Chapter 1: Animal Shelter

"Ate Soraya, we're here!" A soft little voice whispering in my ear tickles before little hands shake my arm. Dazed, I straightened on my seat and wiped the sleep off my eyes with my knuckles. 

Little Anya's huge smile was contagious. It instantly brought a smile to my lips while I put the locks of her hair on the side, taking each end of the braid to her shoulders. I envied her silk black hair, yet she said she liked the curls of my ash grey more and even wished to dye her own once she reached the right age just to achieve this look. I had been asked countless questions about my hair, and when they didn't seem to believe this mess on my head was natural, I simply let them believe what they wanted to believe. 

"We're here?" I glanced at the car window. I did notice the familiar street going to the animal shelter we visited a week ago. "I'm sorry I dozed off."

"That's fine," Anya innocently and absentmindedly murmured as she fidgeted on the pink leash on her lap. It was a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Bello, her parents, who, after long deliberation and deep thought, finally let their daughter have her first puppy. They said it was a reward for Anya for being a good girl and doing good at school. 

But I knew too well that Anya's persistence left them with no choice but to let the little girl have her pet. 

"No news from the loads of CVs you gave away these past months?" Kaleb, the Bellos' driver, asked from behind the wheel. Our eyes met through the mirror above him, and I smiled at him. 

He was five years my senior and had been working for the Bellos before I entered their life, thanks to my friend, Taylor, who introduced them to me three years ago when they were looking for a new babysitter for Anya. It was one of the best moments of my life, and I'd forever owe her for meeting the wonderful family. Especially Anya, the most lovable, pure soul I've ever met.

I shrugged at Kaleb while I continued to stroke Anya's braid. "What can I say? They're missing the great opportunity to have me in their company. What a shame."

"Really no chance for you to be a teacher? Why don't you take the LET first?"

"I have another two years left to think about that. But you see, I still cannot imagine facilitating a classroom three years since I got my degree." When I applied for college, there were only a few courses to choose from, and I found myself enrolling in education because the IT department had a long queue. "I'll do the worst job teaching the kids, so I won't dare."

"But you're good with Anya," he continued. The little girl looked up at us under her thick lashes. I smiled.

"It's different. Anya's a very smart and good girl. Besides, I'm her babysitter, not a tutor or something." 

Once I entered the life of becoming a teacher, there was no turning back, and I was afraid I'd be miserable for the rest of my life if I forced myself to do something I didn't want to. I didn't want to risk the teaching experience of the kids. And their lives if Cesar and his circle of thugs came looking for me.

My heart tightened as my fear for him resurfaced, but I quickly pushed it away. It had been three years since I last saw them anyway. I had news of them and certainly had no plan to find out anything.

The thought of them coming back to my life was horrifying I could not dare to start a new life. At least I have a job with the Bellos, and the allowance was quite reasonable. Anya had no headache, and that's a bonus. 

The little girl quickly ran into the building when we reached the animal shelter. Kaleb and I laughed at her excitement. 

"Have you ever had any pets?"

I shook my head and crossed my arms. We were standing on either side of the car. I had to follow Anya, and he would stay here waiting for us.

"You'll have to babysit her pet, too. It's the first time for both of you."

"I know," I murmured under my breath. It's not like I have any other choice. The only conciliation is that I do not stay in their house. I stayed in an apartment a walking distance from the village. However, I mostly got home late at night because I read Anya's bedtime stories. 

"We'll buy a cage after this?" he asked before I could go to the building, and I just nodded and waved a hand at him. 

"How old are you, little girl?" a curvaceous, short-haired woman bent to face Anya, who was busy checking the dogs in their cages. She was frowning as she decided which of them to take home as her pet. She lifted her small hands to the lady with her five fingers spread apart. 

"You're back again?" Willy, the store owner we met a week ago, smiled at me. I backed away as he moved out of the register to join me. His towering height was unbelievable. He offered a hand to me, which I accepted to shake. I held my breath at how his huge hand engulfed mine. Our skin complexion was a great contrast. I shy away at my pale skin.

