them stuck in Beacon. They’re taking everyone because they can’t ride the lightning out of here. Who do we know that may have impacted the lightning in Beacon Hills?” Mason becomes more confident as he speaks. He clearly thinks he's got something cooking.

“Kira but she isn’t here.” Liam isn’t yet on the same page.

“No but she was. I think that when she sent Theo to the skinwalker prison it threw everything out of balance. She didn’t know what she was doing and so she threw it out of whack. That combined with the Nemeton trapped them here.”

“So how would we fix it? She’s hundreds of miles away.” Maybe Mason is onto something. He’s got everyone's attention at least.

“She is but her sword isn’t. Think of it like a relic. Maybe if we break it, that'll unstick them. That will stop them from taking anyone new.”

“Already ahead of you.”

“Liam why is the sword broken?”

“It doesn’t matter, the important thing is that it happened.”

“Not to burst your bubble but if the sword is broken why are we still here?” Liam gently elbows Brett’s side. Mason is doing his best to make sense of something. Brett catches his elbow and slides his hand down to grab Liam’s and press a kiss to it. Lori wrinkles her nose as she watches.

“The train station is still half merged. Part one is break the sword part two is divert the train and part three is get Corey out of here.” Mason makes it sound so simple.

“How will getting Corey out of here fix it?” This Liam can explain.

“He’s the only one who can get here without the Ghost Riders. They aren’t stuck here but the station is. If Corey is back in Beacon then the people can be unstuck. It should leave everyone where they were taken from because they haven’t been inducted into the Hunt. That was what Stiles thought anyway and then I ran with it.”

“We need to find where the announcements are being made from. That’s where Corey will be.”

“That was, what, room number twelve?” Hayden looks at Mason and gets a nod.

“Is- Should-” Liam is reluctant to leave any of them behind. Satomi’s pack isn’t capable of defending themselves though.

“We’re coming with you.” Lori says it like its final. She then immediately goes to ask Satomi for permission. It seems impolite to listen to another alphas conversation with their beta so he turns and hides his face in Brett’s chest.

“You good?” Brett’s hand is cradling the back of his head tapping out a rhythm where his fingers rest. It’s not Brett’s heartbeat which Liam is letting drown out the other conversations.

“I’ve been better. I’m glad you’re ok though. It felt weird to not remember you.” Brett’s fingers stop then pick back up.

“I think I realized what was happening when I drove you to school and you were confused about coming to see me after school. It was still pretty hard to come out after practice and you weren’t there.”

“If it makes you feel better Mason started to drive us to Devenford after school.”

“A little.” Brett presses a kiss to the top of his head. Liam tries to take in his scent and pick out some of the more nuanced chemosignals. He’s stressed. There’s some other stuff, probably frustration, but Liam’s really only to fully identify the stress smell.

“Satomi is going to stay here with the rest of the pack just in case but she’ll be okay on her own.” Lori walks past them to Mason and Hayden. The back tracking is convoluted and they get lost. Fifteen minutes to boarding.

Obviously Corey hadn’t teamed up with the Ghost Riders so he wasn’t going to be hanging out in a communication booth making announcements. The fact that the system seems to have grown into Cory is unexpected. Lori gags upon seeing it and Liam honestly still might. Brett tucks Lori’s face into his side to keep her from having to see Corey. “I’ll start with the big one? He’ll heal but it’ll hurt.” Hayden and Mason reach for the wires and tubing Corey screams as soon as one of them brushes it. Hayden reaches out again before Liam grabs her hands.

“Scott hasn’t redirected the train. We can’t do step three before step two.”

“So you want me to leave him like this.” Mason is right to dislike this.

“Not forever.” Liam looks for a place on Corey’s body without wiring to lay a hand on.

“Mason it’s fine, let me do this.” Corey sounds awful. Liam places an awkward hand on the side of Corey’s face and siphons some of his pain. Hayden ends up with a hand on Corey’s neck doing the same. Its a relief as the pain Corey is currently in is horrendous.

Mason can’t take Corey’s pain but he brushes the sweaty hair off the chimera’s forehead while they wait to provide him with comfort. Scott’s roar rattles through the station. Hayden reaches for one of the wires protruding from Corey and yanks it. Liam winces and Corey howls in pain. It's odd to hear as Corey has no outward indications that he received any werewolf DNA. Lori and Brett crowd around Corey to help pull more pain as Hayden and Mason methodically pull out each wire and tube. The silver around the chimera's wounds is a bad sign. Mason and Hayden are both clearly panicking.

As soon as the final wire is out Hayden is sweeping Corey into her arms. Sweat has formed at Brett and Lori’s temples. Corey nodding off is a blessing in Liam’s book, he doesn’t need to be awake and experiencing that pain. “We need to find Ms. McCall.” Mason can call the shots, Corey is his boyfriend. Liam is leading them towards the way he’d entered but they don’t make it to the tunnel. The train station fades into the woods.

“So which way is the hospital?”

Chapter Text

Devenford Prep gives each student four tickets for graduation. Liam ends up with one of Brett’s. Obviously Satomi and Lori get the first two. He’s not expecting it. It makes sense if he thinks for even a moment though. For all that Brett cares about the pack that he is a part of there’s no one he’s as close to as Satomi and Lori that he would want to invite. He doesn’t give the fourth ticket to anyone. The Friday night before Brett graduates Liam spends the night.

The three brave the dining area together. Several pack members come and go and each of them stop to wish Brett luck with graduation the next day. It’s clear that it means a lot to Brett, to feel cared for by the remnants of Satomi’s pack after everything, so they stay longer than they normally would. Eventually though they returned to Lori’s room for the movie night she’d demanded. She had been very gracious though and let Brett pick the movie as it was his graduation eve. It hadn’t really mattered though as they weren’t actually watching it. They’d fully intended to but it had quickly devolved into popcorn being thrown after one to many ‘that's you’ insults.

“Oh wait! I should give this to you now!” Lori was on the floor having dived off the bed to escape the assault being waged on her. She shoved the upper half of her body under her bed then emerged with a small box wrapped nicely in paper. She shoved it at Brett. “This is your graduation gift but I thought you’d want it for tomorrow.” Brett carefully undid the paper trying not to tear it. Within the paper and the box that had been wrapped Liam spotted a watch. It was a green leather band with a gold square face. “It's obviously not mom's watch but it's the same one. Satomi helped me find it.” Brett was staring down at the box in his hand still. He gently set it beside him and yanked Lori in for a bone crushing hug. Lori gently rocked the two of them while they hugged. Liam smelled salt. One of them was crying even if it was just a bit. It was probably Brett.

“Thanks Lori.” Brett rubbed at his eyes trying to erase any signs of the few tears that had escaped. From there they tried to resume watching the movie. Liam wasn’t even sure what was on. He’d missed the whole middle of the movie distracted by trying to avoid the popcorn that the other two had been throwing. Once the credits start rolling Liam looks to Brett waiting for his cue to either head out or stay put. The one movie had been enough as Brett retrieved the watch box and extended his hand to Liam to help him off the bed. “Goodnight Lor.”

“Wait, you're not going to help pick up the popcorn? Ugh asshole. I’m going to have to change my bedding, it got everywhere.” Lori’s parting complaint was ignored as they escaped into the bathroom pausing to brush their teeth.

“Are you feeling okay?” Liam finally asks once they’re in the bed with the lights off.

“Yea.” Brett’s voice seems hoarse for his response. “I just wasn’t expecting it but it was a really nice gift and I’m glad she got it for me. I just-” He cuts himself off. Liam isn’t sure what he was going to say. The salty smell returns. Brett is crying again. Liam bullies him onto his side and pulls him back so he’s spooning the taller boy. He’s not sure what else to do other than hold Brett tight to his chest and press occasional kisses to his shoulder until he falls asleep. Liam takes a bit longer to drift off.

The next morning is an unnecessary mad dash to get ready for graduation at two. “You look nice.” Liam wasn’t even sure he owned dress pants. Brett wasn’t in his cap and gown yet, he still had about half an hour before he had to leave. Despite the fact that Liam would be leaving even later with Satomi and Lori he was also dressed for the event. It was probably the tie which Liam reached a hand forward to tug on. As he brought the taller boy closer he reached his other hand up to tug at the curls. It was quickly batted away. He liked when Brett’s hair was like this.

“You clean up nice too.” Liam had scrounged up a nicer pair of khakis from when he went to Devenford and a nicer button up that smelled like it may have once belonged to Mason.

“I think you got ready too quickly though. What are we going to do with the leftover time?” Liam tugged on Brett's tie again, smiling.

“We can probably think of something.” Brett lets himself be tugged down to press an open mouthed kiss to Liam’s mouth. They didn’t actually have much time. Liam had been leaning against the desk but found himself being encouraged to instead sit on it so Brett could stand between his parted legs and brace his hands on either side of the shorter boy. Liam had managed to keep a hold on Brett’s tie, he was probably wrinkling it. He dropped the tie and planted his hand on the chest beside it pushing lightly. Their lips separated with a groan of disappointment. Liam used his other hand to turn Brett’s wrist so he could see the time on the watch. He hummed in thought. They really didn't have much time left.

Mind made up he pushed Brett back more firmly and slid off the desk to his knees. “Is this ok?” He reached for the belt in front of him.

“Shit Li, yes.” Brett’s voice was breathless as his hand made its way to Liam’s hair. Liam’s hands finished making their journey to the belt in front of him. His tongue darts out as he unhooks it. Nerves have made his mouth dry. He glances up as he unbuttons and unzips the dress pants. Brett’s eyes are on him, mouth slightly open. Liam goes to tug his dick free from his boxers next, still looking up at Brett. The taller boy’s eyes slip shut. This shouldn’t be too hard. He’s made it this far though. He gives it an experimental pump. Brett lets out a soft moan. This isn’t the first time he’s touched Brett’s dick but he’s never given a blow job.

He fits his mouth over the head. This was fine. He didn’t dislike it and Brett was clearly into it based on the “Fuck,” he let out louder then they tried to keep it. The hand on his head threaded through his hair. He was going to have to fix it after this. He takes in more and feels a pull on his hair. Brett’s hips stuttered forward the slightest bit with a whimper. Not enough to make him gag thankfully. He still braced a hand on Brett’s hip in case it happened again. He moves his head back trying to find a rhythm between his mouth and hand. It seems like he’s doing it right based on the gentle twitches he was holding back.

The grip on his hair gets stronger and oh. He lets out a moan though it's muffled.That's nice. Maybe it's because he’s getting used to it or maybe it's because all he can smell is Brett’s arousal but in combination with the hair pulling he's finding himself much more into it. “Li, baby, please.” Liam can give him release. He lets go of Brett’s hip trusting his hand to prevent him from getting choked. Almost immediately Brett started rocking himself in and out of Liam’s mouth. From there it's a few short thrusts before, “Liam I’m-”. It was a poor warning attempt if that was Brett’s intention. Still by some miracle Liam manages not to sputter and choke, saving them from having to try to change before the ceremony.

Brett’s hand is still in his hair as he drops down to the floor to lick into Liam's mouth. He keens as Brett uses the grip to tug his head to the side. He lets it happen, submitting to Brett’s whim for just a moment. Then he has to be responsible. “What time is it?” Brett has his teeth fastened in the column on his neck working a mark in that won’t last. The sting is followed by a soothing tongue. “Brett seriously. What time is it?” This time he accompanies it with a gentle push.

“It’s- Shit!” Brett looks at his watch. It's what Liam thought. They’re out of time. “Fuck sorry baby.” Brett stands and quickly fixes himself. Liam stands as well and uses his clean hand to smooth down the tie he’d crushed earlier. “Damn.” He’s dragged into another kiss that's too intense for the time crunch Brett is on.

“You can make it up to me later you have to go.” He pushes Brett back towards the door before pausing and consenting to one more kiss. “Don’t forget your cap and gown.” The reminder is out of his mouth as Brett’s hand touches the handle to leave. The green cap and gown that male graduates from Devenford wore was handing off the wardrobe door. Brett spins around and lunges to grab it before scooping up his dress shoes then finally making a mad dash out of the room.

As soon as the door to the hallway had swung shut again Liam wrenches the window open as wide as it can go. With the window open wide he shuffles into the bathroom to wash his hands and brush his teeth. Then he repeats the process three times. Lori was going to kill them both. Originally he had planned on spending the extra half an hour he had with Lori but he absolutely couldn’t in this state. Instead he resigned himself to sitting on the windowsill alone in Brett’s room on his phone hoping he could air himself out just like he was doing to the room. It was unsuccessful which was expected. She texted him to meet her and Satomi in the lot.

The glare Lori was aiming at him in the parking lot was almost intense enough for Liam to regret his prior activities with Brett. Instead he reached for the button to roll the window down in an attempt to placate her as soon as they got in the car. “You two disgust me.” The window had not helped. He was so very glad Satomi hadn’t said anything. He was starting to become immune to Lori but if Satomi had said anything he would die on the spot.

They were meeting with Scott there. Satomi had extended that invite. After the deadpool Brett had developed a healthy respect for Liam’s alpha that he'd maintained despite his moments of frustration. While Brett hadn’t been in training for alphahood since he was a kid, the symbolism of another pack's alpha coming to support one of his milestones wouldn’t be lost on him.

Piling out of the car in Devenford's parking lot Lori took a dramatic breath. A few spaces away Liam saw Scott’s bike and trotted over to greet his alpha. Once he was several feet away from Scott he saw his alpha’s eyebrows life. “Really Liam?” His face burned. He wasn’t immune to Scott either. Still he accepted the hug and let Scott rub his wrists down his spine. He must have smelled more like Brett than he thought. That happened sometimes, where he didn’t realize just how much Brett or Lori’s scents had overshadowed the packs until one of his actual pack mates would grab him and rub their wrists on him or hug him until he smelled like pack again. Scott kept Liam under his arm as they went back to Lori and Satomi.

“Scott, I'm glad you could make it.” Satomi greets.

“I wouldn’t miss it. Lori how are you? This will be you next year won’t it?” Scott sounded like a dad.

“Yep.” Lori was still a bit freaked out by Scott. Nothing about her scent or face gave it away but he was well versed in how Lori was feeling. The quartet made their way to the auditorium. Beacon Hills did an outdoor ceremony on one of the fields which Liam had witnessed the previous weekend. Even though he was accompanied by three other people he tried to keep his head down. He hadn’t ever been banned from stepping foot on campus and he had a legitimate reason to be there. It was still nerve wracking to be there. Lori sandwiched him in between her and Scott when they found their seats. “You’re going to be fine Liam, everyone is going to be way too focused on the actual event.”

“Right.” A nod. A look at the program. “Wait, who is valedictorian?” The program listed Ethan Becks but there was no way. “How did he have time for that between his two-timing?” Lori shrugged.

“Apparently being asked not to return for the senior shows freed up time for studying.”

“There is no way that is correct.” Liam hissed out. The seats around them were starting to fill in and he didn’t want to speak ill where his family might hear.

“Absolutely not. I mean it’s gotta be a miscalculation or he blackmailed his way into the spot.” Lori was also trying to whisper. As they tossed back and forth potential ways Ethan may have pulled it off the side doors were closed and the band started pomp and circumstance. Graduation was quick. Devenford wasn’t all that big as a private school. Lori whooped and cheered for a few of her theater peers as they were announced waiting for Brett’s name to finally be called to cross the stage. The four of them cheered loudest but Brett had a decent reception in general. He wasn’t exactly a social pariah. His eyes searched for the four of them as he shook the row of hands on the stage. Liam could hear several of the faculty on the stage whispering congratulations that read as sincere.

Once Devenford’s graduating class of 2013 had officially been declared graduates and released back to their families Brett books it to get back to them. He’s towards the back due to alphabetical seating and he’s tall so they’re able to stay put and watch him push through the crowds to them. He goes to Satomi first, ducking his head down as she hugs him then presses their foreheads together. He thinks he sees their eyes flash red then gold as Satomi expresses her pride. He then greets Scott who claps his back. “Congratulations!”

“Congratulations to you too.” Brett echoes back. It’s weird that they’re the same age. Liam definitely sees their eyes flash this time. It's not hidden in any way. He pulls Lori into a hug next. She taps the face of the watch she got him when she pulls away.

“They’d be proud of you.” She gets a second longer hug. Finally he tugs Liam into a kiss then tucks him under his arm.

“You did it!” Liam twists his face up for a second, longer kiss.

“No! Gross! Stop immediately.” Lori swats out at them. Liam finds himself taking the brunt of her swats as he is used as a human shield. Brett’s laugh puffs across the back of his neck. “I’ve been traumatized enough today thank you very much.” Liam’s laugh bubbles out of him after that.

Scott finally gets them arranged for pictures trying to ensure he’s got every combination of the three. As this wraps up, Daniels approaches to steal Brett for non-family photos. He darts off with a promise to meet them in the parking lot to Liam’s relief. The sheer number of people moving about in the auditorium is getting overwhelming. Scott and Satomi take the lead on getting them out of there.

The two younger wolves make their way to Brett’s car instead of returning with Satomi or even Scott. They’re all headed to the same place anyway. Brett had opted out of the post-graduation trip so Satomi was throwing his graduation party directly after graduation. They sit on the trunk as they wait trying not to melt under the sun. Lori steals the program Liam had crumpled up to use as a fan. It's way too hot to be in formal wear and his hair is sticking to his temples. Just as he begins contemplating the merits of fighting her for it back, Brett emerges. He’s the only person in a cap and gown on their way out the door. The look on his face when he spots Liam and Lori waiting does something to Liam.

Even though he knows he’s tempting fate and Lori’s rage he gives into his desire to tug his boyfriend in by his gown to press a long kiss to his mouth when he reaches the car. Lori manages to let it slide though she and several of the parents in the lot do give them side eye. He’s beaming when he pulls away. “Congratulations. Again.”

“Please unlock the car, I am dying.” Lori flings herself into Brett’s side in a dramatic swoon.

“Lor you’ve survived assassins. The sun isn’t going to kill you.”

“No, but it is going to burn me at this rate. If I get a tan line from my choker I will never recover.” She’s rewarded with Brett moving to twist the key in the lock so he can unlock the rest of the car. He sheds the cap and gown carelessly, no longer worried about keeping it wrinkle free. The ride back to the commune is spirited. Occasionally Lori and Brett would sing along to the radio under their breaths but they’re belting along today.

They’re enjoying themselves so much that they stay in the car long enough to finish the song. Liam is certainly not joining in but their energy is infectious. When they do eventually climb out they split off in two different directions. Lori’s seasonally appropriate sundress and converse mean she can head right to the courtyard but Brett and Liam are not dressed to spend the afternoon outside. They make a pitstop in Brett’s room to change.

“This is for you. The card out there is mostly from my parents.” He passes the box he’d pulled out of his bag over to Brett. He hadn’t been sure what to get his newly graduated boyfriend. Money and dorm items were traditional but Liam was barely a high school junior and lacked the funds or knowledge to get either of those. Instead he’d stumbled upon his gift when he’d accompanied Mason to one of the random mystic shops the other boy had located in an attempt to build his personal research library.

“What’s it made of?” Brett holds up the brown leather cord of the necklace within the box. He’s probably referring to the sun shaped pendant. It’s stupidly on the nose. He thinks maybe he should have gone with something else.

“It’s obsidian. It’s had plenty of uses throughout history depending on the culture using it. Lots of places used it for weapons but the Aztecs used it for divination and in Egypt it was associated with protection.” He lets himself ramble for a moment. He’s not sure obsidian has any actual protective properties but he doesn’t expect it to. It’s the meaning that he focused on.

“Protection? Are you worried about me or something?”

“No.” Liam shifts where he’s standing. “Knowing Beacon Hills though you can never be too careful.” Brett hummed before looping the cord around his neck.

“Thank you.” Liam gets a kiss to the top of his head. There is a whole pack waiting for Brett outside. Liam lets himself indulge for a moment in getting to have Brett to himself.

***

In between packing for dorm living Brett manages to find time to plan a beach trip. Apparently it’s a yearly tradition for the younger pack members to take a day trip to the beach together when Tierney and Jiang are home from boarding school in the summer. Unlike when they were younger and needed a chaperone to take them, the four are old enough to go on their own. It also frees up space in the vehicle for an additional participant in the form of Liam. Despite Beacon Hills not being too far from the ocean Liam hasn’t been an avid beach goer in years.

He’d surfed as a child, his mom had taught him. They’d stopped when his father had left.

He dutifully piles into the front seat of the car to go now though. Lori had allowed him to sit in the front on account of the fact that Jiang and Tierney were virtually strangers to him. The ride doesn’t feel that like my considering the four pack members fill the car with catching up conversations they haven’t managed to have yet. Jiang and Tierney look reasonably horrified by Brett and Lori’s tales of the fucked up shit that went down in Beacon Hills. Liam’s glad to let the conversation wash over him.

They’d left relatively early to try to beat the crowds and ended up pulling into a mostly empty parking lot. Lori, Tierney, and Jiang spill out of the back jostling one another and laughing. Brett’s gaze is fond as he watches the three shove at each other. Liam lets him have his moment and starts unloading the trunk. They’d managed to jam a cooler, umbrella, and beach bag of essentials in the small trunk along with sand toys that Lori insisted were a necessity. Once Brett had shaken himself out of his nostalgic daze he circled to assist with carrying things. Liam let him take the sand toys. The other boy’s look of dismay is made ineffective by his sunglasses.

Once they hit the sand they find space away from the other early arrivals. Lori takes charge of instructing how they set up their space. As Brett sets to immediately make a break for the water she also demands they apply copious amounts of sunscreen. She isn’t gentle as she slathers Brett. Liam would have found it funny if he didn’t know he was next. He gets not trusting Brett to practice sun safety but he’s not sure why she doesn’t trust him to apply his own.

After they’re protected to her standards they head to the water. Liam walks in far enough that his feet are fully submerged even as the waves recede and takes a deep breath. He’s trying to decide whether he finds the smell of the sea pleasant or over powering when he gets plowed into. He stays steady for a moment before he’s scoped up and dumped further in beside Lori who is towering over them from her perch on Tierney’s shoulders. Liam lightly shoulders Brett.

