Chapter Text
“Easy, we’re all on the same side here.” The chimera smiles. A smile that has Scott narrowing his eyes in suspicion, and Liam questioning why his skin feels like it’s being consumed with fire. A fire that has started from his head and is traveling down to his toes. The intense heat is consuming him, and making it hard to look away from the smug werewolf.
The smile doesn’t reach Theo’s eyes at first, it’s cold, calculated, almost sinister, the smirk hiding something darker, something that’s hidden beneath the surface, and Liam feels a surge of protectiveness run through his veins. He steps forward, his blood starting to boil as he stares down the chimera, and he lets out a low snarl. He has never been a fan of Theo, always curious as to what he might be hiding, what his actual intentions might be, and it has nearly driven him mad at how obsessed he has become with it. He’s always trying to figure out what Theo might be hiding and it has become a new hobby of his, an almost craving at knowing what lies beneath his cool exterior. It’s infuriating. It makes him seethe with rage at being so focused on what Theo may or may not be doing, and it’s gotten to the point where he might have to talk to someone about it, but he isn’t ready to. He wants to hide away his secret thoughts of the chimera and how he fascinates him. How he has triggered something that Liam can’t put his finger on.
He grows angry at him, his rage starting to shine through, starting to become frustrated at how cool and collected Theo is, even now. Even in the face of danger and suspicion. It’s unfair and it makes something boil over, and his veins burn hot, and he almost stops himself from saying the first thought in his head, but he has never been great with words. Now is no exception.
“How about I kick you in the balls and I remind you that we aren’t?” He grits out, his head starting to spin with protectiveness for his Alpha, and the familiar all consuming rage that has his head ready to explode, until Theo smiles and turns to look at him.
His smile is wide, and he chuckles, shaking his head, his entire body shaking in laughter, making Tracy scowl, and Scott rolls his eyes, while he attempts to figure out what is so fucken funny right now, and how the chimera can still be smug while laughing.
“I love this kid.” Theo shakes his head in amusement, locking eyes with Liam, his blood still boiling, but he is rendered speechless as the chimera flashes another smile at him, and it almost makes him step backwards at the change in Theo’s demeanor. Happier almost, not as gloomy and doomsday, but it’s annoying. Almost aggravating at how Theo can change moods so quickly.
“Well, I don’t.” Tracy scowls, her eyes cold as she stares at him, her claws dripping with venom, and he bites his lip to prevent himself from admitting he doesn’t like her much either. He doesn’t like anyone in Theo’s pack, and Theo is the worst of them. Always smug, acting as if nothing can phase him, as if nothing can ever go wrong, and like everything is going according to whatever sinister plans he has.
He has to hear about Theo all the time from Stiles, who has made it his life goal to find some dark and evil secret to be exposed for all to see, and if he wasn’t so suspicious of Theo, maybe Liam wouldn’t be in this situation. Maybe he wouldn’t be so consumed with knowing what’s beneath the chimera and what he allows them to see on the surface. No one can be that cool and collected all the time without having some ulterior motive. He may hide behind his attractive face, snarky attitude, and ridiculous smirk, but he knows Stiles is right about him. He has to be.
Tracy’s eyes still show sheer hatred towards him even as Scott talks and does his best to maintain a civil meeting, but Liam can’t figure out what he is actually saying even if he wanted to, because all he can focus on is Theo periodically staring at him. His eyes radiate an intensity that burns into his soul, making him wonder if he is supposed to say something, and if he can quiet his rapid heartbeat that has seemed to decide to bang against his rib cage every time the chimera glances in his direction. The steady pounding of his heart almost fading out all other voices around him, shattering his thoughts, and has him breathing heavily.
“I guess we see things differently.” Scott folds his arms across his chest, appearing disappointed, and almost sad as Theo sneers at him, giving one last glance at Liam, who has lost his entire focus on what’s happening around him. His entire focus now shifted to steady his heartbeat because he knows Scott can hear it and Theo too, and it must be making the chimera laugh at him more.
“Too bad.” Theo turns and nods at Tracy, signaling to her it’s time to leave, and as he passes by Liam, he brushes his shoulder gently, but too precisely to be an accident. It has him glaring at the chimera, but Theo only smirks back at him, his eyebrows raised in a form of challenge, and Liam has to rein in his wolf.
