Chapter 18

Theo:

"What are you looking at?" I asked Liam, watching him play with his phone.

"Nothing." He muttered shrugging. I could hear noise coming from his phone as he stared at it. I leaned in to look, curious as to what had his attention. I laughed when I saw him replaying the video of that coming out kiss from the game almost a full week ago now.

"Is he watching that video again?" Mason sighed from his corner of the room after we had exhausted ourselves playing video games.

We ended up at Liam's place after school. I was a bit skeptical that I should even be here, but Liam said he refused to hide or cater to other people's issues with us, including his mother. I think his dad being home today and the fact that Mason decided to tag along helped to keep the peace and keep his mother at bay. Dr. Geyer was keeping her busy and away and Mason was 'chaperoning.'

Now just relaxing, Liam and I on the bed and Mason found a cozy corner with a bean bag and was reading an article until he found some silly quiz and now we were joking around answering the questions. Well, we were until Liam got distracted.

"Yes he is. But I don't blame him. That was one hell of a kiss."

He blushed and put his phone away.

"Yeah it was." He agreed snuggling up to me on the bed.

"I seriously need a boyfriend." Mason sighed.

Liam laughed at his friend, teasing him about his prospects when my phone rang. Pulling it out, I check and sat up ramrod straight cutting off whatever Mason was saying. Liam seeing me staring at my phone sat up as well.

"Corey?"

I nodded, scared to answer but knowing I needed too. Corey doesn't call, it's too dangerous he said. But he was calling now, and I was already starting to panic. Liam reached over and hit accept and speaker then grabbed my hand. Mason got up and sat on the other side to get a better listen.

"Theo, you're at Liam's right?"

His question snapped me out of my frozen panic.

"How do you know that? Wait, how do you know about Liam?" I asked, confused.

"Never mind that. All that matters is dad knows about Liam, and he knows you are there. He's sending people there now."

"Corey, this is Liam, do you know how many? And how long before they get here?"

"He's sending about 5 or 6, all hunters. You got incoming in about 15 minutes. You need to get Scott, now."

"Okay, we'll call him now." Liam told him.

"Good. I have to go."

"No, Corey wait-." I called.

"No time. I have to go. Stay safe, love you."

He disconnected. Mason whipped out his phone while I stared at mine.

"Theo, we have to move. Come on, we can think about Corey after we take care of this, okay?" Liam said squeezing my hand. I nodded and we all scrambled off the bed, pulling on shoes.

"No, he didn't say anything about berserkers, just hunters and they would be arriving here soon. You need to get here fast. Maybe try to get the others as well." Mason was saying into his phone. We all left out of the room and rushed down the stairs.

"Dad!" Liam shouted then turned to Mason. "Tell Scott I am going to lead them into the woods behind my house to follow us there."

"Liam, what's going on?" His dad asked coming into the entryway followed closely by his mom. Liam only hesitated for a split-second, glancing at his mother, but we didn't really have time for secrets.

"Uh… You have to get you, mom, Mason, and Theo into the pantry now." Liam said. I was already shaking my head.

"Why, what's happening?"

"You are not going out there alone."

His dad and I both said.

"I don't have time to explain. You just need to get there and lock the door. Theo, you have to stay here." Liam said. He was crazy if he thought I was letting him go out there alone.

"No, I love that you want to protect me, but I told you, I am not helpless. And until Scott gets here you can't go out there alone."

"What is going on?" he mother asked looking back and forth between all of us then she looked directly at me. "What have you gotten my son into?"

That was absolutely the wrong thing to say right now. Liam's eyes switched to gold, and I heard the growl rumble in his chest. I locked my arms around him and moved him back away from his now wide-eyed mother.

"Dr. Geyer, get them out of here, please." I told him. He nodded and grabbed his wife. Mason checked with me, I nodded, and he followed after them. I didn't let Liam go until I heard the lock click.

"Calm down. We have other things to worry about right now. We need to lead them away from the house." I told him. He took a deep breath and nodded.

"Theo, I need you to go with them. If you get hurt-."

"Liam, stop. I am not leaving you to deal with this alone. I'm coming. And we are wasting time arguing over it so let's not. We need a plan."

"Fine, but you better not get stabbed again..."

