Chapter Text
The rest of the day went by with stressed unease. Everyone kept lingering around Liam, unsure of how to act, knowing there was a high possibility of him dying tomorrow. Lydia, on the other hand, kept looking at Theo weirdly.
He just prayed it didn't mean he would die tomorrow, that they would die tomorrow.
Scott updated the rest of the pack on the files. Peter and Derek became interested quite quickly when they found out that Theo had stolen theirs as well. It was all a distraction from tomorrow's full moon, but a welcomed one.
Theo managed to force the worries out of his mind until he and Liam laid in the guest room bed. Corey and Mason went over to Mason’s, and more members of the pack decided to go to their homes.
Liam didn't want to yet. He didn't say why, but by the way he anxiously checked his phone, the thread with his parents open, he didn't have to. The chimera didn't even want to imagine the conversation Liam would have to go through tomorrow.
Theo calmed his heartbeat the second they laid down in hope it would lull Liam to sleep, but it didn't do shit. The beta kept turning in bed and tangling their limbs in different ways. It was driving Theo a little insane.
“Liam, I swear to god, if you move again, I will shove the pillow up your throat,” the chimera mumbled just as Liam’s muscles tensed again.
“You're not asleep?” Liam frowned as he turned to face Theo. “How could I be?” Theo asked and pulled Liam closer, praying that Liam wouldn't move.
“I don't know, your heart- it was so slow,” the beta replied and looked back at Theo. It was quiet for a bit. Neither of them knew what to say. What would you say to someone you will probably die with the next day?
“Why did you lie?” was apparently Liam's go-to.
“About what?” Theo asked, with the amount of lies he said, there was no way of knowing what Liam was exactly talking about.
“Today, why don't you want Scott to bite you? I know what Peter said isn't total bullshit, but it's something more for you, I could tell,” Liam said stubbornly before Theo managed to interrupt him.
Theo was quiet for a bit, not knowing if he should be confining these thoughts. On the other hand, maybe he will never get the chance to voice them again. “Liam, I killed my own sister for these powers. I got kidnapped, I stole, I lied, and I killed, all of that for this.”
Liam watched him with relative calmness, and Theo had no idea how the IED beta could find. “If I were to accept the offer, all of that would come in vain, at least to me…”
Theo didn't cry; he never cried, but a few salty drops of water trailed down his cheeks. He couldn't even tell until Liam pushed them off his cheeks stubbornly. “That's why I could never be a true wolf, I wouldn't want that. I want to be a chimera because that's what I chose.”
The beta looked almost taken aback by the honesty before he nodded and pressed their foreheads together. “I get it, you gave too much for it to disappear. I just hate when you lie to me.”
“I know, I'm sorry. It was… I didn't want to lie to you. I just didn't know how to say this in front of all of them,” Theo explained, and Liam nodded and snuggled himself tighter to Theo.
“I wouldn't know either,” the beta replied softly and kissed Theo. Just like that, a soft press of lips against each other. Before Theo could fight it, blush spread out over his cheeks, and his eyes were wide with surprise.
Liam laughed at him, of course.
“Don't act all shy on me now, you were the first one to kiss me,” Liam said when Theo kept gaping at him. The chimera quickly snapped back after that.
“Yeah, when I thought we would die,” Theo argued only half-heartedly, still too emotional.
“We shouldn't do this only when we think we will die,” Liam replied, the worry seeping back inside him, his heartbeat faster, hands twitchier at the promise of tomorrow.
“We shouldn't," Theo agreed and kissed him again, praying it wasn't for the last time as they finally fell asleep.
_______
The morning was painful in many ways. There were the goodbyes first. Liam’s parents knew some of the supernatural world, but not enough for Liam to be able to properly explain it. He didn't even want to, to be honest.
How could he tell them that he may or may not die tonight based on whether his and Theo’s souls are combined in some crazy, magical wolf way? Not minding the fact that even if they are, Theo's wolf is probably too weak to handle that bond.
So he told them it was another sleepover. The last few days, he told them he was on a trip, so his mum gave him a bit of a harsh look. Because why can't you stay home with us for a bit? She had no idea how much Liam would like that.
He hoped she understood from how tight he hugged her and from the number of kisses he let he press to his hair before he left. There was a letter under his pillow. Three of them, to be exact. In case they die tonight.
