The engine of Theo's truck lets out mighty roars through the streets of Beacon Hills. The roads are still packed as night has only just broken over town. Theo cuts around the cars with ease, whizzing through traffic. People honk aggressively as we pass, and I find myself gripping my seat's armrest to remain steady at our increased speed.

None of it makes Theo relent. He keeps the gas pedal to the floor and continues to head in the general direction Lydia had given us.

"Astoria Lane," I call out to him, pointing to an overhead sign. Theo makes a sharp turn, both of us leaning against the direction of his truck.

"Which one is it?" he asks as we journey down the street.

"Lydia said it's a big white house with a black gate," I reply, urgently scanning the various homes that surround us, waiting to find one that shares those qualities.

Theo's speed finally slows, his eyes focused on a point up ahead.

"Like that?" he asks.

I follow his gaze, finding a substantial house at the end of the lane. A black metal fence with spiked posts guards it, keeping any living thing from entering the grounds. It seems like a place removed from time as we advance on it. Its architecture is reminiscent of a neoclassical period, meant for eighteenth-century France with its wide columns and simplistic arches, not the suburbs of California.

"It's a big white house with a black gate," I repeat sarcastically as confirmation.

Theo and I swiftly exit his truck once he parks on the curb in front of the house. He uses his strength to tear off the padlock that binds the gate and pushes it open. We freely walk along the cobblestone path and approach the door, climbing into the rickety veranda. I move to test the rusted knob and see if it's unlocked, not wanting to wait another second.

"Wait." Theo reaches to stop me.

"If you even try to tell me to stay up here-" I begin in a heated tone, more than ready to argue.

"Hell no," he brushes me off. "All I was gonna say is that they don't need a front door."

I'm puzzled by his words at first and move to question them. Though, before I can, Theo's revving up and slamming the sole of his boot into the edge of the fraying wood. The door busts open instantly, splinters flying in random directions. The musty interior of the house is promptly exposed, a trail of dried blood and black goo waiting for us on the floor.

"I like your style, Raeken," I mutter as we enter.

There isn't much in the house except for the presence of dread. We pass canvas-covered furniture, most of which is spotted with mold, and broken chandeliers, their glass scattered across the floor. Cobwebs paint the walls, more prominent than the aged and peeling wallpaper. Other than the furniture, there didn't seem to be any remnants of people living here. The interior acts like a display more than anything; an illusion of a home.

The trail takes us to the basement door at the far end of the house. Theo enters first, using his enhanced eyesight to guide us through the dark. The wooden stairs moan beneath our combined weight, an indicator that we shouldn't linger there for long. When we reach even ground, we find a short hallway filled with uniform rooms. All of them are the same size and don't contain any windows, only lifeless shadows.

I understand then that this is no home, it's a prison.

That thought is only heightened by the pungent smell of rot that hits our noses. Theo's face contorts into a disgusted snarl and I hear his breath shorten as he attempts to adapt, his senses becoming a burden in times like this.

We press on, going toward the room with the busted wall, and coincidentally, the origin of the stench.

The scene is exactly as Parrish described it with the bricks all but shattered from where the taloned man broke free. The deputy's blood and shreds of his clothes were on the floor, a sign of his attack. His blood pooled with the mysterious black ooze the talon man had been covered in. Both liquids stuck to the floor, and when they dried, acted like glue to various crows that lay dead at our feet. All of them were trapped the moment they flew in here from wherever they came from.

Theo and I both ignore the death before us and approach the hole. I peer inside, finding the bricks were actually built to create a cavity wall. The center of the formation leads down to a pit of darkness. I bring out my phone, using the device's flashlight to reveal a concrete floor about ten feet down. I can't see much else, but there's a draft that billows up from beneath, assuring me there was something beyond what was visible.

"Looks like it's a bit of a jump," Theo says warily. "I'll go down first and I can catch you-"

"Hold this," I interrupt him, forcing my phone into his hands. He does as I instruct and lights the gap, watching as I step through the punctured wall without hesitation.

"Or not," Theo murmurs amusedly.

Multiple steel rebar protrudes from the backing, and I use that to lower myself down into the open space. It doesn't reach the very bottom, but the height decreases enough for me to be able to jump down and not run the risk of breaking my ankles. I take in the new environment immediately, not wanting to be blindsided by any threats.