Somehow within the next ten minutes he ends up with Jiang on his shoulders and Lori on Brett’s. As soon as the possibility of getting truly wet had arisen Tierney had tapped out. Her pack tattoo was fresh enough she was trying to follow normal care rules. Liam didn’t know enough about werewolf tattoos to argue with that.

Despite the fact that Jiang and Lori were trying to shove each other into the water below Liam did manage to get kicked in the face and they had to pause to rescue Brett’s sunglasses from the waves after they’d been dislodged from his face. Eventually, once she and Brett have dunked Liam and Jiang multiple times, Lori demands they go back to shore and reapply sunscreen. On the bright side she trusts everyone to apply sunscreen instead of doing it herself.

When she’s distracted with helping Tierney Liam does ensure both he and Brett reapply. He’s sure that if he didn’t Brett wouldn’t actually do as Lori told. Maybe he would have though, if only for the fact that it meant he had an excuse to have Liam’s hands all over him. While getting Brett’s back Liam feels eyes on them from one of the groups that had arrived and settled in nearby. He gets it. Brett’s hair is still long enough to be curly and the older boy is tall and toned. Something about him must give away his thought process as when Brett turns back around he presses a sweet kiss to Liam’s mouth before returning the favor.

They take another dip in the water before taking a snack break sprawled on their towels. Lori has dibs on the shade provided by the umbrella. Liam uses sharing a bag of grapes as an excuse to recline into Brett. The way their skin sticks together is unpleasant but worth the closeness.

Tierney, whose sharing in the shade of the umbrella, sees them pressed together and her face morphs from its seemingly permanent unimpressed glare. “Are they always like this?” Her nose is wrinkled as she turns to Lori for an answer. Lori nods. The smile Brett gives Tierney is mockingly large. “Gross.” Tierney proceeds to make a face that is so reminiscent of Lori’s when they kiss in front of her Liam can’t help but press his laugh into Brett’s shoulder.

The snack break becomes lunch as they all decide they’re hungry enough to break into the stash of sandwiches they’d made this morning. Due to them actually eating they can’t get right back into the water. “Lor thats a myth and we’re also werewolves.”

“Brett you’re not supposed to swim for a half hour after eating and your whining has only taken three minutes. Let's spend some time on the shore. I’m going to build a sand castle.” She gestures to the bucket of sand toys.

“Boring.”

“You’re just saying that because you know I’m the best at building sandcastles.” She’s clearly trying to bait Brett. He’s not interested. Liam is willing to engage though.

“What, like it's hard? It's just a sand castle.” Liam smiles at the challenging look Lori gains.

“You’ve spent like zero time at the beach. There’s not a chance you’re building a good sand castle.” The serious tone in her voice is ridiculous which is certainly her intent.

“Watch me.” Liam and Lori shake on it and a line is drawn in the sand to create their designated work spaces. Jiang and Tierney make themselves at home on the towels under the umbrella content with their beach reads to entertain themselves. Brett declares himself judge and then proceeds to heckle the two as they build. Liam has lost before they truly begin because he doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing. The sand is not doing what he wants it to in any capacity. When an arbitrary amount of time has passed Brett declares that time is up.

“Lori’s definitely wins.” Brett makes his judgement almost immediately.

“That’s not a fair comparison; she had actual buckets! I had to use my hands.” Liam immediately contested the results.

“You shouldn’t have made fun of me for packing the sand toys. Maybe then I would have shared.” Lori stuck her nose up at his complaint.

“Li your sandcastle is shit.”

“It’s not that bad.” He was losing this argument big time.

“That four year olds sand pile looks better.” Brett gestured to something behind them. Liam turned to see a pile of loose sand with a stick in the top.

“You take that back!”

“Liam it’s ok to suck at things.” Brett’s tone was mock comforting. Liam rose to his feet and rushed him in response, intending to take them both down. Brett let out a startled laugh as they toppled into the sand. As they wrestled in the sand he managed to keep on top and pin Brett’s hands.

“I win.” He let his eyes flash in victory. He got a laugh in response as the taller boy tipped his head back in response accepting his defeat. “I want a prize.”

“I’m sure you can think of something.” Before Liam can bend down to secure a victory kiss he’s doused with cold sea water. He whips his head back to glare at the perpetrator, Lori. She gives him a smile of fake innocence.

“What? I assumed that you’d be hot from all that exercise. I’m just trying to help a guy out.” He spares a quick look at Brett before lunging to throw Lori over his shoulder. She dances away laughing. Then she stumbles over his sad attempt at a sand castle. He manages to snag her as she trips and hoists her over his shoulder. Lori lets out a shriek of laughter and squirms before ultimately being tossed in the water. In retaliation his feet are kicked out from under him and he falls back into the water too. After that it turns into a free for all.

Lori shrieks with laughter again as he tries to dunk her against her will. “Tierney!” She calls for backup which is rude.

“That’s definitely cheating!” He could see Tierney stalking towards them from where she’d been on the beach. He then tried deadweight Lori to drag her under the waves.

She squirms out of his arms before Tierney’s left hand gives Lori the final yank she needs to get free. As he resurfaces he sees Lori sticking her tongue out at him from where she’d been slung over Tierney's shoulder in a fireman’s carry. Instead of carrying Lori back to shore she was delivered to the shallows where Jiang was waiting.

Brett wasn’t far behind and comes to fish Liam out pout and all. After dragging the taller boy under too they joined the other three in the shallows. They were debating how much longer they were going to stay. “Tired already?” The taller boy draped himself over Liam and Lori.

“It’s getting hot. I think we should pack up and get ice cream on the way back.” Lori’s idea is met with a decent reception so they return to shore to pack up. There’s a roadside ice cream shop on the way that they can stop at. The parking lot they’d left the car in is full when they haul their things back. Lori leans up between the seats to turn the radio up as they peel out of the lot. Jiang, Lori, and Brett proceed to serenade Tierney and Liam for the twenty-fiveish minutes it takes to get to ice cream. Tierney gives into Lori’s shaking and dramatics and joins in full volume. Liam can’t bring himself to join in at quite the same volume but in between fits of laughter at the dramatics of the car he does hum along.

The stand on the side of the road they pull into isn’t very big but they do manage to take their ice cream to a sticky red picnic table. Jiang was passionately defending his flavor choice of coconut. “It’s like an almond joy!”

Liam was pretty sure Tierney was baiting Jiang on purpose. “Exactly. No one likes almond joys. That’s the leftover candy once trick or treaters have taken all the good stuff.”

“You got peppermint stick! That’s a mediocre Christmas candy at best and the equivalent of cold toothpaste at worst!”

“Hey!” Brett halfheartedly took offense as he’d opted for mint chocolate chip which was slowly dripping down his hand faster than he could eat it. In between the very silly argument that had erupted the five did manage to finish and get back on the road to finish the return drive.

Lori heads off with Tierney and Jiang when they get back. It's a small blessing as they don’t have to debate the shower order. Liam is starting to get irritated with the layer of sand and feeling of his t-shirt sticking to his salty, sweaty, and sunscreen covered skin. Back in Brett’s room Liam notes the other boy's appreciative gaze. Whatever Brett sees makes him decide to tug Liam into the bathroom behind him. He makes sure to lock Lori’s side before starting the shower and tugging his own shirt off. Liam doesn’t stare exactly but he decides he can get behind this. It must not happen quickly enough as Brett starts assisting him in getting his shirt off as well. Once they’re both shirtless Liam curls his hand around the back of the taller boy's neck and tugs him into a kiss. They trade lazy open mouth kisses long past the water reaching a reasonable temperature. They separate long enough to finish stripping and get under the spray before picking it back up.

Showering together is incredibly inefficient. They do pull away long enough to wash off the sweat and sand but Liam finds himself reaching for Brett’s half hard dick with his water slick hand before they make it to shampooing. Their kissing evolves into panting into each others mouths as Brett fists his dick as well. They’re not in a rush, the strokes and twists of their wrists are sloppy. Liam’s own release builds slowly. His own grasp tightens on a downstroke which earns him a gasp. He crowds Brett back fully against the shower wall when it becomes clear he’s getting closer. It takes just a few more tighter, faster strokes to have Brett tipping his head back against the tiles spilling on Liam's hand. Liam tips forward to rest his forehead on Brett’s chest as he’s worked to and through his own orgasm.

After a moment of catching their breaths they rewash in an attempt to hide the extent of what they’d done. Outside of the shower Liam feels pleasantly soft. They redress in clean lounging clothes and make their way to Jiang and Tierney’s rooms. The cool air from the AC feels nice on his skin as Brett opens the door for him and he lets his sock clad feet pad him across to the large bean bag Lori has made herself at home in. The room is bare enough that he’s not sure which of the two it belongs to. Both are seated on the bed so there’s no hints there.

“What are we watching?” The curtains are drawn enough that the room is dim. There's an older TV on the desk that's paused on a black screen. They must have been waiting for everyone before starting. They must have known he and Brett would seek their company out. He lets himself lean on the side of the bean bag resting his head on it. Lori’s nose twitches but she decides he’s not offensive enough to comment on. She runs her hands through his still wet hair pushing it out of his face instead leaving a bit of her scent on him. In front of them Brett has made himself at home sprawling out on the carpet.

“Legally Blonde. You said something earlier and it made me want to watch it.” With everyone settled the movie is played. Liam falls asleep while Lori braids and unbraids the same random chunk of hair and Elle Woods is befriending the defendant.

Chapter Text

Being lacrosse captain is something he wants to be excited about. In theory he is. His dad was captain as a sophomore so it makes him feel closer to his stepfather. It's got so many pitfalls though, like having to try out freshman for the front line. There might not even be anyone who makes it but there's a small chance. He and Scott managed and his stepfather had too back when he played. Nobody wants to help though because of the unlikelihood of anyone actually making it. It may also have to do with the fact that it isn’t even lacrosse season. Coach Finstock has given up on the pretense of cross country fully this fall it seems.

Since no one on the team wants to assist and he doesn’t feel comfortable demanding anyone help he asks Brett to help as classes haven’t started and he’s only on campus early for lacrosse. It's also an excuse to see the older boy. Liam is allowed to miss his boyfriend. Apparently Mason has also missed him based on their current conversation.

“Brett is helping? As in eight-pack Brett?” Despite Mason’s weirdly lustful description of Brett, Liam knows Mason is in love with Corey so it's mostly joking.

“Yes.”

“Okay but why? He’s like a hot lacrosse superstar and the freshman never make it. This is a treat for me but isn’t it a waste of his talents.”

“I made first line as a freshman and Scott did as a sophomore.”

“You two had a bit of supernatural help.” Liam didn’t though, he’d worked hard at Devenford and at Beacon to make first line and he had twice. Scott hadn’t turned him until after. Maybe being a werewolf helped him handle hits but he was good without it.

“Look they deserve a chance.”

“And we really appreciate it. Thank you again for the gear and the chance!” Liam honestly can’t tell if Aaron is fully serious. He has too much energy though.

“Good luck dude. Go cyclones.” Why Mason has suddenly gotten weird he doesn’t know but he's not going to let Mason stay in the locker room and freak out the freshman.

Once Liam has physically carried Mason out of the locker room to let the freshman finish getting ready in peace he heads to the field. He attempts to anyway. Ms.Monroe accosts him. “Liam! I’ve been looking for you. I’ve got some time available tomorrow at two and I really think you would benefit from it. You seem like you’ve got quite a bit on your mind.”

“I’m okay.”

“Its not a good idea to keep things bottled up you know. You don’t want to be weighed down in your junior year.”

“I already have a counselor to talk to but I appreciate it.” His grin is definitely more of a grimace. It's got to be in his files that he sees a counselor so why is she insisting that he see her. There are plenty of students who could use her services instead. Drills are calling his name though so he doesn’t want to stick around and give her more time to try to convince him.

Of course Brett is already there and showing off for the freshmen who were eager to get on the field. He pauses where he is, still several yards from the field, and lets himself admire Brett just for a moment. Mason is right in his admiration. There isn’t time for much of a delay. He asked Brett to come for a reason. The other freshmen will emerge soon. He takes his place by Brett’s side in front of the group that has formed. He gives five minutes before starting an introduction. Brett is preening beside him during his introduction as being a freshman in college on his second full ride scholarship for lacrosse.

It all starts to go downhill as tryouts begin. Brett is being cocky and showing off. It shouldn’t be pissing him off. Liam had slowly found himself being oddly charmed by Brett’s showy playing style as they’d gotten closer. He hadn’t found himself feeling this way since he’d first started playing opposite Brett his first spring semester at Beacon Hills. It’s unsettling to find himself feeling that way again. Worse Brett is picking up on it and is letting himself get mean with it. At some point they go from competitive to violent. Ultimately Liam is the one who takes it too far because of course he does. He’s so zoned out on the adrenaline and rage that when he flips Brett and scores it takes a moment to spin and check on the other man.

Brett’s glove is off and his long fingers are hooked in the metal face guard of Liam’s helmet before he realizes that he’s being approached. His head is yanked over and up so he’s looking Brett dead in the eye. “Normally I like you under me just fine Liam.” His smirk is cruel. Liam wants to snap his teeth at the fingers still hooked in his helmet's face guard. He settles for a growl instead. Clearly this is a response that was expected based on the way that his smirk gets sharper. Liam can feel his eyes flaring with his mounting rage as he pulls back. Brett yanks on his helmet again ensuring that Liam is still looking at him as his eyes flash in return.

The gold doesn’t do the same things that Scott’s alpha red does. Normally it wouldn’t matter. When they’ve been playing or fooling around in the past Liam has never not been willing to submit to Brett. It’s been a two way street of course though he’d found Brett was much more into being submitted to. Maybe it was a born wolf thing or maybe it was a regular kink it hadn’t mattered either way. Now though it was taking on a connotation he wasn’t sure he appreciated. He’d started growling again and he gave in to the urge to nip at Brett’s fingers. The bite did nothing to change his grip. Finally he dropped his partial shift and let Brett take command. The first thing he did with this was tug his own helmet off and then work off Liam’s. “You’re done for the day. You gave them their chance. Send them to go clean up and head home.” The instructions are spoken in a level manner, like they haven’t just had a pissing contest in the middle of tryouts.

Turning away from Brett shows him that Corey in the other net and Mason on the bleachers are staring at the two with baited breath. They’re probably waiting to see if they need to break up a fight. He moves towards the freshman. “That’s enough for today! Thanks for coming. If you borrowed equipment please put it back where you got it from in the locker room.” He follows up his dismissal with a stare and waits for the freshman to startle into action and get moving towards the locker room. Corey is moving slowest and taking the long way so he can pass closer by them.

“Is everything okay?” Corey’s voice stays soft.

“We’re fine. I think Mason wants to congratulate you on your efforts.” Brett answers for them. Corey is unimpressed and more firmly turns to Liam to show that he’s specifically taking his ques from Liam despite what he’d seen happen between the two.

“It’s ok Corey. I was having a moment but I’m fine. Are we still meeting up to study tonight?” He backs what Brett had said. Corey’s concern is sweet and his refusal to accept an answer from anyone other than Liam is validating.

“Yes, we’ll still meet at your house at 6:30?” Corey sounds like he’s still not sure about leaving the two alone but he reluctantly breaks off to meet Mason who’s made his way partially to them. They don’t speak until Corey and Mason are out of earshot.

“Your control is shit Li. What the fuck is going on?” Brett is in his face again.

“I don’t know. It feels like nothing is working anymore. I’m minutes away from losing it almost all the time.” Even the way he spoke sounded angry most of the time. He should have been able to handle it.

“You need to get a grip before you have an episode and there’s no one there to handle you.” It’s not said to be hurtful but Brett hasn’t fully lost the mean edge to his voice.

“I can handle myself!” This conversation isn’t going the way either of them wanted.

“Can you?” The question finally has the taller beta losing the edge to his voice.

“Hayden already left and Scott’s leaving for the fall semester in a week. I have to be able to. Everyone is leaving.” Liam tries to match the tone shift and let himself be open instead of defensive.

“Just because Scott’s leaving doesn’t mean you have to handle things on your own. You have Mason, Corey, and Lori. I’m not far either.”

“I know.” He lets himself dramatically collapse against Brett, leading them to topple to the ground. They’re still in pads so they’re a very awkward mess of limbs. The field has cleared out so it’s just them sprawled on the grass. Liam wiggles out of the pads to free up his range of motion before flopping back onto Brett. They halfheartedly tussled on the field before Liam flopped over and let Brett win. “I think I got too comfortable over the summer and now that the school year is starting back up we’re regressing to the mean.”

“Regressing to the mean?”

“It's something Scott says. I think he learned it from Deaton.” He paused then tugged on Brett’s pads. It was uncomfortable to have them pressing into his body while he talked.

“Trying to get me undressed Dunbar? We’re on the lacrosse field and I’m pretty sure that one of your teachers can see us from the parking lot.” Sure enough Ms. Monroe was by her car in the lot looking straight at them.

“Your pads are digging into me jackass.” Liam kickstarted another round of wrestling with his statement. This time he put a bit more effort in and ended up briefly pinning Brett in victory before returning to trying to remove the pads again. Once he’d achieved his goal Liam rolled them back over so he could enjoy the calming weight of his boyfriend. “Anyways regression to the mean is supposed to be about this idea that things can’t always be good or bad, that most of the time things should be average. I just think that Beacon Hill’s average is way worse than most other places.” He lets his head thunk onto the ground below. He turns to look at the parking lot again. Ms. Monroe was in her car now but it still seemed like she was watching them. “We should go inside.”

Brett let out a thoughtful hum as he contemplated moving off Liam. “What's in it for me? I’ve got you where I want you.” He presses a wet loud kiss to Liam’s temple.

“You don’t get yelled at by my guidance counselor?” Liam wonders what Ms.Monroe thinks is happening. She must be worried considering she’s still in the lot. Most teachers booked it out as soon as they could. It wasn't like she had to stay. The school year hadn't even fully started.

“Why would I care? I don’t even go here.”

“I’ll invite you over for dinner next time my dad makes mac and cheese?” Most of the time Liam’s mom cooked as she had a set schedule. Occasionally though Liam’s stepdad would have the free time and the motivation to not only cook, which he did regularly because he was a good partner, but pull out all the stops. Brett had experienced the leftovers exactly once and been hoping for another invitation over since then.

“Sold. Let's get out of here.” The two gathered their gear and Liam braced himself for an intense clean up from the freshman whirlwind. He was pleasantly surprised at the state of the locker room. It certainly wasn’t the work of freshman proven by Corey and Mason stumbling out of the equipment closet. “Having fun?” Brett quirked a brow at Mason.

“How bad was it? You didn’t have to clean up after them I could have managed.”

“Just accept the help dude.” Mason untangled himself from Corey and came over to clap Liam's shoulder. Liam pulled Mason into a hug instead.

“Thanks.” As they hugged Liam tried not to think about the activities he was smelling.

“It was mostly Corey.” Mason deserved the world. There was also an odd smell, like blood. There shouldn’t have been any though? He pulled away. The smell wasn’t coming from Mason. He twisted towards the lockers and spotted a dark streak on the side. Fuck.

Around the corner, hidden in the showers was something. Liam hesitated to call it a body; it was so mangled. “Was this here while you were cleaning up?”

“I’m not sure. We weren’t worried about the showers. Side note but the freshman didn’t shower which is super gross.”

“Liam, were any of the freshmen who signed up not there?” Brett’s eyes haven’t left the body which is a stark contrast to Corey who had managed one look before he’d turned away face ashen.

“No, they were all there during practice. We should make sure they’re all accounted for now. They can’t have been there long, we would have noticed.” Liam is having a hard time looking at the body. He reaches out for Brett’s hand. The other boy is trembling slightly. Liam doesn’t even think he realizes it.

“Lets split the sign up list, it has all their numbers so we can call each of them and see who picks up.” It takes a few moments for them to kick into gear. They’re all still stuck in place by the corpse that's in the shower.

“Shouldn’t we call someone?” Corey glances at the body a second time as he speaks.

“We’re going to.”

“No, like the police.”

“Oh yea I’ll call Sheriff Stilinski.” Liam has a feeling that if he tries to explain what he’s seeing to a nine-one-one operator that they will flag it as a prank call. There went any chance to enjoy his evening.

Calling all the freshmen goes quickly. They’ve contacted everyone but Aaron by the time The sheriff shows up. “So do you boys want to explain to me how you managed to find a body in the school before classes have even started?”

“I was running drills for the incoming freshmen.”

“Isn’t it cross county season?” Sheriff Stilinski hasn’t even looked at the body yet.

“You know how Coach Finstock is.” Stilinski nods. He does know. Liam gestures to the showers to show Sheriff Stilinski the body.

“What the hell is that?”

“A corpse?” Liam didn’t feel cut out for this.

“Okay I’ll take it from here. You four can get out of my sight.” The radio at Stilinski’s belt crackled to life. “Copy.”

“A shot was reported in the woods by the high school. A body has been reported but we’re waiting on confirmation.” The Sheriff curses.

“I’ll go check it out but I’m going to need you to send some backup. There's a body in the high school." As badly as he wants to stay, Liam knows they should leave before any other officers arrive. Couldn’t anything be easy?

Chapter Text

Liam hadn’t expected to hear from Lori till later on into the weekend. Brett had come down from school for an impromptu long weekend after his Friday class had been cancelled. She was meant to be busy spending time with her brother not texting Liam. Her text told him she wasn’t mainly due to the fact that he wasn’t with her. The ‘Is he with you?!?’ was startling. She picks up before her phone can ring a second time.

“Lori he’s supposed to be visiting with you the first half of the weekend. You specifically requested that so you wouldn’t have to spend your weekend smelling what we get up to because knowing was bad enough.”

“He’s late. He was supposed to be visiting some of his friends still on the lacrosse team for practice and then we were going to grab food. He didn’t show. I’d try to ask some of them but I don’t exactly keep in touch with any of his asshole friends now that he’s graduated.” Lori was clearly panicking more than he’d thought.

“Did you check and see if maybe he got caught up and lost track of time?” They both knew that would be wildly out of character for Brett. He and Lori hadn’t ever been separated like they were now that he was at college and she was wrapping up her senior year. He wouldn’t have skipped his time with her for lacrosse with some people he was friendly with in high school. Still it was the least frightening possibility and he wanted to try to soothe her panic.

