By the time Theo and Liam got back to Brett's car, the rest of Liam's pack were assembled. Lori was in the car with Brett, a worried look on her face. Mason and Corey were both there as well, Mason pacing in front of his own car while Corey leaned against the passenger door, watching him.
"Hey," Liam said quietly, touched by the fact that all his friends were there.
"Thank God," Mason said, rushing towards them. His eyes flicked from Liam to Theo, who stood behind Liam's legs, still in his wolf form. "Are you ok, Theo?" Mason asked. Theo whuffed, and Liam reached back to place a hand on his head.
"Good," Corey said, coming to stand beside Mason. "We've been worried about you, you know?"
Theo blinked, looking at the them with curiousity. His hackles rose slightly as Brett and Lori got out of Brett's car and joined them as well. He weaved in front of Liam, placing himself firmly in front of the other boy.
"Relax, wolf-boy," Brett said with a smirk. "It's not like that."
"I let them join the pack," Liam explained quietly, hand rubbing gently across Theo's head, scratching lightly behind one ear. Theo looked up at him and shrugged his hand off him with a light growl. Liam raised his hands in surrender, smiling down at him. "Sorry," he murmured.
"Thank you," Lori said, dragging Liam's attention away from the wolf in front of him. "It means so much to us, Liam."
"You're more than welcome," Liam said warmly, smiling at her, at everyone in front of him, meeting each of their eyes in turn.
"You guys wanna come over? We can have a movie night or something," Liam offered. Everyone agreed, and Liam looked down at the wolf. "Theo?"
The wolfs tailed wagged twice, which Liam took as an affirmative.
"Alright, cool," Liam said, all action now. "We'll go get Theo's truck and meet you at my place, sound good?"
"Yeah, I'll just follow Mason," Brett said, twirling his keys in his hands.
They all got into their cars and left, and Theo turned around to look at him.
"You remember where you parked?" Liam asked. Theo lifted his lips in a snarl that made Liam chuckle as he took off back into the preserve. Liam followed him, his eyes glowing yellow as he tracked him. Theo was faster than him in this form, but he was weak after living rough, so Liam could keep pace with him easily.
Within five minutes they came to a path, which they followed for another minute before it turned into a road. Theo's truck was parked there.
Theo jumped up into the tray and snuffled around before yipping, keys held in his mouth. He trotted to the end of the truck and looked at Liam expectantly.
"You want me to drive?" Liam asked, surprised.
Theo nodded, the keys jangling.
"You're sure?" Liam asked again, holding his hand out. Theo dropped the keys into his hand and then jumped back onto the ground.
Theo's truck was like his child. Liam couldn't believe that Theo was trusting him with it. He opened the door for Theo to jump in and then went around to the other side, climbing in.
He had his license, of course, but his parents hadn't thought it wise to buy Liam his own car when he was still grappling with his IED. Sometimes, they let him borrow their car, but those times were few and far between.
"Want me to wind the window down for you?" He smirked at Theo. Theo snarled, and Liam laughed, turning the ignition and slowly turning the truck around.
At the wheel of Theo's truck, Liam felt powerful. "I can see why you like this thing so much," he grinned.
The ride back to his house was thrilling, though Theo growled at him if he went too fast or turned a corner too quickly. He pulled up in front of his house. Brett and Mason's cars were already there, but they had clearly let themselves in using the hidden spare key.
They got out of Theo's car and Liam looked down at him.
"You need anything from the car?"
Theo cocked his head at him.
"Like clothes?" Liam pressed. "Unless you want to wear some of mine again?" Theo considered this, and then started walking towards the front door. Liam smiled as he locked up Theo's truck and pocketed the keys. He had no issue with Theo wearing his clothes. The fact that Theo wanted to as well, lit a tiny beacon of hope in his heart.
"You can use my shower. Grab whatever you want from my room," Liam said quietly as he opened the door for Theo. "We'll be in the lounge when you're done." Theo nodded, and Liam quickly grabbed some clean clothes for himself and left the room, shutting the door behind him.
Walking further down the hall, he let himself into his parent's room and walked into their ensuite. He showered quickly and got changed. When he walked back past his room, he could hear the shower.
"Hey guys," he said as he walked into the loungeroom. Corey sat in one of the arm chairs with Mason resting between his legs, while Brett and Lori were sprawled next to each other on one of the others. They had already put a movie on, one of the more recent marvel ones.
