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Theo looks up at the cabin with dread. He really doesn't want to go in. But Liam, the new protector of Beacon Hills, as he liked to refer to himself, called him. It was serious. And it was bad.
There were sightings of strange creatures all over town, but mostly around the preserve. A few people have gone missing, but those who did make it back are nearly unresponsive. One girl, after waking up from a coma, drew something that looked like it came from someone’s nightmare.
It is so bad that everyone got a recall, Scott, Stiles, Lydia, Malia, heck, even Derek and Peter. After the whole Monroe thing, they stopped meeting at Scott’s house, not wanting to draw attention to the pack, so this time, they all agreed to meet at an old Argent safe house just outside of town. Theo doesn’t like it. It feels too exposed.
Lots of heads turn when he enters. A few of the younger pack members ignore him, Stiles glares at him while Malia has this frown on her face like she’s about to ask what the hell is he doing here. But before anyone can react, Liam jumps up from where he was sitting next to Scott and almost runs towards him. “Theo! You came!”
“Yeah, well, not like I have anything better to do,” he replies, aiming for nonchalant, and hopes nobody figures out how true it is. He doesn’t have anything better to do, any place better to go, he doesn’t really have anything aside from his truck and a few bucks to his name. At least with a new threat on the horizon, he has a chance to be useful again.
“No new world domination plans?” Stiles chimes in, words sharp, and a spiteful glint in his eyes.
“Not at this very moment, but who knows?” he shrugs, makes his lips pull into a smirk, even if he doesn’t really feel it. He doesn’t really want any of the same things he wanted, he is too tired, too beaten down to worry about anything else, to plot anything but what his next meal might be.
They continue talking after that, exchanging ideas, mulling over what this new threat might be exactly, and how they can deal with it. The things they are describing, they sound familiar, like Theo has read about them somewhere before, but he can’t remember where. It plagues his mind, annoyingly so, and because of it, he doesn’t hear his name being called out until Liam shakes his shoulder.
“Earth to Theo, you with us?” Stiles says, and Scott throws him a look before turning back to Theo.
“Have you ever seen anything like this?”
“No,” he responds, still thinking, still trying to figure it out, “but it all sounds so familiar. Like I’ve read about this before. Especially when someone mentioned they reacted to the cleaning stuff.”
“Why is that important?” Lydia asks, but when Theo looks at her, it feels like she might be piecing together something just like he is.
“Sodium-borate.” The answer smacks him in the face, but he has no clue how he knows that.
“Super salt,” he and Lydia say at the exact same time. She smiles at him, and he feels… He doesn’t know what this feeling is. It is warm and nice and he doesn’t know what to do with it. Still, as soon as he notices his mask slipping, he scolds his features into something more neutral.
“That’s great, but how does that help us?” Stiles says with a groan. But before anyone can say anything more, a loud bang echoes outside. Scott moves first, rushing up to the window, then gently moving the curtain to the side, just a tiny bit, just enough for his eyes to scan the outside. With the way they widen in a split second, and the way his heart rate kicks into gear, it doesn’t look good.
“What is it?” Malia asks the question everyone is dying to know the answer to. (Later, if Theo wasn’t so preoccupied, he would think back on this moment and realize what a bad choice of words that was.)
“We’re surrounded. They’re everywhere,” Scott replies as he turns back to them, face pale. That is the only warning they get before the cabin front doors get kicked in and all hell breaks loose.
None of them are prepared for this. It’s not just a surprise attack, though Theo does remember thinking they were too exposed here, but it’s also the way they move. They are too fast, too strong. He barely registers their reptilian-like appearance before he is forced to fight for his life.
One creature rushes right at him, long claws slashing, trying to find flesh to rip into while they hiss and try to bite with their long teeth. Their eyes are just holes with white, smoky light, so terrifying that Theo has to avert his gaze. He wrestles one, using the horns on its head and on its back to throw the creature away from himself. But the damn thing is too fast, and before he knows it, it is back on its feet.
