Chapter Text
Isaac had only been back in Beacon Hills for around a week. When he left a few years ago, realistically he knew that Beacon Hills wasn’t just going to freeze in place waiting for his return. Everything would keep going just as it had before; it would pass Allison’s death and move past his and Chris’ departure almost as if they had never been there in the first place.
Most of the changes Isaac was finding himself dealing with were related to The Pack. He knew that Stiles, Scott, and Lydia could only do so much; the three of them alone wouldn’t be able to keep the monsters that haunted Beacon Hills at bay by themselves. They would need more help. However, Isaac hadn’t been anticipating that that help would be a group of high school freshmen that Scott had unofficially adopted, or as Stiles referred to them, The Puppy Pack.
“But wouldn’t that just imply they’re a part of a different pack?” Isaac asked Stiles, cocking an eyebrow at the other boy as he turned away from where he had been digging in the pantry. Stiles scoffed at Isaac’s comment, rolling his eyes as he sat on the counter, swinging his legs back and forth. The sight reminded Isaac of that of a little kid who was told he couldn’t have a piece of candy.
“Glad to know you’re still the same,” Stiles mumbled, just loud enough for Isaac to hear. Who huffed and rolled his eyes as well. Honestly, Isaac could say the same thing about Stiles in that moment. He had grown up in the past couple of years yet had the same sarcastic attitude as before. Which didn’t really annoy Isaac like he thought it would. While dealing with so much change, Isaac was glad that some things wouldn’t change, and Stiles was one of them.
When Isaac had first arrived, all of the kids and Malia, with a little distrust, had been willing to accept him back into the pack. Most of that, though, was due to the fact that they recognized Isaac as Scott’s mate. As the weeks went on, Isaac spent his time getting to know more of the new additions to the pack. He also found himself realizing something, firstly that he was madly in love with Scott McCall and secondly, Theo Raeken was doing everything in his power to avoid him. Which Isaac was completely clueless about why.
Isaac hadn’t been hostile with any of the new pack members, especially not Theo. He knew that the chimera had once stopped against The McCall Pack wanting to dismantle it from within, but Isaac didn’t hold that against him. It wouldn’t be fair or right for Isaac to do such a thing when he once stood against Scott as well. That being said, Theo’s past wasn’t something that mattered to Isaac; what mattered to him was that Theo was trying to change it. He was trying to gain Scott’s trust and become a real member of the pack. Isaac hadn’t given Theo any reason to think that Isaac might not like him or didn’t think that he had, but Theo was still doing everything in his power to avoid him.
Summer was coming to an end, which meant the older pack members would be leaving Beacon Hills soon. Scott was planning to come back to France with Isaac for a while. Lydia was off to college to get some fancy degree, Isaac couldn’t remember the name of it, in environmental science. She wanted to use her smarts to improve the fashion industry. Stiles was headed to the FBI academy in Quantico, while Malia stayed in Beacon Hills as she hadn’t quite figured out what she wanted to do just yet.
Scott, being the alpha that he was, wanted to have one last night where they could get together. Isaac also had a feeling that Scott wanted to use tonight to calm Liam down before they had their big conversation about the beta sort of taking the alpha mantle while Scott was gone. Lydia had suggested they have a bonfire, which was how Isaac had found himself sitting on the ground in the McCall’s backyard, in case of the alpha’s legs. He had a skewer in hand with a marshmallow at the end of it that he was doing his best not to burn. While also listening to the conversation happening around him, basking in the fact that he didn’t have to say much but there was a space for him to contribute if he wanted.
It was nice, Isaac could just be. It was something that he didn’t get back in France. He had met werewolves and humans, had spent time in different packs and different people, but nothing was like this. Nothing would ever beat being back in Beacon Hills, surrounded by his own pack. People that understood him on a whole other level became so tied together by something so deep.
“I’m gonna head inside and grab more of the soda, Li. Can you help me?” Theo asked, slowly standing up.
