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Back at the McCall house everyone was gathering after the defeat of the Nogistune. They were filthy, in grief and tired.
Scott kissed Allison's cheek and lazily threw an arm around her. If he didn't keep kissing and touching, he was affraid she might disappear into thin air. His mind was still reeling from having het back, but his heart was still aching for the loss of Derek.
One by one they took turns to clean themselves up while Melissa checked them for wounds and made sure everyone had somewhere to settle for the night.
Only then did Scott notice that someone was missing.
"Scott, honey. Have you seen Liam?" Melissa asked, sharing his sudden thought.
"I-," he frowned, "He was supposed to follow us here."
"He's not answering my texts or calls," Hikari added.
Scott frowned and sent a text of his own, having it go unanswered as well.
"Do you think he's hurt?" Melissa asked worriedly.
"No, he was fine when he said he'd follow us here."
"I don't think he's coming, Scott..."
Mason spoke up for the first time, causing the alpha to frown at the downcast look on the younger man's face.
"What do you mean? Did he say that?"
Mason scoffed bitterly, "No. We don't talk m-. We don't really talk."
"Then how do you know?"
Mason shrugged, "Just a hunch. Leave him, he'd want to be alone."
"You know where he could be? I'll go," Hikari eagerly offered.
"No," Scott dismissed, still slightly frowning at Mason's downcast look, "I'm going."
Liam should've followed the rest of the pack home, but to be honest, it didn't feel like much of a pack anymore. Didn't feel like home either.
This was the only place that kinda felt like something to him.
He gripped the wet wooden railing of the bridge hard, not minding the splinters that dug into his skin. A few faint raindrops were disturbing the still surface of the water. Every so now and then a ripple would distort his reflection.
Suddenly he felt 18 years old again, long burried emotions threatning to spill over and only slightly succeeding. A single tear ran down his face and joined the raindrops in the creek below.
He heard Scott pull up, could smell his chemosignals but decided to instead focus on the scent of the rain.
His alpha joined him on the bridge and for a moment neither man broke the silence.
"Liam-"
"I'm angry, I'm angry all the time."
Scott frowned in confusion, "I thought you had better control of your IED now?"
Liam ignored him.
"I'm angry all the time, because I have to be."
"Why?"
"Because," his grip tightened even more, fingernails lengthening into claws, "People feel only one emotion at a time."
Scott opened his mouth, but closed it again.
"He taught me that," Liam said hoarsely.
A look of understanding flashed across the alpha's face before it was followed by one of confusion.
"So I choose to be angry, every day. If I'm not angry then- well, then I'm everything else."
"And what is everything else for you, Liam?"
Liam laughed, it sounded hollow and forced. He still avoided Scott's eyes and focused on the water.
"Everything else would be grief, loss, guilt... regret."
"Look, Liam. I don't know much about your bond you had with Th-"
"You left. But he was here. Always. And," Liam finally turned to Scott, "You weren't here to help me, to help him. But I'm here now! I came when you called for help. How is that fair?"
Scott felt cold shock run up his spine, he remembered the missed calls followed by a call from the Sherif to inform him about what happened, but he never realised that this would be the impact that night had on his beta after all of these years.
"Liam, I'm sorry I didn't realise- I didn't understand."
"You wouldn't." Liam shook his head and once again looked away from his alpha, "but he did. Do you remember what you told me when I first turned? That I wasn't a monster, but-"
"A werewolf, like me." Scott whispered.
"But I never was like you. I was a lot more like him than I wanted to admit."
"Liam, we can work this out. We'll deal with this. Let us help. Me and Hikari and Mas-"
"You called," Liam's voice went icy cold, "And I came. But never again."
"What?" Scott asked in shock.
"You heard me. Never. Again."
"Liam, don't do what I think you're doing. Please!"
"I'm still your beta, and you're my alpha. But we are not brothers, we are not friends," Liam continued ruthlessly.
"You'll have no one Liam, please be reasonable," Scott pleaded.
"I'll have him."
"Liam, he's gone. You know that!"
"Gone? Gone like Allison? She doesn't seem that gone to me."
"Liam, please just think about this-"
"I never saw a body," Liam said firmly.
"Liam!" Scott roared to get his attention, eyes flashing red. Liam flashed his eyes in return but refused to back down.
The stared at each other, panting and eyes glowing as the rain started to pour heavier now.
"Just leave me alone Scott. I'm done."
"Then, let me help you. I wasn't there when you needed my help. When he needed my help, but I'm here now."
"I brought him back myself once. I can do it again," Liam said firmly, "Go be happy Scott, be with Allison."
Scott's shoulders sagged in defeat. He watched his beta who was still watching the water. He turned to leave.
"Tell Hikari I'm sorry."
That was the last thing he heard his beta whisper to him.