It's a lot to adjust to, and Dwayne's own experiences aren't exactly great, on the topic of the first weeks of the change. Aaron had kept him in chains until his first shift, completely isolated and away from unfamiliar scents and stimuli, and it had still been a little concrete slice of hell.
He can't imagine it's much easier here, with Josh's new wolf-brain trying to sort out threat and friend, completely unfamiliar territory and his whole world pulled out from under him. So Dwayne stays close, and is very much relieved at Rhys's patience with the whole thing, and Zach's willingness to do the long-distance work they desperately need. A mellow, submissive bird shifter wasn't a threat on any level, but another predator, especially an aggressive one with a dominant personality... That would take time to settle out.
So the house, and just them, and the little scattered bits of the others to get Josh used to the idea of them as a pack. Places that are everyone's and places that are just theirs, and proof that all of it is safe, once his new wolf settles comfortably into his skin.
And of course, plenty of time with his mate, barely ever out of arm's reach just in case. It's hard, even leaving Josh to sleep or run short patrols on the yard, and even when he does he's back within just a few minutes. Never knowing when the younger man is going to need him, like now, to put his arm around him and keep him steady. "Lots of room up here," he says with a nod. "And you've got my strain, not Zach's." Dwayne had gone after his brother after his first change, but to be fair, he was pretty entitled on that one. "Everything goes right, it'll take you a little while to get sorted out, then I'll change once you know you're okay, and we can go running."
He plants a brief kiss at Josh's temple, taking in the scent of his hair. His mate, the way he's always smelled, but the new musk is starting to come through, the first threads of wolf-scent, and Dwayne's own wolf can't help but perk in pride. (Kind of an asshole sort of pride if Dwayne is fair with himself, even with the desperate circumstances, but still pride). "How're you feeling?"
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He can't imagine it's much easier here, with Josh's new wolf-brain trying to sort out threat and friend, completely unfamiliar territory and his whole world pulled out from under him. So Dwayne stays close, and is very much relieved at Rhys's patience with the whole thing, and Zach's willingness to do the long-distance work they desperately need. A mellow, submissive bird shifter wasn't a threat on any level, but another predator, especially an aggressive one with a dominant personality... That would take time to settle out.
So the house, and just them, and the little scattered bits of the others to get Josh used to the idea of them as a pack. Places that are everyone's and places that are just theirs, and proof that all of it is safe, once his new wolf settles comfortably into his skin.
And of course, plenty of time with his mate, barely ever out of arm's reach just in case. It's hard, even leaving Josh to sleep or run short patrols on the yard, and even when he does he's back within just a few minutes. Never knowing when the younger man is going to need him, like now, to put his arm around him and keep him steady. "Lots of room up here," he says with a nod. "And you've got my strain, not Zach's." Dwayne had gone after his brother after his first change, but to be fair, he was pretty entitled on that one. "Everything goes right, it'll take you a little while to get sorted out, then I'll change once you know you're okay, and we can go running."
He plants a brief kiss at Josh's temple, taking in the scent of his hair. His mate, the way he's always smelled, but the new musk is starting to come through, the first threads of wolf-scent, and Dwayne's own wolf can't help but perk in pride. (Kind of an asshole sort of pride if Dwayne is fair with himself, even with the desperate circumstances, but still pride). "How're you feeling?"