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Liam looked around, his eyes scanning the room for Theo – ever since the Beta let him out of the Skinwalkers’ prison, he felt like it was his responsibility to keep an eye on the chimera. After all, the werewolf was the one who decided to free him. However, deep down, the wolf knew that the responsibility was only a part of it. The other, way more complicated, was the soulmates part. The universe decided to give him the biggest fuck you in the world. Theo Raeken, the chimera of death, was his soulmate. The person that was supposed to get Liam the best. Well… to be fair, the older boy always understood him best. Back when Theo was pretending to be a regular werewolf, back when Liam was happy about finding his soulmate. Back when the two of them were waking up in the Beta’s bed, the younger teenager hidden in the chimera’s arms, his wolf calm, trusting Theo. Oh, how the boy’s heart broke when the coywolf betrayed them. After Kira put the blond down, Liam locked himself in his room and didn’t really leave it until Scott came back from the desert and talked to him. The werewolf cried in the True Alpha’s arms for an hour before he agreed to leave the bedroom that still held Theo’s scent. It was also the time when Jenna and David found out about the supernatural – Liam couldn’t just tell them that Theo skipped town. After all, he was their son’s soulmate, he wouldn’t just leave. However, his mom said something that the Beta couldn’t erase from his mind – it’s weird, sweetheart – Jenna said – Theo really loved you. His eyes didn’t lie. All those months, Liam managed to keep those words away. But he couldn’t. Not anymore. Whenever Theo would look at the Beta, there was something weird in his eyes. Shame? Guilt? Regret? However, Liam never stayed with the older boy alone for long enough, so he couldn’t find out.
What the teenager hated, though, was that his wolf still wanted Theo. Hell, the werewolf wanted him, too. However, he could control himself. His wolf? Not so much. His wolf was angry. No, no… It was furious. It simply wanted Theo – it didn’t care for what the older boy had done. Which, fair, it was an animal inside of Liam. It had instincts, not thinking. It wanted Theo. Period.
It made Liam tired. The thing was, he still loved the chimera. His wolf was definitely not helping. The teen sighed, catching Theo’s eyes again. However, this time, neither looked away. The older boy’s eyes were sad. Maybe it was his wolf, yearning for Liam, the same way the younger boy’s wolf yearned for Theo?
“Okay, that’s it for today,” Scott smiled. “Monroe is still on the loose, but the last time she was seen was in France, so we can’t help that. If she’s spotted anywhere close to North or South America, we’ll be notified. Now, though, we can be glad that not many hunters want to follow her. With Gerard dead, she doesn’t have the authority.”
Once the pack meeting ended, Liam left for the woods. It was his usual walk back, sometimes he ran, sometimes he simply walked. His house wasn’t far from Scott’s place, so it didn’t take long to get there. Tonight, however, prolonged the walk because Liam felt weird. Ever since he left the pack meeting, he had been running hot and felt nauseous. Which was weird, considering werewolves didn’t get sick. On top of that, the blond could swear that someone was following him, but whenever he turned around, he saw no one. When he tried to focus his hearing, he couldn’t. There was something wrong with him. The Beta considered calling Scott or Deaton, but decided to do it tomorrow. He wanted to go home and sleep.
Liam stopped, his breath shortening. What the hell? What’s going on? Anuk–Ite was long gone, so there was no fear involved in the way he felt. His wolf was gone as well. Quiet. No whining for Theo, no pleading with Liam to call Theo, no nothing. Before the blond could think more about it, he noticed that there was someone in front of him. No, not someone. Theo.
“Theo?” Liam breathed out. He couldn’t help, but feel safer with his mate by his side. “W–what’s going on?” The blond looked at the chimera, as if the latter had all the answers in the world.
“I don’t know. You smelt different at the pack meeting, so I followed you. Sorry, not sorry, but I’m not letting you get hurt,” he said, determined to help Liam.
“I– my wolf… it’s quiet. I can’t extend my hearing, and I feel weird,” Theo touched Liam’s forehead, frowning.
“You’re burning up, Liam.” He said, concerned. “Do you want me to call someone?” Theo asked, taking his hand away. Liam wished he didn’t.
“No, I just want to go home,” the teen said quietly.
“I’m gonna help you get there, then.”
“Theo…” Liam sighed.
“Just because I did what I did, doesn’t mean that I don’t care about you. You’re still my soulmate and I do care about you, Liam. I just want to get you home safe, that’s all,” the chimera said. His tone didn’t leave room for a no.
