Chapter Text
Theo:
I pressed my hands onto Liam’s stomach, black blood covering them quickly. “I need some help!” I called out, trying to remain calm and stifle the panic growing in my chest. I stretched my hearing to listen for my pack and Scott’s. I then looked up to see a dark brown haired boy with his arm around the bruised neck of a dark-skinned boy, and they both were limping towards me. I recognized them as Corey and Mason from a picture Liam showed me of his pack. “Stay where you are, you’re both injured” I ordered.
“Liam’s hurt, so give us a minute, we’re coming” Mason argued, and a pale Corey nodded beside him. I raised my eyebrows in surprise. Didn’t Liam say that Mason was human? When they reached me, Mason gently helped Corey sit on the ground, and lean back against a tree. Mason then winced as he took off his jacket and handed it to me. I instantly pressed it onto Liam’s stomach. Corey then grimaced as he took off his own jacket and shakingly gave it to Mason, who immediately pressed it against Liam’s side.
I glanced at the two of them. “What happened?” I asked.
Mason let out a shaky breath. “They just came out of nowhere, and slammed into us. Corey, he shielded me, and Liam shielded the both of us, then Liam got us out of the car and we ran. But they followed, and Liam...he got shot protecting us" he replied, guilt taking over his scent.
I glanced back at Liam. "Sounds like him" I said softly, missing the curious look Mason sent my way.
Mason cleared his throat, getting me to glance at him again. "It, um, it didn’t seem like the hunters were trying to kill Liam, it seemed more like they were trying to take him away” he pointed out, fear and worry written all over his face. My eyebrows furrowed. Why? What made them change from attempted murder to attempted kidnapping?
Suddenly, the sounds of people hurriedly approaching reached my ears. “Hey Mason, you’re coming with me, okay? I'll be taking you to the hospital to get checked out” Lydia declared, rushed to his side, and helped him to his feet. She worriedly glanced at Liam, who was getting paler. “Is he okay?” she asked me.
I swallowed. “He will be” I replied confidently, despite the panic in my chest threatening to boil over.
Mason glanced between Corey and Liam. “What about them?” he questioned.
Scott and Malia then appeared on either side of Corey, and he winced as they gently helped him stand. “Derek said that we can take Corey to the animal clinic, Morrell is waiting for us there. Liam is supposed to go with Theo” Scott answered, and his eyes softened when they found the state his Beta was in. Malia stared at me with distrust her eyes that matched the wariness in her scent, Lydia tilted her head curiously at me, while Mason practically vibrated with concern as he stared at Corey, and seemed to be having an unspoken conversation with him.
I looked determinedly at all of them. “Hey, Liam is in good hands, okay? He’ll be safe with me, I won't let anything else happen to him” I reassured them.
Lydia nodded before her and Mason walked towards her car. Scott wrapped an arm around Corey’s waist, and Malia wrapped one of Corey’s arms around her neck, and then arched an eyebrow at me. “Liam better be good as new the next time I see him” she warned, and I raised my eyebrows. She, Corey, and Scott limped away to the Jeep.
The scent of one of my pack members was thankfully drawing closer to me. “Come on Teddy, we’re taking Liam in your truck” Erica ordered when she reached me.
I raised my eyebrows. Wait a minute. “You drove my truck?!” I exclaimed. For Liam's sake, I'll let it slide, but that doesn't mean I'm not still pissed about it.
She scoffed. “It was an emergency” she defended.
I narrowed my eyes at her, but before I could retort, I heard a painful groan come from Liam. I looked at him to see that not only was he even paler, but he was starting to bleed profusely again. My heart raced in terror as I quickly unbuckled my belt, and slid it out of the belt loops of my jeans. With Erica’s help, I tightened the belt around his torso and the jackets that were on top of his wounds, and then instantly pulled him into my arms. I stood up as gently as I could, and followed Erica to where my truck was parked. “So what I’d miss?” I questioned her. Please distract me.