“No. I’m on my way there. I don’t know Li, I just have a bad feeling.” Her voice was strained. She was trying not to cry.

“It’ll be ok. I’ll see if I have any of their numbers and try to ask around too. Be safe Lori and let me know if you hear anything.”

“Ok. I’ll let you know what I find.” She ended the call. Liam definitely did not have any of their numbers. When he’d been on the team the only other member he’d interacted with was Brett and at the time it was because he was friends with Lori. The other players were not his friends and he had no interest in changing that in his short time there.

“Is everything ok?” Mason manages to startle him despite the fact that they’ve been seated on the floor, knees pressed together for the better part of an hour.

“Yea it's nothing. Lori was just wondering if Brett had come by despite it being her time with him.” He really hopes it's nothing. He picks up the discarded controller and fiddles with its buttons. He’s supposed to be enjoying a Friday night gaming with Mason. He’s not the only one who's off though. Mason has an underlying anxious scent that he doesn’t normally carry. He’s playing it off well, distracting himself and Liam with video games. It’s there though. “Is everything ok with you?”

“Yes. I was just wondering if I could crash here for the night?” Mason sounds so nervous for such a small ask.

“What about Corey?” Liam knows that Corey spends more time at Mason’s house than his own. The chimera's invisibility has allowed him to sneak into the Hewitt household most nights in recent memory.

“He’s working then he does actually have to go home for once. My parents would notice if I suddenly started doing double the normal amount of laundry.”

“We haven’t had a sleepover that wasn’t a cover story for something in years. Why the change in heart?”

“I can’t stop thinking about the body we found the other week. The one without the face.” Mason didn’t need to clarify. Liam had woken up in a cold sweat for three nights following their discovery. “I can’t stop seeing it. It stayed with me. I keep seeing it again and again. It's everywhere I look.” Mason’s heart has racketed up, beating like he’s run a marathon. The smell of Mason’s fear burns his nose. His phone rings again.

“His car is in the lot, and his lacrosse stick is covered in blood.” Lori doesn’t bother with niceties or greetings though with what she’s calling about he understands why.

“I’ll meet you at Scott’s.” He hangs up without another word. “I need a ride. Brett is missing.” Mason is up without another word. They yank their shoes on and run down the stairs. Liam blurts out “I’m going with Mason. I’ll be back late!” As they head out.

“Wait where are you going Liam? It’s late!” Trails behind him. His mom will be mad but he’s fine with being grounded if they can find Brett.

Lori makes it to Scott’s first. She’s a reckless driver with no care for the speed limit on a good day. “So where do we start?” He eyes the broken lacrosse stick in Scott’s hand. Its jagged edge and a portion of the handle below are coated in blood. He’s not seeing anything about it that would indicate it’s come into contact with wolf's bane, unlike Garrett’s stick from the dead-pool. It seems like it’s Brett’s personal stick.

“The woods.” Lori is moving towards the jeep already.

“We’re still waiting on someone okay. Mason, do you mind meeting Lydia at the high school? She’s going to see if she can get a feel for where Brett is.” Liam has no clue why Lydia would choose to try to force a banshee vision there but he’s glad she’s trying.

Mason nods. “I’ll pick up Corey on the way.” He gets into his car to head out leaving the three wolves in the driveway.

“We shouldn’t be wasting time! Brett was hurt!” Lori seems impatient but she smells like an emotional train wreck. Her fear scent could probably strip paint while her frustration is making the hairs on his arms stand on end.

“You’re going to want Malia there. She’s the best we have at tracking.” Scott’s voice is calm and firm. Lori came to the McCall pack for help instead of Satomi so she has to do it their way.

Malia arrives on paw as Lori gears up to push to leave again. “I didn’t catch anything on my way here.” Liam has yet to get used to Malia’s lack of concern when it comes to her body. They’re in Scott’s driveway and he has neighbors. Scott pulls the set of clothes she keeps under the jeep seat out for Malia and then, thankfully, they can go.

The ride back to Devenford is unpleasant. Liam shreds the string of his sweatshirt while breathing through his mouth trying not to let Lori’s scent get to him. He’s freaked out but she’s on another level. They need to keep it together. He’s not sure it's working. The other string gets shredded too.

He and Lori are out and moving towards the woods line as soon as the jeep has stopped. Scott and Malia are behind them. They’re moving more cautiously than the younger two wolves. There doesn’t seem to be anything indicating that Brett has entered the woods. Liam hasn’t picked up a scent at least. The building is well out of their sight by the time they catch anything. A nondescript blood scent takes him to an arrow in the trees. He steps on a phone, Brett’s phone, when he approaches. He lifts the now cracked screen up. No service. Lori’s nose has taken her to a separate set of trees.

Lori is straight ahead of him up in some of the branches. She holds her hand up to show blood. “He set a trap.” She calls from her tree before jumping out to meet Liam by the arrow. She examines it after yanking it free “He’s still hurt.” The blood on the arrow is Brett's, not the hunters.

“He’s fighting back.” Scott almost sounds surprised. Maybe Scott had been thinking Brett was hurt worse than he’d wanted to say.

“At least we know he’s alive.” Malia nods to herself as if she’d thought there was a chance he wasn’t. Liam hadn’t let himself consider that possibility and he wasn’t going to. Lori drops the arrow and lifts her head to call for Brett, to howl. Malia lunges to grab her arm. “What are you doing? You’re going to lead the hunter to us.”

“He needs to know that we’re here!” Lori yanks her arm away.

“The hunter is new. We can take them.” Liam doesn’t know how long Brett has been running, doesn’t know when he first got hurt. Any amount of time is too long. They need to find Brett.

“If he responds we won’t be the only ones who know where he is.” Malia is being realistic, he knows, but it seems so uncaring when it's someone he and Lori love.

“We could find him first.” Scott must be able to see how it’s impacting the two younger wolves because he’s much more willing to hear them out. “No hunter would be able to track him down as fast as we could.”

“There isn’t a trail to track.” Malia had been frustrated as they’d searched through the woods without a scent to follow.

“He’s hiding his scent. Satomi taught us, everyone, how after the dead-pool.”

“Could he not?” Malia mumbles and looks around for some indication of the direction they should set off in. Liam circles the area they’d found the phone and arrow in. He sees another spot of blood on the tree at chin level. It looks like there are torn fibers on the bark too. On Brett that’d be chest height. Christ that was awful to think about. There’s more blood on the ground leading further into the woods.

“I think he went this way.” Lori takes off in the direction he pointed. He takes off behind her. He doesn’t want them to get separated even if he thinks they could take the hunter on.

The random blood spatters only take them so far. Eventually they lose the trail of weirdly scentless blood. Liam tries to focus on Scott’s steady heart and not on the way that Lori’s immediately kicks up even faster. His ability to keep his cool isn’t stellar under normal circumstances. It’s not anchoring him, not really, but it distracts him well enough.

“I think we should split up.” They can’t just stand around now that they’ve lost the trail. “Lori and I can head this way and you two can go that way.”

“We could cover more ground if we go in four directions.” Liam shakes his head at Lori. They shouldn’t be alone. It isn’t safe.

“We should stick together.” Malia hasn’t stopped seeming uneasy with it all since they found the arrow.

“We have the advantage.” His words are no comfort to Malia.

“Not if we split up.” Malia seems even more uneasy.

“The whole summer the entire pack has been concerned with me keeping an eye on everything and handling things without help because you won’t be here. Now suddenly you can’t trust me to make a decision?”

“It’s a stupid decision! Scott?” Liam feels a low growl work its way up and out. Malia is always blunt but he isn’t in the space to handle it. She rolls her eyes at him. Lori wanders off to circle the area they’ve lost the trail in.

“I think that we don’t have the number advantage we thought. Look.” Scott brushes aside debris to show more foot prints.

“Fine we’ll stay together but we need to keep moving.” Liam lets his hands flex at his sides. Despite the fact that he growled at Malia he’s managed to keep his claws from tearing up the insides of his palms.

“I found something!” Lori is almost out of eye sight gesturing to some rocks on the ground. As they get closer to where Lori stands he realizes that the rocks are balanced neatly. Malia cocks her head to the side trying to see what the younger two are seeing that she isn’t. “It's stone stacking, something Satomi taught us. I know where he’s headed.” Liam reaches down to lift one of the stones. There are smears of blood on the rock.

Lori leads them to the tunnels. Of course she leads them to the stupid tunnels. She also finds more blood almost immediately. It’d been wishful thinking to think that the blood had stopped because Brett had healed. He really should have unless he was getting reinjured. Lori brings her hand closer to examine the blood. It looks bad and he’s several feet away. “He’s been poisoned.” That would explain the lack of healing. “I’m not sure how long he has, maybe a few hours?”

“What if we howl? Then we can find him.” They’d never followed through with that plan but it seemed like it was a good time to. They had to be close which meant they could find him faster.

“That’s risky and he's still moving.” Malia scoots down to examine the trail of semi-fresh blood.

“It doesn’t matter if there's a risk he’s dying!” Lori examines the blood on her hand again.

“We need to take some time to think.” Liam can’t help the look that crosses his face as he turns to Scott. What time? They needed to act. Lori was on the same wave length as him as she turned and made the decision to roar.

“We’re going to get killed.” Malia trudges forward down the tunnel.

“He knows we’re here!” Liam can’t help but defend Lori’s choice. They don’t have time to argue. There is tension as they move forward. Malia had made her disapproval know but Liam has become very familiar with Scott’s disapproval in his time as a werewolf and he knows Scott’s not fully happy with the turn of events. Lori is walking fast enough that she’s back to leading them.

“Lori, stop!” Scott’s shout comes too late. Her shoe makes contact with some tripwire and Scott goes down. Not physically though as the bolt that has impaled him keeps him on his feet. Malia pulls Liam closer in case of another bolt but there isn’t one. Liam grabs Scott to help keep him upright while Malia pulls on the bolt then lowers the alpha to the floor as gently as he can. Lori’s gaze is fretful. They hadn’t been expecting the hunters to go for them.

“I’m so sorry.” Lori is still on her feet watching as Malia presses her hand to Scott's wound. “I can’t stop though, there isn’t time.”

“We need to think! There’s something wrong, these aren’t amateurs like we thought.” Scott is really pointing out the obvious but there hasn’t been time to see what was right in front of them.

“That doesn’t matter.” Amateur or not Liam knew they had to keep going.

“Liam you’ve never fought hunters you have no idea what they’re capable of.” He knows Scott is coming from a place of concern.

“No but I know what you, what we’re capable of. We’re not giving up, especially not at the risk of someone we care about.” Scott nods.

“Fine. You go ahead and stay safe.” Lori is off as soon as Scott nods meaning Liam has to catch up. They travel through the tunnels in what they can only hope is the right direction until finally hitting a point where the tunnel splits in two. They aren’t splitting up.

“Which way?” Lori looks back and forth but doesn’t answer. “Maybe he left something a different signal?”

“I don’t know, I don't see anything.” Lori’s voice shakes.

“Then we’ll find something. He’s going to be okay.” The reassurance is as much for him as it is for Lori.

“How do you know?” She’s started crying.

“Lor, he has to be. We both know he’s strong. He’s survived the dead-pool, Ghost Riders, and he’s taken me out on the lacrosse field an embarrassing amount of times.” Liam squeezes her arm in comfort.

“Did you know he’s only in lacrosse because of me?” Liam shakes his head. Brett was a scholarship kid at Devenford for lacrosse but he hadn’t thought much more about it than that it was a sign of his talents. He’d gotten into college the same way. “You know how I was a Devenford. I had Brett and I had you for friends and I could manage to be friendly with some of the other students. Before that, in middle school, I didn’t have anybody besides Brett. When he realized Devenford would do lacrosse scholarships he practiced all summer till he got so good that they’d give the both of us scholarships.”

“We’re going to find him ok. We care too much about him to let anyone stop us.” He yanks Lori closer to hug her briefly. Something reaches his nose. “Do you smell that?” She twists to tuck her nose into her zip up. “There’s something sour.” He grabs at her other hand, the one thats come in contact with Brett’s blood. Lori stares at her hand.

“It smells like rotting.”

“Its the poison. That's how we’ll find him.” They move quickly to try and follow the sour scent, running through the tunnels until they finally get concrete evidence that Brett is alive. Brett’s heartbeat. Liam isn’t sure how born wolves do anchors but Lori is just as in tune with Brett’s heartbeat as he is.

“Is that?”

“Brett’s heartbeat? Yes.” Brett is on the floor poorly hidden behind barrels that have probably been down here for years. He looks awful. Liam had seen him after he’d gotten stabbed and poisoned with yellow wolfsbane and it hadn’t been nearly as bad. Liam feels ill at the sight of him hurt so badly.

“Brett!” Lori’s voice is loud as is the sound her knees make when they slam into the tunnel floor hard enough that they have to be bruised. She reaches a shaky hand out to her brother. They know he’s alive. He has a heartbeat.

“You found me.” Brett’s voice is weak. His eyes are barely opened.

“Yea I found your rock stack.” Lori lets out a small laugh.

“Liam?” He kneels on Brett’s other side and cradles the other boy’s face in his hand. When he strokes his thumb across Brett’s cheekbone he picks up what might be a tear or might be sweat. Either way it shouldn’t have been black.

“Yea. We’re gonna get you out of here okay?” He brushes a kiss to Brett’s forehead and is immediately almost toppled over with the pain. He hadn’t even meant to take it. Liam stands and lifts Brett with him. Lori gets up as well to help take the weight.

Liam is blinded and he imagines Lori is too. The tunnels have always been dark and dank but they’re suddenly illuminated. He feels like he’s looking into the sun. Its only for a moment. When he can see again the tunnels are filling with smoke. “You take Brett, I’ll hold them off.” He moves forward.

“You said we shouldn’t split up!” Lori isn’t moving.

“You need to go!” He waves her concern off. They need to get Brett medical care. A shrill noise kicks on. Liam covers his ears and shakes himself before shifting and running into the smoke.

There isn’t anybody there, just one of those emitters Argent had used before. It's a fake out. He starts running back towards where Lori and Brett had gone. They’re being corralled. There's another emitter in the wall. “Lori, Brett!” He’s shouting but there isn’t a chance he can be heard over the noise.

He hits a dead end. The only way is up. He shouts again and begins to climb. He hears a crunch and tires squealing. Liam pulls himself onto the road

Someone is roaring.

He’s howling and it's probably fine because Monroe probably won’t shoot him in the face in the middle of an intersection. Lori’s shoulder looks wrong but at least she’s moving, dragging herself towards Brett. The car had sent her flying across the road. Brett is horrifically still on the tar in front of them. Brett’s veins turn black where Lori is desperately grasping his hand in hers. It should be the other way shouldn’t it?

“I couldn’t take away his pain.”

Did Lydia scream? Somewhere back in the halls of Beacon Hills are Corey and Mason watching Lydia break the windows with her voice?

“I can’t-” Lori’s shoulder is fucked up and she could easily be more hurt then she appears. Maybe she can’t take Brett’s pain because she’s in too much pain? If Liam reaches out to try and take his pain and he can’t either he’ll never fucking recover.

What are they supposed to do? Liam and Lori have no medical experience but Brett is bad enough to need actual medical intervention. He’s been bad enough to need medical intervention since they found him

“You two need to move okay? I have to get him in the car before the ambulance comes.” Scott and Malia are gentle as they pull the two of them away from Brett. Lori doesn’t even let out a hiss when Malia grabs her arm.

Brett is not small but Scott is lifting him. Scott is still wounded but he’s better than he was. Lydia is there, when did she get there. Her car is better than the jeep but none of them have vehicles that are made for a large number of people. Malia is still leading the two of them towards Lydia’s car. She’s not really all that gentle actually. She’s got a harsh grip on both of their arms and it's the only reason that either of them are moving.

Either she’s impatient or they don’t have time because she’s shoving Liam in and pushing him across the seat so she can shove Lori in next to him.

“Liam, you have to try to hold him steady.” Scott’s eyes are brown but Liam isn’t actually looking at them. He can’t focus. Scott is trying to be careful as Brett is laid across them in the backseat. They don’t fit at all. There's not a chance that Scott would make them hold the corpse of someone they love so Brett has to be alive. He hasn’t been able to hear anything over the blood pounding in his ears.

“I’ll stay here and wait for Sheriff Stilinski okay?” Scott is in the passenger seat and Lydia is tearing away from the intersection.

Lori is trying to hold Brett’s head steady. Liam takes Brett’s arm and feels for his pulse. Maybe feeling a pulse will help Liam focus on hearing a heartbeat. He’s shaking so hard he can’t find it.

Lydia gets them to the clinic in record time. Ms.McCall is waiting outside when they get there. He’s starting to snap out of his fugue state enough to help Scott with getting Brett out of the car with minimal fussing. With Brett back in Scott’s arms so he can get help Liam turns back to the car to herd Lori inside.They aren’t that far behind Scott and Lydia but they still ended up forced to sit out in the waiting room of the animal clinic on the other side of the closed welcome gate. Lori was catatonic in the seat next to him.

Deaton seemed to think they were only going to make it worse as he and Melissa tried to save Brett. Their grief and fear being an additional stressor on his body. The waiting room wasn’t that far though and the two couldn’t shake the stench. Brett was almost dead, possibly had been dead even if it was just for a moment. “Should we get in contact with Satomi?” Liam’s voice surprised himself. He hadn’t meant to break the silence.

Lori doesn’t respond. The last thing she’d said was a frantic ‘I can't take his pain’. That had shot through Liam and filled him with an icy fear. After that she hadn’t managed a coherent response as they helped rush Brett out of the street. He moved to kneel in front of her and retrieve her phone anyways. Satomi should know that one of her betas was critically injured at minimum. Getting onto the ground is draining though. He stay there kneeling for a moment as his head tips forward to rest on Lori’s knees. It takes him three minutes to get back up into the chair at her side. His message to Satomi is short ‘Brett in critical condition. Deaton is trying to fix it.’ It doesn’t really read like a text Lori would send but he’s hopeful that Satomi won’t panic about that.

It takes a few minutes to get a response in the form of Satomi calling Lori’s phone. Lori doesn’t reach for it but she is shaking slightly which could be a good or bad sign. He accepts the call for Lori and presses the phone to her ear. Satomi’s voice breaks through to Lori and she lets out a heart wrenching sob, finally moving to take the phone. He tries his hardest not to listen and instead focuses on the sluggish but there heart beat in the other room.

After a few hours it’s decided to move him into the McCall guest room. No one seems confident he’s going to make it but Brett can’t exactly stay in the animal clinic. Satomi had arrived at some point after the call with Lori though Liam wasn’t exactly sure when. He’d dissociated at some point while he was listening to Brett’s heart. It doesn’t feel like he manages to tune back in until he himself is tucked into bed listening to the movement of his parents around the kitchen and the steady beats of their hearts.

Chapter Text

After running out with no explanation Liam is relegated to the house for the weekend. His mom could tell something was off when he’d stumbled up the stairs shaking after midnight. He doesn’t know how he got home. The weekend passes in a blur; he spends Saturday dissociating in his bed and doesn’t get out until listening to his parent’s whisper in the kitchen Sunday afternoon.

“I’m worried. He came home at midnight after rushing out with no word and now he’s catatonic. He hasn’t even tried to leave, not that he’d be allowed to.”

“Jenna, one of the nurses said she saw Liam where those two kids got hit. She said he had claws and fangs. Is that not insane?”

“Yes sweetheart it is, especially because it's taking attention away from the fact that our son watched two children get hit by a car. Did they get admitted to the hospital at least? Are they ok?”

“If they received medical attention it wasn’t from Beacon Hills Memorial.”

“You don’t think-”

“I couldn’t say.”

“If this goes on much longer I’m going to carry him to see June myself.” Liam chooses to finally get out of bed to drown out the sounds of them talking in the shower. He doesn’t want to worry them but he can’t do more than drag himself downstairs freshly showered in sweats and the flannel he stole from Brett. He spends his Sunday evening with his head in his moms lap trying to take comfort in her presence while ignoring her sad scared smell.

By Monday Melissa and the Sheriff have managed to fake enough paperwork that Brett and Lori are officially victims of a hit and run and been temporarily excused from classes. Monday Liam doesn’t even need to fake sick to stay home. He doesn’t come downstairs and his parents don’t push him though they seem very concerned. He sneaks out to the McCall house to sit vigil with Lori while his parents are at work. Scott arrives bright and early the next day. Despite the fact that there's no way that there weren’t witnesses to him losing his absolute shit Scott wants him to keep going to school.

“Scott! Is everything okay?” His mom greets his alpha at the door. Liam pulls his blanket over his head. Scott shouldn’t be here. He has to leave at the crack of dawn to make it to his classes while he's commuting.

“Yea I just came by to check on Liam, I know he hasn’t been in school.”

“I’m not sure that's a good idea Scott. He hasn’t been feeling well.”

“I’ll be quick I promise.” His mom lets Scott in.

“I’ll see you later squirt. Feel better.” She shouts up the stairs and the door clicks behind her as she leaves for work.

Scott storms up the stairs. “Liam, you can’t stay shut up in your bedroom for the rest of your life. You need to go to school” Scott yanks the covers back so he can look down at Liam.

“I haven’t been. You know I’ve left this room.”

“Yes once, to shut yourself up in my mom’s guest room. That isn’t much better.”

“I’m not going.” He pulls the covers from Scott’s hand.

“Yes you are.” Scott grabs him by his ankle and pulls him, sheets and all off the bed. Liam can’t help the hysterical laugh that escapes and then quickly morphs into a sob. He’s thankful for the way the comforter is blanketing his face. “Hey, Liam, its okay. Brett and Lori are okay, I’m okay, everybody is okay.” Scott lets him stay hidden in the blankets but pulls him into a hug.

“Everybody hates us! You want me to go back to school but I can’t.”

“Everybody doesn’t hate you Liam.”

“You’re right everyone is scared of me because I’m a monster! I know you say I’m not, that I’m just a werewolf but to normal people werewolves are monsters.” He fights his way out of the blankets, tears dried and turned into anger.

“Then show them you’re not. Go to school and show everyone that you’re Liam Dunbar and there's nothing to be afraid of.”