One for his parents, one for Scott and one for Theo. Liam didn't even know why he wrote that one, it just felt right… Because what if Theo somehow survived and Liam didn't?
The rest of the day was spent on various preparations and traditions that Peter said could help them in the end. It consisted mostly of prayers and eating different types of herbs. The pointed looks from Stiles and Mason told Liam exactly how useful this all would be in the end.
Scott tried to be there for Liam the whole day, smiling and supportive, but nothing could really help. Still, it was nice, and Liam was grateful for it.
Theo was also different.
He kept lingering behind Liam at all times while looking around as if death could come earlier and claim them. The chimera looked paler than the day before, and Liam just prayed it was from stress, not from him feeling physically worse.
Then there was the whole physical affection thing. Since they both realised that perhaps this was the last time they kissed and hugged and touched. Malia didn't even glare at Theo for doing so. It was an overall strange and sad day, and, at the end of it, Liam was more frustrated than anything and just wanted to get the stupid ritual over with.
Finally, the night came, and they were sitting in Derek’s car, the older man driving them there. Neither of them chose the passenger seat, opting for the back ones. The whole ride was almost uncomfortably quiet, with only the radio playing.
Liam’s pointer finger was digging into the skin of his thumb absentmindedly. Theo wordlessly inserted his own hand between them, stopping Liam. They exited the car a few minutes later.
The whole pack was there already; the heartbeats were collectively faster except for Theo’s. Liam kind of wanted to punch him for not letting go of the control even now.
“Do you remember the process?” Peter asked them one last time. They had to go alone to a private place in the forest with the moonlight directly hitting them for the ritual to work. At least according to Peter.
“Yeah, we will be fine,” Theo replied, despite knowing no one really believed him. Everyone pulled Liam in for a tight hug and patted Theo’s shoulder before the couple left.
“Do you really believe that?” Liam asked as they were walking away. The chimera looked at him as they walked side by side. He slid his hand into Liam’s, a gesture so casual that it took the beta by surprise, but he squeezed Theo's hand in reassurance.
“I want to believe it. I want for you to live,” Theo answered, not hiding his scent for once, letting Liam smell the honesty for once.
“I want you to live too,” Liam replied as they walked for several more minutes. There was no rush; they still had half an hour till midnight.
They reached the place just in time. It was a small meadow hidden by the tall trees, but with open enough space for the moonlight to directly hit them. There were dozens of flowers under their feet, and Liam couldn't help but think this would be a nice place to-
“Don't think that,” Theo said out loud, and Liam gave him a stern look.
“Don't think what?” Liam asked, swallowing a lump in his throat.
“You know what,” Theo replied, looking around the place as well. Liam knew he was thinking the same thing, though, as he watched the flowers and quiet forest surrounding them. The stars reflected in Theo’s eyes, and Liam felt breathless at the sight.
“I'm glad it's you. If we were bonded or not, I'm glad it's you who's here with me,” Liam changed the topic as they walked in the middle of the meadow, drawing a circle from the stones Peter gave them. Another tradition that neither of them knew much about.
Theo looked up from the rocks back at Liam, his eyes glistening. “Don't say that, Liam, don't stand there fucking saying things like that knowing what will happen,” the chimera pleaded, arranging the last stone in its place.
There was a lump in his throat that forced him not to say the rest. To not put his full heart on his sleeve and spill all of his embarrassing thoughts and feelings.
Liam swallowed hard, walking to the middle of the circle, meeting Theo there. “I will say that. I will say whatever the fuck I want. If this is my last night, then you won't tell me what to do,” Liam argued, falling naturally into their usual banter. It drew a painful smile out of Theo.
“I always forget how stubborn you are,” Theo replied and stepped closer, their breaths mixing before Theo pulled him into a kiss. Deep one. It was the first time Liam was sure what Theo was thinking.
It was obvious from how desperately his hands were gripping Liam’s waist. In the way the tears started slowly escaping his eyes. In the way, his breath was unnaturally shaky and his heartbeat fast. They both knew without saying it.
“It's time,” was what Theo finally said when they pulled apart. Liam looked up and saw the moon right above them. The time flew by in these last few minutes, faster than throughout the whole day.
“On 3?” Liam asked stupidly, and Theo rolled his eyes with a small smile.
“Sure, Liam, on three,” the chimera agreed, and Liam started counting down, hesitating on two, both of their eyes lighting up golden and fangs freeing.