Since Mason and Nolan were closer to it now, it picks them as a new target, and Theo has no choice but to lunge back at the creature again and use his own claws to fight it off. His old instincts kick in, his mind already cataloguing their movement, their strategy, their weaknesses. And as soon as he finds it, he goes for it.
It’s smack in the middle of their chest. He has a fleeting thought of the irony of the situation before he shoves the creature’s incoming claw to the side and plunges his own hand straight into its chest. He feels the slimy heartbeat in his hand and without giving it a second thought, he yanks the organ out.
It beats in his hand for a moment or two before it just evaporates into the air, leaving behind black blood to cover Theo’s hand. Breathing hard, he looks up just in time to see the light in the creature's eyes dim as it too disappears in a cloud of smoke.
“Holy shit,” he hears Nolan say, and when he turns to the two boys he probably just saved, he finds them watching him with eyes wide and expressions of pure terror. Like he’s the monster there.
Maybe he is.
The way everyone else is staring at him, it only affirms it.
When he looks around the room, adrenaline pumping and so ready to take on the next motherfucker, he is surprised to see the creatures retreating. No, not retreating… There is a strange, almost whining sound coming from the outside, and he realizes they are being recalled.
Suddenly, there are loud growls echoing outside, menacing and terrifying. Everyone files outside to see what is happening, but the light of the cabin only reaches so far, and the actual fight is happening deeper into the woods. Theo, Malia, and Peter take a step forward, ready to go in, to fight, but Scott holds them back with a single ‘wait’. So they wait and listen as the hissing grows more silent, while the growls intensify.
It only lasts a few minutes before the whole woods falls into eerie silence. Theo doesn’t like it. He can’t hear a thing, not a single heartbeat aside from the people around him. It shouldn’t be possible, because whatever just took down these creatures must still be there (He is pretty sure they ran out to fight a bigger threat and were slaughtered).
“Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?” Stiles breaks the silence, his high pitched voice startling everyone. Derek shoots him a glare at the stupid question, the kind Theo feels deep in his bones. None of them know anything more.
“We should go in,” Scott says, “see what happened.” Theo already sees it; Scott, Derek, Peter, and Malia, going into the woods while the others stay behind to look after each other (or the more human parts of their group). They get either attacked by more creatures or by whatever it was that took them down. Despite his previous intention of going in there, he now sees it would be a bad idea.
He wants to say that they shouldn’t split up, but he knows nobody would listen to him.
“We should stay together,” Lydia says like she just read his mind. When he glances back at her, their eyes meet for a second and he finds himself wondering if they could have been good friends, if he hadn’t done what he did.
“Yeah, definitely,” Stiles adds nervously, “if the horror movies have taught us anything, it is to never, ever, under any circumstances–”
“Shhhh!” Derek interrupts him at the same time Theo registers a noise coming from the woods. Footsteps. But not human. An animal. Something walking on four legs.
No, two of them. Two sets of footsteps, two heartbeats. Getting closer.
The werewolves among them brace for whatever is about to come out of there, while the humans and others stay silent, knowing something is happening, even if they aren’t sure what.
Two wolves step out of the darkness.
One is big, completely white, covered in long, thick fur. He is staring at them like he has a bone to pick, and Theo finds himself swallowing hard at the sinister look in its blue eyes. But then he sees the other.
And his mind screeches to a halt.
He knows that wolf.
That skinny, dark wolf with golden eyes and a knowing look in his eyes.
But how could it be possible? How could it exist in two places at once?
The black wolf turns to the white one, letting out a soft whine. The white one huffs at him, eyes glowing red, showing the alpha status. Showing him, and the rest of the people there, who is in charge. Theo half expects Scott’s own eyes to flare in response, but he is too calm and collected for that. Well, maybe more curious and open-minded would be a better description. Not that Theo really cares.
He is too preoccupied staring at himself.
The black wolf huffs and rolls his eyes, like he’s not intimidated for a second. But it seems to follow the order as the white wolf nudges his snout in their direction and the black wolf steps forward. One step follows the other, the shift happening gradually. Before he realizes what he is doing, Theo is moving to his truck and grabbing some underwear and shorts from the back seat, eyes still trained on the wolf turning into a man right before their eyes.
