Thomas kept his fingers in Derek's fur, watching his pale skin disappear into Derek's black fur before reappearing again. He sighed and closed his eyes again. The tension in his shoulders bled away and the doubt and fear he'd initially experienced released its hold on Thomas's emotions.

"Sorry for how I reacted when you told me," Thomas said apologetically. "You told me about this but I guess I wasn't really prepared."

Thomas couldn't be sure if Derek was with WICKED, if this was all part of a Trial that would soon turn deadly, but he did know that Derek had trusted him with this and Thomas was touched by that.