Aiden stood near the entrance of the café, waiting for his coffee order. Shadow, his ever-loyal companion, sat calmly at his side, wearing his clearly marked service dog vest. As usual, they attracted some attention, though most people respected the "Do Not Pet" patches.

Most.

"Hey, buddy! Such a good boy, aren’t you?" A stranger, a man in his late twenties, crouched down, reaching a hand toward Shadow.

Aiden stiffened, his voice firm but polite. "Please don’t touch him. He’s a service dog and he's working right now."

The man pulled his hand back with a sheepish grin but stayed crouched. "Aw, come on! Just one pet. He looks so friendly!"

Aiden’s jaw clenched as he took a step to position himself between the stranger and Shadow. "I’ve asked you not to touch him. It’s important that he stays focused."

The stranger chuckled, brushing off the warning. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. But he’s just sitting there. How much harm could one pet do?" He reached out again, hand almost brushing Shadow's fur.

Aiden’s eyes hardened, his tone cold now. "Back off. I’m not going to ask again."

Shadow, sensing the tension, remained perfectly still but his ears twitched, subtly tracking the man’s every movement. Aiden could feel the shift in Shadow’s posture, a signal of his growing alertness, and knew this situation was escalating fast.

The man hesitated, but instead of backing down, his hand hovered closer. "Relax, man. He’s just a dog."

Aiden stepped forward, now fully blocking the man’s path. "He’s not just a dog. He’s my lifeline. And if you touch him again, we’ll have a bigger problem than you realize." His voice was like steel now, leaving no room for argument.

The air between them seemed to freeze, tension thick enough to cut through. Shadow stayed calm but ready, his deep eyes