A small gasp escapes Theo when the shift is complete and he gets face to face with himself. Only… He is older.
His hair is a little shorter and styled, and he’s got a scruff on his face. His eyes glint in the moonlight, a smile tugging at his lips when he meets Theo’s. Not knowing what else to do, Theo throws him (himself?) the clothes.
Future Theo catches it with ease, looking over at the boxer briefs and huffing a laugh. “These are a little too small for me, but thanks. I’ll just take the shorts,” he says like it’s no big deal, like everyone isn’t staring at him right now, filled with questions and so confused. He throws back the underwear and slips on the shorts that seem to be just on the right side of tight.
Then, he wiggles his butt at the white wolf and asks if these make his ass look big. The white wolf growls at him angrily.
“Alright, sheesh,” the future Theo says, arms raised, even if his smile persists. He turns back towards the crowd, takes a deep breath, then starts rambling.
“Okay… If it’s not already obvious, I am from the future. Somehow, somewhere along the line, someone fucked up and altered the chain of events and we had to come here to make it right. These creatures you have encountered were never supposed to resurface and we are here to put them back to where they belong, seal the hole, and be on our merry way. But we need you guys to do it. Well, some of you, not all of you.”
Silence follows his speech as everyone just stands there and stares at him. Theo himself isn’t faring better. He has seen his fair share of strange, from failed experiments and magical creatures to coach Finstock’s curve grading in Economics class, but this? This is a whole new level.
“What?” Liam manages to say. The future Theo looks at him, eyes roaming over his entire body before smirking.
“Is there a specific part you didn’t understand or do you want me to repeat the whole thing?”
“No, we understood, just… It’s a little shocking to see… Well, this version of you,” Scott replies, glancing back at Theo before focusing back on the other version. Theo doesn’t like it. Doesn’t like how everyone is glancing his way, wondering if he is the real one or if he’s up to something again and this is all just a part of his plan. He doesn’t like how it makes him the center of attention, even if it is his future self that is doing all the talking.
“I get that. But we don’t really have a lot of time to chit chat and for me to try to explain everything. We need to deal with the Shedim.”
“The what now?” Malia asks, but it’s Mason who answers.
“The Shedim? Oh, wow! Um, according to one legend, the Shedim are the descendants of serpents, or of demons in serpent form, in allusion to the story of the serpent in Eden. Another legend is that God created them on the sixth day, starting to fashion their bodies but failing to complete the work because he was obliged to rest on the Sabbath.” It’s like he’s reciting an encyclopedia or something.
“Close. They are creatures that even the demons fear. They have been locked up in the deepest parts of Hell since the dawn of time, but someone fucked something up and managed to open a door for them,” the future Theo says. “And my faithful companion and I are here to put the mutts back in their place and lock that door for good. Now, you gonna help us or not?”
“How do we know you’re telling the truth?” Stiles, of course, pipes in, head raised as he tries and fails to look down upon the future Theo.
“Oh, come on! When have I ever lied to you?” the future Theo says, then starts laughing.
“He’s lying about one thing,” Corey of all people says, and everyone’s heads turn in his direction. His eyes look a little glassy, like he is halfway through his shift. Like he is looking at what lies beyond the normal scope of light. “They’re not alone.”
Immediately, the tension fills the air. And everyone is staring back at Theo’s future version with distrust.
“What do you see?” Derek asks him, face twisted in anger.
Corey’s eyes roam around the woods, face turning paler with every passing second. “Four more. They are all linked somehow, all hidden behind the veil,” he says.
“There’s a dirty white wolf, a fox, a… is that a hellhound? In wolf form?” Corey’s voice wavers as he lists what he sees. “There’s one grey wolf with a dark stripe on his back… He’s… He’s linked to the others, hiding them from plain sight. And… Wait, there is a fifth one… Oh, god. No, no…” Corey’s eyes shift back to normal, face turning completely white like he’s seen a ghost. Maybe he has.