"I won't if you don't." I told him, knowing neither of us can make that kind of promise. He rolled his eyes but nodded once.

"Remember what Argent told us at the last meeting? Hunters don't come at you straight on. They are going to try to go through the woods. We need to keep them away from the house. So why not be outside when they come? The woods is right behind my house. If we are standing in the yard hopefully they won't go any further. We can always run through to lead them away. Scott knows how to get to my house from there, so we can just meet them in the middle."

"Okay, let's do this. I know Corey said 15 minutes, but I don't trust them to keep to a schedule." I told him. He nodded and we went out the back door locking it behind us.

Liam was concentrating on any sounds coming from around us and I was just waiting, watching him, praying to any deity listening that he would be okay, that we both would. He perked up a few minutes later.

"You hear them?"

"Yeah, maybe about three or four minutes away."

"Should we meet them in there instead of out here?" I asked.

"Yeah, that's probably a better idea." He nodded then turned to me and grabbed my hand. "Is this a bad time to tell you that I love you?"

Was my face cracking? Because I felt like it was with how hard I was smiling. Pulling him to me, I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him.

"Not if I love you too."

Liam:

I could not express the happiness and relief I felt when he told me he loved me too. I had been feeling it for some time but was too afraid to say it. Maybe I should have picked a different time and setting to say it for the first time. But this was us. We weren't conventional or really a romantic type of couple. We are just us. Later I would bask in this but right now we needed to survive whatever was about to happen.

With another quick kiss we took off into the woods. Off in a distance I heard two roars, one louder and stronger than the other, Scott and Isaac. I didn't even fight the shift this time.

"You're still adorable." He told me when I looked at him, that cocky smirk on his face. Again, I rolled my eyes.

I stopped about halfway to where I could clearly hear Scott and Isaac. Carefully grabbing Theo, I pulled him behind me. He put his back to mine.

"What do you hear?" He whispered searching.

"We're surrounded." I could hear footsteps coming from every direction. At least four sets. Going on instinct I let out a loud roar.

"Was that a good idea?" Theo asked. But I didn't have to answer, Scott's answering roar came back to us. "Oh."

Four men stepped out of the woods; weapons trained on us.

"Remember our promise." I told him.

"I don't think that was as much a promise as an agreement. You just be careful."

"Same."

"Hands up boys. Nobody has to get hurt here, we just want Theo Raeken. Which one of you is he?" one of them asked.

"That would be me." Theo said.

"Seriously babe?" I sighed, keeping my eye on as many of them as I could.

"Babe, I like it. Make sure to call me that later, okay?" He chuckled. Even in this situation I blushed. "You're blushing again aren't you?"

"No." I lied. He chuckled again, knowing it. "You ready for this?"

"Absolutely. Could be fun." He said. I could hear Scott and Isaac creeping closer. There was another set of steps as well, but I couldn't tell you who it was.

"Cocky little shits, aren't you." One of them sneered.

"Not cocky, confident." I told them.

"You think the two of you can stop all of us?" he said as they all edged closer.

"Who says there's only two of us?" Theo said and I could hear the smirk in his voice.

I heard the hiss before I saw the arrow fly, hitting one of them in the leg. He went down and the guns were turned off us and onto the surrounding area. There was a growl before Isaac jumped out grabbing a guy and tossing him into a tree.

Theo and I both leaped at two others taking them down and throwing their guns far away from them. Scott came out and grabbed the last one, ripping his gun from him and forcing him to his knees, holding him there. I whipped around at the sound of a gun going off, followed by a grunt of pain. The one Theo was holding had been able to get away and pull another gun.

"Theo." I shouted running for him. Allison came out of the woods, behind the man and smashed him in the back of the head with her bow at the same time my fist met his face, putting him down. I caught Theo as he staggered backwards.

"God damn it. Not again." He groaned, holding his side. Malia burst onto the scene growling, claws out, backing up Scott who was taking in the surroundings for any others. Isaac had dragged his guy and Allison's over to Scott.

"We had an agreement." I told him, holding him up.

"Well, I didn't get stabbed." He grinned, but his breathing was labored.

'You're not funny."

"I'm fine mini wolf. I just need to get this bullet out."