“Three,” the beta said finally, and they both leaned in for the right side, biting through the thick skin to reach the internal carotid artery. Liam could tell immediately that he nailed it by the amount of blood that started dripping out of Theo’s neck. Their hands were interlocked as Theo did the same, and Liam whined into the bite.
It was so painful, and Liam had no idea if something was happening; at least they weren't dying yet. They slowly collapsed on the ground, both of them on their knees. Theo’s legs gave up first, and Liam followed immediately, not letting go.
He vaguely remembered that Peter told them the sunrise was supposed to be around 5 a.m., which meant at least four more hours of this. Liam could hear some more of Theo’s painful whines as the wound wasn't closing. He focused as hard as he could until finally black veins appeared on his hand.
Liam took away some of Theo’s pain, trying to ignore the sting it left in him. The chimera slumped weakly onto his shoulder, the teeth still dug firmly inside Liam’s artery. To imagine this would have to go on for several more hours was insane.
The beta pulled Theo impossibly closer to him, focusing on the warm breath hitting his exposed neck. It calmed him down so easily, knowing that Theo was still alive, still breathing. He didn't know how much time had passed by when he started feeling it.
His thoughts didn't feel like his anymore, more like not only his. There was someone else there inside his mind, and he was inside someone else’s mind as well. It was an out-of-body experience as he slowly but surely started to see Theo’s memories.
The chimera’s whole life flashed in front of his eyes. The running around from kindergarten to the first meeting, Scott, Stiles and Dread Doctors taking him. He saw Theo kill his own sister and then get punished and lie and kill and manipulate.
An endless circle of pain, experiments, and manipulation that was Theo’s life.
He saw him get back to Beacon Hills and their first meeting. He saw the hell, Tara pulling her heart back, but it wasn’t out of Theo’s chest anymore; it was out of Liam’s. Somewhere along the way, he stopped being just a spectator; he became Theo, seeing all of these experiences from his point of view.
Now it wasn't just Theo’s pain, Theo’s lies, Theo’s guilt; it became Liam’s as well. The first thing he saw when he got back from hell was himself, and that’s when he realised it was the moment for Theo. The chimera never let him go from that moment.
He saw everything that happened to Theo since then. The confusion he went through as his feelings for Liam deepened. The suffocating hatred he felt for his mistakes. The slow but sure flickers of affection every time Liam was near that grew into this bond.
Liam distantly felt the now cold blood dripping down his body into the grass, and Theo’s body was shaking progressively more, but there was nothing he could do. His body was an empty box; now his mind and consciousness were stuck inside Theo.
He got to the first full moon after the war and felt all the emotions Theo went through as he dragged unconscious Liam inside the house. Liam learned the tells now. The slight tremble of Theo’s pinky that he never seemed to notice before.
The smirk that he now knew was pure self-defence, and the sick satisfaction he got every time he pulled a reaction out of Liam. He knew it all. Yet it seemed like not enough as the thoughts darkened, getting muddied inside the warehouse Theo was in with Scott only a week ago.
Something was wrong. A shot of pain came through Liam, and the beta realised he could no longer feel the soft breath against his neck or the shaky heartbeat that was there until now, like a soothing background.
Theo was dying.
Liam couldn't let that happen, so despite all the pain he was going through, despite him feeling out of control of his own body. He forced his fingertips to tighten just a little harder around Theo’s hand and pull the pain away from him.
He didn't know what was happening, only agony and panic flickering around his soul until finally, he heard it again. The soft breath and shaky heartbeat as Theo’s teeth dig deeper inside Liam’s slowly healing artery.
The darkness disappeared, and he saw clearly again. Liam was in front of Scott, the words ‘Tell Liam- tell him that it was fucking awesome,’ falling out of his own mouth. He could feel the admiration and affection in each of the words before he was in the car.
Liam was telling himself to calm down to save the hits for later. He's been there through waking up and another pull of affection. Liam felt the pain of the hot steel inside his stomach and the burn of the healing process.
He felt and saw everything till now. Till today, as Theo walked beside him and pulled the beta closer for the final kiss. The words that went unsaid are now yelling inside his head as he completely gets to know him.
Their memories, experiences, fears and emotions blended into one as Liam slowly settled back inside his body, opening his eyes. He didn't see the dark forest in front of himself anymore. Now it was bathing in the shy hits of the first rays of the sun touching the flowers.
