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Chapter Nineteen

Y ael loved the dog he walked. The staff at the shelter had named her Lolita but Yael shortened it to Lola for reasons he couldn't explain, other than the shortened version fit her better. She was a big dog and appeared intimidating, but she was really friendly and just wanted to be around people. The other walker called her a rottweiler, but they thought she was mixed with something else too.

Eryn walked beside him with a small dog. She didn't weigh over ten pounds. Her name was Bitty, and she definitely was itty bitty, but very sweet.

The two dogs couldn't have been more different in appearance, but they seemed to like each other.

The other walker was part of the shelter staff. She nodded to the dogs as they walked. "They came in together. Someone found them wandering the street over by the elementary school. We thought for sure someone would claim them, but no one has."

"How long have they been here?" Being found together made some sense, given how comfortable they were around each other.

"It'll be two weeks tomorrow." Which meant they were scheduled to be euthanized.

Yael didn't think about what he was about to do, he just let the thought in and then the words spewed from his mouth like he vomited. "We'll adopt them."

Eryn's eyes widened and he stared at Yael as though he'd lost his mind. Maybe he had. "I've been begging you for a dog my entire life."

"It just goes to show that as soon as you give up hope, the universe gives you what you want." Yael smirked at him.

The worker, Olivia, chuckled but ended up smiling at the dogs. "I'm glad they're getting a chance at a happy life."

"We'll do our best."

She nodded to the building. "When you're ready to fill out the paperwork, Yvonne will get you set up. We waive the adoption fee for volunteers."

Yael knew they did. The shelter used it as an incentive to get more people to volunteer, but Yael just wanted to help the animals. Walking the dogs twice a week seemed like a small thing, but something he had time for. And helping taught Eryn a thing or two about giving to others. They'd been volunteering for four years.

The dogs would give them a much-needed distraction from the current stress of Andre free in the world. They needed it.

They let the dogs walk for a few more minutes before heading inside.

Yvonne had worked for the shelter for longer than Yael and Eryn had been volunteering. She liked to brag about the years she spent there. And she had something to brag about. Twelve years was a long time with dogs and cats. She'd seen a lot of good and bad things happen.

She smiled at them and then nodded to Eryn. "This one talked you into it finally, huh?"

"It was my idea."

"I'm glad Lolita and Bitty are staying together." She handed him a stack of papers.

"Can you recommend a good vet?" Yael had never had a pet before, although he used to feed the rabbits outside in their yard as a kid. Not that it counted.

She gave him a business card and stuffed it into a care package that they gave to all the adopters.

Her laptop was open. It seemed she'd been reading a news article before they came in.

Eryn's eyes were glued to it, which made Yael look at the headline.

Yvonne noticed. "Someone broke into my sister's neighbor's house and stole a gun. I think it's those escaped convicts. Well, one of them anyway. The other was found dead. The article says he was shot. Probably by the other one. One is a serial killer."

Eryn cleared his throat before speaking. "Which one died?"

"I'm not sure. But I doubt it was the serial killer." She shrugged. "He killed seventeen women before they caught him. He's way too good at killing to be dead. Plus, I heard he's a dragon shifter. The other guy was probably something else. Maybe even human."

"Does the article say where they found the body of the fugitive?" Yael asked, even though he dreaded the answer.

"Utah. My sister lives an hour from Wyoming. That’s why I think it was the fugitives." She shuddered and waggled her finger at them. "Keep your doors locked. That creep could come this way."

That wouldn't keep Andre from getting to them if that was his aim, and it seemed it might be.

Eryn held Yael's arm so tightly it hurt. He would have held Yael's hand, but Yael needed it to fill out the paperwork.

Yael tried not to think about what the next day or two would bring. He still didn’t know what to do. Maybe they had nothing to worry about.