Chapter Text
Theo could confidently say that he had many journeys, many new beginnings in his life. The first one was when he was born into the small Raeken family, which consisted of him, his older sister and their parents. As far as he knew, they didn't have any relatives.
Growing up was quite easy, albeit boring. From a young age, Theo could tell he wasn't really like the rest of the kids. Sure, he went to school like any other kid, had family dinners and smiled every time his mother bought him a new beanie. But something always felt off. His emotions were never quite right. He was too nonchalant towards his environment, never engaging in hobbies or activities like the rest of his peers, never really caring for others. Never feeling. Everything was just so mundane and Theo knew he was designed for greater things.
The second period in his life started the minute Tara's heart stopped beating, only to restart again in his own chest. The Dread Doctors weren't as warm or as loving as his parents, but it was with them that he learned emotions. He suddenly expressed himself, his desires, his anger, his enthusiasm.
So you could say his third journey began when he finally returned to Beacon Hills, killed Scott McCall and got his own pack. But even after getting everything he's ever wanted, he wasn't satisfied.
He wasn't a real Alpha. Wasn't even a real Werewolf.
Just a cheap knock-off.
He couldn't consider his time in Hell as a beginning of a fourth era, really, because time seemed to stop there as he was experiencing the same scenario repeatedly in loops. And frankly, Theo just wanted to forget about that. So with that in mind, he thought that his fourth official period began when he rose back from the ground, actually helped the good guys this time, felt compassion, remorse. He became an ally, a protector of Beacon Hills and he wore that title with pride.
Being an official ally, a protector of the town, came with responsibilities, like keeping an eye on the Puppy Pack and patrolling around the woods. It also came with benefits, Theo learned, when the Sheriff announced throughout his department that no one was to bother Theo and try to prevent him from parking his truck in the woods, which meant Theo actually got decent sleep these days.
But after Scott and the others left to start living their own lives, and after everything seemed to quiet down in town, Theo found himself missing the adrenaline, the rush, the danger.
Or maybe he just missed feeling needed. Important.
Overall, he was fine with this fourth period in his life, as lonely and quiet as it was.
Two days after Monroe had fled, everyone gathered around at Scott’s house, as the Alpha evaluated the situation and made sure no one has had an encounter with her again, deeming it safe enough to try to get back to normal, as much as possible. That’s when he tasked everyone on patrol missions, emphasizing the need to go on these missions in duos, never alone.
Theo was never much of a follower of instructions.
As everyone gathered around the boxes of pizzas that Deaton had brought, Theo tried to escape the house, not before being stopped by the Alpha himself.
“Theo, can I talk to you for a second?”
Theo sighed. All he wanted was to get back to sleep, yet he still followed Scott to the empty kitchen. “Promise I’ve been a good boy.”
“I know,” Scott smiled. “Listen, I just wanted to thank you for your help with Liam and the others. You saved their lives.”
“Huh,” he said dumbly.
“Listen,” he whispered and shifted closer to Theo. “I know you think the opposite, but you do get a say in what’s going to happen next.”
“What does that mean?” He clenched his fist, suddenly getting defensive.
“You’re not a prisoner, Theo. You can go wherever you want, do whatever you want.”
Yeah, right, Theo thought. Instead, he urged, “But…?”
Scott smacked his lips and rubbed his hands together, obviously uncomfortable. “But if you plan on staying in Beacon Hills…”
“Let me guess, stay out of trouble, don’t kill people?” Theo rolled his eyes.
“Uh, no,” Scott frowned. “I mean, yes, don’t kill people, but I meant… It would be really nice if you could help around with Liam and the rest.”
A short pause. Then, “What?”
Scott sighed and grabbed a chair to sit on, indicating Theo to do the same. “Liam has a lot on his plate. Now that we’ll go back to uni, I know he’s gonna be even more stressed. I trust Liam, he is a great acting Alpha, but I’m scared he’s gonna run himself to the ground.”
Theo couldn’t really argue with that. The kid did have a tendency to run headfirst into the fire.
“And I know Chris and the rest are still around, but I would be a lot calmer if I knew you’d be there for him when—if things go south.”
Theo wanted to smirk at Scott’s slip, but decided now wasn’t the time. “You’re asking me to babysit your Beta and his friends?”
“Yes?” Scott winced and then sighed again. “Liam is strong and capable, but let’s not sugar-coat things. He is impulsive. I’m obviously not going to force you into anything, Theo, but I can’t think of anyone better to keep him in place.”
Bullshit, Theo thought. Scott said that Theo gets to decide what to do, but putting him in this position, giving him this task, making it sound as if Theo is valuable—Of course Theo would stay. How could he possibly say no? He wondered if Scott knew that, too, that Theo wouldn’t be able to refuse, but then again, Scott wasn’t that manipulative.
