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Theo was exhausted. Like the kind of exhaustion where you start to forget if you’re actually tired or not.
It was hard enough for him to fall asleep, let alone being woken up by tapping on his door every fucking morning. Was it such a crime to sleep?
Living in his truck beat hiding out in the caves with the Dread Doctors lurking around, but still. If one more officer woke him up with incessant knocking—well, some of Theo’s old habits might start making their way back out.
He’d thought about reaching out to Scott and his pack, to see if he could be of use, but they probably didn’t need him anyway. No one ever needed him. Besides, he was really only in search of helping one member in specific, Theo seemingly never able to get Scott’s beta out of his mind.
Liam.
He was the bane of Theo’s existence. Theo pretended he hated Liam, when in reality, well—he tried not to think about his real feelings for the beta.
Liam had been the one to bring him back from hell, hadn’t let the others drag him back down there. It didn’t mean anything though; Liam was just a good person, something Theo would never be known for. Still, he wanted, wanted to feel a part of something, to matter. He wanted to matter to Liam.
Theo huffed as he settled back into his makeshift bed and adjusted his hoodie that was rumpled beneath his head, acting as his pillow for the night.
He was getting low on gas as well as creative ideas to obtain it. The only thing he had that was really ever his was his truck. It was the only place he felt comfortable, safe.
His ears perked up suddenly, Theo moving to a sitting position, his blanket falling to his lap. He wasn’t one to get spooked easily, but the past few nights, there was just—something. He couldn’t explain it, but it made him terrified.
Theo looked down at his hand in an instant when he felt something tickling his hairs there. A black spider crawled along his wrist and up his arm, Theo turning his arm around as it went. Most people would’ve freaked out and shooed it away, or found something to kill it with, but not Theo. No, he was fascinated by it.
He knew what it was like to be thought of as ‘scary’ or unwanted. The spider didn’t mean him any harm. In an odd way, he thought of it as a friend. Being raised in dark tunnels with creepy ass doctors’ kind of took away any sense of normality from him.
He watched as the spider circled back around to the top of his hand, its long legs spreading out against him. The spider stopped just above his middle knuckle, Theo looking it over precariously.
Without any warning, the spider suddenly shot into him, a stabbing pain causing him to cry out.
“Fuck!”
Theo gasped, watching as the spider disappeared beneath his flesh. He could see it moving inside of him, Theo’s attention laser focused on its movements. What the fuck was happening?
Theo grabbed at his hand as if he could still the spider in place, groaning aloud again as he felt it move inside of him. With one hand clasped on his wrist, Theo reached to click the dome light on and quickly returned his attention to his arm.
He pulled up the sleeve of his t-shirt, watching as the spider disappeared further into him and out of sight. Panic began to settle in a bit; this wasn’t a normal spider. That Theo was sure of.
Thankfully he was parked outside of the animal clinic where Deaton worked, Theo knowing the police wouldn’t easily find him there, and if Deaton did, the man would be too polite to ask him to leave. Well, that was his hope anyhow.
Theo tore out of his truck and made a mad dash for the clinic, ripping up the garage door once he was close enough.
His eyes darted around at all of the equipment, Theo making quick work to rip open some of the drawers and rifle through them. There had to be something he could use to get the demon spider out.
A handheld mirror came into his vision first, Theo grabbing it up before reaching for the little kit. He unzipped it quickly, taking a scalpel out.
Rushing over to the exam table, Theo turned on the overhead light, pushing everything else out of the way. His shirt was next to go, Theo throwing it haphazardly to the floor. Holding the mirror out in front of him, he lifted his arm high enough that he could see his backside. His other hand held the scalpel, Theo twisting his arm at an odd angle, readying to strike.
He watched with bated breath and an intent stare, waiting for the creature to appear.
Once he caught sight of the spider moving beneath him, Theo didn’t even think twice, stabbing the scalpel into his skin, right where it appeared. He let out a few grunts while doing so, jabbing it in for good measure. After he was sure he’d gotten the bug, Theo effectively pulled the scalpel back out, watching as red oozed from his new wound.
Carefully, he raised the scalpel up to his eye level, his hand shaking while doing so. Again, he got that feeling, the one he couldn’t explain. It felt a little like fear.
Theo titled his head as he watched the spider on the scalpel, its legs flailing in the air. For all intents and purposes, it looked like an average spider. It wasn’t.
