Concealment ∞ Liam Dunbar [2]

19 | Three Things

Chapter Nineteen

∞

After Liam called Mason, and informed him about a missing Lydia, Derek brought out the handcuffs. I'm sitting next to Liam, across from Stiles, which means if Liam decides to go all wolf-boy tonight, I'll most likely end up dead.

"All good?" Derek asked Liam as he finished locking the handcuffs to the bench, allowing the sun to bounce directly off of them and straight into my eyes.

Liam yanked at the cuffs, which withstood his strength, so he lightly nodded.

"Okay. I brought something to help you." Derek pulled out the triskelion from his jacket pocket, "This has been with my family for centuries. It's a very powerful, supernatural talisman. We use it to teach Betas how to control themselves on a full moon."

Derek carefully handed Liam the object, as Stiles and I shared the same skeptical look. Derek's head slowly turned to face us, before his eyes widened and he tilted his head to Liam.

"Yes. It's powerful.." Stiles spoke as his eyes remained narrow.

"Very powerful.." I muttered, adding on to Stiles' statement.

∞

Shortly after we convinced Liam the talisman held power, I drifted to sleep. However, I was woken up by the sound of grunting and metal clanking. My head jolted up, and I noticed Stiles jump in his spot.

"Whatever you were gonna teach me..." Liam started, breathing heavily as his clawed fingers gripped the triskelion, "I think you better start."

My eyebrows furrowed with caution as I met eyes with Stiles.

Liam began breathing even heavier, sweat dripping down his face as he tried to stay sane. "Liam, you with me?" Derek asked, "We have a mantra that we use. You repeat it, you focus on the words. It's like meditating. You say the words until you feel control coming back to you."

Liam glanced at Stiles and I, the two of us being slightly scared.

"Okay. Okay, okay! What are the words?" Liam nearly shouted in pain as he fought against the handcuffs.

"Okay, look at the triskelion. See the symbol? I have a tattoo on my back, it's the same thing. Each spiral means something." Derek explained,

"Alpha, Beta, Omega." I whispered to myself in realization, catching Stiles' attention.

"It represents the idea that we can always rise to one and fall back to another. Betas can become Alphas." Derek continued.

"Alphas can become Betas." Stiles chimed in,

"Can Alphas become Omegas?" Liam asked through clenched teeth.

Derek nodded in confirmation, "All you have to do is say the three words. And with each one, you tell yourself you're getting calmer, more in control. Go ahead."

"Alpha- Beta-" Liam quickly started.

"Slower." Derek interrupted.

"Alpha...Beta, Omega." Liam grunted, before repeating. "Alpha...Beta, Omega."

He let out a deep breath before Derek butted in again. "Good. Say it again. Remember, every time you say the words, you're getting calmer."

Liam cracked his neck before continuing, "Alpha, Beta...Omega." he spoke with a slightly distorted voice as he began transforming.

"Whoa.." Stiles quietly muttered, backing up against the wall of the van, extending his arm so I slid farther from Liam on the bench.

"Say it again." Derek commanded,