Chapter 12

At this point Thomas was happy he had landed a part-time job in local store's storage to deal with just delivered merchandise and sometimes if requested to put it on shelves. He got called in for late delayed arrival of new order. It seemed nice to deal with normal problems.

- 'So what's the deal with Peter?' Thomas had asked.

He cringed as the memory of conversation rushed back to his mind. He had hoped ticking off order sheet of supplies for store would keep his mind occupied. If everything else didn't make him feel guilty enough about how he had acted towards Scott and his friends then this just downright utterly made him cringe at his own actions. The crap Scott had been through the previous year with Kate Argent being still alive and turning him into a Berserker for a while with Peter's help was just too much. Scott had it rough and he never asked of any of this. After all – it was all Peter's fault he was werewolf in first place and through his own actions able to evolve into an Alpha. Thomas smiled as handed off signed supply sheet and helped the driver to get the supplies out of truck and in the storage.

And so Scott and others had spent an hour after his question to tell him about year between Allison's death and now - So many close calls and just being able to escape with sheer luck, help of friendship and at the end the showdown with Peter Hale. Now he resided in Eichen house but is he still there no one knew. No one cared to visit him, not even Derek. He had enough of Peter's stupidity, almost dying himself because of that.

Thomas didn't blame Derek for that. In fact, he didn't blame anyone anymore. Thomas sighed as he hours later had finished categorizing the new supplies in inventory and restocked some of the shelves. Manager had given him the key to back-doors and the storage-to-store keys so he could act freely as he wanted. It meant less work for him the next day but right now Thomas wanted to keep his mind occupied as much as he could.

He locked up the store and took his bicycle, riding home the long way past manager's house and dropping the keys in the mailbox. He didn't want to disturb the manager in case he was busy as it was evening and most importantly family time. Thomas looked up at sky, seeing the stars were not visible. Also he heard slight rumbling coming from east and creased his forehead. It's going to storm tonight.

Exhausted from long day he entered house locking it behind him, knowing his mom would have her own key. Yet, he couldn't stay angry with her, even after all the secrets she and dad had kept from him but somewhere back at his mind protest rumbled and chuckling slightly he accepted the sub-consciousness argument. Really? Your family is in supernatural killing business and now you are being thrown in middle of it and might I add because of them. And with that being the strong point Thomas made strong cup of strawberry tea and flopped down in living room's soft chair and listened as Thunder rumbled in distance. He felt too sick in stomach to eat anything. He was sick of too much supernatural information, sick of being targeted. He tried to ignore questions rising from deep of his mind. He was sick, yet he yearned more. He wanted to understand why him? He was sure only of two things:

1. Peter Hale was after him. Why, for what purpose – that escaped Thomas' understanding. From what he heard, he had his bone to pick with Scott and his Alpha powers. Maybe Thomas fit in grand scheme to get Scott finally meeting with Death but if so, how did he know Thomas would move to Beacon Hills?

2. Nogitsune was showing up in his dreams and messing with his mind. Stiles feared it would happen with him again but as far as Thomas knew it won't be happening. He already had gained Stiles' face and voice yet was still in hiding. And who had the power to revive the evil spirit after Scott and friends had killed it? Yet again, why Thomas was being haunted by the spirit?

Thomas doubted Peter and Nogitsune were somehow connected in this as both are after him but the possibility was not dismissible. Both had common goal but the power to revive the spirit was even beyond Peter. So many questions, so few answers and midst of all Thomas felt sick. Sleepless nights gained on him and thunder rumbled louder.

- 'SHUT UP!' Frustration took over Thomas and he yelled at the thunderstorm rumbling outside the windows.

- 'Thomas?' A familiar voice asked from hallway. Thomas sighed and composed himself as his mom entered the living room.

- 'Hey mom.' He said, surprised how exhausted his voice sounded. His mom noticed that too.

- 'What's the matter?' She asked in concerned voice.

- 'Just a long day, I suppose.' He replied. He did not know if he could trust his mother anymore.

- 'Let me guess – wolfsbane in your blood, hallucinations because of it and something else?' She asked. Thomas looked at her with mouth just falling open. She gave a hard smile. 'I do work at hospital, I do know Melissa, the Alpha's mother and yes, I am a hunter also.' She nodded.

- 'Good for you.' Thomas rolled his eyes. He was surprised how easy suddenly mother was talking about these things. Just last night he had exploded at her because of all the secrets.

- 'Just stop being so wounded and man up!' She suddenly said, looking sternly at Thomas.

- 'Really mom? For crying out loud, now you want to give me advice? For your information, I found out who was in my room that day and yes, evil spirit who Scott and others thought was gone is back.' Thomas said in exhausted voice. He had not the strength to yell at her. He prepared for a sleepless night as he heard the thunderstorm was just growing in strength. His mother's eyes narrowed.

- 'Who?!' She said in monotone voice, her fingers flexing as if she wanted something in her arms suddenly. Thomas knew this reflex enough to know why it was there.

- 'Does it matter that bad?' Thomas countered. He was just so exhausted.

- 'We want to protect you, Thomas.' Cassandra said.

- 'Too late for that, mother.' Thomas said and with that he rose up from his seat and went out of living room.

- 'Thomas!' His mother exclaimed but Thomas ignored. He stopped mid-way to stairs but just sighed, changing his mind. He wanted to say something but part of him stopped him from doing that. Instead, he slowly went upstairs.

