Nina pushed open the front door and slipped inside the house as quietly as she could.
The moment she stepped in, the soft sound of nails against tile echoed down the hallway—then a blur of white fur hurled itself at her.
"Fenrir—!"
Nina staggered back slightly as the mystic wolf pup practically bounced around her legs, yipping and circling her feet like a tiny storm.
"I just got home. Give me five minutes, okay?"
she groaned, trying to step past him.
Fenrir ignored her plea and nipped at the hem of her pants, pawing insistently at her ankle until she bent down and scratched behind his ears.
He wagged his tail furiously, clearly proud of himself for successfully demanding attention.
"Happy now? You clingy little beast."
she mumbled.
Before she could retreat to her room, a sharp sigh echoed from the kitchen.
Nina froze.
"Great. She's here."
she whispered.
Sure enough, her mother sat at the kitchen table with a tea cup in hand, rubbing her forehead with the other.
