Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

At one point, I was relieved.  

CLC and that Monroe agent wouldn't catch me anymore, and if they did, they wouldn't be able to send me anywhere, or at least not easily. They would have to go through a lot of paperwork to send a classified eighteen years old to a Little Center. 

But otherwise, I was screwed. 

Since twelve, I used to help at the dog shelter, and Mr. Deaton, gladly, never asked too many questions.   

Our job was simple, it was just cleaning the dogs and the shelter, give them food and medicine, prepare them for adoption day, and unfortunately, even burry them sometimes. 

And now I was just losing the only thing that would bring me the same thing that the dogs had: shelter and food. 

Okay, that, and some money.  

“You can't do that Mr. Deaton!” I whined the man holding the giant ‘FOR SALE’ plaque. “We can't sell the shelter! What about all those dogs out there, feeling cold and…And hurt?!” 

“Don't make me feel bad about my decision Nolan. I've done more than enough all those years, and I’ve helped as many dogs as I could, now I feel that my heart and God are okay with my retirement and my decision to rest until my final days.” The old man sighed, and after locking the door and putting the plaque on it, he turned at me

“Nolan, I know that you don’t have any other place to go, and I hope that you kept all the money left from the donations and find yourself a brand new start, boy. I'm sure you from all people understand, I can’t keep up with that.... Even if I wanted to, my heart and body won't let me…” 

I stared at my feet when Mr. Deaton placed his hand in my shoulder, trying to comfort me. 

I knew it was unfair that I was making such a fuss about his choice to retire, Deaton had almost eighty years old and his pacemaker and his back were telling him that it was enoug work for a lifetime. I could see him wincing every day because of the pain he felt while working.   

I felt my eyes watering, and took a long breath to control myself. 

I would starve for a bit, but as the old man always said, I am a good worker, I will find some other job easily. 

 “Now that I know that every single one of those dogs have a warm house, or are together with their creator I can finally retire” He stared me and I could feel the pity in his glare. “I know a very nice couple, Nolan. They are young but they would love to take in you. And you can always seek help in the Centers” 

“No, I don't need caregivers.” I hissed and sat in front of the shelter crossing my arms. “I will search for some other job.”  

“Okay then, I won't fight you.” Deaton laughed softly. “Stubborn bastard. Take those keys and wait for the Realtor, will you?”  

I took the bunch of keys and stared at him again, he was looking away mysteriously with a frown between his eyebrows, as always.  

“Well then, bye young man.” Deaton tightened his coat and walked away. “By the way, the Realtor will have a nice opportunity for you, listen carefully!” 

“What? Isn't only to deliver the keys?!” I got up, and I could feel the hope crawling in my chest “Deaton, you got me a job?” 

I could hear him laugh, but I didn’t chase after him, that mad old man. So, I just stood there, thinking that I should have put in a better shirt if I knew this was also a kinda job interview thing. 

After ten minutes waiting and building up some anxiety I sighed and sat again, and looked over at the shelter, already missing my previous job. 

I loved helping the old man with the "dogsitting", and I knew I would need another job soon and this could be a great new opportunity to make more money and built more experience.

But I could never show my documents to this Realtor, otherwise he would never hire me... Actually, no one with a right mind would ever hire a Little. That’s why I liked Deaton so much, as I said before, he never asked too many questions. 

I stared the fifty bucks that Deaton gave me and hid them in my shoes.  If this guy didn't hire me, some other opportunity would apper.

I waited for about more thirty minutes and then this expensive looking car stopped in front of the shelter.  

The brunette good-looking man in a suit came out like in one of those fragrance commercials and smiled.

For a second I could feel my whole world shine brighter, and as he came closer I could just feel my mouth falling open wide to his height and muscularity close to my... Nothingness. 

I am very much of a man, pronouns and everything, thank you.  

But uh... Littles aren’t exactly tall, or muscly, or hairy...  

 And this was a magazine model man kind of person standing right here, two meters away. So, you know... Wow.

“You must be Nolan, right? I am Theo Raeken.” 

I blinked for a moment and then stood up and offered a hand. 

