The rain had only worsened as we walked to my home, and it meant there was a soaking wet wolf dripping water all over the tile at my front entrance. I would have been exasperated if Tsuki didn’t look so… broken.

Despite my efforts and his moments of vibrancy in the forest, he had dulled again when we hit the edge of town. It had prompted me to shift back into my human form; if we had both remained as wolves, we would have been pestered by dozens of curious pack members, and I was sure it would have only scared Tsuki away again. If I was in a human form, my scowl could scare away any who approached us- and it was more than a few, because Tsuki’s scent was still strong, and I was hard pressed to ignore it.

He couldn’t have known, because he kept close to me, practically pressed against my leg as we walked. I could tell he just didn’t want to be alone. After what he’d heard and learned, I was sure he just needed something solid, something he was sure he knew and could trust. It warmed my heart to be so important to him, even if only for a little while.

Which was why I didn’t mind the dripping as much as I should have. I knelt down in front of Tsuki were he was huddled back against the door, looking lost, and gave him my sweetest smile. “Welcome home for the night, Tsuki. Why don’t we get you dried off?”

His silver eyes were piercing as he stared at me, as if judging my intentions, before bowing his head in the semblance of a nod. Since it was pretty clear he wasn’t shifting forms to make it easier on me, I patted his head. “Good. The bathroom’s this way.”

Tsuki followed on my heels as I guided him through the house, the wolf silent on whisper soft paws, and only the constant drip of water telling me he was behind me. My bathroom was tile- thank god, because if he kept dripping all over the hardwood floors I was going to lose my mind. I let him come in before I closed the door behind him; he whined, not liking the enclosed space, so I ruffled my fingers through the thick hair and the scruff of his neck.

“It’s okay. Can you shake some of the water out for me?” I asked, keeping my voice gentle.

Tsuki looked at me like I’d lost my mind before chuffing the soft, familiar sound which approximated laughter in that form. Then he shook himself like the wet dog he was, and I realized my mistake when my bathroom- and myself- was coated in water which smelled slightly of musty wolf. My heavy sigh earned me another huff laugh, and I shook my head at him.

“Sure, you’re in good humor now. Just… sit still,” I said, opening the cabinet where I kept my towels.

Tsuki sat at my feet, watching everything I did with those unnerving silver eyes. I sat in front of him, a towel stretched between my hands; I looked up at him for permission before I wrapped it over his neck and began to rub his fur dry. It took six towels, each spent one thrown in the tub behind me, before he was even relatively dry. His thick coat was my enemy, and I was cursing and ruffled by the time I gave up on the towel idea.

Tsuki only looked amused as I searched for the hair dryer, his tail moving across the floor in gentle swishes, and his ears fully perked up instead of pressed to his head like before. I plugged the dryer in before I grabbed a hairbrush rarely used and knelt next to him again. “This going to be okay?” I asked.

It’s fine, Viktor. You don’t have to keep asking for permission, I won’t bite you.

I froze, and Tsuki cocked his head in return to my wide eyes. “Have you… always been able to speak to others when you’re in your wolf form?”

Isn’t that normal? Tsuki sounded as confused as I was, and I didn’t have the heart to tell him no. While it was true our kind shared a sort of telepathic connection when in our wolf forms to allow us to communicate, it didn’t stretch between wolf and human. Tsuki’s voice shouldn’t have been able to reach me no matter how he tried. Another thing to add to his list of impossible feats, and I was beginning to worry; remembering Alyx’s face after Tsuki had shifted in front us, the awe and fascination followed by sharp fear after Tsuki disappeared, didn’t help any.

I ignored it all, focusing instead of the arduous task of drying a wet wolf. Tsuki was small, but he made up for it in how ridiculously thick his snowy coat was. I had to dry it inch by inch, the dryer only set to warm because the hot setting could very well overheat him thanks to a wolf’s higher body temperature. I moved my way slowly from his neck down his back, brushing the fur backward as I went to help get it dry to his skin. The process was mindless, and I found myself humming under my breath, enjoying the feel of Tsuki’s silken fur between my fingers as he dried bit by bit.

