AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It’s not long before a car passes, a patrol car. Probably someone reporting a lunatic in a tracksuit screaming Valentine.
“Sir, why are yelling, and why are you running?” The cop asks, only cracking his window enough so I can hear him.
I explain the situation, and although I’m beat I ask him to help me find Valentine.
Before the window goes up for good, he cautions me about disturbing the peace and says it’s not his job to track down runaway dogs.
“If he’s chipped you’ll hear from the city once they pick him up,” he adds thoughtfully, trying not to sound like a complete ass and failing before he slowly cruises off, keeping his eyes on me until he has to turn a corner.
I turn for home, maybe the cop’s right. If he won’t come back on his own, I can at least be there when I get the call from the pound to say they have him.
But he’s too smart for that shit. Valentine would never go with anyone but me. He’d never let anyone even see him unless he wanted them to.
I growl loudly, kicking the sidewalk with the sole of my shoe before I feel my heart lift.
I hear him, barking.
He’s far away, but nothing sounds like my Valentine. I’d know his bark anywhere.
I sprint in the direction I think it’s coming from, ignoring the road as I crane my neck to listen.
The blast of a horn and my hands flat on the hood of a skidding car grabs my attention fully.
“Jesus, what are you fucking crazy? Get outta the road asshole!”
I wince an apology, then feel my own anger rise when the driver has another go, shouting at me to get my filthy hands off his car.
Feeling my eyes narrow to slits and my hands curling up again, I forget everything the cop just said about not disturbing the peace.
By the time I get to ass wipes window, he’s squealed off, not wanting to carry on his little discourse any further once he sees me as I straighten up and walk toward the driver’s side.
Getting onto the sidewalk again, I close my eyes, straining to hear something again.
Anything.
But there’s only the sound of distant traffic, the cold wind gusting and the sound of my own heartbeat singing in my ears.
I won’t go back though, not yet.
Making for what I have to tell myself is the direction I heard him barking from, I start to jog again once I feel my side stop burning.
Whatever it is that’s made him run off like this, it must be a one in a million, once in a lifetime thing.
One in a trillion.
I just hope I can find him and just see for myself what all the fuss is about.
If I don’t die from a broken heart first.
The worry is making me sick already, and all I can do to try and stop it from consuming me is to keep going.
To keep searching for my Valentine.
Chapter Three
Rachel
Following this huge dog or wolf or whatever he is, I can easily see how he managed to follow me for so long without me noticing.
He keeps looking back, making sure I’ve taken the bait and am now following him in return, but he always manages to duck and weave out of sight of other people or cars for several blocks.
I can keep up, but I have to walk briskly, reminding myself with every step I’m getting further away from home, and probably into more trouble than anything else.
Once he knows I’m hooked, he sits down by the entrance to a side street and I cautiously get as close as I dare.
His collar has a silver tag showing through his white-gray fur and before I can even think about putting my hands on a strange dog, I’m holding it in my fingers so I can see it better.
It’s a solid disc, feels like something expensive.
“Ha!” I exclaim, making myself snort a laugh as his ears prick up and he cocks his head to one side.
“Valentine, huh?”
There’s his name and an address. A pretty swanky part of town too.
Not that far, but plenty far for a dog like this to be wandering around on his own.
Feeling the warmth of his breath and finally, his muzzle resting against my wrist, I can see at once that Valentine is no wolf, nor is he a dangerous dog.
He whines in agreement before licking my hand, sealing the deal I’d never agree to if it wasn’t for that faint cologne scent and his piercing blue eyes.
Sighing loudly, I run my hands through his thick fur, marveling at how soft he feels.
Lightly squeezing one of his huge ears, I resign myself to fate.
“I guess I have to take you home now, don’t I?” I ask him, sure his mouth peels back to reveal the closest thing to a smile I’ve seen on any dog.
