The final battle was long, terrible and bloody, preceded oddly enough by Coach Finstock giving a rousing rendition of the president's speech from Independence Day. Coach had popped up out of nowhere with Greenberg in tow and unlike the rest of the town, the two of them had their wits about them and wanted to stop the whole armed militia of PTA moms and dads roaming the streets as much as the pack did.

More people showed up to fight with them than expected, the supernatural population of Beacon Hills and the surrounding areas rallying, coming together at the call of a True Alpha. Help arrived from the outside too, starting with Stiles and Derek, who were soon followed by Cora and Braeden. Then Kira and Noshiko Yukimura showed up, ready and willing to fight. They hadn't been back an hour when Isaac Lahey, another of Scott's Betas who had been out of the country, arrived with Danny Mahealani and a whole bunch of French Hunters (sane, loyal to Chris Argent Hunters) in tow.

While Scott, who temporarily blinded himself, dispatched the Anuk-ite, the rest of them took on the hunters and armed towns people. Shockingly, Gerard put a yellow wolfsbane laced bullet in his daughter and Kate mauled him to death before Braeden put her out of her misery. Kira didn't kill Monroe, but she took her down hard after Lydia disarmed and disoriented the killer with her Banshee scream. The former guidance counselor was now in police custody.

Sheriff Stilinski, with the help of Agent McCall and Deputy Parrish had taken back the police station, kicking the asses of mutinous deputies who had tried to put up a fight. The cells were now overflowing with the more aggressive hunters, former deputies and anyone who they could prove had actually killed someone.

Most of the town had come to their senses once the Anuk-ite was taken out of the equation and were horrified by their actions. It didn't really make Liam feel any safer though, knowing what kind of hate was simmering under the surface of many of his neighbors.

The Beacon Hills natives needed to regroup, so the French hunters were left on damage and crowd control, making sure no one decided to try to eliminate witness to their own crimes, while the pack and their other allies crammed themselves into the McCall house. Melissa was busy patching up the humans who had been wounded with the help of Isaac (a lot of people had winced when the tall young man murmured something about having a lot of experience with patching himself up).

Leaving Mason and Corey curled up together on a chair, the pair having finally given in to the exhaustion they were all feeling, Liam found himself wandering out onto the porch. Theo was there, wearing a shirt borrowed from Scott that was too tight across his bulkier shoulders and biceps. Scott was strong and muscular, but Theo's build included a burlier upper torso.

Shaking his head to clear it, Liam chided himself for focusing on such an odd thing to notice. After all, Theo's build really had nothing to do with anything, Liam just appreciated that the other young man was fit…and he really needed sleep.

Yeah, that was it.

"How're you doing?" Liam asked, thinking the question seemed a little lame, but not knowing what else to say.

The Chimera had been wounded in the final battle, shot twice (thankfully not with wolfsbane bullets) and stabbed once, but, like all the other injured werewolves, his body had healed.

Theo shrugged. "I'm fine…I just don't know…" He flexed his hands, looking down at them like he didn't recognize them. "I feel different. Ever since I got back from…but more so lately. I don't…."

Liam has never really thought of himself as being good with emotions. Hell, he still fought to control his IED daily, but he could read the honest confusion in Theo's gaze.

"What happened before I brought you back?" Liam impulsively asked, because it seemed reasonable to think that something had changed Theo during that time.

With a wince, Theo looked away. "I died over and over again. I saw Tara and she took her heart back so many times. I didn't eat, I didn't sleep, I just ran and dies…until I realized I should just stop running. I deserved it for what I'd done."

It was the first time Liam had heard Theo outright admit that what he had done in the past had been seriously fucked up. Sure, he'd made a few comments about changing (and had demonstrated he had with actions), but there was something in his tone that told Liam the other boy wasn't lying or trying to manipulate him.

Mostly, Theo sounded tired and sad.

"You did deserve it," Liam agreed, placing a hand on Theo's arm. "But you don't deserve it now. Honestly, you were not a good person, but people can change. You have. I mean…you took Gabe's pain, just because it was right. That means something."

Theo met his gaze. "That kid was an ass. He made stupid choices, listened to bad people and did terrible things. But he was a kid and he was alone and dying hurts so much…."

The raw pain in Theo's voice made Liam's chest hurt and he squeezed Theo's wrist. He wanted to make the older boy feel better, but this wasn't the sort of hurt that would disappear in a moment. "Scott says you can stay. In the pack, I mean," Liam told him, knowing Theo desperately wanted to be a part of the pack. "But if you ever try to hurt Scott again, I'm pretty sure Malia and Isaac already have some plan for disposing of your body."

When Scott had let the pack in on his decision to allow Theo and Peter to join them if they wanted to, Malia had protested loudly and then filled in those who hadn't been around recently. Soon, Malia and Isaac were bonding over having very strong "Protect Scott From His Own Tendency To Be Too Nice" instincts.

A small smile graced Theo's face. "That…I'm glad. I don't really have anyone else."

That made Liam's brow furrow as a thought struck him. "Hey, where have you been living?"

"My truck," Theo answered, rolling his shoulders as though thinking of the cramped space.

Wrinkling his nose, Liam came to a decision. "You can stay with me. My folks are pretty cool. They don't even know I'm a werewolf and they still didn't join Gerard's little torch wielding mob," he said with a nod.

Surprise registered in Theo's eyes. "Really?" he asked, hope tinging his voice.

Liam squeezed his wrist again, fingers slipping down to clasp his warm, broad palm. "Really. Now let's go in. Mrs. McCall let Derek take over her kitchen and Cora and Braeden went to the store and bought out the meat department. Whatever he's making smells awesome."

A small laugh spilled past Theo's lips and he smiled, all bright, soft eyes and Liam's breath caught again.

Together, they entered their house to join the rest of the pack, just in time to hear Coach declare, "Boy, I was glad when I found out you were just a werewolf, Hale. With all that lurking around the lacrosse field and hanging out with underage kids, I thought you were some kind of pervert."

The much beleaguered expression on Derek's face got the whole room roaring and only a couple of people noticed that Liam was still holding Theo's hand.

TBC….