“Liam Dunbar was someone to be scared of even before he was a werewolf.”

“No, don’t do that to yourself dude. You’re not doing your mental state any good sitting here alone and I think you know that.” Liam lets his head thunk against Scott's shoulder while he thinks out his response.

“Lori shouldn’t be alone.”

“Malia is with her and Lydia got them to agree to let her be online for the first few weeks so she's there too.” Liam feels his sign of defeat escape him. There isn’t a world in which he denies his alpha for long. It honestly doesn’t even have anything to do with Scott’s status as his alpha. It has more to do with the fact that its Scott.

“Fine.”

“Great, now please go shower.” Scott wrinkles his nose and smiles. The one Liam musters up in return is weak.

Scott ends up driving him to school despite the fact that there isn’t a chance Scott’ll make it in time for his first class. Liam tries not to let it add to his depressive spiral. Being out means that he has no idea what he’s going to be walking into. Upon entrance he heads for Mason as quickly as possible. The eyes on him are not a figment of his imagination and neither are the whispers.

“Honestly so far it hasn’t been that bad.” Mason’s update is undercut by the stares and whispers. “I didn’t hear many people talking about it the past two days so you might be in the clear.”

“It’s spreading like wildfire! One of the lacrosse sophomores was at the intersection and his girlfriend was in the library so they’ve started connecting dots.” Liam sees Corey coming down the hall but he almost wishes he hadn’t since all he brings is bad news.

“They know!” Liam is sure he looks unstable with the way his eyes are frantically searching the halls.

“It's all rumors. People are already saying that Brett and Lori died in a car accident but we know the truth. That was attempted murder.” Liam feels his breath catch.

“A car accident? Some guy slammed into them at full speed!” He tries to keep his voice down but the whispers amp up in response to his frustration anyways.

“Exactly.” Corey and Mason bracketed him in on both sides to start walking towards class. “People are already losing track of the truth. It was dark Friday, a little foggy. They have no idea what they saw.”

“It was a full moon and the intersection was lit.” Corey’s arguments aren’t helping him feel better but they are validating.

“See! They may have managed to convince themselves that they didn’t witness a crime but there's no way they didn’t see me as a monster with claws and fangs!”

“You aren’t a monster, you’re a regular guy who has a math class to attend.” Mason and Corey wave him off to his first class. He can’t help but stare after them instead of entering the room. He does have to enter eventually so he can learn about distributing with imaginary numbers. His notes honestly end up being pretty good since he avoids looking anywhere other than at his textbook and at the board. Lori’s definitely not in the headspace for helping him with his math homework.

He lets the room clear out once class ends before heading to his next class; he's willing to cut it close in the name of avoiding people. He doesn’t have class with Mason and Corey for another block. The lack of people in the hallway makes it easy to hear the mass of voices from the locker room. Liam manages to walk by before slowly walking back. He really shouldn’t set himself up like this but also he’s supposed to be captain. He should at least check in.

The deep breath he takes doesn’t prepare him for when he actually opens the door. It isn’t just some members of the lacrosse team, it's all of them. Everyone but him. “What's going on?” The sound of the door swinging shut isn’t actually loud but it feels like it is.

“Team meeting.” Gabe seems to be their spokesperson. They certainly weren’t friends but he hadn’t ever had a problem with Gabe. His palms are sweaty and he can’t get them dry.

“About what?” He knows before it's even out of Gabe’s mouth.

“We don’t feel that someone like you should be our captain.” He can’t even pretend that it’s just Gabe pushing for it as the team is nodding.

“Someone or something.” Nolan’s feelings aren’t a surprise. He stabbed Corey for Christ's sake. Liam imagines he gets some sick joy out of having the whole team backing him.

“You want a new captain?” This is what he deserves but that doesn’t change the way he feels. “What if I’m not willing to give it up?” There’s no one around to anchor himself in, no music to distract. He’ll have to settle for a mantra and deep breaths. Not the most effective anchor especially when it's so important that he not shift at all.

The sun. He’s leaning forward without a thought.

The moon. Gabe moves first but Nolan is the one who gets in his face.

The truth. Liam knows his breaths are rattling past his ground together teeth. He can only hope his eyes are blue.

The sun. Nolan isn’t even an inch taller than Liam. Do their teammates actually think Nolan can take him or is Nolan just the one they’re okay with watching get torn apart.

The moon. Nolan is searching for something. He’s searching for something and whatever he finds doesn’t make him any more frightened than he was before. The strength of the smell on Nolan may be new but fear itself isn’t.

The truth. Coach Finstock takes the wind out of their sails. Whatever the rest of the team was hoping for isn’t happening for now.

“Who the hell called a team meeting?” Liam doesn’t know what the rest of the team is doing. He can’t tear his eyes away from coach Finstock. Coach Finstock could so easily reignite the energy the team had been building. He could ignore them and go back into his office to let the rest of the team finish up or worse he could encourage it. Liam knows his place in coach Finstock’s good graces is precarious at best. “Guys?”

“I did.” Liam is glad to put distance between Nolan and himself even if he hates what he’s about to say. He deserves this doesn’t he? “I’m sorry but I have to take a step back from the team. We just voted Nolan as the new team captain.” Coach Finstock’s eyes search his face. It may be more clear that something is up to the coach. Nolan isn’t releasing happy chemosignals, not yet, just surprise.

“Which one of you is Nolan?” Liam knows he’s frowning. Coach Finstock had kicked up a fuss when Scott had stepped down. “Round of applause for your new team captain.” Liam escapes while everyone is too distracted by their win to try anything else.

He’s late to his next class. He feels unmoored and he’s pretty sure it's not even supernatural. Maybe seeing Ms.Monroe isn’t such a bad idea.

By the time his second block is done he’s not even sure he can name what class he was in. While he waits for the room to clear out again he texts Mason and Corey to let them know he’ll be late to biology. He tries not to read too much into Corey’s cryptic watch out for Gabe and Nolan.

Liam only hears Ms. Monroe in her office when he makes his way there so he opens the door. Whatever Corey heard about Gabe and Nolan he’d rather not run into them alone in the hallways. It was stupid for him to go in the locker room earlier and a miracle it had only ended with them ousting him as team captain.

“Liam! We didn’t have an appointment.” Ms. Monroe's heart ticks up. It doesn’t return to its previous resting rate.

“No but I was hoping I could set up a quick one.” He loiters in the doorway until she gestures to the seat on the other side of her desk.

“You were pretty adamant that you didn’t need to see me the other week. Why the sudden change in heart?” She sits across from him, resting her elbows on the desk and looking straight at him.

“I’ve been having a hard time lately.” He keeps it short. He already regrets this. There’s no way he’s going to engage in the intense eye contact she’s offering. Instead he looks to her shoulder. Her neck is scratched. “Are you okay? You have some scratch marks?” Maybe she has a cat? He can smell she doesn’t have a cat.

“Oh I just ran into a tree branch.” She’s lying but her heart rate is lowering. Any fear she’d had when he entered has settled into confidence. She’s running the show.

“When were you in the woods?”

“Liam you came to me so lets focus on you for now. When you say you’re having a hard time do you mean with other students? I know I’ve heard some rumors that maybe some of the other kids are giving you a hard time.”

“Sort of. What were you doing in the woods?”

“Running. Listen, I can help you but you’d have to give me names.” She brushed him off again. She knew what she was doing. He can’t look away from the scratches, the claw marks on her neck. Were those from Brett? They had to be. The arm of the chair is digging onto his palm where he’d been gripping it. Liam releases the arm of the chair and a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

“Were you running from somebody?”

“If you don’t want to give me names then maybe we can talk about something else? I can’t help you if you aren’t willing to be open.”

“I-” He can’t look away from the claw marks. He needs to leave. “This was a mistake.” He pushes himself up slowly. He’s taking his time because he can’t lose it. The door is open before Ms. Monroe speaks again.

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

“What?” He doesn’t turn to look at her, scared of his own reaction more than of her.

“I heard that a former classmate of yours passed this weekend. Loss is always tough. Maybe I can’t help you but we do offer a grief group during lunch every other Thursday.” There are scratch marks on the door handle. Liam doesn’t know Scott’s class schedule so he texts Lydia instead. 'SOS Ms.Monroe is the hunter.' Someone else can handle her while he’s in biology.

He ends up barely being late which isn’t the blessing he’d originally thought it was. With Mrs. Finch's lack of follow through he had a feeling that if he ended up surviving the day well enough to come back it would only be worse the next day.

Since Ms.Finch can’t stand to look at Liam, either because she too was scared of him or because she was embarrassed, he, Corey, and Mason can pass notes without interruption. Corey's earlier message had undersold it. Gabe and Nolan are leading the charge but it's the whole lacrosse team. They must have realized they missed out on their chance earlier and be looking to rectify it. Their plan is shit. Liam’s starting to think maybe he’s not just bad at being a werewolf but most things.

Inevitably, due to their plan being shit, Liam is found. He hadn’t had high hopes. This what he deserves is all he can think when he first goes sprawling on the floor.

They must have some concern about being caught since they drag him into a classroom before actually doing more than pushing at him. The fact that students flood in behind Gabe and Nolan, not just the lacrosse team but what feels like everyone, proves that he deserves this.

“Come on Liam!” Gabe’s foot is on his back using most of his weight to pin Liam down. Liam is too focused on forcing his teeth back and his eyes blue to fight back. That's an excuse, he deserves this.

“Get up.” Nolan sounds so lackluster. Does he even want to beat Liam senseless? Why bother with all this? “Get up!” There it is.

“Are you trying to hide?” Gabe has him on his feet again. The teeth he’s gritting are human. “Open your eyes.” The eyes he’s sporting are human. It's insane that the eyes looking back at him are more human then his will ever be.

Nolan’s fist connects with his nose. His head connects with the chalk board. Nolan’s hands aren’t gentle as they hold his head in place. Nothing feels good about the harsh grip. “Come on Liam! Shift!”

“The sun.” Liam lets his eyes close. Mason and Corey are in the crowd, not by choice. They can’t step in and they can’t leave for help.

“The moon.” There’s blood in his mouth. It’s all he can taste, all he can smell.

“The truth.” What does it say that they’re having to pick and choose who to use to prove their point? They picked him because he’s violent even outside of being a werewolf. It doesn’t show anyone that they should be scared to expose Corey’s ability to hide and heal. He deserved this.

“The hell?” Gabe doesn’t care about answers. His fist meets Liam’s cheek.

“How long do you think you can take this? You can’t hold back forever.” Liam’s body bangs off the desk as he’s shoved to the floor again.

The sun. Gabe’s knee is in his chest.

The moon. He thinks his eyes might flicker, shit.

The truth. Mason is asking for help and instead they’re being left to work it out on their own. The condemnation is just another sign.

Gabe has his hair, is pulling his head back. When the knee connects with his face he thinks he might black out. It's just for a moment. He’s awake for the feet connecting with his body though he’d love to pass out. He’s not sure what the damage is, can’t catalog anything more specific then he hurts and he’s bleeding. The momentary reprieve as Gabe bends to get his hands on Liam allows him to spit out some of the blood. Liam’s head hits the floor before he’s lifted. The world gets a little blurrier. The blood in his eyes or the low grade concussion could be the cause.

“What the hell?” Coach Finstock. Another person to watch. “Back off!” Oh. He doesn’t really have the strength to stop his head from colliding with the floor again. The momentary pain is with the relief of not being hit. The room is fuzzy for another moment and he hears a low ringing in his ear. The room is clear and Coach Finstock is at his side. Another moment and he’s on his feet alone with Corey and Mason holding his weight. The ringing has stopped. Everything hurts. He lets himself collapse almost entirely onto Mason and rests his head on Mason’s chest. Mason’s heart is rapidfire below his ear.

Whatever coach Finstock had said or done had cleared the hall completely. They still make a direct beeline for Mason’s car to put distance between them and the school.

The ride to Scott’s is silent. Liam can’t go home like this, his mom wouldn’t take it well.

“Jesus Christ Liam what happened to you?” Lori’s voice is loud from where she’s hovering at the top of the stairs. His face is still covered in blood but he’s not limping or clutching at his side like he was before Mason got him off campus.

“The lacrosse team. Twice is a coincidence right.” His attempt at a light hearted smile makes the dried blood on his face crack uncomfortably. “Where is Scott?” The four of them were the only ones there excluding Brett who was still down for the count in the guest room.

“He went to go meet with Monroe this afternoon. Lydia and Malia went too. They should be back soon.” Lori sounded nervous, like she thought they should have been back already.

“I’m going to go wash up before they get back then.” He left Corey and Mason downstairs on the couch and slid past Lori towards the guest room where there were spare clothes. At the doorway he paused. Frankly Brett had never looked worse. It didn’t seem as if he’d healed at all. It was startling to see him in bandages and with stitches. Instead of going towards the drawers like he’d intended he made his way to the side of the bed. A brush of his hand on the exposed skin allowed him to take some of the pain. Taking pain hadn’t helped kickstart the healing but both he and Lori kept trying anyway.

Instead of giving him space Lori had decided to follow him back into the guest room. He consciously didn’t look at her. They could talk about it after he was free of his own blood. Liam only took pain for a few minutes. It wasn’t likely to suddenly work. Still keeping his back to Lori he grabbed some of the spare clothes. They definitely weren’t ones he’d contributed to the collection in the dresser and that was on purpose. Maybe it would be fortifying to smell like pack, like people who didn’t want him dead. Keeping his head down he made his way to the guest bathroom. He heard Lori sink to the floor, back to the bathroom door. From her spot on the floor she could probably see Brett while also confirming Liam hadn’t spontaneously drowned in the shower.

Last time Liam had washed away the damage done by a lacrosse team the hot water had stung as it hit his bruises. This time there were none to speak of. All the water was doing was washing the blood away leaving no trace of the earlier attack. Outside the door Lori’s heart rate picked up. The shower curtain tore like a tissue as he threw himself at his towel to protect some of his modesty when he threw the door open to ensure she was ok. Yanking the door open and keeping his towel closed left his hair hanging in his eyes obscuring his vision. Pushing it back he followed Lori’s gaze to Brett. She hadn’t said anything but he could see what had caused the reaction. Brett’s face was no longer quite as bruised and battered. It was the most progress they’d seen yet.

“Call Deaton while I get dressed.” His voice is not steady as he gives Lori instructions. The speed that he gets dressed at almost causes him to tear a hole in the sweatpants he had. Lori is still on the phone when he exits as a result of his speed. Perching on the edge of the bed he brushes the now almost bruise free skin and takes a little more pain. Across from him Lori is doing the same while trying to explain to Deaton the miracle healing she’d seen.

It takes thirty slow minutes for Deaton to get there. Despite the rapid healing that they’d witnessed Brett doesn’t wake up. Deaton doesn’t manage to wake him as he tries to decipher what on Earth is happening with Brett. Liam tries to get answers probing with a “Shouldn’t he be awake if he’s almost healed?” Deaton glances at him but doesn’t answer until after he’s done.

“To be truthful I’m not sure why he isn’t awake. Something must have happened to force him to start healing but based on what Lori told me I can’t pinpoint what it was. In any case while his healing is a good sign I can’t help but worry that whatever happened to cause it is bad news.”

“How could it possibly be bad?” Lori doesn’t seem to have it in her to sound upset. Liam lets himself reach out to squeeze her hand and offer comfort. She’s dealt with so much loss.

“I wish I had answers for you. We will need to continue to closely monitor his health.” Externally it seemed as if post Deaton look over Brett was fully healed. There wasn’t much else they’d be able to do without Brett awake. It’s hard to leave to drive himself home. He’s still holding out hope that Brett will wake up any second but it’s been hours since his miracle healing. They’ll have to keep waiting.

Chapter Text

Liam hadn't thought his week could get much worse. It was probably that mindset that had managed to get them into this. “That cell had three murders and yet you’re letting out the only one who doesn’t have the excuse of self defense?” Liam knew he sounded hysterical as they huddled in the sheriff's office.

“Wow Liam. I thought we put all that behind us.” Theo had ended up in the office with them seemingly only to actively piss them all off. “It seems like you’re taking this pretty personally. How is your boyfriend taking the news of Satomi’s death anyways?”

“Satomi is dead?” He could feel how small his voice had become. Liam hadn’t been debriefed on the situation, just told that two young kids from Satomi’s pack were in lock up for murder. When Lori hadn’t heard from Satomi for a few days she’d tried to reassure everyone, including herself, that Satomi had gone underground with the remnants of her pack while trying to find a peaceful conclusion to all this. They’d lost so many already.

“Satomi and her whole pack are dead. They said they were all that was left. Of course it seems like you might have stashed a few members away despite what the hunters think. Maybe hitting them with a car wasn’t as successful as they assumed.” Theo would have recognized Brett and Lori’s scents on him, too fresh for them to be dead. Liam turned to Scott trying to ignore Theo’s irritating presence.

“Let me go talk to them?” He wasn’t going to beg but if they were all that was left of Satomi’s pack he needed to help. Lori and Brett, when he woke up, would be devastated at another heavy loss.

“Liam I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Scott was always the voice of reason. Liam isn’t looking for reason. He’s looking for a way to protect something since he failed to protect Brett and Lori.

“I’ve met them before! They might be willing to talk to a familiar face.”

“No one is talking to anyone! There is a certain way these things have to be done.” The Sheriff takes the reigns of the conversation.

“That way is going to get them hurt.” Scott brings them back to the original point.

“Here is probably the safest place for them.”

“Not if a deputy is working with Monroe.” Lydia has been mostly silent for the argument. Liam is grateful the forged paperwork went straight to the college and isn't in one of the cabinets in the station. If a deputy is working with Monroe she'd know for certain both of her attempted victims were alive.

“It’s Quinn right?” Sheriff Stilinski gets a nod from the girl, Quinn, on the couch. “Are you positive it was a deputy?” She nods again before running the sheriff through what she’d already told the rest of them countless times. Liam’s attention returns to Theo. He hadn’t seen the chimera since briefly after the Ghost Riders. He’d assumed Theo had left town for good. Liam wasn’t even sure Theo knew he’d broken Kira’s sword.

Theo’s attention wasn’t on the conversation happening around them. It's somewhere else. That somewhere floods the windows with light. They’d been so caught up in their planning that they’d managed to miss the increase in the number of heart beats. The station is surrounded. Even before Sheriff Stilinski has gone out to face Monroe Liam can tell no one thinks this will end well. Malia is probably the worst of them. If Theo is panicking he can’t tell and Scott and Lydia are level headed. Malia doesn’t like being cornered. Liam can smell the panic she’s experiencing stronger than anyone else's and her heart is thudding way faster than it should be as they peek through the blinds to watch the sheriff try to deescalate.

“We need to leave.” Liam can’t think of a time Malia has ever sounded so nervous. It makes him feel just the slightest bit more off kilter. Scott’s hold on Malia’s arms and assurances may make her shake less but her chemosignals don’t change in any way.

“We can’t leave without Jiang and Tierney.” Malia is right that they need to leave but they can’t assume that the two betas in lockup will be safe, not with a deputy working for Monroe and a mob outside of the station.

“So we won’t.” Without Stiles it falls on Scott to partake in the less than legal rooting through the Sheriff’s desk for his key card. It almost immediately ends up in Liam’s possession. He’s been pushing for their rescue and he’s met them before so he might as well be the go between. He's sure that his speed to go let them out would raise alarms if the deputies weren't preoccupied with the showdown outside.

“Let's go.” He swipes the card, he didn’t realize he was scared it wouldn’t work till a small sense of relief occurred at the light turning green. “We’re getting you out of here.” Jiang looked frightened from where he stood behind Tierney. Tierney looked frightened too. She was still just as pissed as she had been last time he saw her but the edge of fear was clearly uncomfortable for the two. “Why aren’t you moving?”

“We hear lots of heartbeats.” Tierney’s voice sounds like she's fighting back the shift. Weren’t born wolves supposed to have better control?

“And guns.” Jiang has reached out to shift Tierney further back, likely without thought.

“We can keep you safe, get you out of here so if they get in you aren’t stuck in a cell.”

“Like you did with Brett or Lori?” Tierney shakes Jiang's hand off her arm and stalks forward so she’s standing in the doorway, up in his face. Tierney is shorter than him but with her anger it doesn’t feel it.

“I-” Liam wants to say something, defend that he did everything that he could. It feels like a lie though. He could have listened to Malia and thought more before rushing ahead. He could have yelled louder or realized it was a trap. He settles for something else. “They aren’t dead. So let us get you out of here so you don’t end up dead either.”

“What?” Jiang moves closer too. They know he’s not lying at least even if they’re skeptical.

“Liam.” Sheriff Stilinski is behind him. “We have until midnight so no one is going anywhere.” The two betas step back and sheriff Stilinski slides the door shut again. “Out.” Liam is ushered out and the sheriff snatches his ID card back.

In the main area of the station the desks have been cleared and pressed against the windows. Scott and Malia seem glued to the window, unable to look away from the mob outside. When the power is cut Liam barely notices, the lights from outside are shining so brightly through the windows. It is an incredibly unpleasant surprise to see Nolan. Nolan ‘s knuckles are still damaged from where he’d tried to beat Liam’s face in. What he’d lacked in skill he’d made up for in enthusiasm.

“Get rid of him.” He’d intended for it to be calm and to Scott but it’s harsh and public. It’s hard to tell if Nolan is pleased to see that he was right or disappointed that the damage he did has already been undone.

“She’ll be so mad you can’t.” This feels off. Something about this is wrong.

“He’s dangerous and we can’t trust him!” Scott is clearly unsettled by the way Liam is speaking but he doesn’t care. Nolan can’t stay there.

“He’s under arrest ok. Parrish is taking him away right now.” Scott’s hand is gentle on his arm. Just like with Malia it doesn’t do anything. Liam doesn’t shake him off, he knows Scott is trying. As soon as Scott realizes he’s not going to be able to make Liam feel better and drops his hand Liam heads for the holding area. He’ll feel better if he’s nearby. Theo accosts him before he makes it and shoves him into the bathroom.

“Monroe isn’t going to stop!” Theo hisses out as if that will stop anyone from hearing their conversation. “We can’t do anything to make them stop trying to kill those two losers. Those idiots killed hunters.”

