| PRA |

Liam ran, the ball in his next. Ahead of him the opposing practice team was charging right for him. Diaz was closest, skilled enough that he anticipated Liam's play to get him the ball. But Liam was ready, too. Liam pushed off the ground, flipping over his rival for the captaincy. He landed on his feet. He dodged the long sticks. He took his running stance and fired. It blasted past the goalie's head and launched into the net.

Finstock blew his whistle. "Dunbar! Come here!" Liam trotted over, a grin on his face. "What the hell was that? Does this look like gymnastics to you?"

"No coach," Liam said.

"Are you McCall?" Liam's expression furrowed, not knowing how to respond. "The answer is 'no,' you're not McCall. He flipped around the field showing off, too."

"I was just trying to make the shot."

"Exactly. Now get back out there and try and let some of the others play." Liam smirked and ran back out on the field for another drill. "Kids," Finstock grumbled.

Practice continued until five that evening, Coach biting off Corey's head for being distracted and nearly killing Byers when his pass almost his his stomach, opting instead for knocking the clipboard out of his hands. Liam stayed on the pitch for an extra few minutes, Coach discussing the upcoming first game against Beavers High. When he finally made his through the double doors into the school, Malia was there leaning up against the wall.

He looked at her curiously, but smiled. "Hey, Malia. What's up?"

"You're hiding something."

His heart nearly jumped. "What? What do mean?"

"You're a bad liar."

"But I—"

"Mason said you were acting weird on Saturday. Sketchy. What did you do?"

"I had plans. With my dad."

"Which Corey confirmed you didn't go to."

"They're dead," Liam said. "What else did the little spy tell you?"

"Nothing. Which is why I'm here talking to you." He just looked at her, his mind reaching for something. "You're not an alpha yet, Liam. You can't go looking for trouble by yourself." He looked down and nodded, taking the out that she seemingly handed him. "So, what did you do?"

"I went looking for the hunter. The one that killed the hellhound. I thought, maybe if we were proactive this time around, maybe we could prevent something worse."

She eyed him for a second. "Maybe Beacon Hills will survive after all," she said, giving him a rough smile and turning and walking away.

Liam watched her before slipping into the empty boys' locker room. The door help open longer and Corey materialized. "Why did you lie to her?"

Liam nearly jumped out of his skin...again. He rounded on Corey, though, driving him back into the door, his forearms against the boy's neck. "What is your problem?" he yelled, his eyes yellow.

"Liam…" Corey said, fear rising in him. "Liam, let go. Let's just talk."

"Stay away from me," he said, pushing hard against his neck before letting go. He walked over to his locker and started to change. Corey leaned against the wall. He watched his captain, rubbing his neck.

"Liam?"

"Just disappear," he said with his back to him. "It's what you're good at."

Corey's face saddened. He turned and opened the door. He stopped. Looked back. "I wasn't trying to rat. I'm sorry," he said before walking out.

Liam leaned against the locker, wearing only his pants. He repeated the mantra in his head, his IED itching to explode from the cage he built around it. He punched the locker door, hard enough that it left a massive dent. He focused on the pain, letting it soothe his entire body. He took a deep breath, scratching an itch on his pec when his senses started to tune back into all else around him. He tore his pants and underwear off, changing into fresh clothes. He wanted to hurry, he needed to see Theo. He needed to call this off before it got any worse with his friends. It has to end.

The parking lot was empty. He got into his car, plugged in his iPod and pressed play. "Duality" immediately started through the speakers. He turned it up almost on max when the drums began the faster temper and harder music. He leaned his head against the window for a moment before straightening out, throwing the gear into drive, and releasing his foot from the brake.

The beta werewolf parked on the street as he pulled up to Theo's house. All along the way he psyched himself up for this. He'd go up, explain to him that the pack wouldn't accept them together. That it wouldn't work out. That his friends had to come first. His alpha had to come first. Liam got out, closed the door, and walked confidently up to the door. He rapped a couple times on the red paint and waited. He heard footsteps and Theo swung the door open with a smile.

"Hey," Theo said, leaning forward and pulling Liam in for a kiss by his neck. Liam's nerve broke. He fell into the feeling, fell into the hole that was Theo's seductive hold over him. "You wanna' come in?" Theo said after pulling back, grinning and motioning with his thumb. Liam nodded. "Can I get you anything?" he asked as they walked back into the kitchen.