Before Liam could answer, Isaac scrambled to stand up, handing his skewer over to Scott: “I’ll help you.” Theo’s eyes flickered over to Isaac, giving him a weary look that quickly faded to a blank expression. It was clear that he didn’t want Isaac’s help, but the beta was already making his way to the back door, giving him no choice. Theo looked back at Liam, hoping the beta would come anyways, but Scott had stolen the seat Theo had once occupied and swept Liam up into a conversation.
The chimera wasn’t going to lie to himself and say that he hadn’t been avoiding Isaac because he had been. There was just something about him that unsettled Theo. It had started when the beta had first arrived and Stiles had told him that he and Liam reminded him of Scott and Isaac. It left him reeling, like if he and Isaac were so similar, everyone would realize how much better of a person Isaac was, that they would realize Theo had fucked so badly that they really couldn’t forgive him, that they would send him away again. It made him want to run, to leave before they could ever realize that Theo wasn’t worth forgiving like they all thought.
“Did anyone ever tell you about how I joined the pack?” Isaac asked, sticking his head into the fridge and pulling out some of the soda, placing them on the floor for Theo to grab. He wasn’t given a response, so he took that as his cue to keep talking. “My dad was a dickhead. Derek had promised that when he bit me, I could protect myself against him, so I let him bite me, and I joined his pack. I stood against Scott for so long because that’s what I thought I was supposed to do. When everything was said and done, and I was finally in Scott’s pack, I spent so long thinking I didn’t deserve it, that any minute they would kick me out. Scott doesn’t run that way, though. If he gives you a second chance, he knows you can change.” Isaac slowly turned to face Theo, who was staring intensely at the floor. It was a sight that he hadn’t seen before in the last couple of weeks. Theo had portrayed himself as this cocky, smart, but right now, none of that was showing. “You are in this pack because Scott knows you’ve changed,” Isaac finished.
Isaac and Scott hadn’t started off on the right foot, just like Theo and Scott had, and that made them similar. However, while they were the same, they were also very different. Isaac had never tried to kill anyone or manipulate them like Theo had. When he stood against Scott, he was a better person than Theo would ever be. Isaac was comparing them, but they were so different. Scott had given Isaac a second chance because he knew that he could be good. Scott had given Theo a second chance because Liam wouldn’t let him go. It was a thought Theo found himself vocalizing without meaning to, “Scott doesn’t want me here, he didn’t want to give me a second chance. Liam wouldn’t let him, let me go.”
Theo found the courage to look at Isaac, terrified of what he would see. He was scared that Isaac would agree, scared that he would tell the rest of the pack that Theo didn’t belong here, that he would have to leave. The last time he had run, Liam had come for him, he had saved him from the hunters, but if he ran and this time Liam didn’t come. What if he realized that Scott had been right in the beginning, that Theo wasn’t worth saving? That thought terrified him more than anything; being out there on his own, knowing Liam hated him, would be worse than spending eternity having Tata ripping his heart out of his chest.
The look Isaac had on his face wasn’t what Theo had been expecting. It wasn’t a look that told him that Isaac agreed with all the thoughts spiraling in his head. It wasn’t something softer, a look of understanding. “This is Scott’s pack. Liam vocalized keeping you around, but it was Scott’s decision. If he wanted you gone, if he didn’t trust you, you wouldn’t be here, Theo. He knows you can be better. He knows you are trying to be better,” Isaac assured.
Theo didn’t like being seen, he didn’t like feeling vulnerable. He hardly ever opened up to Liam, and he would do anything for his boyfriend. Right now though, he felt more vulnerable than he had in months, like Isaac had taken one at him and psychoanalyzed him in seconds. He saw the deepest parts of Theo that were hidden away, and instead of agreeing with them like Theo had believed he would, he dismissed all of the chimera’s worries. For once Theo felt understood in a way he hadn’t in months. He found himself with a level of reassurance he never knew he needed. “Thanks Isaac,” he mumbled, under his breath. Isaac nodded his head, picking up a handful of soda and patted the chimera on the back. Theo grabbed what was left following him outside. Liam smiled brightly at the sight of him, a smile that Theo could help but return. Isaac was right, he belonged here.