“And? Those hunters killed their pack!”

“They don’t care! Monroe isn’t going to let anything stop her from getting to them. Not you or Scott or any of your friends. Is it worth it to watch them die?”

“I don’t want to stand by and watch hunters murder Jiang and Tierney. There isn’t much left to Satomi’s pack.”

“Right so take whatever road kill is left of your boyfriend and his sister while you still can.”

“She tried to murder them! They hadn’t done anything and now their pack is gone!”

“Do you really think that saving them is going to fix that. Four omegas are better than two or something. Whatever you do, someone is ending up dead!” Liam is swinging before he even realizes it. He’d been freezing or fleeing when he’d gotten angry enough for violence recently but fighting was his default so it was only a matter of time before he just hit someone. Theo hits the wall on his way down and Liam leaves him there. He hopes he broke Theo’s nose.

The floor outside of the holding area isn’t particularly comfortable but Liam knows that being able to not only hear but potentially act if needed is one of the few things that will make him feel better about the fact that they’ve let Nolan stay in the station. Of course Nolan isn’t making particularly nice conversation.

“Last time I saw you, you were human.”

“I’m as human as I’ve always been.” That’s Jiang. How unfortunate that he’s had to deal with Nolan before. Of course Nolan didn’t seem so bad pre-Monroe. June hadn’t ever tried to radicalize Liam into murder.

“Did you do it?”

“They killed my family.”

“Don’t you mean your pack?” Nolan was really pulling out the stops. If he’d known Jiang at all he’d know that wasn’t true. Unlike Brett, Lori, and Tierney Liam knows Jiang hadn’t just been taken in by Satomi. He’d had an aunt who’d died during the dead-pool and an uncle who would have died alongside Satomi.

There is the sound of metal hitting the ground and Liam’s ears start ringing. He’s not sure what it was but as soon as he can stop cradling his head in pain from the sound he’ll go find out.

“I didn’t know I’d know you.” His hearing has returned enough that he can almost tell Nolan is remorseful.

“You’re going to kill us.” The metal he’d heard hadn’t been whatever it was that made the noise but Nolan’s handcuffs hitting the ground. He’s in the room and on Nolan in a flash fighting the urge to push Nolan’s face into the bars any harder or grip his wrists tighter. He’s better than that.

Tierney had shoved herself in front of Jiang likely as soon as she saw the wolfsbane. The teeth she’s baring are human but the blue eyes are not. Shit. He confiscates the wolfsbane and drags Nolan out by the back of his sweatshirt.

“It was a distraction.” He holds the wolfsbane out to Scott. “He was trying to poison them.” Scott takes the vial and examines it. “I have something else to tell you though.” They leave Nolan there for someone else to deal with. “Their eyes are blue.” Scott stiffens. “That might not mean anything though! Theo’s eyes are gold and Derek’s were blue and so are Malia’s.” Liam rushes it out but Scott is already on the move to confront the two in the cells.

“Show me.” Liam feels like he's scampering in behind Scott after tattling. He knows that telling Scott was the right move but he’s not sure that it’ll go well. They don’t comply. Scott swipes them back in and this time when he asks he roars. Scott may not be their alpha but they can’t ignore his command. Tierney’s eyes aren’t the only ones that are blue, so are Jiang’s. It's not a surprise but he wishes it was. “What happened?”

“We were sick of being hunted! They hunted us and killed us until we were the only two left. Satomi tried for peace talks. She’d agreed to meet with them and they killed her. We found out where they lived and we took care of them.” Tierney is doing most of the talking. Liam is trying to let Scott handle this.

“Did you see the people you found actually kill anybody?” Scott seems to have made his mind up already.

“That doesn’t matter. Either they put the bullet in one of our packmates or they stood by and let it happen. Both led to everyone we know being dead.”

“You can’t just kill innocent people!” Liam can’t understand this or maybe he can and he doesn’t want to.

“Our whole pack was murdered! They aren’t any more innocent then we are!” Tierney is up in his face again. He wants to growl, make her back off.

“What are you going to do?” Jiang is tugging Tierney away as he addresses Scott.

“I don’t know.” Scott exits the cell with that having nothing else to say. Liam lingers a little longer. He doesn’t know what to say either.

Scott must have gone into the Sheriff’s office as soon as he left because Liam doesn’t see him with everyone else. He heads to Malia instead. She’d at least be more understanding. He doesn’t get to ask for her input as even though they’re supposed to have time an arrow shatters the window. Malia is first to reach for it. The arrow is speared through a scrap of fabric. The Devenford prep crest has a few loose threads from where it got caught. Maybe it was a good thing that Lori hadn’t gone back to school yet. It feels like a promise that they aren’t satisfied knowing she was able to walk away.

The scream that follows is too delayed for it to have anything to do with the arrow. It isn’t as if that many of them even see the significance. Liam stays put. He’s more concerned with what’s going on outside of the station. Gabe hasn’t reloaded the crossbow so they must be happy with the one. His concern does have to return to within the station as a shot sounds.

There isn’t a way to get close as a shot in the sheriff’s station is bound to draw everyone. It smells like blood and death and fear. Liam feels sick. Hearing Scott’s plan he feels sicker. It’s not going to work but Malia is the only person willing to voice it.

Her voicing it and him knowing it doesn’t make it any better when Monroe realizes there’s something wrong. Monroe might not have enough knowledge to know what they looked like but she knew about Tierney’s tattoo now two months old. Liam hadn’t thought to mention it when Scott had made up this whole plan. Why would he? Now though he was wishing he had.

Despite the fact that Agent McCall showing up does stop Monroe’s army from pumping Scott and Theo full of lead it doesn’t have the same relief. Not when Jiang and Tierney are still being arrested. Liam manages a ‘This plan sucks’ but nothing else. Its awful but at least the two won’t be dead

Leaving the sheriff's station feels less than victorious. It also reveals that there are a concerning number of calls and texts from both his mom and Lori. His phone probably spends about three minutes vibrating with the suddenly received calls and texts. Since he’s heading home and will likely soon hear half of them in person he tries to go through Lori’s first. Many of the calls were just that no voicemails left, just an attempt to get him to pick up. The texts left don't explain why she’d been so frantic in her calls. The first one is simple, just Liam pick up. She’d clearly not wanted to say whatever it was over text. Several more iterations of the same message with various levels of frantic fear in the tone follow. She’d then switched to a momentary nervous breakdown via text as she worried for his safety as he wasn’t supposed to be doing anything too dramatic. It’s clear Lori is unwell with her nerves so he opts to call instead of finishing reading the many texts. Lori picks up before the first ring can even finish.

“You’re not dead!” She’s breathless.

“No but Monroe was ready to try.” In the background he hears movement. The chair she’s been living in at Brett’s bedside creaks so she must be in there. Then unmistakably in the background he hears another voice.

“Is that Liam?” His breath catches. Brett is awake. He’s awake and talking.

“You were calling because Brett is awake? What more could possibly happen tonight? Nevermind, I’ll be there in an hour, maybe an hour and a half. I’m sure Scott will be able to give you the run down before I get there.”

“Why aren’t you coming back with Scott? What the hell happened tonight that stopped you from picking up for four hours? You were only supposed to be gone for an hour!” Lori was always quick to work herself up so he’d assumed this would be her response. Any thoughts as to how to mitigate them had left his head with the realization that Brett was finally awake.

“It's a long story Lor and I have to go home first but I promise I will be right back.”

“You said that last time!” Brett was softly murmuring to Lori trying to bring her back from hysterics.

“I know. I didn’t plan for this to happen.” His exhaustion must be evident in his voice because he hears Lori start up with Satomi’s mantra under her breath. Liam chokes on his next exhale and tries again.

“Liam, we gotta go. They didn’t give us long.” Scott’s tone is a gentle interruption.

“Liam I’m freaking out ok. Please just be safe. I’ll see you soon.”

“I will do my best ok. I promise I’ll see you soon.” He shouldn’t be making promises considering how close to death they all are. He can’t help it though.

Lydia ends up being in charge of taking him home to pack and try to explain what the hell is going on to his parents. Just like Lori, his mom and stepdad are panicked. The lights are on and as soon as Lydia’s car pulls in he can see movement. By the time he’s out of the car the front door is open and his mom is in the driveway. His dad stays in the doorway backlit by the lights inside.

“Liam thank god.” His mom is a wreck to put it mildly. She’s ready for bed in a robe and reading glasses. It’s unlikely she managed any pre bedtime reading between her fretting. Lydia is still in the car letting Liam take lead on this explanation. His mom does spare her a glance but is mostly focused on holding Liam close to her. “Where were you? Why didn’t you pick up when I called?” She starts to move him inside. She’s not letting him get a word in. “David came home and said there was a riot at the station. Tell me you weren’t taking any part in that.”

“Mom, let me explain. I was already inside the station when that started. They had jammers or something so I couldn’t get any texts.”

“Oh my god. Liam you could have been shot and killed. Why were you even there?”

“I’m getting to that I swear I’m just.” He lets out a frustrated huff. His mom has gotten him seated on the couch with her. There’s a full cup of tea on the side table that she must have made and then been unable to touch due to nerves. He felt awful. “I was there because Sheriff Stilinski had some kids I kind of knew in custody. He needed some input from Scott.”

“Why is the Sheriff taking orders from Melissa McCall’s son?”

“He isn’t but he’s got a little more knowledge in this particular area.” The look on his moms face tells him he needs to hurry along to the point. “I think this would be easier to explain if I tell you something first.”

“Whatever you’ve gotten yourself into we’ll figure it out kiddo. We love you unconditionally.” His father finally moves forward to join them on the couch. Lydia’s headlights are visible through the window. He’s got to hurry up.

“I’m a werewolf.”

“What?” It’s clear his parents don’t think he’s joking. They know he wouldn’t make a joke at a time like this. It’s also clear that they don’t understand what they’ve just heard. He lets his eyes flash. His face ends up shifting as well, a clear sign he’s unwell with stress. He only stays like this for a few moments while he watches his moms face trying to figure out just how she was taking it.

“I’m a werewolf and the town wants me and everyone like me dead.” He leaves out the again that comes to mind. It wouldn’t be a good idea to stress her anymore than he has to during this conversation.

“Squirt, why would the town want you dead werewolf or not?” She seems to have accepted it well enough but there are more concerning parts of his statement so it makes sense.

“Because we can be dangerous monsters.” There are so many different things he could have listed off as to why but this is the most straightforward.

“Can be doesn’t mean you are kiddo.” He’s glad for the support of both his parents but he has to wrap this up.

“They don’t know that. Something is going on and it’s making everyone crazy. That’s why they held up the station because we were inside.”

“We being you and your friends like Scott?” His dad’s probably come to the realization that all the weird stuff Melissa has had to tap in for means she and Scott are very involved.

“For the most part Lydia and Malia aren’t exactly the same and Stiles is human.”

“So are you. Just because you’re a werewolf doesn’t change the fact that you are a person and this shouldn’t be happening.”

“They don’t know that and right now there’s something stopping them from understanding it. That’s why we have to leave town for a bit.”

“WHAT?” Liam isn’t used to hearing his mom at that volume. Lydia probably heard her out in the car.

“It’s not safe for us here and in exchange for them not killing us all the sheriff cut a deal and we have to leave town.”

“Liam, you are a minor. He has no right to make that decision for you. That’s not something he can do, sheriff or not.” It’s clear his mom is not going to back down without a fight.

“Those people that are hunting us, hunting me, they don’t care how old I am. They don’t care how old any of us are.”

“You aren’t going anywhere and we’re not going to let them hurt you. You’re my son and they aren’t touching you.”

“Mom, if I stay here neither of you will be safe and you can’t protect me. At least if I go I’ll know you’re safe.”

“Our safety isn’t the point! You’re a child.”

“Mom, if you want me to be safe you have to let me go. I’ll call every night and I won’t be alone. It won’t be long term just until we figure out how to fix whatever it is that’s making everyone act like this.”

“I don’t like this Liam, not one bit.” Liam can smell the fear and rage she’s giving off but she’s relenting.

“I’m not asking you too. I don’t think a single one of us likes the deal sheriff Stilinski made. All I’m asking is that you trust me to protect myself.”

“That shouldn’t be your job, you’re sixteen.” The way his dad says it is factual. Sixteen year olds shouldn’t be dealing with murderous mobs out for their blood because they didn’t fix a problem that they never should have had to tackle in the first place.

“I have to pack. Lydia is waiting for me.” Liam stands and pauses the weight of what's happening settling heavy on his shoulders. He puts almost no thought into packing outside of cramping as much as he can in his duffle bag before tossing his toiletries and meds on top. Finally he trades his clothes for a set that doesn't smell like fear and death. He’s not even sure if it's an actual smell or if his brain is filling it in.

His parents hug him at the bottom of the stairs and again outside on the stoop while he swears he's going to stay safe. The shoulder of his shirt is wet each time he pulls away. Technically it isn’t a lie but it feels like one because he knows how these things go. “How did they take it?”

“As well as they could have. They were more focused on this not being my responsibility.” Lydia nods. Her mom was the same. Maybe, after all this was over, they could start a book club. He lets Lori know how far out he is hoping that it soothes however she’s feeling as he’s pushing the upper limits of the time span he gave her. Lori is outside as soon as they’re in the McCall’s driveway hauling him out of the car and inside.

“Lori what the hell? Slow down.” She’s got claws going which is both a sign of her mental state and also putting holes in his shirt. “Lori you’re hurting me.” That gives her pause. They’re halfway upstairs already. She releases him though it's clear she expects him to continue following behind her.

“I just need you to see something okay?” He knows where she’s headed but it's a much fuller house than normal. Over Lori’s shoulder he sees Deaton and Scott are convening with Brett. Brett who is perched on the side of the bed in sweatpants with damp hair. Brett who looks fully healed. Brett who's looking at him where he’s stopped in the hallway. Hearing his voice over the phone had been a surprise but it hadn’t felt as real as seeing him up did.

Lori clearly thinks something is up though because she’s keeping Liam in the hallway with her body. “You’re not going to let him have an up close look?” Brett’s face was unimpressed as he turned his gaze to Lori.

“I think he can see it just fine from here.” Lori was also unimpressed. Brett rolled his eyes.

“See what? I have had a long fucking night during which two people died and I had to tell my parents that I’m not only a werewolf but I have to go into hiding! I smell like my mom’s tears so I’m not exactly in the mood for whatever cloak and dagger shit we’re doing!” Liam’s voice is elevated to the point where Malia and Lydia rush up the stairs behind him. Brett is on his feet by the end of Liam’s outburst but he stays put since Scott is already approaching. Lori pastes herself to the door frame so Liam can stumble forward and meet Scott in the room.

“Shhh Liam it's going to be okay.” Scott gently rocks Liam as they hug the same gentle tone he’d taken with Liam before. His eyes are burning. He’s managed to avoid crying so far but the dam is about to burst. He’s got too many emotions running through his body that he doesn’t know how to express.

“Maybe we should actually sit down and have a conversation? There are two different things going on and none of us have any idea what the full story is.” Lydia is speaking from behind them, a voice of reason. There isn't enough space in the McCall guest room for them to speak there so they start the shuffle down to the kitchen. Lydia and Malia are first down with Lydia securing Lori’s arm to gently lead her away. Scott and Deaton are next, trying to allow Liam and Brett a private moment. Brett is quick to take advantage of the moment standing and tugging Liam to tuck his face to the taller beta’s bare chest. The hold is nice. Technically it hasn’t been that long but it feels like it has been.

“It’s okay baby we’re not hurt and we’re breathing.” It’s starting to lick at the back of his brain the whole being babied thing. Brett was on death's door so he tries to tamp it down

“Yea now we are. I could only say that about one of us for most of this week.” He really wished Brett was wearing a shirt, so he could twist his hands up in it. He settled for squeezing his arms tighter. Breathing in the healthy scent of his boyfriend he wants to stay like this but they can’t. All of them are on the same ticking clock. They’re last into the kitchen of course.

Scott has Lydia under his arm and their heads are ducted together. They’re having the same argument they’ve had before, should they call Stiles. Liam thought they should personally. There was no way Stiles wouldn’t be pissed that his partners had kept this from him. The longer they waited the worse he’d feel. He also, selfishly, missed his pack mate. With him and Brett having joined everyone they pause that discussion though it's far from over. “Most of us were at the police station so can we start with whatever the hell went on here? It can’t just be because Liam’s boyfriend is awake.” Malia is antsy to find out what they missed.

“I do think Ms.Rohr was right in that it will be easiest to show you and go from there.” Brett sighs behind him at Deaton’s words. Liam fully turns so he can join everyone in staring at Brett. Despite the fact that this was a demonstration for everyone Brett was looking right at him. Everyone seemed to hold their breath unclear as to what exactly they were going to see. Even Theo, who was as far from everyone as he could possibly be while still being within everyone's sight line, seemed intrigued. Brett closes his eyes, breaths in, and shifts. When he opens his eyes they’re red. When Liam looks back at Scott his jaw is clenched unclear as to how to respond. He looks back to Brett.

“I don’t know Li. I woke up like this. Deaton has theories.” With Brett’s words he turns to look at Deaton.

“I don’t think Brett is a true alpha due to how rare it is. There are two possibilities that we can consider. The first is that this is latent. You were next in line for-”

“No.” Brett and Lori both interrupt Deaton. They seem to decide Lori will explain further. Liam’s gaze rests on Brett despite this.

“Mom never would have let her alpha power transfer to Brett at that age. She was adamant that it was better for packs to die out or accept new blood then force a child without proper training to take on the powers and responsibility that came with being an alpha. She would have taken that alpha spark to the grave with her.” Liam didn’t know enough about alpha powers to get it but Deaton seemed to accept the answer.

“Would Satomi?” Deaton is trying to be gentle.

“What.” Lori’s voice is the only one to speak but Liam is still looking at Brett. He can see the realization crash over the other boy's face.

“My other theory is that it was Satomi who is responsible for this. It's likely that in her final moments she did what she did best and tried to protect her pack. She would have known that if you were an alpha you’d have a better chance at survival.” It’s not clear if Deaton realizes he’s dropping a devastating bomb onto Brett and Lori’s already fragile emotional state. On one hand he’s relaying pertinent information. On the other hand, there is no way that he didn’t know that they hadn’t been told about Satomi’s death.

“Congratulations Brett you’re alpha to a pack of two. Look on the bright side though in ten to fifteen you can expand to a pack of four.” Maybe Theo wants a fight. It's the only reason he’d be antagonizing the way he is knowing that he’s stuck with them. While Theo is clearly trying to tempt the new alpha into a fight, it's Lori who hops over the counter claws out. Malia had been closest to Lori and she made no move to try to grab Lori before her claws made contact with Theo.

“Lori no!” Liam finds himself the voice of reason. Considering he had just wanted to kill Theo himself it feels a bit odd. Theo caught Lori’s wrist as she tried to rake her claws across his face. With one of her claws out of commission she slammed her knee up. Theo winced but didn’t release her arm. Lori took her other hand and clawed at Theo’s abdomen. As the chimera shoved Lori away she kicked out her foot taking him out at the knee sending him sprawling on the ground. As she follows him down intent on continuing to wail on Theo, Liam moves to try to break it up. Brett isn’t far behind him and they loop their arms through Lori’s dragging her back off Theo whose laughter sounds odd with the busted nose he sports.

“We don’t have time for this!” Malia is the one to try and get them back on track. Behind Liam Brett is holding Lori stroking her hair. She’s a loud crier, sobs making the hair on Liam’s arms stand on end.

“Malia is right. You’re all supposed to be on your way out of here.” Scott’s dad has been not so patiently waiting for everyone to show up so they can be shepherded out. Agent McCall’s deal had given them some time to gather their things before leaving but it was clear he wanted to get Scott and therefore everyone else out as quickly as possible. Argent was waiting outside waiting for them to load up and ensuring that they weren’t about to face less than friendly fire while leaving.

“Corey isn’t back yet. We’re not leaving without everyone.” Corey may not have been at the station but they know about him. Liam also just wants his pack close by. “I think we should also call Stiles. I know you two don’t want to bother him but we’re getting chased out of town. He should know.”

“You can decide all that after you’re safely away from here. As soon as everyone is here you’re getting in your vehicles and going to the safe house Argent volunteered.”

Corey doesn’t even make it in the door before Agent McCall is rushing them out of the McCall house. Liam ends up in Theo’s truck which means Brett and Lori end up in the back of it despite her previous murder attempt. Liam fiddles with the radio once they hit the road. Theo takes offense almost immediately and tries to bat Liam’s hand away from the knob. “Dude I know you weren’t raised in a barn.”

Liam chooses to growl in response. “I’m going to break your nose for a third time if you don’t let me change the station.”

“Touchy.” Theo lets him change the station. He puts on the classic rock station he knows Lori likes to put on and listens to her breathing slow in the back. Liam is still wired on adrenaline for the time being. Brett’s awake in the back when Liam turns and looks.

“What did you mean about being a pack of four?” Brett is sprawled across the back trying to not to disturb Lori from where she’s fallen asleep on him while also maintaining leg room. Liam adjusts his seat to try to provide the taller boy with more space. The smirk Theo starts up as he watches earns him a glare.

“What did Scott tell you before we got back?” Liam answers instead of Theo. He’d like to tell Brett in a gentler way then Theo is likely to.

“Not much, just that we had to leave town because of some deal his dad cut. He was really concerned with the whole alpha thing. It's not like I had time to go out and kill an alpha for their power in between waking up and Lori noticing.” Theo snorts a little.

“Agent McCall did that so Monroe wouldn’t kill Jiang and Tierney. They killed some hunters after Satomi and the rest of your pack were murdered.” Brett nods but doesn’t have much of a reaction outside of that. He doesn’t have much of a reaction until he and Liam are curled together in one of the beds of the safe house.

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.” Brett presses his statement into Liam’s neck. It’s a statement not a question because they both know that neither of them have answers.

Chapter Text

Escaping the zoo is a hassle not that he remembers it. Waking up in Theo’s truck already on the road is jarring. “Jesus Christ dude my head is killing me.”Were werewolves immune to traumatic brain injuries?