"We're here to get her first puppy. Mr. Bello decided it's better to adopt than to buy a pet."

"Mr. Bello?" His eyes widened in recognition. "They donated the last time. They did tell me their daughter would come to look for a pet. I guess that's her?" He dipped his chin towards Anya, who still couldn't decide among the furry animals. Her eyes widened at the smallest of them with eyes like that of a panda, and she giggled.

"That's Anya. She has friends at school who have cats, and she wants to have a dog. It took a series of tantrums and drama to make her parents agree to this. They're busy with work and afraid they cannot care for the animal. I'm the babysitter."

"Oh? You'll be the one to help her then?"

I winced and could just shrug. As if I had another choice. 

"That's Bill, our chihuahua. Isn't he lovely?" the lady brought her finger close to the cage, and the little animal licked it. She encouraged Anya to do the same but the little girl kindly shook her head. 

I excused myself from Willy to join them. 

"How is it, Anya? He's adorable. We'll buy him a cage later with Kuya Kaleb."

"Isn't it a rat?" 

I paused and stared at the tiny creature. It did look like a rat. It wagged its tail, and I pursed my lips from commenting on its appearance, refusing to be offensive to the animal and the staff. I wasn't fond of furry animals because I never had a pet. I just never grew up having one at home, although I enjoyed watching videos of them on social media. But it was different to have your own to take care of. 

"Well...," I cleared my throat and apologetically glanced at the lady who gave me a warm smile. I guess the judgment was understandable because it comes from a little girl.

Anya moved on to the next line of cages, and the dogs barking in unison resounded in the room like they had their own language. They probably do, and I wondered if they were excited to be picked. I heard dogs wag their tails if they were excited, and that's what everyone was doing. 

Except for the single one on the corner. And the biggest cage of all. 

I tried to stop Anya from going there but failed. She was already standing in front of the metal cage taller than her. I gaped in horror and disbelief. It was a huge furry animal, but I doubted it was a dog. But then, why would they place it in the dog's room?

"Is that a unicorn?" Anya innocently asked. 

More like a monster, I thought, but knew it was best to leave unsaid in front of the kid. It looked more like a monster who devoured other animals and even people at night. I couldn't tell if the massive frame was because of its muscles or the load of fur.

I kept my hands on her shoulders to keep her away from the cage. The animal had his back on us, probably sleeping, but it was so huge we could see its body heaving despite the thick, silky fur. I frowned as I stared at it. Anya looked up at me and my hair.

"That's almost the same color as yours," she pointed out. Almost. The furs were grey and white, like the body couldn't decide which color to take, so it took both. It actually reminded me of the Siberian wolves from movies.

"It's not a horse nor a unicorn," Willy laughed as he joined us. My eyes widened when he touched the top of the cage and shook it. The animal stirred but didn't lift its head. "We found it the other day in the street wounded. It's untamed and really aggressive. He's under medication while we tend the wounds, and he's been sleeping for ten hours now."

"Are you sure that's a dog? Is that a Siberian? A... wolf?" I never saw one in person, but I couldn't believe they were this huge. The animal was yet to rise on its feet, and I knew it would take a lot of space. 

Willy pinched his chin as he thought. "I cannot confirm now if he's a wolf or a Siberian breed, but we put nothing in the papers for now. This is the first time I saw this massive animal in this town. It's approximately 7 feet and between 200 to 250 pounds. We've reached out with the PAW to decide what to do with him."

I choked at the sudden lump in my throat. I stepped back and took Anya with me. 

"Why don't we look around, Anya? I'm sure you'll find something you'll love?"

"It's moving," she said, and true enough, the massive animal awakened. It let out a guttural sound as it staggered, having a hard time keeping his weight balanced. It could be the after-effect of the medicines. I blinked at the steel gray claws. It deliberately moved inside the cage like how it would stalk its prey. 

My guards were high up if he suddenly realized his predicament and went violent. I'd take Anya away from here and just look for another shelter home.