“Yes, good night, Sir. You must be the Realtor, right?” 

Just show him that you have good manners, that you can totally work as an assistant, or secretary and cleaning staff too!   

He stared me with endearing eyes and then shook my hand slowly.  

“Yes, Deaton told me you would be the one with the keys?”  

“Oh, yes!” I searched them in my pocket and then gave it to him, but he didn't take it. 

“Would you mind giving me a tour around the shelter? So, I can see the details of the building and have a better clue of how much can I try to sell it and if it needs adjustments...”  

I gulped and looked at my clock, it was getting late and soon it would be dark and very cold.

But God help me, this have to be worth it! Otherwise, the day will finish and I will still be jobless and in need to find some place to sleep. 

“Sure.” 

Theo 

The boy was the sweetest thing, and I was very glad that Liam didn't came with me; he would’ve scared him away by trying to take the scrawny little thing with us in the first glance. 

But first, I need to fell his scent, see if we match, if he is good enough for us, if we can trust him... And of course, talk him into my deal. 

See if he can trust me. Us. 

Liam wouldn’t have the patience. 

Deaton warned me that after today the little bug would be homeless, the old doctor was sure that Nolan would be a perfect match.  

So far it looked like he was. 

With all the patience in the world the skinny little boy showed me room by room, explained how everything worked in the building and even told some few stories about the dogs that he and Deaton cared for. 

I could see his excitement while talking, and his sadness when he closed every door behind us. Maybe finally realizing that this reality wasn't going to be his anymore. 

"It must be very hard for you; it seems like you really liked this job.” I tried to do some small talk while he was turning the all the lights off. 

“It...” He sighed and looked around with tearful eyes. ”All of this, has been the only constant thing in my life for so long, and isn't like it was a hard job anyway...” 

He finally closed everything, and I could see his shoulders shaking from the cold wind, it was late night already and from what I could hear there wasn't anyone walking close. 

“So, this is it, I guess?” The pup looked at me hesitantly and offered me the keys. 

I felt my wolf unquiet preparing himself to attack, he was anxious, looking forward to preen and brood the pup.  

Not yet

I took the keys, and could smell the sharp sadness and the frustrated scent floating from him. His watering eyes stared at me again. 

“Bye then, sir Raeken.”  

“Wait, Nolan!” He stopped on his feet, but didn't turn completely, so I went to him.  

It broke my heart to see the face full of tears, his already pouting mouth, such huge sad and disappointed eyes. 

I wanted nothing more than to free him from this sadness, so I made my first step. 

“Can we get a coffee? My treat! And then we can talk for a bit!” 

He took a big, long and relieved breath, and with a small smile, he nodded. 

Chapter Text

They found a nice and quiet coffee shop a few minutes away from the Shelter, it was a lovely place and it smelled great, even that it was already late.   

“What do you want to eat?” Theo asked the boy.   

“Uh...” Nolan looked up and frowned before his multiple choices. “Soy milk?”   

“Only that?” The dark-haired man insisted, but looking at the boy he decided to pick something for him. Lactose free, apparently.   

Theo came back with a lot of food, and Nolan was already wondering that if didn't eat it all, if he could save some for later in a napkin. And how to do that without the Realtor noticing.  

"So, I bet that Mr. Deaton already said something to you... Could I know what was it?" The man asked after they ate, a calm smile stuck on his face.  

"He didn't say much. Just that you would have a nice opportunity of me..." Nolan blushed and stared at the ground. "I was hoping for a job opportunity, sir."  

"Oh... I see." Theo sighed, now understanding why the boy was making such an effort to show  a  helpful front. "That wasn't what I was going to suggest, though."  

It just had to be the saddest thing to watch, to see Nolan just hang his head loosely, facing the table, his shoulders and body relaxed, but in a horrible way. Like he had given up completely. His scent, was  disappointed , frustrated, sad and tired. Completely hopeless.  

And he had... Given up completely for the day. And Nolan felt miserable.  

His belly was full and warm, but he just had lost his job, his bed, his tutor and his home. All at the same time. He just wanted to look up and pray for someone to let him be for one day. He was tired.  