“I’d imagine it would, considering I knocked you out five times to get you out of there. You are not light.” Theo’s hands are clenched on the steering wheel. He takes a few moments before questioning Liam. “Why did you pick the zoo?”

“I told you. It's like-”

“Mykonos. Yes you did. There’s more to it though because you lost it in there. You were ready to take Nolan’s head off.”Liam doesn’t answer Theo’s question. He doesn’t want to have a heart to heart with the chimera.

“I almost did didn’t I?”

“Yea but then you busted your hand trying not to. Next time pick somewhere you don’t have to do that.”

“I didn’t think that was going to happen.”

“It was your plan, your place, you even picked me. I would have let you kill him except for the fact that it was going to get us killed too.” Theo is lying, at least Liam thinks he is. “You’re getting just as affected by that thing as everyone else.”

“Even you?”

“I’ve got control. You act like a loose cannon half the time. Your fear is making you angry and erratic.”

“If it’s doing that to me then imagine what it’s doing to other people.” Theo doesn’t have a response. Liam reaches for the radio again and returns it to the station Theo had on before he’d messed with it the night they left Beacon Hills. Of course Theo likes pop punk. It goes with the fabricated story of his bite. The ride back feels shorter than the one they took to the zoo. Liam might have been out for longer than he thought. Scott, Malia, and Lydia had not only had to break into the armory but they’d also had to go pick up Stiles from the airport so Liam can’t imagine they’re back yet. That's probably why he doesn’t expect to be bombarded as soon as they open the door. He definitely should have but in his defense he’d been healing up another concussion for part of the drive.

“Liam what happened?” He’s still got small amounts of dried blood on him from fighting Theo and having his nose broken. Brett’s hand extends to check Liam over and possibly take any pain he might experience. Liam can’t help that he flinches, the zoo is fresh in his mind. Brett’s hand drops and he spins on his heel and walks away. Theo squeezes his shoulder and goes after Brett while Lori sweeps in and steers Liam towards the room she’s been staying in.

Liam imagines that the way his scent tanked is permeating the whole safe house. Lori’s hand on his back and her attempts to make up for it by letting her chemosignals read as caring and safety tell him he’s right.

“Maybe you want to wash the blood off?” Liam takes a deep breath then nods. Anger tends to be his response to many of the feelings he experiences. When he gets out Lori passes him some sweats that he weirdly thinks are Malia’s and a t-shirt that might be Scott’s.

“I know you’re probably not in the mood for socializing but Stiles is here.” He’s glad they called everyone. They simply don’t have the numbers as is to deal with the Anuk-ite with Monroe leading an army against them as well.

“I’ll go see him in a bit.” Liam flops onto the bed in the room that belongs to Lori face first.

“Do you want to talk about what happened?”

“I hate the zoo.” Liam speaks directly into the bedding below him. When Lori settles by the headboard he twists his head for both breathing and talking purposes. “Being closer to the Anuk-ite and also being at the zoo set me off. Theo had to knock me out because I couldn’t control my anger fully. I wasn’t that big a deal though. I thought I was going to hurt Nolan but I didn’t so I had some control.”

“Not to downplay what happened to you but honestly I don’t think this is actually about you.”

“He walked away from me so it sorta feels like it is.”

“Look he’s probably stuck on the idea that he didn’t do enough to oppose his anger back when you were on the same lacrosse team. Knowing him he probably found a way to take that one thing and connect it to everything that's led to this point.”

“What makes you say that?”

“That’s what I would do. When we first got taken in by Satomi she had to pull me for one on one meditation sessions because I was convinced that I had caused the hunters to burn the house down while we were gone because I’d lied about finishing dinner or said that I hated another kid in my class because they took the coloring book I’d wanted to use. It took a while for her to get me to understand that I was the only one who could experience the karma I created.”

“Of course it wasn’t your fault.”

“I know that now just like Brett will realize it once he’s not dealing with all this other stuff. I don’t think he knows how to deal with Satomi dying and making him an alpha so he’s letting himself get stuck on other stuff instead.”

“That is unhealthy.” Lori hums in agreement. “I should go see Stiles shouldn’t I and give him more time before I try to talk to him.”

“Let him come to you. We both know he will.” Liam takes a few extra minutes to stare at the wood paneling of Lori’s room before getting up. He’s not sure how much time he’ll actually spend with Stiles but he does want to say hi at least.

Stiles is on the couch when Liam starts to descend. He isn’t reaming Scott for not telling him sooner but based on the tension in Scott’s shoulders he’d just finished. “You have no respect for your elders, you little runt.” Stiles has twisted to stare Liam down.

“You’re such a dick.” Liam joins him on the couch and accepts an arm around his shoulder scenting Stiles. “I’m glad you came back.”

“At least someone wants me here.”

“It's not that I don’t want you here Stiles. You should be in Virginia right now.” Scott sandwiches Liam in on his other side and rests his arm along the back of the couch so his hand is by Stiles.

“I should be here making sure that everyone stays safe.”

“Are you two going to be mad at each other for much longer?” Liam doesn’t have the emotional bandwidth for this.

“No.”

“Yes.” Stiles' heart skips a beat. Thank god.

“I can’t believe you’re going to make me grow up in a broken household.” Liam pouts for added effect. He receives a hair ruffle in response.

“Trauma builds character. That's why I’m so wonderful.”Stiles' smile doesn’t really reach his eyes. Liam leans more into his side. Stiles smells nervous, almost afraid. It’s not strong enough to burn and doesn’t seem to have been forced by the Anuk-ite. They don’t exactly have a known range for the thing.

“How has Virginia been?” Stiles doesn’t lose the nervous scent but it fades to the background. Instead he’s mostly amused.

“I’ve really been enjoying it. You’ll never guess who I recognized as an Unsub.”

“Don’t tell me we’ve got something else to deal with alongside the Anuk-ite and Monroe’s hunters.”

“No. It was Derek! They had footage of him on the run in North Carolina.”

“That would explain why I got voicemail every time I tried to call him.” Scott pulls his phone out presumably to try Derek again.

“Have you tried Braeden?” There is not enough room on the other side of Stiles for Malia to take a seat but she shoves Stiles over anyways until she can squeeze beside them. “Well?”

“I don’t think I even have an active number for Braeden.” Scott’s phone is snatched from his hand and Malia’s elbow nearly misses Liam’s face.

“I’ll do it.” Malia’s face twists up in concentration as she types. They all know she's the one person who prefers phone calls. Braeden must know as well because moments after Malia has returned Scott’s phone to him its ringing. This time Malia’s knee makes unfortunate contact with Liam’s hand. The worst part is that unlike he’d previously thought it wasn’t Braeden. Malia shoves it back in Scott’s hand. “It’s for you.” Scott gets up to take whoever is on the other line farther away. Malia moves into Scott’s spot keeping Liam sandwiched in place. “Whats wrong?”

“It's nothing.”

“No, you smell upset so it's something. Was it the zoo? It took a bit but your distraction ended up working so there’s no need to be sad.”

“Is it frankenteen?”

“It’s fine. I’ll deal with it okay. Tell me more about your FBI training or something.” Scott returns to wave Lydia over. When Stiles moves to get up Scott waves him off.

“I fly all the way back only to be sidelined.” Stiles grumble tells Liam he might be holding onto his grudge longer than either of them want.

“He just doesn’t want you to get hurt. The fear from the anuk-ite is making him and Lydia worry about you.”

“I’ve been with him since the very beginning, there is no keeping me out of it.” Stiles leans his head back against the cushion.

“If it makes you feel better they’ve been dragging me into it even though I was supposed to be camping in the desert with Kira.” Malia must be having a hard time getting comfortable because as she speaks she readjusts.

“You know it really doesn’t but I love that you tried. Hey wait, where are you two going?” Liam twists to see Lydia and Scott on their way out the door.

“Argent wants us to meet with my mom and Mason. We’ll be right back.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“You just got in. Stay here with Liam and Malia.” Scott’s voice says that this isn’t up for debate. Stiles doesn’t care

“I’m here to help! I can’t do that if you don’t let me.”

“Stiles, we almost lost you again less than four months ago.” Lydia is making it clear it's not just Scott who is making these calls. “We lost months with you that we will never get back.” Scott’s hand is gentle on Lydia’s shoulder. Maybe he and Malia should leave and give them privacy.

“So let me help now.”

“No Stiles.” Scott’s eyes flash red. As soon as he’s realized what he’s doing Scott stutters out an apology. Lydia halls him out while he and Stiles are both stunned.

“Wanna put on a true crime documentary and pass out from your flight.” Liam offers up. Stiles nods and Liam pushes him over towards the arm of the couch so they can get comfortable. He’s surprised that he manages to nap as well with Malia’s chin digging into his shoulder, Stiles' bony body as a pillow, and the not so soothing descriptions of death on the tv.

Their nap doesn’t come to a nice natural end. Instead Liam gets his head jostled as Stiles struggles for his phone. “Changed your mind on needing me Scotty?” Stiles is too sleepy to fully cop the attitude that goes with his words

“They shot up my moms house.” Scott’s voice is sharp in the silence of the living room.

“What?” Stiles is even less gentle as he gets up.

“My mom and Mason are in surgery. Lydia is already out.” Liam jerks up at that.

“Mason is in surgery? What happened?” Liam gets up to follow Stiles as well. He gets waved off. His volume draws Brett, Theo, and Lori out from upstairs.

“I’ll be right there ok Scott just hold on. Do you want me to stay on the phone?” Stiles offers. He and Malia are pulling shoes on

“No, I've got to be able to listen in on the surgery and make sure they’re doing okay.”

“I’m coming too.” Liam is right behind them.

“I’ll be right there Scotty. I love you.”

“Love you too.” Scott ends the call.

“You’re staying here Liam.” Stiles has the door open and Malia is already on her way to the car.

“Why? Mason is hurt. I need to go with you.”

“Everyone is supposed to have left town. We can’t all be in the Beacon Hills waiting room”

“Scott is there and you’re taking Malia.” Stiles is trying to step out the door. Liam grabs his arm.

“Liam, I don't have time to argue with you.” Stiles looks to the three behind him. “Will one of you-” Stiles gestures to Liam.

“Stiles please.” Brett is behind him but Liam keeps his eyes on Stiles. He never should have told Mason about any of this. The Beast, The Ghost Riders, and now this. Mason wasn’t even like them. What did Monroe have to fear from Mason? Mason who had a four point nine GPA and went to study groups for fun because he liked the labs. Mason who had cried when he got his ears pierced in middle school at the sketchy mall booth and had only ever shot a gun in video games.

Liam isn’t breathing properly. Since being bitten he’d tended to react with rage separate from his IED.

“Liam, buddy, it's going to be okay, Mason is going to be okay, but I have to go. Scott needs me.” Stiles pulls his arm away. Liam’s grip had become lax in his panic. Brett is tugging him back and pushing the door shut before Stiles has even gotten in the car with Malia.

“You have to breathe.” Brett is still behind him now pressed firmly along his back with an arm over his right shoulder hand resting over Liam’s heart. The pressure is meant to be a way to anchor the panicking beta.

Liam wants to snap that he is. He’s not sure he has the energy for it. “Mason will be okay.” Brett is speaking again. Liam tries to focus on the way Brett’s chest moves when he speaks and the way his heart is beating. It's faster than normal, he’s worried about Mason too. It takes a few minutes for Liam to get his shit together. As soon as his heart starts to slow Brett eases up on the pressure and steps back. When Liam turns to him the alpha is staring at him with concern in his eyes even though Liam is fine.

“Do you think Scott called Corey?" Liam doesn’t want to be the one who does it but Corey should be told. The chimera had been spending time at the animal clinic researching and trying to be nearby if Mason needed him.

“I’ll text him and ask him to make sure he does.” Liam wants Brett to come close again. He’d like a truce from their one sided fight. He hadn’t meant to flinch earlier. The fear of Mason being hurt is making its way out.

“Thank you.” A pause. Screw letting Brett come to him. “Why did you walk away from me?” Anger is making its way in. Theo was right, his fear was just another avenue for him to get mad.

“You flinched. You’ve never done that! I was threatening to break you in half after coach’s car got destroyed and you never once flinched. I told you I didn’t think it was a good idea for you to go there. You swore you were over it. You’ve been saying that for months.”

“It was a subconscious action because I’d just been attacked. Maybe the zoo made me jumpier but it didn’t make me scared of you. Not anymore.”

“You’re-”

“I’m not done!” Liam bares his fangs. He’s surprised that Brett doesn’t growl back. With his fangs gone he tries to keep his voice calm once more. “If you’re still stuck on it then that's you not me. You wanted me to give you a chance to show that you were serious about me. You have so I’m not going anywhere.”

“I just want you to be safe Liam even if safe means away from me.” Liam’s lost all his anger. He’s tempted to roll his eyes. Brett isn’t a threat to him, he’d barely been a threat back then.

“I am safe with you. You’re being dramatic.” Not the gentlest way to say it but Liam wasn’t a particularly gentle person. “You’ve clearly got other things on your mind. You’ve been through things that you’re going to need time to process so don’t push me away.”

“I’ll try. I just hate not feeling like I’m in control and I hate that you’re out there and I’m stuck here useless.”

“It’ll work out. You just have to lay low for now.” Liam can’t offer more than that. He’d prefer it if Brett stayed put. He’s already had nightmares about Brett laying on the tar. Of having to leave him there.

“Can we go to bed?” Brett sounds exhausted.

"I still have to call my parents. I'll come up in a bit." Brett clearly wants Liam to come up with him right then and there but calling his parents wasn't optional. His mom picks up on the first ring. It's just her, his stepdad is on shift. Hell he might even be working on one of his friends right then.

“You told me that you had to leave to stay safe but I didn’t realize what you meant.” His mom doesn’t bother with a hello.

“Mom, I'm okay. I wasn’t there-”

“But you could have been!”

“I wasn’t mom. I’m not even in Beacon right now.” He doesn't tell her where he is. Maybe he’s being paranoid but he doesn’t want to risk it.

“Liam what is going on? How will you be able to come home? Maybe David and I should put the house up for sale and start looking elsewhere.” Liam could tell this wasn’t the first time his mom had thought about moving. “That way you could come home.”

“Moving won’t change the fact that home is Beacon. It’ll be okay, we’re handling it.”

“You’re going to get killed.” This conversation was making it worse. He was starting to wish he’d just gone up to bed with Brett.

“I’m trying to stay safe. I should go. I want to make sure Scott can reach me with any updates.” This is half true.

“Of course. I love you squirt. We can talk more about alternatives tomorrow.” He would be doing no such thing.

“I love you too. Bye.” He hangs up without hesitation. Today has been shit. Once he’s dragged himself upstairs and brushed his teeth he feels like he barely has enough energy to strip out of his clothes and crawl beneath the covers to curl up in Brett’s arms.

Liam doesn’t get much sleep. Brett had held him but once the alpha had fallen asleep Liam had wiggled out of the hold, his agitation making him overly warm He should have tried harder to go with them. Instead he was stuck listening to everyone else sleep heavy breaths and slow heart rates. By the time a reasonable hour rolls around he’s incredibly grateful for the nap he’d managed with Stiles.

Brett’s sleep has been messed up since he woke up from his healing coma so Liam is able to slip out and borrow Lydia’s car without issue. She probably won’t be too mad. Scott hadn’t reached out and neither had Stiles which meant he’d spent the night letting his rage grow slowly. It was worse like that. If he thinks about the little information he knows it probably wasn’t Monroe. She wouldn’t have done something like a drive by not when she knows that at least Lori survived last time she did something more elaborate. Monroe would have ensured they’d taken out every single person in the McCall house personally.

It had to have been someone who was working with her though. He’d have to get more information from someone like Nolan or Gabe. Hell it probably was one of them. Whichever one he could track down first would have to do.

The only perk of it being so early was there weren’t as many people. Being surrounded by people that would not only look the other way if he was beat but cheer wasn’t the way he wanted to start his morning. Seeing Gabe wasn’t either but it was satisfying to watch him skid across the floor of the locker room trying to lie.

Being shifted didn’t matter. It wasn’t a secret what he was so he wasn’t bothering to hide. If Gabe wanted a monster Liam could give him one. The shift was coming in and out. Gabe was still lying.

“Did you know who was inside? Did you know Mason was there?" Gabe’s answers sound far off muffled by the jackrabbit pace of his heart. The thing about knowing when someone is lying is that it's harder when their heart is already elevated. Liam doesn’t really need his heart to know that when Gabe says another variation of ‘I don’t know anything’ that he's lying. He doesn’t think Gabe has said a single truthful thing since he grabbed him from the hall.

The mirror makes a noise as soon as Liam pushes Gabe’s face into it. He can’t see any damage though. He pushes harder until he does. “I’ve been having a hard time with my anger lately.” The crack spreads more. The ‘stop’ he can barely hear over Gabe’s frightened heart is the only truthful thing the other boy has managed. “I don’t really know how when you keep hurting my friends.” Liam’s hand feels warm. Gabe’s face has started dripping onto the sink dirtying Liam’s hand as well. He can’t push much harder before Gabe’s skull is cracking like the mirror beneath it.

“Do you think I’d kill you? I’m a monster right and that's what monsters do. Maybe I should give you what you want.” Gabe’s begging is slowing down. He might be resigned to his fate like Liam was when he decided that he needed to expose Liam to the school.

“Are you really going to kill him?” Unlike the begging, Theo's voice cuts through the thumping in Liam’s ears. Gabe isn’t struggling anymore. “I don’t care if you do.” Liam doesn’t press harder but he gives Theo some of his attention. Gabe’s heart is still rattling in his ears. “Any idea what you’re going to do with the body? Did anyone see you grab him? It could be a problem if they did.” Gabe shifts again, drawing Liam's attention back to the other boy and away from Theo. He can see Theo in the mirror just fine.

“I don’t care!” Liam pushes a little harder his grip had loosened slightly with the movement.

“Like I told you I don’t care either. I just want to help. I have the experience after all.” Theo hasn’t moved closer despite his offer. The frantic thumping has started to recede. “If we kill him we’ll have to kill any witnesses too.” Gabe's struggling has stopped again. “We’re going to need some shovels.” Liam’s heart is racing and so is Gabe's but the sound in his ears isn’t. “Plastic bags, maybe a chainsaw.” Liam drops Gabe. “I didn’t have to knock you out. That's progress.” The smile Theo offers up confuses Liam. Is it sincere?

Trying to match his breathing to Theo’s heart thudding in his ears is the first step to getting his own to be normal. “Why bother stopping me? It isn’t going to get you anywhere, not with Scott.”

“Scott just wants to keep people alive.”

“He’s not doing a good job.” Liam’s breathing is interrupted. “Oh you don’t know.”

“Know what?” Theo is dragging Gabe off the floor where Liam dropped him. He would have been better off running as soon as he got free. The crack spreads when Theo slams Gabe’s face back into it.

“About the bodies.” Truth. Shocking to hear from Gabe.

“Show us.” Liam knows that whatever Gabe is about to show them will be a different kind of fucked up. He’s proven right when Gabe leads them to one of the lab coolers. The bodies are frozen so he can’t smell death but looking at the bodies makes him the same kind of sick. Even with Gabe’s assurances that they weren’t responsible for killing the people, it was still sick that they’d hidden the bodies. It feels gross to take a photo of it before gesturing that Gabe can close the lid and gagging a final time.

“Well Gabe, this has been disgusting. I really don’t look forward to seeing you again.” Liam tried not to enjoy reaching out and slamming Gabe’s head against the lid too much. “Let's go.” They don’t bother with hiding as they leave but cut out a side door. “Why’d you come after me anyway?”

“Fun fact Liam but sneaking out of bed on your just became an alpha boyfriend is a then not responding to texts is a bad idea. He wanted to come himself but we’re still trying to keep the fact that he’s not only alive but an alpha under wraps. I’m not sure how I got demoted to relationship counselor.”

“I’ll call him on the way back.”

“Please do.”

Chapter Text

Liam wakes up around two am due to the sudden realization that he’s alone in bed. The sheets are cold enough that he has to stem his immediate panic. There’s not a chance he’s falling back asleep though. Instead he drags himself out of the bed and quietly creeps out to the living room in search of his missing bed partner. Brett isn’t there but Liam spots him through the window starfishing in the grass. Even though he can hear a clear heartbeat out in the yard he can’t help but worry that he’s staring at a corpse. There’s a throw blanket on the back of the couch which he retrieves and then ventures out to the yard as well. He’s not dressed for the cool night air in his shorts and tank top but Brett is clad in a hoodie and sweatpants so he must have planned on journeying outside when he’d woken up. Liam joins him on the grass in the yard, tucking his chin over his own knees instead of spreading out, wrapping the blanket around him and over his head. He waits for Brett to speak first. It takes at least ten minutes.

“Buddhists believe that anger comes from a lack of understanding or naivety. I understand what happened and yet I can’t help but be angry.” Brett’s confession hangs heavy in the air. Liam watches his eyes flash. It’s still startling to see them go red instead of the gold he’d been accustomed to previously.

“I’m not a Buddhist but I’m pretty well versed in anger.” He means to say more. He’s not sure how to follow it up. “Understanding why someone does something or why something happened doesn’t change that it did. The understanding just helps you know where to go from there.”

“I don’t think that how I want to proceed is what Satomi would choose.”

“Satomi is dead. You have to make choices for the living.” Perhaps he’s being too harsh. “She would want you to survive. Don’t forget that before she was a Buddhist she was someone who was forced to be the kind of monster everyone currently thinks we are.”

“She chose peace.”

“I’m not her but I’d imagine that she made that choice because she didn’t want to have to be a monster and she didn’t want her pack to have to be either. We can’t assume that she wouldn't feel like she had to be that monster again to protect everyone.” He’s not sure if he’s helping or hurting.

“She died during peace talks.” Brett’s voice is emotionless as he says it. “When Monroe first cornered me I tried to tear her throat out with my claws. I tried to strangle her too. As soon as I could run I should have made my way to the closest road or store but I didn’t. I wanted a fight.” They sit in silence for another ten minutes after his confession. Instead of continuing down the current conversation path they’re on he tries to switch to distraction.