“What?! What?! Spit it out!!” Stiles looks like he is seconds away from reaching the other boy and shaking him to get the answer out of him.
“The– The– It’s the Beast!”
For a split second, it feels like the Earth has stopped spinning. Then, it feels like the ground underneath Theo’s feet is about to open up again to swallow him whole.
It couldn’t be. The Beast is dead. Scott killed him.
“Can I say now I told you so?” Future Theo turns to the white wolf, grinning like a cat who caught a canary. “I told you it wouldn’t work.”
The white wolf growls deeply, front paws stomping as it huffs angrily, then howls. A few moments later, the other wolves become visible and everyone collectively gasps at the sight of the Beast among them. But it’s not moving to attack anyone, and if Theo is reading the situation right, the Beast sees the white wolf as its leader.
The white wolf starts walking forward, just as the future Theo did before, shifting with every step it takes. Theo is too stunned by the sight to grab any clothes this time.
Because the white wolf, the menacing looking alpha is none other than Liam. Or a future version of him anyway.
Naturally, all eyes snap to the younger one, who looks just as stunned, and starts blushing like crazy. He motions at Theo. “Give him, I mean me, some clothes!”
Theo grabs the first thing he sets his hands on, some old sweatpants, and tosses them at the future Liam. They hit him square in the chest and fall to the ground in a heap. The older version of Liam shifts his glare from the future Theo to the younger one, making him gulp.
“Okay, someone explain to me how that is Liam. Please!” Stiles says, hands waving around. “What is even happening here, how is he a wolf? And a freaking alpha?!”
“Are you sure you want to know that and risk breaking the time-space continuum?” The future Theo replies, teases really, a huge smile on his face.
“What the– Okay, at least explain to me what the hell is up with the two of you?! This one,” Stiles points at the future Liam, “is looking at me like he is seconds away from telling me I have failed this city, and you… you look all…”
“All what?”
“All smiles and sunshines and rainbows?”
The future Theo looks down upon himself and then back at Stiles with a very confused face.
“Okay, enough.” Scott finally steps in. “We want to know what’s going on. If you want our help,” he says, looking at the older version of Liam, “you need to give us more than this.”
The future Liam’s eyes narrow for a moment, and Theo really doesn’t know where this distrust towards Scott comes from, or if it is even that. Maybe this Liam just feels protective of what is clearly his pack. Speaking of them, the older Liam’s shoulders relax after a moment and he glances back, nods just once. The rest move forward, shifting as they go.
The fox transforms first, her fur magically transforming with her into regular clothes. Theo doesn’t recognize her, but he does recognize the duffle she carries; it’s his own, albeit much more worn down. She pulls clothes from it, handing them over to each pack member as they shift to the human form. The dirty white wolf, a regular werewolf, turns out to be an older version of Alec who just gives them a smile and a wave.
The grey wolf, the one that supposedly had them all concealed, was none other than a future version of Corey, which shouldn’t be surprising at this point.
What is surprising is the hellhound. He really looks magnificent, his fur shimmering in the moonlight, like it is caught on fire. Theo is so mesmerized by him that it takes him a moment to recognize the man he shifts into.
“Freaking Nolan??” Stiles shouts, hands flying to the younger, then the older version, before finally landing on his own head. He motions away from it and makes a boom sound, mimicking being mind-blown by it.
And really, as completely weird as that is, it is nothing to the man that was the Beast just seconds ago. Well, actually, Theo should have seen it coming. It is so obvious. Who else would stay by Liam’s side, beside his best friend? And he was the Beast at one point, so it makes sense.
Not that Theo really knows how Nolan became a hellhound and Mason became the Beast, but it feels like that is the least of their worries now.
“What Theo told you is the truth,” the older version of Liam says, “we just didn’t want to overly expose some of you to what the future holds.” He glances over at the yonder versions standing there, wide-eyed and clearly shocked.
“Yeah, but I knew this guy would recognize his own wolf form,” the older Theo says, “so Liam thought it would be best if I approached you. I knew it was a bad idea. Too many fresh wounds.”
