Sleep, just as always, did not come easily for Liam Dunbar.

Curled up beneath the blue tartan comforter, he refused to glance over his shoulder with the whispered reassurance of, "It's not real, it's not real." Despite the fact that it was late at night, easily past ten in the evening on a school night, Liam had yet to relax enough to fall asleep.

Earlier that night Mason Hewitt had stopped by for several rounds of video games into the night. Even the mere presence of Liam's closest friend had staved off the oppressing feeling of Berserkers, the immense inhuman people dressed in the great bones of bears, leering over his shoulder with their strange daggers extended. Now alone, Mason having left to study for Mr. Yukimura's class, Liam was left alone with his greatest fear.

"Come on man," the youthful werewolf had pleaded, "one more game."

Mason, unaware of his friend's fear, had sighed left to study for that damn history exam.

"No, you're right. Go, I should probably study too."

Whilst aware that his friend was feeling some form of crappy, Mason had gone forth in his endeavor to study. Somewhere deep within him, Liam was able to despise the history exam even if he found himself unable to hate the slightly taller Mason. For years, the lithe human had been Liam's only friend, the one who he slept over with each weekend and the one that Liam knew would always be at his side, even if Mason found out that he was a werewolf. Especially if Mason found out that he didn't have to transform on the full moon, which was a skill Liam had yet to master but was still beyond desperate to learn.

A slight sob escaped Liam as he pressed his nose deeper into the covers and pillow, shivering with fear. Where was Scott or Mason or even ridiculous Stiles? Where was someone who could chase the nightmares away?

If Liam focussed hard enough, he could hear the hushed breaths of his mother, Sara Dunbar-Geyer, and step-father, Will Geyer, as they slept in their own bed, unaware of their son's visions.

There were rare nights when Will wasn't forced away by his job as an ER doctor, this quiet Wednesday among them. Liam adored such nights when they could all eat dinner together and laugh over the latest soap operas and how Ceria had finally gotten married and how Katie had taken that pregnancy test right before the show shut off, leaving their questions unanswered.

Honestly, Liam didn't care but it was the action that mattered. Whilst Liam had always known that Will wasn't his birth father, he'd always respected him as such.

The man who had actually sired Liam was one of those parents that was never around. He'd been working when Liam was born and hadn't even suggested a name for him. Not long after, the unhappy pair had been divorced while Liam had only met the man once or twice.

Needless to say, he had not enjoyed either experience.

Gabriel was an unpleasant man who knew not of kindness or family. The younger of two brothers, the dark-haired man had joined the same career as his older brother. Admittedly, Liam knew little of what his father had done and nor did he care but he was interested in his Uncle Rafe whom had only once stopped by with his brother to meet Liam, tugging along a son a few years older than Liam who looked quite unexcited to be spending time with his father and uncle, even if he was curious about his cousin. He honestly couldn't remember the older boy's name but he also didn't particularly care. He had been nice and that was it.

Liam cared not for his biological father's side of the family.

As far as the blonde werewolf was concerned, Sara was his mother with Will as his father along with Alexa and Jason as his cousins.

He also had a werewolf family, of course. There was Scott who was the kind and gentle Alpha who had bitten Liam. There was Malia who was his self-appointed werecoyote-mom and Stiles the crazy-about-info human. Lydia, the banshee who helped Liam with his homework and finally Kira, the trickster Kitsune who wielded a katana like an expert samurai.

But that was pack and there was a difference.

Moaning again, Liam rolled over to glance over his shoulder at where the clanking of bones had been. Nothing once again. This wasn't going to work.

His entire life, Liam had been encouraged to find a quiet spot, a place that helped him relax, to help deal with his anger issues. Most of the time that concluded to burying himself under the covers of his comfy bed and switching on a gaming device to play beneath the blankets. Then Liam wasn't so sure; just then he didn't want to be alone.

Maybe he should call Scott. The brotherly wolf had said that he was always ready to help.

Then again, the brunette also lived around five kilometres away on the outskirts of Beacon Hills, a place that was maybe two kilometres from Beacon Hills High. Liam had run to school once; he'd not enjoyed the experience.

Considering the fact that Liam was fifteen, he wasn't supposed to climb into bed with his parents but that was seeming to be the only option to avoid the crushing nightmares.

Liam sighed, decision made. Tossing the covers away, the blonde werewolf stood and stretched slightly, eyes searching for the terrible creatures he feared. There were none. His yawn stretching his mouth wide, Liam stumbled from the room.

"Mom? Dad? I can't sleep."

Sara rolled over to look at Liam. Her eyes were tired. "Hey puppy," she mumbled. "You want a melatonin?" Liam shook his head. "What's wrong? You're sick?" Liam shook his head again.

"I'm hallucinating," he mumbled, "about giants dressed in bear bones serving a psychotic woman with claws and fangs attempting to kill everyone who gets in her way."

Yawning, Sara replied. "That's specific. Sure it wasn't just a dream?"

"Mom! I haven't slept in at least thirty-six hours."

"Okay puppy. Go back to bed." Sara yawned and rolled over so that she was facing Will.

Liam sighed and knew that attempting to sleep anywhere else was pointless. Perhaps he should give Scott a ring and see if the older boy wouldn't mind Liam spending the night at his place. Once again, the blonde wolf sighed. His alpha wouldn't be very appreciative of being woken in the middle of the night when the following day they both had school and lacrosse.

Shoulders slumping, Liam crawled onto his parents' bed and snuggled up so that his back was against his mother's like a puppy.

Maybe he should have called Malia.