Was he?
“Okay.”
“Okay?” Scott looked surprised. “You’ll stay?”
“I was planning on staying, anyway,” Theo shrugged. “Not like I have anywhere else to go. Plus, this is my hometown too, not just yours and Stiles’s,” he frowned. “I get to take care of my home, too. And if looking after your little puppy is gonna make things easier for you, then… Whatever.”
It's the least I can do for you, was what he wanted to say but didn't.
Scott immediately sighed in relief, a smile on his face. “Thank you so much. Also, uh, we can keep this between us, right?”
“Sure,” Theo smirked.
“Also, uh,” Scott shuffled again.
“What now?”
The Alpha sent him an apologetic smile. “If something happens, if Liam loses his control… Let me know.”
Theo raised an eyebrow. “Why do I get the feeling that this is not babysitting duties, but spying duties?”
“It’s, uh, both,” he confessed. “Just until Liam learns to better control himself.”
“Okay. You’ll get my bill by the end of each month.”
And just like that Theo became a spy/babysitter. He probably wasn’t a really good one, because he never really spoke to Liam, never showed his face. Still, he made sure to always be in a short distance from him, sometimes even going as far as watching the Beta’s lacrosse practices from a distance.
Things were getting back to normal. Liam probably didn't even need a babysitter. But Theo couldn’t help but feel proud that Scott had given him this special, secretive mission.
Five days after his talk with Scott, Chris Argent approached him.
Theo was in the middle of his patrol around the woods when he heard the footsteps. He frowned and turned around, seeing the ex-hunter walking up to him.
“Didn’t you hear Scott say duos?”
“Didn’t you hear I don’t care?”
“Humph,” Chris smirked and stood in front of Theo, his posture straight, much like that of a soldier. “What are you doing these days?”
“Staying out of trouble, sir,” he sent him a fake smile and continued to walk around the woods.
This is pointless, he thought. Every night, a pack member or ally took the task of searching the woods, even though they knew Monroe and her group were probably far away by now. It wasn’t yet Theo’s day to go on patrol, but since he had nothing better to do…
“Found anything?” Another voice called. Theo turned around quickly again to see Stilinski emerging from the trees. “Ah. Theo," he said, obvious displeasure laced in his tone.
“Sheriff.”
“You know you don’t have to check in every day, kid. We have the schedule for a reason.”
“No offence, but your schedule put Liam and Mason together in the shift. You really think these two actually check the area profoundly?”
Stilinski sighed and Argent smirked.
“Okay, so… What are you doing when you don’t check the woods?” The Sherriff asked.
Theo narrowed his eyes at the two, looking at them suspiciously. “As I’ve told Papa Argent here, I haven’t done anything bad, so back off.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Stilinski sighed, but Theo couldn’t help but think he did so in a way a father would sigh at his annoying son. He could swear Stilinski used to sigh at Stiles in that manner.
“What did I do?” Theo asked seriously, starting to doubt himself, trying to recall what bad did he cause now.
“Nothing, Theo,” Argent assured. “We just wanted to ask you some questions, that’s all.”
“Questions like…?”
“Let’s cut to the chase,” Stilinski said and Theo really couldn’t be any more grateful. “You sleep in your truck.”
“Way to be subtle,” Theo laughed, ignoring the way his heart skipped a beat in surprise.
“And I have a spare room.”
Theo blanched.
“So do I,” Argent added.
Theo thought he was going to be sick.
“So…” Stilinski nodded with pursed lips.
“Uh…” The Chimera clenched and unclenched his fists. “Thanks, but no thanks.”
“Theo,” The Sheriff sighed again. “I’m tired as it is. I am not getting younger and my job is not getting easier. Just… Do me this one favor. Please.”
Theo tried not to be affected by how spent he sounded.
“No.”
Stilinski narrowed his eyes and was about to say something else when Argent said, “Just think about it, Theo.”
And Theo did think about it. For days. A bed, a roof over his head. It sounded like a dream. But hell if he’d agree to sleep a door away from the man who held him in a cell and threatened to shoot him. And Argent, well… He gave Theo the chills. So the next time Argent had approached him, he declined again and politely told him to fuck off.
Two days after Theo had given Agent his final answer, Deaton came into the picture.
It was late afternoon and it was Theo’s first official turn to patrol around the woods. He had been patrolling every night for the past week, trying to stay away from those who actually were on patrolling duties. Last night he had the absolute displeasure of hearing Liam, Mason and Corey’s obnoxious laughs echoing from a distance, but thankfully, they haven’t seen him. If they would have, they’d probably wonder why he was patrolling when it wasn’t his turn, and then Liam would probably try to get him to join them or something. Theo was not ready for that.