I find myself alone, standing in the middle of an underground tunnel. Rusted pipes of different sizes line the walls, running along the same path as industrial insulated wiring. There's a source of illumination further down, revealing that the floodlights were operational but hidden.

"You can come down," I tell Theo.

He tosses my phone to me, moving to do as I did. He scales the makeshift ladder of rebar to lower himself before jumping. I offer him my hand as he lands, keeping his steady. He thanks me, then turns to take in the tunnel ahead. It's only a singular hallway for now, but I was sure the further in we went, the more confusing and winding it would become.

"Jac." Theo directs his gaze downward. I track his sight, finding black footsteps decorating the concrete. The taloned man had unknowingly left us more than one path during his night of mayhem.

It brings a smile to my face, one that I share with Theo.

"Let's go," the Raeken boy says.

The air grows shallow as we allow ourselves to continue underground. That doesn't stop us from jogging through the tunnels, though. Theo and I hastily follow the footprints provided for us, each one growing in size and shape. I take that as a sign that we're getting closer to the taloned man's place of origin, the ooze slowly drying and dripping off of him as he previously traveled.

"Hold on, hold on," Theo rushes out, coming to an abrupt stop.

I don't face him despite following his command. Instead, I take in our surroundings, my instincts telling me to ready myself to fend off an enemy. It's only when I find nothing but empty halls do I turn to him.

"What?" I press impatiently.

Theo holds his finger up, tilting his head to the side. It's a telltale gesture of a werewolf using their senses, and it makes me remain silent.

"I hear voices," he tells me.

Usually, that wasn't something anyone wanted to hear another person admit, but for our current predicament, I found myself elated by his claims.

I follow Theo as he diverts from the main path. He steps down an adjacent hallway, darting his eyes across the walls in search of something. It's not far, but I repeatedly look back at the taloned man's prints to avoid losing them. Though, Theo soon grips my full attention.

He kneels on the ground, hovering beside an air duct that looked like it hadn't been cleaned since the seventies. The golden metal was covered with build-up. It was insignificant and mildly disgusting, but for some reason, Theo seemed fascinated by it.

"What are you doing?" I stare at him.

He waves for me to join him, and not wanting to waste time debating, I do. When I crouch down, he motions for me to place my ear next to the filthy vent. My expression is clearly judgemental, but it falters when even I'm able to pick up on distant talking.

"I swear to God, they better kill you first," Hayden grumbles faintly. Her voice is muffled as it travels through layers of brick and metal, but it's undeniably her.

"Wouldn't you prefer that they killed neither of us?" I hear Liam retort heatedly.

A heavy breath leaves me as I hear him for the first time in what feels like an eternity.

"No, Dumpbar, I wouldn't," Hayden snaps.

"It's Dunbar!" he shouts, his volume echoing through the tunnel.

The two of them continue to bicker, not at all allowing their current circumstances to impede their disdain for each other. It makes Theo and I laugh to ourselves at their sheer audacity.

"Even now they can't get along," he jokes.

"Wouldn't put it past them," I smile brightly, unable to contain my relief.

Theo and I stand, our determined stares falling onto the prints up ahead. We move as one, sprinting along them once more. I don't allow my rapid pace to fail as I keep up with the wolf beside me, desperate to reach the end of the path and reclaim what was mine.

When we turn a corner, there's a hole in the wall of the tunnel. This one isn't as messy as the one in the basement. It's clean; intentional. That makes me cautious despite the black goo guiding us inside.

Theo enters first, being sure to analyze the space as he moves in further. I follow him, studying the new room. It wasn't a random spot that was dug out. The hole in the wall provided passage into a mechanical room of sorts. There were panels and excessive wiring all around us. There was also a soft buzzing sound throughout the entire space, revealing that an electrical current was active.

"Liam? Hayden?" Theo calls out.

He was at the far end of the room, eyes darting everywhere. I tense as he passes through a blind corner, one I couldn't view him from because I wasn't directly behind him anymore. I intended to yell for him to slow down, but another voice beat me to it.

"Theo, wait! Don't!" Liam exclaims.