It must have been just as pleasant for him, because he draped himself across my lap after the first ten minutes. His eyes closed, and I would have thought he’d fallen asleep if it weren’t for the occasional twitch of his ears or swish of his tail. I had no idea how long it took, but eventually I’d dried everything I reach, and had to stop with concern creasing my forehead.

Tsuki raised his head, confused, before he understood my dilemma. His chest and stomach were the only things still wet, and I couldn’t reach them while he was in my lap. Not only that, but he’d have to roll over for me to get to them. Rolling onto one’s back was a sign of submission, one I didn’t want to force Tsuki into. He surprised me by doing it before I asked; rolled over onto his back, front paws up in the air, he looked like a playful puppy and I could only stare at him for a moment.

What the hell is this wolf? I wondered, shaking my head before I started to dry the rest of his fur. That part didn’t take long, and I breathed a sigh of relief when I turned the blow dryer off.

Tsuki jumped up the moment I was done, shaking himself out again; there was no spray of water that time, but between the brushing and blow drying, his fur was full of static. He had accidentally puffed himself up like a cloud, and I couldn’t help snickering. Tsuki gave a soft growl and nipped at my hand in response.

“Sorry, sorry,” I mumbled, rubbing my hand through his fur again, and thoroughly enjoying it that time. His fur really was like silk now that it was dry and brushed. I’d never seen a wolf with a coat that compared- nor a housepet, even, and I’d worked with hundreds of them. “Let’s get out of the bathroom. Are you hungry?”

It was almost comical the way he perked up. I don’t think I’ve ever been this hungry in my life.

I laughed at him, grinning. “You did go on quite the run. I’ll make food. You can explore the house while you wait, if you want. It’s not as big as Alyx’s, but it’s just mine, so it’s not like I need the room.”

I’ll try not to break anything.

“You better not!” It was teasing, and earned a huffing laugh as Tsuki waited for me to open the door. I let him out, and he disappeared further into my house as I headed for the kitchen. I hoped he would be more comfortable by the time I made food. As pretty as his wolf form was, I prefered the cute kid who drank coffee with me.

I was in the middle of trying to figure out how to make enough food for two people when Tsuki’s growl vibrated through my house. It cut off sharply, in a yelping bark. Viktor! There was fear in the voice which reached me, and I dropped everything to figure out what the hell was in my house which could have scared him.

I found him in front of the door to my bedroom, half crouched with his rear end in the air and his nose up against the crack under my door. He spared me a half second glance before he shoved he was trying to shove his nose under the door again. “What are you doing?” I asked, confused; he looked like a hunting dog, body tense, but I didn’t read any anger in his body language.

Why is there whining coming from your room? Viktor! Are there pups locked in there? What’s wrong with you?

“Excuse me? Why the hell would I kidnap somebody’s children? I certainly don’t have any of my own! What the hell are you- oh. Oh,” I breathed the word, faced with the urge to punch myself as I realized the source of the problem. “I promise I’m not a criminal. Back up, please.”

Tsuki gave me a suspicious look, but he did as I asked. I took his place in front of the door, my hand on the knob. My voice was firm and scolding when I answered the soft whines on the other side of the door with a “Hush, you two. You’re making trouble.”

The sound of my voice only made it worse, yipping barks replacing the whine, and I could hear little paws scrabbling at my door. Sighing, I pulled it open and was attacked by two small balls of fluff. Not pups, as Tsuki had worried- just two little dogs, neither of them over a year old, excited to see me home again.

Viktor! Tsuki sounded alarmed, hackles raised as I knelt down to put my face in licking range of the two frantic dogs. What are those? Are you in danger?

“What? Ah… jeez. That pack of yours,” I muttered, realizing the source of the problem. The old fashioned packs never allowed pets, believing it wasn’t worth stressing the animals to be constantly around wolves. While it was true that it could cause problems, as long as the animals were treated well and given no cause to fear us, they could make wonderful companions. “They’re pets, Tsuki. I’m sure you’ve heard about people keeping dogs as pets? These are mine. The little white one is Cindy, and the bigger white and grey one Camellia. They’re a poodle and a coton, respectively.”