"But I have a different offer to make!" Theo quickly said, his hands covering Nolan's in the table, trying to offer some comfort over those crushing scents.   

Nolan looked up again, but his eyes weren't full of hope like they were before.  

"Nolan... I want you to strongly consider trusting me to be your Caregiver."  

The boy took his hand back and stared at the man, his nose scrunching in anger.  

"If you think..."  

"Please, listen. Before you say anything. I know we just met, and this isn't an easy thing to decide, but me and my husband would be so  grateful  and happy if you let us take care of you. It's been years since we look for someone..."  

"Why don't you just wait on the Little Center list like everyone else does?" Nolan hugged his body, shutting himself. Who was this man? How did he even know...?  

"I can't Nolan. I am a werewolf. So is my husband."  

That had Nolan listening, and staring.  

"We are Deaton's friends, and he said stuff about you, he said that you are a helpful boy, and that he wished that you had a nice family."  

The boy snorted to that "So you and your husband are the nice couple he is been blabbering about, uh? I am sorry to disappoint you sir, but that part of me that you are asking for it doesn't exist anymore."  

Nolan didn't care about taking some food with him anymore, he got up and bolted.  

Guess he hasn't fast enough to a werewolf. Theo reached to him in seconds, and Nolan stopped because he knew werewolves, and he knew that running just made it worse.  

"Please, Nolan, I know it seems weird, but let's just talk-"  

"Okay then, let's talk, make all the false  promises that all the Caregivers make, let's just see if you can also trick me."  

Theo made a face, and Nolan was sure that his eyes were glowing, but it faded quickly. The man took a deep breath, and sat in a bench near to were the sand haired boy was standing, waiting that his calmer posture would do the same to the boy.  

"I am not here to make false promises, I am not human. I am here Nolan, because you are my only chance of having a family with my husband. Government will never offer me a little because of what I am, and I know that they are probably the reason you refuse to be taken care of, but my kind, we aren't like this. We make promises and we fulfill them.  So,  if I say that I will take care of you, and I will not abandon you, it's because I am sure that I can fulfill those promises."  

He said strongly, and sighed seeing that it didn't make the boy relax.  

"I didn't want to be a caregiver at first... When I was young. I did all the bad choices, I worked for bad people. It is in the past now, but I almost killed my husband. And I regret that only now I see that this is a thing that is part of me. And when you say that this part of you doesn't exist... I know that it is a lie, Nolan. I know very well how that can be. The itchy feeling, the tiredness of fighting against it... The loneliness."  

The boy was relaxing know. The words sinking in his shoulders and bringing his feelings to the surface. Theo could smell it, and he knew how bad was it.  

"Please, let me help. You don't have to go full ahead on it. And I know that I am just a stranger. But here am I seeing through you and I can say that even if Deaton hadn't said all those sweet things about you, I know that you are especial... Besides, your scent matched mine, and you know what that means."  

Nolan was blushing now, and looking at his shoes.  

"Actually, I don't"  

"It means that my wolf  choose  you as family. As pack. It means that even if you don't come with me, you belong somewhere."  

  Nolan sat down in the bench, quietly. He was clearly shaking now. Theo couldn't say if it was from the cold or from his feelings.  

"Even if I accept it, it won't be easy. I like the idea of having it... A- a family and such. But I don't even remember that part of myself anymore."  

"I am not asking for easy. I am asking a chance."  

And that's how Nolan agreed into going to Theo's house.   

Agreed to trying.  

He didn't know the boy story, or what did he went through. But he knew that he and Liam could do this.  

That they could offer this shivering, skinny and roughed up boy a life he deserved.  

And he knew that it would be hard, that they would fight and have a lot of disagreement.  

But he was okay with it, because he knew better than his wolf, he knew how Nolan felt, about hiding and  suppressing , of feeling unloved and unworthy.  

And with Liam by his side, being persistent and nothing but full of love, Theo managed it.  

He knew that they could be a great family.  

He just needed a chance.  

And now he has it.