His jaw was slack and stinging as he pulled away from the skin he was gripping until now. Theo did the same, and Liam knew not only because he could feel it inside his own body, but because he was connected to Theo’s as well. Their eyes met as they pulled away from each other’s necks, both of them alive.
They weren't the same, though. Instead of glowing gold, ardent purple ones were staring back at him. Theo’s mouth was covered in Liam’s blood dripping down his chin, but he was alive. He was alive and staring back at Liam with the most beautiful smile Liam had ever seen.
“I love you,” Liam blurted out, not even knowing where to start as he wiped the tears from Theo’s face.
“I love you too,” Theo replied and leaned in closer, their lips connecting for the first time as bonded mates.
“I'm so sorry for everything. I will never leave you,” the mumbled, and Liam was so confused, only now realising that Theo had to go through the same thing, except in Liam’s head, knowing now his biggest fears.
“It's okay, I will never hurt you. I will never force you,” Liam promised right back and kissed him back again. They lazed around for a while, wordlessly sharing how it felt for the other and getting used to the feeling of just knowing what the other knew.
They haven't spoken at first. They didn't need to. It was as if both of their thoughts blended into one, and Liam knew what Theo was thinking as easily as he knew his own thoughts.
Slowly, they started talking, voices hushed, their throats raw from the night’s events. They explored connections as they spoke or just shared thoughts and emotions.
Liam slowly learned how to make Theo’s thoughts quiet. How to let them stay in the back of his mind and easily reach them when he wanted to know.
Realising that their minds were now opened to each other, something so unimaginably scary for Theo, Liam knew they needed to take things slow. They haven't thought about anyone else, getting lost inside each other's presence, not even hearing the worried pack nearing as they laid on the ground surrounded by grass and flowers.
Liam didn't think of it as a good place to die anymore. No place seemed good enough to die with Theo by his side.
“Liam! Theo!” someone was screaming their names, but Liam couldn't pull his eyes away from Theo’s. It looked like the chimera thought the same, as they kept longingly staring at each other, their eyes vibrant purple.
“They're here!” someone screamed barely a meter from Liam’s head, but the beta didn't look up. He couldn't look away from Theo as both of their eyes still glowed, locked up on each other.
“Oh my god! They're alive!” It had to be Lydia by the sound of the voice. “Thank god!” Mason said this time and walked closer to Liam, but the second he heard a sound too close, Theo snarled at him, and he quickly stepped back in the face of the purple eyes.
Theo looked away quickly, though, locking his eyes back with Liam, blending back in their little haze. Many steps followed, and soon enough, they were surrounded by the whole pack, their friends successfully creating a shadow around them.
“What the fuck,” Mason only mumbled, still staring at the blood-covered couple.
“Alright, what the hell is happening? Why are their eyes purple, and why don't they hear us?" Stiles asked and turned over to someone. Liam knew it was all happening and that maybe he should answer. Thanks to the whole brain-sharing thing, he knew they thought the same, but neither of them reacted.
“This is completely normal. They both survived, which I'm genuinely surprised about, but now they will be annoyingly inseparable for at least 24 hours,” Peter spoke, but his voice was totally distant. Liam had the urge to kiss Theo again, so he just did it and felt his joy mix with Theo’s as the chimera kissed him back.
There were at least two disgusted puffs above them, but Liam couldn't seem to care less. “The purple eyes are also something normal. Mated pairs use them to communicate, share each other's emotions, help each other heal or give strength, the usual,” Peter shrugged as if everyone knew what the usual meant for mated couples.
“So what? We just leave them here on a meadow to kiss and think and feel?” Malia asked sceptically, looking at the overly happy couple still covered with each other’s blood.
“At least for a day, yeah. We should get them food, though, because I doubt they will be able to get some for themselves and move them somewhere safer. We can't separate them, though, that would end badly,” Peter announced, and everyone just looked closely at the couple.
The oldest man sighed and started pulling the mated pair into a seated position. Liam gave him a low growl at first and almost bit his fingers off until he realised he was just making them sit upright, not separating them.
“Then they should definitely get the bite marks checked out at Deaton’s to be sure they heal properly,” he announced and leaned Liam on Scott while still supporting Theo. He kept close to Scott, not separating the pair.
“Alright then, let's just get them to Theo’s place before they bite our heads off,” Scott said and started dragging Liam towards the car.
