Emilia

Chapter Four

Emilia's POV

The weekend went by quickly and I'm getting ready to go to work again. I slip on a sweater, some leggings and my slip on shoes that I got from Walmart. I'm lucky that the shelter is close to my apartment and I don't have to get a taxi or an Uber. The morning air is crisp as I walk to the animal shelter, but I don't mind it. Not many people are out this early so it's nice to go on a walk. 

I get to the shelter and I say good morning to my boss, as well as other employees. I take care of the kittens in the front hallway first, refilling their food and water bowls then emptying out their litter boxes. I go into a hallway that's between the lobby and the dog kennels, where they house the older cats. I repeat the same process as I did with the kittens. Next I go to the dog kennels and refill their food and water bowls as well. A smile comes to my face as I see all the dogs come to the front of their cages, their tongues hanging out as they bark happily at me. I go to each one giving them attention and playing with them. 

I approach one cage that holds a pitbull named, Eleanor. She whines happily at me as I give her a treat. Eleanor wasn't always happy, when she first came to the shelter she would stay in the corner and cry while she shakes. I felt bad for her and I took extra shifts just to be with her, to help her be comfortable around humans. After a couple weeks she's a brand new dog and she's ready for adoption. I give her a scratch behind the ear before I close her kennel. Next I had to do laundry which was still in the room with the dogs. I go inside the tiny room that would be better as a pantry than a laundry room, I start to load the commercial size washer with blankets and towels.

Suddenly I heard the door of the dog kennel that was for new arrivals opening in a hurry. I heard people shouting and their feet shuffling on the floor. I walk out of the laundry room to see what the commotion is all about but I gasp when I see a large black wolf being held back by our animal control officers. The wolfs ears twitch when I gasp and it turns its head towards me. Oddly enough its eyes widen before it snarls at me. 

"We found him by the border of the city lines. We can't have him around people like that. Emilia take him to the restricted area." says one of the animal control officers. 

I slowly approach the wolf but it keeps growling at me. I take the snare pole from the mans hand and I try to lead the animal towards the restricted area room. With a struggle I practically dragged him to the room where we housed dogs that are to dangerous for adoption. I come here to try and work with them though in hopes they can be adopted. 

I take the wolf in the dimly lit room past the aggressively barking dogs to the last kennel in the back. Opening it I push him inside, then I quickly take off the snare pole and I close the kennel behind me. The wolf growls at me as I kneel down in front of him. I notice that its eyes are a familiar blue, similar to the man's eyes from a few days ago. When I looked into its eyes the wolf suddenly stopped growling. he stood in front of me pressing his head against the fence. 

"I'm sorry I can't let you out. I don't know what they'll do to you, we never had a wild animal in here before." 

The wolf lets out a huff before laying down. I look at him though and say,

"I can give you name. Every animal in here has a name from me or another staff member. Do you want a name?" I ask.

The wolf looks up at me then looks away. 

"I'm gonna give you a name anyways if you like it or not." 

I can hear him huff at me again and I roll my eyes, someone as an attitude problem. 

"How about Apollo?"

He looks over at me and shows no interest.

"Um, Oliver?" 

The animal rolled its eyes at me if that were possible. 

"Can you understand me? Your reactions are pretty funny." I giggle. 

This time the wolf shows interest. I give thought into a name and think about what he would like. 

"Don't you guys have Alpha's?" I question the animal. 

The wolfs ears perk up and I smile. 

"Ohhh, you like that name huh? Okay I'll call you Alpha." 

The wolf seems satisfied as it turns away from me and goes out the "doggy door" that leads to the outside kennel. I stand back up and walk out of the restricted area room. I'm curious to know what animal control will do to Alpha, we never had a wild animal here before. Peaking my interest I walk towards their office located in the main lobby. Their door is closed so I knock on it before entering. I see the head of animal control sitting at his desk. 

"Emilia, what can I do for you?" He asked. 

"I was wondering about the wolf that was just admitted into the restricted area. What will be done to him?" 

The man looks at me with a saddened face, 

"We decided it was best to put him down. There should be no wolves lingering around the city, we can't have our citizens in danger with a threat like that." 

I gasp and look at him with wide eyes. I can't let that happen, every animal deserves a chance. 

"Is there another way?" I plead. 

"No, that animal is a threat. You saw what he was like coming in here." 

Before I could process it any further I blurt out, 

"I'll adopt him!" 

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3 chapters in a day, I may do one more. I want to get this story on a roll. 

- KM