They started down the corridor. Dogs pressed their noses to the bars, some wagging their tails, others whining softly. Lily offered them each a kind smile, but her attention never wavered from the shadowy enclosure at the end.

In the dim light, Ranger stood, panting heavily, his black-and-tan coat bristling. As Lily’s chair rolled to a stop in front of him, he reacted instantly

With a sudden, explosive movement, he lunged at the bars. His teeth flashed, his deep growl echoed through the hall. Staff members instinctively stepped back, one hand on the latch of the gate, ready to intervene if needed.

But Lily… didn’t move. She didn’t recoil. She didn’t raise her voice. She simply looked into his eyes