He cuts me off with a shrug. “I was being polite. Look, I’m not an animal person. Never have been. They’re dirty, they spread disease, and frankly, I don’t want one in my home.”
The casual dismissal of something so precious to me makes my chest feel hollow. “Andrew, I can’t just abandon her. She saved my life on the journey here. She has been my only companion—”
“And now you have me.” His voice takes on a patronizing tone, like he’s explaining something obvious to a child. “You don’t need a pet anymore, Astra. You have a man who loves you, who’s going to take care of you.”
“It’s not the same thing,” I say, my voice small but firm. “Luna isn’t just a pet. She’s my friend.”
Something flashes in Andrew’s eyes—annoyance, maybe even anger—before he forces his expression back to gentle under