“Fine. But–”
“I’ll be gone as soon as you’re safe,” Theo interrupted him. Liam nodded, allowing the older teenager to wrap his arm around him, so that the boy could support himself. They got to the Dunbar–Geyer household a while later. Theo helped the teen to get to his room, Liam’s mind elsewhere. “Hey, you with me?” The chimera asked, helping the boy sit on the bed.
“Dizzy,” he murmured. “Can you call Scott?” Liam asked, his voice barely audible.
“Yeah. Yeah, I can. Wait here, okay? Don’t move,” the older teen said, leaving the room to call the Alpha. The brown–haired boy answered after two rings.
“You followed him? I told you it’s not a good idea, Theo.”
“Hello to you, too, Scott,” the chimera rolled his eyes. “I was right about Liam’s scent being off. He’s weird, Scott. He asked me to call you,” the blond could hear the wolf moving in the background.
“How weird?”
“He said his smell is off. Same with extended hearing. Oh, he’s dizzy, too.”
“Dizzy? We don’t get dizzy,” Theo could almost hear Scott’s frown. Always predictable.
“I know that,” the chimera snapped. “I’m just telling you what Liam told me,” he added. “Listen, I know you don’t like me. I don’t want you to. I want you to get your ass here for Liam. He reeks of fear. And before you ask, no, it’s not wolvesbane. It’s something weird. My wolf is weirdly happy about it and worried at the same time. Hurry,” Theo hung up, coming back to Liam’s room. There, he found a passed out Beta. He hurried to the boy’s side, checking for a pulse. It was there, but weak. The chimera laid the younger teen on his bed, only to hold his hand until he heard Scott’s car. “Upstairs,” he said, knowing that the Alpha would hear him.
“What the hell happened?” Scott rushed to the bed.
“I found him like this when I finished talking to you. His pulse is weak,” Theo swallowed a gulp in his throat. “But I don’t think it's necessarily bad–” he started, but Scott interrupted him.
“Not bad!? Look at him, Theo! How is that not bad?!” Scott screamed.
“I told you, my wolf is happy about it. Why would it be happy if our soulmate would be dying?” Theo asked.
“Maybe it’s as emotionless as you are?” The chimera growled at Scott’s words.
“Let me get something clear. The only thing I do regret is betraying Liam and breaking his heart. The rest? I tried to survive in the only one I knew how. The Beast was a threat, bigger than anything else. What, manipulation doesn’t apply to me unless my name is Allison Argent?” The Alpha growled at the mention of his dead friend. “Truth hurts, doesn’t it? You’re biased toward your friends, Scott,” the chimera’s eyes glowed yellow. “Whatever,” Theo took a deep breath in. “Liam is the prime focus now–” the teen was interrupted by something licking his hand. He looked down, only to see the most beautiful white wolf with blue irises ever. “Liam?” Theo blinked twice, his wolf happy on the inside. The creature wiggled its tail, getting its head under the boy’s hand for pets. “It’s not Liam,” he said to Scott. “It’s his wolf. Liam must still be passed out.”
“How do you know?” The Alpha asked, calming down.
“Liam hates me. He would bite, not lick me,” the blond said with sadness in his voice. “We gotta wait until Liam wakes up. I can’t help him shift back otherwise,” Scott nodded.
“Are you hungry? I could order something. It will be a while until he wakes up,” Theo shook his head and the Alpha sighed. The white wolf whined, wanting pets from his mate, needing closeness and reassurance.
“Spend some time with him. He needs his mate, Theo,” Scott said. “I’ll go and get Deaton, I already called him on my way here,” the chimera nodded, and with that, Scott left, leaving the wolf and the chimera behind.
“What?” Theo asked, his patience running low. The wolf whined again, getting its head into the older boy’s hand. The blond sighed, sitting down next to the wolf. He put his hand on the creature’s back, running his fingers through its fluffy fur. The wolf made a cat–like purr, content that its mate paid attention to it. “Can’t wait for Liam to wake up and bite me,” the older teen sighed, feeling calmer. There was something soothing about petting Liam.
“You like to… pet me?” Theo asked, chuckling.
“It’s soothing,” Liam blushed, looking away. The chimera reached out, making the Beta look at him by holding his chin with his thumb.
“Hey, don’t look away,” the coywolf said softly, pecking Liam’s lips. “It’s cute, love,” the younger boy looked at him through his lashes. “I’m damn lucky that you’re my mate, Liam,” he added and leaned in for a proper kiss.