Seconds later, the spider disappeared into a cloud of black dust, Theo stood there frozen. His breathing was shaky like his hand, the scalpel slipping from his grip and clattering to the floor.
He stood there then, too stunned to move.
It took several moments for Theo to regain some sense of composure, his limbs still shaking as he managed to slide himself down onto the floor. He leaned himself back against the exam table and let out a shuddering breath as his head fall back against it.
His eyes fell closed as his mind raced, Theo considering calling Scott once more. Surely, they had to know something about it; his pack always knew when some weird shit was happening in Beacon Hills. Well, weirder than normal that was.
“Theo?”
He would blame the creepy ass spider for his shrill reaction as well as being caught off guard.
Theo was immediately alert and on his feet when the voice called out to him, his hackles raised, claws out and ready to attack.
His breathing had picked up again, though he settled almost immediately when he saw who was stood in front of him.
Liam.
“Dunbar? What the hell are you doing here?”
Liam gave a shrug as he looked around.
“I could ask you the same thing.”
Theo huffed with a roll of his eyes. He crossed his arms in a defensive manner as he made to lean back against the table. It wasn’t Liam that caused him to put his defenses up though. Something about the spider had really freaked him out, and it wasn’t the bug part.
Liam bit at his lower lip as he looked around, his fingers tapping anxiously at his side. Theo heard the betas heart skip a few beats, reminding him of his own unsteady heartrate.
“Are you ok?” Liam hesitantly asked.
Theo looked up at Liam’s words, concern written across the betas face. Theo was too freaked out to even come up with a smartass response, something about Liam always leaving him feeling more vulnerable.
He swallowed thickly before answering, his eyes wandering down to the ground where the bloody scalpel still laid. The spider had disappeared into thin air, but Theo could still feel it there, crawling beneath his skin and invading his space.
“Not really.”
Liam nodded, no judgment in his response.
“I um, I heard you’ve been…staying in your truck.”
It was Theo who shrugged that time, neither confirming nor denying. He knew Liam could just have easily asked about the dirtied scalpel and Theo’s current state.
Liam knotted his fingers together, Theo tracking the movement.
“I kinda freaked out at my lacrosse game the other day.”
Theo looked away from Liam’s fingers and back up at the betas face, Liam seeming lost in thought.
“Yea, you go all wolfy on the other team?” Theo asked, trying to lighten both his and Liam’s mood.
Liam gave a slight annoyed roll of his eyes, one Theo was all too familiar with.
“Sort of.” Liam trailed off, Theo unsure what to say in response. It was probably the longest conversation they’d had without throwing any punches.
Theo huffed out a weighted breath. It was obvious they both had something on their mind, Theo deciding to take pity on Liam.
“Well, we can talk about your temper tantrums later. I just had a fucking spider crawl inside my skin.”
Liam frowned at that. “Well, I guess that explains the scalpel and why I smelt blood when I came in.”
Theo followed Liam’s gaze down toward the ground, the sight of the scalpel still making him twitch. He unfolded his arms, rubbing absently at the spot where the spider had dove into him.
Liam stepped toward him, Theo staying where he was. If it were anyone else, he would’ve already been swinging. He wasn’t looking to have anyone in his space after what had just happened with the spider.
Liam approached him a little hesitantly, his hand coming out tentatively as he made eye contact with Theo. When Theo didn’t pull away, Liam kept on, his fingers coming to trail over Theo’s hand.
Theo hated the way he instantly relaxed for Liam’s touch; it took away that of the spiders. He watched as Liam’s fingers grazed his bare skin, following nearly the same path as the spider had. Unlike with the spider, Theo remained still, too afraid to move and lose Liam’s comforting touch.
It suddenly became overwhelming with Liam in his space, the betas touch crawling all over his skin. Theo jerked himself away and made to sit on the ground, leaning his head back against the table as his eyes fell shut. He tried to steady his breathing, hating that Liam’s sent brought him comfort.
After a minute, Liam settled next to him, the beta sitting close enough that their shoulders brushed together. It was just enough touch not to overwhelm Theo again, but to comfort him all the same.
“Well considering you’re ten times more frightening than a spider, what freaked you out so much?”
Theo opened his eyes and turned toward Liam with a raised brow.
“You’re hilarious.”
Liam shrugged as a smug smile spread across his face.
Silence settled around them as Theo resisted the urge to bolt.