“Doesn’t matter now,” the older Liam says with a growl that is definitely directed at the future Theo (who just grins at him like he is delighted to be able to provoke him), “What matters is that we stop the Shedim right now.”
“Okay,” Scott replies, “what do you need from us?”
“From you? Nothing,” the future Liam says, then turns to Derek. “We need him.”
“Derek? Why?”
“He’s the one that activated the Nemeton,” the older Mason speaks up, voice much deeper, and a lot more serious. “He’s the only one that can close the rift that stretches all the way down to hell.”
“How?” Derek asks, a frown on his face.
“A blood sacrifice,” Mason responds, and in an instant, that tension is back, heavily pressing down on everyone.
Until the future Theo breaks it, huffing a laugh. “Oh, will you all relax? We just need a few drops, fresh, willingly given. That’s all. No need to go all doomsday.”
Everyone seems to relax a little at that. The atmosphere shifts a little as everyone prepares to go to the Nemeton, despite the future Liam saying not everyone needs to come. Like anyone is going to miss this. Not to mention that there is a chance more of those creatures could be out there and they need to get rid of them all.
The future Liam finally puts some clothes on, huffing at the pink sweatpants Hikari, the Kitsune among them, hands him. Theo picks up the ones he threw at him, ignoring the pang in his chest at being ignored. Even if his older version seems to be in good relations with him, for whatever reason, the older Liam won’t even look at Theo.
He follows the group as they head to the Nemeton on foot. There are a lot of hushed conversations; pointless, really, since pretty much everyone has supernatural hearing. The younger versions seem to be very curious about their future selves, the future versions are worried about implicating their younger selves in the whole thing, and the rest are wondering if they should trust it all. Honestly, it is all giving Theo a headache.
It’s Liam that falls into the step beside him. Of course it is, who else would it be? Others either despise him or don’t care enough to involve him in any sort of conversation. Only Liam seems to think they share some sort of a bond after having fought against the spirits of the Wild Hunt and Monroe’s hunters. It’s a stupid notion. So why does Theo cling onto it like it is something sacred?
“What do you think about all of this?” Liam asks, like his opinion matters. Maybe to him, it does. Maybe, just maybe, Liam does care what he thinks. Or he just knows Theo, as a previously bad guy, could spot bullshit a mile away.
He shrugs, then looks up at the version of them that seem to be just a few years older, but so much different. It irks him, how the future Theo seems to be so relaxed, so easy going. It could all be a facade, Theo considers, but then again, it could really be how he is. Or how he will be.
But the other Liam, the bulkier, more pissed off version of the boy walking by his side, he’s the one that baffles Theo the most. Because even if they don’t show, Theo knows that Liam has some deep scars. It’s in the way he handles himself, trying to keep everything in, hiding his chemosignals like they are precious commodities.
And then there are the two of them as a whole. The way the older Theo keeps picking at him, annoying him, but while the older Liam huffs and growls at him, and shoves him away, he still walks by his side.
“They’re hiding something,” Theo says, not really sure why. The future Theo, who must have heard him, turns his head and gives him a wide grin before continuing to walk. If that doesn’t confirm he is right, he doesn’t know what does.
“Like what?” Liam whispers, all conspiratory, and Theo resists rolling his eyes.
“If I knew what, I would say that,” he responds, “but whatever it is, I don’t think it has anything to do with these monsters or the reason they are here. I think it is something about the future.”
“Could it be like the butterfly effect thing?” Liam asks. Theo looks at him, feels his brows scrunch up in a frown as he wonders if the regular school curriculum teaches about Chaos theory. That’s when Liam shrugs and adds, “I’ve seen the movie.”
Of course he has.
Theo didn’t even know they made a movie about something like this.
It probably starred some good looking guy like Channing Tatum. Sounds like a movie he would do.
“I don’t know, Liam,” Theo replies, a little annoyed and exasperated. He might find out more if he is left alone to watch them interact and talk and not having to babysit Liam and answer his questions.
