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Bullets slammed into the dirt behind Theo, and he kept running.
Panting, he glanced over his shoulder. Sucked in a quick breath. Behind him, there was the barking of hunting dogs. Come on, come on. Pine needles slammed into his paw pads. Sharp teeth snapped at his tail. Hot breath rolled over his fur. Come on! Keep running!
Pushing himself harder, Theo kept running on. Dodged between the trees like a collie in a slalom competition. The hunting dogs were clumsy, kept tripping over their own paws. More bullets raked the ground, bark flaking off nearby trees. Another one slammed into his hip. Stumbling, Theo dropped his head forwards and winced.
Limping once, he glanced back. His heart dropped as he skidded to a stop. The pine needles and leaves underneath him scattered. Desperately trying to slam on the brakes, he gritted his teeth. The ground dropped out from beneath him.
The ground and water rushed up to meet him.
Everything went black for a while. Blinking, he opened his eyes. Growled weakly. Sucking in a breath, he lifted his head. Dropped it back against the dirt. River water washed over his haunches and tail. Groaning, Theo tried to pull himself a little further up the shore. His legs gave out. Sand pressed against his fur, and he laid there. Dropped his head to the side and groaned for a long, low while.
Footsteps thudded on the dirt near his head. Cracking his eyes open, Theo looked over and wrinkled his nose. Growled. “There you are.” One of the hunters said. Looking over, he kept growling. “Quit that.” There was a sharp kick to his ribs. Whimpering, Theo jolted once.
Hate these guys. Come on. Just get it over with. Theo thought, staring at them. Just kill me.
“How’s it doing?” One of the hunters called down.
“Leave it! It’s not going to make it!” Another ordered. “Just give it a leaving shot and go.” Theo snarled weakly, breath whistling in his throat. Blood flooded his nose and mouth. More internal damage than I would like, he cursed mentally. His healing just wasn’t kicking in. Too tired, too weak to heal. No wonder they caught me so easily.
“On it!” Aiming, the hunter grinned crookedly down at him and then laughed softly. “Bye, bye, you freak.”
Pain split through Theo’s ribs a second after the shot rang out, burning through his blood. Jolting, Theo sucked in a weak breath. Closed his eyes. He could hear the hunter retreating. Come on, Theo. Rain pattered down around him. The river was going to flood. He knew it would. It had been forecast, the air smelled like a harsh storm. I don’t have the time to lay here. I need to get up. I need to move. He thought to himself.
Raising his head, he whimpered once. Rested his chin on his paws. Tried to drag himself forwards, paws digging into soft mud. The river quickly began to tug at his legs and tail, began pulling at him. Raising his head, Theo took a breath. Tried to drag himself forwards.
There was a heavy splash as he thumped back into the river. Jaws hanging open, he panted a couple times. Tipped his head back. Fine, fine. Have to call someone. At least then Liam can’t blame me if I die. He doubted there was anyone there. He may have made it onto the Hale House property, but there was no chance that they would go to him. He was Theo. They hated him still. Probably. He wouldn’t blame them if they didn’t come.
Sucking in a breath, Theo groaned and then howled. He couldn’t lift his head. Still, the sound crackled through the nearby trees.
No one replied. Still howling, Theo dropped his head back down against the mud. Closed his eyes. That’s alright.
I wouldn’t come for me, either.
+++
When he woke, it was to his head being plunged underwater.
Weakly, Theo kicked his back legs. Tried to swim, although he could barely feel his paws and shifting back was not an option. His fur could keep him warmer than bare skin would. Plus, he didn’t particularly feel like being nude if anyone came for him.
Barking out a plea for help, Theo stretched his legs down. Clawed for some sort of purchase on the rocky riverbed. The water pulled him further away from the shore. Kicking, Theo tried to pull himself over. Tipped his head back.
Howling, Theo pushed worn muscles a little bit harder. Just that much. He had to try. Please. Please, someone help. Please. The howl cut off as he was plunged under the water again. Snapping his mouth shut, Theo thrashed. Please.
There was a rush of bubbles around him. Then, someone grabbed onto the ruff of his neck. He was yanked back up. Not even bothering to fight, Theo went limp. His head cleared the water, and he dropped against the other wolf. Derek, he recognized.
Much stronger than Theo was, Derek swam easily through the choppy water. They reached the shore. Dragging Theo up across the mud, Derek gently set him on dry dirt and leaf mold. There was a snuffle at his ears and neck, and Theo groaned weakly. Raised his head slightly. Derek tucked his muzzle under Theo’s jaw, scented him and licked at his cheek to get some of the water away.
Theo exhaled and laid there, let the Pack Alpha check him over. There was a couple moments where Derek paced around him, nosing at his injuries. Whimpering, Theo twitched his paws. Derek growled.
Crouching down, Derek grabbed Theo’s scruff again and lifted him. Then, gently, he threw Theo onto his back. Secured him with Theo’s front paws over his shoulders and then took a few hesitant steps. Theo groaned a thank you, rested his head on Derek’s neck.
There was a reply, and Derek started a slow sort of lope towards…somewhere. Theo closed his eyes, rested his eyes. The next thing he knew, Derek was standing in front of him in human form. Thankfully, he was clothed—red flannel that was probably something Stiles bought so he and his boyfriend matched, a black Henley, blue denim jeans, tawny work boots. Gentle, calloused hands slid beneath Theo’s neck and flank, he was hefted into the air and then settled on the backseat of Derek’s truck. “There you go.” Derek whispered. “I’m taking you to Deaton first, alright?” Theo nodded, jerking his head. “Get some rest, just stay with us, Theo. Sorry for not getting there earlier.”
