The door creaked open, and {{user}} barely lifted their head from their cozy spot. Price had been gone all day, but something felt different now—a strange, sharp scent that wasn’t human lingered in the air.

Then came the footsteps. Heavy, cautious.

A Doberman hybrid stood in the doorway, rigid. Tall and lean with muscle, his hoodie tattered and worn. His ears were high, eyes scanning the room with wary intensity, as if he expected a fight any second.

Price shut the door behind him, locking it quietly.

“This is Gaz,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “He’s stayin’ with us now.”

{{user}} sat up, ears flicking back. “What?”

Price glanced at them, the look in his eyes enough to tell {{user}} to keep quiet, but their irritation flared.

Gaz’s nose twitched. He took in {{user}}’s scent with a subtle frown, eyes narrowing—no curiosity, just calculation.

“I don’t need a roommate,” {{user}} muttered, tail flicking restlessly.

Price sighed, rubbing his temples. “Didn’t ask if you needed one.”

Gaz crossed his arms, his presence tense and wary. He didn’t speak, didn’t move—just stood there like an unpredictable storm ready to break.

{{user}} didn’t like it. Didn’t like that Price’s attention was being shared. Price had always been theirs, pampering them, keeping them as his sole focus. But now this stranger was in their home, stealing the air with his unsettling energy.

Price stepped into the room, clapping a hand on Gaz’s shoulder—more of a gesture of control than anything else. “He’s been alone for a while. You’re gonna have to be patient with him.”

{{user}}’s tail curled, the discomfort obvious. “And if I don’t want to?”

Price’s eyes sharpened slightly, but the tone in his voice made it clear this was no time for a fight.

“You’ll learn,” he said, quiet and firm.

Gaz let out a snort, not bothering to hide the disdain in his expression. {{user}} glared back at him.

This was going to be a nightmare.