"I'm okay."

"You don't sound okay."

"I...we should talk."

"Uh-oh."

"It's just, lemme' start by saying, I never thanked you. For being the bait."

"It was nothing."

"It wasn't nothing," he blurted, reddening. "I like you. I shouldn't, but I do. I think you've changed. I hope you've changed. I just…"

"Scott. Stiles. The pack…"

"Yeah."

"Liam, I get—"

Ding dong.

Theo shook his head, walking to the front and opening it. Liam could see their invited guest, could see the werecoyote. She pushed her way past the chimera, her eyes on Liam. "What exactly is going on?"

"I—" Liam tried.

"Liam, what the hell?"

"He just came by to thank me," Theo said.

"No, he didn't," Malia said. "I saw you. Both of you." Liam found his legs losing their strength, found himself backing away and falling into a chair. "The truth, Liam."

"Look, this only just—" Theo tried.

"Shut up!" Malia cried, whipping around at him. He backed up, hands raised in front of him. "I wanna' hear it from you," she said, turning back to the beta.

"We...I…" She crossed her arms. He looked up at her, then back at Theo. He looked away. "Theo and I...we ran into each other. On Friday." He looked up at her. "We got trapped in the elevator at the hospital. We had time to talk and…he asked me out."

"And you said 'yes!?'" Liam nodded, looking down at his feet. "Liam what is wrong—"

"We had a date. And it was nice."

"With Theo. Or don't you remember all the shitty things he made you do? Like, I dunno,' try to kill Scott!"

"Still here," Theo said.

"I do remember. And I also know he's my responsibility. I let him out. It's on me, now. That hasn't changed. But he helped us, too. To catch one. And you weren't there, either. And later, he helped me. He saved me. At the hospital. He played the bait so I could come help you guys."

"So now you owe him? And you're repaying him with—"

"I wanted to! I like him. A lot. He's...different. He's changed."

"We did fight together," Theo offered, remembering that final battle with Douglas and the ghost riders.

"No. That was different," Malia said. "You only look out for yourself. Everything for you is survival."

"He's been punished," Liam said. "What Kira did to him...I swear it changed him."

She looked at him the way an ashamed parent would. She pulled out her phone and pulled up the text app, flipping to the pack group-chat. "It's not up to me. But you tell them, or I will." Liam took a moment, but nodded.

Malia gave him a final look, turned to Theo to do the same, and walked out; she slammed the door behind her. The chimera gave the werewolf a concerned look, the latter just gazing down the hall at the closed front door. Theo reached into the refrigerator and pulled out a beer. He took a prolonged sip and leaned his back against the sink. He pushed off when Liam made no movement. He walked up to the boy, reached down, and pulled at the boy's arm to get him on his feet. He wrapped his arms around him, Liam forced to smell the breath of beer. He nuzzled in closer, the trace of alcohol enough to break his thoughts.

Theo led them over to the couch, sitting back in the corner with a leg stretched out along the back. He pulled at Liam's hand, the latter taking the urge and sitting down so his back was against Theo's chest. The chimera wrapped an arm around his waist, pulling him in tighter. His other hand found its way into the boy's lengthier hair, combing through the locks, petting over them. Liam let his head fall back against the chimera's chest. He closed his eyes and breathed in deep, Theo's surrounding scent actually serving to calm him for once.

/ | * | * | \

"When I read your text, I really wasn't expecting that," Lydia said. They were all at Scott's house sitting or standing around his kitchen table.

Liam refused to look at anyone. He couldn't.

"When I asked if it was someone I knew…" Corey said, but trailed off.

Mason couldn't speak either. Wouldn't look at his best friend.

"We should call Stiles and tell him," Malia said. "He'd be mad if he was out of the loop."

"We're not calling Stiles," Scott said. "We didn't call him about the hellhound or the wolves or the rat king. He doesn't need to know about this, either. Not yet, anyway." Liam looked up at Scott, almost thanking him.

"I guess I just don't understand," Mason finally said, still looking at a smudge on the table. "I don't, I don't really know you right now."

"Mason," Scott tried.

"He's right," Corey said. "What were you thinking? It's Theo."

"Guys," Lydia said, glaring at Corey.

