Stiles is standing in the doorway looking irate. Liam stumbles out of bed and stands up looking disheveled. Theo knows this probably looks like they were about to do something in the bed, however Theo was not about to allow anything to happen anyway. Or he thinks so.
"Stiles, what the hell? You do not knock? You just walk in." Liam snarls.
"I am sorry. I didn't think you would be in bed with the devil." Stiles cries.
"Can I help you." Liam demands.
It is more of a statement than a question. Theo gets out of bed and determines how he can leave this situation. He sees Scott walk in behind Stiles. This day just seems to be going downhill more and more. Theo looks at Scott. Scott looks back at Theo with a look of suspicion. Theo stares at the ground. He does not really want any trouble, but Liam seems ready to argue.
"We came by to see how you were doing. I have not really heard from you, so we figured we would make a surprise visit." Scott says slowly.
"I guess we are the ones surprised." Stiles complains.
"Nothing is going on. I just am staying here for a little while." Theo says.
"Why?" Stiles asks.
"None of your fucken business Stiles." Liam says.
Stiles looks at Liam in surprise. Liam is an angry wolf sometimes, but he normally he is not so short with Stiles. He seems to be very angry right now and his eyes are flashing. Theo takes a step towards Liam. He does not want anyone to do anything they would regret.
"Little Wolf relax. I am leaving." Theo says.
"No, you are not." Liam says.
"Liam, I think we should talk. I am not trying to pry into your life, but Theo is not in the pack. Why have you been hiding him here?" Scott questions.
"I am not hiding anyone. I do not have to tell you who lives with me. You are an Alpha Scott. You do not decide who my friends are." Liam says.
"Ok, well as your Alpha I expect you to talk to me about letting people who tried to kill me and our friends into your household." Scott scolds Liam.
Theo is not sure what to do. He does not want to cause any problems, but it seems like his being here is enough to cause an issue. He should leave. He cannot have Liam be at odds with the pack. He tries to get by Liam, who pulls him back.
"Scott, you asked me to take over as Alpha while you were gone. I am doing just that. I do not expect you to understand, but this is my little pack. Not yours." Liam challenges.
Stiles and Theo look at each other. It is not everyday that a Beta challenges their Alpha. He also was not aware the Liam considered the little pack in Beacon Hills to be his pack. He just assumed that he knew Scott meant that he was a temporary stand in.
"Your pack? I thought you were in my pack?" Scott asks looking confused.
"I was, but when I am here this is my pack. They are my friends." Liam says.
At this point, Liam is seething with rage. Theo remembers back when he was roaring at Corey just because Corey challenged him on his way of handling something with him. This seems to be a time where Liam's wolf is losing it. It seems to be a territory thing.
"We can discuss that later, but Theo is not in the pack. He never will be. I am sorry. He can help, but he can never be with us Liam." Scott says.
Theo tries not to let that bother him. It is fair and Scott makes a valid point. He just thought maybe that Scott was not as mad anymore. He looks over at Liam who starts growling. He has never seen Liam this way with Scott.
"Ok, Ok, maybe we should all calm down." Stiles says holding up his hands.
"Get out." Liam says.
"Excuse me?" Scott asks surprised.
"Get out." Liam says growling with more force.
"You are choosing this guy over your Alpha?" Scott says still confused.
Liam roars and shoves Scott backwards. Scott is still a true Alpha, but he did not expect it. He stumbles backwards and stops himself before falling down the stairs. He looks at Liam in shock.
"Theo, I think you should take Liam out for a while." Stiles says to him.
Theo nods and grabs Liam's arm leading him down the stairs. He quickly walks them to his truck and they both get in. Theo pulls out of the driveway and looks over at Liam. He is still growling, and his eyes are flashing.
"Little wolf what is going on?" Theo asks.
"Nothing. I just did not like that he was assuming that you can't be in his pack. He also was acting like a jerk. He already knew I was trying to help you. He just did not know you lived here. I am sick of having this argument with him." Liam seethes.
"That was the argument you had with him?" He questions.