He glares at Theo until he’s out of sight, but even though he can no longer see the chimera, he still has the image of his intense gaze on him, and the memory of his touch still lingers on his mind, slowly driving him to feel a sense of unrest, and a warm feeling in the pit of his stomach.
“Liam, are you okay?” Scott places a hand on his shoulder, deep concern flooding his face, and Liam can only nod back, still confused at the whole exchange, and slightly disoriented.
“Okay, get some rest.” Scott smiles softly at him, always looking out for him, and he appreciates it, always wanting to help his Alpha in every way possible, and to not let him down. Now is no different.
He shakes the thought of Theo out of his mind and tries to shift his focus back on what’s needed, but the image of Theo staring back at him still burns in the back of his mind. It still rattles his wolf.
——
Later that night he lays in bed, his thoughts are still spinning with Theo, and the image of his smile as he gazes back at him. That smile that gives off an arrogance that drives him crazy. Almost to the point of making him want to demand that he stop smiling at him altogether, and making Liam question if he’s just obsessed or if has a crush.
He groans, sliding his pillow over his head, and begging his body to sleep, but his mind is still erratic with thoughts from earlier. He does his best to close his eyes, to focus on his own breathing and to steady his heart rate while he attempts to fall asleep.
The rain outside hits the window softly, creating a soothing sound to his ears, and he sinks further into his mattress, allowing himself to fade off into a deep sleep. He allows himself to forget all about his current problems.
Thud
Liam closes his eyes tighter, attempting to block out any noise but the rain, and he is almost successful. Almost asleep until he hears a noise again, but he ignores it, or tries to. The rain still falling gently on his window and Liam still trying to silence the world around him.
Thud Thud
He sits up, peering around his bedroom but finds nothing that catches his eye, until he reaches his window and sees a dark shadow staring back at him, making him jump and grab the first thing he can find, which is a bat, but it’s something.
The window slides open to reveal a drenched chimera, and he has to refrain from throwing the bat at him out of pure anger, and at the fact that Theo is lurking outside of his bedroom window at this time of night.
“You go for a bat, instead of fighting as a werewolf?” Theo questions, a wry smile on his lips, making himself perfectly at home by sitting down on Liam’s bed and grabbing a towel off his desk.
“Why are you outside of my window Raeken?” He narrows his eyes at Theo, watching him as he uses Liam’s towel to dry his stupidly good looking hair, and then throws it back onto his desk, as if he lives here and he has not invaded Liam’s bedroom.
“I came to chat.” Theo slides closer to him on the bed, making Liam gulp, and hold his breath as the chimera suddenly stops. He pats the space beside him.
“Do you normally not use doors?” Liam frowns, not moving any closer, his heart thumping against his rib cage again, as he slowly becomes captivated by Theo running a hand through his damp hair.
“Not when it’s this late and I could wake someone up.” Theo smirks at him, watching as Liam throws his hands up in exasperation at the statement, because he did wake someone up. He woke up Liam obviously and the arrogance of this guy to assume he doesn’t need to use a door but can hop into Liam’s bedroom at any given hour, is ridiculous.
“This chat can’t wait until morning?” He sighs, gripping the sheets tightly as Theo tilts his head at him, the amusement Liam is giving him clearly showing on his face, and it creates the fire again. This time inflaming his entire body in seconds.
“Not really. I want you to join my pack.” Theo says the words with such ease, such confidence as he stares back at him, and Liam has to silently scold himself for even considering it. For even becoming curious at the thought of joining a new pack and questioning why the chimera would pick him. That thought alone sends a little thrill down his spine.
The question should enrage him, should send off multiple warning signs across every corner of his mind, but the desire to know more about the chimera is stronger than any rational thinking he should have, and it carries away any guard he should have up whenever he talks to Theo.
“Can I think about it?” He finds himself asking, screaming internally at himself as he doesn’t even attempt to throw Theo out, or challenge why he is asking something like this, but Liam can’t even gather the will to deny his invitation. His own mind is doing somersaults at trying to figure out what Theo is thinking.
“Sure. Take all the time you need.” Theo stands up, winking at Liam as he opens his window, sliding out without another word, and leaving Liam feeling dazed from their encounter.