"Give him a break. Liam, let's go for a walk," Scott said, his tone soft and inviting. He shared an understanding look with Lydia before standing. Liam cautiously got to his feet, still not able to look at Mason. His chest hurt. His head was buzzing a little, the blood rushing up into it pulsing. He followed his alpha, though. They walked out the front and started down the street. It was quiet for a moment save for their surroundings: the chatter from neighbors in one backyard, two cars passing by, birds chirping in the surrounding trees. When they got to the first corner in the neighborhood, Scott finally spoke again. "Are you okay?"

Liam didn't know how to answer. He couldn't look away from the road in front of him, and since his words failed him he shrugged.

"I...you don't have to tell me anything you don't want to. I'd just like you to answer one question if that's okay?"

Liam nodded.

"Do you want to be with him? I mean, this is something you want; he's not coercing you."

"I do," the beta said. He looked up at the true alpha. "He's not...I actually like him, Scott."

"Okay," Scott said, his small smile encouraging enough for the other boy. "What'd you guys do?"

"Saturday night?"

Scott nodded.

"He picked up chipotle and we watched Aliens at his house." Scott smiled wider, looking forward, his expression distracted with nostalgia. "I had a good time. I mean, things just happened. I didn't mean to. Really, Scott, I'm sorry I just—"

"It's okay," Scott said, stopping. "I just don't want you to get hurt."

"I won't."

"Liam, he has a history with us. Especially you and me. You can never forget that. You have to be smart with him. Keep your wits about you."

Liam nodded.

"I want this to work. For your sake. He can...Lydia and I will try and smooth things over with Malia and Corey. We'll make it work so he can come around. I'll try with him, you know I will. You should talk to Mason, though."

"I know."

"Be the one to reach out. If he doesn't let you in at first, remember, give him time. He'll come around."

"You should talk to Stiles."

Scott nodded, closing his eyes. "I know."

Liam looked away.

"Hey, it's not the end of the world. It's going to be...an adjustment...but we'll be fine, okay?"

Liam nodded again. Scott reached out and patted the boy's shoulder. He started to walk again, back towards the house. "Scott?"

"Hm?

"Thank you."

"You're my beta, Liam. And you're like a little brother to me."

Liam smiled. "So...if he does hurt me…"

"I'll kill him."

/ | * | * | \

School the next day was one of the worst Liam had ever had. He couldn't concentrate in any class. Corey and Mason avoided him all day. His performance during practice was sub-par, turning coach against him. Again. When he got home to shower and change, his mom was irritable with him about not being around the last few weeks. So, when he pulled up at Theo's house, ready to go see John Wick, his anger started to sizzle when the chimera didn't answer his phone.

Liam got out after a few minutes and walked up to the door. He called his phone again when he heard the buzzing inside, the muffled and distant noise coming from upstairs. He tried the handle and it opened. Distracted, he made his way upstairs toward the source. When he got to the only closed door on the second floor—and started to open it—it dawned on him that a second noise was emanating from within. The sound of a shower. As he walked in he heard the nozzle get pushed in and a curtain draw back. He made to sneak away when the bathroom door opened.

"Whoa, Liam," Theo said, towel held up to the back of his neck, the length of it just covering the front of his crotch.

"Sorry. You weren't answering your phone."

"And you decided to come check and see if I was okay?" he offered with a grin, lowering the towel a little.

"Uh, something like that." Theo's teeth appeared as his smiled widened. "I—I should let you get dressed."

Theo dropped the towel to the floor, revealing his wet body for a full display. "Yeah, maybe you should." Liam couldn't tear his eyes away. His subconscious was pulling at him to walk away, but every other faculty was ready to lurch forward and seize what was in front of him. His lips parted, his tongue salivating. Everything below his waist stirred. His cock. His hole. His legs started to numb and tingle. "Well?"

Liam tore his shirt over his head, Theo's eyes dropping to his furry chest. He tossed the shirt to the floor, taking a step forward. He unbuckled his belt, looking over Theo up and down, licking his lips. "I guess we're not making the movie," Theo said. Liam pulled the belt out of the loops in one motion and dropped it, too. Theo's cock twitched into full attention. When Liam's hands moved to his button, the chimera lost control. He couldn't wait any longer. He surged forward and grabbed Liam by his shoulders, throwing him face first into his bed. Liam was still on his feet, his head being pushed into the mattress, his arms bent and hands gripping into the mattress. He was bent over.

Theo had bent him over.

