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Cindy and I exchange a puzzled glance as we listen to Lanz's muffled conversation. After a few minutes, he returns, looking pleased with himself.

"There, it's all taken care of," he announces. "I've bought the building, changed the rules about pets, and even reduced your rent to nothing."

Cindy's jaw drops. "You what? How the hell did you manage that?"

Lanz's golden eyes sparkle with amusement. "I have my ways," he says cryptically. "Now, shall we go dog shopping?"

I can't help but smile, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly. Lanz's quick thinking has given us a sense of security, and the prospect of getting a furry protector is strangely comforting. As we head out the door, I glance back at Cindy, who still looks a bit bewildered.

"This is all so crazy," she mutters, shaking her head. "But I guess if we're going to be caught up in an intergalactic war, we might as well do it in style, right?"

I chuckle, linking my arm through hers. "That's the spirit," I say, feeling a newfound sense of determination. Whatever challenges lie ahead, I know Lanz will be there to help us navigate them. And with a loyal canine by our side, maybe we can even give those Grolgath a run for their money.

CHAPTER 16

LANZ

The pet store smells like kibble and fresh pine shavings, the kind of earthy scent that makes you feel like you’re in a forest full of tiny, yapping predators. Tyler’s already halfway down the aisle, her hands pressed against the glass of a puppy pen, her face lit up like she’s just discovered the meaning of life.

“Oh my God, Lanz, look at this one!” she squeals, pointing at a ball of fluff that’s currently trying to eat its own tail. “It’s sotiny! And look at its little ears! They’re like little triangles!”

I lean against the pen, arms crossed, watching her. “That’s a Chihuahua. They’re basically rats with delusions of grandeur.”

She gasps, mock-offended, and swats my arm. “Don’t be mean! He’s adorable. Look at his little face!” She crouches down, making cooing noises that would probably summon a pack of wolves if we were in the wild. The Chihuahua wags its tail so hard it looks like it’s about to take flight.

“Adorable,” I deadpan. “If you’re into creatures that could fit in a teacup and still have room for a biscuit.”

She sticks her tongue out at me and moves on to the next pen, where a golden retriever puppy is flopped on its back, paws inthe air, looking like it’s auditioning for a doggy yoga commercial. “Oh, this one! Look at his belly! It’s soround!”

I raise an eyebrow. “You’re not picking a dog based on its ability to double as a beanbag chair, Tyler.”

She ignores me, reaching her fingers through the bars to let the puppy lick them. “But he’s so sweet! And look at his eyes! They’re like little pools of melted chocolate.”

“Melted chocolate,” I repeat, deadpan. “You’re really leaning into the poetic descriptions today.”

She grins up at me, her cheeks pink. “I’m just excited, okay? I’ve never had a puppy before. My parents always said they were too much work.”

“They’re not wrong,” I say, but I can’t help the smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. Watching her like this, all wide-eyed and giddy, is… refreshing. Like seeing the world through a lens I didn’t know existed.

She moves on to the next pen, where a pug is sitting like a little Buddha, its wrinkled face scrunched up in what can only be described as existential despair. “Oh. My. God.” She turns to me, her eyes shining. “This one. This is the one.”

I glance at the pug, which is currently snorting like it’s trying to clear its sinuses. “You’re sure? It looks like it’s judging us.”

“Yes!” She claps her hands together, bouncing on her toes. “Look at his little face! He’s perfect. I’m naming him Chop Suey.”

“Chop Suey,” I repeat, trying not to laugh. “Because…?”

“Because he’s wrinkly and adorable, like a little dumpling!” she says, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. She turns back to the pug, who’s now wagging its tail so hard its entire body is wiggling. “Aren’t you, Chop Suey? Yes, you are!”

I shake my head, but I can’t stop smiling. “Alright, Chop Suey it is. Let’s get him before he starts quoting Nietzsche.”

She beams at me, a, I forget about the Grolgath, the mission, the fact that I’m an alien in a human suit. All I see is her, holdingthat ridiculous little dog like it’s the most precious thing in the universe.

On the way back to her apartment, she cradles Chop Suey in her arms, whispering nonsense to him like he’s a baby. The pug snorts in response, his tongue lolling out of his mouth like he’s trying to catch flies. I watch her out of the corner of my eye, something warm and unfamiliar spreading through my chest.

“You’re really happy, aren’t you?” I ask, my voice softer than I intended.

She looks up at me, her smile so bright it could power a small city. “Yeah. I am. Thanks for this, Lanz. It means a lot.”