“I can’t explain it. It just—it was weird as fuck, ok? Not a normal spider.”
“Ok, well was it like, the size of your head or something? Maybe with like big fangs, or—oh wait, was it a wolf spider?”
Theo let out a heavy sigh as he looked to Liam.
“You done?”
“I was just asking.” Liam sighed then. “Besides, what else would make a spider that creepy?”
“Try one that that stabs it’s legs into your skin and then disappears inside of you, and when you cut it free it just—vanishes into a cloud of black smoke…” Theo trailed off, shivering for the memory once more.
Liam seemed to remember something then, turning to face Theo, taking his comforting touch with him.
“That’s what happened the other night.”
Theo raised a brow but didn’t say anything.
“With the game, I mean,” Liam added. “There was this wolf that came onto the field, it was all bloody and shit, and when Scott and I followed it into the woods, it was…dead. We watched a ton of spiders crawl out of it.”
Theo brushed at his bare arms. He suddenly wished he had his shirt back on, but it was on the other side of Liam.
“Ok, so what, Beacon Hills has a new spider infestation?”
Theo knew what he’d seen, but still. Murderous spiders were a little over the top, even for Beacon Hills.
Liam shook his head. “I-I don’t know. But there was this…this weird feeling. I think it’s what made me freak out on the field. Well, I mean Scott thinks it’s from…but I mean it’s not, and besides that doesn’t even work anymore, and it’s not because of—”
“Liam. Could you forget about your teen angst for like five fucking seconds and focus?”
Liam snarled at him, but shut up. He even retook his previous position, his shoulder bumping into Theo’s once more. Theo soaked up the warmth and relaxed into Liam’s touch.
“What was the weird feeling?” Theo asked, trying to refocus their discussion.
Liam absently picked at invisible lint on his pants, Theo tracking the movement.
“I dunno it was…it’s hard to explain I guess.”
Yea, Theo got that.
Liam let out a weighted sigh and pushed away the rest of his invisible lint.
“I felt scared….trapped, and I dunno, I just felt kind of—”
“Terrified?” Theo supplied, letting his fears show.
Blue eyes looked over to him, understanding and curiosity laced within them.
“Yea, that’s-that’s exactly it.”
Liam’s hand was suddenly covering his, Theo sitting up in an instant as he glared over to Liam.
“What the hell are you doing Dunbar?”
“You’ve been tapping your fingers over your thigh practically since I got here. It’s driving me fucking crazy.”
Oh.
Theo hadn’t even realized he’d been doing it. His nerves must’ve gotten the better of him.
He didn’t pull away, and Liam didn’t let go. They settled back into their spots, Theo now hyperaware of his hand cradled beneath Liam’s.
“So, what does Scott think?” Theo asked, trying to change the subject.
“I dunno. There’s been a lot of weird animal…things happening. I um, I fought a hellhound.”
Liam’s hand flexed over Theo’s. It wasn’t in a triumphant sort of way, but more like Liam needed the reassurance he wasn’t alone. Theo knew the feeling.
“You don’t seem too hyped on that.”
Liam shrugged. “Scott’s leaving.”
Liam let the simple answer sit between them, Theo unsure what to do with it. He knew Liam was less upset about not having an alpha, but losing Scott himself. Scott had shaped Liam in many ways, and Theo knew the beta looked up to him. What Liam didn’t know, in Theo’s eyes, was that Liam was a badass all on his own.
“So what, you don’t think you’re good enough to be the alpha?”
When Liam didn’t respond, Theo continued on. “I’ve seen you fight Liam. You never hesitate to step in.” Theo scoffed. “Hell, you seem to head towards danger more than run away from it.”
“You’re one to talk,” Liam answered.
Theo let himself be vulnerable then, squeezing Liam’s hand until it linked their fingers together. They fit right into place, neither of them saying anything for a moment.
“What’s really going on in that big wolfy head of yours, huh?”
Liam bit at the inside of his cheek and swallowed thickly, the beta clearly contemplating his answer.
“I lost my anchor.”
Hayden. She’d been Liam’ girlfriend, for far too long if you asked Theo. He’d had to watch them suck face more than once. If he’d done a little personal cheer when she’d left town a few months ago, well, that was between him and the underground caves.
“So you think that’s why you’ve been extra wolfy lately?”
Another sigh fell from Liam’s lips. “I dunno, I guess that’s part of it.”
