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t w e n t y o n e

There was no name for the feeling the beta was feeling. He felt a rush of anger at himself, not being there in time and for wasting their precious time together but with Theo as well, for lying him once again. He was upset, he lost not just someone he loved, he lost a close friend – someone who understood him for who he was and didn't tell him to change it, he told him to embrace it.

The blonde squeezes Theo's hand before placing another kiss on his cheek. He lets it linger for a while as he knew this was the last time he was going to do this. The last time he saw Theo's lifeless body, the last time he felt his soft, tan skin.

"I'm sorry I couldn't do anything to help. You were the one who deserved better." he sobs, his face falling onto his deceased lover's chest.

He knew he wouldn't hear any heartbeats.

Oh, how he wished he could.

Outside the room, Scott could feel the pain Liam was going through. He had no idea that his beta was going through so much, it made him frustrated why he didn't notice. He felt that he needed to be a father to him yet the alpha saw everything rose-tinted.

"Scott, you okay?" his best friend called, not noticing that he was clutching his chest in pain.

"Yeah, I just need to check on Liam."

"I'll come too, I haven't talked him since he found out about what I did." Mason says, the brunette nodding as they walk into the hospital room.

The dark-skinned boy instantly rushed to Liam's side, holding him from behind as the beta started to scream for Theo. Scott couldn't move; he was frozen. The last he saw Liam like this is when he was terrified of what he had become. He had an answer now but now, he didn't.

"No, please! He can't be gone."

"Liam, Theo's dead. He's gone."

Hearing those words, the brunette snapped awake from his thoughts and came to Liam's side, placing a hand on his thigh. The sudden touch stopped the younger boy from his meltdown and with tears still falling from his ocean blue eyes, he looked down to his alpha. They both nod at each other and Mason took that as a sign to leave; this was clearly a moment strictly between the two.

"I know you're not going to believe me, but I know what you're—"

"I know. With Allison."

Allison, the name was like an arrow shot through his heart. He has told Liam and the younger ones about the famous stories of Allison Argent and especially after her death, Scott has always had her in his thoughts, wondering what could have happened if she was alive. He couldn't leave her, her presence was always with him. The vivid memory of her dying in his arms is still in his dreams to this day.

"I know you still love her. Yeah, you loved Kira and you love Malia but you could never love someone like you loved Allison, Scott. She was your first love: you will always love her more."

"I don't understand, why are you talking about her?"

"Because what you had with her is what I had with Theo. You lost her and look at you, you're still on your feet."

"Yeah... barely."

Scott looked at the blonde and he swore to himself that that was the first time he saw him genuinely smile since Theo was in the hospital. This makes the alpha chuckle quietly as he ruffles the beta's hair.

"You're gonna be just fine, aren't you?"

It hurt Liam when those words were spoken as he knew what he was going to do. He just needed Scott to agree.

"Actually, there's something I need to ask you." Liam asks and the older boy furrows his eyebrows before nodding.

Liam explains what has been bothering the boy's mind for a while, the brunette nodding every now and again. The beta wasn't sure about this idea working as there was a lot of pressure of this not working but it's something he wanted to risk. For Theo, he continued to think. He just didn't know what Scott thought; he had the same face expression plastered on his face ever since he started speaking.

"What do you think?"

"I... I can't stop doing what you think is right, Liam. If you want to do it, go ahead. Just remember that I love you, I know its weird because we barely say it but—"

"I know, Scott. I love you too." the blonde laughs before pulling his alpha into a hug, a feeling that Liam has and will always love.

•••••

"What are you doing?"

"Being the bait."

The same dream repeats in the chimera's head, the night when Theo finally realised why he stayed instead of running when he was released from hell. Liam was the thing keeping him back, he didn't realise it then but he wished he did. Then, they would have had spent less time arguing and punching each other and enjoy it.

Slowly, the image of Liam and the dream began to fade, which made Theo scream but nothing came out. He tried to move, trying to call back the memory but nothing was working. Instead, it was replaced by white flashes and a piercing noise, like a heart monitor.

"No... this can't be happening." the light brunette thought, he couldn't grasp the concept.

"Theo? Theo, are you there?"

"Scott?"

Okay, he believed it now. The white flashes faded and he could see colour again. He heard voices: Scott, Stiles, Mason, the whole pack. His eyes open to find Scott's red alpha eyes facing him. He could see the others behind him, genuinely smiling at him.

He was awake. The question is: how was it possible?

"How... I don't..." mumbles barely came out of his mouth, trying to sit up. Bad idea as his head began throbbing.

"This isn't a dream, you're really awake."

Tears streamed down the chimera's eyes as he softly chuckles to himself. He never thought he could ever come back, he caused too many sins to count, he was the devil incarnate - those words were actually said by Stiles. He just couldn't believe it. He was back and right now, he didn't mean to be rude, but he wanted to be with Liam. The boy craved the beta's touch for a long time and just needed to be with him at this exact moment. His eyes searched through the people in the crowd of the room but he couldn't find any ocean blue eyes anywhere.

"Where's Liam?" he turned to Scott, whose smile dropped at his name. Mumbles came from his lips but Theo couldn't understand anything.

"Scott, you need to tell him." Mason interpreted but Theo kept his gaze on Scott, who looked like he was crumbling slowly into pieces.

"Scott? What does he mean, what do you need to tell me?"

The werewolf didn't respond but instead, reached into his pocket to pull out a piece of folded paper, the name Theo etched on. Tears continued to crash but instead of happiness, were of anger and sadness.

"No... No, you have to be fucking kidding me. Scott, he left me with a note? Are you serious?" he cries and the alpha nods, his head hanging low.

"What happened?" the question was asked again and again but Scott wasn't going to answer as he was too breaking inside so Lydia answered his question.

"Liam died, Theo. He's dead."

•••••

the explanation is in the next chapter, please don't yell at me yet.

Faiza :)