Slowly, she extended her hand. The dog reacted instantly, snapping his teeth inches from her fingers. Tina yelped, jerking back. But still, he didn’t leave the blanket. He planted his paws firmer, body curling closer, his growl vibrating like a living barrier.
Her chest heaved, panic clawing inside her ribs. She couldn’t shake the images forming. She relived stories she’d read—of babies abandoned in alleys and children left at doorsteps. Could this be one of those nightmares? A life discarded, left to fate? Her heart thudded painfully.