Before Theo could respond, Liam spoke again. “How do you do it?”
“Do what?”
Liam turned so he was facing Theo again, though he made sure to keep their hands securely interlocked.
“I mean, what keeps you calm when you feel the wolf taking over?”
Theo scoffed. “If you’re asking if I have an anchor, I don’t.”
Theo had only had himself to rely on for years. Nothing kept him grounded.
Well, maybe the annoying beta that was currently holding his hand. But that didn’t count—right?
“Then why’d your heart just skip a beat?”
Theo tried to pull away at Liam’s words, but the beta only tightening his grip, further threading their fingers together.
“You know,” Liam started, tapping his fingers over Theo’s. “Sometimes I um, well sometimes I think I have more than one anchor.”
Well how nice was that for Liam, to have not one, but two things that kept him grounded.
“Yea? Is the other one that mantra Derek taught you?” Theo didn’t say it mockingly, but more in understanding. He’d heard the beta saying it more than once while trying to calm himself down.
“No. Besides, that’s stupid. It doesn’t work anyway.”
Theo eyed him keenly, Liam quickly looking away. Liam might think the mantra stupid, but it worked. Theo had seen it calm Liam on more than one occasion.
“Well, what is it then?”
Blue flashed over to him in a bit of a panic as if Liam hadn’t expected him to push the question.
“Um, well I—um… I should go, it’s-it’s getting late.”
Theo tightened their hold, not ready to let go of Liam. He didn’t want to lose whatever moment it was they were having. He also hated the idea of being alone, the odd fear of the spider starting to creep back in at the thought of Liam leaving.
Liam looked down to their hands, then back up to Theo.
“Why are you sleeping in your truck?”
Theo thought about deflecting, but then didn’t see the point. Afterall, he was already holding Liam’s hand.
“I don’t exactly have a house. Not like I wanna live in the creepy ass tunnels, even though I know that’s where everyone thinks I belong.”
“Not everyone,” Liam muttered low enough that Theo wouldn’t have caught it if not for his heightened hearing.
“Yea well….” Theo muttered as he looked away from Liam.
“Why don’t you want me to go?” Liam asked while lifting up their conjoined hands for emphasis.
He could be vulnerable, tell Liam the truth. Neither of those things ever came easily to him.
Liam gave Theo’s fingers a finally squeeze before pulling his own free, Theo’s hand falling limply at his side. He watched as Liam stood and made for the door, stopping as he reached it.
Theo’s hand felt cold, empty. It reminded him of the tunnels.
He heard the familiar sound of Liam tutting his tongue, something the beta did whenever he was in deep contemplation.
Liam reached for the doorknob, resting his hand there. His head turned toward the side, his blues staying just out of sight of Theo.
“It’s you you know. I think you’re my other anchor.”
Theo’s hand flexed automatically then. There wasn’t anything for him to grasp onto.
Just as he heard the click of the door opening, Theo came back to the present.
“I don’t wanna be alone.”
It was honest and vulnerable. Look at him opening up for once.
Liam paused in his movements once more, the door clicking again as it fit into place.
“Come home with me.”
It wasn’t a question, Liam letting the words settle between them.
Theo got the feeling Liam wasn’t going to wait long for his answer. He quickly stood and moved to wear Liam was, pressing up against the betas back and leaning into his space.
“Ok, I’ll drive.”
Liam turned to face him then, his hand coming up to press to Theo’s bear chest, right over where his heart laid.
Liam’s fingers spread out across him, Theo stood there with baited breath. He couldn’t control his heartbeats if he wanted to.
Liam’s touch was purposeful as it traced across Theo’s skin. His fingers tapped right over Theo’s heart, gaining his attention.
“You uh, you should put a shirt on.”
Right. Yes, he should definitely do that.
Theo cleared his throat as he pulled out of Liam’s touch. He moved to grab his shirt, lifting it over his head without another word or glance Liam’s way.
He followed Liam out the door and made for his truck. Something told him Liam had walked there; he wasn’t even sure the beta owned a car.
Liam didn’t complain, simply followed Theo to his truck and hopped into the passenger seat. Neither of them said anything as Theo took off.
He didn’t realize his fingers were tapping against the center console until Liam took them back into his own, threading them together just as easily as before.
When they made it to Liam’s house, they had to pull away, Theo left feeling empty once more. He followed Liam up to the house and inside, the two keeping their footsteps light as they crept up the stairs.
