Victoria pulled into the driveway of her rented villa. The gravel crunched under the tires as the car came to a halt. She glanced at Alex, who seemed lost in thought. The day had been long, filled with uncertainties and questions, but she tried to push those worries aside as they stepped out of the car.
As they walked up the stone path, a menacing growl rumbled from the front porch. Victoria’s Tibetan Mastiff, Griffin, stood rigidly by the door, his massive frame towering over nearby bushes.
His eyes instantly locked onto Alex, dark fur bristling as the growl deepened. Alex paused, staring back at the dog with a calm expression.
Victoria hurried forward to greet her loyal companion. “Easy, Griffin. It’s okay. He’s with me.”
Griffin’s growl lessened but didn’t entirely fade. He remai
