All about control

freedom tastes like ashes (june)

Despite the heightened reflexes, Liam nearly brains himself as he bolts towards the truck, the toe of his shoe catching on a crack in the sidewalk. It doesn't slow him down, though. All he can focus on is that the light at the end of his stupid tunnel is getting noticeably bigger, closing fast. They're going to get him; Theo's going to make it, they all are.

He barely manages to scramble fully inside the cab before he's got the engine running. Half his body is still outside, not anywhere near properly seated, but he couldn't care less. His heart pounds, fear and excitement and hope sparking off it as the others pour out of the house. He's breathless, fingers curling around the wheel, eyes pinching shut as he swallows back a rush of tears. Happy or not, there's no time for emotion.

They've got a job to do, now that Theo's finished his part. Nothing else matters.

The focused calm settling in his chest, wrapping even his wolf into it, is startling, but welcome. He's not afraid or worried, just calm. It's a stark contrast from what they've all been feeling this last week; he's not quite sure what to do with it. His hands are shaking as he hits the unlock button, allowing the puppies and Anika to get inside.

Glancing over his shoulder, he can't help but smile a little as Brett and Alec stumble over each other to climb into the backseat while Lori waits at the door, sighing with slow swings of her head. The happiness rolling off her and the softness in her eyes betrays just how much her annoyance is for show.

"Can you two get it together, please? We have to go." Lori's snappy tone is punctuated by a playful growl and her shoving at Alec's side, forcing him in as she climbs up after him.

Liam laughs to himself, the familiar affronted squawks from both wolves a step too close to normal for him to stifle it. In the rearview mirror, Lori catches his eye and smiles. It's the most normal either of them have been in days , and the pure relief suffusing the truck is palpable.

It takes a few tries with his trembling hands, entire body buzzing, but eventually he buckles his seatbelt. The whoosh of air rushing in, Anika's bitter, pain-ridden scent flooding along with it. Her voice yelling out to just follow behind them. She climbs in easily, door shutting with a solid thump.

"Scott, Stiles and Lydia are going to follow us." She says it so plainly, as if they are talking about meeting everyone for lunch, but the soft downward curve of her furrowed brows keeps him from snarling. Of all of them, she knows just how serious this is. "The rest of the pack will meet us there."

"Where is there exactly?" Liam asks, turning in his seat.

"So," Anika says, buckling her seatbelt with her right hand, holding her left in a balled fist. "Don't freak out." extending her right palm out into Liam's view.

Liam's eyebrows pinch together in confusion, "Why would I–"

"Just promise, Dunbar," she huffs, holding her left hand like she's about to extend it or tuck it beneath her chin.

"Urgh, fine." He rolls his eyes, shifting in his seat to face her. "Yes, I promise not freak out at whatever weirdo druid thing you're about to–" He all but yelps as she flattens her hand, the palm of it glowing. "What the fuck is that?"

Anika shakes her head, pulling her hand back, sighing. "I told you not to freak out. Why do you never listen?"

Picking his jaw up off the floor takes him a moment, only really getting it settled back into place as giggles trickle in from the back seat. He turns around, trying his hardest to glare at them but the smiles and life in their eyes immediately soften it. He can't hold onto the frustration or even be slightly irritated as their attempts to muffle or stifle their laughter because this is the most normal they've been in days.