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His tail thumps once against the ground.

“Oh, you shameless thing.”

I reach into my pocket.

Of course I have chocolate. We've already established this.

I unwrap the candy bar and break off a piece.

“Apparently, I'm your personal vending machine now.”

He takes it gently from my fingers.

That ridiculous warmth spreads through my chest again.

I give him another piece. Then another.

“Don't tell anyone I feed you.”

He chews.

“I'll lose all professional credibility.”

He looks at me.

“Okay, fine. I didn't have much to begin with.”

I laugh and bury my fingers in the thick fur around his neck.

He closes his eyes.

And there it is again.

That strange feeling.

Like comfort.

Like I've done this before.

Like I know him.

Which is impossible.

I met him two weeks ago.

I don't even know what he is.

Well, Wolf.

Obviously.

But Shifter? Familiar? Some magical creature I haven't identified yet?

I should be asking questions.

I should tell Wulfy there's an unidentified Wolf wandering the Academy grounds.

I should probably stop feeding him chocolate and petting him like an oversized puppy.