And they’re… not dangerous? They told me pets are dangerous.

“Of course they did,” I sighed, before I picked Cindy up in my hands and held her out toward Tsuki. The wolf flinched, and I could see his desire to flee in his widened eyes. Cindy, on the other hand, was excited to meet another canine. She wiggled frantically in my hands until I let her go, and promptly bounded up to Tsuki and sat herself between his feet.

I held my breath, worried more for Tsuki than the little poodle, as he slowly lowered his head to get a better look at her. Cindy was a quick little shit, and she popped forward, her tongue flicking out against Tsuki’s nose. He jumped back, a low whine sliding from his throat.

“She’s not going to hurt you,” I reassured him, and the look of disbelief he gave me made he hate his pack even more. What did they teach their pups? “Really. I’ve had her since she was a baby, not old enough to be away from her mom. Somebody left her in a box in front of my office, along with the rest of her litter. I couldn’t do anything for the rest of them, but I managed to save Cindy. She’s the sweetest thing, I promise. I think you’ll like her if you give her a chance.”

I… trust you, Tsuki said, the words coming at a snail’s pace. He watched my dogs carefully as he lowered himself to lay on the floor. Cindy approached him more cautiously that time, before she licked his face again. When Tsuki didn’t run away, he was pounced on, my little poodle frantically covering his face in kisses.

When Tsuki got annoyed with it, he raised a paw, and I almost worried- but he was gentle when he tapped at her, a gentle bop on the head which had her falling back on her butt, obviously startled. She barked at him when she regained her senses, and tried to bombard his face again only to receive the same treatment. It became a game, then, Cindy wiggling herself in tight little circles as she got excited over having someone new to play with. It was only a matter of time before Camellia got involved and Tsuki had to get to his feet, falling into a play stance with his eyes lit with amusement, and it warmed my chest to watch them play.

He didn’t even notice when I got to my feet, retreating back to the kitchen with my ears open for anything else I had to worry about. Other than the soft growls and barks of dogs at play, I didn’t hear anything to frighten me. It just had me smiling as I defrosted meat from the freezer and got to cooking. At least it was something that I enjoyed, a relaxing process I could forget my troubles in.

I was calm and happy by the time I was done, and my house was silent except for the soft sizzle of steaks finishing on the griddle. I set them aside to rest before I went looking for Tsuki. “Hey, kid, dinner’s-”

My words paused along with my steps as I entered my bedroom and nearly had a heart attack. Not because something was wrong- no, because the scene in front of me was so entirely domestic it was painful. Tsuki was curled up on the floor, fast asleep, which didn’t surprise me; I’d been shocked he stayed awake while I was drying him. That was cute enough on its own. But he was curled up around Camellia, the little fluffball safely cradled between his front paws and cuddled up against his face, and Cindy was draped over Tsuki’s back.

“Too cute,” I sighed the words, padding carefully into my bedroom so I wouldn’t make a sound to wake the sleeping wolf. Sitting down next to them, I reached out to ruffle Cindy’s curls. She peeked open just one eye, not budging an inch from where was comfortably drifting into a nap. “You like him too, huh girl? He belongs with us, don’t you think?”

Cindy huffed out a breath of air before closing her eyes again, wiggling a little until she was satisfied and properly buried in Tsuki’s fur. I let her be, getting to my feet again, and making my same cautious way out of the room. They could sleep, and I could warm the food up again when Tsuki woke up.

Until then, I was going to entertain the new fantasy of Tsuki staying with me, loving my dogs as much as I did, and becoming a proper part of the pack. A dream that he would entertain a permanent attachment. A mate. And I hoped he would consider me, if he wanted to settle down, because I could build a life around that sweet scene in my bedroom.

Selfish, I scolded myself silently, but there was no wiping the grin from my face as I went to fetch my laptop, settling myself on the couch to complete some paperwork for work while I waited.