Stiles changed you. Theo huffed out a laugh, tail thumping against the seat. Derek closed the door and then hopped into the driver’s seat. Then, he started driving, and Theo allowed himself to be lulled off by the familiar noise of the Pack truck driving on the road.
When he stirred again, it was to a cold metal table beneath his side. Deaton and Derek were speaking quietly. The sour wolf’s familiar scent was tinged red and gray with anger. Slowly, their voices keyed in. “We are not doing that.” Derek snarled.
“I’m just joking, Mr. Hale.” Deaton replied, holding up his hands. Teeth bared, Derek snarled. “Oh, don’t act like that. I’m not doing anything serious.”
“You don’t joke about euthanizing one of the Pack members. Who are you, Deucalion?” Derek continued, a growl under his breath. Jerking, Theo sucked in another breath. Then, he pushed himself up. Derek and Deaton looked at him, and Deaton reached for him.
Teeth bared, Theo weakly snapped at Deaton’s hand.
Moaning, he pulled himself off of the table and dropped to the titles. Derek draped a blanket around him. Groaning in thanks, Theo shifted back. Felt the bones shifting beneath his skin, bullets tearing new wounds deeper into his body as his healing still refrained from kicking in. Blood spattered his skin, bruises painting his body.
“Clothes. Please.” Theo whispered. Nodding, Derek shot a look at Deaton and then ducked out. Theo scowled at Deaton. “You’re not funny.” His voice was hoarse.
Shrugging, Deaton went over to his own supplies. Started searching through them. “You killed Scott. I would watch yourself. One day I might just decide you’re too much of a threat to survive.” He held up a syringe, flicked it with one finger and then looked over at Theo and smiled like he was thinking of how to kill him the most painfully. Swallowing, Theo stared at him.
Derek returned and growled again. “You forget your place, Emissary. And who you treat.” He said, gently passing Theo clothes and then pointing at his ears. “Good hearing. Remember?” He stepped between Theo and Deaton. Stiles has been a good influence, Theo thought, pulling on the boxers as quickly as possible and then the jeans and socks. Looking up at the Alpha’s back, he let out a soft breath. Then, he tugged the other clothes back on. I will…definitely need to wash these. Sorry, whoever owns these clothes. I promise I will try to fix them as best as I can.
Deaton and Derek continued to face off. “You wouldn’t abandon me.”
“I wouldn’t. I’d just kill you if you were a threat to my Pack.” Derek replied, getting in his face. Deaton stared up at him. Deaton shrugged and then turned away. Walked off. Turning back, Derek carefully helped Theo up. “It’s alright I touch you?”
Theo nodded. “Thank Liam for that.” He huffed. Nodding, Derek gently slid an arm about Theo’s waist. Helped him walk towards the truck. “We going to the Hale House?”
“Nope.” Derek replied, popping the p in a decidedly Stiles way. “Melissa.” They reached the truck, and Derek picked Theo up like he would a toddler and then opened the passenger side door. What. Why? What are you doing? Derek settled him against his hip for a second, and Theo just sort of…sat there. Confused. He was settled on the passenger side seat.
“Uhm. Thank you?” He asked, and Derek nodded before closing the door. Then, he shut said door and walked around to the driver door. They started driving, and Derek glanced him up and down. “I’m sorry for getting blood on the clothes.”
“They’re your clothes now.”
“Oh. Sorry for stealing them?”
“You don’t need to apologize for needing them.”
“Sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize.”
“So—“ Theo closed his mouth when Derek looked over at him. Biting his lip awkwardly, Theo took a breath and then looked away.
“Just keep pressure on those injuries.” Theo nodded, looked out the window some more as they approached the hospital. “Theo.”
“On it.” Theo mumbled. His stomach loudly growled. Face heating up, he looked away and pressed a hand to one of the injuries to his arm. “Sorry.”
“Theo.” Derek sighed softly. Looking over at him, Theo ducked his head. Why does this feel like I’m being scolded by my older brother?
They reached the hospital.
Quickly, Derek helped Theo to the hospital. They walked over to the desk, Derek started talking to Melissa and trying to check Theo in. Standing there, Theo took a slow breath. Leaned against the counter.
He could hear everything around him. There were some people talking quietly. Someone was glaring at his back, he could feel it. The fluorescent lights were buzzing. Under him, the tiles were icy cold through his socks and a chill settled on his bones.
The last thing he felt was his jaw slamming against the counter edge as he blacked out.
+++
He stirred a couple times.
Once, it was to Derek holding him, right after he blacked out. His jaw was throbbing. Tipping his head back, he passed out again to Melissa calling for a gurney. Then, he was lying on the gurney, someone was feeling for a pulse as Derek hurriedly explained. Melissa pressed a mask to his face, Theo looked at her and half-smiled, and then he was out again. Thankfully, the next time he stirred was to Liam curled up next to him, holding his hand. Oh, nice. I like this, he decided. Sucked in a breath through the mask. He hummed softly. Liam stirred, raised his head. Snuggled a little closer to him.
Lifting his head, Theo looked around. Stiles and Derek were curled on the same chair, Stiles as always being the most PDA-loving person despite not even being a powered wolf. He was sitting in Derek’s lap. There was a weird book in Stiles’ lap, Derek pointing to the different lines or whatever was on the pages and reading to Stiles. On Theo’s other side, Corey and Mason were sharing a bench. Corey’s head was in Mason’s lap, distress souring his features. Shifting, Theo let out a long groan.
(If he and Liam were curled around one another even after Derek took them back to the Hale House, even when Derek woke him so he could eat and recover, no one judged them for it.
Mostly because Liam would probably rip their throats out with his teeth, but that was beside the point.)