"Yes." Liam says.
Theo turns back to the road and contemplates what to do. He cannot have Liam be at odds with his Alpha. Maybe he can leave without Liam knowing it. That way he can get rid of the problem. He seems to always be the problem. He has been the problem his whole life. He tries not to let it bother him. It must show on his face.
"Theo, it is not your fault." Liam says his face softening.
"How do you know that. I am the reason you and Scott are arguing. "Theo says.
Theo sighs.
He feels a sadness inside him coming back. He was doing ok today for the most part, but knowing Scott still feels he is a threat has hurt something inside of him. He tries to ignore it, but he feels like it is taking over his insides.
He pulls into the preserve because he is not really sure where else to go. He could go to Mason's house, but he thinks that may be too soon for Liam. Liam needs to chill out some more. He sits back and shuts the truck off.
"Are you okay?" Liam asks.
"I think I should be asking you that." Theo says sarcastically.
"I could tell you were upset when Scott said you would never be in the pack. He is wrong though." Liam points out.
"I am fine Liam. Go away." Theo snarls.
He does not want Liam around if he is going to start asking these questions. It is better if he just lets everyone think he is fine and just an asshole. He technically is an asshole, but just a sad one. He looks out the window and contemplates what it must be like to feel accepted. He has never been accepted anywhere. Even as a child his mother always told him he was different. She said that he would probably be different all of his life. How right she was.
Liam takes his seatbelt off and slides over to Theo. He hugs him.
He hates being touched. After he moved in with the dread doctors he was not given the same level of affection as a normal child. Clearly, the dread doctors were not going to treat him like their kid, but he thinks it may have messed him up some. Maybe that is why he is so indifferent to people.
Liam pulls away and looks at him.
"Can I try again?" Liam asks.
"I am not sure if I will allow it." Theo says.
It is the truth. He does not even know what he thinks about Liam. He thinks he likes him a lot more than Corey and more than a friend, but he is not prepared to just talk about his feelings. Theo still believes feelings are a weakness. Nothing good ever comes from them.
Liam looks disappointed but nods.
"Fine." Theo grumbles.
Liam has those blue eyes that make you sad when he does not get what he wants. He has a feeling that he is not told no very often.
"Not if you don't want me to." Liam says.
Theo is not sure what he wants. He is not saying no, but he doesn't know if he has the capacity to allow anyone in right now. Not yet at least.
"I just don't think I can give you what you seem to be looking for." Theo says.
"I am not looking for anything. I don't have expectations." Liam says frowning.
Theo studies him. Liam seems sincere. He does not seem like the type to do things and expect things in return. Liam seems to understand what Theo is thinking and leans in.
Theo has never kissed anyone before. Not even some little kid in grade school.
Liam kisses Theo softly and gently. It almost annoys Theo. He is not glass. Liam deepens the kiss and Theo opens his mouth, allowing Liam to enter. Liam continues to kiss Theo with the same gentleness as before. No one has really ever been gentle with Theo. Or at least that he can remember. It is rather weird to him. Liam slides a little closer and then he pulls a way.
"Are you good?" Liam asks.
Theo realizes he was shaking. It seems rather embarrassing. Theo is not scared or anything. He just is not used to people touching him.
"Yes." Theo says.
Liam nods and kisses him again. He slowly moves towards Theo's neck and kisses down the side of it. Theo feels like his heart is about to beat out of his chest. He feels that weird warm feeling like he did before. He still does not like it. He feels a sting. Theo pulls away and looks at Liam.
"Did you just bite me?" Theo asks.
"I uh, sorry. It seemed like the thing to do." Liam says, looking as confused as Theo.
He is not sure what that means.
Liam pulls him into a kiss again and they continue kissing for what seems like hours to Theo. It most likely is not that long, but Theo loses track of time when Liam has him gasping after every kiss. Liam does not go any farther. He seems to be very careful of everything he does with Theo. Which is annoying and confusing at the same time.
Liam finally pulls away and sits back in his seat. Theo looks at Liam who seems a lot calmer now.