The chimera leaned over and nipped at the boy's ear. He licked down the outer curve, trailing his tongue onto Liam's neck. The beta shuddered, pushing back into the hand that had found its way to his lower back, pushing pack against the erection that was pressing against his ass. Theo started kissing his way down the shorter boy's spine, his hands moving up to his shoulders to trail down as he moved further.

Liam stayed.

Theo crouched down, wrapping his hands to the front. He unbuttoned his jeans, pulling them and his underwear down. He leaned back up. The movement of tongue and lips at the base of Liam's spine made him push into the mattress with a gasp and an exhale. But when Theo pulled his cheeks apart, he tried to look up. He fell back down immediately. He bit into the sheets below. That tongue. That vicious hot tongue. That steamy breath and those hungry lips. Those thumbs that pulled him apart, stretching him, letting that tongue in deeper and deeper. His moans punched into the walls. His groans pushed into the sheets, muffled when he turned his head. His whole upper body was writhing. He'd been too worked over to freeze when he felt the first finger. His thoughts were muted, numbing fuzzy pleasure in his head consumed all his focus.

And then Theo was pressing his chest flush against his back. His breath was at his ear. And his dick that had once been guarded by a pair of jeans was now flush against the cooling-wet flesh of his hole. Theo put his hand back on his head, pushing him further into the mattress. "I'm gonna' wreck you," he said. He pushed back up and Liam inhaled as the other boy's head pushed against his entrance. "Now breathe," Theo said and pushed forward.

Liam tried. He tried to exhale as Theo pushed all the way in. It all came out as a whimpered scream, the tearing feeling of being filled stifling his functions. His dick pulsed, feeling a need to release something that pushed against something inside him.

"You're okay," Theo said, curling his chest over Liam's back. "Just keep breathing." He combed his hand up Liam's forehead, threading into his damp hair. Liam closed his eyes, waiting for everything to slow. "Fuck, you feel so good, Liam," he said against his ear.

When the pain started to subside, the beta opened his eyes again. He gripped onto Theo's wrist, their sweaty skin meeting in another place. "'m okay," Liam finally managed.

Theo straightened his arms, his thighs and hips flush against Liam's thighs and ass. He leaned back, pulling out. He pushed back in and Liam groaned. He repeated, eliciting the same sound. He put his hands on Liam's shoulders and started speeding up. Liam's grip tightened back into the linens. The burning pleasure, the heated air, the slapping of skin, the filling inside. It all overcame him. "Fuck, yes," Theo moaned, arching his neck and letting his primal features show.

"…god…" Liam gasped, burying his face into the sheets. It was too much. His body was no longer his. It was pushing back. It was on fire. It was taken over by the boy on top of him. Theo leaned over him, dragged the topped of Liam's ear through his fanged teeth. Liam arched, gasping out. Theo struck something in him. Opened a new nerve far inside. A second strike sent his sensations spiraling into one singular point. He pushed back at the third strike. He met the forth with perfect timing and he exploded. His dick released spurt after spurt onto the side of the bed, dribbling down, leaking onto his taut jeans that were still around his ankles.

"Fuck. Liam!" Theo said with a thrust, coming deep inside the boy below. "Oh, god…" he gasped, collapsing on top of him. "God…yeah…shit…"

The afterglow that followed was trifled with pants and sweat and heat. It was clouded and heavy, the air weighted and Theo still on top of Liam. Still inside him. After a while he pulled out and rolled over, pushing himself up to lay more comfortably on the bed. Liam was motionless, but awake.

"Liam…are you okay?" The werewolf nodded. "Come up here; I like to cuddle." Liam didn't move at first, but after a moment he pushed himself up and flipped up and over onto his back. Their heads were even and their chests rose and fell at nearly the same pace. Their shoulders touched, their forearm hair barely mingled. Theo reached over and interlaced their fingers. "You're amazing, kid."

"I kinda' just laid there."

"I didn't give you much choice." He thought about those words, regretting them instantly.

But Liam's head turned. He was smiling. "That was a choice I'm glad you took away." Theo smiled back at him. The werewolf looked his face over, taking his beam in. "I just noticed, you let your hair grow out more. Like mine." He looked the messy, sweat-soaked locks over. "I like it." Their eyes met again. "I like you."

"And the pack?"

"They'll deal. Scott's gonna' help. He's gonna' try."

"And so will I."