Pack Bonds and Paternal Instincts|| Teen Wolf

Night Terrors

Really, Corey should have seen it coming. The older pack members had decided to have a get together at the newly rebuilt Hale house. The get together turned into a weekend long sleepover, with the puppy pack staying down in the living room.

The scream that ripped through the blissful calm was stomach churning.

Lights flicked on and footsteps pounded down the stairs. The adults of the pack stopped short at the unexpected sight.

Mason had Theo's head laying in his lap, leaning down to mumble soothing words and promised to the visibly distressed chimera. Liam was pinning one of Theo's arms to the floor.

Corey had his other hand gripped in both of his own. This hand had it's claws out, blood coating Theo's fingers. The chimera's shirt had been ripped off, and five puncture wounds surrounded his pounding heart. They refused to heal, blood rolling down his chest and sides, dropping to the hardwood floor with a pitter patter. Tears soaked Theo's cheeks and his breathing was uneven and panicky.

"I'm sorry!" He sobbed, gripping Corey's hand tightly as he struggled. The chimera was still asleep, trapped in a night terror.

"It's okay Theo. We're okay." Corey called out, his voice trembling as tears of his own gathered in his eyes. "They can't hurt us anymore."

"Tara!" Theo screamed the name a few times, until his throat was raw and irritated. "Take it back. Please take it back. I don't want it."

That made Corey let out a choked sob, Liam and Mason holding back tears of their own.

Lydia, ever the genius, broke from her shocked state and hurried over, kneeling beside Corey and wrapping her own delicate hands around his. She squeezed supportively. Lydia had come home more often than the others, getting to see a new Theo Raeken. Getting the opportunity to forgive the chimera. To learn about what he went through with the Dread Doctors.

"He's waking up!" Mason whispered shakily, sitting up and scooting over when Lydia moved to take his place.

She had experienced Theo's nightmares here and there. Granted none were ever this bad but she still knew a female presence comforted him when he first woke up. He has told her it was specifically her or the pack moms that could do that. Because of how gentle and sweet they were. Because they reminded him of his mom and sister.

"Lydia?" Theo croaked, squeezing Corey's hands gently. He hissed in pain and looked down at his chest.

Derek could see it immediately when Theo realized what was happening, his alpha instincts making him dart forward as well and kneel beside Liam, who was holding Theo's free hand to his own chest, the back of it pressed to his own beating heart.

The Hale could feel the dread and panic pouring off of the chimera now. He merely set his own hand on Theo's forearm, taking whatever pain he could.

They got him to sit up a bit and shuffled around. Liam was now leaning against the front of the couch, Theo back against his chest. Lydia was sitting on the seat above them, legs neatly tucked under her. Corey refused to let go of Theo's hand, leaning against the couch beside Liam with Mason sitting above him, running fingers through his hair to calm him. Derek was crouched down on Theo's other side, a gentle grip on his sweat slick shoulder, black veins creeping up his forearm.

"The hell was that?!" Stiles finally demanded, dragging both Malia and Scott over to sit on the coffee table in front of the group.

"Night terror, Theo and I get them all the time." Corey informed quietly, smiling slightly when Theo squeezed his hands in comfort.

"Corey I understand, but why would Theo get them?" Malia asked skeptically, looking the chimera up and down. A look of disgust had her nose wrinkling and her lips scrunching.

"Trauma, obviously." Theo croaked, wincing as he used his overexerted vocal chords. His tense posture suddenly dissipated. "You think I killed my sister and hung out with the Dread Doctors just for kicks? Do you think killing Scott or going to hell was fun for me?"

"Theo. You don't have to prove yourself to them." Liam reminded as if it were habit.

"Damn right." Lydia agreed, picking idly at her cuticles.