Tiberius

Asset was there, sitting on the ground, pouting about the washing machine taking too long. What should she do with him? During the day, she was pondering about giving him a new name. She called for them all to sit at one table but Asset rather kept his safe distance from the human woman.

Patty didn't push him for anything. She knew, that he would need a lot of time to not only get used to her but to the new lifestyle. Romulus asked her if she wouldn't make up a cool name like his. She thought about that, called Asset by the name Remus, but the superstition didn't allow it.

She feared, that history would somehow repeat itself and Romulus would kill Remus like in the story. With some complicated thinking, she somehow came to the river Tiberius, which was in the old times called also Albula for the whiteness of the waters.

"How about the name Tiber? The short version of Tiberius." Romulus didn't have anything to say and Zeev just nodded his head. All three turned to Asset, who looked at them bewildered. "I like the full version better."

Patty smiled at him. "I accept your opinion... Tiberius." His heart skipped a beat. He finally had his own, new name and Asset-751 could be laid to rest forever. A new life will start from this point. The road to healing will be also long and he needed to learn a lot.

For the next several days Patty started a new job, which was remote, so she didn't need to leave the apartment. Zeev together with Romulus were scanning the surroundings every day to make sure no hunters nor government were behind their tails.

Tiberius wasn't allowed to leave the building and mostly kept his distance from Patty as well. She was cooking all their meals and taking care of the home. Sometimes, she pushed some stuff to Tiberius, when he wasn't looking. Especially things, he took an interest in while watching the TV.

Romulus explained to him, what that box is and why humans watching them. Patty observed his childlike eyes sparkling, whenever he saw something he took an interest in and a liking, for example, a simple ball.

She rummaged in the basement for one and brought it up. While his eyes were fixated on the TV, she rolled the ball from the door towards him. He didn't even notice, who gave it to him. He was so much happy about it. Patty's heart was melting as she saw his joy.

One night Tiberius was allowed to go with the duo of our werewolves. For some time, he showed his dislike for being confined to the apartment, so they took him out with them on a stroll. They came back in a rush because Tiberius got his paw stuck in a silver trap left by hunters in the forest.

He was growling and screaming out of pain. The silver was melting into Tiberius's flesh and steaming all over the place, making it all foggy and hard to see. The smell also wasn't that pleasant. Despite all of that, he didn't want Patty to touch him.

The problem was, that only she could take it down. Zeev and Romulus would get hurt as well. She got an idea and told them to do it, the two together. Zeev and Romulus pulled it apart with iron poles.

Finally, Tiberius could catch a breath without that excruciating pain. It became more bearable. As Patty returned to the room with the first aid kid, Tiberius growled her way, so she would stay away.

Zeev almost lost his cool. He raised his paw over the head to strike. Patty screamed at him and Romulus stopped him before he could land a hit on Tiberius. Zeev was fed up with Tiberius. Romulus was more understanding since he had to go through that experience in the past. He knew Tiberius needed more time.

Zeev pissed, left and Romulus with the instructions of Patty took care of the wound. After the trap cooled down, Patty cleaned it up and asked Zeev to go back to where they found it. Zeev was baffled. "We should return the trap to the same spot. Don't you think, they will get suspicious if it will be missing."

Zeev saw her point and he obliged. Under the cover of the night, Zeev in his werewolf form carried Patty on his back to that place. She returned the trap and even set it back to be "active".

After their return, Romulus was anxious pacing in front of the door. They didn't tell them where they went. They had to do some explanation. Tiberius was lying in the furthest bedroom sulking.

For a little while he won't be able to walk properly and Patty was bringing him his food. The growling subsided, but Tiberius was always side-eyeing her. She didn't mind, she knew he wasn't a bad werewolf, just a hurt one and I don't mean physically.

Patty showed him a puzzle box. He saw one in a commercial the day before. He perked up in bed a little. She pushed it to him and stayed in the room. Tiberius already didn't mind that much, of Patty sharing the same space. He just hated it, when he felt vulnerable, as he was freshly wounded.

She was watching him and how he was trying to solve it, sometimes pointing to pieces. She got an idea and was searching in her closet for a plush dog she got as a present a long time ago. It was quite big. She took it to the room and showed it to Tiberius. He liked the cute toy and for the first time, Patty saw his smile.

She tried to talk to him through it, hiding her face behind the plush. Tiberius felt more comfortable that way when he didn't see a human in front of him, but something, that more resembled him.

For the next few days, she could bond with him through that toy, even close the distance between them. Tiberius was more relaxed in her presence. Patty took a gamble and with the paw of the toy she caressed Tiberius's hand, while he was falling asleep.