“Scott called the Hellhound, so the cops should be here soon to round up the hunters that Derek sadly said not to kill this time. Then Derek and Isaac left before everyone after they grabbed one of the hunters to interrogate, Deaton’s meeting us at the house, and Boyd is waiting for us” Erica explained as we reached my truck.
I glared at the back of her head as she opened the back door for me. “You could’ve chosen any other vehicle, and you had to choose my baby” I argued, and gently laid Liam down in the backseat, before getting in next to him. She smirked as she shut the door behind me, and raced to the passenger side. She hopped in, closed her door, and Boyd immediately took off. I pulled Liam’s head onto my lap, focused all of my hearing on his vitals, and gently rubbed my thumb against his cheek. You’re gonna be okay, baby wolf, you have to be. I need you to be okay.
The next morning, I was sitting tiredly in a chair next to Liam’s hospital bed, staring at him as he lay unconscious in one of our trauma rooms in the basement. The same room he’d been in before. I really hope there won't be a third visit. I sighed as I heard approaching footsteps, and two familiar scents before the door to the room opened. “Hey Teddy,” Erica said softly as she walked into the room, holding Boyd’s hand.
“Did you get any sleep?” Boyd asked.
I shook my head as I got to my feet. “Where are Derek and Isaac? I heard them leave a while ago” I then asked.
“They went to Deaton’s clinic to meet Scott and Malia” Boyd answered.
I furrowed my eyebrows, and looked between the two of them. “Why?” I questioned.
“Obviously, we can’t do the official ceremony yet, so the plan is to form a temporary alliance until Liam recovers, and Jackson gets here. After what happened last night, Saint Scott’s not taking any more chances. Can’t say that I blame him” Erica explained, and shrugged.
“Derek also said that Liam is to be with someone at all times, of course with you here, that shouldn’t be a problem” Boyd added, slightly smirking, causing Erica to also smirk.
I rolled my eyes, but before I could say something, I heard a groan beside me, and I turned just in time to see Liam open his eyes. “Hey baby wolf” I said softly, my heart was almost bursting with relief.
His beautiful blue eyes widened as they searched the room, and I heard his heart begin to race, panic permeating his scent. “What happened? Where’s Mason and Corey? Are they okay? Did I get them killed?” he rapidly asked.
My heart clenched in my chest. “They’re fine, baby wolf” I tried reassuring him.
Liam’s eyes shifted to golden-yellow as he looked between Erica, Boyd and I. “It’s my fault, it’s all my fault. I gave us away” he said, his voice starting to become more animal than human. He can’t possibly believe that, can he?
Boyd and Erica’s eyes softened. “It was the hunters’ fault, not yours pup. You protected your pack members until we got there” Erica tried soothing him, her tone soft.
Liam’s chest started to move rapidly, his fingernails stretching into claws. Damn it, shifting is the last thing he needs to happen. “Liam-” I started to say.
He shook his head. “No Theo-this is on me, why wasn’t I paying attention? I should’ve heard the car coming sooner” he interrupted, and he cried out as his fangs shot through his gums.
“You heard it just in time” Boyd tried reassuring him.
Liam shook his head again. “Liam, look at me,” I said firmly. His golden-yellow eyes instantly found mine, and I flashed mine in return. “Your friends are fine, and I can tell you what happened to them, but we need to stop your shift from taking over. You are still healing” I explained, and grabbed one of his hands to put on my chest. He closed his eyes and after a minute or two, (I wasn’t sure, I was too focused on the warmth his hand created on my chest), he opened them, and they were their regular shade of mesmerizing blue. He sadly removed his hand, and leaned back against his bed, looking a shade paler than before. “Are you okay?” I asked, looking up and down his body to see any signs of black blood.
He nodded. “Yeah, that just wore me out a little bit. Everything just came rushing back too fast for me, I guess” he said tiredly.
I nervously bit my bottom lip, and threw a worried glance at Erica and Boyd. “We’ll go see if Deaton's coming back with Derek and Isaac, and how long they’re gonna be” Boyd suggested, and walked out of the room with Erica.
