Theo's POV
Waking up was a gradual, pleasant process. The first thing I noticed was warmth - not just the comfortable temperature of my dream space, but something small and soft pressed against my side. I opened my eyes to find Ame curled up against me, her dark fur rising and falling with each peaceful breath.
When did she move onto the couch? I wondered, but honestly, I didn't mind. She looked so content, so safe. Something in my chest tightened with an emotion I couldn't quite name.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," I murmured softly, not wanting to startle her.
Her ears twitched first, then one amber eye cracked open to peer at me. When she saw me watching, she immediately tried to scramble away, ears flattened in what looked like embarrassment.
"Hey, hey, it's okay," I said, gently placing a hand on her back pulling her towards me to keep her from fleeing. "I don't mind the company. You're perfectly fine where you are."
She looked up at me uncertainly, and I could swear I saw a blush beneath that dark fur.
"There's my shy little lady," I said with a grin. "No need to be embarrassed. We're family now, right?"
That seemed to relax her a bit, though she still looked bashful as she settled back down beside me.
"Alright, let's get some breakfast going." I stretched and sat up, already planning our morning routine. "Can't start the day on an empty stomach."
Creating a proper breakfast spread was easy enough - fluffy pancakes, crispy bacon, fresh fruit, and coffee for me and Ame.
"Come on, breakfast time," I called, patting my lap.
She approached cautiously, still seeming a bit shy about the whole sleeping-together thing, but when I offered her the first bite of eggs from my fork, she perked up considerably.
"There we go," I said, watching her eat with obvious enjoyment. "Much better when you're not being all bashful on me."
She shot me a look that was somehow both indignant and amused, which made me laugh.
"Oh, you've got opinions about being called bashful? Well excuse me, Miss Attitude." I took a bite of my own breakfast, grinning. "You know, I was thinking about what we could do today. We've got all this time, and you're obviously way smarter than your average pup..."
She tilted her head at that, ears perked with interest.
"I'm thinking we could try some games. Test that big brain of yours." I waggled my eyebrows at her. "What do you say? Want to show off how clever you are?"
The transformation was immediate. She sat up straighter, tail wagging slightly, with an expression that practically screamed 'bring it on.'
"Oh, so now you're not shy anymore?" I chuckled before finishing my coffee and stood up. "Alright, let's start with something simple."
I created a small puzzle box with sliding panels that revealed treats when solved correctly. "Let's see how you handle this."
Ame approached it with the focused intensity of a scholar examining an ancient text. Within minutes, she'd figured out the sequence and was munching on her reward with a supremely satisfied expression.
"Okay, that was just a warm-up," I said, genuinely impressed. "Let's try something a bit more challenging."
The next puzzle was a complex maze with multiple dead ends and moving parts. I expected it to take her at least ten minutes.
She solved it in three.
"Holy crap," I muttered, staring at her in amazement. "You're not just smart, you're like... genius-level smart."
Ame sat back on her haunches and gave me the most smug, self-satisfied look I'd ever seen on any creature. If she could have crossed her arms and said 'obviously,' I'm pretty sure she would have.
"Oh, you're proud of yourself now, aren't you?" I laughed, delighted by her obvious personality. "Let me guess - that was easy for someone of your intellectual caliber?"
She lifted her chin slightly in what could only be described as a 'damn right' gesture.
"Alright, smarty-pants. Let's see how you handle this." I paused dramatically. "Chess."
Her ears perked up and she tilted her head quizzically.
"I mean, I know it's crazy," I continued, chuckling at my own joke. "But honestly, at this point I'm half-convinced you could probably figure out how to play. Want to give it a shot? Just for fun?"
Amenises's POV
Chess? He wants to play chess with me?
I tried to keep my expression neutral, but inside I was grinning. Poor Theo had no idea what he was getting himself into. I'd been playing chess since I was twelve, and in my previous life, I'd been pretty damn good at it.
This is going to be fun.
I gave him an innocent head tilt, as if I was just curious about this strange new game he wanted to show me.
"Alright, let me set this up," he said, and suddenly a beautiful wooden chess set materialized on the coffee table. "So, this piece is called a pawn, and it moves like this..."
Oh, you sweet, clueless man. Just wait.
I listened to his explanation with the perfect attention of an eager student, occasionally cocking my head or making small interested noises. When he finished explaining the rules, I approached the board and carefully moved my king's pawn forward two spaces.
