Sirens (Theo Raeken) [1]

The Soldier

"They called him Der Soldat," Theo explains to Scott, Liam and me. I look up at the figure suspended in the greenish liquid. Its skin has a pasty pallor to it and it has tubes extending from it. I shiver. "That's German for the 'The Soldier.' I'm pretty sure he fought in World War II."

"And he was a Nazi," Scott mutters, bewildered.

"And an alpha werewolf," Theo adds. "The Dread Doctors were using him to prolong their lives. They've been doing it for decades. Actually, probably longer."

"How old are these guys?" I ask, narrowing my eyes at the Nazi alpha.

"Who knows," Theo says. "But wherever they go, he goes too."

"So how do we find him?" Liam cuts in.

Theo cocks his head to the side, deep in thought. "Keeping him alive requires a pretty unique set of conditions," he says. "There's got to be a power source, it had to be underground...and also on a telluric current."

Scott hands Theo a folded up piece of paper. The map. Theo unfolds it and offers up a half-smile. "Looks like we're going for a hike."

Scott raises his eyebrows. "Do you have any idea where he is?"

"He could be anywhere, Scott," Theo says. "We should get going."

Theo nods curtly, waving us all out of the operating theatre. When we get outside, I'm grateful for the fresh air in place of the stuffy, thick air of the operating theatre.

Theo looks down and then back up at me. "Probably the wrong choice to wear heeled boots."

I scoff. "Oh, please, Theo. You and I both know that I could totally brawl with someone in heels and win. This? No problem." I go forward, falling into step behind Scott and Liam.

Theo catches up effortlessly fast. "You sure, princess?"

"I'm sure," I say. "I might not be much of a running person, but I am a walki—" I pause, cutting myself off. "Actually I'm not much of a walking person, either. I'm not much of an exercise person, period."

"Aw," he says. "My poor baby."

I kick a rock in my path and send it flying off to the side of me somewhere. "I know right, holy shit. This is horrible. I hate exercise."

Theo laughs. "Come here," he says. He scoops me up into his arms as if I weigh no more than a doll, with one hand under my thighs and the other around my waist.

I grin at him, slinging my arms around his neck. "Have I told you how much I love you?"

He gives me a peck on the lips. "Have I told you how much I love you?"

"Have I told you how much I want to vomit right now?" the voice of Liam cuts in.

"Excuse me, Liam," I say as Theo sets me back onto the ground. "We were having a moment there."

"And I was trying to have a nice stroll in the woods," Liam replies. "Not hear the sound of two horny psychopaths kissing behind me."

"Liam!" Scott scolds.

"What? I didn't even know Theo had a heart up until now. This is groundbreaking." Liam turns around to face us. "Hey, Theo, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah."

"Are you a sociopath?"

"Liam!" I exclaim. "You can't just ask someone if they're a sociopath!"

"Well, I just did."

Theo raises his eyebrows. "No."

"So you're just a dick?"

This time it's Scott's turn to scold Liam. "Liam!" he gasps. "Those types of words...aren't friendly."