“Okay, but if you had to make a guess–”
“Liam, I swear to–” He interrupts Liam, but his own words get cut off when a loud howl echoes through the forest. Theo has only ever heard of one, years ago, when the Doctors caught a werewolf and were carving him up. They noted that it was a distress call to the rest of his pack members, but that the wolfsbane and the maze that were the tunnels, would keep the rest away. They were right.
“Don’t fall for it,” the older Liam proclaims, the rest of his pack closing ranks around him and the older Theo. It is fascinating to watch, the way they all move, putting themselves between the forest and the rest, but even more so is the way they turn their backs to the older Theo and not fearing that he would stab them in the back.
“It’s a trick they learned,” the older Mason explains, “it sounds like a call for help, but if you listen carefully, you’ll spot a difference in the way the howl is void of any emotions.”
“Ignore it,” the future Liam says, then motions forward with his chin, “let’s keep going.”
The next few minutes they walk in silence, everyone too vigilant of the possible threat that still lurks in the forest. Theo wonders just how many of those creatures there are, but doesn’t voice his question; not because he fears of disturbing the quiet, but because he might not like the answer he gets.
They reach a clearing, the Nemeton visible straight ahead, when the older Nolan raises a hand and makes everyone stop. He surveys the surroundings like a predator seeking its prey, his arm flaring up with the kind of flames only a hellhound could produce.
Hikari drops the bag she was carrying, the sound of it hitting the floor making Theo flinch. It looks like his bag, one of the measly few possessions he still has, but it isn’t his. He has no idea why it stings to see it being treated so poorly.
He forgets about it as soon as he sees the wolf pack start to remove their clothes. They are preparing to shift and probably for a good reason.
The future Theo turns to Mason of all people and hands him a piece of paper. “You and Derek have to get to the Nemeton. He has to bleed on it, just a few drops would do, and then you have to recite this chant, got it?”
For a split second, Theo wonders why he doesn’t trust himself to do it - the incantation is probably in Latin, and he knows it like the back of his hand. But in the very next moment, the older Theo levels him with a stare, and he knows the answer.
Because he is willing to do what has to be done to stop these monsters. Because he is willing to slash and claw until there is nothing left of them but the smoky essence that escapes, hopefully, to the very same hole they crawled out of.
“Be ready,” the future Liam says, and then he is shifting, skin turning into soft white fur. Standing this close, Theo can see just how large Liam’s wolf really is. And then, he sees just how vicious he can be. Liam takes the first leap into the clearing, the rest of his wolf pack hot on his heels. As soon as they step forward, the creatures rise from the dark, snarling and hissing.
Theo has but a moment to watch, mesmerised, how the whole pack comes together to fight them off, before he has to focus on his own survival. He dodges one creature only to be hit with a tail by another. Managing to stay upright, Theo punches the Shedim in the face, hissing as pain shoots through his fist. Still, he ignores it, and shoves the monster away. The first one comes back, but Theo manages to use his momentum to drive his other hand into the creature’s chest, and snag its heart out.
Earning himself only a moment of reprieve, he spots the wolves tearing the creatures apart. It looks… beautiful. The bloodlust, the need to protect, is so strong in their chemosignals, it is almost overwhelming.
On the other hand, his pack– Well, not his, Scott’s and Stiles’ and whoever's, they aren't faring so well. They are fighting, but they lack that little extra, and because of it, the creatures remain corporeal and keep coming at them. Even Liam, who has a lot of flare with that anger of his, is still holding back.
It's a stark difference between how they are and how they will be.
The only one that seems to be fighting to the teeth is Peter. But that's nothing new.
Another creature charges him, but Theo has already memorized their moves and their strategy, and it is getting easier to deal with them. He uses its own momentum and shoves it away, but then follows it, so that as soon as it turns, Theo’s hand thrusts forward, piercing its chest.
The creature's heart is already a pile of smoke by the time Theo pulls his hand out.
