Ranger’s growls softened to a low rumble, the aggression in his stance melting away like snow in sunlight. He edged closer, his nose twitching, catching the unfamiliar scent of kindness that Lily exuded. Her calm demeanor and refusal to back away seemed to intrigue him, challenging the narrative he’d been trapped in — that humans were to fear.

“Good boy,” Lily murmured, still holding her hand out. “You’re okay.”

It was a moment of vulnerability, much like Lily had faced countless times in her life. A girl who had been through her own battles, learning to navigate a world that often underestimated her because of her wheelchair. She understood what it meant to be labeled without being known.