"Whoa, okay," Theo said, blinking in surprise. "You actually understood that. That's... that's actually a really good opening move."
I sat back and tried to look modestly pleased with myself, tail wagging just a little.
He moved his own pawn to mirror mine, and I responded with a knight development. Then another piece. Then another.
It didn't take long for the pattern to become clear.
"Wait a minute," Theo said, staring at the board where I'd just executed a particularly elegant tactical sequence. "Wait just a minute. Are you... are you actually playing chess? Like, really playing?"
I gave him my most innocent expression and moved my bishop to threaten his queen.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," he laughed, running a hand through his hair. "My dog is hustling me at chess. This is insane."
Your dog just forked your king and rook, actually.
"Okay, okay, I see how it is," he muttered narrowing his eyes, studying the board more carefully now. "You've been holding out on me, haven't you? Acting all innocent when you're secretly some kind of chess genius."
I lifted my chin slightly and gave him a look that clearly said 'you have no idea what you're dealing with.'
"Alright, Miss Smarty-Pants, game on."
For the next twenty minutes, I watched with growing amusement as Theo went from confident to concerned to slightly panicked. He was actually a decent player - better than I'd expected - but he was also playing a grandmaster who had him around her paw.
He's trying so hard, I thought fondly, watching him furrow his brow as he contemplated his next move. It's actually kind of adorable how seriously he's taking this.
When I finally delivered checkmate with a queen sacrifice that he definitely didn't see coming, the look on his face was priceless.
"You..." he stared at the board, then at me, then back at the board. "You just... but that means... how did you..."
I sat up in my most regal pose, chest puffed out with pride, and gave him a look that was pure smug satisfaction.
"Oh my god," he said, and then he started laughing. Not the embarrassed laughter of someone who'd been beaten which honestly took me aback, but he showed genuine, delighted laughter. "Oh my god, you're incredible! I just got absolutely destroyed by my wolf pup!"
His reaction made my heart soar. Instead of being upset or frustrated, he was... proud of me? Happy for me?
"You're amazing, Ame," he said, reaching over to scratch behind my ears. "Seriously, that was the most beautiful game of chess I've ever been on the losing end of. Where did you learn to play like that?"
If only I could tell you.
But even though I couldn't speak, the warmth in his voice, the genuine admiration in his eyes, made me feel like I was glowing from the inside out.
Theo's POV
"Alright, that settles it," I said, still grinning as I reset the chess board. "We're definitely making this a regular thing. Board games, video games, puzzles - I want to see what else that brilliant mind of yours can do."
Ame's tail was wagging openly now, and she had that proud, pleased expression that made her look absolutely adorable.
"I'm thinking we could try some strategy games tomorrow. Maybe some card games? Oh! And I could create some video games for us to play. Racing games, puzzle games..." I was getting more excited by the minute. "This is going to be so much fun."
She tilted her head at me, and I could swear I saw affection in those intelligent amber eyes.
"You know what? I think you might be the best thing that's happened to me in... well, since I ended up in this place." I reached out and gently stroked her fur. "I was getting pretty lonely before you showed up."
For a moment, something flickered across her expression - something almost sad. But then she leaned into my touch, and the moment passed.
"My brilliant little companion," I murmured, scratching her favorite spot behind her ears. "What would I do without you?"
Amanises's POV
What would you do without me?
The question hit harder than it should have. Because the truth was, I was falling for him. Really, truly falling for this kind, funny, brilliant man who treated me with such genuine care and affection.
But he'll never see me as anything more than his clever pet.
The realization was like a knife to the chest. Here I was, experiencing the most wonderful, domestic bliss I'd ever known, feeling more comfortable and happy than I ever had in my previous life... and it was all built on a lie.
He loves me, I thought, feeling his gentle fingers in my fur, but not the way I'm starting to love him.
To him, I would always be his amazing, smarty-pants dog. His companion, his friend, maybe even his family - but never his partner. Never his... Never someone he could fall in love with.
And I can't even tell him the truth, because it might destroy him.
The weight of it all - the deception, the impossible situation, the growing feelings I could never act on - should have been crushing. But somehow, sitting here in the warm circle of his affection, feeling cherished and valued even if not in the way I was beginning to wish for...
Maybe this is enough, I thought, closing my eyes and leaning into his touch. Loving him like this, even if he can never love me back the same way, might still be worth it.
This impossible situation is still better than anything I had before.
Could I live with this heartbreak, as long as I get to keep these moments?
Even if it meant my heart would break a little more each day.