A pair of footsteps followed in my wake, but I ignored them as I closed my fingers around the latch to the last kennel. Curled up in the corner sat a pitch-black puppy.
Her poor, bare tail was tucked between her legs as she trembled on the cold stone floor, refusing to use the cot in the corner. A food bowl filled with kibble sat untouched in the corner. Slowly, I crept into the space, sitting on the floor as far away from her as I could.
Lily didn’t mention she was aggressive, but after everything she had been through, it wouldn’t have surprised me.
“Hey, sweetheart,” I said, my voice quiet as I jiggled the bag of treats. “Are you hungry? Is it okay if I sit with you?”
One of her floppy ears twitched at the sound of my voice, and I wiggled the pouch again. When she didn’t react, my heart plummeted into my stomach.
“It’s okay, honey,” I whispered, inching slightly closer, careful not to make any noise. “I’ll never let anything happen to you again. We’re not so different, you and I. I have burn marks too.”
Someone snarled again, and this time I was certain it was Torin.
“They’ll heal.”
At the sound of my voice, she turned her head, still resting her muzzle on her paws. Her large, dark, soulful eyes met mine, and I wanted to cry. In the last few years, I had sat with more abused dogs than I could count, and each one reacted differently.
Most wanted nothing to do with me. Some ate when prodded, but this beauty did something that stole my breath away. She stood, moving across the kennel, never taking her eyes off mine until she curled up in my lap.
My mouth fell open as she nudged at the treats with her nose. Afraid I might spook her if I reacted too loudly, I opened the pouch and hand-fed her pieces while stroking the singed fur along her back. The slight shake in her body returned, but she didn’t leave my lap.
We stayed like that for hours until Lily arrived, giving me the spare key to lock up when I was ready. For the time being, nothing else mattered. My entire focus was on the puppy in my lap, who reminded me so much of myself.
Tiny, scared, and alone, even if she tried to hide it.
I admired her bravery. Despite feeling those things, she trusted me enough to take a chance on me. Something splintered in my chest, my omega cooing at the thought of our alpha. If this puppy could face its fears, maybe I could too.
She saw something in me, something that made her fears appear less scary. Even though I didn’t want to admit it, I felt the same way when I was with Kaelen. He hadn’t given me any reason not to believe in him.
The wedding had to happen, regardless of whether I wanted itto or not. I didn’t have a choice, even if Kaelen tried to give me the illusion of one. I imagined being ripped away from him, forced to marry and bond with some pot-bellied alpha old enough to be my dad.
A sob squeezed my lungs, and I quieted it before either of my guards could ask me what was wrong. My omega paced. She wouldn’t survive the loss of Kaelen. And a small part of me knew I wouldn’t either. I clung harder to the sweet puppy, relieved when she didn’t pull away.
“Miss Willow,” Torin’s gruff voice called. “Time to go home. It’s getting late.”
“I can’t leave her.”
They whispered behind me. I scowled at them before bringing my attention back to the puppy.
Hours later, the tiny black dog slept in my lap, trembling against my chest. My head started to droop. Every time, I snapped it up, forcing myself to stay awake. If I fell asleep, I knew they would carry me out and make me leave.
I wouldn’t.
“Willow,” a silky, familiar voice called.
My body reacted instantly, attuned to his commanding presence. The knot in my stomach loosened, and my omega perked up, delighted that our alpha was here.
Bastards.
Of course, Torin and Aidan ratted me out to their boss.
“Kaelen,” I said, squaring my shoulders and looking straight ahead.
“It’s late,” he murmured, his footsteps cautiously moving into the kennel.
Luckily, the puppy didn’t seem bothered by his presence, or at least, didn’t react to it. Shadows darkened above me as he crouched. A heavy hand rested on my waist, and it immediately calmed me.
“So?”