A yelp draws his attention and Theo turns only to see one of the creatures slashing at Liam. The little beta is pissed, and tries to fight back, not noticing that his shirt is ripped and his stomach is bleeding. Sure, he heals fast, but it's taking away some of his strength. Without thinking too much, Theo runs towards him, snaking his hand around the creature as it wrestles with Liam and plunges it through its chest.
As the Shedim disappears, Theo comes face to face with Liam who is staring at him with wide eyes, mouth hanging open and no words coming out. Theo smirks at him, even if he doesn’t quite feel it.
Suddenly, there is a hissing sound right behind him, but when he turns around, there is a flash of something white and red. He blinks and moves his focus down to his left, only to find the great white wolf tearing into not one, but two creatures.
He is pretty sure he looks like Liam did a moment ago, like a deer caught in the headlights, but pardon him for being shocked. He didn't hear them coming, and as a result, he was almost taken down. If it wasn't for the future Liam, he would have been Shedim snack.
The white wolf looks up at him, eyes flashing red before going back to the soft blue. He lets out a small growl, like he’s reprimanding Theo for dropping his guard, but then in the very next moment, he is leaping away, going after another creature.
“I still can't believe that will be me one day,” Liam huffs, but before Theo could respond, they get attacked again. It almost seems like for every creature they kill, another three appear.
Thankfully, it doesn’t take too long for Mason and Derek to do their thing. Theo is in the middle of fighting off a creature when a sudden flash nearly blinds him. He blinks fast, forcing his eyes to adjust quickly so he isn't taken by surprise, but it seems that all the monsters have simply vanished.
“I did it? Oh, my god, I did it!!! Wooooo!!” Younger Mason shouts through the woods, startling everyone. His excitement is contagious, and even as bone tired as he feels, Theo can’t help but smile. They made it.
He glances over at everyone, and while there does seem to be a few people slightly injured, it doesn’t appear to be anything too serious. Somehow, everyone made it alive. His eyes meet Scott’s across the field and the alpha nods at him. It feels good.
So why is he waiting for another shoe to drop?
It feels too easy.
"You're overthiking it,” a voice says to his ear and he flinches, panicked and angry at how he once again allowed someone (or something) to creep up on him. When he turns, he faces his older version and knows the fucker did that on purpose. The future Theo laughs, open and carefree.
Theo can’t help but wonder how he gets to be like this.
It is astonishing, the way he moves with the rest of the wolf pack, like he is an integral part of it. They trust him and they fight with him and for him. It almost feels like some are willing to give their lives for him. And that is the really mind blowing part.
How?
“Yeah, I know what you're thinking,” his future self says, reading his mind like an open book. “But you also know I can't tell you.”
He looks smug, but there is a hint of something in his eyes, something heavy, a loss, grief and pain that seems so unfamiliar, the kind he doesn’t think he's ever experienced before. But it's just a flash, there for a single moment before it gets buried under the spark of amusement. The older Theo glances at his pack, lips drawing out in an actual smile.
“Guess you’re just gonna have to stick around and find out what comes next,” he says, looking back at Theo. He gives them a wink before he joins his pack.
Theo huffs a laugh. His older version might not be able to tell him what the future holds, but he did just tell him he should stay. And that is something. If it leads him to what that version of him has, it will be worth it.
“You really think that will be us in a few years?” Liam comes up to him and asks. Theo doesn’t respond for a few moments, just watches the wolf pack as they change into their human form, gather their things and start saying their goodbyes.
Both of them huff a laugh at Stiles trying to weasel more information out of them and getting shut down harshly by the older version of Liam.
“I hope so,” Theo finally answers Liam’s question, watching as older Alec, of all people, starts chanting something. A rift opens in the middle of the field, most likely a portal to wherever the wolf pack came from.
“You said they were hiding something,” Liam says. “Did you figure out what it was?”
Just as the pack starts going through the portal, Theo catches a glimpse of his future self brushing his hand against the older Liam’s. Their pinkies curl around one another, shoulders bumping. The older Theo turns to shoot him a look before they both step through the rift that promptly closes.
“Nope. I got no idea,” he lies.