A sudden zap echoes from the other room and is quickly followed by a dense thud.

I bolt toward the sound of Liam's voice, finding him and Hayden locked behind a wall of fencing. Theo lies in front of it, unconscious and smoking. I rush over to him, patting him down to avoid any flames from catching, while also checking his pulse. Electricity was one of the few things that could overpower a wolf, and I feared he may have accidentally stopped his heart when reaching to free Hayden and Liam.

"Jac," Liam breathes out from behind me.

I want more than anything to turn to him, to assure him that he would be okay, but my attention remains on Theo.

"He's not dead, is he?" Hayden asks hesitantly.

I grip the collar of Theo's shirt, shaking him back to consciousness.

"Come on, get up," I grunt, using more force against him.

It may have been a bit harsh, but it got results. He begins to stir, groaning as he wakes up to a world of pain. I keep a firm grip on his shoulders as he sits up, not wanting him to fall back.

"You okay?" I ask lightly.

"No offense, Knight, that's the dumbest question I've ever heard," he says, mirroring my words from the bridge.

I shake my head fondly as I help him to stand. He dusts himself off and we turn to face the trapped pair on the other side of the fence. Liam comes as close to the metal as he can, standing directly across from me.

"Your head," he says worriedly.

When I turned to Theo, he must've seen the blood I had been to busy to wash away. Melissa had done a perfect job of sealing the slight gash with thin strips of medical tape, so I hadn't paid it much mind. There was a seemingly everlasting headache that pestered me, but I'd dealt with worse pain than that before, so it was easy to swallow down.

"It's fine," I dismiss his concern.

The last thing he should be doing now was worrying about me. He and Hayden were the ones covered from head to toe in soot and splotches of their own blood.

"Guys, they're gonna be back here any second," Hayden warns us, referring to the Dread Doctors.

I scan the room for any opening, but only find the makeshift entrance we came through. This wasn't a passageway to their operating theater, it was only a containment area. They didn't want to risk us tracking them to their base of operations. It was clever for them and dangerous for us, as we were now sitting ducks in unfamiliar terrain.

"The fence is electrified, we have to figure out a way to get it open," I say to Theo.

"You guys think you can get help?" Liam asks, tilting his chin to the world above us.

I begin to mentally calculate how far Kira lived from the house we came through, trying to figure out how quickly she could get down here. She was the only one of us who could handle the burden of electricity, and even with her unsteady powers, her short-circuiting everything would be beneficial.

Although, Theo doesn't seem to care for a secondary plan and wordlessly approaches the fence.

"Theo?" Liam eyes him cautiously.

"I am the help," he counters.

"Raeken, what are you doing?" I ask hurriedly, prepared to yank him back. He glances at me momentarily, his eyes glowing gold.

"Keeping my promise," he says.

He drops his hands onto the metal, clutching tightly at random links. The current that electrifies the fence comes to life and sends endless shocks through him. Theo doesn't allow that to push him back again. He plants his feet firmly and bares his fangs, using his shift to combat the surge of energy.

Flashes of light fill the space, as do smoke and the scent of burning flesh. It all dies down as Theo ultimately wrenches either side of the gate open.

He stumbles back, sizzling.

I swiftly catch him, keeping his body from colliding with a wall. After what he's done for us, I couldn't imagine allowing him to be hurt.

Theo gives me a brief nod as he stands on his own, telling me he was okay. It's only then do I allow myself to search for a pair of blue eyes. He's already watching me, his expression earnestly patient. He doesn't want to take my attention away from Theo, aware he'll have it all to himself eventually.

He's covered in sweat and grime, but that doesn't stop me from bolting through the opening to finally embrace him. He meets me halfway, our bodies colliding in the middle. The impact leaves me breathless, but I can't bring myself to care about something as insignificant as oxygen with him. My arms practically dig into his shoulders, drawing him into me tightly.

His grip falls to my waist, clutching me protectively against him, as if I was the one who's been kidnapped. I can feel his breath tickle my skin as his face buries itself into the crook of my neck, inhaling deeply.

"I knew you'd find me," he whispers.

