Pack Bonds and Paternal Instincts|| Teen Wolf

Safe Spaces and Red Eyes

Fingers brushed through Theo's hair and he mumbled at the sensation, nuzzling into the hand providing it. Liam's familiar chuckle made him smile without thought.

"He can smile?" Malia asked in a loud whisper.

The smile dropped, and his eyes opened. He sat up from his spot, finding the entire pack sitting around the place. Corey, Liam, and Mason were surrounding him, almost protectively.

"Why are they in my home?" Theo grumbled, rubbing his eyes with his fists. Derek and Peter were out, grabbing dinner and renting a movie for the night.

"Sorry baby, I tried to tell them not to come but they didn't listen." Liam soothed, scooting closer and rubbing Theo's back. Theo leaned into the touch, closing his eyes as he buried his face into Liam's neck.

"I don't like them here. They're in my safe space." Theo confessed in an almost incomprehensible whisper. Theo's therapist was the one to come up with the idea of a safe space. What started out as just in Derek's general vicinity slowly turned into Theo's bedroom, then included Liam's bedroom. The whole loft soon became a safe space for him. With time, the houses of his closest friends and boyfriend joined the list.

"I know T. It'll be okay, I promise." The beta placated, glaring at his alpha and Stiles with everything in him. His eyes were glowing with his unbridled anger. It was honestly making the true alpha uncomfortable. The entire pack was definitely going to get a tongue lashing later on from him.

Theo remained curled into his boyfriend's side, none of that cocky chimera front the pack knew him for present. Since most of them had gone away for college, they hadn't gotten to see the true Theo.

After a moment, Theo decided to embrace his new self, ignoring any shame he might feel. He slid down until his face pressed into Liam's abdomen, rubbing his cheek against the fabric of Liam's shirt. He lay on the couch, wrapping himself around his boyfriend without a care.

Used to his lover's tells and mood changes. He merely let Theo resituate, lifting up his arms as the chimera shifted into a comfortable position. Liam leaned back, moving as well so he also lay down. His head rested on the armrest of the couch, and Theo could now comfortably bury his face into his boyfriend's chest. Liam wrapped his arms tight around Theo, rubbing his arm and back.

Scott observed the pair with a slowly softening reservation. He watched, as Liam craned his neck to look down at the boy in his arms. His eyes scrunched slightly, overwhelming love and adoration invading his chemo signals as he just stared at Theo.

Scott McCall felt that Theo was well and truly reformed. He'd changed so drastically that it gave the young alpha a sense of whiplash.

"So, has Theo killed anyone yet?" Stiles asked out of the blue. His words fell over the room, effectively silencing any and all conversation. Distrust was obvious in his tone, and Liam knew that the Stilinski just wanted to get a rise out of Theo. He wanted to get Theo worked up, get him angry and frustrated. Wanted to prove a point.

Liam didn't want to give Stiles the satisfaction of a response, but he felt Theo tense in his hold. His grip on Liam's shirt was like a vice, and Liam heard the tell tale sound of his heartbeat starting to pick up.

"Not the place or time Stilinski." Derek's harsh retort came before Liam could give one of his own. Derek's eyes were glowing a vibrant red as he moved from the front door and into the room. Peter wasn't far behind, gifting Stiles with an unsettling glare. Derek abandoned the food on the coffee table, coming to kneel beside the couch and reach out to run his fingers through Theo's hair.

"This is his space Stiles. You don't get to upset him here. I won't tolerate it. We've all been through and done bad shit. The only difference between you and Theo is that Theo has the balls to deal with it in a healthy way instead of being a fucking bully." Liam still snapped.

Theo gripped Liam tighter, and Liam relaxed the muscles he hadn't realized he'd tensed up. The beta brushed his hand over the back of his boyfriend's neck.

Theo removed his face from Liam's chest, craning it to look at Derek. His green eyes softened, and he rolled over in Liam's hold. A hand stretched out, cupping the man's face and taking in his still glowing eyes.

"Red eyes." He mumbled, a sleepy grin forming on his lips. He met Peter's gaze, the smile widening. "Dad's an alpha." Theo informed, though the sharing of information was useless as Peter was there when Derek's eyes had changed.

Derek and Peter exited the restaurant that Theo claimed as his favorite. Food piled in Peter's arms.

It was sudden, Derek groaning in what Peter thought was pain. The eldest Hale was quick to set the food on the roof of Derek's car, putting a hand on Derek's shoulder for support.

Derek was hunched over, eyes squeezed shut as a feeling of raw power overtook him, almost immediately drowned out by worry for his son. His boy was distressed. Something that shouldn't be possible considering Theo was at home in one of his designated safe spaces. When his eyes opened, it took everything in Peter not to react outwardly, also concerned for his nephew's well-being.

"That he is, kiddo." Peter agreed, moving to stand at Derek's shoulder behind him.

Theo had these moments. Much like this one, where his mind seemed to revert back to that of a child. They never lasted long, and they weren't a common occorance. They usually stemmed from stress or discomfort, and Theo was embarrassed by them at first.

Derek smiled as Theo's hand fell away, and Liam's grip on him tightened. The beta cuddled up behind his son realized quickly what had just happened. Liam always seemed to just know things when it came to Theo. Derek had stopped questioning it, after Peter brought to his attention that the two were probably truly mates. That they were most likely made for each other.

"I'm gonna go back to sleep now." The chimera mumbled, taking one of Liam's arms and hugging it to his chest.

Theo didn't wake up for a while, completely missing Derek and Peter kicking everyone out besides Corey, Liam, and Mason.