"Hey, how is he doing?" Mason asked.
Liam rubbed his eyes as he sat on the remaining couch and then ran a hand through his hair. "Better, I think."
"Will he stay, do you think?" Corey asked.
"I don't plan on giving him much of a choice," Liam muttered, a stubborn look on his face.
Brett, who had been watching this exchange with interest, commented. "Am I missing something?"
"Theo has been living out of his truck," Liam explained. "We decided to do something about it, and I fucked up monumentally."
"How?" Brett pressed.
"I let my feelings get in the way," Liam sighed. "I pushed him too far."
"Liam," Mason said softly. "It's not your fault."
"It is," Liam said firmly. "But I will fix it. He can stay here, and I won't touch him, not if it's not what he wants."
"He's lucky to have someone who cares so much about him," Lori said, giving Liam a warm smile. Liam blushed, but nodded.
"I am lucky," Theo said in a hoarse voice from the doorway.
Liam turned to look at Theo and smiled at him. The other boy was dressed in sweatpants and a hoodie, his feet bare and his hair damp. "You look better," Liam commented.
"I feel better," Theo nodded, giving him a shaky smile. He walked slowly around the couch and sat down next to Liam. He inhaled Theo's scent, enjoying the mix of contentment and citrusy body wash that swirled around him.
They settled in to watch the movie, Theo's shoulder pressed into Liam's. Theo needed reassurance, and Liam was happy to give it to him, radiating calm and warmth.
They played another movie straight after, but Liam got up to go into the kitchen and make some food for everyone. Pasta was one of the few dishes he had mastered, so that would have to do. Theo followed and sat at the counter, watching him.
"You didn't fuck up," Theo said quietly after a few minutes.
"I did," Liam said, chopping vegetables with more force than was probably necessary.
"I should have talked to you," Theo replied. There was an intense look in his hazel eyes that made Liam want to look away, but he resisted the urge.
"I shouldn't have kissed you," Liam said, biting his lip. Theo frowned.
"You regret it?" He snapped.
Liam looked taken aback by the other boy's anger. "Not kissing you," he said slowly, "but upsetting you, yes."
"The kissing didn't upset me," Theo said, leaning back a little. Liam frowned, unsure how to take that remark. "The way I felt about you upset me," he continued.
Liam blinked as he took in this new information. "Did it scare you?" He whispered. Theo nodded. "It scares me too."
"I've never," Theo started, and then stopped with a frown. Frustration was clear on his face and he rubbed his chin.
Liam gave him a minute to gather his thoughts as he put the chopped-up vegetables into the pan. It sizzled straight away, and he adjusted the heat, stirring it slowly while Theo struggled for words behind him. Liam added the bottle of pasta sauce and some minced beef, put a lid over the top and turned it down to a simmer. He grabbed another saucepan, a big one and filled it with water, before setting it to boil. By the time he turned back to Theo, the other boy looked calmer.
"I've never done anything like this before," Theo said eventually. "I don't know what to do."
"You don't have to do anything," Liam said fiercely.
"I don't have to, no," Theo agreed with a faint smile. He got up slowly and moved around the counter until he stood right in front of Liam. "But I want to."
Theo leaned closer, looking down at his lips. Liam backed away slightly, and Theo stopped, looking at him with confusion.
"You don't need to pretend with me anymore," Liam said, clutching at his heart, which was thundering in his chest.
"I'm not," Theo said quietly.
"I couldn't stand it," Liam said, his lip trembling.
"This is real," Theo said, sliding his hand across Liam's cheek tenderly. "This is what I want." He leaned forward again, and pressed his lips to Liam's, exploring them softly. Liam held his breath. Was this a dream?
"It's real?" Liam asked, his eyes wide.
"It's real," Theo confirmed. He pulled Liam towards him for another kiss, and Liam tentatively returned it. Hope flooded him, and he buried his hands in Theo's hair as he pulled him close.
Theo's tongue swiped across his bottom lip and Liam opened his mouth, whimpering as Theo deepened the kiss.
After a few minutes of lazy, languid kisses, Theo pulled away.
"I think the water boiled," he said, giving Liam a sexy smirk over his shoulder as he walked away. He left the room and Liam rubbed at his bottom lip, stunned.