A broken laugh escapes me as I close my eyes, savoring the sound of his voice and the life that radiates off of him. It was more than I could have asked for. I only step away to scan him for harm. There's a concentration of black fluid and blood on his right forearm, but there's no visible source of injury.

"I healed," Liam assures me knowingly. "I'm okay."

I reach for his face, using my fingers to wipe some of the filth that attempts to dull him. He places his hand over mine, smiling into my touch.

"I'm here, too," a teasing voice says from beside us.

Hayden smiles tiredly, her words only joking. I still reach for her, though, taking a step away from Liam to greet her just as carefully. She returns my hug with a breathy laugh, sounding exhausted as she leans on me. I didn't think much of it until I was carrying most of her weight.

"Hayden?" I ask, alarmed.

She winces as she attempts to straighten herself out. I hold her arms, keeping her from slipping again. She uses her artificial sense of balance to reach for the hem of her sweater, tugging at the fabric to reveal a long gash that crosses the majority of her hip. I grimace at the sight of it, and the dried black blood that had clumped over the wound.

"They don't exactly give out anesthetic here," Hayden quips wearily. Her amusement doesn't follow through all the way, her voice still heavy with agony. Liam wears a similar expression of utter fatigue as he observes us. A spark of rage returns to me as I understand they were all but tortured down here.

"I tried to take her pain, but I couldn't," Liam says guiltily.

I give him a delicate nod, not wanting to add to his feelings of remorse.

Scott never taught him how to do such a thing, and it wasn't a method he could accomplish off the bat. It took a great deal of emotional clarity and connection, and that's not something he could accomplish with Hayden, especially if the two of them spent the better part of their time in captivity arguing.

"Maybe you could try?" Liam suggests to Theo.

The wolf moves to join us, slowly recouping after his electrical triumph. Bits of him still smoked, but he didn't seem to mind. He did seem resistant to Liam's idea, however. I could only assume he didn't want to add to his already existing pain.

"Theo just got fried for us, give him a break. I can take it," Hayden grumbles.

Her neat brows furrow together as she relies on me to keep her standing. I don't resist and take her arm, drawing it around my shoulders to get a proper hold of her. We had a journey in front of us, and she needed to save her strength for the climb to the surface.

"We can figure something out at Scott's, but we have to go," I urge the others.

It would only be a matter of time before the Dread Doctors returned, and we were in no shape to face them.

Liam and Hayden give us their approval, promising they were okay to move. Theo guides us from the room, but once we're in the tunnels again, Hayden and I take the lead. She had to set our pace, as we couldn't rush with her injury. I steer her along the taloned man's path, heading back in the direction from which we came.

Soon enough, I'm practically carrying her.

Hayden gasps and groans with every step, and her hand digs into my shoulder as she attempts to find some sort of tether. I peer over at her with concern as she lets out a high-pitched whimper, finding her clutching her side. She pulls her hand away, allowing me to see the fresh black blood that coats her palm as her wound has reopened.

Hayden only leans against me further.

"It means I'm a failure, doesn't it?" she mutters with damp eyes.

I adjust my hold, keeping her tight against me. I had the strength to carry her, so I would.

"You're not a failure," I say adamantly. "You're my friend."

Hayden gives me a mildly confused look as my words mirror hers from yesterday. She wasn't aware that I had eavesdropped on her conversation with Liam, and heard how she confirmed my past had changed nothing between us. It had meant a great deal to me, and it was only fair I returned that comfort to her.

It didn't matter to me that Hayden was a chimera that could succumb to bloodlust at any moment, because beneath that, she would always be my friend.

The people I cared for weren't just companions to me, they were lifelines. I had fallen from grace more times than I could count, but they were always there to lift me. There was nothing that would stand in my way of protecting them. It wasn't only because of the vow I swore to Allison all that time ago, but because of one that I now swear to myself. My friends were my anchors, and nothing would harm them as long as I lived.

Hayden smiles through her agony as she rests her head on my shoulder, allowing me to continue to support her through the tunnels.

I glance behind us to check on Liam and Theo, finding the latter observing Hayden and I. His expression seems almost envious, and his gaze flickers downward when he notices I'm peering back at him. I feel a growing weight of guilt in my chest, wondering to myself how long it had been since the Raeken boy had a true ally, or even a real friend, and assumed it had been quite some time.