Thomas was lying wide awake in his bed. Thunder was very loud, not letting him to sleep. He turned from side to side, sometimes trying to let himself lay flat on his back but it didn't help. Hallucinations because of wolfsbane. It was plausible the wolfsbane was affecting him but to go and say those were hallucinations? It was all too real encounter with Nogitsune to pass it to that. Yet, part with Allison was hinting to hallucination as she was dead. Thomas groaned and checked his phone. It was past 11 PM. He yearned sleep but thunderstorm was not letting him. He couldn't help it as it affected him.

Thomas bit his lip as he went to text messages. He typed the message on screen:

Hey, wolf-boy! Are you awake?

For a long while, he fought with himself should he send the message or not. Part of him wanted to talk with someone right now but other part tried to dismiss it as it was all too much for him. Having werewolf for a boyfriend was hard thought and Thomas didn't even know if he could count Jonathan as his boyfriend. Is he? In frustration, he hit send.

- 'Crap' He groaned in pillow as he watched as message was sent. He put the phone on mattress next to him and dearly hoped Jonathan was asleep. Few minutes later, he heard familiar sound of text sound from his phone. Uh-oh. His face half-hidden in pillow he picked up the phone and read the text. He cussed at himself as he saw the reply:

NowI am. What's upp?

He had awoken Jonathan with his text and to his horror, Jonathan was replying, with slight mistakes, most likely sleepy. Who the hell sleeps with his phone sounds on?!

Oh my god, I am so sorry, I woke you up!

Thomas hurriedly typed the message and hit 'send'. He wished he had better control over his frustration and he wouldn't have woken Jonathan up. Jonathan's extra strong senses made this bad. Thomas snatched his phone again as saw the next reply.

Question is – why are you up?

He was fully aware now. Thomas sighed. Oh you, know, scared of thunderstorms, no biggie. He typed a reply:

Oh, just, you know, doing homework.

He sent. Please buy my lie, buy my lie…

I don't need my extra senses to know a lie.

I'm not lying, honestly!

Double lie.

Jonathan!

What, you are just so predictable.

No, I am not.

Are you sure about that? I saw you that day, remember? I saw how bad you were when you ran out of school.

Thomas flinched. His fingers slightly trembled. He had forgotten about that encounter with Jonathan. He had forgotten how Jonathan had stopped him as he had charged out from school after the meeting with Scott. He put down the phone and hid his face in palms. How many lives were now intertwined with him now? Minutes later, another text came from Jonathan:

You are scared, aren't you?

Thomas had the urge to throw phone against the wall. How could Jonathan easily read him? How was he able to tell from so far without being near to him about how Thomas felt? It was just a thunderstorm, for crying out loud! But yet he was here, far away from Jonathan. Another text arrived:

I will be there in 15 minutes.

N-No, Jonathan! Everything's good, don't, it's fine, really!

But no reply came. Thomas sat in his bed, upright, hugging his knees and hoping Jonathan was kidding. He sat, rocking himself back and forth.

Thomas didn't know how long time had passed when he had finally composed himself. To his surprise there was a knock on his doors.

- 'I am fine mom, just leave me alone.' Thomas said, his voice slightly off.

- 'It's cute and all but I am not your mom.' The slight, husky voice came from other side. Thomas jumped as he heard the voice. He turned the lights on in his room and went to open the doors.

- 'Jonathan?! What the hell are you doing here?!' Thomas exclaimed as he saw Jonathan, wet standing to his doors.

- 'I was just in neighborhood, you know.' He laughed. Thomas narrowed his eyes and then noticed Jonathan's dripping hair.

- 'You ran all the way?' He hissed.

- 'Exercise.' Jonathan shrugged but Thomas went to look for a towel.

- 'Hot shower.' He tossed the towel at Jonathan, who easily caught it.

- 'It's just the rain.' Jonathan shrugged again. Thomas rolled his eyes.

- 'Exactly! And you ran through it! Don't you know how dangerous it is with lightning and all?' Thomas hissed more. Jonathan laughed.

- 'No need to send me to hot shower because of that.' He remarked. Thomas rolled his eyes.

- 'Last I checked you could get sick easy even though you are a werewolf.' Thomas said.

- 'True but-' As if to prove Thomas' point, Jonathan sneezed.

- 'Hot. Shower. Now!' Thomas said. Jonathan rolled his eyes but went to bathroom Thomas pointed out. As soon Jonathan left, Thomas sighed.

- 'I heard that!' Jonathan exclaimed from bathroom. Thomas rolled his eyes. Werewolves.

A while later both were laying in Thomas' bed, cuddling. Thomas pressed himself against Jonathan as he wrapped his arm around Thomas and held him. Jonathan was all warm because of the hot shower Thomas said to take and Thomas liked it. He felt perfectly at ease when Jonathan was here and oddly enough thunderstorm that was rumbling outside felt distant, just background and surely enough soon drifted to sleep but Jonathan trusting his werewolf instincts couldn't shake the ominous eerie feeling it brought. He felt Thomas had fallen asleep. It's perfectly fine to be scared, Thomas. It just proves how human you are.

Suddenly, he felt Thomas curl up and odd sound escaped his lips.

- 'Tho-' but slight trembling silenced Jonathan. He heard Thomas sobbing in his sleep. Whatever he was dreaming of, he was sad and proved how much Thomas struggled to stay strong while being awake and yet how vulnerable he still was in sleep.

Last thing Jonathan heard before Thomas calmed in his sleep were three words:

It is coming…