Theo expected to be offered the spare bedroom, but Liam led him straight into his own room.
Liam flopped back onto his bed, Theo stood there awkwardly.
“I um, I can take the floor, or the couch downstairs if you’d rather?”
Liam scoffed as he sat up and pulled the covers back.
“Just get in the bed Theo. Quit making it weird.”
“Yea because I’m the one who’s making shit weird,” Theo huffed.
Liam ignored him as he crawled beneath the covers, keeping his shorts and lacrosse hoodie on. Theo looked himself over, contemplating. He was already uncomfortable and out of his element, but no way was he going to sleep in his jeans.
Stripping them off, then forgoing his shirt again, because fuck it, Theo wandered over to the opposite side of the bed and sat down. Liam glanced over to him looking him up and down before giving a roll of his eyes.
“Yea, and I’m the one who’s making it weird. Ok.”
It was too much for him all at once, Theo quickly retreating.
“You know what, forget it. I’ll just sleep in my truck.”
It was the last thing he wanted to do, especially with Liam so close looking extra cuddly, but he couldn’t. His fight or flight instincts were kicked into high drive.
An arm came flying out towards him before Liam was using the grip to pull Theo back. It wasn’t very well thought out, the quick motion causing Theo to land almost on top of Liam. Oddly, he didn’t mind; Liam didn’t seem to either.
They laid there for a moment unmoving, Theo shifting closer to Liam as the betas hand slipped beneath his back and out the other side.
“Can you just lay here and be normal for five seconds?”
“I dunno Liam, can you?” Theo retorted a little mockingly.
Liam swatted the back of his head which caused Theo to retaliate, the two quickly in a full-on tussle of fists and snarls.
Theo only pulled back when Liam’s eyes glowed yellow, the beta escalating quicker than was normal.
“Liam, Liam hey. Liam! Look at me.”
He called out to Liam several times, trying to gain his attention. When that didn’t work, he threaded their hands together, squeezing tightly. He let his weight fall on top of Liam, keeping the beta grounded in place. Liam’s eyes still glowed with his fangs dropped out.
Theo brought one of their conjoined hands up and over his heart, pressing Liam’s directly over his bare skin.
“Listen to the sound of my heart Liam. C’mon, you can do it.”
He watched as Liam tried to concentrate, the yellow fading out of sight as Liam let his eyes fall closed.
“The sun, the moon, the truth.” Theo let the mantra fall past his lips, watching as Liam momentarily became frustrated before finally repeating along with him. When Liam’s eyes opened again, they were his favorite shade of blue.
Liam looked away from him in shame. “Sorry, I um, I dunno what happened.”
Theo was pretty sure he had a good idea.
They stayed as they were, Theo in Liam’s lap, their hands tightly interlocked.
“To think I came here so you could hold me,” Theo said with a nervous laugh and shake of his head.
“Y-you wanted me to hold you?”
Theo shrugged, not denying it as he climbed off Liam’s lap and moved to sit beside him, close enough so they were still pressed up against one another.
“I told you I didn’t want to be alone.”
Theo left it at that. He’d been vulnerable enough for one night.
Several minutes passed with neither of them moving or uttering a word. It wasn’t uncomfortable silence, just one Theo wasn’t used to. Anytime there was silence he had to worry about whatever was about to jump out at him.
Liam shifted first, easing himself down onto his bed so he was laid on his back. He looked up to Theo expectantly, moving his arm to create a space for the chimera.
Tentatively, Theo slid back down so that he was laid against Liam, the betas arm securely under him acting as a pillow. They laid there a little stiffly, Theo finally nudging him.
“You know dumbass, this usually works better if you actually hold me.”
Liam gave a dramatic huff before all but manhandling Theo into his arms, turning onto his side so that he was spooning Theo from behind. The position put them closer than ever before, Liam’s breath fanning across his ear as the beta spoke.
“Is this better for you, dumbass?”
Theo pushed back into Liam a little obnoxiously before settling into the hold.
“It beats being alone.”
It wasn’t what he wanted to say, but he’d already said too much that night. Seeming to understand, Liam cuddled into him further, pushing his face into the back of Theo’s neck, settling there. Theo found Liam’s arm draped around him and threaded their fingers together, bringing them to rest of his heart.
Just for the moment, they could rest.