I feel a shift within myself then; a change of heart. Stiles' worries no longer exist in the back of my mind. Since Theo returned to Beacon Hills, all he had ever done was help us. He was even willing to sacrifice himself tonight for Hayden and my Liam. He wasn't a distrusting figure or mysterious stranger to me anymore.

He was my friend, too, and I would defend him as such, no matter what anyone else had to say.

---

The night seemed steady for now.

Hayden and Liam fell asleep upon our return to the McCall house, both yielding to their exhaustion. Liam was drooling onto one of Scott's armchairs, while Hayden was spread out on the couch, her head in Lydia's lap. The banshee didn't mind and kept a nurturing hand on the girl's shoulder as she slept.

I watched over Liam, claiming the chair beside him. I analyzed his breathing, weary for any hitches or discrepancies during his rest. Nothing seemed out of place, but I couldn't help myself from continuing to admire him.

Mason was right earlier, we really were obvious.

"They're back," Theo speaks up quietly, not wanting to wake Hayden or Liam.

He was standing nearby, keeping an ear and eyes out for the others to return. He was also watching for any threats that tempted to follow us, which I was grateful for. My attention wasn't what it should have been with Liam here. My faculties were always compromised when he was harmed or in danger.

The familiar creak of the front door sounds. Mason, Scott, and Malia reveal themselves at the entrance, their eyes widening as they catch sight of the young wolf and chimera in our presence.

Regret instantly clouds Scott's features. His harsh actions from earlier have settled into him as they were all but unnecessary. We were the ones to find Hayden and Liam, and we did it without any physical force or lashing out.

I don't berate him for it, positive Scott would be harder on himself than any of us ever could be.

"How'd you find them?" he asks, his voice remaining tense.

"It was him," I say, my stare drifting to Theo.

His eyes connect with mine, and I allow every ounce of gratitude I have toward him to be conveyed through one look. None of this would have been possible without him. Not only did he free Liam and Hayden, but he was the one who pressed Corey in the first place. I wouldn't have been able to do any of it on my own, I was sure of it.

He deserved all of the credit and praise. He deserved our trust.

"It was all him. If he wasn't here, I don't know how we would've done it," I continue.

Theo smiles, touched. I return the gesture without caution.

I understand the weight of my words. No matter how much Stiles doubted or accused him of any possible wrongdoings from here on, it wouldn't matter in the face of my approval. It was the same thing Allison had done for me, and it was finally time for me to repay that cosmic debt. It was time for Theo to join us in the light.

Malia moves first, extending her open arms to the wolf.

She takes him into a thankful embrace, and the two of them exchange friendly smiles. Mason moves to do the same, patting Theo's back while exchanging pleasantries. Theo shifts toward Scott after, automatically pulling him into a hug like the others. Scott's stiff at first, but eventually returns the gesture, his hesitant eyes focused on Liam and Hayden the entire time.

"Scott, do you think you can take her pain?" Lydia asks when the boys separate.

The Alpha nods, moving to kneel beside the couch. He reaches for Hayden's wrist and winces as black veins rise across his skin. He draws out her suffering with his touch, earning soft gasps of relief in return. I observe the two of them closely, ready to pull Scott off of her if he dared to take too much. The last thing I wanted was to give the Dread Doctors a reason to prod Hayden as they had me. She'd been through enough.

Hayden blinks slowly, her relief briefly pulling her from her sleep.

"Thank you," she whispers.

Scott offers her a soft smile while Lydia brushes her hair softly, both of them coaxing Hayden back to sleep. She slips under with ease, sinking into the cushions peacefully.

My eyes soon drift to Liam, laying a light hand on his shoulder.

"Liam," I murmur, making him stir. His eyes open slowly, a dazed smile taking over his face as he peers up at me from his position.

"There's some people here to see you," I say with a teasing grin.

I look toward the others and Liam tracks my line of sight. He immediately shoots up from his seat when he sees Mason, Scott, and Malia. Mason comes toward him excitedly, embracing his best friend the moment he rises from the chair. The two of them practically squeeze the life out of each other making me grin fondly.

