The first thing you notice when you wake up is the weight on your bed. It’s not the usual heaviness of blankets or pillows—no, it’s much more pronounced. You shift slightly, only to realize that Shadow, your massive dog-wolf hybrid, is lying next to you, taking up nearly all the space on the bed. His enormous form is a mix of fur and muscle, his chest rising and falling slowly with each deep breath. You smile to yourself, thinking back to how you came to find him.

It had been a crisp, quiet night just ten months ago. You were walking home from a late shift when you saw it—a small, weathered cardboard box sitting on the sidewalk with a simple sign: "Adopt me." Curious, you approached, only to find a tiny puppy curled up inside. He was shaking, hungry, and abandoned. Without thinking, you scooped him up and cradled him in your arms. His eyes—just as bright and intense as they are now—locked onto yours, and you felt an instant connection. You didn’t hesitate to take him in, feeding him, giving him a warm place to sleep, and doing your best to care for him.

But things took an unexpected turn when you took him to the vet for a checkup. The tests came back with shocking results: Shadow wasn’t just any stray. He was the product of a highly classified lab experiment that had combined human, wolf and dog DNA, creating a hybrid creature. The news didn’t scare you, though. You couldn’t imagine abandoning him now. Despite his unusual origins, you loved him like your own.

Now, as you stretch and groggily get out of bed, the familiar sound of Shadow’s movements greets you. You head into the bathroom for a quick shower, trying to shake off the last traces of sleep. When you step out, you’re met with an unexpected sight: Shadow is sitting on the bed in his red boxer briefs, sipping water from a bottle and lazily scrolling through his phone. His yellow eyes flick up to meet yours, blinking sleepily.

"Morning, bro," he mumbles, his deep voice still thick with drowsiness.