The mated pair did not pull away from each other for the rest of the ride, letting the bond settle. Not even when they arrived at Theo’s building and were unceremoniously dumped inside. Scott and Malia decided to stay with them inside just to keep an eye out if they actually shower off the blood and eat, according to Peter’s recommendation.
They were quite lost after not being able to talk to them. When the twenty-four-hour mark passed, Scott and Malia slept soundly on the couch; the mated couple slept in Theo’s bed. Nothing really happened then.
The next morning was different, though. Liam woke up tired as hell, wrapped up in Theo’s arms. “What happened?” he asked, mumbling the words inside Theo’s neck.
“I have no idea, I feel sick,” Theo replied, and Liam realised the chimera was burning up under him, a fever breaking out.
“Oh fuck, we need to get you to Deaton,” Liam’s drowsy brain concluded and started helping Theo up his legs, shaky as they walked down the stairs.
“Guys, what's happening? You alright?" Scott asked from the couch, where he laid with Malia for some reason.
“No, Theo has a fever; we need to get him to Deaton,” Liam announced, his voice laced with panic as he dragged the chimera out of the door.
“Liam, it's not that bad, calm down,” Theo mumbled, but the hold he had on Liam’s arm was wavering.
“No, it could be bad, you need to get the bites checked as well, we need to hurry,” Scott agreed with Liam and helped the beta drag the chimera outside of the apartment. Malia took the keys to Scott’s car and drove them to the clinic.
“Liam, stop panicking,” Theo mumbled as they sat him down in the middle seat.
“I'm not,” Liam argued, but his eyes were glowing. Theo met his gaze to argue again, only to be met with the radiant purple in his eyes reacting in answer, and the fever lowering. The power of the bond helped him heal.
“It was real,” Theo mumbled now, more out of touch than tired.
“Yeah, it really was, we are mated,” Liam echoed, the shock apparent on his face as well, realising this all wasn't just a fever dream but reality. Now he could feel the little voice in the back of his head so easily.
When he did, he could feel Theo’s emotions, the drowsiness and pain from the fever. The soft adoration for himself since the worry he carried for them warmed the chimera despite his argument.
“It's really… It's all real,” Liam repeated, still not quite believing, as they stopped in front of the clinic.
“Yeah, and it can stop pretty quickly if we don't figure out what is happening to Theo, so if you could get your butts inside,” Malia announced and successfully got the couple out of their little trance, something that was impossible yesterday.
The rest of the pack's cars were already outside since they received a text from Scott. They all wanted to know if they were alright, and yesterday went by fine.
“Let's go,” Theo agreed and got out of the car with the help of Scott and Liam. The walk was short and rushed as the worry about Theo’s condition grew.
Liam put Theo on the all too familiar exam table. “Sit up, please,” Deaton asked him when they arrived. Theo frowned, his scent souring as he remembered the last time he was here.
Liam didn't even need to say anything, just flash the purple eyes back at Theo, and somewhere inside of Theo’s head sounded the feeling that it would be okay. That Liam’s with him and won't let him be harmed.
“It seems like the bonding marks healed well on both of your necks, which is a good sign since I thought I would never see Theo again,” Deaton explained pragmatically as he took a good look at both of their necks before he focused more on Theo.
He took a bit of his blood and looked at his eyes a bit. Liam didn't really follow the process as he only watched Theo and his reactions. The beta kept sending calming messages to his mate through it all.
“I think what Theo is experiencing is just being overwhelmed. Since his body wasn't ever made for mating bonds, it's stunned and doesn't know what to do with the heightened power, which heightens the fear. It's not something very concerning," Deaton started explaining and stopped poking Theo.
“From what I learned out of the Hale’s pack records that Peter gave to me about true mates, this is something that happens often to young wolves whose bodies weren't fully ready for the bite. Theo should be alright with a few days' rest and Liam’s presence,” the doctor continued as Liam let out a relieved sigh.
“However, if it doesn't get better, you have to bring him back, and we will look deeper into it. For now, I think you're clear to go as a healthy and officially mated couple,” he finished up with a smile, and Liam didn't know what to do with himself.
So he met Theo’s eyes and let his lips break out into a smile. It was over. They were fine and normal, and fuck, it felt good to have Theo by his side. Liam just knew they could do it. Be it anything that life throws their way.