Thad was sure he was happier than he had ever been. Oh yea, his face hurt from the grin that seemed unable to end. Clean and dirty all at the same time from a shower scrub in ways he had never washed before. But he would again. Oh yes he would. And Veti would be howling right there with him. He felt sure. As he held her again under the stream of water he talked in low murmurs of the woods they would run through, of the hills they would roam, of all cities they would sleek around, and all the hunts they would take. Promises, plans, futures, pledges, Thad just couldn’t give her enough.

But as the clean cycle ended he pulled back and tenderly leaned his forehead to hers. “I am your alpha babe, but let’s hold off on the wolf pack idea just for a little. I am only now in my skin. I was dead and I was moved by someone else. I just need time to feel …” He kissed her. “Just to feel you as me.”

He sprang from the shower unwolf like and went to the massive closet in this favorite room of his had. The room was nice, very nice, but that wasn’t why it was his favorite. No, he turned around and watched Veti as she moved from the shower to find clothes. It wasn’t hard at all to know why this room would be always in his memory. 

But it was time to eat, and drink, and to do that he better find clothes. Thad opened the closet door and stood there looking. He felt different. Might as well dress different too. So to his surprise he picked a very fine dark gray suit. Yea, he pulled it out and hung it right in front of him wondering. Why not? It was amazingly soft light wool and he almost choked when he saw the fine crafted lighter gray buttons in the silhouette of a wolf’s head. Yup, this was it. He found a very light blue shirt for underneath. He dressed quick just so he wouldn’t change his mind. And as an after thought grabbed two ties, one gray and blue strips and one a solid darker blue, he slung over his shoulder. Maybe a tie would be too much.

Then all dressed and ready to go he moved to Veti and wrapped his arms around her, dressed entirely or not, ready to go or not, and he spoke in her ear. “It’s time to find some food. Drink. Time to figure the next assignment and save the world again. But this time, we are sticking together.”

He opened the door for her. He knew his she wolf would need to speak to this pack of hers and he wanted to make sure he gave her room. So Thad headed to the food. But before he got all the way across the room he saw Siya again. He grinned and went to her and boss man. 

“So, ah, help me out.” He looked to the small graceful friend, “Which tie?” He pointed to the two on his shoulder. She knew more than anyone how little Thad or Max knew about outfits, about fashion, about putting himself together. Besides he wanted to let her know even if he was different he stilled cared about her. Maybe more so. “And damn if I can remember how that knot goes.”