"I can smell the wolfsbane, Theo. You are not fine. We need that serum."

"Oh no, I'm not doing that again." He said, shaking his head furiously.

"Yes, you are." I told him. "Allison, we need that kit." I called behind me.

"It's with Lydia and Stiles. They took it to your house just in case. I'll text Lydia and let her know you're coming." She called back. I nodded and placed Theo's arm around my neck.

"It's not that bad. Really. We can try just letting it work its way out of my system on its own." Theo said, groaning.

"Yeah. Sure. I am positive Liam is going to agree to that." Isaac snorted taking his other side.

"We'll meet you guys there, once I get some information out of these guys." Scott called out to us as we walked back towards the house. I was half curious about how he was going to get answers. But I was too on edge. Theo's hurt and my instincts were screaming at me.

Theo was breathing heavier the more we walked but at least this time he wasn't spitting up black and yellow goo. As soon as we cleared the woods into my yard I saw Stiles standing on the back porch. He opened the door and held it for us. We were able to get Theo inside and into my dad's office. Both he and Lydia were there. Lydia grabbed the syringe as soon as she saw us and started filling it.

"Put him here, boys." dad said, directing us to the couch that had been covered in towels.

We gently set him down. As soon as he was sitting somewhat comfortably I grabbed the hem of his shirt to take it off. I would love to say I took the time to ogle him, but I didn't, this time. The wound itself didn't look as bad as the last one he had, but the black lines were slowly starting to creep up.

I heard a gasp and turned to see my mom standing in the doorway looking at the shirt in my hand and the shirtless Theo on the couch.

"Relax mom, it's just a shirt, I'm not stripping him down." I told her. Dad took the filled syringe and grabbed his bag before approaching us.

"Well of course not, I didn't think... Why did we have to lock ourselves in the pantry? And what happened with your eyes earlier? I don't know what's happening."

"No, you don't. I'll try to explain everything later. Right now, I need to focus on this." I told her, sitting next to Theo and grabbing his hand. "Just like last time. Hold my hand and concentrate on me. Squeeze if you need to." I whispered to him. He nodded.

"Liam, I'm just-."

"Sweetheart, I know you want answers but now is not the time." Dad told her.

"Alright, you ready, Theo?" dad asked.

"Nope." He huffed. "Do it."

He kept his eyes on me right up until the serum started making its way through his system burning away the wolfs bane. Then his grip tightened to crushing, his eyes closed tightly, his body arched upward, and he screamed. So many expletives flew from his mouth that even Isaac looked impressed. Dad moved away and Isaac rushed forward to hold him down. I just kept hold of his hand and tried to stay focused on him. Hearing him screaming in pain was tugging at everything in me to do something. He slumped back panting when the pain faded, and his grip eased.

"I know I said this before, but next time I get hurt, just let me die. It has to be quicker and less painful than that." He said, warily.

"Yeah, that's not going to happen. I'm thinking of wrapping you in Kevlar and bubble wrap next time." I told him, trying to smile. "How do you feel?"

"Like I got shot, again." He grunted trying to sit up.

"Hold on, before you sit up, we still need to get that bullet out and get you sewn up." Dad said coming back over, taking Isaac's place. We heard a knock on the back door and Mason went to get it. I could smell Scott and Malia.

'Shouldn't he be in a hospital?" My mom asked and I really worked to keep my temper.

"No hospitals." Theo and I said together.

"I got the dissolving stitches this time. Figured they would be good to keep on hand dealing with you all. No need for another visit to have them removed." Dad said setting out supplies on the end table.

"Everyone okay?" Scott asked, coming in the door, and going straight to Lydia, as was expected, just like Malia rushing to Stiles.

"Everything is awesome. Doc here is about to go rooting around for a bullet." Theo told him. Scott chuckled.

"Here we go." Dad said. Theo clamped his mouth shut to keep from screaming as my dad used the forceps to catch on to the bullet. I pulled as much pain as I could from him, but he could still feel it. "Almost."

I felt myself growl; I really didn't like that he was in pain even if I knew it was necessary.

"Liam…" Scott called.

"I'm fine." I gritted out. I wasn't, not at all.

"Got it." dad said, pulling out the bullet and dropping it onto a piece of gauze on the table.