Back when Argent posted the schedule of the shifts, Liam immediately protested about Theo not being paired with anyone. Theo rolled his eyes and Argent stated that Theo preferred it that way (Theo never said he prefers it that way. But he guessed it was true enough). Liam went on an agonizingly long speech about how dangerous it was to cover the area alone, basically quoting Scott word-by-word, and offered to be his partner, much to the dismay of Mason, his actual partner. Theo simply refused and left Scott's house, even though he could smell Liam’s rage and hurt.
So much for being a good babysitter.
But that was about a week ago and now it was Theo’s official turn.
He was laying at the back of his truck, looking up to the sky and waiting for the first star to shine, signaling him to start his task. The nights were getting chilly, but he only wore a short-sleeved t-shirt, too lazy to find a hoodie in one of the duffel bags he kept in his car.
“Theo,” Deaton spoke softly.
Theo sat straight up. “What are you doing here? You’re not on patrol.”
“No,” he smiled and sat at the edge of the truck.
“Sure, be my guest, feel free,” Theo said sarcastically.
“How are you with dogs?”
“How am I…?" Theo frowned. "Is this a joke? Since I can shift?”
“Didn’t even know you can shift. Scott is back in college and I can’t find someone to fill his spot.”
“Liam is the acting Alpha,” Theo said confusedly.
Deaton smiled his tight-lipped smile that Theo hated so much. “I meant, at the clinic. Looking for a job, Theo?”
“I—Why?”
“I need a hand. The pay is not much, I’m afraid, but maybe it could get you started? Maybe over time you could save some and get an actual place.”
“Okay, does the entire population of Beacon Hills know I sleep in my truck by now?”
“No. Just some.”
“…Does Scott know?”
Deaton paused for a while, before he gave an easy smile. “Who do you think sent Chris and the Sheriff?”
Theo almost melted at that, the wolf in him screaming with joy over the thought of an Alpha taking care of him like one would care for a pack member, for a family member.
But Human Theo was prideful.
“Well. Tell him he can shove his chivalrous gestures up his—“
“Having some money to your name in exchange of taking care of puppies and kittens—Is it really that bad?”
And Theo was immediately sold.
He loved puppies and kittens.
Half an hour after Deaton had left the area, not before telling Theo that his shift will start on Monday, Theo stretched and took off deep into the woods, starting his daily routine.
Pathetic, he thought as he was one hour into the patrol, hearing the obvious footsteps and racing heartbeat of Liam Dunbar in the area.
Theo knew he would try to follow him.
But thankfully, Liam sucked at being a werewolf and wasn’t able to locate Theo, the smell of the animals and the wildlife probably clogging his senses.
Good, Theo thought, because he was too overwhelmed to deal with him, suddenly not caring much for the top secret mission Scott had assigned him.
His first shift was pretty uneventful. Deaton showed him around the place a bit and introduced him to Lucas, Lady Whiskers and Purr-Purr-Girl—an elderly dog and two knittens who occupied the cages in the back room.
“I would show you around some more, but I know you’re already familiar with my clinic,” Deaton smiled. “Maybe even broke here once or twice…?”
Theo gulped, remembering the 4 times he had broken into the clinic in the past months. One time because a demonic spider had attacked him. The other three because the deputies were persistent and Theo just wanted to sleep without being interrupted.
But Deaton didn’t seem mad at all so Theo shut up and continued to pat Lady Whiskers.
The days have gone by. Theo had 3 shifts per week in the clinic, and got paid every Thursday. Cash, since he had no documents on him. Being pronounced dead for 3 months and having no Doctors to fabricate stuff could do that to a man.
Before he knew, a month had passed since he started working and he collected a small sum of money. Deaton didn’t lie when he said the pay wasn’t great, but at least Theo could afford a sandwich next to his morning coffees now.
Theo was content in life, he decided. Simply living, doing mundane stuff like working and eating. It was peaceful.
Phase 4 was peaceful.
Nothing prepared him for phase 5, which surprisingly began with Nolan Holloway.
It was a Friday. Theo was sitting at the hood of his truck, gazing at the trees in the woods, waiting for the first star when he heard footsteps behind him. He shifted around to find a tall teenager.
"Uh, hey," the boy nodded.
Theo raised an eyebrow curiously and rose to his feet. "Yes?"
"Uh, I was just... I'm Nolan." He grimaced at Theo's blank face. "You already knew that. I just never really introduced myself, so I thought..." He dug his nails in the palms of his hands nervously.
Theo nodded slowly, trying to catch a whiff of the teenager in front of him; all he caught was the obvious smell of embarrassment laced with something else, something almost intriguing.
"You, uh... I mean, I was hanging out with Liam and the pack lately, you know, so I thought I'll see you around or something..."