Dammit.
"Uh he bites you?" Corey asks confused.
"Yes Corey. For the 15th time." Theo complains.
"I am sorry. I just do not do that with Mason. What do you think it means?" Corey asks.
"I don't know. Maybe he is losing his mind." Theo says.
"Let me look it up." Corey says.
He watches while Corey pulls out his phone and googles the internet. He feels like maybe they should be talking to Deaton, instead of Corey's phone, but he lets it go. Corey frowns and looks up a few more things.
"So, they do not have much on werewolves." Corey points out.
"Clearly, Corey. What do you expect to find?" Theo grumbles.
"I found something on wolves though. It says here that they bite sometimes when they show affection. You know for their um, significant other." Corey says.
"Wolves have significant others?" Theo challenges raising his eyebrows.
"Um no. Well sort of. They mate for life normally." Corey says.
"I think there has to be another explanation." Theo says.
"Maybe, can I see it?" Corey asks.
Theo glares at Corey, but pulls his shirt to the side to reveal a unhealed bite mark. Theo should have left. This entire situation is confusing anyway. He hears his phone go off.
Stiles: Hello there. I wanted to say we should probably get along. You know, now that we have Liam in common.
Theo frowns and closes his phone.
He has to stop this. He says goodbye to Corey and heads back to the Greyer's. He walks in and sees them playing scrabble. What a family thing to do. He tries to slip past them but is caught.
"Theo sweetie. Come join us." Jenna says.
He does not like to deny any of Jenna's requests because quite frankly, she is rather scary sometimes. He saw her yell at Liam last week and she can hold her own. He reluctantly comes back down the stairs and sits as far away on the couch from Liam as he can.
They play scrabble for a while. Dr. Greyer is very good at it and wins easily. They eat dinner pretending like Theo is a normal part of the family.
Theo helps Jenna clean up and determines how he is going to make his exit tonight. He finishes up and starts to head up the stairs.
"Night dear." Jenna smiles at him.
He feels sad. Jenna is pretty kind to him. He does not want to upset her, but he cannot continue to stay here if does not belong. He cannot let the pack be divided over this. He heads up the stairs and packs a bag. He does not have much and he is not going to take anything the Greyer's have provided for him.
He lays down and waits for everyone to be asleep.
About 3 hours later he slips down the hallway to see Liam sitting on the stairs.
"I knew you were going to run." Liam says.
"I am not running. I am leaving." Theo says.
"Theo you are running. I am sorry okay? I did not think it would be this whole issue. I do not want you to think you owe me anything. We can be friends. "Liam says hopeful.
"You're not the problem. I am." Theo says.
"You are not a problem. I just think you are broken, and I think I pushed you too hard." Liam says.
Theo does not like the sound of that. He is not broken. That implies he was whole at some point. He was never whole though. He was always missing something. He looks back at Liam and looks at the door. He feels a new wave of sadness when he thinks of leaving the little Alpha. He is not prepared for that. Where does he really have to go though.
Theo walks back to his room and throws his bag at the bed. He growls in frustration.
He sees Liam walk into his own room and shut the door. Theo lays down and tries to sleep.
His dreams come back. He sees Tara grabbing his heart and screaming at him. She is yelling words this time. She keeps yelling that he is a failure over and over again. He tries to cover his ears, but the yelling continues. He steps back and falls into a dead chimera looking back at him.
"Failure, failure, failure."
"Theo, wake up!" He hears Liam say.
He jumps up with his fangs out. He sees Liam who is looking back at him with concern. He looks around and remembers where he is. He lays back down and does not say anything. Liam watches him for a moment. He tries to ignore him but Liam as always, just sits there.
"Do you want me to stay?" Liam asks.
"Yes. Just one more time." Theo says.
Liam climbs into bed with him and pulls the covers over them both. He slides as close as possible to Theo without permission, and closes his eyes. Theo would push him away, but he is really tired. It doesn't mean anything.
He feels Liam take his hand.
This is getting out of control.