I glanced back at Liam. “Are you feeling cold or anything?” I questioned.
He shook his head. “I’m just tired, but not too tired that I don’t wanna know some things first, like what happened to Mason and Corey” he warned. Awake for less than five minutes, and already making demands.
I raised my eyebrows. “Relax, baby wolf, I’m getting there. I just wanna make sure you are up for it” I defended.
He rolled his eyes. “Stop worrying so much, I’m fine” he insisted. So stubborn.
I sighed in frustration. “Mason was taken to the hospital, and he stayed overnight for observation. He doesn’t have any internal injuries” I informed him.
He breathed a sigh of relief. “And Corey? He got shot too” he asked, concern evident in his voice.
“He’s fine. Derek let him be taken to the animal clinic, where Deaton’s sister, Morrell, took care of him. He wasn’t affected by the bullets like you were” I answered.
He sighed. “Well, if I had any doubts about the alliance happening, they’re definitely gone now” he said sarcastically. He then searched my eyes, causing my heart to race. “How does that work anyway? Scott’s never really done it ‘officially’ like he’s doing with Derek” he questioned. That’s because Scott refused to let Derek teach him anything. It's a good thing Scott lets Deaton teach him otherwise he'd be screwed.
I pulled my chair closer to his bed, and tiredly sat down. “Well, when it comes to an alliance between two wolf packs, it depends on a couple of things. But no matter what, you always need at least two Emissaries, an Alpha, and their first bitten Beta for the ceremony. If you’re just doing a written contract, and not the full ceremony, one Emissary, an Alpha and a Beta of their choosing is enough” I answered.
Liam’s eyebrows furrowed. “Why would you just do a written contract? Wouldn’t it be better to do the full ceremony?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Sometimes the circumstances call for it, like ours. You’re injured, and you can’t be in the ceremony until you’re completely healed, Jackson has to drag his ass here from London, and then we need to find a location that both Scott and Derek agree to hold the ceremony. The Emissaries take care of the rest” I replied, and yawned.
He searched my face. “Theo, you don’t look like you slept...at all” he commented.
I shook my head. “Don’t need to, not until you’re fully healed” I argued.
He sighed. “Nothing’s going to happen to me if you go, and get a couple hours of sleep” he argued back.
I ran a hand through my hair. “You don’t know that, baby wolf” I said softly, and then yawned again. I can’t let anything happen to you again.
He arched an eyebrow. “I feel fine” he insisted.
I scoffed. “So do I” I retorted. He rolled his eyes, and then winced deeply as he tried moving to his left. I instantly stood up as he clutched his bandaged stomach. “What are you doing?” I asked.
He tried moving more to his left, and winced harder. I briefly glanced to make sure there was no blood forming anywhere on his torso. “What does it look like I’m doing?” he said sarcastically.
I raised my eyebrows. “Like you’re trying to hurt yourself” I replied sarcastically.
He rolled his eyes. “I’m trying to make room for you. If you’re determined not to leave my side, then you might as well just take a nap right here...next to me” he explained.
My heart skipped a beat. “Are you sure? I don’t wanna hurt you” I pointed out.
His lips formed a half-smile that made my heart skip another beat. “Theo, you’re not gonna hurt me” he reassured me.
I nervously chewed on my bottom lip, and then climbed into the hospital bed beside him. I could hear his heart pounding as the sides of our bodies touched. Our hands were brushed up against each other. I was itching to hold his hand. “You okay there, baby wolf?” I asked as I noticed some pink in his cheeks.
He scoffed. “Jesus Christ, just close your eyes, alright? I’m fine” he replied.
I chuckled softly, before closing my eyes, and trying to let myself relax. My senses were suddenly filled with more of Liam’s intoxicating scent as I felt him rest his head on my shoulder, and then he grabbed my hand. I drifted off to sleep with him rubbing the back of my hand with his thumb.