“Can you name any constellations?” The sky is clear enough for it. Maybe some star gazing will help pull Brett out of the anger, grief, fear state he’s in.

“Liam, they all look the same.” Or maybe not.

“They definitely don’t. Here let me show you.” He uncurled from the blanket and settled himself behind the other boy then rested Brett’s head in his lap. “So right now we can see a group of constellations called the Perseus family. There’s seven of them I think maybe eight. They’re all named after the same set of myths.” He moves his hand to brush through the other boy's hair and tilt his head. “They’re supposed to be easy to find because of a few specific formations. Like the great square of Pegasus.” He pauses and takes a few moments to keep running his fingers through the hair. It’s not quite long enough to be particularly curly again.

“Those make up the body of the constellation Pegasus.” He continues.

“That’s a horse with wings like in the movie Hercules right?” Liam snorts out a laugh at Brett’s answer.

“Yea but Greek in mythology Pegasus was Zeus’ horse before eventually being placed amongst the stars. He also was used to defeat the Chimera but that was before he was Zeus’ I think. It’s been a while since I’ve read the mythology.”

“That sounds right to me.” This is accompanied by a yawn. He wonders if he should try to take Brett back to bed. “Didn’t you say these were in the Perseus family? Why’s it named that if it’s a Pegasus?”

“Oh um that’s because Pegasus came from when Perseus killed Medusa?”

“How did killing a lady with snakes for hair make a horse?” Liam shrugged in response.

“Why did her hair turn people to stone? It’s not like snakes can do that. There’s a lot of stuff that doesn’t fully make sense.” Brett scoffs in response. Liam hadn’t meant it that way but the show fit. “Ok now if you look right over there.” He tilted Brett’s head the slightest amount. “You can see the constellation Perseus. He was a son of Zeus.” He lifted his hand this time as he spoke to try to trace the shape so Brett could see it. When he glanced down Brett's gaze was on him instead of the sky. “What? I can stop, sorry.”

“No, you can keep going. I’m just not exactly good company right now.”

“You’re better company now than you were two weeks ago. I’d rather have you, shit mood and all, then be sitting vigil at your side.” Brett shifts upright leaving Liam’s legs cold. He twists to bring them face to face. Liam’s not sure what Brett is seeing in his eyes. If he were to hazard a guess it would be fear. Even further out from the main hub of the anuk-ite he’s scared. It's worse because he knows it isn’t enhanced by anything supernatural. Brett and Mason are two anchoring forces in his life and both have been on death's door in less than a month. He couldn’t survive much more of this.

“You know I love you right?” Liam did know. Three things cannot be long hidden; the sun, the moon, and the truth. The truth was that Brett Talbot loved him and he loved Brett right back. He reaches out to drag Brett closer. He’s not sure he has the words to explain how strongly he feels. Instead he settles for pressing an insistent kiss to Brett’s lips. The kiss is slow and firm. It’s not meant to be some heated, hormone induced makeout session. That doesn’t mean that he doesn’t welcome it when Brett pushes even closer. Liam assists him in his goal to be pressed together and drags Brett on top of him. The blanket he'd draped over his shoulders had fallen off at some point. He ends up half laying on it as he lowers himself and Brett. It isn’t cold with the weight of another person pressing him down. He momentarily pulls away from Brett’s mouth with a nip to his bottom lip. He waits for Brett’s eyes to open and connect with his. Liam wants him to know that he’s speaking from a place of truth.

“I love you too.” He presses back in content to continue with kissing now that he’s confessed as well. It’s nice like this safely encased in Brett’s arms. The late hour means it's just them, no need to worry for just a moment. His legs sprawl open allowing Brett to settle more fully over him cradled in the vee of his legs. He’s holding the alphas face letting their kisses remain warm and slow. There isn’t a rush to the slide of their mouths. Eventually Brett pushes up onto his elbows separating them. It draws a whine out of Liam as he tries to follow him up.

“Let me show you?” Brett noses along the column of his throat as he waits for a response. As if there's any other response Liam could give.

“Yes.” His voice is hoarser than he expected. He already sounds wrecked. Instead of returning to his mouth Brett places open mouthed kisses to the side of his neck, gently biting with human teeth. Liam is content to move his hands to hold the back of Brett’s head encouraging ministrations. A particularly sharp nip that feels less human makes him a little less content with the pace, hips bucking up from where they’re pinned in place. His hands slide down to claw at Brett’s sweatshirt covered back with blunt fingertips. As soon as he ground his hips up Brett pulled away again causing Liam to let out a frustrated huff. There’s a smile on Brett’s face as he moves back to press kisses to Liam’s mouth.

“Be patient.” Brett admonished gently between pressing quick kisses to Liam’s mouth.

“Don’t tease.” Liam was smiling too, not upset though he wanted more. Brett doesn’t hold out for long, eventually deepening the kisses. One of his hands tangles in Liam’s hair sliding between his head and the blanket below. The other slides down to his hip gripping tight. Liam bends his knees pressing them in trapping them the slightest bit closer together. This time, as he rolls his hips up searching for friction, Brett guides him slowly through the motion with the hand on his hip. He moans into Brett’s mouth and repeats the motion trying to match the pace being set. He suddenly felt exposed despite the fact that he was just as dressed as he had been when he had joined Brett on the lawn. Separating their lips just led Brett to go back to his neck and start making his way down.

When he reached the neckline of Liam’s tank top he moved the hand that had been at the other boy's hip to the hem to tug up. Getting less dressed would not help with how exposed Liam felt but it would get him closer to finding release. He lifts up to assist in getting his top off and give Brett access to his chest. The other boy's warm breath ghosted across his chest making him shiver slightly. His sharp gasp when teeth graze his nipple is loud compared to the relative silence of the night. Liam can’t help but fist his hands in Brett’s sweatshirt as he arches up. The air feels cooler along the trail of open mouthed kisses left across his chest. The hands on his hips start to tug at his shorts too. Suddenly things are picking up.

Liam is desperate for Brett’s hands on him. At some point he’d started making an unending stream of encouraging breathless noises that he’s not sure he can stop. He’s managed to end up fully undressed while Brett has remained fully covered in his sweats and hoodie. It's unfair and he ineffectively pushes at the sweats to try to get them on the same page. It makes Brett stop and pull away from where he’d been biting at the shorter boy's chest. “I want-” He interrupts himself with a gasp as Brett grinds down harder. “Please.” It makes him feel dizzy to feel Brett’s hands span the back of his bare thighs, thumbs stroking circles into his skin. He’s disappointed to lose the warmth and weight of the other boy's body.

Brett pulls back so he’s kneeling between Liam’s legs. Liam lets his legs be rearranged, lets Brett lift his lower half and tug at the blanket so he’s fully resting on it. He’s trying to be patient like requested. “Are you sure?” Liam is very sure. He’s also sure that they’re missing some key components for him to get what he wants. He’ll take what he can get at this point though because he wants.

“Yes. I’m uh not sure we have what we’d need though.” His voice catches mid sentence when the palms on his thighs slide higher and thumbs caress his hip bones. They slide higher gliding up his sides and thumb at his nipples before one retreats to his pockets. Brett must have thrown on sweatpants from earlier in the day as he manages to produce his wallet which thank fucking god. Brett lets out a chuckle. His hand that had remained on Liam’s body slides down and his fingers slip between the beta’s ass cheeks but don’t press in.“Yea?” Liam has started chewing on his lip but manages a nod. He hadn’t meant for that to be an outside thought but it was how he was feeling. A finger strokes his rim more firmly but doesn’t press in.

“Brett come on.” He’s whining and he doesn’t care. The hand retreats so Brett can retrieve a lube packet and condom from his wallet. Liam tries not to focus too much on the decidedly less sexy thoughts of how old the lube and condom may be or how condoms shouldn’t be stored like that as it can damage them. Getting the talk from a doctor and a nurse had been overly informative. He’s rearranging once more to have his legs propped up and open on the older boy's thighs. It leaves him spread open more and his hips propped up. This time the slide of fingers is intentional and a lubed up index finger presses past his rim. He’d been trying to breathe beforehand but not well enough as he can’t help the punched out gasp that escapes. It’s hard not to squirm as he’s fingered open.

“Ok?” Brett’s staring down at him expectantly. Liam manages a nod and opens his mouth. He doesn’t manage to get anything out but shifts his hips which seems to make Brett slow. He’d been going slow before but this is glacial. “Li baby, what do you want?” Brett’s clean hand is gently stroking his outer thigh. He once again opens his mouth to respond before pausing to press his head back and look up towards the sky. It’s so much. Maybe not physically although it’s new so it’s certainly a lot but more emotionally.

“I don’t want you to stop but can you kiss me again?” He doesn’t want his voice to sound small but it does.

“Of course.” Liam has to push up onto his elbows for the angle to work but it’s worth it. Brett kisses him lazily while working him open with one finger. Once it becomes clear that Liam is incapable of actually kissing back and is instead producing a stream of open mouth noises against Brett's, another finger presses in. He doesn’t fall back but he lets himself back down so he’s laying flat on his back. “Is this ok?”

“Yes.” Liam is verbal this time instead of just nodding. Even though his voice is breathy and hard to understand he gets a smile in return. For the most part Brett is ignoring his dick while he works Liam open. Occasionally Brett will stop the soothing stroking motions to give it a few torturous tugs before returning his hand to trail along Liam’s thigh.

“Shit Li your eyes.” They must be glowing gold. Brett is no better as Liam lifts a hand and lets his thumb run over the delicate under eye skin. The red temporarily vanishes as the alpha's eyes slip closed. They’re still there when they reopen and Liam’s hand slips away.

“Come on Brett.” He feels like his skin is too tight. He wants more.

“Not yet.” At the very least he starts scissoring his fingers with more intentionality. Liam had woken up around two and he’d hazard a guess that he’d been outside for at least an hour. He didn’t want to rush but he also didn’t know how much longer he’d be able to handle this before he did something drastic like cry. He manages another finger and five minutes before he starts to feel frustrated again. He telegraphs it clearly as Brett gives him a final appraising look before pulling his fingers out.

Somehow Brett has managed to make it to this point without losing a stitch of clothing. Liam is now impatient enough to try and help by going right for his sweats. Unlike last time he’s not stopped. They both work to shove them down enough to free Brett’s neglected dick. Liam gives it a few gentle tugs and receives a moan in response. The condom, which he hopes isn’t expired and isn’t broken despite the fact that he can’t get pregnant or catch an STD, is next to him. It feels like he’s scrambling to tear it open as quickly as he can so he can get his hand back where it had been. His hand is batted away before he can roll on the condom and Brett takes over. Liam hits the blanket as he loses his balance when Brett readjusts them for the final time.

Once again the other boy is blanketing Liam’s body with his own. Perhaps Liam should have tried to get Brett out of legitimately any of his clothes as he feels hypersensitive with the fabric brushing his skin. They’re kissing again which is intended to be a distraction as Brett finally pushes in. It falls off as soon as Liam feels something other than fingers at his rim. As soon as Liam goes from sloppy open mouth kisses to open mouth panting Brett pulls his mouth away and instead presses it to the beta’s neck. Liam’s breath is coming out in hiccups as he’s entered.

By the time Brett is fully seated within him Liam’s not sure how he managed to not tear through the sweatshirt he’s clinging to. He’d been stretched enough that it didn’t hurt. He’d like the movement of Brett’s fingers so he’d probably like it when Brett moved. Liam rocked his hips to encourage Brett to move. The alpha’s breath puffed across his neck at the motion so Liam turned his face and nosed at the curly hair. With a nip to the neck below Brett brought their faces back together. With a slow kiss he rocked out and then in again. “Fuck baby. Is this ok?” Liam nods before letting his head fall back with a groan as Brett fucks into him again.

Brett keeps at his slow and gentle pace long enough that it starts to drive Liam insane. He hasn’t managed to do more than whine and moan and grab at the older boy to hold him tight. He isn’t sure there's a place on his neck or chest that hasn’t been kissed or nipped at. It’s clear Brett isn’t likely to last much longer as his thrusts become less slow and gentle, grinding into Liam so hard he can see the stars behind his eyelids, squeezed shut in pleasure. Whatever noise he makes must be encouraging because when the thrusts become sloppy as well as fast and hard Brett switches to grinding into him. Heat has coiled tight within him when Brett cums with his fangs fastened in Liam's neck. It seems like the whole fangs tearing through his flesh thing should hurt but he’s lost in the feeling of everything. The younger beta can’t help but continue grinding down with a put out whine which earns him an over sensitive hiss. The hand as his thigh quickly moves to take him in hand. He’d been close before Brett had finished so it's not as if the other boy has to do more than touch him before he’s gone too. So much for easy clean up and keeping it under wraps.

Liam tugs Brett in for a kiss as soon as he catches his breath. The alpha hasn’t pulled out by the time Liam is pressing said kiss to his mouth. He tries to use the kiss as a distraction when he does pull out. It isn’t fully effective and Liam pulls away. He’s not sure he’s got words yet so he settles for a soft smile and a second much shorter kiss. Brett’s voice is back quicker or maybe it's the shock of looking at Liam outside of a lustful haze.

“I can’t believe I bit you. Are you okay?” Brett is lacking a clean hand to touch the wound with. Liam lifts one of his own instead. It still doesn’t hurt and when he pulls his hand away it’s not as if his hand is drenched in blood. The other boy had fully sat up after seeing the damage. Liam followed him up trying not to feel self conscious in his nudity. He playfully nipped at Brett's neck which earned him a shudder from the other boy and a small spike in arousal.

“I’m fine. We should clean up and go inside though.” Liam feels absolutely ridiculous getting redressed on the lawn. They’re going to have to wash everything. At least they can throw the most incriminating trash in the outside bin. Liam doesn’t return the blanket to the couch but brings it upstairs and shoves it in the bottom of the basket with the rest of what they were wearing. He’ll have to do laundry later on in the day. For now the exhaustion is hitting and, with Brett safely wrapped around him, Liam can go back to bed.

The next time he wakes up it’s much better. He can hear steady breathing and a heartbeat from behind him. Scott, Lydia, and Stiles are up and in the kitchen and Malia is fully shifted outside for a morning run. He needs a shower before he sees any of them. The bathroom mirror reveals that his neck and chest are still marked up. Post shower and teeth brushing the best he can manage is making sure that he puts something on with a hood to try to cover as much as he can.

Brett is just waking as Liam dresses. “I’ll see you down stairs?”

“No good morning kiss?” Brett swings his legs out of bed and comes up behind the shorter beta.

“After you brush your teeth.” Liam’s only half dressed when his boyfriend pulls him back and rucks his shirt up. Despite the slow rise of arousal at the wandering hand and slow kisses on his neck he squirms out of Brett’s hold. It earns him a disappointed whine. “Go shower. I’m sure Scott will want to strategize soon.” Once he’s finished dressing he heads right for the bedroom door before he changes his mind.

As soon as he’s downstairs he scrounges around for something to eat once he’s taken his medication. Being in the fridge gives him a few extra minutes without commentary as none of the people awake, aka Stiles, have caught sight of his neck. It can’t last forever. When he leaves the safety of the fridge to bring Lydia the creamer she requested her eyebrows lift and Stiles focuses on his appearance.

“Gross Liam. What did we say about defiling Argent’s safe house.” Stiles was draped over Scott's shoulder by the stove. Then, almost as if to prove that he was a hypocritical bastard, Lydia pressed a kiss to both of their mouths before settling on a stool at the counter with her fresh cup of coffee.

“We weren’t the ones to defile the safe house!” Liam was immediately up in arms about the accusation. Especially considering what he knew the three of them had gotten up to the previous night.

“Have you seen yourself Liam? You look like you got mauled.” Liam sunk into the sweatshirt he was wearing. It was much worse than what could be seen. His body couldn’t tell the difference between injuries and love bites; it just knew if they were caused by an alpha. As if he was summoned by the possibility of riling someone up, Brett emerged fully dressed. To add fuel to the flames he hopped up on the counter and grabbed Liam by the hood to move him into leaning against the counter between the other boys legs. “Look at his face! That is the smug face of someone who has recently had his dirty paws all over the pack baby!” Stiles was definitely hamming it up and Liam didn’t appreciate it.

“I’m not a baby. Christ Stiles we didn’t do anything in the safe house unlike you three.” Stiles had absolutely no shame about the trail of hickies that led below his shirt.

“I personally can’t believe you’d accuse me of doing anything with Liam in the same house as his alpha.” Brett’s voice took on a certain tone when he was being intentionally dickish. Stiles couldn’t help but react.

“There are,” Stiles paused to count the marks he could see, “Five immediate pieces of evidence that say otherwise.” The argument was drawing the rest of the pack towards the kitchen.

“I don’t know what to tell you. You can ask Scott but I’m telling the truth.” Scott nods when Stiles looks to him. Stiles looks to Liam next, squinting as if it will give him answers.

“Werewolf lie detecting is like a polygraph. It can absolutely be tricked.” Scott moved to make another pot of coffee for everyone just stumbling in leaving Stiles to drape himself around Lydia instead. Malia returned from her run interested in the suddenly noisy kitchen. Of course when she shifted back Liam slammed his eyes to the ceiling. The blanket that had been left for this specific reason was buried at the bottom of the laundry basket upstairs. Lydia took pity on the boys and shed her robe for Malia. It didn’t fit great but it was better then nothing and Malia probably would’ve stayed like that without intervention.

The werecoyote’s nose twitched before she’d even made it to the actual kitchen. “Stiles your no sex rule wasn’t very effective.” Her nose wrinkled. “How could it be if the creator of the rule isn’t following it. I thought you were supposed to shower after sex to spare everyone? Scott, you were the one that told me that.”

“Malia, he told you that so he didn’t have to smell that you and Stiles had been having sex. He was jealous.”

“I still don’t know why. It was casual and we stopped so Stiles could be with you and Scott. He wasn’t jealous of the two of you.” Liam didn’t really understand the dating web that existed before Liam had been bitten. Malia had been there and she didn’t either so it did make him feel a bit better. “I wish Kira were here.” Liam did too. They needed all the help they could get.

“Once everyone is up we should work on our next plan of attack.” Scott’s face is red so Liam is pretty sure that he’s more concerned about moving the conversation away from his past actions than actually wanting to come up with a new plan. They’ve got more information though from the heist they pulled while he was at the zoo so even if his alpha’s motivations are off he has the right idea. “We’ve also got a few more people coming. We’re going to need all the help we can get.”

Liam isn’t sure how to feel about the fact that he doesn’t just say that Braeden and Derek are on their way. Unless there was a way to spring Kira from the Skinwalkers then whoever was coming was going to be a stranger. He temporarily left the space on the counter to start boiling some water in the kettle on the stove. There is a small intrusive thought to microwave a mug instead but Brett hadn’t riled Stiles up enough to deserve that. Liam personally didn’t get it, all you needed was hot water for tea. Why did it matter if it was heated on the stove or in the microwave? Both Lori and Brett swore that it did.

With Brett up on the counter he towers over Liam meaning he has to bend down an almost comical amount to give Liam a kiss in thanks. Liam braces his hand on the counter beside Brett to hold himself steady as he stretches up to make it easier for them to kiss. It shouldn’t be easy to forget the four other people in the kitchen but Liam likes kissing. It feels good and makes him feel reassured. Brett is here, safe and whole. Liam does not enjoy the cold spray of water that hits him in the face. Stiles may not be so safe after this.

“Bad Liam, this is a shared space.” The sprayer from the sink is still in Stiles’ hand.

“I’m not a dog you dick.” He’s above growling at Stiles. Scott seems to see that he’s considering it though as he takes the sprayer and turns the water off before making Stiles take one of the other seats at the counter.

“Leave him alone and eat your breakfast.” Scott pushes a bagel on a plate towards Stiles then after a moment leaves and comes back with a pill bottle and passes it over as well. Right Liam was supposed to be taking his meds too.

“How likely is it that my counselor joins the mob Monroe has started and I can never go back because it would be too awkward?” Liam muses as he goes back to the fridge. He pours both himself and Stiles some water and adds the cup to the collection of things in front of his older packmate.

“Liam what the fuck.” Brett’s looking at him.

“I’m thinking maybe seventy percent.” Stiles follows this up with a bite of his bagel.

“Damn.” Liam takes his meds then turns his attention back to the kettle flipping the lid up to stop it from whistling. The cup of tea he made and passed to Brett was immediately set aside to steep and protect it from getting knocked over as Brett bent down to give a brief thank you kiss to Liam.

The rumble of a car grew near. Despite the distance it caught his attention. Not necessarily the car but the people inside. Liam was heading to the door without a thought. “Mase!” Corey was parked towards the end of the driveway due to the number of cars. If Monroe wanted to find them it wouldn’t have been hard.

Mason seems mostly uninjured. He’s walking without pain. The only discomfort Liam sees is when he unbends when he exits the vehicle. Liam still tries to be gentle as he tugs Mason in for a hug. “Whoa dude.”

“I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Me too. Lets go inside so I can sit though.” Corey sticks close behind hovering in Mason’s space even once he’s seated.

“So were Mason and Corey the people that were helping out?” Liam is sure Brett doesn’t mean to sound skeptical but his face is hidden by the mug when Liam tries to gauge his face and confirm.

“No but Jackson and Ethan should be here by now.” Lydia and Stiles are frowning for two different reasons. Lydia lifts her phone up to make a call and frowns harder when she gets sent directly to voicemail. Malia and Lori end up trading places as Malia goes to get dressed and Lori decides to grace them all with her presence. The kettle is still warm enough that Liam leaves Mason’s side to make her tea. The bribe keeps her silent but she does give him a stare down. Malia seems displeased as she returns and it’s quickly revealed that it’s because Theo is right behind her. Despite the fact that Brett and Liam have made themselves at home in the corner he still places himself by them. There aren’t exactly many options that can tolerate the chimera.

“Why are Jackson and Ethan coming again?” Stiles' voice tells Liam all he needs to know about whoever is coming. He's not going to like them.

“Because we need more help here to try and stop things here before they spread any farther. Monroe and Gerard are turning Beacon Hills into a base of operations. Jackson said the hunters that they encountered were killing wolves in London and the surrounding area.”