"Get a pentobarbital," Willy ordered the lady. I had no idea what it was, but his reaction told me it was some kind of a weapon against danger. 

Before I could tell Anya we should go and look for other dogs, a chill crawling on my skin startled me. The room wasn't air-conditioned but it wasn't humid either. Just enough for the animals' comfort. The door was closed too so there's no way an outside air would get in from somewhere and send me chills. The huge dog let out another sound, and when our eyes locked, I was trapped in some kind of magic.

Almond-shaped eyes, silver and slanted, gleamed as they stared back at me like a furnace fire but in a dull color. With its height, the eyes were considerably big, too, but I have never seen eyes as expressive as this one. There was something in them I couldn't name, and I couldn't look away. Maybe I was enthralled or something, but I couldn't take my eyes off those silver orbs! And my heart pounded when the world seemed to be still. My vision zeroed in. I found myself trapped in those clear eyes!

My palms sweat in panic. I smelt something unfamiliar and couldn't decide whether it smelled good or bad. It was simply strong; I could almost taste it in my mouth.

"Ate Raya?" Anya's voice was in the distance. It was her soft tug on my dress that finally broke the spell. As though struck by the wild wind, I stumbled back and panted for air. 

"Soraya?"

Willy's hands were on me to keep me from falling. The lady couldn't help me because of the silver tray in her hand with two syringes on the surface and a clean white cloth.

The dog let out another snarl. Afraid of what just happened, I refused to glance at it.

"What's wrong?" Willy asked before taking his hands off me. Seconds later, the dog stopped snarling.

"You must've been startled. I understand. I nearly fainted when it snarled at me. The pangs were the size of my fingers." He lifted his hands before us. I didn't know the look I made, but he chuckled. "Anyway, he's better now than the other day. The medicine definitely helped him. He was in a panic with pain, and now he's doing well."

"L-Let's go, Anya. Let's look for other—"

"I want him. I want this one, Ate Raya." She pulled on my dress again and pouted. "Can I have him as a pet?"

"No, Anya! We cannot..." I trailed off as, yet again, the dog snarled. I spared it a glance just to scowl; when nothing happened, I narrowed my eyes to warn it. But I must have lost my mind to think it would understand the silent threat. 

"I want it! I want this unicorn!"

"Anya, that's not a unicorn. That's... that's a very huge dog."

"But I want it! Daddy said I can take one pet I like; I want to take this one, Ate Anya, please!"

Willy grimaced at me. He knew it wasn't a good idea, so I silently asked for his help.

"Uh... Anya, dear, that one is not up for adoption yet. This will be your first pet, right? Why don't you look for the other cute ones in this line—"

"He is cute! I like him; I want him!" She stomped on her feet and tried to approach the cage but I stopped her in time. Cute. Which part is exactly cute in this massive dog? 

"Anya, I don't think your parents will be glad if we take him home. He's... too big. And you heard Mister Willy? He's aggressive. I don't think we can pet him."

"No! I will pet him. Mommy and Daddy promised me. I will not go home without him! Call mommy and daddy, Ate Raya! Please!" 

My head throbbed. I bit the inside of my cheek and glared at the dog. It seemed to be glaring back at me, challenging me for something. That gave me enough reason not to allow him to be Anya's pet. He's way too big and should honestly be in the wild. Domestically keeping it would be the worst decision. 

I understand Anya was excited about this, but I couldn't, for the life of me, understand why she would find this one cute. Other kids would scurry away in fright. 

"Let's go back to the car for now, and we'll call your mommy and daddy, okay?" But she adamantly shook her head. I faced Willy and the lady. "I'm sorry about this. Maybe we'll return tomorrow and—Anya!" 

I watched in horror as she grabbed the bar of the huge dog's cage and offered her arm to the beast, unaware of the danger. It immediately darted its long tongue out and licked her skin. The little kid giggled but I swore my heart skipped a beat when it showed its sharp ivory canines.