He should have been elated, but a new worry filled his mind: Luna, the stray puppy he’d rescued a few days before. He’d discovered her alone at dusk, cowering against a deserted roadside, fur filthy and body trembling. At once, their eyes locked, and his determination to protect her solidified.
Over the following days, he carefully tended to her wounds, fed her warm meals, and offered gentle reassurances. Though initially wary, Luna soon wagged her tiny tail whenever Marcus approached, her trust growing with each new sunrise. The simple act of comforting her awakened a powerful devotion in his heart.