countdowns

t w e n t y

"Liam, wait up!"

Stiles and Lydia's voices were mumbles as Liam sprinted to the hospital in seconds, his body being a blur to anyone who was watching him. The tears streaming down his face were flying off.

He could feel his body weakening, Theo was his anchor and the thought of him disappearing and leaving him made Liam run faster. He wasn't going to lose him, not again.

The beta didn't even know he reached the hospital until he felt Hayden's arms wrap around his shoulders, trying to stop him from wolfing out. He could see Mason beside her, his face showing guilt for what has happened. He had broken his friend and everyone knew it.

"Liam, your eyes are glowing, you need to calm down."

He looks up at her, her soft brown eyes reflecting in his amber ones. He began to slowly calm down, his claws and fangs retrieving.

"Where is he?" he spoke in a softer voice, a tone that no one had ever hurt him speak in.

"Come with us, we'll take you to him."

He felt two hands holding the back of him, which he was thankful for because he didn't even know if he could stand up anymore.

He was lost without Theo. The chimera had become such a big part of his life, his soul that it was almost like they were interconnected. With Theo dying, it felt that a part of the blond was dying to— love. Everyone knows you can love many times but only one can uphold the rest, the first love. For Scott, that was Allison. Stiles, Lydia. Mason, Corey.

Theo was Liam's first love and now that he was slowly fading away from him, he didn't know if he could love again.

"Li? We're here."

He could see all of the pack crowding around the bed, where he could see the love of his life laying. He crept closer to have a clearer view and almost broke, falling to the ground at the sight. Thankfully, Mason and Hayden were there to hold him up or he'll be crying hysterically in a ball, on the floor.

"When... when did.. it happen?" he tried to talk through sobs but he couldn't even function a sentence. Thankfully, the pack understood and Scott spoke up.

"It was right after you left actually. Theo told me he began to feel weak. He collapsed, his eyes turning black, like hell had taken over and—"

"Okay, maybe not that vivid of imagery, you're scaring him." Malia calls out, Scott looking over at his broken beta.

"Sorry. But it was like he was possessed again, only not as violent. He kept repeating your name, saying he needed to see you one more time. That was before, he fainted."

Liam came closer to Scott's side, the alpha's arm wrapping around his shoulders. He was able to say something but saw Liam's blue eyes looking at Theo. He saw pale skin, but not the healthy kind. His sky blue eyes were sore and red, them fluttering open and close now and again. His breathing was ragged, almost like he was gasping for air. But what scared him the most was that his veins were poison with black, like the black wolfsbane had become his bloodstream.

"Liam..." he heard a croak and rushed closer to him, his hand clasping his arm, taking his pain.

Nothing was working.

"Why isn't it working? Why can't I take your pain?"

"That's because it doesn't hurt, baby blue."

He presses a kiss on Theo's chapped lips, who sighed. This was the last time he was going to kiss him. Trembling hands, his hands cups Liam's face, deepening the kiss. In the corner of his eye, he could see Stiles' face scrunch in disgust, getting a nudge from Scott. He never thought that he would approve of him and Liam but yet, the alpha had adopted the chimera into his own pack. Slowly, everyone began to leave the room, the 'fathers' giving them a nod before closing the hospital door.

"I love you, Liam."

"I love you too, Theo. I just don't want to let you go."

"I know, and me neither. Which is why I'm giving you this." Theo turns to his pillow to follow a folded piece of paper.

"A letter? Now?"

"Well, letters were the thing that brought me back to you. Liam, I—"

"You don't have to say it."

"Yes, I do. Liam, I'm on the brink of death and I haven't explained myself."

The light brunette began wheezing, coughing up black blood which frightened them both. They knew that Theo's life was coming to an end. He places the letter into his boyfriend's hand, holding onto it for dear life. He places a soft kiss as Liam smiles, choking back the tears.

Theo laid back into his bed, his head resting on his white pillow. Their hands were still intertwined, Liam staring at it time to time. He could feel Theo's strength fading as his grip became looser.

"You need... I need..."

"I'll read it. I promise. But I'm watching your last moments, no matter what you say." the blonde states and the chimera nods, a sigh fading from his lips.

The beeps on the life support machine were like sirens in Liam's ears. What shocked him the most was how slowly they were coming. Slower... and slower. His ocean blue eyes were stuck on Theo, watching him as his breathing decreased, his eyes fluttering open and shut.

"You deserve to be happy." were the last utterances from Theo Raeken's mouth before the long beep from the machine blasted through Liam's ears.

•••••

writing this whilst listening to happier by ed sheeran was a bad idea as i am on the bridge of tears.

please don't be angry! this isn't the end. there's just one more surprise i wanna throw at you and then you can batter me :) also 4k? wow, you guys are incredible, thank you soo much i love you all soo much.

also a shoutout to an angel -sebbystan, who is such a sweetheart and needs more recognition! and also she was the one who made me want to write this in the first place :) love you.

the next chapter will be theo's letter to liam and hopefully, it answers all the unsolved questions that you guys have had.

Faiza :)