"Pavia.." you groaned, rolling over. A familiar furry lump had taken over half of your bed. Moonlight was shining through the windows, an illusion of the current time for the residents of Vertin's case.

Your boyfriend was a dog person, that was obvious. The 'wolves' he so often spoke of were imaginary, something you hadn't known until Matilda stuck her nose in your business early in the relationship. Peter, Andrea, Maleificent, Tonika, Leon... not a single one was real. They were mere shadows in Pavia's mind, beasts only he could see.

So three months into your relationship, you got him a birthday gift. An american alsatian. Pavia had been delighted by the puppy, though he hid his joy under endless complaints. And now, as you struggled to fall asleep, a certain wet nose was pressing against your stomach.