"I'm not pack," he shared.
"Oh," Nolan dropped his gaze. "Right. Yeah. Of course."
Theo bit his lip as the smell of humiliation practically radiated out of the boy. He tried not to grin at Nolan's bowed head. "You were looking for me?"
This seemed to snap the blond right back into reality. He looked up at Theo with the perfect deer-caught-in-headlights look. He blinked for a few seconds before he nodded slowly.
Theo raised his eyebrow again, urging the boy to continue.
Nolan shook his head, as if trying to snap out of a daze. "Yeah, yeah, I wanted to see you. I mean... I didn't have time after the fight was over, you practically fled and—"
"I had no reason to stay," he shrugged. "My job was done."
"Okay..." His confused expression showed Theo that he had no idea was he was talking about. "Anyway, I... just wanted to say thanks, I guess."
"...For leaving?"
"No!" His eyes widened. "God, no, I didn't mean that, I just..."
"You just...?"
Theo should have scoffed at the kid the moment he stepped into his zone. He really didn't feel practically fond of mumbling, embarrassed teenagers. Especially teenagers who tried to hunt the supernatural not too long ago. Nevertheless, there he was, standing and giving this kid his time of day. A voice at the back of his head told him it was because he lacked human interaction. Deaton wasn’t much of a talker, and the baristas at the local café weren’t all that friendly, either. Of course, Theo shut the voice down quickly and settled down with the explanation that it was amusing to watch Nolan stumble around his words.
The teenager sighed. The tension seemed to leave his shoulders and the embarrassment seemed to dull down, thus causing the unrecognizable scent to strengthen. "Gabe was my friend. He did bad things, we both did. But you... You took his pain away. Even though he probably didn't deserve it," he whispered the last part.
Theo blinked slowly, hearing his own heartbeat quickening gradually.
Someone was thanking him.
"I wanted to say it before, but my mind was all over the place," he continued and shifted his gaze to the ground. "And then I tried to find you at Liam's house, and then at Scott’s, but you never showed up. I wanted to ask Liam where you were, but I was too..."
Theo tried to ignore the red that dusted Nolan's cheeks.
The wind picked up and Theo heard the rustle of the leaves on the trees. He looked up to one of the trees, noticing an owl looking at them as if they were a magnificent performance. Theo cocked his head to the side, as if trying to communicate telepathically with the creature.
They were not a performance. They were two boys, broken after a war.
"His Mom smiled when I told her, you know."
Theo jumped and looked back at Nolan. His voice was even softer than before, yet still rang against Theo's eardrums.
"When I told her he died peacefully, with no pain," he explained. "She was crying, but then she smiled. Almost laughed. She was happy he didn't suffer during his last..."
The Chimera nodded even though the boy in front of him was looking at the ground.
"You did this, you know," he finally brought his head up to meet Theo's eyes. "You made his last moments peaceful. I just wanted to say thanks."
Theo glanced at the tree again, but the owl was nowhere to be seen. "Okay," he finally said.
"Okay?" Nolan cocked his head to the side.
The chimera cleared his throat. "You're welcome, glad I could help."
A lovely smile graced Nolan's features.
"Is that all?" Theo cleared his throat again.
No one thanked him before.
He tried to be as useful as he could to the McCall Pack, saved that angry Beta's life more than once, put himself in front of fire lines, but they didn't thank him.
Well, Scott did, but he was an Alpha who was happy his baby Beta was alive.
The others? Not a single ‘thanks for saving me, Theo, you rule’.
He probably didn't deserve it, anyway.
But then he did one small selfless act and he had a boy with a smile that could put the sun's shine to shame in front of him, thanking him.
"Yeah, I guess," Nolan shrugged, the last of his tension melting away.
"Good."
"I, uh, I'm sorry for bothering and creeping on you. But, hey, at least I know where to find you now... In the middle of the woods..." He shuddered.
"Why would you want to find me?"
"Uh, just, you know... If something happens." He blushed at Theo's smirk.
"Right. You do know you're not supposed to come here alone, right?"
"You're here alone, too."
"Are you comparing the two of us?" Theo grinned and raised an eyebrow.
"Guess not," Nolan chuckled. "I better get going, or my Mom will have my head off. Bye, Theo," he smiled his blinding smile again and gave an awkward wave as he turned around and left towards the direction he came from.
Theo was left with the lingering smell of Nolan. As the latter disappeared into the woods, the fragrance lessened but suddenly it clicked.
It was the same scent Theo could smell on himself when he just turned into a Chimera and he looked up at the Dread Doctors with literal heart eyes, as if they held all the answers in the world, as if they held a brighter future for Theo in their hands.
It was a smell of adoration.
"Fuck."