“Issac hadn’t heard anything similar where he is but they’ve been burned by Gerard so he wouldn’t try anything there until he’d reestablished himself.” When Liam had been hoping Scott would call everyone he’d been thinking Stiles, Derek and Braeden, Kira, maybe even Hayden though he didn’t think Val would let that happen. Scott had called people Liam hadn’t even heard of.

“Don’t tell me Issac is coming too?” Stiles rested his head on the counter.

“He’s busy.”

“Oh thank god. I can’t deal with Jackson and Issac at the same time.”

“Dude. We need help. Which means that we’re going to have to split up. You, Malia, and Lydia should see if you can find Jackson and Ethan.” Stiles rolls his eyes.

“What about the Anuk-ite? We still don’t know who the other half is.” Liam’ s not sure what numbers will do if they don’t have the anuk-ite. Monroe’s numbers are, hopefully, a byproduct of the anuk-ite.

“I don’t think that matters.” Theo poses. “We know that Aaron is one half of the Anuk-ite so lets just focus on him.”

“This isn’t me agreeing with Theo but Aaron is going to be easier to find. He’s been looking at the school so we can just go there and grab him.” Mason responds

“That was definitely agreeing with Theo.” Liam can’t help but point out. Mason shakes his head.

“Haven’t I been through enough? Do we really have to add me agreeing with Theo to all that?” Liam tries not to let his face crumple at Mason’s words.

“Theo you can take Mason and Corey to find Aaron. Liam and I will tackle finding the other half. We’ve got enough people that we can cover all our bases.” Scott’s delegation leaves a lot to be desired.

“What about us?” Brett speaks up from behind Liam. The shorter beta leans back into the spread of Brett’s legs.

“You’re staying here.” Scott is setting himself up for an argument.

“Whats the point of keeping Lori and I here if you want numbers? Keeping us here is a shitty strategy.”

“Monroe thinks you’re dead. To her knowledge she’s killed Satomi’s entire pack. I'm not going to give her a chance to make that a reality.” Liam knew Scott felt a great deal of guilt. He’d tried so hard to keep them all safe, he had made a promise to Satomi.

“It doesn’t matter if we’re alive when the rest of you are dead.” Brett blunt words cut through the air. “What will it take to make you realize that you’re putting your own pack in danger and you’re on your way to getting them killed?” Scott’s eyes flare in response. Liam braces his own hand on Brett’s knee when he growls back. Theo’s gleeful laugh is a stark contrast to the discomforted whimper Liam is fighting back.

“This is great.” Theo leans back content to watch the fight.

“Do you remember what Derek said during the dead-pool?” Scott’s eyes aren’t flared anymore. His voice is measured to everyone but Theo’s relief. They can’t be at odds, not when Monroe is managing to be organized despite the chaos of fear.

“He wanted us to go down fighting!” Brett’s words are slurred in a way that can only mean fangs.

“He wanted us to send a message. I want Monroe and Gerard to know that they can’t wipe us out. Your pack, my pack, the Hale pack? We’re still here and that isn’t going to change.”

“That’s bullshit.” Brett sounds less toothy though so he gets what Scott is saying enough. “You’re all dumasses if you think this is going to do anything other than make them try harder.”

“We’re not bringing you into this.” Scott’s decree scatters everyone. Brett reaches for Liam’s hand where it's still braced on his knee. When Liam turns to him Brett’s eyes are their normal blue and they’re focused entirely on Liam. The concern in them is something Liam is starting to expect. He’d like to see something else at this point. He’s sick of fear and concern. Still it's Brett so he’s trying to let it go.

“Be safe baby. I’ll see you later." Brett’s murmur doesn’t hide the frustration he's still feeling. Liam can only press up for a kiss goodbye and leave Brett to Lori, who decides to hop up on the counter beside Brett. As he follows behind Scott he can’t help but glance back and look at the two seated on the counter and hope he can keep them safe.

Chapter Text

After letting the Anuk-ite fuse and finding out that Lydia, Stiles, and Malia had ended up on a side quest to discover Halwyn wasn’t dead, Liam felt like shit. He hadn’t been sleeping particularly well either so hearing his phone chime was irritating. Seeing it was from Nolan of all people? It made his heart rate spike high enough that not only did Brett wake up but Scott and Stiles raced in, slamming the door open and screaming. The door slam ends up summoning Theo and the screaming summons Lori. Elsewhere he knows the rest of them are awake too.

“What is it? What's wrong?” Stiles' voice is slurred with sleep. “Who am I making into a rug?”

“What the hell Stiles?” Liam knows he sounds more exhausted than mad.

“Dude what the fuck?” Brett’s arm snakes around Liam’s midsection to both pull him closer and put him in between the two.

“I don’t know. Scott woke me up because his wolfy senses had sensed that Liam was in trouble.”

“Did you really have to slam the door like that though.” Theo is incredibly alert for the early hour.

“Did it disturb your beauty sleep?” Stiles fires back

“Yes.”

“Then absolutely.”

“Liam is fine, I’m not sticking around to watch you two play mom and dad.” Lori seems to be of the same mindset as she squints at Liam then exits without a word.

“Are you okay?” Scott takes a seat on the edge of the bed.

“Yes, it's just a text from Nolan. He wants me to meet him.” Scott winces, Liam has punctured the comforter with his claws.

“At one-thirty in the morning? Did he say why?”

“No and I’m not dealing with this right now. I mean why would he think I’d meet with him.”

“He’s scared.” Liam’s irritation rolls off him in waves. He can’t be bothered to care that Nolan is scared. Nolan had been scared when he tried to beat Liam’s face in the first time. Nolan had been scared when he’d brought a hoard of hunters to the zoo with the intention to kill every single one of them. Being scared had just made Nolan a bigger threat.

“He’ll still be there in the morning.” Liam lays back down and wills Scott and Stiles to go away. When Brett brushes the hair out of his face he braces himself for the the continuation of the conversation.

“Liam is right. You two should go back to bed. We can discuss what to do about Nolan in the morning.” Brett leaves no room for discussion. When they’re left alone again Liam lets Brett manhandle him once more. He ends up with a hand in his hair and his ear pressed to Brett’s chest so it's worth it. “What happened with Nolan? You said the only person who managed to hit you at the zoo was Theo.”

“Nolan and Gabe staged a coup for the lacrosse team the day I went to school. Then they used the team to corner Corey and I.” Brett’s hand keeps running through his hair. “I know that what they did was because of the Anuk-ite.” A deep breath. “They were just trying to prove that there was something to be scared of. They wanted to make me shift to show everyone I was a monster who needed to be hunted.”

“We all have that potential sure but so do they. Maybe he realized that being a monster is about your actions.”

“Maybe.”

“Go back to sleep Li.”

Morning comes and with it the need to actually deal with everything. Brett is already laying awake, he might not have managed to fall back asleep after he’d woken up to Liam. As soon as Liam lets his eyes blink open he wants to slam them shut again.

“I’m coming with you.” Brett’s voice doesn’t sound particularly sleep gruff.

“I don’t think that's a good idea. You and Lori should stick with Scott. Deucalion can help you learn to fight that thing.”

“I don’t like that you’re always in the middle of things while I’m stuck where I can’t keep you safe. The Beast, The Ghost Riders, now this?” Brett punctuates his statement by rolling the both of them over so he can fully cover Liam with his body. Liam would find the additional height unfair if it weren’t for the fact that it was hot.

“I can handle myself.” He understood the urge. He hated that Brett had not just gotten hurt but almost died. He hadn’t been there even though they’d known there was something out there. If he’d gone with Lori and Brett they might not have gotten injured. Brett was okay now but he so easily might not have been.

“I’m not denying that.” Liam feels Brett’s mouth moving against his neck as the alpha speaks.

“We just have to deal with the anuk-ite.”

“And Monroe and whatever shows up next.”

“You were the one who told me that we’re strong because we endure.” It’s weird to find those words more comforting now than he had when Brett had first uttered them. He’s been through more than he thinks either of them had thought possible.

“Right strength of character.”

“Does this make me doubly lucky? You didn’t become an alpha by taking anyone's power.”

“You heard Deaton. Satomi thought I would die without it and they were going to kill her.”

“You were stable and she knew that. Lori called her everyday with updates before she went underground. She didn’t have to pass on her alpha status to you. She picked you because you’re more than physically strong.” Brett’s body is already fully covering Liam’s. They can’t possibly get closer and yet Brett tries. Liam rolls them over and uses his full weight to press the other boy into the mattress. He tries to ground him and give him closeness.

“Thank you.” His words are wet. It takes them a while to move after that. They do eventually have to get up and get going.

Corey, Mason, and Lori are the only other people still in the safe house and all three are in the kitchen when they stumble in dressed and as ready for the day as either of them is capable of being. If he tries a little harder he can hear Theo trotting around as a wolf in the back. The kitchen not being as packed as it had been the previous morning is a blessing. Liam knows Brett is still sensitive though he wouldn’t share that. Brett might be more in touch with his feelings and be a more spiritual person in general but there isn’t a chance that he wants to appear vulnerable in front of Scott. Lori spots it immediately and drags Brett away as soon as he’s done making himself tea.

“Why was Stiles screaming this morning?” Liam isn’t sure if Mason waited for Brett to leave to ask intentionally or if it was a coincidence.

“Nolan texted me at like one-thirty this morning asking to meet.”

“You’re not going to meet Nolan alone. Not after last time. We’re coming with you.” Mason gestures to himself and Corey as if he could have meant anyone else. Unsurprisingly going on a field trip with Theo hadn’t fixed the myriad of issues Mason or Corey had with the chimera. They weren’t eager to spend the day tapped in the same place as him even if he was avoiding them too.

“He specifically wanted me to come alone because he didn’t want to draw attention to the fact that he’s trying to help us.”

“Liam, you have to hear how suspicious that sounds.” Mason braces his hand on the beta’s shoulder. “You hear how that sounds right?”

“No I do but I can handle it.”

“You’re not going alone dude.”

“Fine but you get out of there at the first sign of danger. Nolan isn’t going to like this.” Honestly that makes it better. Anything to get under Nolan’s skin at this point. The Anuk-ite may have pushed Nolan but it’s hard to separate them when it was Nolan’s body pinning him and Nolan’s hands hurting him. Maybe if he’s lucky Nolan will give Liam a reason to beat his face in.

The additional people clearly annoy Nolan and he says as much as soon as he spots that Liam isn’t alone.

“You can pretend we aren’t here.” Mason offers and Corey briefly phases himself and Mason out of sight. Despite the fact he’s seen it before it still makes Nolan startle.

“Why bother texting me back if you don’t trust me?” Nolan questions.

“Maybe I just wanted a chance to kick your ass.” Liam can’t help but offer up the explanation.

“I want to help, there’s something I need to show you.”

“I’ve already seen the freezer of corpses courtesy of Gabe.”

“Not that. It’s at the hospital.”

“Why the hell did we meet here then?”

“We can’t just show up at the hospital, they might see me.”

“Okay so then just tell me what it is.”

“No, I have- I have a plan.” Nolan is getting more nervous the longer they talk. If he didn’t want them to be seen, why pick the school library? He couldn’t have cared that much about missing class if he was about to skip to go show Liam the hospital. “I’m going to show you then you’ll knock me around so Ms.Monroe thinks you made me show you.” Liam had been hoping for a chance to beat Nolan back for what he did. Nolan was trying to help him though. It seemed wrong to beat up an ally. Still.

“I’m good with that plan. We’ll follow you.” Liam isn’t getting into the car alone with Nolan. Not because he thinks Nolan will try something but because it sounds generally unpleasant.

“Fine but they need to stay out of sight. The more of us there are, the more likely they catch us.”

“Sure it’ll give us the element of surprise.” Mason offers.

The ride to the hospital is mostly silent outside of Liam’s, “Do you have a bad feeling about this?”

“Totally.” Mason responds, eyes still firmly on the road.

“Okay.” There isn’t much more to say. Corey gets the two of them out of sight before Liam has even made it to Nolan and his car. Nolan keeps searching although he has to know it's futile. Liam can hear Corey and Mason and the world goes green as he hits the lobby. Nolan startles again when Liam vanishes from his sight.

“Keep going. We’re still here.” Liam hisses and watches Nolan actually jump. Corey lets go of Liam as soon as they’re in the elevator.

“Jesus.” Nolan slams back into the wall of the elevator. There’s not a soul in sight when they get off the elevator but Nolan still creeps down the hallway like someone will jump out. The only people likely to appear out of thin air are on his side, unless Nolan tries to betray them. “In here.” The intensive care unit looks normal. The people inside are hooked up to IVs and not particularly active. The issue with the intensive care unit is the smell.

“Who are they?” Liam moves closer to inspect their IVs. The wolfsbane has turned them purple.

“I- I don’t know. They were brought in last night.” Liam doesn’t know them either. Between the dead-pool and this he was starting to realize that Beacon Hills had a greater number of supernaturals than he ever expected.

“Should we pull them out?” Liam knows Corey has dropped his and Mason’s invisibility when Nolan gasps and stumbles. The teen is a wreck.

“No. We don’t know if there’s anything else mixed in with the wolfsbane or how it might be impacting them. We should call Deaton before we risk that.” Mason joins him in eyeing the IVs.

“Where are you going?” Corey’s voice brings their attention back to Nolan.

“I showed you what I wanted to and nobody saw so you-” Nolan swallows. “You don’t have to beat me up.”

“That was the part of the plan I liked.” Liam almost feels bad for Nolan. The way his eyes drop and he looks resigned. Nolan doesn’t have to get hurt and yet because Liam might want to he’s willing to take it. “Go.” Nolan takes the out. Nolan skitters out of the door like he thinks Liam might change his mind.

“This is intense dude. It’s weird though. Monroe straight up tried to kill Brett just because he was a werewolf. Why is she suddenly switching it up to kidnapping?” Mason grabs the chart closest to them. “This is blank.”

“Why would they put information in the chart of someone they kidnapped.”

“Not everyone in the hospital is in on this though right? Ms.McCall and your dad aren’t. They can’t be the only two. Shouldn’t they be trying to make it seem legitimate so they don’t get stopped.” Corey grabs one of the other charts. He holds it up to show that it's blank too.

“I don’t think they’d have to, when sheriff Stilinski pushed back Monroe just had them remove him. They could probably do the same thing if anyone kicked up a fuss.” Mason puts the chart back and approaches one of the other people.

“It’s a little harder to switch out a surgeon than a sheriff.” Liam gets a noncommittal hum from Mason in response.

“Do you two have a bad feeling about this?” Corey creeps over to look out the window.

“The worst.” From beside Mason the bed shifts. Liam lunges for them before he can think. His claws dig into the wrist of whoever is in the bed. The fact that whoever it is had a gun in hand tells them plenty.

“Fuck.” Liam hauls the hunter out of the bed with one hand while shoving Mason away with the other. It's easy enough to slam their head into the rail on the bed and disorient them enough to toss them into the hallway. Mason has vanished from sight along with Corey. The sound of the door swinging shut on one of the hunters isn’t particularly victorious when Liam can also hear the other three moving as well. On the bright side, if there even is one, in order to appear comatose they’d shoved their guns under the hospital beds.

The anuk-ite causing regular people to join Monroe’s cause was a blessing and a curse. The curse part was pretty self evident but the blessing was that they had no clue what they were doing. One of the other hunters he manages to knock out with a hit clean across their face.

Nolan had believed he was telling the truth. He’d looked at the four people laying in these beds and hadn’t recognized that they were working with Monroe like he was. How long had she been planning this? As he turned to face a third hunter who had at least been competent enough to realize it would be easier to fight if they were standing they suddenly collapsed. Mason phased back into existence beside the last hunter still on the bed. Based on their lack of movement he must have hit them as well.

“This is bad right?” Corey phased into view beside Mason.

“Definitely, let's get out of here.” Liam peers through the window with Mason’s words.

“I’m not sure we can.” Liam doesn’t see anyone but he hears plenty. It's harder to hear everything in the hospital when it's active. It's harder still to ignore the sound of chains. They’re blocking some of the exits trying to make sure that there isn’t a chance of escape.

“This is so bad.”

“We just have to be careful while we leave.” Mason is bringing optimism that Liam has a feeling won’t last. He still tries to hold onto it as he pushes the doors open. It vanishes as he hears a gun cock. He’d been distracted by the sounds from downstairs and not paid attention to the floor they’re on.

“Let me.” Nolan may have had a crisis of consciousness but Gabe hasn’t. It's a little sick, the look on Gabe’s face.

Liam feels a sense of deja vu as he’s grabbed from behind. He still flails as he’s hauled backwards to the elevator. Corey and Mason are tucked away in the intensive care room still.

“What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be with Brett and Lori.” Liam hadn’t asked Theo to stay with them but he’d assumed that Theo wasn’t planning on leaving the safe house.

“I’m saving your ass. A little appreciation would be nice.”

“I don’t need you to keep me safe. I can handle Gabe.”

“What about his armada of gun happy buddies? Your boyfriend is an alpha, he’ll be fine. Braeden took him and Lori to stop Deaton from getting ambushed. Gerard had everyone surrounded but Derek and Braeden showed up just in time.”

“Like Kristallnacht.”

“Oh right. You like history.”

“I guess. See what happened was the Nazis destroyed almost one thousand synagogues and thousands of businesses in one night.”

“I know what it is Liam.”

“Right I almost forgot the Dread Doctors gave you a roomie in the form of a Nazi in a tube.”

“Is now really the time for this? They’re still out there and I’m not looking to die for you.”

“I’m not dying for you either. We can fight though.” They’ve done it before. Theo gives him a nod. “Let’s do this.” Liam lets his shoulders roll and the shift come up.

The hunters must not have realized that Corey and Mason were in the intensive care room as they hadn’t gone in there yet. Instead they’d crept closer to the elevator doors in anticipation of Theo and Liam emerging. As soon as the doors open bullets are flying. Liam’s experienced some god-awful pain since becoming a werewolf yet he still would rather not get shot. Whoever these hunters are, he thinks he recognizes one of them from the gym, they aren’t doing this because they were trained to.

Liam is very uncomfortable with the fact that Gabe is no longer in sight but he’s also focused on keeping himself and Theo alive which means focusing on the other people trying to shoot them. They can only do so much without permanently hurting people who don’t fully know what they’re doing. Ms.McCall doesn’t have the same holdups based on the burning smell coming from the guy she tazed.

Nolan’s change of heart seems to have stuck as he joins in. It’s not enough to make Corey stay near him once the chimera and Mason have emerged following behind one of the hunters that they had dealt with earlier.

Gabe hadn’t gone far of course. He may have started this because of the Anuk-ite but he’d fully bought into Monroe. He wasn’t likely to have a change of heart like Nolan. The other four dive for the floor as Gabe starts shooting without care. Theo’s got a hand on the back of his jacket and they’re scrambling away. Unlike the other hunters Gabe has gotten training. Monroe had taken him and Nolan under her wing probably because they were moldable. Gabe had certainly become the kind of soldier she wanted.

This time the bullets do make some contact. Theo gets it way worse since he’d pushed Liam in front of him. They hurt but they’re just regular bullets and so they start to heal without any assistance. Theo’s healing is showing its faults as he grips at his shoulder on the floor beside Liam.

The gun jamming gives Liam enough time to scramble back to his feet and charge at Gabe. Gabe doesn’t want to be separated from his weapon though. It’s definitely wrong to claw off the face of his brainwashed classmate so he’ll have to settle for trying to forcibly pry the thing out of Gabe's hands instead. He’s trying his hardest not to hurt Gabe just like he’d avoided hurting Nolan. There is a small part of him that's holding out hope that once Scott takes care of the anuk-ite that even Monroe will snap out of it and realize what she's done is wrong.

When the sound of gunfire breaks through his focus on getting the gun out of Gabe’s hand he expects it to have come directly from the gun they’re fighting over. Instead Liam sees blood blooming across Gabe’s shirt. He also feels the burn of bullets tearing through his own flesh. If he’s lucky they’re clean through which will allow them to heal without any medical intervention. While he knows to get down and out of the way of the bullets Gabe does not. He seems frozen in time as he gets shot. He doesn’t drop until Nolan drops the guy who’d been shooting at them.

Despite the way that he’d hit the floor Gabe is still, momentarily, alive. He’s covered in blood and each move of his body makes it worse. Gabe’s coughs are weak but they still force blood that Gabe can’t handle loosing out of his mouth.

“It hurts.” Even with his enhanced hearing it’s hard to hear Gabe's voice. His ears are filled with the sounds of hunters on a different floor moving and everyone's hearts are still beating incredibly fast. Theo hears it loud and clear. Liam can only watch. It's not that he feels bad for Gabe, although he does, it’s that Theo is past needlessly killing. He doesn’t think Theo will kill Gabe but he doesn’t know what Theo could possibly do for the hunter.

Theo is as gentle as he’s ever been crouching down beside Gabe. Liam is half focused on helping Ms.McCall and half on what's unfolding before them. She seems equally as concerned with Theo’s plan. He’s careful as he grabs Gabe’s hands trying his hardest not to move the injured boy. Black veins climb up Theo’s forearm.

“Does it hurt anymore?” Theo’s voice is steady despite the fact that he is dealing not only with his own pain but also another person's.

“No.” Gabe’s face is ashen causing the blood on his face to stand out even more.

“Good.” Liam hears Gabe’s heart stop beating moments later. Theo’s breath hitches so minutely that it could just be Liam’s imagination. Nolan’s is loud enough for even those without supernatural hearing to hear.

Even with the crackling of the radio it seems as if they’re all stuck in place. It isn’t until Monroe’s voice gets frantic that Liam thinks to move. It’s probably because, despite the fact that he has no confirmation, Liam knows the anuk-ite is done with. He’d been feeling an underlying level of fear for long enough that he can instantly feel the difference.

He’s still afraid for his pack who might be hurt. He’s still angry that this has happened to him, to them. It's his own though. Even though this isn’t over, even though he doesn’t yet know if everyone is okay, it's a relief.

Monroe is still panicking over the radio, trying to get a response and see what she can salvage. There is nothing for her to salvage from this night. Maybe later on, in fact he’s sure of it, she’ll come for them again. Without the anuk-ite she’s temporarily down for the count. He’s the only one moving and he’s reaching down. Liam wants Monroe to know.

“You lost.”