"Thank God." Theo breathed.

'This next part is easier to handle." Dad told us, prepping the needle.

"Liam-."

"Not now mom."

"I just want-."

"I said not now." I growled. I could still feel my wolf on the surface. I took a deep breath. Theo was right here, and he was fine. But I wasn't calm enough to deal with her.

"I just want someone to tell me what the hell is going on." She yelled and I growled louder.

"Mrs. Geyer, please don't say anything else right now." Scott said, calmly. "David, Isaac, I think you both need to back up away from them. Give them a minute. Theo try to calm him down some."

Theo's eyes opened and he looked at me. I didn't need him to say it to know my eyes were glowing. I saw Isaac pull my dad back and behind him. Scott tugged Lydia over to the doorway where my mom and Mason were and stood in front of them.

"Hey, I'm okay. I promise. Calm down for me, mini wolf." Theo whispered, pressing his forehead to mine.

"I don't like you in pain." I forced out.

"I know, but the hard part is over. I'm okay. Just relax. Breathe with me, okay?"

I closed my eyes and matched my breathing to his, it took a few minutes, but I was able to calm down and my eyes switched back. My wolf may still be pacing but he wasn't trying to burst out anymore. I focused back on Theo.

"You good now?" he asked. I nodded.

"Yeah. I just really don't like you in pain."

"I'm Ford tough, babe. I'll be fine." He winked. I huffed a laugh, relaxing a bit more.

"I'm good." I told everyone. Dad smiled and came back over.

"What happened after we left?" Theo asked, wincing with the first stitch but otherwise not reacting.

"We got them tied up. Argent, Braeden, and Allison are still there, waiting for Parrish and the Sheriff. He's locking them up." Scott explained.

"Did you get anything out of them?" I asked.

"Yes, I got some information. I really only had to force the information out of one of them. The others just folded."

I heard a squeak and looked to see my mom still standing there. I really forgot she was there. So did everyone else it seems, as they all also turned to look at her. I groaned knowing there really was no way out of telling her at least the basics. She wouldn't let it go, she had seen and heard too much.

"Oops." Stiles murmured.

"Liam." Scott said looking at me, asking silently what I wanted to do about this. I sighed.

"Might as well. It's just something else she won't be able to accept about me. Just a summary. I guess I can answer questions later after we get this sorted out." I told him. he nodded and launched into a summary of what we were, what happened and why we are all here right now sewing up my boyfriend.

"You did this to him? You turned him into… that?" my mother asked outraged. I could see Scott flinch.

"Would you rather I was dead? Because that was the only other outcome." I snapped at her. Upset that she would turn on Scott. Theo squeezed my hand.

"Liam. It's okay." Scott said.

"No, it's not. It's bad enough she tries to make me feel like crap about being who I am. She doesn't get to do the same to you." I told him before turning on my now nervous mother. "Scott saved my life, that's the bottom line. If he could have done it any other way he would have but he couldn't. I have no hard feelings or regrets about being a wolf. He's been there every step of the way helping me deal with this. He, Stiles, Mason and every one of my friends was there for me from the very beginning. He's the reason I haven't exploded since last year. So, think about that before you start blaming him or any of them for things." I said looking straight at her.

"Alright, we're all done." Dad said. I turned away from my mother and saw he had finished and had bandaged him up.

"Thanks doc." Theo said, grabbing his shirt and shrugging it on.

"Is that my new name? I kind of like it." Dad smiled.

"Yeah me too. Less formal then Dr. Geyer."

"You guys go and figure out what's going on. Let me know if I can help." Dad told us. I helped Theo to his feet. "Liam, hang back for a sec."

I watched everyone head out including my mom before facing my dad.

"I know this has been tough on you, with your mom. Then having to deal with this attack on top of it. But hang in there. This blockage, or whatever it is, is a struggle but she will come around. I'll finish explaining the rest to her while you're gone so don't worry about that."

"Thanks. I'm sorry about snapping. I'm just on edge with everything and I'm so tired of her attitude towards Theo and my friends."

"I know. Don't worry about that right now. Go. Be back before curfew."

I nodded before catching up to everyone. Now it's time to figure out what's going on.