It was clear: Shadow had chosen his person.
Six weeks after that first meeting, the Carters brought Shadow home. The adoption paperwork felt more like a formality; the real bond had already been formed.
At first, Shadow remained cautious in the new environment. He’d lie near the door, watching everything with those sharp amber eyes. But wherever Lily went, he followed — down the hall, into the backyard, even curling up at the foot of her bed at night.
Emily noticed the change in him almost immediately. His tension melted away in Lily’s presence. The sound of her laughter, the way she patted his head without hesitation, the bedtime ritual of her whispering, “Goodnight, Shadow” — all of it worked a quiet magic.
One afternoon, as Lily played in the yard, a delivery truck rumbled up the driveway. The driver’s sudden movement startled her, and she stumbled back. Before anyone could react, Shadow was there — stepping between her and the stranger, his body alert but not aggressive, his gaze protective.
The driver backed up with a quick apology, and Lily threw her arms around Shadow’s neck. “You’re my best friend,” she told him.