"I love you, dude, but you stink," Mason says, making us all laugh. Liam chimes in with shared amusement, not at all offended.

His laughter fades as Mason backs away from him, allowing Malia to take his place. The hug she gives Liam is far more tender than the one she offered Theo. She rests her head on Liam's, well over his height, and ruffles his dirtied hair with her cheek affectionately. Liam doesn't mind the glorified rubbing, understanding Malia's physical fondness was different than ours.

When she steps away, everyone's attention drifts to Scott.

He waits patiently for his moment with glazed-over eyes. Liam holds his arms open, and Scott gladly accepts the opening. Neither of them cares about the argument that happened before Liam was taken. The bond between an Alpha and Beta goes deeper than that.

"You can use my bathroom," Scott says as he pulls back. "Take whatever you need."

Liam knows not to argue and easily agrees, heading upstairs to Scott's room to cleanse himself. No one bothers to wake Hayden and have her do the same, her condition worse than his. We would allow her to rest until Melissa returned, a proper professional able to tend to her wounded side.

"I'm gonna call Stiles, he'd want to know we found them," Malia announces. She leaves the living room, entering the kitchen to deliver her call.

Scott takes his own phone out, heading toward the adjacent hallway for a bit of privacy.

"I should call my mom, too," he dismisses himself.

Theo and Mason start to make some small talk, discussing lightly between themselves. Lydia dozes off on the couch with Hayden, but attempts to toss a few words into the mix. I use their distracted states to make my way toward the staircase, climbing to the second level without anyone noticing.

I slip into Scott's room, shutting the door behind me.

All of the lights are off, and the only illumination comes from the bottom of the bathroom door. The sound of running water sounds from within, and I wait patiently for Liam's shower to end. Soon, the water shuts off and is followed by the rustling of fabric. The door finally opens and Liam reveals his freshly cleansed state. He wears Scott's clothes, the sweats hanging from his smaller frame.

He was scrubbing a towel over his dripping hair when he noticed me. His movements slow and a delicate smile overtakes his face. He only takes a moment to drape the towel on Scott's bed before moving closer, reaching for me. I take him by surprise when I avoid his hand.

"Jac?" he questions me softly.

I avert my gaze from him, my eyes burning from the threat of tears.

"I told you to run," I whisper disappointedly.

Now that no pressing dangers were surrounding us, I had to face the truth that I was upset with Liam. I didn't want to be, but I was. He risked his life for mine and it ended up with him being hurt. If something even worse had happened to him, if he was truly taken from me, I wouldn't have been able to recover.

Liam takes another step toward me, but I don't have the willpower to avoid him again. He places his hand beneath my chin, guiding me back to him. His face contorts into something resembling pain as his eyes track the moisture that slips down my cheeks.

"I'll never leave you," he confesses.

His words only force more tears to escape. I wanted to resent his claim, to tell him that he should always abandon me if it meant saving himself, but I was selfish. I craved him and his closeness, unable to believe I could exist without either.

Liam dips his head to kiss the dampness away. His chaste lips pepper every inch of my face until I'm no longer crying, only laughing because of his actions. He smiles at the sound and draws me into him, cradling the back of my head. He works to gently massage the area around my injury, making me lean in further as he eases the ache that settled there.

I only remove myself from him to reach into my pocket, taking note of his bare neck.

"You dropped something," I explain.

Liam's confused until he sees the chain in my hands. He beams as he willingly bows his head, allowing me to slide it back onto him. I secure the bullet at the center of his chest and allow my hand to rest there, his heart beating steadily beneath it.

"I'm yours," Liam says, as he had before.

"I'm yours," I repeat after him; repeat the same words that belonged to us as much as we belonged to each other.

Liam leans in to seal my lips with his. I cling to him, returning the action slowly. It's a greedy effort, that way I can savor as much of this moment, as much of him, as I can. Warmth spreads through me as his touch travels across my body. My desires tell me to kindle the flame he ignited, to allow the fire to grow, but as the door to the room clicks open, and Scott stares at us from the hallway, I can't do anything but freeze.

~

||| A/N |||

vote and/or comment if ya want!

... next chapter is gonna be fun hehe

also, happy new year! i hate fireworks, but if you like them, please pop responsibly lol

<3