“It calms me. I’m not that angry when I pet you. I don’t really understand it, but it helps,” the blond said once they separated.
“Pet me all you want, then.”
At the thought of the memory, one tear dropped from Theo’s eye. He frowned when the white wolf whined again. It laid its head in the chimera’s lap, trying to comfort him. It worked. Theo felt a little better. However, he knew once Liam would be awake, the nice pets and comfort would be gone. The Beta would be angry and Theo would feel guilty again. He petted him until the wolf shook, looking at Theo in shock.
“Hi, Liam,” he said calmly, raising his hands in defeat. “Your wolf was extra needy,” the chimera explained softly, surprised that he didn’t smell anger on Liam. He smelt… Gratefulness? Calm? “Had no other choice, but to pet it, sorry,” the Beta’s only response was a huff. Blue irises looked at the chimera, as if he had all the answers. “Changing back is going to hurt. It will take time before shifting won’t hurt. If I could, I’d take all the pain away,” Theo cleared his throat, looking at the floor. Liam put his head in Theo’s lap again, sniffing the blond’s stomach. The older teen frowned and looked at the wolf. Liam growled playfully, rising up to lick Theo’s nose. “You’re not angry?” The Beta only wiggled his tail, getting his head under the coywolf’s hand. “You remember that it’s calming, hm?” Theo scratched Liam behind his ear, the wolf loving it. The older boy laughed, petting the boy’s head.
Once Scott came back with Deaton, the vet checked Liam over, claiming that he evolved with no problems. The two left shortly after, with Theo staying and helping Liam shift back. It took an hour, but eventually the blond was back to his human form. Theo gave him time to dress up, going to the kitchen and supporting his weight on the kitchen island. He sighed, only now realizing how much he missed Liam. It was easier to bury it when it was only looking at the boy from across the room. Now? He couldn’t pretend anymore. His wolf ached for Liam, now more than ever. He looked up, hearing the Beta coming up to him.
“I think that we need to talk,” Liam said quietly. “We can’t do this anymore.”
“Do what?” Theo frowned, confused.
“Pretend that we’re fine with avoiding each other,” he looked at the floor, sighing. “At least I can’t. Not anymore,” the Beta looked up. “The bond… it’s stronger. Can’t you feel it?” Liam said, already knowing the answer.
“Liam–”
“Before you even say anything,” Liam interrupted him. “Deaton said that there may come a day where Scott would have to free you because my wolf would start to die without you. He never said it to Scott, only to me. I didn’t get why. For me, you deserved to rot. But… I got it. The second I let you out, I understood. The way my stomach wasn’t clenching anymore. My wolf calmed down. You’ve got no idea how feral it was without you–”
“Liam, I’m a monster. Big bad chimera, remember? Killed my pack, killed my sister–” Liam shut him up by coming up to him and smashing their mouths together. Who was Theo to deny Liam? He always had a soft spot for his little Beta. Wait, his? No, Liam wasn’t his.
“You tried to survive. I get it now,” the boy said once they separated.
“I chose survival over my mate, Liam. What kind of monster does it make me?” Theo tried to step back, but the Beta didn’t let him.
“To be fair, you asked me to go with you,” the werewolf put their foreheads against each other, smiling.
“Go with me, Liam, please,” the chimera pleaded, trying to touch the Beta’s hand, but he pulled away.
“Are you crazy?! I thought you wanted to apologize–”
“Liam, please–”
“Fuck you! Get out! Get out of here!” He screamed, growling.
“Liam–”
“Out!” The Beta yelled. Theo sighed and left, the werewolf’s broken heart feeling like it was ripped out.
“Yeah, and you chose to be loyal to Scott. Like I should’ve been to you, love,” Theo smiled sadly, putting his hands on Liam’s hips.
“Well, you’ve learned from your mistakes. You’re loyal to me now,” Liam pecked Theo’s lips. “It will be rough… Getting to where we were. I’m willing to try. I wanna try,” the Beta frowned, seeing the older teen tear up. “Hey, don’t cry,” he wiped the tears away.
“No one ever cared for me the way you do,” Theo said, kissing Liam passionately.
Eventually, Theo regained Liam’s trust. They got married five years later, with Mason and Corey as their witnesses. The two wolves ran in the woods together often. Whether it was a patrol, the full moon, or a silly run, they were happy as long as they were together.